Microsoft Flight Simulator launched on 18 August 2020 and streams Bing Maps imagery with Azure generated 3D buildings across roughly 37,000 airports. The 40th Anniversary Edition arrived with Sim Update 11 on 11 November 2022 as a free update, adding helicopters, sailplanes, seven historic aircraft and the Airbus A310, taking the roster to 37 flyable machines with individual flight models. Live weather and live traffic feed real conditions into the sim, so a departure into low cloud at 03:00 local is genuinely low cloud at 03:00 local.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Innsbruck Airport (LOWI) | Intermediate | Valley approach technique, terrain awareness, confidence flying near high ground | Airline pilot |
| 2 | Courchevel Altiport (LFLJ) | Advanced | Short field landing discipline and a genuine commitment point | Airline pilot |
| 3 | Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla (VNLK) | Advanced | High altitude performance planning, plus the sim's most famous single approach | General aviation VFR pilot |
| 4 | Princess Juliana International Airport (TNCM) | Intermediate | Low level approach practice, and the beach flyover everyone screenshots | General aviation VFR pilot |
| 5 | Barra Airport (EGPR) | Advanced | Soft field technique, crosswind handling and a genuinely unusual runway surface | General aviation VFR pilot |
Innsbruck Airport (LOWI): Starting Area
An Austrian airport sitting in a valley with Alps on both sides, which forces a curved visual approach rather than a straight in. Its circling procedures are studied by real airline crews and it is the standard first hard approach in any flight sim.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Key Rewards | Valley approach technique, terrain awareness, confidence flying near high ground |
| Recommended Build | Airline pilot |
| Key Equipment | Daher TBM 930 |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Streamed satellite terrain. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Courchevel Altiport (LFLJ).
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Courchevel Altiport (LFLJ): Early Game
A French alpine altiport with a runway around 537 metres long on an 18 percent uphill gradient and no go around once committed. You land uphill and take off downhill, and there is no second chance.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Key Rewards | Short field landing discipline and a genuine commitment point |
| Recommended Build | Airline pilot |
| Key Equipment | Daher TBM 930 |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Live weather and live traffic. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Daher TBM 930 if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla (VNLK).
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla (VNLK): Mid Game
The Everest trekking gateway at roughly 2,845 metres elevation, with a sloped runway near 527 metres ending in a cliff at one end and a mountain wall at the other. Thin air also robs your engine of performance.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Key Rewards | High altitude performance planning, plus the sim's most famous single approach |
| Recommended Build | General aviation VFR pilot |
| Key Equipment | Daher TBM 930 |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Flight planning and ATC for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Princess Juliana International Airport (TNCM): Late Game
Sint Maarten, where the approach to runway 10 crosses Maho Beach at very low height. It is an easy landing by any technical measure and the most photographed approach in aviation.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Key Rewards | Low level approach practice, and the beach flyover everyone screenshots |
| Recommended Build | General aviation VFR pilot |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Rotary wing and sailplane flight models mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Barra Airport (EGPR).
Barra Airport (EGPR): Endgame
In the Outer Hebrides, the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach. The three runways are marked with poles and the real timetable moves with the tide.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Key Rewards | Soft field technique, crosswind handling and a genuinely unusual runway surface |
| Recommended Build | General aviation VFR pilot |
| Key Equipment | Cessna 172 Skyhawk (G1000) |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Sailplane pilot for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Innsbruck Airport (LOWI) → Courchevel Altiport (LFLJ) → Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla (VNLK) → Princess Juliana International Airport (TNCM) → Barra Airport (EGPR). Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Guides
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Overview
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Best Builds
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Tier List
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Walkthrough
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Beginner's Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Tips & Tricks
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Weapons Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Combat Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Boss Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Crafting Guide
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) 40th Anniversary Edition Classes & Characters
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