Try simbrief.com. It can generate a route using SIDs/STARs and you can download the route as an FSX flight plan which will work in default GPS and ATC. Note that FSX ATC knows nothing of SIDs and STARs, so they will just be in your flight plan as waypoints and ATC will still want to vector you.

Thanks Barry for the site it looks good I've never heard of it before.  I may try using it sometime.  Thanks again.

To avoid those dreaded "Go Arounds" that you get at major airports, Google search for a program called AISmooth.  That should help a lot!  I thought I'd throw that in since eveyone was reaming each other and you about flying IFR. :rolleyes:  That program may be in the library on this site.

Oh cool I'll take a look at it.  Thanks.

I'd actually recommend the PMDG B737-800/900.

 

People think oh goodness it's PMDG it must be ultra complex. But you fly just ONE tutorial and follow along with the reading material and you'll understand a ton of how most jets typically fly.

 

IFR is basically a clearance limit (airport or point in space) and and assigned altitude.

 

Getting there is the fun part. Typically you'd navigate via airways or direct. In the USA jets commonly fly in Jet or J routes and below FL180 GA uses Victor or V airways.... Or direct.

 

Check out skyvector .com and click World Hi or Lo to see enroute charts. You'll notice most airways are joined with VOR's at the ends or points in the middle. VOR's are the bread and butter of basic IFR navigation

 

If recommend the FAA instrument flying handbook online free and see if that interests you it's pretty well done.

Hi Ryan, I know many people say to get PMDG, but I don't understand how you can't use the default 737 to fly IFR.  Microsoft made the 737 and and I would think they would make it flyable.  I usually don't invest in any addons for FSX.  And I am not planning to buy anything.  I think the best option for the 737 is to just use GPS and use the ATC for radar vectors to take off, and then vectors for landing.  

Then you need to understand basic IFR navigation... And how Navaids work or at a very minimum how to work the GPS.

 

http://www.navfltsm.addr.com

 

That is an excellent site

OK thanks for the site.  One more question, can you fly most non-rnav sids and stars with just vors?  Thanks again.

Yes and there will also be radials (come off VOR's)... Sometimes two radials from two different VOR's form an intersection and you may need DME as well (distance measuring equipment). If you have GPS that can be substituted for DME. There are times it can't be subd for DME but I'll not go into that.

Can't you fly it with the GPS though?  Couldn't you plug in the waypoints in the flight planner?  I do realize they would be outdated, but if there are any charts that match FSX, I would love to know.  I would think Microsoft would make airplanes in FSX that are at least flyable, and since they gave you GPS, I think they would make that flyable too.  I would not like to buy any addons if I don't have to.....

Here's an OK looking vid on flying the default 737 IFR: http://youtu.be/TLW8XbjQctE

 

Might be worth trying out a flight like this and when you get the hang of it, incorporate other things such as selecting an instrument approach instead of vectors to final, using the GPS to look up frequencies, using VOR to navigate etc. Personally I think it's better to learn all that in the C172 first, but you could use the 737 if you prefer.

Can't you fly it with the GPS though?  Couldn't you plug in the waypoints in the flight planner?  I do realize they would be outdated, but if there are any charts that match FSX, I would love to know.  I would think Microsoft would make airplanes in FSX that are at least flyable, and since they gave you GPS, I think they would make that flyable too.  I would not like to buy any addons if I don't have to.....

Not really sure how likely you are to find charts that match FSX. Bear in mind that FSX was released in 2006. It is now 2014. A lot can change in eight years.

Hi Barry I watched the vid and just one question.  He was using flight sim commander on that vid, and I don't have that flight plan.  When I plan my flights in FSX, should I select high altitude airways in the FSX flight planner or use an online planner?  Thanks.

Hi Barry I watched the vid and just one question.  He was using flight sim commander on that vid, and I don't have that flight plan.  When I plan my flights in FSX, should I select high altitude airways in the FSX flight planner or use an online planner?  Thanks.

 

You can grab real world flight plans from Flightaware.com

 

If you don't find the flight you're looking for there use Routefinder: http://rfinder.asalink.net/free/

Jaime, thanks for the site but I think the problem with flightaware is that sometimes the waypoints may be outdated in FSX, So in that case, I'll probably use the routefinder site.  Thanks again.