Absolute beginners guide to flight planning, GPS, and ILS in Microsoft Flight Simulator

A subscriber that's new to flight simulator and flight in general sent me an email asking if I might record an absolute beginners guide to starting the simulator, planning a flight in the world map screen, and then flying the flight using the autopilot and landing using ILS. Only too happy to oblige.
#msfs #flightsimulator #aviation #flying #flight #simulator #microsoft #asobo #tobii
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Useful resources:
My homepage:
- jonbeckett.online
My flight simulation blog (subscribe by email for free!):
- jonbeckett.substack.com
All of the functional procedures I have written up to get aircraft up and running in simulators:
- ko-fi.com/jonbeckett/shop
The flight simulation community I founded (join for free!):
- virtualflight.online
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Resources I use to create content:
Microsoft Flight Simulator
- www.flightsimulator.com/
Navigraph (charts, flight planning, and tracking)
- navigraph.com
Copyright © 2023 Jeppesen. All rights reserved. The charts are available to the flight simulation community via Navigraph.
LittleNavMap (mapping software)
- albar965.github.io/littlenavm...
OBS (Screen and audio capture)
- obsproject.com/
Tobii Eye Tracker 5 (head and eye tracking)
- gaming.tobii.com/product/eye-...
Volanta (flight tracking)
- volanta.app/
Simbrief (flight planning)
- simbrief.com
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Computer Specification:
- CPU : Intel Core i7 @ 3.60 Ghz (Skylake)
- GPU : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- RAM : 16Gb
- HDD : 1863 Gb NVME
- NET : 500 megabit fibre

[@ronaldconnor8139]

I am the newbie that asked for help. Jonathan you are just an AWESOME person to take time out to make this video. I looked extensively on KZbin for videos to help me bridge my basic knowledge of flying. I came from previous versions of MSFS to the current version and I was entirely lost. Johnathan's videos always stood out to me and I saved them for viewing again and again. This video will definitely allow me to start flying and move forward with my knowledge. Thank you Johnathan, you are truly the BEST!!!

[@Bucketnate]

This is freakin awesome. Im a flight sim enthusiast and PPL student and Ill definitely be subscribing here

[@LooterUniverse]

Hard agree. Easy to listen to, as well. Many Flight Sim KZbinrs can do good content, but I want to click away after 2mins of listening to others. Not so here.

[@ellonysman]

Thanks Ron cuz radios and IFR etc is making me 🤪 😜 🤪

[@OZ1967]

That was absolutely the best beginner tutorial I have watched and learned something clearly I never fully understood for years. Thank you.

[@DavidJones-gp4uz]

I’m new to MSFS. This is the best description of ILS on KZbin

[@solgoode1]

Little Nav Map is really excellent. Makes it so much easier.

[@dalkapur]

That was brilliant for me, but not for the intended purpose as I am experienced both IRL and in the sim. However, I found it a great instructional primer on how to use the G1000. I've steered clear of glass cockpits until now as it all looks far too busy, but think I will give it a try.

[@Leviathan0022]

One of the most informative videos you’ve done to date. Good on ya. You broke the process down in a way that was not speaking just over the heads of the viewer. I now have a better understanding of the difference between GPS, LOC 1 and 2 and how to better utilize them for navigation. The part where you went to the “more” options was something I was missing. Now all of that is sorted. You, JB, have given us many informative videos and I in particular enjoy watching you fly. I always pick up a pointer or two while watching. Thank you. PS. More videos like this please.

[@michaelbasson911]

Im doing flight sim for years and never really understood ILS and VOR,and this video explained it so simple,wow,awesome. Greetings from South Africa

[@pappinr]

You make the best and most helpful videos on the subject of flying! New folks and seasoned pilots can learn from your great instruction. I try not to miss any new videos you put out! Thank you once again!

[@richardharrington2764]

I live in South Carolina, in the US. I tried a lot of videos on ILS approaches and could never make much sense of them and could never complete an ILS landing.. Then I found your video and you made it all come together! I installed Little Navmap also, which helped tremendously. I can now do ILS landings with ease!! Thank you so much for your time and effort you put into this video.

[@caaront]

This is what I have been wishing for, thank you. I will try this flight a few times, while also looking at LNM on the other screen, and then move over to a flight near my home airport. I think you made the PMDG 737 tutorial flight like this that I love so much. This is the way I learn best, show me, explain how, and let me follow along, and then I get it. Thank you.

[@SkyPilotXSX]

Great instructional video. I wish I had this base of learning when I first started on MSFS. Are you a teacher IRL ? More vids like this pls 🙂

[@jonbeckett]

Not a teacher - but I do have a little teaching experience in the corporate world :)

[@neilbelden9905]

Well done! Perfect overview of how to use the G1000s and execute a simple flight plan. Especially like the simple explanation of the different CDI modes and your clear demonstration of what happens when switching between NAV and HDG and back again. Some people are natural teachers. You’ve got that gift. Thanks!

