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Version 1.0.0
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I was scrolling through the requests for liveries this morning and came across an exciting one: Several people wanted the cockpit of the Cessna 172 in beige. So I immediately started experimenting. And after a few minutes it worked. This add-on changes the color of the cockpit from grey to beige on all variants of the C172. Please note that only by deleting the mod, the cockpit becomes gray again. There is no option to change this in the video game. How to install: (0. Delete older versions of this add-on.) 1. Download the ZIP-file. 2. Open the ZIP-file. There should be a folder called "nfm-c172-beigecockpit". 3. Drop this folder into your MSFS community folder. 4. Start MSFS. The add-on should work now. If you have any suggestions, ideas for improvement, criticism or questions, please write a comment or contact me via direct message. To discover my other products, you can either visit my profile on Flightsim.to or my website. My Website To find out the latest news about my upcoming add-ons and products, follow me on Instagram! My Instagram Have fun! -
The Humble Cessna 172 - More Than Meets the Eye! (In MSFS) By Frank's MS Flight Sim Come with me in MSFS to learn the interesting history and marketing of the humble Cessna 172, and some other bits and pieces about it. There's more to it than you might think! Hope you enjoy. Cheers. Frank’s MS Flight Sim https://www.youtube.com/@FranksMSFlightSimulator Textron / Cessna 172 Skyhawk official web site About Frank's MS Flight Sim New channel begun in 2021. Visit notable airfields and areas in Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS). Themes so far include: WW2; Bush/Mt./Water/Outback strips; “Golden Oldie” strips; heritage/vintage strips; and aircraft accident investigations. More different themes to come. Expect a new video roughly each week. Provides brief, interesting information, often with history, geography, maps, pictures etc, and great places to fly in MSFS. Focus is on interesting content rather than production values.
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/images/notams/notams22/foil1012.jpgThrilled to announce, that as of today, the C172 NG DIGITAL 1.4.0 -Beta is X-Plane 12 ready! Believe me, when I say that we're very excited about this as we'vespent significant time working on this, X-Plane is our long-timepassion and we have really high hopes for X-Plane 12. In the versionof C172 NG DIGITAL, we're introducing major updates and not just a fewtweaks of the older version! A total rebuild of the flight model, including airfoils, is takingadvantage of the brand-new X-Plane 12 ultra-realistic physicssimulation. We are introducing new features, too: Internal Camera Enhancements (G-Forces) Immersive camera effects out of the boxComplex External Camera EnhancementsToe Brakes Smoothing Option for a better experienceFull VR compatibilityNo bezels Garmin Displays commands for cockpit builders (RealSimGear, etc.)Apple Silicon PCs (Arm) CompatibilityX-Plane 12 Rain EffectsThis is all just the tip of the iceberg! Source
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/images/notams/notams22/just0824.jpgThis add-on provides a significant boost to the realism of thedefault Cessna 172 Skyhawk (standard, float plane and ski plane)included in the Deluxe or Premium Deluxe edition of Microsoft FlightSimulator, with enhancements to the electrical system and manyupgrades to the default cockpit instrumentation. Engine wear and tear is now modelled and insufficient maintenancewill have consequences for your Skyhawk. Source
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Review: Airfoillabs C172NG for X-Plane 11By Joshua MoorePrologueThroughout my years spent in flightsimulation, there is not one airplane I can think of that hasinfluenced my flight simulation hobby and my real world flying as muchas the Cessna 172. From my first time flying a simulator in 2010 at myfriend's house when I was only 8 years old, the Cessna 172 has had aplace in my heart, as I am sure it has for countless others. InFS2002, my earliest days of simming were spent perfecting how to landthe airplane, as taking off was the easy part. In FS2004, many hourswere spent listening to the calm voice of Rod Machado through thespeakers of my parent's old computer. I learned to fly the 172 as bestI could on the 15fps I had on that PC and FS9. I would watch hundredsof videos on YouTube of "Max Graphics FSX and P3D" and just dreamhopefully that someday I could have a PC powerful enough to run modernsimulators. That pipe dream got put on hold however, as I began savingmoney not for a computer, but to fly for real. As I began my flighttraining in 2019, the Cessna 172 was no longer a jagged image on mymonitor, but a living aircraft that I had to preflight each and everyflight. Slowly and surely my big dreams of becoming a pilot became areality as I earned my PPL certificate on August 3rd of 2020, thoughin a smaller and cheaper C150. I got checked out to fly the 172 threedays later, and never looked back. I have flown every hour in mylogbook, save for the .5hrs I logged in a T-34 courtesy of a friend, aCessna 150, 172 and 177. As I fly more and more in the real world, myGA experience in the flight simulator has dwindled, being overshadowedby the likes of study level airliners and heavy jets, as I could notthink of many reasons, beside proficiency, that I would want to fly aGA airplane in a simulator, as I could just go to the airport and takea plane out when I wanted to. However, there came a time when thatability was taken away by a choice I had made at a recruiters office,one that required a signature on a piece of paper and a little over ayears worth of my time for training and 5 more years of reserveservice. I have been waiting on paperwork for the past 2 months to getpushed through so I can return to the skies piloting an airplaneagain, but the itch for GA flying came back in this time I have beengrounded, especially having been partway through my instrumentrating. This opportunity to chip away at my desire to fly a GA airplane ofthe same quality as the real bird came in the form of the AirfoillabsC172NG. I was amazed by the sheer level of accuracy and attention todetail that AFL put into this recreation of the 172, and eager to flyan accurate 172 again, I was given the opportunity to review thisplane. /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-1.