FSX TUTORIAL - How to Make Smooth Landings

This is a tutorial that will show you how to land like a pro in Flight Simulator X. If you're struggling to master your flare, I will give you a few tips that will hopefully help you out. After watching this tutorial and practicing, you should start to make landings that make you look like a real pilot. If you have any questions or you are struggling with something, please let me know and I will try and help you out. Drop a comment, like, and subscribe! Thanks for watching!
Background Music: "Heart of Courage" by Two Steps from Hell
*Note that approach and landing speeds will vary depending on the type of aircraft and the developer of the aircraft.
ADDONS USED:
Aircraft: PMDG 737-800 NGX
Repaint: McPhat Studios 737 NGX Freeware
Scenery: FlyTampa Tampa Intl
Water/Clouds: REX 2.0
Video Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 11
System Specs:
AMD Phenom 9850 Quad Core Processor
8184MB RAM
DirectX 11
32-bit
Device:
NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GS
200 MB

[@ZO_id]

Smoothness - 10/10 Center Line - 8/10 Technique - 10/10 Score: 9.4

[@kwazidonsta3658]

KingZong Gaming #airforceproud96

[@azadahmedkhan]

I give him straight 10.0

[@orbitalmc7469]

My landings: Smoothness - 9/10 Centerline - 10/10 Technique - 8/10 Score: 9.1

[@kedapofeng8993]

OrbitalMC blog it

[@CAG2]

I always come back just to see that touchdown

[@XraLaughsKaden]

Ikr

[@CAG2]

You landed so hard that +Dunc_Man had to go to Walmart to get a new spine for you, since they were on discount (lmao)

[@MarEpor]

me too

[@grahamboaviation]

+CAG2 CAGGY lmao when g+ community peeps see eachother

[@NICOCRAFTAviation737]

CAG2 hi

[@salimbenchekroun6037]

That landing was just... BUTTER.

[@aj384]

What a greaser.

[@zichaviator001]

no swiss001

[@cancelanime1507]

Salim Benchekroun Ryanair wants to know you’re location

[@talhasiddiqi3398]

A couple of facts you should get right: 1.In calm conditions, flaps 25 landings are never done. 2. Landing gear is extended before intercepting the final approach. 3.Landing flaps are extended when intercepting the final approach path. 4. A high or low approach is not a pilots choice, it's a 3 degree glide path unless otherwise stated in the airport charts. 5. Your approach speed is WAY too high 6. The flare is NOT a controlled stall in the 737. It is in the cessna but not in the 737. Moreover you need a certain pressure on the wheels upon landing to deploy auto brakes and spoilers. A 10 feet/min landing simply won't do the trick. All in all that was a really good landing.

[@falfarizihasan]

Talha Siddiqi thx man

[@JoshHookerJoshhook123]

Talha Siddiqi that’s not true Landing gear is not always extended before joining the final approach course. And true nobody I know of does flap 25 for the 73 irl.

[@klm7473]

Manual spoiler deploy for the win!

[@PedroAugusto-ye7qw]

According to the Boeing 737 FCOM, you as a pilot flying during the landing procedure must ask the pilot monitoring to extend the landing gear not necessarily before intercepting the final approach, but when you get glideslope alive indication, look: Landing procedure Pilot flying At glide slope alive, call: • “GEAR DOWN” • “FLAPS 15”

[@gheorghemalic8414]

@@JoshHookerJoshhook123 ye fr the landing gear is deployed on final

[@AishiMTA]

for some people, the main problem will be the descent rate than the speed/flare.

[@supertminecraft8675]

My problem is having the wrong starting altitude...

[@MattMathieu25]

Yes!! I am good in the small planes but have trouble in the a321

[@satsukilarge4826]

Called a air brake not a spoiler

[@rehnen6840]

+Satsuki Large pilots says spoilers you noob

[@HS-zm4ow]

+A maniac.. not a good one. Right to the point,controlling the descent rate is the hardest(Personally thought)

[@patrickmosur7868]

You should participate in AF95's landing competitions.

[@jonesysproductions]

But then it wouldn't be fair ;)

[@bellcc2930]

Well, NickFlightX is just as good as this guy, so he could join.

