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Screen shots by Carenado |
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Two models of the legendary Cessna 172 Skyhawk have been released by Carenado: A float version and a ski version. Each version is sold separately.
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a single-engine, high-wing, four-person general-aviation aircraft. More than 40,000 have been built in several models since introduced in 1955. It is advertised by Cessna Aircraft Company as "the best-selling, most-flown airplane ever."
The Skyhawk II N (also called Skyhawk 100) was introduced for the 1977 model. The "100" designation indicates that it is powered by a Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160-horsepower engine designed to run on 100/130 octane fuel, whereas all previous engines used 80/87 fuel. The 172 Skyhawk with float fittings was introduced in 1960. Since then, it has been one of the more versatile aircraft for bush flying and surveillance tasks. It is widely used in areas like Alaska, Canada, and northern Europe.
Significant differences between the 172 Skyhawks C172Ns and the MSFS default 172 Skyhawk SP are that the SP is Cessna's most current model, is powered by a Lycoming 180-horsepower engine, and has about 10 percent greater range.
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Carenado Cessna 172 Skyhawk Float |
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Carenado Cessna 172 Skyhawk Performance Data |
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Floats |
Skis |
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Max Speed |
96 KTS, 177 KMH |
126 KTS, 233 KMH |
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Cruise Speed |
95 KTS, 175 KMH |
109 KTS, 202 KMH |
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Range |
565 NM, 1,046 KM |
580 NM, 933 KM |
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Service Ceiling |
13,100 FT, 3,970 M |
13,100 FT, 3,970 M |
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Fuel Capacity |
54 USG, 194 L |
54 USG, 194 L |
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Empty Weight |
1,609 LBS, 730 KG |
1,419 LBS, 644 KG |
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Gross Weight |
2,220 LBS, 1,007 KG |
2,300 LBS, 1,043 KG |
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Useful Load |
618 LBS, 280 KG |
881 LBS, 400 KG |
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Seating |
4 |
4 |
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Source: Carenado's Aircraft.cfg Files | ||
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Carenado Cessna 172 Skyhawk Ski |
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Carenado highlights the following features on both its 172 Skyhawks:
The developer says it made these aircraft because "we love the C172 and we really want to fly one if this with float or ski someday. We don't have any here where we live." Everything included in the packages — all the aircraft, panels, and sounds — were made by Carenado.
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Carenado Interior Views Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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Each package includes two color schemes inside and outside.
Instrument panels are included for all aircraft.
Checklists and reference sheets for each aircraft's kneeboard are included.
Both packages are conveniently available for instant downloading from the Flight Sim Pilot Shop.
Installation is easy. A license key and digital signature of an end user license agreement are required. Both aircraft and the panels for them are put into the correct folders. When you open your aircraft selection menu in MSFS, the respective Carenado 172 Skyhawks are there.
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Seats are movable. |
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Windows can be opened and closed. |
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Doors can be opened and closed. |
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Doors can be opened and closed. |
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
The aircraft exterior, interior, and instrument panel are accurate representations of real Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft and panels I found on Airliners Net, replete with unused-instrument slots.
Exterior and interior clarity is excellent.
The 2D and 3D panels are very simple, sharp, and easy to use. All instruments are clear and easy to read. Such clarity contrasts sharply to illegible panels I have seen on other add-on aircraft.
Most gauges can be enlarged individually for better use, by mouse clicks or pull-down menus.
Doors and windows open by clicking on them while in the 3D virtual cockpit.
These models are very easy to fly, much like the Cessna 172 SPs that come with Microsoft Flight Simulator®. Carenado says flight modeling is accurate for each aircraft.
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Checklists and Reference Sheets |
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Pop-out Gauges |
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The kneeboard checklists and reference sheets are outstanding, as are the separate manuals in Adobe Acrobat format. This is in sharp contrast to the inadequate or absent performance data with other add-on aircraft.
Sound files are relevant to these respective aircraft and not borrowed from other aircraft, in contrast to other add-on aircraft whose borrowed sounds are unrealistic for the given aircraft.
The GPS window opens with Shift-3, which is consistent with MSFS convention. For those of us who use keyboard commands, this consistency is welcome.
Even with the detail and accuracy of these aircraft and panels, my frame rates were not affected. Frame rates in the 20s and 30s were typical. Both aircraft are detailed enough inside and out without burdening the simulator with extraneous items.
Carenado responded quickly to my questions and answered them courteously and succinctly, which is a good sign for consumers needing technical support.
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Outstanding printable manuals are included. |
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These different aircraft behave the same, even though they should behave differently. An aircraft with floats should behave differently from the same aircraft with skis, especially when climbing, turning, and descending. Floats are heavy, they lower the center of gravity, and they add drag. The stated performance specifications and V speeds for each aircraft are different, too. But I found no behavioral differences between them during several test flights. In response to my question, the developer conceded that the performance models are the same. That means there are conflicts among the performance data stated in the aircraft.cfg files, the reference sheets, and the Carenado statement that its 172s perform "similar to the real aircraft."
Although unique sound files are included, I could not hear any relevant sounds when taking off and landing. We should hear water splashing and snow slushing, respectively, but I heard neither. I also listened to the relevant sound files in a separate sound program and could hear no differences between them.
Carenado's Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft are remarkably realistic inside and out when compared to the photos of their real-world counterparts. The checklists and reference data are outstanding in both forms — kneeboard and printable manuals. Their animated and movable parts are a splendid touch.
I hope the developers remodel their aircraft so each performs realistically and provide sound files that sound like water splashing and snow slushing when the respective aircraft are taking off and landing.
Notwithstanding the aircraft-performance and sound issues, these packages are well worth the prices for the quantity and quality of features. Other add-on aircraft offering less than these are priced much higher. I recommend buying now before these developers realize how much money they're losing on their low prices!
Bill Stack
Learn More About Carenado's Cessna C172N Skyhawk II on Floats
Learn More About Carenado's Cessna C172N Skyhawk on Skis
Bill Stack is author of several books about flight simulation, a regular author in flight-sim magazines, and a contributor to Flight Sim Com. His website is www.topskills.com
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