Your first flight

This is the full sequence. Sign in, install the plugin, lease an aircraft, and fly it to another airport. Tailstrike records the leg when you land.

1. 1
   Sign in, or make an account.

   Use your email address or your VATSIM account. See Creating your account.
2. 2
   Install the Tailstrike plugin and pair it.

   Download the plugin. Then pair it to your account with a token from your settings. You do this one time. The plugin stays paired.
3. 3
   Lease an available aircraft.

   Look in the Aircraft Registry. Select an aircraft with the status AVAILABLE, then lease it. A lease gives you exclusive control of that aircraft. The dialog shows the record of the aircraft. You can cancel a lease at each moment, with no penalty.
4. 4
   Select a flight type.

   When you lease, Tailstrike asks what type of flight this is: Just fly (no plan), an AI assignment from Intelligent Dispatch, a leg of a mission, or my own destination if you have a plan. For a first flight, Just fly is a good selection.
5. 5
   Select a destination that your aircraft can use.

   You can fly to each current real-world airport that is large enough for your aircraft. Use the Airport Lookup to make sure. Or let Dispatch select the destination for you.
6. 6
   Load your simulator at the current airport of the aircraft.

   The aircraft page shows the exact parking position, and the fuel that the last pilot left. To use both values gives the most realistic flight. But you can start at any gate, apron or runway.
7. 7
   Depart in 3 hours after the lease.

   Start the plugin, then fly. Fly the full leg in real time, at 1x speed, online or offline. Your lease page shows live gauges during the flight, and each person with the link can watch.
8. 8
   Land at a permitted airport, and come to a stop.

   The flight completes automatically. Tailstrike logs your leg, records your landing rate, and changes the position, the fuel and the statistics of the aircraft for the next pilot. There is no button to press.