[@gunargnar]

Please do more like this! This was incredible.

[@LayneBenofsky]

And the bonus ability to export plans *from* Little Navmap straight into MFSF itself as you prep a flight is amazing. LNM is much more efficient at adding points, etc.

[@NTS112]

How do I import from littlenav direct to msfs ? Thx

[@stevenkeyser9224]

Like another recent commenter, I've been using MSFS for about a year now and have long struggled with ILS. I couldn't seem to get to first base, and so I largely gave up trying. Then I watched this video, and, like, WOW. It made sense. It looked easy to follow. I tried a flight of my own in a c172. Nailed the ILS landing the first time. Then I tried an ILS landing my my daily flyer (Milviz Cessna C310R). And like, double-WOW, I nailed the ILS landing first time! Your efforts to share your knowledge are greatly appreciated.

[@dantilert5320]

Great introduction! It might be worth pointing out that you can get ILS frequency from the MSFS world map by enabling navaids and finding the relevant localizer icon. While it doesn't give you the course, the runway name provides at least an approximate course within five degrees.

[@jonbeckett]

Good to know!

[@markscars1069]

Even though I already knew all of this, still found it valuable and interesting. You’re a fab teacher JB. Got the perfect cadence for imparting knowledge 👍

[@nitwit4947]

Great refresher course. Am now inspired to study the systems more.

[@BarryArends]

Absolute legend video! Thanks so much!

[@prestante]

Probably the best beginners guide to flight planning. Thank you so much!

[@yannbastiaans]

From a retired airline pilot: congrats!! I learned a lot about certain MSFS- and G1000-specific things, you are truly a master at what you showed us and I wish you all the best 🤗

[@jonbeckett]

Cheers :) Just sharing what I learn with the community - I'm often only a page or two ahead :)

[@rickkerrypollak6208]

I've watched many tutorials and this is by far the best. Thanks!

[@petejansen8098]

Exactly what I needed. Thanks for comparing world map with little navmap. That helps me too. Awesome.

[@georgiaking1]

Please do more... what an explaination... bravo!!!

[@Synoopy2]

Thanks for making this video - I am struggling with ILS in the 930 and this makes things clearer for me.

[@tsachimalik]

The best tutorial I have seen for years. Greate job, Thx.

[@DSmith.Productions]

Thanks Johnathan, was very helpful!

[@Plumsouffle]

Best newb guide I’ve seen for this sort of content. Thanks.

[@jonathanmoore4451]

Thank you so much for this video you’ve helped me a bunch! Happy flying

[@Buddy308]

This video is a masterpiece among videos on Flight Planning. I wish I'd found it 2 years ago! It answered a lot of questions I've always had and didn't get answered in the books I've found out in other videos. Thanks a million!

[@Justin56381]

Thank you so much for doing this! I want to get more into msfs but flight planning is daunting to me

[@jrprimo5372]

Bloody good job, thanks so much, really enjoyed!!!

[@williammg9135]

I learned so much from this video! Thank you!

[@global3dee968]

Fantastic!! so helpful mate. Thank you

[@robertpelland5649]

Jonathan, I have said it before, but I am compelled to repeat myself, YOU SIR are a God send. Thank you for your time.

[@johnblanchfield5796]

Brilliant video. I have fumbled my way through navigation but so needed a tutorial like this to fill in the basics. I have found navigation one of the hardest things to get a grip of. Thank you for doing this and highly valuable for us "Beginners".

[@Farmer_El]

This looks like a very usable tutorial. I recommend this for anyone wondering how to get started flying.

[@johnmarkkerr]

Nicely done Jonathan. You’ve a real talent for explaining complex subject matter in an easy to understand and conversational delivery. Personally, I hope you’ll consider providing more of this type content.

[@jonbeckett]

Absolutely - I actually prefer making this sort of video, to doing the "first looks" :)

[@gerardvanbeek6710]

Excellent video, just what I needed, thank you

[@Gemthermakleingk]

Thank you very much for taking the time to make this great video.... everything is perfect!

[@keyser1975]

What a brilliant video for beginners thank you

[@petejansen8098]

Again thank you so much. This is the best KZbin video I have found for just basic, this is how it works stuff. I learned so much and flew the same plan and it turned out exactly the same. Gave me 1000% more confidence in what I was planning and doing. Thank you so much. Changed everything for me. 😊😊😊

[@lpkitson]

Just brilliant. Thanks

[@90bideven]

That was well done...I look forward to flying that route as a good instructional. You sir, deserve a slow clap!👏👏👏

[@tonyw2808]

Just going through the basic flying school included in MSFS20, but this is great to know for when the time comes. Thanks for a great tutorial

[@fjc_media]

Great tutorial Jonathan. Thanks for the effort.

