Contents Selecting a Mission Mission Briefings Mission Settings Tips for Flying Missions End a Mission Refly a Mission Saving a Mission Mission Rewards Building Missions Related Links All About Flights Pilot Records

The beauty of Free Flight in Flight Simulator, is that it's like a big kid's sandbox. The whole world is there for you to explore and there are no rules except those that you want to fly by for the sake of realism. The challenges in Free Flight are the ones you set for yourself.

Missions challenge you in a different way. Mission activities have more structure and have one or more goals. You can earn rewards for flying both Missions and Free Flight experiences. Missions also have sounds and events that are triggered during flight to add more challenge, realism, or just for entertainment.

The Mission screen

Selecting a Mission

There is no set order in which you must complete Missions. You may find it useful, depending on your skill level, to fly the Missions in the order and skill level in which they appear in the Missions list.

To select a Mission On the main screen, click Missions. If necessary, filter the Missions list using the Category and Skill level filters. Select a Mission from the list. Click Go to Briefing. After reading the briefing, click Fly!

Mission Briefings

Mission briefings are divided into three sections, displayed on a tabbed page.

The Mission briefing screen

Mission Briefing Overview

The Overview describes the Mission setting, what your role is, and in general what to expect along the way.

Mission Briefing Details

The Details describe the route of flight, which maps to use, and communications options if any.

Mission Briefing Maps & Charts

Your route on the flight is marked on a map and if required, instrument charts are included.

Mission Settings

You can change many settings in Flight Simulator, such as realism, weather, and aircraft, to suit your flying preferences. The settings in each Mission, however, are set specifically for that Mission. Some in-game menus are disabled in Missions and the settings on those menus cannot be changed unless you enable changes.

Note: If you make changes to settings in Missions, you will not earn Rewards for those Missions. Changes to settings such as scenery and controllers will not affect Mission rewards.

To enable changes in a selected Mission On the main Missions screen, select the Enable changes in selected Mission check box.

Tips for Flying Missions

There are certain things to which you should pay attention in Missions and some tools to use to help you complete the Mission successfully.

Mission Audio

Don't assume that the narration or chatter in Missions is there just to fill empty space. Listen carefully to Mission audio for information you may need to complete the Mission successfully.

The Mission Compass

The Mission Compass appears in the upper left corner of the simulator screen during Missions. The Compass points to the next Mission waypoint, providing distance to the waypoint and the elevation of the waypoint. You can cycle through waypoints by pressing K.

The Mission compass

The Mission Pointer

The Mission Pointer is a circle and a string of arrows standing directly over the next Mission waypoint. You can see the Pointer from many miles away and flying toward it will take you directly to the waypoint.

The Mission Pointer in the distance.

End a Mission

You can quit a Mission at any time.

To end a Mission Press ESC. In the End Mission dialog box, click End Mission. -or- On the Flights menu, click End Flight. In the End Mission dialog box, click End Mission.

Refly a Mission

When you quit a Mission, the End Mission dialog box provides an evaluation of your progress. If the Mission is incomplete, or if you're unhappy with your progress, you can refly a Mission at any time.

Note: if you choose Refly in a Mission that you previously saved, you will refly the Mission from the point at which you last saved it.

To refly a Mission Press ESC. In the End Mission dialog box, click Refly Mission. -or- On the Flights menu, click End Flight. In the End Mission dialog box, click Refly Mission.

Saving a Mission in Progress

If you don't have time to complete a Mission, you can save it in progress and fly the rest of it later.

To save a Mission Press ; (SEMICOLON). Type a title and description. Click OK. -or- On the Flights menu, click Save. Type a title and description. Click OK.

To resume a saved Mission On the main screen, click Missions. Select the Show saved Missions check box. Select your saved Mission from the list. Click Go to Briefing. Click Fly!

Mission Rewards

Missions have goals and you are rewarded for acheiving those goals. (To read more, see Pilot Records).

To view Mission rewards On the main screen, click Pilot Records. Click Rewards.

Building Missions

To learn how to build your own Missions, use the Missions Creation Kit. The Missions Creation Kit is a feature of Flight Simulator Deluxe version. For more information, see http://FSInsider.com.