My Flight Simulator Journey

In 2023, I started seeing videos on TikTok and YouTube of people flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator. It looked so realistic, and I immediately knew I wanted to experience it myself. At the time, I was playing Airplane Simulator on Roblox, which was fun—but I wanted something more advanced and true to real aviation.

For my 14th birthday in 2024, I asked for money so I could finally start building my dream setup. With what I saved, I bought an Xbox Series X, since Microsoft Flight Simulator doesn’t run on PlayStation. I also got the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight yoke, and not long after that, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 was released—just a few days after my birthday, on November 8.

When I first launched the game, I didn’t know much about flying, but I was determined to learn. I spent hours playing, watching YouTube videos, and slowly figuring things out. I started Career Mode and worked my way up: first as a private pilot, then a commercial pilot. I earned my instrument rating, my multi-engine rating, and eventually my jet and airline transport licenses.

Then, on Christmas in December, I got another surprise—my very own Boeing flight yoke. It made the experience even more realistic and fun, especially when flying airliners.

The plane I fly the most is the Boeing 737. It’s my favorite aircraft in the sim, and I’ve spent hours learning its systems, procedures, and how to fly it just like a real pilot. Soon, I want to purchase the Airbus flight stick so I can start learning Airbus procedures too and get into flying those aircraft.

Recently, I figured out how to set up my flight plans on my iPad, just like real pilots do. I use the MSFS Web Planner to build my route, and then in the game, I go into the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on the iPad, tap “Load Flight Plan,” and it’s all there—ready to go. It feels super realistic and makes the whole experience even cooler.

Now, I’ve logged over 346 hours in the simulator and still play every day. My goal from the start was to fly for an airline in the game—and now I do. Microsoft Flight Simulator has taught me so much, and it’s not just a hobby—it’s helping me build the skills and passion I need for my future career as a real-world airline pilot.