[@RBTravels]

Fantastic, thanks for making these beginner vids for us newbs 🙂

[@maryb.2882]

Thank you, as a newbie I found that most informative and very helpful.

[@max_dee]

Wow! Just love your great pacing and explanation of ILS concepts with the G1000 / 172. I've been on & off FS for decades and every time I have a break for a few months, I come back and don't remember how to fly anything other than simple VFR's. The one aspect I NEVER remember is the 'order' of programming the G1000. Your wonderful video just makes so much sense and locks in all the ideas swimming in your head from previous study and watching vids, consolidating it all into a very simple and easy to follow method. More importantly is it's so simple, it's repeatable! Well done sir :)

[@samuelracoon]

Very helpful for a beginner! Thank you for the great video!

[@palithajayasinghe4939]

Thank you so much. You are a fantastic flight instructor. I have been trying to land with ILS with no luck and finally, you made a complex instruction so simple. Thank again

[@kencrowe1965]

You are a LEGEND!!! Best content creator "BAR-NON"!!!

[@bobelliottrocks8048]

Super informative! Thanks so much.

[@alanmangroo3656]

Great video! I followed along and learnt a lot. Time to try my own route based on this video...

[@DarylNyby]

Fantastic video. You simplified it for the basic person to understand it. Keep up the great videos and thanks for taking the time.

[@bwort007]

By war the best tutorial. Thx a lot!

[@juanoliveros9753]

Hello!, I am thinking on joining a PPL course here in Spain. I've never fly on a small plane, just love everything about flying airplanes, altough radio communication seems quite impossible to understand. Thanks for your tutorials, you doing a superb job!

[@TheRubsimonster]

Super clear explanation!

[@culpepper7665]

Fantastic, thank you!

[@Hobbes22]

Thank you for an amazing, easy to follow tutorial. Such a buzz when it all works! :D

[@flip-da-loop]

Nice work Jonathan, you have just recruited about 500 new pilots to MSFS flying school. I remember doing this on FSX in the default Beechcraft Baron G58, and always forgetting to hit the APR approach button, happy days.

[@TheFlyingKiwi]

Great video, so very useful. Thanks for taking the time to help us newbie pilots!

[@hallfastrac]

Glad i found you, as a 75 yr old gamer this is the best help and explanation i have come across well done young man 👌😀

[@markherring3513]

Great vid..i enjoyed it. Not one boring second and very educational. (i have never flown a plane before)

[@terhohalme]

Great, after 700 h of MSFS 2020 there is always something new, thanks.

[@petrolekh]

Brilliant presentation. Concise but of the appropriate breadth. Many thanks from Canada.

[@jonbeckett]

You're very welcome!

[@RR380]

An excellent, easy to follow introduction to flight planning and execution. Great work!! I've used Little Nav Map before, but now I understand it! Thank you so much!

[@alanward9521]

Many thanks Jonathan for a great tutorial. Although I've been simming for years, I've never used the G1000 for anything other than the basic '6-pack' instruments. This has given me more confidence to give AP a try, now I have more understanding 🙂

[@americasace]

I needed this.. I haven't bought and installed the game because I was afraid of all the technical knowledge and where the buttons are to program different things and it just seemed overwhelming. This has helped a lot. Thumbs up!

[@geoffsmith6833]

Very useful and well presented video on what can be a complex subject, especially for those new to flight sims. Thanks again Jonathan for breaking down the process for us novices. 😊

[@ricoshelter9399]

stunning video .Easy to understand and follow your lesson.As a Dutch guy i really appriciate your time and efford to help us newbeys out. You are a great teacher ,great voice. So happy i found this video.Greatingd from the Netherlands

[@jonbeckett]

Cheers :)

[@wecslivestream3332]

Most helpful. TYVM!!!

[@pojunskii]

Substantially helpful!

[@joemason9187]

A great vid but also for beginners its a good idea to set up an approach with the ils and watch how it's done then emulate the process of learning.

[@fluffinggamer]

You have a perfect way of explaining things Jonathan and after watching many training videos for MS sim you hands down are the best at what you do. Not only that you sound like such a nice bloke, so a follow from me as I continue to try and keep learning this game on my Xbox. I am a newbie to flying, although I did have a go at flying my friend’s plane many years ago, so I need all the help I can get. But with your help, I am now enjoying FS even more. Cheers my friend.

[@filipesiegrist]

Thanks mate, that really helped me.

