Microsoft Flight Simulator Handbook

by Jonathan M. Stern

Takeoff

Takeoff in a light, single-engine airplane is performed with full throttle. Hold down keypad 9 to advance the throttle to full power. The throttle position indicator moves from the bottom to the top of its travel. (See Figure 1.4.)

Figure 1.4. The arrow points to the throttle position indicator.

If the parking brake is set, press the period key to release the brakes. The airplane will accelerate down the runway. At a speed of approximately 50-60 knots, displayed on the instrument at the top left, press keypad 2 four or five times to lift the nose wheel off the runway. Shortly thereafter the airplane will leave the ground. As simple as it may seem, you have taken off. (See Figure 1.5.)

Figure 1.5. This is an outside observer's view of the first takeoff.

Although the retractable landing gear is normally raised around this time in the flight, we are going to pretend that we are flying a Cessna 172, which has fixed (non-retractable) landing gear and a fixed pitch propeller.

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