[@kedapofeng8993]

NO ITS AIRPROUD76

[@EclairVMCA]

HBSurf it's Productproud59

[@gabebean3070]

Productforce94

[@JeanPierre94061]

When it comes to real world airliner landings the "smooth & charter landing" is in fact not a "good" landing. When you take your type rating you get to learn that you are supposed fly the aircraft onto the runway with 2-5fpm and accomplish the landing roll. This is because the aircraft will use up a lot more runway that necessary if you float out and make it ultra smooth. The shock absorbers are there to be used.

[@cuberbuilder4847]

yeah yeah what ever

[@Anthony-uk4hu]

shut the fuck up

[@ShadowRaptor42]

@@Anthony-uk4hu why

[@maiamaya381]

Number 15 he’s not lying though

[@cancelanime1507]

Number 15 facts

[@hloxyman9346]

Best tutorial I've ever seen on landing. Most people flare on approach by reducing their speed drastically, and lose control of the plane, then bump it on the runway or even get a tail strike.

[@md83ar]

Now that's a smooth landing! Good job. I always try my best to land as smoothly as possible.

[@bonzaithe1st]

Also what many people may want to do is save your flight about 5-8 minutes before touchdown (I know its not very realistic if that's what you're going for, but it helps to get great practice). That way you can take as many attempts at it as you want without having to go all the way around and set up for the approach again.

[@invaderchriss]

I'm an idiot and always try to use the ILS :)

[@ifly7777]

I actually don't even know how to use ILS after flying FSX for 3 years

[@invaderchriss]

***** I use the ILS for guidance, actually. Like, I control rate of descent and throttle control and I let the ILS align me.

[@DanielGonzalez-xh4xj]

invaderchriss VOR

[@IntellectualHazard]

invaderchriss i only use the Ils to align and use the glideslope lights on the runway

[@ShadowRaptor42]

@@ifly7777 me neither

[@hectorzambrano4092]

I came to this when I was still learning how to fly when I played FSX for the first time in late 2015. Good old memories!

[@qlucas5510]

It's so.. Satisfying..

[@husswachi]

Blue Gamer Ikr!

[@niilojoukanen106]

Wow! That was 100% best flaring I have ever seen.

[@MattyBo02]

well I have been playing FSX since I was little...I'd say about 12 years :) Ive just learned to have a steady hand I guess!

[@MattyBo02]

yes in the FSX display settings, and the dark clouds come with REX when you set the sky to overcast

[@HiHello-pl4tj]

Landing speed is calculated by the FMC from putting in your gross weight...he landed with 25 degrees flaps at 165 kt. If I could have a ballpark estimate of that aircraft landing speed, it would be from 120kt, all the way up to 150 kt with different flap variations, all calculated by gross weight of the aircraft and the reference speed and flaps that you get from the fmc. Also it's not usually 9 to 10 miles out, it is however far your STARs have you turn. For example, the CLARR2 arrival at KLAS will have you lining up with the runways at around 25 miles. Good flight control and all but soft landings don't need to be that soft, it should be about a second and a half or 2 seconds after you get the 10' GWPS warning that you actually touch down. Happy landings!

[@westfal1000]

That is correct but the knots for landing are 135 knots 20 m above ground cut throttle to idle then speed brakes when the nose gear touches the ground reverse thrust. Retract the speed brake on taxiway then turn apu on.

[@HiHello-pl4tj]

The landing speed is dictated by the weight of the plane and the landing conditions. It's not a fixed speed.

[@westfal1000]

***** But anyway the 737-800 lands 145 kts

[@HiHello-pl4tj]

No it doesnt, maybe that could be the average landing speed, I'd have to look. But it is different every time depending on the weight of the load and the conditions youre flying in. It ranges from 120kts all the way up to 160 or so if landing nearly full (which is rare and impractical). Basically what I'm saying is that this video is giving false info. Normally a 737 lands with 30 flaps, due to noise abatement procedures. The landing speed isnt something you can just pull up and be like "Hmm, about 165kts is good", thats not how it works, maybe in a cessna, but not in a giant commuter aircraft. You calculate the landing speed by inputting the gross weight and some other figure (havent simmed since March due to work). This video just isnt good at all at teaching someone how to land, its just teaching you how to make a flashy video that you can then title "FSX EXTREME REALISM LANDING ST MAARTEN ULTRA GFX 737-800 COCKPIT VIEW". Landing this A/C PROPERLY is a very technical process that cant be explained in a 4 minute video. Go and watch Genc Vadikus videos or Sava Markovic, take notes, read them before bed, look at FCOMs, thats how its meant to be done.

