Flying an airliner isn't about intuition—it's about structure.
Unlike light aircraft, you can’t just push the throttles forward and hope for the best. Jet airliners demand a procedural, systems-driven approach. And for many new sim pilots, that’s exactly where the trouble begins.
The sheer complexity of modern airliners can be overwhelming. You fire up X-Plane, stare at the countless switches and screens, and think: Where do I even start? Hunting through YouTube tutorials and forum threads might help a little—but more often, it just leads to confusion and burnout. You’re left thinking, This is too much. I’ll never get it. Sound familiar? This e-book was created to break that cycle. It’s a practical, hands-on guide designed to lower the learning curve and restore your enthusiasm. It won’t make you an ATP, but it will give you a solid foundation—and enough clarity to make continued learning enjoyable rather than intimidating.
Originally published in October 2023, the book has since been massively expanded with over 450 richly illustrated pages. It now serves as a comprehensive entry point for X-Plane airliner simulation, blending guided tutorials with real-world logic.
Part 1 is a heavily illustrated step-by step tutorial that uses the default Boeing 737-800 that comes with X-Plane (you can use part 1 with the demo version of X-Plane 12)
Part 2 is a more detailed heavily illustrated step-by step tutorial that uses the freeware ZIBO mod Boeing 737-800
This e-book will not teach you how to become an ATP [Air Transport Pilot], but it will (hopefully):
• De-mystify some of the incredible complexity of these magnificent machines.
• Introduce you to that frightening thing called a CDU/FMC [ Computer display unit / Flight Management Computer ] and help you tame it.
• At the same time, provide you with a step-by-step set of instructions to get you into the air (You might crash on landing, though!)
• Be a fun, satisfying experience!
This e-book consists of two parts.
The first part is a simple sight-seeing flight flown using the default Boeing 737-800. The flight leaves from the demo Portland Airport and returns to it so you can use just the demo version of X-Plane to fly it. This flight gives you a feeling for what is involved and a sense of satisfaction that it's not quite as difficult as it may appear. This first flight will be dangerously simplified, without using ATC, but still complex enough to give you a feel for what it's like to fly an airliner. The emphasis will be on programming the FMC.
The second part is a little more realistic - a detailed flight using the ZIBO mod of the 737-800. We'll dive in a little more deeply and execute a complete flight from one airport to another, starting from a cold and dark situation and ending with a stepped descent and a CAT III ILS landing.
Also included are various X-Plane-specific tips and useful "How-tos".
The PDF book has 315 pages (157 Double spreads):
You need only purchase this book once - all future updates are free - simply re-download it from your store account when I publish an update.
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