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-2.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-3.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-4.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-5.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-6.jpgIntroduction And HistorySo, a little about the Cessna 172. Having first flown in 1955, ithas since become the most produced GA airplane in the world with over44000 examples of the type spread over 20 different models. I myselfhave had the opportunity to fly the L, N, P, R, and S models, and Ican say they all fly differently, the S being the most difficult totransition to from the previous, for various reasons I'll mentionlater. The C172 model Airfoillabs has modelled for us is the C172Smodel, equipped with the full G1000 package, and arguably the best 172available on the flight simulation market, and certainly forX-Plane. Documentation And First ImpressionsThe download and installation of the Airfoillabs C172 is quitesimple, and is installed automatically through their productmanager. Upon the initial loading of the aircraft, I am greeted by thevery familiar sight of the 172's cockpit, which on first inspectionlooks simply gorgeous. The attention to detail on the wear and tear,lighting, colors, texture, and shape is just amazing. The exteriormodel is by far one of the most detailed examples I have seen to datein any simulator, with the amount of customizable options to enhanceyour experience sure to fulfill any needs you may have. There is amenu bar that can be accessed by moving your mouse to the left side ofthe screen, and all the aircraft customization options can be accessedthrough there, as well as the tablet inside the cockpit. The onlything I could find that bugs me a bit is the glareshield, but I'll gothrough that later in the model section. /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-7.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-8.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-9.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-10.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-11.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-12.jpg Tablet And OptionsThe tablet included is mounted to the right of the MFD on theinstrument panel, a decent location, though it would be cool to havean option for it to be mounted vertically on the yoke, an easierlocation to read your charts from Avitab, which is included. In all Ididn't really use the tablet that much, and much of the time had ithidden from view. I instead used my tablet paired with Foreflight forease of pulling my charts and to build proficiency with the app so Ican use it efficiently in the real aircraft. Going through some of the options provided by Airfoillabs, you canfly almost any configuration you like, with the options for flap gapseals, vortex generators, bush tires, wheel fairings or no wheelfairings, AOA indicator, and other small details. The customizationoptions for your flight will easily suit your needs. I myself chose tofly the C172 without fairings, as I've only flown 172 with them, andfor the extra 1-2kts of airspeed, they are a pain to have to preflightwith, not to mention snow and ice buildup inside the fairings duringwinter operations. /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-13.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-14.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-15.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-16.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-17.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-18.jpgExterior Model And TexturingI've spent many an hour around 172s and so decided on a fullpreflight. I always start off at the base of the left wing. As Iworked my way around the aircraft doing a full preflight, madepossible by using the custom keybinds (you can set these up in theX-Plane menu to enable the ability to walk around the airplane), Ispent a good 10 minutes just soaking up the details that were put intothe exterior. Having the ability to just click the pitot tube coverson and off, as well as engine nacelle covers, baggage, chocks, andother details, just added to the immersion level I'd never seen in mysimulator. I can move the ailerons and flaps to ensure they had theirproper linkages and counterbalance and was happy to find all threecounterweights in the aileron and two in the elevator. Checking thefive fuel drain spots on the left wing, plus the five on the rightwing and three under the engine nacelle for a total of thirteen, wassuper easy and had quite nice animation. Again, the details thatAirfoillabs has managed to include speak for themselves. Checking thefuel levels is a painless process and allows you to fill the aircraftright up in the sim without needing to access a menu! In flight, thestatic discharge wicks move in the wind, and while only noticeable upclose, its yet another little detail that builds to the immersion thismodel provides! The only gripe I have about the exterior is that thereseems to be a lack of insects on the leading edges of the wing andcowling. I have hardly ever had a flight where I takeoff and land witha clean leading edge or cowling. There are always a few specs if notmore. It is a small gripe however and I am thoroughly impressed withthe aircraft exterior. /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-19.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-20.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-21.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-22.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-23.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-24.