[@westfal1000]

Ok

[@Homik111]

People on that plane probably wouldn't even notice that they landed! Smoothest landing I've ever seen and really nice video. Thanks!

[@ryandyc]

What degree should the flare be at?

[@nicklasbenjamin2520]

ryandyc at about 5-7 degrees noose up

[@ivanharasta]

DaBallsShooter HD haha

[@jb894]

+DaBallsShooter HD zzzzzzzzzzzz...

[@luke34121]

+Ryan Elkochta That is way too high for a flare. It is usually about 1.5-3 degrees if you're doing it properly.

[@luke34121]

***** Oh, well then that makes sense.

[@fernaldykurniawan8220]

That is the best smoothest landing ever i've ever seen!

[@CrazyAlexer]

BEST LANDING EVER ;)

[@iimrluckyx6362]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enm3dWZvgc6qf6s the 5th here is better

[@hanifreij5497]

I’ve been watching this video frequently since the first time you posted this video 😫 Nostalgia 100 🥶

[@Vivaxsolutions]

What happens if you go too slow

[@Minecod111]

You will stall!

[@jibreel9266]

#STALL

[@tcaudiomute]

+Vivax Solutions you will stall or hard-landing .

[@jackbattin9057]

crash!

[@HorizonSpeed26]

you wont be able to slow your decent enogh before stalling if you are about 3 knots away from the low red bar

[@josephgiuliani3517]

dude i watched ur video and now I'm landing smoothly 24/7 thx man

[@mellersfc]

My pc is better, yet it can't handle the pmdg 737 without lag :(

[@RUssianPilot757]

Congratulations... Shut up.

[@RUssianPilot757]

***** Are you talking to me?

[@RUssianPilot757]

***** Okay. And thanks. ;)

[@Nightningahmh]

How do you know your PC is better?

[@smokingspitfire1197]

***** it might have higher specs

[@FSXPlayerProductions]

This video is sooo satisfying...

[@johanm1479]

It so hard to get the aircraft right at the centerline... :P

[@HorizonSpeed26]

practice m80

[@Soir27]

Johan M i play on mobile and i dont get frustrated *SWAG* im only 9

[@gtamadness100]

Gaming Soir go fuckyourself

[@Soir27]

GtaMadness100 lol why don't do anything to ya boi

[@kristdg]

Gaming Soir “i play on mobile” mobile aint no shitting flight sim. I can play on mobile and easily land like holy shit. Try to fly the PMDG 737-800 NGX with NO tutorial. I’m waiting.

[@guyvannifterik]

I perform my approach at 135/145 knots and land very smooth after the approach. I think the most important is to handle a good final and use the flaps correctly to not have too much or not enough lift during flare. The flare is also the moment to float low above the runway.

[@hanifreij5497]

Man, this video hits different...

[@SKApuNx2711]

The most common procedure to configure the acft for landing : On the intercept hdg : extend the flaps to flaps 5 Once on final, one dot below glide (precision approach) or 2Nm before FAF: select gear down + flaps 15 Reduce speed on the glide to about vref +5 (in most cases) and select flaps 30 or 40 (precision approach). Or select flaps landing .5Nm before FAF

[@MattyBo02]

well honestly it comes with experience. Once you make a bunch of approaches and landings you will start to do it like second nature. But to start off, I would just practice landing in the cockpit while monitering your airspeed and altitude and pitch. Once you get that down you will be able to do it on your own!

[@magnumgrp1]

Thanks for this, Matt, I look forward to viewing more of your crystal-clear tutorials.

[@euro2342]

One of the better tutorials here. Thank you.

