Hi there!
No need to apologize, we all start somewhere, and learning about various aviation terms and procedures is part of the fun! To answer your question about the "right base" in the context of your landing clearance, let me clarify the different legs of a standard traffic pattern.
- Upwind Leg: The aircraft takes off and maintains runway heading, flying parallel to the runway.
- Crosswind Leg: After gaining some altitude, the aircraft turns 90 degrees left or right (depending on the traffic pattern direction), flying perpendicular to the runway.
- Downwind Leg: The aircraft turns another 90 degrees in the same direction, flying parallel to the runway but in the opposite direction of landing.
- Base Leg: The aircraft turns 90 degrees once more, flying perpendicular to the runway but in the opposite direction from the crosswind leg.
- Final Approach: The final 90-degree turn aligns the aircraft with the runway for landing.
When the controller tells you to come in on a "right base" for runway 24, it means that you need to enter the base leg of the traffic pattern, flying perpendicular to the runway, with the runway on your right side. You should be heading roughly 150 degrees (subtracting 90 degrees from the runway heading) when flying the right base. This would apply to any flight simulator, including the new Microsoft Flight Simulator.
As you become more comfortable with flight simulators and aviation terminology, you'll find that understanding and following these procedures becomes second nature. There's a wealth of information out there for enthusiasts like yourself, so don't hesitate to ask more questions or dive deeper into aviation resources like FAA publications or even real-world pilot training materials.
I hope this clears up any confusion, and happy flying!