Flight Simulator 2020: Real world pilot normal Cessna 152 circuit tutorial!

I'm a real world PPL who originally trained in C152's at EGNX. Here's a quick video tutorial explaining how a I would fly a circuit at Wellesbourne. Any questions, leave them below and I'll be happy to answer. Also let me know if you'd be interested in a video doing the same in a real 152! I'll have to dig my GoPro out.
Inspired by Fly Theston's video • Learning To Fly Episod... who made this amazing scenery. This dude is a genius, go check him out.
Scenery: flightsim.to/file/1191/egbw-w...
C152X mod: github.com/DRF30q/C152X
Latest version of the checklist I am using: www.afeonline.com/shop/afe-ch...
PC Specs
MSI Z390 Gaming Plus
9600k OC@4.9
MSI GTX 1080Ti
H100i V2 cooler

[@SamGaskell-vg5tg]

Brought back some great memories. Completed my PPL at Wellesbourne. Scenery is stunning! And the Vulcan is iconic!

[@captainicelander3898]

Nice vid ExPat. Looked very smooth, and yes you'r right, flaring that thing is so much easier in real world.

[@bigfishtarpon4958]

Nicely done. Thank you.

[@robinbanerjee2520]

Really enjoyed your calm & methodical explanation. Always something to learn from videos like these. Thank you for posting.

[@expataviator7107]

Really glad you enjoyed it!

[@Lively_1185]

Such a good video since I like to fly the virtual plane as real as possible for hopefully my pursuit to a private pilot license. Thanks for sharing your advice for newbies like me to follow.

[@expataviator7107]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@ellonysman]

What we need now , including sweet love, is a nice set of floats to attach to the Skyhawk....or the bush planes...

[@FlyingTheston]

Thank you so much for putting this together, it's such a great learning resource!

[@expataviator7107]

Glad it helped ! Keep making that amazing scenery !

[@FlyingTheston]

@@expataviator7107 I've taken a bunch of notes from your video and I'm going to try again following how the real pros do it! I've also updated the EGBW scenery now, has a better vulcan bomber model in, taxi way signs (from what I can figure out from watching youtube videos of the airport) and removed some of the other tower blocks in the surrounding area (where they should just be farms!). I'll do another video of my second lesson today, see if I've improved at all :D

[@torirushton8597]

Aw Wellesbourne… I’m learning there at the moment and doing circuits so this has been superb to help with all the things needed to remember to do all checks, direction and landing tips.. we are told to put 3rd flaps down a bit earlier but hey sometimes I don’t even remember to do that when I turn onto finals yet ! Sooo much to learn but your video has really helped to embed it all. Thanks you

[@expataviator7107]

Glad it was helpful! Have a bacon sandwich for me in the cafe!

[@raymondgill9796]

Interesting and enjoyable. Thank you.

[@londoncabbie5511]

Excellent video, very well explained. Thanks.

[@jackclemens8092]

Thanks for posting this, was just the clear tutorial I was looking for. Currently installing the simulator to my PC. Will definitely be referring back to this very soon.

[@expataviator7107]

Most welcome

[@jackclemens8092]

@@expataviator7107 a successful first time flight (except the landing)! I think the runways are different to the standard scenery perhaps, they weren't where I expected them to be when I landed, haha!

[@expataviator7107]

@@jackclemens8092 congratulations!

[@amandastubbs1763]

Very helpful, thank you. I am low hours PPL student, just starting in the circuit. It's a shock to find yourself at capacity doing the same things you did in the practice area!

[@expataviator7107]

I know right! I found it helpful just to sit in a chair, close my eyes, and go through the circuit from memory over and over to get my muscle memory down

[@MrBazH]

Really well done tutorial. The best I've seen, with no waffle. If I'd been up with you IRL, I'd buy you a pint. Learning in MSFS 2020 and got quite attached to the 152! Happy Landings!

[@expataviator7107]

Thanks!! A pint would go down nicely right about now!

[@pilotwasif]

Excellent video, explained nice and crisp, to the point, I am doing circuits now a days flying Tecnam P92. I am using Cessna 152 in MSFS 2020 to practice the best rate of climb speed and grade 1 turns and landings. I was looking for such video I happy that I have found it. Thank you once again for taking the time and sharing your knowledge.

[@expataviator7107]

You are most welcome!

[@Longbyname]

Am I the only one following you through the checklist as well? I’m currently going through my PPL lessons so this tutorial is quite handy to keep my mind up to speed! Thank you.

[@expataviator7107]

Glad to hear it! Where are you doing your lessons?

