Takeoffs Start with throttle at zero. To take off with autopilot use the A key, and turn throttle to 100% or afterburner, then the computer will do the rest. Otherwise, use the F10 key and zoom out to see what's around you before pouring on the throttle. Align the plane, Flaps on, Brakes off, Throttle to 100% or Afterburner. Wait for speed to increase past the minimum for flight (gain speed more quickly on takeoff roll by leaving flaps off till the last moment), then rotate nose up to between 10 and 15 degrees. After liftoff, retract gear and let speed increase before raising flaps. Underpowered, non aerodynamic, or heavily loaded planes, especially bombers, will require more airspeed and distance to takeoff.
Landings Line up for approach, and reduce speed as appropriate, then lower Landing Gear and Hook. N key is for Instrument Landing System and Navigation, and displays the desired glide slope as well as the max/min speeds for landing and takeoff. Landing speed depends on aircraft, but is usually within 50 kts of stall speed. The closer to stall speed, the greater the sink rate, the more quickly the aircraft will lose altitude in level flight. Control speed with reduced throttle, flaps, brakes, gear, and hook. Attempt the final approach at landing speed with the fly-to indicator centered over the end of the runway, and let the aircraft sink gently to the ground. After touchdown engage brakes to slow and stop.
Refueling and reloading is done automatically when the aircraft comes to a complete stop near the supply objects at a friendly runway apron or carrier deck. An aircraft must first expend at least 300lbs of fuel to be replenished. There is still no airborne refueling available in FA, just the method of briefly turning on the "unlimit fuel" menu cheat. Let me know if someone comes up with a custom .lib for this.
Navigation Use the SHFT / 6 keys to see the list of waypoints, the W key to advance to the next waypoint, and the A key to let the autopilot take you to the selected waypoint. If your plane is assigned to Wing with a human controlled Wingleader, then the autopilot will attempt to stay in formation with the rest of the group. The SHFT / M keys will show you the map, and F1 key will bring you back to the normal view.
Stalls and Spins FA (and most good flight siims) model real world flight characteristics to some degree. All aircraft fly because air of differing pressures (over vs under) acts upon an airfoil (a properly shaped wing or rotor) to create lift. When those air pressures are ideal, lift is produced, and an aircraft is considered to be in normal flight. When the airflow is slowed and altered by reducing power to the engine (airspeed), or when the normal airflow is disrupted (flaps / brakes / gear / control surfaces), then the aircraft will depart from normal flight, otherwise known as a stall. Departure from normal flight can be controlled, as in landing or special maneuvers, or it can be another type of uncontrolled or an intentional departure from normal flight, known as a spin. An uncontrolled spin is caused by lift being generated and acting upon parts of the aircraft which are not subject to the usual controls, usually caused by conflicting control inputs while approaching stall speed. Spins are an unfortunate but expected part of flying from which real pilots are trained to attempt a recovery.
"Pugachev's Cobra", pioneered by Soviet test pilot Victor Pugachev in 1989, is an impressive maneuver which takes advantage of the instability of flight that happens at the lowest speeds of controlled flight. Low speed maneuverability and flight instability are closely linked. Computer interpretation, hydraulic assistance, and "fly by wire" controls help the modern fighter maintain a degree of flight surface control that was not before possible with muscle power and leveraged cables.
