Guide
How to land softly in MSFS 2024
A soft touchdown is the result of the whole approach, not a trick at the threshold. Here is what the flare and landing rate are, how to control speed and glide path, and how to measure your landing objectively.
Why a soft landing starts long before the runway
A touchdown is the result of the entire approach. By the time the wheels near the runway there is little left to fix in speed, glide path or configuration: any movement in the last metres just adds load. A soft landing is the consequence of a stable approach, not a trick at the threshold.
In MSFS 2024 this shows clearly in the debrief: if the approach was unstable, the touchdown vertical speed almost always lands outside the comfortable range, however carefully you flare.
Flare and landing rate, explained
The flare is the smooth transition from descent into the hold-off before touchdown. In the flare the descent path becomes almost level, vertical speed drops, and the aircraft settles onto the main gear. Landing rate is that same vertical speed at the moment of touchdown, measured in feet per minute (fpm).
What vertical speed (fpm) actually shows
Touchdown vertical speed is the rate of descent when the main gear meets the runway. It is measured in fpm: the larger the absolute value, the harder the touchdown. It is the number most often compared between landings because it is unambiguous.
What counts as a soft touchdown
There is no single standard for every type, but the guideposts are simple: roughly −50…−150 fpm reads as soft, −150…−300 fpm as firm, and values below −400 fpm are usually called hard. For heavy airliners the comfortable band shifts toward −100…−200 fpm.
How to land softly, step by step
The order below is not dogma but the sequence in which mistakes show up earliest. Each step sets up the next; skip one and the rest get harder to fix.
1. A stabilised approach
A stabilised approach means that by a set altitude (usually around 1000 ft) the aircraft is already on speed, in the right configuration and on the right path, with smooth engine changes. If the approach is not settled by then, going around is better than forcing it in the flare.
2. Speed and glide path control
Hold landing speed and glide path with small anticipation: thrust changes speed, pitch changes the path. Look ahead along the glide path rather than at the instrument, and correct early with small inputs.
3. The flare
At flare height, smoothly add pitch so the descent slows into the hold-off. The flare is not a short yank at the runway but a gradual movement started in time. An abrupt or late flare here is the most common cause of a hard touchdown.
4. The hold-off and touchdown
In the hold-off the aircraft flies almost level and bleeds speed. Do not place it on the runway: let the descent settle into a soft touchdown on the main gear. Small corrections at this point only add oscillation.
5. Rollout and braking
After touchdown keep the centreline and brake as needed. The landing quality is already decided at touchdown; on the rollout the job is to keep control.
Common flare mistakes
A late flare: the aircraft is already at the runway and pitch is added abruptly, so the touchdown is hard. An early, high flare: the aircraft floats, loses speed and drops in. Constant small inputs in the hold-off (PIO) rock the aircraft and spoil a smooth touchdown.
How to measure your landing
You can feel a landing without instruments, but a debrief makes it objective. Flare reads touchdown vertical speed, load factor, centreline, bounce and touchdown zone, then combines them into a 0–100 score. That way the same landing is compared with itself flight after flight.
FAQ
What is the flare in simple terms?
It is the smooth flattening of the descent before touchdown, where vertical speed drops into the hold-off.
What touchdown vertical speed is considered soft?
A guidepost is around −50…−150 fpm; values below −400 fpm are usually perceived as a hard touchdown.
Why does a soft landing start on the approach?
Because speed, glide path and configuration are set much earlier; in the last metres they can barely be fixed without adding load.
Can a simulator help build consistency?
Yes: the debrief shows the same touchdown number flight after flight, which makes working on the flare easier.
Ready to debrief your landing?
Flare reads a completed MSFS 2024 flight and shows a 0–100 score with a touchdown breakdown.