Alaska Awaits Flight Sim Pilots on MSFS2024

Floatplane Pilot mission pack offers a taste of rugged bush flying adventure.

Sean Siff

Saturday, August 01, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

To get the most out of the DHC-2 Beaver in MSFS2024, download @JayDee’s free checklist from www.flightsim.to. [Credit: Sean Siff/MSFS2024]

Key Takeaways:

The article details an immersive Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 experience flying a DHC-2 Beaver floatplane through Alaska's scenic waterways.
The "Floatplane Pilot" mission pack offered realistic challenges, from detailed aircraft system management to dynamic water landings, enhancing the authenticity of the bush flying simulation.
The author praises the DHC-2 Beaver's accurate modeling in the sim, including its appearance, flight characteristics, and systems, which contributed to a highly realistic experience.
The engaging and realistic simulation ultimately inspired the author to pursue real-world seaplane flight lessons.

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I want to share a sim flight that took me deep into one of the most scenic locations on the globe. It’s a region that still heavily relies on general aviation to connect rural communities in the real world—Alaska.

The idea was born out of watching my friend and content creator Steve Thorne (@FlightChops on YouTube) train to fly Apex Alaska’s authentic DHC-2 Beaver. Thorne’s video series introduces viewers to the joys and challenges of seaplane flying during a beautiful Alaskan summer. The series concludes with an iconic landing on a glacial lake sandwiched between tall mountains. I got the itch and my home sim offered the perfect on-ramp to try landing the Beaver on floats while exploring some of the vast Alaskan wilderness and waterways.