In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, takeoffs and landings at the highly detailed North Carolina airport are filled with challenges. [Image courtesy of Peter James]
Key Takeaways:
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS) provides an incredibly realistic and challenging simulation of live weather and terrain, especially with recent enhancements to its wind and shear model.
The author experienced extreme flying conditions at the high-altitude Mountain Air (2NC0) airport in North Carolina, encountering 30-45 knot winds, severe wind shear, and downdrafts exceeding 2,500 fpm.
Both takeoff and landing at 2NC0 were described as a "fight" due to the intense realism of the weather and terrain interaction, requiring multiple attempts and precise control.
Mountain Air (2NC0) is highly recommended for MSFS users seeking a demanding and realistic virtual flying experience, highlighting the simulator's ability to create a "mental and physical workout."
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS) offers an amazing representation of live weather. That was certainly the case the day I had a simulated flight out of the Mountain Air community (2NC0) in Burnsville, North Carolina, at over 4,000 feet.
Winds were howling at full windsock speed out of the northwest, featuring great VFR but a scary wind shear potential and more.
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Peter is an experienced Part 135 business jet pilot with a passion for simulators and how they blend with the real world. Learning to fly at age 12, he supplemented his passion and career goals with the early versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator. With the growing realism of all PC simulators today, he frequently uses them for extra proficiency, and loves to show other pilots how great they are.
