I’d had a passing interest in flight simulation since I was 12, beginning with FS2000 and a basic joystick, but the introduction of VR in X-Plane in 2017 drove me to build a comprehensive setup which finally made me feel like I was in the cockpit and slowly became the only thing I was interested in playing. Two years later, I moved to Boston for graduate school and became a MSFS 2020 beta tester and waited eagerly for VR integration of such a beautiful VFR environment, and when it finally came in earnest in 2022, I invested in a new VR setup which provided a mind-blowing and inspiring experience which drew me in completely. To enhance my aviation knowledge, I incorporated subscription-based air traffic control and read free FAA resources to deepen my knowledge of flight principles. The extensive financial and educational investment eventually prompted me to pursue a Private Pilot certificate that same year.

While my simulator experience provided a valuable foundation, real-world flying was still a significant adjustment. Nevertheless, a familiarity with the instruments, radio communication, and basic principles gave me an edge. Between lessons, I would “chair fly” with my simulator, and I purchased some Desktop Pilot peripherals like the throttle controls and a flaps lever to more closely configure it to match the C152 I was learning in. Correctly positioned controls like these were just what I needed to build a better mental picture while I practiced procedures, checklists, and advanced emergency scenarios in VR, ultimately improving my real-world performance.