[@andrewsanderson1235]

Many thanks for your superior knowledge on this aircraft. I've been flying IFR in the sim for most of the time, but I thought I'd like to try VFR. The 152 is a great aircraft for learning the basics, and I found that keeping the trim steady is quite difficult at first, but I got there in the end. Next I'd like to try VFR navigation. Once again, thanks for your video.

[@expataviator7107]

You’re welcome! Even if the real one in cruise I’m always tweaking the trim :)

[@davenguyen1968]

Excellent sir

[@petervanderkolk4807]

Nice video with good commentary

[@amandastubbs1763]

Just watched again to refresh my memory. I solo'd a few months ago but have hardly flown since. Wx looks good for solo consolidation tomorrow so I'm flying the chair 😎. Thanks for posting the best circuit video I've seen!

[@expataviator7107]

So glad you find it useful!!!

[@expataviator7107]

I was hoping to go see a first solo video on your channel!

[@amandastubbs1763]

@@expataviator7107 ha,ha. No-one video my greaser! 😂

[@astromatt75]

This was just what I was after - thanks

[@karolkostial1772]

Perfect video, thank you very much! Much appreciated.

[@expataviator7107]

So glad you found it useful!

[@kennykanada]

Excellent instructions! Thank you! In VR, one has the runway in sight at all times, as in real world. I can hit the numbers every time 👌😉

[@expataviator7107]

Oh I know, it’s much easier in VR! I’ve got a reverb, what do you use ?

[@kennykanada]

@@expataviator7107 Oculus Quest 2 (i7 10700, RTX3080, 32g)

[@livestock9722]

@@kennykanada just getting back into flying myself and figured I'd get reacquainted through a sim/VR. It's actually easier in real life! But still appreciate the utility of sim practice. A little choppy on my Pimax 8kx.

[@ensorgumbs6435]

Helpful video.

[@jarrodclyne707]

This is great, thank you!

[@expataviator7107]

Welcome!

[@mikeleput2580]

Great lesson. It is good to have in an English accent. Plus a view from the pilot's seat so as to get the picture.

[@ratking948]

Great video and instruction thank you. Just wondering if there are any other flight sims that offer good lessons and tutorials now that I have completed MSFS 2020's tutorials. I really want to learn more about landing patters and procedures!

[@Lionheart1157]

Brilliant. As a student PPL who's recently gone solo this is the best example I have come across of a realistic circuit flown in a flight sim - be that MSFS of XP. No offence to anyone, but real world pilots fly completely differently to armchair simmers (not surprising really). I really appreciated watching this video which demonstrates the kind of practice I could do on a sim. Thanks!

[@everythinggaming7938]

not true most simmers that take it seriously fly close to real life as possible that said I know many ''real life pilots'' and none of them fly the exact same each one has their own techniques which makes them comfortable

[@Lionheart1157]

@@everythinggaming7938 what a load of b0llocks. Your response absolutely proves my point. It is impossible for a "simmer" to fly realistically when they have never spent time experiencing and learning airmanship in three dimensions in the air. I do not mean somebody follows a taxi line, or goes through a start-up checklist. I mean fine detail skills such as speed of roll rate, diligence in maintaining level flight parameters, looking out the window 98% of the time in VFR conditions. Aspects that are of little significance in a sim, but very obviously matter in real flying.

[@everythinggaming7938]

@@Lionheart1157 I have 6378 hours of real life air time settle down mate, you are just blabbing, many simmers out there have extensive knowledge and many simmers have become real life pilots not just private pilot but professional and thanked using sims for their success in training and there is plenty of so called arm chair simmers that follow all procedures to the book especially those that use sky vector

[@Lionheart1157]

@@everythinggaming7938 perhaps we are misunderstanding each other. I agree with what you are saying. yet ALSO many armchair simmers use a sim like a game, and do not do as you say. since the launch of MSFS that proportion has multiplied. both of us can be correct. i found your black and white dismissal of my comment uncalled for. the whole point of my comment was in support of exactly the people you refer to.

[@everythinggaming7938]

@@Lionheart1157 ah right I understand what you mean now, I only considered simmers people that take the simulator seriously those that just play it for fun I refer to as gamers not armchair simmers

[@alpermertkan1522]

So helpful thank you!

[@expataviator7107]

Welcome !

[@del80y]

I can land pretty good In msfs in the 152 but I'm no pilot, and I've been wanting to learn more about correct procedures etc, this tutorial was perfect, straight forward and simple to understand without being boring. Thank you.