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-25.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-26.jpg Interior Model And TexturingThe interior is where most simmers looking to purchase thisaircraft would spend their time, and I am happy to report that it is abeautiful representation of the 172's cockpit! I have a couple ofcomplaints, but I will discuss those later. The texture work on theaircraft interior is really well done, if not slightly lowerresolution than I'd like to see. MSFS has spoiled us with its insanelyhigh-resolution textures, and it's hard not to wish to have that samequality in X-Plane 11. You can see a bit of blurriness when up closeto the text, but really I never noticed it even on my 32" 1440pmonitor, so unless you look really close it's not a huge issue. Theback seat is very well done, and I absolutely love the colors and lookAirfoillabs chose to model. They nailed the interior color option. ThePanel is quite well done, and all the little details and nuances arerepresented accordingly in 3D. The only issue I have with the entire cockpit is theglareshield. When Airfoillabs first posted images of the cockpitbefore it was released, my first thought about the glareshield wasthat something looked off, but I couldn't quite place it. Afterinstalling the aircraft, I went to look for myself by lining up acomparison photo of the AFL 172 cockpit compared to the real one, andyou may see what I'm talking about in the photo below. The glareshieldon the AFL172 is too rounded on the corners, whereas the real aircraftis straighter and has a sharper bend at the edge of theglareshield. This is my only issue with the interior and again, it'snot at all a showstopper, just a small accuracy thing. Airfoillabs hasdone amazing work with the model both inside and out, and with thatchange it would really improve the interior look in comparison withits real-world counterpart. /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-27.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-28.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-29.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-30.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-31.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-32.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-33a_real.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-33b_sim.jpgAvionics Options And SystemsIf you are the sort of person that likes to customize your aircraftavionics, I'm afraid this isn't the best option for you. If you arehowever wanting a good quality G1000 aircraft that is a huge step upfrom the default G1000, then you won't be disappointed. Airfoillabshas taken the default G1000 and added lots of enhancements and fixesto simulate most of the every day needed functions included in theC172. You now have the ability to access the engine fuel burn and leanpages, with Lean Assist logic allowing you to fine tune the engine forpeak performance. It also includes Reversionary control for displayfailures, an accurate starting sequence and proper initializationmodes, minus the init screen on the MFD, which uses a custom AFL photowhere you would normally find your data expiration dates for the GPSdatabase. There are plenty of other enhancements throughout the G1000that will be sure to enhance your experience of the aircraft. The other area that has been incredibly well modeled is theaircraft engine, where you have to properly prime the engine to get itstarted, plus manage the engine in all phases for smooth operation,monitor oil levels in the preflight and add oil as necessary, andcontrol the electrical system properly, including failures associatedwith each system. The circuit breakers in the cockpit all work andeffect their representative function accordingly when pulled, anamazing level of attention to detail. The only thing I can find in this section that didn't seem quiteright was the engine start modeling. I have never had so much troublestarting the engine in the 172 as I have in the Airfoillabs. It isquite finicky when it comes to starting, and I have yet to get itstarted easily using the same techniques that work in the real plane:fuel pump on, mixture forward till fuel flow stabilizes, mixture out,fuel pump off, 1/4th inch throttle, crank over and slowly add themixture in. It will usually pop right off and stabilize around 1100rpmtill you bring it back to 1000. Hopefully this will be addressed andmake the startup process a little more friendly, but that is all Ihave for the negatives! /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-34.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-35.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-36.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-37.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-38.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-39.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-40.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-41.jpgFlight Characteristics And SoundsIt can sometimes be hard to relate how a flight model feelscompared to the real airplane, and it can all depend on the yoke theuser has as well. A lot of how the 172 flew for me was in the yoke,specific pressure inputs to get it to turn, climb, descend, and dowhat I asked of it. It also changed between aircraft. I have flown172S models that have the older style KAP140 autopilot and a brand new172S with less than 100hrs and the integrated GFC700, the styleequipped on the AFL172. Unsurprisingly, the age of the aircraft andits use can influence how it flies, but so can the autopilot the planehas installed. The GFC700 can add a good bit of extra friction to theyoke and cause you to require more force to achieve the same movement,and that is something you cannot simulate without an expensive forcefeedback yoke, or 200 dollars and a trip to the airport for an hour offlight time to feel it for yourself. I think Airfoillabs has done anexcellent job with the flight model considering all the factors thatare present in a flight model and the "feel" of an airplane. If youremember from earlier, I mentioned