[@DrummerSi]

Thanks for posting. Awesome vid

[@aaronisaac1206]

Great tutorial!! As a lifelong aspiring pilot, my career took me in other directions, so it never happened. I ended up a post-secondary culinary instructor. As others have noted you have a very good natural delivery of the content & goals. I actually have MSFS 1.0, a Christmas gift in 1982-3 when I was 10-11 years old, the single floppy disk for IBM. Many more versions through the years, but outside of a fair understanding of avionics & general flight etc. I never got far beyond throttle up, fly and hope for the best. Now that I have more time, I'm back into simming, and this video was a game changer. 4 flights: 1st & 2nd, while watching your video (lots of pauses involved), so very helpful. Success! 3rd on my own, programing from memory & notes, but missed something regarding the descent, after overpassing ATC re-routed me to RW 20. I feel like I was able to do a 180 and stick that landing due to running through the previous procedures. 4th, Yeah!! Yesterday my son and I got set up to do the flight, but by the time we got everything programed it was real time clear weather, but well after sunset in California. We went ahead, and like you said we hardly had to look out the windows (other than to look at the scenery). I can hardly believe that we just completed an IFR flight, at night, just following the instruments. I have 2 boys in Aerospace Engineering, I'm a little jealous. We look forward to more of your content!

[@Learning-Account-Yee]

This was great thank you.

[@riflemusket]

A good refresher!

[@mobius3515]

Wow, this was by far the best ILS/NAV/APP mode intro tutorial I've seen. I had watched a few videos previously, but these modes still seemed to be a mystery mostly because I didn't even know where to find free charts to practice with. I'm going to download Little Navmap and try out my first auto-approach today! Update: I did it! And it was a simple process thanks to your video.

[@thedaddechannel]

Took some notes, now I'm off to my grandson's xbox...I'm on/off for years on FSX and over the years playing with older ones way back.

[@Keinerboy]

Very good tutorial. Always wondered what APR mode was. Thanks for not boring the crap out of us like some youtubers

[@ZenonZolek]

Brilliant, I've been flying in the sim for years and you taught me a lot in this video, congratulations on going back to basics and thank you

[@jonbeckett]

Glad to help!

[@mrcalico7091]

That was a great tutorial! I think it would be helpful to mention that you can import, and export flight plans easily to and from MSFS and Little Nav Maps too. Which lets you plan from either of the systems just one time. ✈

[@demody59]

Thank you for an excellent tutorial. I had a blast following this!

[@jonbeckett]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@NTS112]

This is brilliant welldone thankyou

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT tutorial. There are always tips and tricks we can pick up. One of my clients had a Cherokee 180 and I have flown that exact flight several times. The restaurant at Petaluma is called The 49er Diner. That was a very fun flight to be a part of. Thanks! !! !!! Charles Shultz was the artist behind the Peanuts character and many of the waypoints around KSTS are related to the Peanuts characters.

[@zstork]

That was excellent!

[@Martin2002tii]

Excellent video. Very helpful.

[@wmichaelcook59]

Great video. Thanks.

[@patrickvolpe7508]

Thank You for this video

[@Verntaff50]

I subscribed to your channel as soon as MSFS Came out ,Never disappointed of your helpful knowledge

[@jonbeckett]

I'm just sharing what I learn as I go :)

[@tonyslight826]

that was great gonna give it a try in window mode along side your video thank you.

[@jackem8922]

Superbly explained. Even though I'm a PPL, I've only flown with steam gauges, so the G1000 lessons are very enlightening, as are the explanations for some of the functions of MSFS, which can be somewhat non-intuitive at times.

[@rkparis3064]

Well done. The best.

[@matthawk04]

Awesome, thank you sir! You once again took me from Whaaaaat??? to Ohhhhhhh!!! Much appreciated! Happy flying!

[@tubeztoonz]

Nicely done!

[@SimmiJonsson]

Fantastic video!

[@salasnet8]

Jonathan, I wish to join the chorus of folks congratulating you on an excellent beginner tutorial. As an old-school simmer since FS98 and an educator myself, this is the kind of content that I think is sorely needed for MSFS. I truly think you could and should make a continuing series exploring the different radios and navigation options, slowly increasing the complexity. You did an ILS approach for this video, perhaps the next video you could do a GPS precision approach with the G1000. You could then maybe do an ILS and GPS approach tutorial using the 530. Another video you could do the planning in the airplane using the G1000 and explore some of its features. With your great facility for explaining and great pedagogical sense, I think you could definitely become the "teacher" to the MSFS folks who want to do more than just get in the air an fly around. And yes, I do know that you already have a LOT of content of this type... but I think that a completely structured... follow this videos in this order and getting increasingly complex would be a great series. Once again. Great job with this one!