[@expataviator7107]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@del80y]

@expataviator7107 oh I meant to say. You mentioned that it's awkward to see other traffic and look around in the sim. Have you thought about VR? It's a game changer for Flight Sim. ✈️

[@expataviator7107]

@@del80y yeah I have a reverb G2 but it’s not quite there yet for me graphically. Still awesome fun (and I don’t want to drop $$$ on a better headset yet! )

[@nuummuun]

Very good. Thank you, Sir. From Rio - Brazil

[@expataviator7107]

De nada!

[@amirazimi1036]

very good

[@flightsimflyeruk]

Great tutorial - thank you for taking the time to share this with us. I noted you kept carb heat applied all the way to touchdown - my (simulated) training was to remove carb heat at a height of about 300' so full power was available in the event of a go-around. Any thoughts on that?

[@expataviator7107]

Yeah I’ve seen that done before but I was taught it was one more thing to be thinking about on final. My instructor taught me to have my thumb out during the go around and as you advance the throttle you push in the card heat also. However I actually think your way might be better. I did a real go around once and forgot the carb heat and was confused about the lack of power for a split second. Also, a closed carb heat won’t be ingesting crap from the runway as it’s unfiltered

[@vikramodedra4351]

👍really good vid, subscribed hope we will see more informative tutorial vid in future

[@expataviator7107]

Thanks! Let me know what you want to see!

[@vikramodedra4351]

@@expataviator7107thanks 👍 how realistic is flight dynamics of this MSFS C152? Do you use any mod??

[@expataviator7107]

@@vikramodedra4351 it’s reasonable but not perfect. Even with the mod which improves things, it’s still not as fluid/real feeling to me as XPlane given that it’s still really just FSX under the covers with a some turbulence simulation. I’d love to do a split screen with me flying the real one on the same pattern but it’s winter here now and flying is no fun

[@vikramodedra4351]

Thanks, what is your favourite aircraft in Xplane ?

[@expataviator7107]

@@vikramodedra4351 id say the AFL king air!

[@Henkkanen]

FS home pilot: "oh shit, theres a bus on the way, i better brake and go around" Real world pilot: "we'll just drive through that annoying bus". 5/5

[@expataviator7107]

Quite!

[@LaserHighway]

5:03 you clotheslined that dude with your wing lol

[@expataviator7107]

He was a member of the people’s front of Judea. Splitter!!

[@jltaviation]

Before you start taxing, add the power, Move forward and apply the brakes to verify that the brake system is working properly.

[@callummorgan-jones4272]

Hey man, nice video! Could you let me know some of your graphics settings because your sim looks great! Cockpit and landscape look really detailed and you aren’t getting any lag by the looks of it Thanks

[@expataviator7107]

Hey! This was so long ago I could not even guess what they were. Honestly just a lot of trial and error

[@mikenyagawa3929]

VERY GOOD GUIDE...SALUT

[@expataviator7107]

Thank you! Salut!

[@thesolaraquarium]

❤ great. I am surprised that ‘one white-one red’ on approach would make it not possible to reach the runway without engines? I thought all approaches and circuit heights especially the glideslope 3 degrees was designed so that you could reach a runway dead-stick in an emergency? I must have been wrong. I have not seen it written anywhere, I just assumed it. Watching this video showed me how variable circuits can be even in the same aircraft. I suppose it depends on the place and the instructor. My instructor told me about a guy who used to land planes with a constant throttle setting right to above the runway threshold. It was not his method but he told me other methods were possible.

[@expataviator7107]

Depends on the airplane and technique but for some types that is the standard way to land. And yeah whether you can glide a 3 degree slope depends on the airplane type. And remember the lights may not always be set at 3 degrees!

[@thesolaraquarium]

@@expataviator7107 OK. After an hour playing around with clouds in MSFS I worked out what ‘scatter’ does in case you do not know. Coverage is say 5% of the sky but a high scatter of above 70 means small clouds are distributed evenly across the sky, but a low scatter means they are clumped together more (more blue sky appears), but still 5% of the sky is covered in clouds if that makes sense.

[@amirazimi1036]

Thx

[@tymonk7]

Hi, do you fly with a sidestick? And if so, what are your sensitivity settings in sim? My joystick is really sensitive when flying cessna and I would really like to know is it normal or, if not, mayby try to change sensitivity, so it would fly better.

[@expataviator7107]

I fly with a Thrustmaster T16000 most of the time. I have not changed the sensitivity in the sim. Honestly neither that or a Honeycomb Alpha FEEL like a real airplane at all. Controls in a 152 are pretty light and sensitive IRL. But in the sim there’s no feedback or pressure from the airflow so its just not the same. I hate hand flying the sim it’s WAY harder than it is in reality.