the wings on an L model beingthinner than their N model counterpart. This is a nuance that can onlybe felt with a couple of flights interchanging between the two. The S model has a firm commanding feel to it and has plenty ofauthority that allows precise control even at Minimum ControllableAirspeed, though sluggish. I struggled to keep the Airfoillabs 172 inMCA without it wanting to quickly stall out on me, but this can bepartly attributed to the lack of "seat of your pants" feeling younormally get in a real airplane. Power on stalls were spot on withwhat I was expecting to see, and the same with power off clean anddirty stalls. Steep turns passed with flying colors, requiring theexact same "half turn of trim" to assist the turn and keep thealtitude plus or minus 50 feet. Takeoffs and Landings were great, with landings requiring a bitmore rudder control than I ever remember. My first attempt at a touchand go ended horribly with a gear failure after departing therunway. This can be attributed partly to crosswind, and the rudderinputs. I've had my pedals since I first got into simming in 2012, andthey were purchase used. They have seen better days with the brakeaxis no longer functioning and the rudder axis sometimes spiking. Thiswas no help in my futile attempt to keep it on the centerline. Thenext attempt went much better as I was more prepared to counter withsome slightly smaller pedal inputs. If you plan to go into negativeG's, watch out for FOD that may be floating up around the cockpit, alittle detail that is pretty cool to see when you aren't expectingit. In all, the flight model is very close in most aspects to how thereal C172S flies, and I am quite happy with that! The sounds are a custom FMOD and are quite well done, though Iwould love to see some improvements. The engine sounds are quite good,but the startup sound is decent at best, having the default X-Planereminiscent sound. The interior sounds are excellent, and AFL providesyou the opportunity to wear headphones with or without noisecancelling, and that really improves the experience. I will say therewere a couple of sounds that were either incorrect or ones that I'venever heard. These are the Autopilot Disconnect and the altitude alertsound, notifying you of your upcoming selected altitude. The othersound that is odd is the flaps sound. It has the sound of an old flapmotor out of a flight school C172 that has seen better days. Themotors I've heard on the 172S are always quiet and very smoothrunning. Hopefully these can be fixed, but other than that, the soundexperience is really well done. /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-42.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-43.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-44.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-45.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-46.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-47.jpgConclusionThe Airfoillabs C172NG is one of the nicest GA aircraft I haveflown in X-Plane 11, and the level of detail that has been put intothis aircraft by its developer really stands out. I highly recommendthis aircraft as a great way to learn the C172 and have a good flyingexperience. It is a great tool to practice proficiency for real pilotsif you just want to shoot approaches and practice failures to preparefor the what if. It is also a perfect aircraft for the casual VFRsimmer who wants to just fly around and explore. It has a great rangewith a fifty-three-gallon tank burning around nine gallons an hour, itwill get you anywhere you need to go! For me, it is the perfectbalance of both. I can supplement my IFR training with the simulatorat home and the full cockpit simulator at the airport to hone myskills and improve my procedures for the real world. At $49.95 USD itis competitively priced with other high-quality GA aircraft and isperfect for your next aircraft to add to the hangar! /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-48.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-49.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-50.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-51.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-52.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-53.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-54.jpg /images/reviews/aflc172x/t/airfoillabs-172-xp-55.jpgJoshua Moore airfoillabs.com
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/images/notams/notams21/foil1206/foil1206.jpgDear customers, friends, and pilots, today we're reaching out toyou so that we can let you know, that just in a few days we will bereleasing the long-awaited study-level Aircraft for X-Plane 11(12),the C172 NG DIGITAL by Airfoillabs. Even though this version of the aircraft is intended for X-Plane11, your license will work for X-Plane 12 as well, withoutre-purchase! We will start working on the support for X-Plane 12 assoon as the Alpha version is out, as it is our highest priority. Failure Management System and Scenarios Saving is something we'revery excited about and proud of because we've successfully implementedthis complex system into our C172 NG DIGITAL. We're simulating 175individual components, we've implemented a whole logic where thefailure of one component influences another one. Different options onhow and when failures occur, possibilities to save failure sets, andindividual scenarios. Detailed failure description included. /images/notams/notams21/foil1206/c172-1.jpg /images/notams/notams21/foil1206/c172-2.jpg /images/notams/notams21/foil1206/c172-3.jpgSource
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Hi all, I am in the process of building my Sim. I purchased the Simionic PFD and MFD as well as their switch panel and standby gauges. I am looking to purchase a panel to mount everything into. I could make it out of wood but prefer the clean look of a professional metal panel. The only 172 Panel I found so far is from Homecockpits.fr located in France priced around $500 plus shipping. Does anyone have any other suggestions as to where to find a 172 Panel.
