There Are No Rules in Bush Flying

Microsoft Flight Simulator excursion tackles backwoods strips in Yellowstone country.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 05:33 PM ET

Verified

The Yellowstone River Lodge, as shown accurately placed in the sim, where I was staying for a few days. [Image courtesy of Peter James]

Key Takeaways:

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 provides a highly realistic and challenging backcountry bush flying experience, especially when enhanced with add-on scenery and specialized STOL aircraft.
The author personally verified the sim's remarkable fidelity by comparing virtual locations in Idaho and Montana to real-life observations during a trip.
The simulation offers demanding scenarios, such as navigating tight canyons, steep slopes, and unimproved dirt strips, replicating the complexities of real-world bush flying.
Detailed add-on content, including specific bush strips and aircraft, seamlessly integrates to create immersive and complete simulation experiences for pilots seeking extreme challenges.

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The incredible, beautiful world brought to us in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS2020) allows for some pretty realistic backcountry experiences. I decided to test these great spots firsthand while being fairly close to them myself on a recent working trip to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN) in Montana.

I stayed at the Yellowstone Valley Lodge, which sits along the Yellowstone River. Even though I haven’t landed an airplane at the hotel property in real life, I did in the sim. In the world of bush flying, there are no rules, so any place where you can safely land a short takeoff and landing (STOL) type of aircraft becomes an airport.