Why Reviewing Your Flights Matters

In any flight simulator, the difference between a good pilot and a great one often comes down to consistent self-evaluation. Aerofly FS includes a powerful Flight Recorder that lets you replay your sessions with full telemetry, making it easy to spot errors, refine techniques, and build muscle memory. Instead of guessing what went wrong during a landing or a steep turn, you can watch the exact control inputs and aircraft responses. This direct feedback loop accelerates learning more than just repeating flights without review.

The Flight Recorder is not a passive tool; it is an active training companion. Whether you are practicing instrument approaches, aerobatic maneuvers, or just trying to grease every landing, recording and analyzing each flight helps you track progress over days and weeks. The feature is available across Aerofly FS editions, including the mobile and desktop versions, so you can review flights on any device. This guide covers everything from accessing the recorder to advanced analysis techniques that even experienced users often overlook.

Accessing the Flight Recorder

Before you can review a flight, you must have a recording to work with. Aerofly FS automatically saves every flight you complete, but you can also manually save a recording mid-flight or after landing. To access your saved flights, follow these steps:

  1. On the main menu, tap or click the "Replays" icon. On the desktop version, it is often labeled "Flight Recorder." Mobile users will find the same option in the hangar menu.
  2. Select a flight from the list. Recordings are sorted by date and time, with the most recent at the top. You can rename or delete recordings from this screen.
  3. Choose your playback settings before starting. Some versions allow you to select a default camera angle or enable data overlays from the preview screen.

If you accidentally close a flight without saving, check the "Quick Saves" folder. Aerofly FS keeps the last three flights as temporary recordings, so you rarely lose a session entirely. For best results, manually save any flight that includes a maneuver you want to analyze later.

Manual vs. Automatic Recording

By default, Aerofly FS records every flight automatically. However, you can toggle this setting in the options menu. Disabling automatic recording helps save storage space on mobile devices. To manually start a recording, open the pause menu during flight and select "Start Recording." This is useful when you want to capture only specific practice patterns, such as touch-and-goes or an ILS approach.

Using the Flight Recorder Features

The Flight Recorder interface is designed for both quick reviews and deep analysis. The three main feature groups—playback controls, data overlays, and camera angles—work together to give you a complete picture of every flight. Understanding each one will help you isolate the exact moments that need improvement.

Playback Controls

Playback controls let you navigate through the recording at any speed. You can pause, rewind, fast-forward, or play in slow motion. For detailed analysis, use the frame-by-frame stepping function (available in the desktop version). This is invaluable for examining the split-second of a stall recovery or the exact wheel touch in a crosswind landing.

  • Slow motion (0.25x or 0.5x speed): Ideal for complex maneuvers like loops, spins, or instrument scan transitions.
  • Fast-forward (2x, 4x, or 8x): Skim through long cruise segments to reach the approach phase quickly.
  • Jump to a time stamp: Enter a specific elapsed time if you know exactly where an event occurred.

Combining slow motion with the data overlay lets you see exactly how control inputs translate to aircraft behavior. For example, you can pause at the moment of flare and read the vertical speed, then rewind to see the pitch input that led to that rate of descent.

Data Overlays

Data overlays display real-time telemetry on screen. Enable them from the playback menu. The available metrics include:

  • Altitude (AGL and MSL)
  • Indicated airspeed and ground speed
  • Heading and track
  • Vertical speed (fpm or m/s)
  • Engine parameters: RPM, manifold pressure, fuel flow
  • Control surface positions: aileron, elevator, rudder
  • Pitch, roll, and yaw angles

To get the most out of overlays, focus on one or two parameters per review. For a landing, watch the vertical speed and pitch angle together. If you notice a bounce, check the vertical speed just before touch—anything greater than -100 fpm on a small aircraft indicates a firm touchdown. Over several reviews, you will naturally learn the typical values associated with a smooth landing.

Another powerful technique is to watch the control surface positions while reviewing a turn. If you see the aileron deflected fully but the bank angle is slow, you might be holding too much opposite rudder or not coordinating the turn properly. Overlays turn abstract concepts into visible patterns.

Camera Angles

Switching viewpoints during playback offers different perspectives on your flying. Aerofly FS provides several preset cameras:

  • Chase camera: Follows the aircraft from behind. Excellent for seeing overall attitude and ground track.
  • Cockpit view: See exactly what you saw during the flight. Compare your instrument scan technique.
  • Tower view: A fixed point near the airport. Best for evaluating approaches and pattern consistency.
  • Flyby camera: Shows the aircraft from a side angle, perfect for spotting wing drop in stalls or timing of landing flare.
  • Orbit camera: Rotates around the aircraft. Use this to inspect rudder coordination during slips.

Many advanced users create a "review script"—they watch the landing from chase, then from tower, then from cockpit, each time noting different details. After a few reviews, you will internalize the look and feel of a stable approach.

Advanced Analysis Techniques

Beyond basic playback, the Flight Recorder has features that power users leverage for serious improvement. These go beyond what is visible in the menus, but they are accessible once you know where to look.

Comparing Two Recordings Side by Side

Aerofly FS does not natively support split-screen comparison, but you can open two instances of the simulator on a desktop PC. Run one recording on each, sync the time stamps manually, and switch between windows. This method is especially useful when comparing your approach to a reference flight you downloaded from the community or made with an instructor. Focus on the difference in pitch profile on final, or the point where you reduce power versus the reference.