[@zaxxfilms6428]

A 200 fpm landing is what you should be aiming for if you want to be realistic. 737 pilots usually start the flare at around 15 ft above the runway, and never pull back the throttles before doing so. They aim for 2-3 degrees of nose up pitch while keeping their eyes 3/4 of the way down the runway to judge their descent rate. Most flight simmers are "afraid of the ground" and flare too early/too severely in the 737NGX, thus causing them to "float" past the midpoint of the runway and having to conduct a go around. When flaring, do not focus on your descent rate, focus on finding that 2-3 degrees of nose pitch upward and holding that nose up attitude while cutting the throttle to idle. I used to focus on my descent rate, and I used to float severely. Now with that technique, my landings are almost always within 100-200 fpm and extremely satisfying to watch in replay mode. Note, this applies to the zibo 737 3.31g in XP 11.30b4

[@XTROOPER15]

I believe the default key for activating spoilers in fsx is "/" (the key with the question mark and slash) Pressing shift + / will arm the spoilers in most jets so that they automatically extend when your wheels touch the ground. You can also program different key assignments for almost anything tin the game by going into settings and then controls.

[@mouradfathi1487]

this is the best landing tutorial for beginners and experts

[@Ryzen_56X]

Yes, that is exactly how I land too, I find it very easy that way. Great video !!!

[@ibrahimjamil2774]

A very smooth landing, I have never seen similar results on any other simulations on KZbin.

[@05ngomap]

exactly what i was thinking. erm i usually use the glidescope to decent down ,but now practising on doing manual decents down to the runway.

[@OfficialMcGeek]

When you are a wings span away from the ground the plane will experience the "Ground Effect" where the air bounces off the ground back under your wing making it easy to maintain altitude and making the flare hard to accomplish without the right airspeed.

[@datanisa]

Lovely video sir! I have seen so many on you tube and it appears most citizens of the USA cannot speak English. All you hear is: Erm, Um, pretty, etc. you give a very good composition and excellent video tutorial...Outstanding, well done!

[@alexyt4434]

what I call smooth landigns is MONEY!!! and you did MOOOOONNEEEYYYY!!!

[@SachinMahesh3]

The landing was the sickest I ever saw!

[@1929GY]

You can even make a tutorial look spectacular! Awesome!

[@AG-Consulting]

Just a tip, approach speed will very depending on your payload, for a correct height follow the ILS or Papi lights, if it's PMDG set your appraoch reference before starting decent, increase your flaps gradually as your plane slows down to your reference speed in which it should be with flaps 30 or 40. As far as speed, if you didn't calculate it with an FMC, rule of thumb you should be able to maintain a 5 degree nose up while following the proper glide slope and a 2.5 degree nose up with flaps at 30, if you're too fast or nose will be lower and vice versa if you're not at the correct speed. Try lining up from 5,000 feet, this should give you enough time to set up your plane for landing.

[@JoshHookerJoshhook123]

André Garcia fuck no,never follow the Papi’s, trust your instruments.

[@JoshHookerJoshhook123]

André Garcia you won’t always be at 5k lol or 4 or 3 you may be told to descend and maintain 2,100. And I may put you on the final approach course 5 miles behind the FAF. (Like irl)

[@ImPuLsZ_22]

Best landing I've ever seen. Well done, man!

[@scooterxiv3778]

This helped me ALOT I needed this to my private flight in an Boeing 737 simulator that I will DO in 1 year from now so in 2018.

[@d0rkiishchris]

If your trying to fly the plane like they do in reality, you can't "cheat" and fly a lower approach. They have a glidepath on that approach for a reason, obstacles. Look at your weight and balance and see what the approach speed should be for the desired flap setting. (It should be provided calculated by your fmc) Fly that speed (+5 to 10 knots depending on the airline's guidelines), typically the plane will be 3 to 6 degrees nose up. You want to be stabilized in that position several miles out before you commit. I know many turbo prop planes have an approach that is typically a few degrees nose down. So with a nose up a few degrees on approach it will actually make conducting the roll-out or flare easier. You won't have to pull back as harshly, ground effect will help you a lot, and the thrust blast against the tarmac will actually slow your rate of descent all on it's own. Airline pilots have told me they just fly it onto the runway, it's not like landing a 172. Yes they flare but they aren't trying to achieve 0 fpm at the perfect moment. Anything less than 200 fpm is really good. The gear, especially on landing gear like the a330 a340 747 and 777 will soak it up at a nice rollout starting somewhere between 100 and 50 ft above the ground. When I'm flying the 777 in xplane, I start a slow rollout and start retarding the throttles once 100 ft is called. I might pull back just a touch more when 20ft is called. It depends, if the weather sucks, just get it on there safely. Most airliners don't even detect a hard landing unless a certain g reading is met, and the pilots aren't even aware of what it was until the airline calls them and tells them it has to be inspected. That's usually going past 600 feet per minute. You're flying a lower approach because your going too fast, it makes achieving a softer landing easier... but again you're lowering your approach so you don't overshoot the touchdown zone. In IFR conditions, how are you going to safely fly a lower approach. What your teaching here is just not how it's done in the real world. But hey, it's just a game. FSX has perfectly flat runways too, even more unrealistic.

