Ok, some speifics:
Learn the keyboard. In particular know the location of your flaps, and your brakes. This doesn't just mean the generci "brakes" button (spacebar is default), but also the individual left/right wheel brakes--these are vital for controlling your plane on takeoff and landings.
Takeoffs:
Get used to using your rudder or your wheel brakes to keep the plane straight on the runway. Do not oversteer or else you will crack up before ever leaving the ground. You do NOT need to use your ailerons (joystick x axis) to stay centered down the runway; using them will likely cause you to crack up. In general you are okay if you veer slightly off center, so just concentrate on getting off the ground in one piece for now. MAKE SURE that Auto-Takeoff is OFF.
Landings:
The most important thing about landings is to GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME. A lot of people come in too close to the airfield, try to land too quickly, then crash. A new pilot isn't going to know the techniques to slow down in a short distance (indeed, a new pilot shouldn't even try it), so start a landing approach a fair distance out from the base. Several miles should work.
Basic landing steps--
Reduce speed. This is easily done by cutting throttle to 0 and flying level at about 1000 feet altitude above the base and a couple miles out from it. Your speed will soon drop to about 150 MPH. Use throttle to hold your plane at about 150 MPH for now.
Drop FULL flaps and landing gear. This will slow you to about 120 MPH or less. Do this when you're getting close to the runway--close enough where it is becomming tough to see over the nose. Do not let your speed drop under 100 MPH (yet) or else you will probably stall.
You will probably be gradually be losing altitude in this flight configuration--that is the point. At this speed your plane will be somewhat nose-up just trying to stay airborne and will STILL be gradually losing altitude (if you aren't losing alt, then you are too fast). Basically you should run out of altitude about the time you reach the landing strip. Special technique--if you feel like you can't "pull the nose up"with the engine on idle right before landing, hit FULL throttle for a short time--this will cause the nose to veer up. Once on the runway, use the brakes to stop. Use just one wheel brake if you need to turn slightly to keep it straight.
You SHOULD NOT ever have to point your plane down in order to get it to land. IF you have to physicallypoint your nose DOWN to land it, then you are landing too fast. Landings should be at about 100 MPH, with touchdown at somewhat less than that.
Once you are good at landing, practice carrier landings (remember to use the tail hook on a plane so equipped; F6F is a good plane for this). Remember that the carrier flightdeck is about 60 feet aove the water.
The best way to practice landings, IMO, is to practice flying at slow airspeeds with gear/flaps down in the AIR several thousand feet up, to get used to how the plane flies like that. That way if you mess up you just stall and climb back up, instead of planting yourself into the runway.
Honestly, once you get good at takeoffs and landings, you are already as good a pilot as at least 1/4 of the MA fliers. I frequently see MA pilots who crash trying to take off or land.
J_A_B