Using Bookmarks to Mark Key Events

During playback, you can create bookmarks at any point. Pause the recording, and use the bookmark button (look for a flag icon in the playback bar). Name the bookmark something meaningful, like "Flare point" or "Overshoot correction." Later, you can jump directly to that moment instead of scrubbing through the entire flight. This is a huge time-saver when reviewing long flights or multiple landings in a single session.

Exporting Telemetry Data

For pilots who want to go deeper, Aerofly FS allows you to export the raw flight data as a CSV file. This file contains every parameter recorded at each frame. You can open it in Excel or Google Sheets and graph your altitude, airspeed, and control inputs over time. This quantitative approach reveals trends that are invisible to the naked eye, such as a slow drift in heading during a straight-and-level segment or a cyclic pitch oscillation during cruise.

To export, look for a "Save Data" or "Export" option in the playback menu. The CSV includes columns for time, latitude, longitude, altitude, pitch, roll, yaw, and all control axes. Analyzing these numbers helps you fine-tune your trim technique and identify overcontrolling habits.

Tips for Improving Your Flights

Reviewing flights is only productive if you act on what you see. Use the insights from the Flight Recorder to set concrete goals for your next session. Here are proven strategies to turn analysis into better flying:

Focus on One Phase of Flight at a Time

Instead of trying to fix everything at once, pick a single phase—takeoff, cruise, or landing—and review three or four recordings of that phase. Note one or two common issues. For example, if your timing of the landing flare is inconsistent, watch the altitude and vertical speed overlay at 50 feet AGL across multiple recordings. Determine the exact airspeed and pitch angle that produces your best landing, then practice that combination exclusively for a week.

Set Numerical Targets Using Overlays

Turn vague goals into measurable ones. Instead of "land smoother," aim for "vertical speed less than -50 fpm at touchdown" or "maintain 200 fpm descent rate on glideslope." Write these numbers down and check them during review. Over time, your muscle memory will adapt to hit those targets automatically.

Incorporate Checklists into Your Review

When watching the cockpit view, run through your normal checklist in your head. Did you configure the aircraft correctly before landing? Did you set mixture, propeller, and landing gear at the right points? The flight recorder can expose checklist gaps—for instance, forgetting to lower the landing gear until late final, which you might not have noticed during the flight but becomes obvious on replay.

Practice with Different Aircraft Types

The Flight Recorder works with every aircraft in Aerofly FS. Use it to transition between types. Record a session in a single-engine Cessna, then switch to a jet and compare the approach speeds and descent profiles. This cross-training reveals general principles—like the importance of stabilized approach criteria—that apply to all aircraft.

Common Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Through the Flight Recorder, you will likely notice a few recurring errors. Here are the most frequent ones and how to address them using the data at hand.

Unstable Approach – High and Fast

If you replay approaches and see yourself carrying extra speed or altitude past the outer marker, the overlay will show a steep descent path forced by drag and slip. The fix is to start your descent earlier and reduce power at the correct distance. Use the tower view and observe your ground track: a high approach usually comes from a wide pattern. Fly a tighter pattern with consistent power settings.

Overcontrolling in Turbulence

Rapid control inputs that cause the aircraft to oscillate are visible on the control surface overlay. If you see a lot of back-and-forth movement in pitch or roll, you are overcorrecting. The solution is to use smaller, smoother inputs and let the aircraft settle. Practice in varying wind conditions and review to see if your inputs become more efficient.

Rounding Out Too Early or Too Late

When reviewing landings, the vertical speed overlay will show a sudden increase in descent rate just before touchdown if you round out too early. If you round out too late, you flare at the last second, causing a drop onto the runway. Compare the pitch angle at the flare point between your best and worst landings. Aim to begin the flare at about 20–30 feet AGL for most general aviation aircraft, adjusting the exact height based on your sink rate from the overlay.

External Resources for Deeper Learning

The Flight Recorder is a powerful tool, but combining it with external knowledge accelerates your progress. Here are several resources worth exploring:

  • Aerofly FS Official Website – Check for updates, new features, and official documentation on the Flight Recorder.
  • Aerofly FS Forum – A community of pilots who share tips, custom challenge flights, and analysis workflows.
  • Aerofly FS YouTube Channel – Tutorials and flight demonstrations from the development team; many cover the Flight Recorder in depth.
  • Wikipedia: Aerofly FS – Background and technical specifications that help you understand the sim’s simulation fidelity.
  • FAA Airplane Flying Handbook – Real-world guidance on maneuvers and techniques that apply perfectly to your Aerofly flights.

Combine your personal recordings with these references. Download a challenge flight from the forum, fly it, record it, then compare your replay to the demonstration. This kind of direct comparison is one of the fastest ways to improve.

Tracking Your Progress Over Time

The greatest value of the Flight Recorder is the ability to look back at flights from weeks or months ago. Create a folder for each aircraft or type of flight. Every month, watch one old recording and compare it to a recent one. You will likely see smoother control inputs, more consistent speeds, and better decision-making. This tangible evidence of improvement is highly motivating.

Set a simple habit: after every three flights, spend ten minutes reviewing at least one of them. Focus on one area—takeoff, landing, or a specific maneuver. Over a few weeks, those ten-minute sessions will compound into significant skill gains. The Flight Recorder transforms simple repetition into deliberate practice.

Aerofly FS puts a professional-grade analysis tool in your hands. Use it consistently, apply the tips in this guide, and you will notice a steady upward curve in your flying ability. Each replay is not just a record of what happened—it is a blueprint for what you can improve next time.