[@calamityairlines9762]

Hello from Bournemouth, Dorset. Your not missing much in the UK

[@expataviator7107]

Except a pork pie and a Tesco egg custard !

[@calamityairlines9762]

@@expataviator7107 I love a pork pie 🙂

[@Gega_Zautashvili.]

Thats very random but a friend of mine is flying there aswell :D

[@61tree_VR_Gliding]

Excellent video! I'm a complete novice, how do you know which direction the wind is going?

[@expataviator7107]

I real life either by looking at the windsock on the airfield, listening to automated weather information over the radio, or via an app on phone/tablet. In the sim you can just google something like EGBB METAR for example for Birmingham. Search youtube for understand METARS and TAFS. That should get you started!

[@61tree_VR_Gliding]

@@expataviator7107 Excellent, thank you!

[@lpappas474]

Nice job on the video. As a point of interest on when to remove flaps after landing. It is not to difficult to control an airplane on the ground after touching down during calm conditions. The challenge is during crosswind conditions meeting or exceeding the pilots experience. Its handling as quickly as possible the transition from a flying vehicle to a ground vehicle and GA training airplanes suck as ground vehicles. GA manufactures do not recommend taxing with the flaps down and yet there are some pilots who have taken the position its OK if you have just landed and you are taxing to exit the runway. The last time I looked the Cessna 152 isn't anywhere close to the weight of a 737 taxing off the runway with flaps down, its closer to a kite. How I handle a landing is after the nose wheel has touched down at the slowest possible speed I raise the flaps to transfer as much weight of the airplane from the wings to the landing gear. In other words I want the airplane as far away from flying speed as possible. Once I have the airplane at a taxi speed I can maintain control, I will exit the runway. Learn to transition from flying speed to taxing speed as quickly and safely as possible in mild crosswind condition so on those not so good flying days you can handle the landings associated with strong crosswinds.

[@expataviator7107]

It’s a fair approach to take and if it works for you then I’m all for it. Personally I don’t like the risk of misidentification of a control, and I’ve landed the 152 in some pretty crazy crosswinds and have never had a problem with getting airborne or lifting a wing. We all touch down close to if not at the point of stall anyway, right ?!

[@lpappas474]

It sounds as if your landing at the minimum controllable airspeed which is great. As an instructor I found too many student pilots and private pilots touching down at high airspeeds that result in high side loads on the landing gear caused by over controlling the nose wheel steering, or pushing forward on the yoke control and ending up on the nose wheel. There is a good reason the POH shows how the flight control surfaces should be deflected while taxing, I would think the manufacture hasn't changed their position on where flight surfaces should be placed while taxing off a runway. There is a very good reason why more than 45% of aircraft accidents occur during the final approach and landing phase.

[@expataviator7107]

@@lpappas474 now taxiing a piper cub or on the rollout …that quickly teaches you to position the controls for the wind!

[@lpappas474]

@@expataviator7107 Sounds as if you are finding out about how important it is to maintain directional control with the rudder pedals. Tail draggers are a lot of fun to fly. I'm sure your instructor has told you how important it is to keep your heels on the floor while landing.

[@expataviator7107]

@@lpappas474 Except the brakes on the cub are heel brakes :D

[@MLunenborg]

I know this video is over two years ago, but I do have a singular question. How do you know, how long to fly a upwind/downwind/basewind leg? As a Flightsim flyer no real world experience, I struggle so much with this. Do you count? Or just 'wing it'?

[@expataviator7107]

Well it really depends on the airplane and the wind. But a good rule of thumb is look out behind you and when the runway is about you 5 o clock that’s a good time to turn base. Real world, it’s just experience and it takes time to master

[@MLunenborg]

@@expataviator7107 solid advice, I will keep the 5 o clock in mind. Thanks!

[@qantasboya3808]

I doing flight training but is the c 172 or 152

[@deeo4888]

awsome video man. would you say it handles like the real thing?

[@deeo4888]

you should more videos like this that attract a wider audience. youre very enjoyable to watch and listen to.

[@expataviator7107]

Yes and no. By the numbers its pretty close. But you just can’t recreate how it FEELS in the real aircraft, you know?

[@deeo4888]

@@expataviator7107 oh i get like the gforces and stuff like that but if the numbers are similar and it stalls/rolls/pitch/yaw in a similar way thats good enough for me i guess. too bad it floats so much when landing

[@alimsh2680]

Is it normal for the cessna to stray to the left when taxiing? Great video.

[@expataviator7107]

Not in my experience

[@REEkid124bloopers]

People we don't want to chop up as opposed to people we do want to chop up. 😂 Nice job.

