User Guide

Flight Simulator

20002000

2000

Microsoft

The airplane will return to straight-and-level flight on its own. Now that you understand straight

flight, let’s move on to level flight.

Making Sure You’re on the Level

Let’s see what happens to your altitude when you pitch the airplane’s nose up or down.

1. Even though the altitude hold mode is still active, gently pull the joystick back about one inch

from its center position, hold it there, and watch the response.

The airplane pitches up and the attitude indicator’s

miniature airplane also points upward, toward the sky (the

blue) as shown in Figure 4A.

2. Look at the altimeter, which is located directly to the right of

the attitude indicator (Figure 4B).

The biggest hand (the hundred foot hand) is moving

clockwise. And, just like the hands of a watch, clockwise

movement means something is increasing. In this case it’s

your altitude.

Directly below the altimeter is the vertical speed indicator (VSI). Its needle also deflects upward

showing a rate of climb (Figure 4C). This is another indication that you’re climbing and not

maintaining level flight.

3. Return the joystick to its center position and let the airplane

settle back into level flight (remember, the autopilot’s altitude

hold and wing leveler features are still active).

Once the altimeter’s hands and the VSI’s needle stop

moving, proceed to the next step for a pitch-down

demonstration.

4. Pitch the airplane downward with a gentle forward push of

about one inch on the joystick.

The attitude indicator’s miniature airplane points toward the

surface (the brown color) as shown in Figure 5A. Notice that

the altimeter unwinds (rotates counter-clockwise) indicating

a loss of altitude (Figure 5B). The VSI also shows a rate of

descent as its needle deflects downward (Figure 5C). It’s safe

to say that if the big hand of the altimeter stops moving and the VSI needle indicates zero, then

you’re in level flight. Let’s see.

5. Gently move the joystick to place the attitude indicator’s miniature airplane directly over the

Figure 4

Figure 5

A B