Hi.
I have zero time in the heavies in real life and I only use the heavies when I want to play, or someone is asking for input.
Create a 20SM out .sit (situation) 250 KIAS, with about 40% power to practice.
The key / main thing to remember is the on the Glide path / Glide slope over thresh hold speed of ~145 KIAS is required, do Whatever it takes to get there.
Here is some input / a procedure that may help for hand flying:
You will need at least 5 Jstick / KB assignments, Speed brakes, Reverse thrust, Flaps, Throttle, Foot / Manual brakes.
At ~20SM out, 5000 ft. AGL, Power %N1 40, it can take up to 5 min to slow down you may need to reduce power further, at Glide Slope intercept around 200KIAS Flaps down 5 and continue on the GS.
If within 5SM you are not around 160, Speed brakes On, Gear down, get more flaps (10) to plan / get down to around 150, if you need more get below 160 and extend more flaps.
During the short final ~2SM out, target should be around 145, if too slow
When you round out, you hear 100,.. 50 bring the nose / pitch to level attitude, Power Off, and it should settle if you are not too fast. If too fast just wait in that attitude to get slower and touch down, and front / nose gear down, Reverse thrust, and Manual Brakes on.
If you are too fast, 150 or more you will likely not be able to touch down, depending on the rwy length and speed.
It feels like the Speed / air brakes may be over responsive / create too much drag, play with them until you get a feel of it.
It is real fun to read some of these messages about how accurate some people think the XP is. The reality is that the model it produces is still based on look up tables / numbers, it's just a different theory on how they arrive to the numbers, and it can make a pig fly, just like any other sim. One thing is definitive, it's a game, and most of the flight models like the 172, is / are not nearly as accurate as in the other sims, like the FSX, FG..