IFR at 4,000 feet enroute to KHDO

There is no doubt about it. When you become a pilot, you become a weather watchdog. Weather and flying are inseparable. Mother Nature influences when, where and IF we fly. She is always a variable; ever changing and unpredictable. It makes sense then, that the folks at Microsoft dedicated considerable resources to updating the weather in Flight Simulator 2004. Realistic weather, after all, creates the environment for realistic flying.

Flight Simulator 2004 provides the ability to download "real world weather" from Jeppesen. This feature grabs a current snapshot of worldwide METARs and programs the weather in the area that you fly in based on the nearest weather reporting station. In addition, a new feature allows you to tell the simulator to update these real world observations every 15 minutes. This makes for a realistic simulation of weather.

As an Instrument Student, this provides an ideal opportunity to fly in the weather that most affects your area. In addition, the simulator allows you to configure each and every weather detail if you want to practice making instrument landings at IFR minimums. When you make your first flight into clouds in FS2004, you won't be disappointed - they're incredibly realistic!

In addition to downloading real world weather, FS2004 allows you to choose from a variety of weather "themes." This feature allows you to select a dynamic weather situation such as an approaching cold front, building storm system and more. You can literally sit on the ground and watch the weather system at work. It is quite impressive!

When the weather closes in around you, it's time to make that instrument approach...

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Go to Section 3: Instrument Approaches