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/images/notams/notams21/proy0126/proy0126.jpgImportant: This is NOT a standalone product; this is just an updatefor theAEROPROYECTO C172N Floatplane V1.1product for FSX/P3D. In order to work properly, the AEROPROYECTO C172NFloatplane V1.1 product must be already installed before attemptingthe installation of this update pack. /images/notams/notams21/proy0126/aeroproyecto-1.jpgWhat Is New Here?The main reason for this update is the inclusion of a more powerful180 HP engine. The 180 HP engine is a pretty common upgrade on C172floatplanes. This upgrade increases the payload by 250 pounds, and theoverall performances of the aircraft, making it a “real†four seatsfloatplane. The old 160 HP model remains as an option and all colors can beloaded in both variants. Now both variants have installed squared tippropellers, more appropriated for floatplanes. /images/notams/notams21/proy0126/aeroproyecto-2.jpgOther New FeaturesNew fictional paint schemes; a US bays police, a French Customs patrol, a UK Air Taxi and a recreational German one. Engine sound completely updated; now having better quality and is more adequate for the new engine-prop combination. The old engine sound pack is not longer available. Some polygonal refinements and additional parts on the VC and the floats. Exterior metal surfaces effect improved to obtain a better degree of realism on FSX and P3D. More realistic engine performance on the inverted flight. Because on water the run-up is more difficult, a bit more "solid" combustion was develop. /images/notams/notams21/proy0126/aeroproyecto-1.jpgPurchase Aeroproyecto - Update Pack for Aeroproyecto C172N Floatplane See other aircraft available from Aeroproyecto
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I want to use the direct to flight with Cessna 172. I put in the airport code and click enter. Then the gps says activate, but when I click enter again nothing happens. -
/images/notams/notams20/proy0829/proy0829.jpgToday I would like to announce that Aeroproyecto is the latestdesigner to add their products to the FlightSim.Com Store. Edgar Guinarthas been designing aircraft since 1999 for a variety of sims and hislatest is the Cessna 172N for FSX and Prepar3D. The Cessna 172N comes in four variations, from the standard versionpopular with flight schools and private pilots, to a taildragger,floatplane and the "Beast" bush plane. /images/notams/notams20/proy0829/beast-1.jpg /images/notams/notams20/proy0829/cockpit-1.jpgAeroproyecto – C172N Standard for FSX/P3DAeroproyecto – C172N Floatplane for FSX/P3DAeroproyecto – C172N Beast for FSX/P3DAeroproyecto – C172N Taildragger for FSX/P3D /images/notams/notams20/proy0829/taildragger-1.jpg /images/notams/notams20/proy0829/standard-3.jpg /images/notams/notams20/proy0829/standard-2.jpg /images/notams/notams20/proy0829/standard-1.jpg
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/images/notams/notams19/a2a1223.jpgThanks to user feedback we have just pushed out another littleupdate for the Accu-sim C172 Trainer simulation for P3Dv4 to increaseperformance and add in some user options to the aircraft configurationapplication. Version 19.12.22.1 ChangesFixed cockpit floodlight switchingVersion 19.12.22.0 ChangesAdded optimised glareshield lighting mode via aircraft configurator for supersampling antialiasing (SSAA) usersRestored gauge backlighting during day timeSourceForums
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/images/notams/notams19/a2a1216.jpgAccu-Sim Update 19.12.15.0: P3Dv4 Accu-sim C172 Trainer simulation. Version 19.12.15.0 ChangesAdded physically based rendering (PBR). Note that version 4.4 or later of Prepar3D is required to use this update.Added dynamic illumination of virtual cockpit.Improved instrument backlighting.Added VR support for 2-D panel windows.Added Aircraft Configurator support for RealityXP GTN 750/650.Improved support for RealityXP and Flight1 GNS 530/430 (e.g. animated bezel buttons, improved backlighting).Added backlight to Davtron M803 chronometer.Added choice of default GPS gauge to Aircraft Configurator (P3D version). The legacy fs9gps gauge is the recommended option; the p3dgps gauge includes some additional features but appears to be a work-in-progress.Added function to autotune ADF frequencies ending in .5 KHz.Added option to Aircraft Configurator to enlarge 2-D panels if using high display resolution such as 4K.Fixed mouse drag action on throttle lever.Added new livery (N346CP).Further details
