Successful transfer of training from the simulator to operative performance is an important issue for effective training procedures. A study was performed with ACES, a virtual reality- based flight simulator with an extensive set of embedded training tools. Pilot students from the Swedish Air Combat Training School’s basic flight training program participated. The study had a mixed design with two independent groups and five repeated measures. Before training of five specific manoeuvres in the real aircraft, half of the participants received instructor-based simulator training (in ACES) of each specific manoeuvre, including after action review with the training tools. After performing each manoeuvre in the real aircraft, all pilot students answered a questionnaire concerning their experiences of the performed training session. The questionnaire contained both rating scales and open questions. The results indicate that the simulator training in ACES leads to higher situation awareness and enhanced understanding of manoeuvring. This was most evident for the first manoeuvres, thus indicating highest training effects of the simulator in initial training phases. The pilot students found the training tools to be very useful. The training tool that shows the flight paths was especially important for enhanced understanding.