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Getting Started

First Flight Tutorial

Complete your first tracked flight and learn how Avionify works

8 min read
Last updated: Oct 6, 2025

Prerequisites

What you need before starting your first flight

AviaConnector installed

Installed and configured

👤

Account created

Logged in to Avionify

🎮

Simulator installed

MSFS, X-Plane, or P3D

📚

Basic knowledge

Know your simulator basics

📝

Note

This tutorial uses Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the process is similar for X-Plane and Prepar3D.

Planning Your Flight

Let's choose a simple short-haul route to get started

Recommended First Flight

From:KLAX (Los Angeles)
To:KSAN (San Diego)
Distance:~109 nautical miles
Aircraft:Cessna 172 or similar
Flight Time:Approximately 45 minutes
Difficulty:⭐ Beginner Friendly

Create Your Flight Plan

1
Select your departure airport (KLAX)
2
Choose your aircraft (Cessna 172 recommended)
3
Set your destination (KSAN)
4
Choose weather conditions (clear weather for first flight)
5
Set time of day (daylight is easier)

Starting AviaConnector

Connect to your simulator and begin tracking

🚀

Launch AviaConnector

Open AviaConnector before or after starting your simulator - it will automatically detect when your sim is running.

🔌

Verify Connection

Look for a green "Connected" indicator in the top-right corner. If not connected, click "Refresh Connection" or check your simulator is fully loaded.

📍

Start Flight Tracking

Click "Start Tracking" button. You'll see your current aircraft type, departure airport, and real-time data (altitude, speed, heading).

⚠️

Important

Start tracking BEFORE you begin taxiing. The system tracks your entire flight from gate to gate.

Flying Your Route

What's being tracked and tips for a good flight

📍

Position

GPS coordinates, altitude, heading

Performance

Speed, vertical speed, fuel consumption

🎯

Accuracy

Flight plan adherence, waypoint precision

⏱️

Time

Departure, arrival, total duration

Tips for a Good First Flight

  • Maintain your assigned altitude (±200 feet tolerance)
  • Try to follow your flight plan route
  • Keep airspeed within normal operating range
  • Don't worry about perfection - this is a learning flight!

Landing & Completion

Critical landing metrics and how to complete your flight

📉

Touchdown Rate

Target: -200 to -500 ft/min

⚖️

G-Force

Target: Below 2.0 G

🎯

Centerline Deviation

Target: Within 5 meters

🛬

Runway Remaining

Target: Adequate distance

Complete Your Flight

1
Land safely on the runway
2
Taxi to your parking spot or gate
3
Shut down engines
4
Click "End Flight" in AviaConnector (or auto-detect when engines stop)
🎉

Congratulations!

You've completed your first tracked flight! Your data is being processed and will be available in your logbook within seconds.

Viewing Your Results

Explore detailed analytics and achievements

🛫
Route
Departure & arrival
⏱️
Duration
Total flight time
✈️
Aircraft
Type used
💰
Earnings
Virtual credits
Rating
Score (0-100)
🏆
Rank
XP gained

Performance Breakdown

  • 📊
    Landing Quality: Detailed touchdown analysis
  • 📊
    Flight Accuracy: Route adherence & waypoint precision
  • 📊
    Fuel Efficiency: Consumption vs optimal usage
  • 📊
    Time Management: Duration vs planned time

Possible Achievements

🏅
First Flight
Complete your first tracked flight
🛬
Smooth Landing
Land with <-300 ft/min
🎯
Precision Pilot
Stay within ±200 ft altitude
Fuel Conscious
Use less fuel than planned

What's Next?

  1. 1.Try a longer route to earn more credits
  2. 2.Join a virtual airline to fly with others
  3. 3.Work on improving your landing scores
  4. 4.Unlock new aircraft by gaining flight hours
  5. 5.Compete in leaderboards with other pilots
💡

Pro Tip

Every flight helps you progress through pilot ranks and unlock new features. Keep flying to advance your career!