Related Links Using the Autopilot Weather Flight Videos

Part of the magic of Flight Simulator lies in your ability to control how quickly time passes while you are flying. By changing the simulation rate, you can cross an entire continent or ocean in a few minutes, or slow time down to practice barrel rolls or hammerhead stalls.

Flying at the normal simulation rate (known as 1×), of course, gives you the most accurate feel for what the true experience of flying a specific aircraft is like. Flying at half simulation rate is helpful for practicing landings and other flight maneuvers, such as aerobatics. Using a fast simulation rate is an awesome way to experience Flight Simulator's dynamic weather: Clouds and daylight sweep across the earth as you fly. At a fast simulation rate, it feels as though you are flying in a time-lapse film.

Remember that everything in Flight Simulator speeds up or slows down when you change the simulation rate: Your engine, the aerodynamics of the wing, the weather, your movement through the sky, the radio ... everything. If you're flying an IFR flight plan, remember to answer radio calls or your IFR flight plan will eventually be cancelled.

Choosing a lower rate in the Simulation Rate menu slows the simulation; choosing a higher rate speeds up the simulation.

To Change the Simulation Rate On the Options menu, point to Simulation Rate, and then choose a simulation rate. If you choose a simulation rate other than Normal, Flight Simulator will display a message the upper-right corner of the screen indicating your simulation rate.

NOTE: The Autopilot will not work for simulation rates more than 16×.