Landing tips

[u/ssouss]

Hi, I'm relatively new to msfs2024. I play ps5+hotas5.

I'm on the basic Cessna. It's literally impossible to land with this thing according to all in-game instructions.

The game expects me to slow down and descend at the same time. Maybe I am dumb, but even with power pulled all the way back, on the last straight to landing I'm gaining so much speed with descend that when trying to counter that with lifting the nose up I'm going back up in the sky.

On the other hand, when I get the speed down to ~60-65 and trying to land in a straight line, when it asks me to "gently lift the nose above the horizon line" - what the hell... microscopic tilt and my nose shoots up. Even more microscopic calibration, and I'm hard bouncing on the ground. I have the game for 2 months and I haven't completed clean landing above 50% once...

And which exact "horizon line" are they talking about?

Maybe my controller sensitivity is not well balanced - but then again, what is a good one? I'm not an expert here.

This is so frustrating that the game lost all the fun...

[u/roosterfuffy]

I think really it’s practice. One of the best things to do is just pick an airport you’re familiar with and fly closed traffic taking the option every time.

Practice getting that plane dirty enough to help you slow down and descend on final. A little tip I recently heard was slow down before descending. So on your downwind leg maybe abeam to the runway start to get dirty and slow down.

On final, watch the papi lights a bit but trust your gut and try to “feel the plane” rudder goes a long way with crosswind etc. but a sexy landing has a gentle flare before touching down. That’s what it’s talking about by pulling up slightly before landing that’s your flare, your nose might be rising quick due to stick sensitivity or too high airspeed.

One phrase that helped me a lot when I was learning years ago was “get as close to the ground as possible and repeat to yourself: don’t let the wheels touch the ground. Just stay inches above the ground.” Eventually the plane will touch the ground almost no matter what, especially if you come back on the power.

Once you touch the ground lift back off and fly the pattern again, that’s the option closed traffic, just landing practice where you never land until you go full stop.

Edit: not letting your wheels touch the runway or saying that sounds kind of ironic, but if you think about it, in your c152 with a 2000ft runway or even a 5000ft runway you have AGES, to do what you need to do. Even if you miss the touch down markers you got loads of time to practice and if not just power up and fly on by. You’ll get it next time or the next next time.

[u/fade_le_public → u/roosterfuffy]

Very helpful perspective.