[@noneNone-mw1px]

Sir I need some screenshot from cessna 152. I do not have good computer to buy this game. Can I ask you for help?

[@BiwiseCoUkGB]

Many Thanks, What Simulator is it ? Can it help a bit to a low hour student Pilot?

[@expataviator7107]

You’re welcome, Microsoft flight simulator and yes!

[@Salem_Alexandria]

Did you have to manually turn the radios off before recording this startup or did you find a way to make the default state of the aircraft radios off? I've been trying to figure out in the files how I could change the default state of the avionics/radios since typically the radios shouldn't be on when starting the battery. Great video btw, thanks for sharing your knowledge about the C152, think I will adjust my checklists accordingly. EDIT: Seems it may be from the mod you are using C152X? Is this mod still compatible with modern versions of the game? EDIT #2: After some investigating it seems C152X is now known as JPLogistics C152. Going to give this a try and see how it does. EDIT #3: Just to report back in case someone else reads this, yes JPLogistics C152 fixes this issue.

[@expataviator7107]

Yep had to do it manually

[@FatParamotorGuy]

I was taught to fly in the UK and was taught to reduce power at the end of the runway downwind not on base. Perhaps it was just a local thing?

[@expataviator7107]

Must have been a thing at East Midlands flying school!

[@FatParamotorGuy]

@@expataviator7107 Possibly. Sounds like you were fairly local. I learned to fly at Sheffield Aeroclub (Netherthorpe) but finished at Doncaster Aeroclub which flew out of Sturgate after the Doncaster airstrip was shut down. I did my QCC Sturgate - East Midlands - Leeds Bradford. It was late 1980 though, so it may also be an age thing!

[@expataviator7107]

@@FatParamotorGuy some short runways there! Yeah I finished my PPL in 1999. Going for my instrument rating next week!

[@timaidley7801]

If you set your altimeter to zero at field elevation, won't that mean that your transponder is broadcasting the incorrect altitude?

[@expataviator7107]

No. Most GA aircraft with that type of transponder are not linked to the altimeter. ATC relying on pilots setting an altimeter incorrectly would be too risky. Most just always broadcast standard pressure and the ATC scope adjusts for whatever the transition level is that day.

[@BikerFail16]

@@expataviator7107 yeah I don’t think it works like that. You set your altitude from sea level not zero it out.

[@expataviator7107]

@@BikerFail16 you can do either. Depends what you’re doing. If you live high above sea level it’s not worth all the winding

[@onemanslonelyjourney3805]

praise the lord. we are safe on the ground.

[@karlhouseknecht]

Is a right hand pattern common in the UK?

[@expataviator7107]

More common than I’ve seen in the USA

[@stuartessex4535]

Hi from the UK! I am a real world pilot too, and would like to get into sims. However, I know NOTHING about them and a bit of a technophobe. I own a windows 7 laptop which you put coal in, and my mobile is 8 years old!🤣 What sort of expense would I be looking at to get a set up like yours, I assume four figures? P.S was that a VR headset? Best regards Stu

[@expataviator7107]

Yeah four figures easily to make it useable. Microsoft flight simulator works on the newer XBOX models so that could be a simpler more accessible option? And yep, I have a VR headset

[@stuartessex4535]

@@expataviator7107 Thanks for your reply! My daughter has a reasonably new XBOX. I might pursue that angle first before going big bucks!

[@spectre0755]

How did you get the low volt light working?

[@expataviator7107]

Aww the mod listed in the description

[@spectre0755]

@@expataviator7107 Thanks mate.

[@spectre0755]

I am using the honeycomb alpha yoke and i turn the key to start than the engine stutters how can i fix this?

[@expataviator7107]

I don’t have that yoke, but just wondering if the fuel is on? Mixture rich?

[@spectre0755]

@@expataviator7107 Yeah fuel on mixture rich

[@spectre0755]

A glitch or bug maybe?

[@expataviator7107]

@@spectre0755 hard for me to say as I don’t have the yoke. You might get more ideas if you post on the honeycomb support or other flight sim forums or discord ?

[@mikenyagawa3929]

WHAT CONTROL ARE YOU USING

[@expataviator7107]

Thrust master T1600M

[@vikramodedra4351]

It is shame that despite being most used aircraft for GA training no reputed developers gave it consideration it deserve.

[@fernandoferraz3527]

Just Flight has a pretty good Cessna 152 its for P3d and FSX only though

[@1UTUBEUSERNAME]

Nice Video

[@douglasmcintyre3297]

55 knots is too high a rotation speed.. You need to rotat at closer to 47-50 knots.