[@PikalaxALT]

The exact approach speed, Vref, can be calculated based on your weight. The PMDG NGX does this for you if you have initialized your FMC correctly.

[@dxb8788]

There is calculations for rate of descent and distance , and there is specific speed to lower your landing gear and flaps

[@Noctureal]

I am applying to aviation academy (wish me luck) and due that I started to fly more with FSX to "test" theoretical things with simulator. And this looks damn good.

[@curtcom97]

Great landing! I'm an airline first officer and I couldn't spa any better my self

[@RUssianPilot757]

I think smooth landings are something you have to get a feel for. Especially the flare. But great video!

[@alexl7989]

my first attempt at a landing in this game was a 20 foot bounce in an extra 300. I've decreased my bounce hight since then but I'm still working on it. I haven't even attempted anything in an airliner yet since I'm still a noobs.

[@mamskas]

Corrections: Purpose of flaring is not to stall the aircraft in transport category but to raise attitude to slow descent. You are correct, the proper airspeed contributes to a stabilized descent but all landings should be made per the glide slope or VASI/PAPI and not haphazardly. Also, do not reduce throttle from a stabilized descent until the wheels touch the runway. Premature throttle reduction causes accidents, descent below glidepath, and, in my case I put the Captain Sim 707 into the sea wall on runway 33L at Boston doing that.

[@s.i.m7776]

use your flaps and keep a good eye on the airspeed.dont mess with the throttle too much.if the speed increases use your flaps.before applying the landing gear just give your throttle a tiny boost.but the main thing is youll have to use your flaps all the time.(if an airliner)

[@olliemakesvideos125]

Dude, this was an awesome video! I don’t play FSX so it wasn’t really “helpful” I bet it would have been though if I played FSX lol. I just wanted to say good work because of how straight forward and clear it was! Good work dude!

[@MCHIBullDog]

On the MD-80 at 5 miles you should have full flaps, gear down, and about a 5 degree pitch up and flare at 50 feet above the ground.

[@erikd1616]

At 0:50 he is lowering flaps and at 3:29 he is applying speed brake. Speed brake is a brake lever on the right of the throttle and flaps are to the right.

[@joaobranco1063]

The problem with low approaches is that its harder to line-up with the runway and do small adjustments. Its much easier to line-up from an above point of view with the nose down. And to be honest, in FSX I personally never really gave much attention to that textbook airspeed for landing (Its just to low, it can hardly be maintained, it can stall and its a terrible landing) and I've done fine. Regarding flaring I don't think airspeed matters that much. If you're going faster you pitch up less, if you're going slower you pitch up more. Just do it intuitively, its easy.

[@JoshHookerJoshhook123]

João Branco Wrong, if you are going faster you will float and have to pitch up more.

[@joaoportela3414]

Wow, That's movie production quality. One question, What is the exactly nose up pitch before touchdown ?

[@hakonboen]

+João Portela approx 5-10 degrees pitch up, if you do it any higher, chances are you'll climb again. And since your throttle are idle, the plane will basically stall, and come out as a hard landing. But really there is no correct answer to the exact pitch, you just have to play around with it, because it all comes down to speed and altitude. Hope this helped you! :)

[@HorizonSpeed26]

you raise the front wheel up a few degress[like hakon said] to slow your decent enough to touchdown and not break backs.

[@s.i.m7776]

i liked the flare more than the approach.because his flaring was perfect.if he had done a higher approach it would have been a great landing.however its worth the time.i liked it

[@artsyrosemedia2778]

Idk why but your landing is so satisfying lol

[@NickFlightX]

You missed something very important! Arm the speed brakes so the instant you touchdown, your spoilers deploy and prevent you from bouncing if you over flare. You do this by pressing SHIFT + /.

