on the main CREATE A FLIGHT screen where you pick your plane, location, weather, time... there is a button right above the spinning plane / helicopter if you are flying one.. :: FLIGHT PLANNER

STEP 1 : put in the DEPARTURE airport (where you are taking off)

STEP 2 : put in the ARRIVAL airport (where do you want to land)

STEP 3 : IFR / VFR   

STEP 4 : Direct - GPS / Low Altitude Airways / High Altitude Airways / VOR to VOR

STEP 5 : FIND ROUTE

STEP 6 : Hit OK at the bottom, and you see your flight plan pop up. If you are not happy with the Altitude that it gives you, you can change it here, then you can save it and GO FLY!




(as for how do you do it in the GPS itself, I only know how to do that on the GARMIN 500 and I only know how to put in "DIRECT TO" coordinates.  anything more complicated, see above, or wait for someone else.)

both are just as realistic as the other. It just depends on what, and how you plan on flying.

VFR = Direct-GPS or VOR to VOR

IFR = VOR to VOR / Low Altitude Airways / High Altitude Airways


it all depends on what kind of craft you are planning on taking to the skies.

Helo, Cessna, small turbo prop's will mostly be VFR unless they are equipped with ILS capabilities and GPS, then they can be IFR.

Most always Jumbo Jets, or multi-engine jets (larger than, but including, the Lear 45) will always be IFR.   in that: small Corporate jets with multi-engines will be Low Altitude (15,000 - 20,000); while larger birds like the 737-300 and up can go High Altitude Airways (FL200 - FL800)  [FL450 - FL800 -- is generally reserved for Military SR-71 and other craft that are designed for that altitude, but then they would have special flight plans to follow as up there you would not get the same turning radius as a bird at 40,000]