Top Typical page Left  Typical diagram showing localizer back course

The book begins in Chapter One with a check list of items to do before flying including recommended setting, use of various controllers as well as information on checklists and v-speeds, just to add some practical knowledge.

Chapter Two is all about "Getting from Point A to Point B". All of the flight planning basics are covered as well as descriptions of creating a flight plan for both VFR and IFR situations. The explanations on Controlled airspaces are among the best I have read. Using the Sopwith Camel, Ben takes you through all the steps of a basic VFR flight including some "dead reckoning".

Chapter Three called "Asking for Directions and Arriving on Schedule" covers navaids, more on dead reckoning, as well as and introduction and flight with the Cessna 182RG. From startup to shutdown all of the points are covered.

Chapter Four, "Computer in The Cockpit" introduces the Boeing 777-300 as the platform for covering IFR flying. With excellent detail on IFR Procedures including instrument departures, enroute navigation and terminal arrivals, this chapter takes you into the world of the "big iron" of aviation.

Chapter 5, "Supersonic Flight" brings on the ultimate commercial aircraft the Concorde SST. The startup, flight and shutdown procedures are all there. There is an good explanation of the principles of supersonic flight as well.

Chapter 6, "In Through the out Door: Flying a LOC BC" is a good review on the procedures for flying localizer back courses and a practice flights using the Mooney Bravo.
 
 

Top Typical Arrival Chart Left  Typical systems chart showing various speeds and conditions

Chapter 7, "Taking the Long way Around" is a study on flying radials, dealing with the wind and other basic flight techniques. Using The King Air 350 it also provides an excellent introduction to the use of the GPS built into FS2000.

Chapter 8, "Expanding Flight Simulator 2000's Horizons" is a straight forward presentation of using add-ons in FS2000. It is not a detail explanation of the information that will be in the SDK but only a basic introduction.

Chapter 9, "Flight Simulators as a Training Aid" is an explanation of the use of FS2000 in a formal program for real world flight training. Setups and uses of the various functions are discussed.

Chapter 10, "You're Never Alone... When You're are flying on The Zone" is a straight forward presentation of the Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone for on-line multiplayer flights using FS2000.

In addition, there are three appendices, one with an LA VFR Terminal Chart, one with IFR Terminal Procedures and the last one with a keyboard command reference.

Ben Chiu, a Commercial Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, and Advanced Ground Instructor with multiengine and instrument ratings, is a popular flight simulation columnist and best-selling author. His columns regularly appear on the MSN Gaming Zone. Ben's other works include Microsoft Flight Simulator 98: Inside Moves, Instrument Flight Techniques with Flight Simulator 98, and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: Inside Moves, all for Microsoft Press.

Bruce Williams is the product planner for flight simulations at Microsoft. Bruce has been piloting planes since the early 1970s, and he holds a commercial pilot certificate with single and multiengine land and IFR ratings. Bruce is also a Certified Flight and Instrument Instructor; when he's not working on Microsoft Flight Simulator, he can be found instructing at a flight school in Seattle.

Bill Hoscheit is a flight simulation and aviation enthusiast, and has been a two-year Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his support of the flight simulation community. A Chicago native, Bill's experience includes worldwide technology development and consulting. He is also Managing Director of Horizon Group Software.

At $19.99 US, this is an excellent addition to every simmers library.

And to get your chance at winning one of four free copies in the contest jointly sponsored by AVSIM and SYBEX, simply send a email to kirkland@avsim.com with your name and email address. Only one entry per person. A random drawing will be held on January 1, 2000. So start the new year off right and enter today.