[@mowthee]

Thanks very much dude, Made a successful landing with my A320 in KSAN!

[@Revoltec120]

A little tip, in the real world you get the gear down at 2000radio feet ;) and at 50 you start the flare and at 20 you set the thrust du idle. You can read that in the PMDG flight manuals

[@SuffyANX]

The plane looks so good because he has a custom texture on it (It's name is in the description) and you put the thrusters in reverse by holding the "F2" key.

[@e04ken14]

Basically flaps/slats are used to fly smoothly that low speed. They are mainly used in fighter jets

[@DavnicMedia]

The best FSX landing i have ever seen!!!

[@AndrewShatrix]

Subbed, you were very good at explaining and the video looked awesome at the same time!

[@MattyBo02]

thanks im glad you think so!

[@nathanchetram287]

Amazing video matt! And I like the use of Heart of Courage by TSFH, I'll give you bonus points for that.

[@worlddynasty1]

You have to activate reverse thrust. Just pull the throttle back as far as you can but the further you pull it the quicker you will have to put it on idol after you reach 10-15 kts

[@luscious_]

Best damn landing I've seen on FSX man good jobs and keep up the good work 😄

[@SuperSurfer60]

I'd probably check the kneeboard (shift+f10) before final approach on the reference tab, that should have approach speeds

[@Bulldog1653]

180 is about right for approach. ATC usually says to maintain 180 knots to the outer marker in real life.

[@frlomlomb7463]

@farrasezra you should flare at around 140, depending on your weight. Remember, you need less lift= less airspeed when you are close to the ground, say within one wingspan, because of ground effect

[@karstenbakker]

Nice mate, Verry good tutorial for those beginners out there !

[@MattyBo02]

haha i love it too! one of my favorite aircraft!

[@MattyBo02]

thank you! but actually this was a visual approach! :)

[@aboveourheadsnz6316]

Thank-you :) This video gives me as an FSX pilot a better understanding of landing an simulated aircraft. I have an unrelated question. What would be the best FREE screen recorder for FSX? Thanks

[@Liam85808]

Very well done great smooth landing and also great graphics no lag makes that much difference!!!

[@tiagocarneiro943]

the video edition is really great, well done

[@ScarboroughParanormal]

i agree with the low approach it just feels safer too

[@barciana]

Thank you very much. Perfect tutorial. Could you please elaborate about, previously armed brakes

[@topdawgkilla881]

gorgeous color correction and video editing, very nicely done

[@MattyBo02]

thank you Im happy to hear that! And I will certainly try!

[@s.i.m7776]

you are right.there is also a theory for landing.youll have fly your final approach by maintaining the speed just above the white arc.the white arc means stall speed. so when the aircraft becomes heavy the stall speed also increases.and as you said the 747 lands also in 145-150 knots.that is correct.according to the theory 145 knots may also be a stall speed for any aircraft.and on 737 160 knots means toooooooooooooo heavy.

[@MattyBo02]

yes i know I explained all of that in the description....but thank you for the information!

[@thijs817]

matt when you're doing the smooth landing at the final moment? which brake you use when you're landed? so the nose going down?

[@maineaviationvideos6759]

I am a very new fsx player and i will for sure try this out

[@Izmael1310]

Nice landing. How did you get the freecam view? FS recorder or ezdok camerA?

[@andrewbroadbent5730]

The landing was magnificent!!

[@MattyBo02]

@Pilot Nathan it is part of the PMDG 737 NGX

[@SimHustler]

Nice video mate! Keep it up and I will remember these steps!

[@atmatthew9699]

That is really good tutorial for a smooth Landing.

[@erikd1616]

Reverse thrust. On the average joystick you can't do this so you have to go into controls and set a button for it. Or you can go into cockpit mode and push the thrusters all the way back past the red safety pin things.

[@MattyBo02]

make sure your weather settings are high enough and then make sure you adjust the cloud coverage to what you want...in this video they were overcast

[@captainrevelreirosario4288]

Thanks for this tutorial I made an smooth landing in my pmdg 777 -80fpm I apply it based on the video

[@jeremieimbs2625]

Perfect landing, congratulations !