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Are you a beginning flightsimmer who would like to learn how to fly like real pilots do? Most real world pilots begin by training for their PPL (private pilot license) and one of the most popular training aircraft is the Cessna 172such as the one made byA2A Simulations for FSX and Prepar3D. Some of the popular flight simulator packages, FSX for example, have rather good learning tools built right in. But if you you are the sort who learns well through videos you will enjoy the video created by Youtuber Peter Matthess "Mantock" using the A2A C172 Trainer. Here is the introductory episode: The training series is currently up to six episodes, with more to come. Resources: Accu-sim C172 Trainer for FSX Accu-sim C172 Trainer for Prepar3D Academic Accu-sim C172 Trainer for Prepar3D Professional Accu-sim C172 Trainer Bundle for FSX and P3D Academic Accu-sim C172 Trainer Bundle for FSX and P3D Professional
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/images/notams/notams18/care1205/c172-1.jpgIn a brief Facebook announcement, Carenado has revealed thatan old favorite is coming soon to X-Plane. They have announced the C172 SPSkyhawk as a new project and showed a number of pictures that indicatethat development is well along. /images/notams/notams18/care1205/c172-2.jpg /images/notams/notams18/care1205/c172-3.jpg /images/notams/notams18/care1205/c172-4.jpgSource Shop Carenado Products
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How To...Build The Cessna 172 Cockpit Simulator Project By Rory Gillies (20 January 2004) Introduction As an avid flight simulation enthusiast for many years I've accumulated thousands of hours in the virtual skies, mostly in single engine GA aircraft such as the Cessna 172. As with many hobbies and pastimes, as your interest develops the complexity and quality of the equipment you use gradually increases. My knowledge of computers and networks enabled me to literally expand Microsoft Flight Simulator (originally 98, then 2000 and 2002, and soon 2004) using Luciano Napolitano's excellent WidevieW software (developers website; FlightSim.Com review by myself). Along with more WidevieW PC's an additional video card was added to my flying PC to move the panel from the main screen to a separate flat screen monitor, but the quest for more realism continued. Here's how my simulator has grown over the last few years: My system with FS2000 My system with FS2002 More screens and a TFT for the panel It can never be too real - how it looks today The range of hardware available to MSFS users has never been better, with a whole host of specialised, high quality commercial products on the market to enhance the simulation experience. Along with the very neat GoFlight (http://www.goflightinc.com) avionics and switch modules, I had been keeping a close eye on The Real Cockpit (http://www.therealcockpit.com) range of training devices. Unfortunately, even their Basic Training Device was well out of my price range. Recently an off-shoot of The Real Cockpit, SimKits (http://www.simkits.com), was formed, providing a full set of C172 instruments in kit form (also now supplied as ready built units). This opened up the option of building a complete cockpit simulator to augment my WidevieW system. With a budget of around £1,000.00 GBP (approximately $1672 USD) I set out to build a fully functional 172 panel complete with avionics and all switches, effectively making the keyboard and mouse redundant during all stages of flight. This article documents the project, and hopefully may inspire some of you to try something similar! Planning The SimKits range now contains every gauge you need for a full IFR 172SP panel. They also supply a panel and case, but as I was on a limited budget I decided to build my own panel from plywood. The savings made here enabled me to purchase three GoFlight modules for avionics and switches: the GF-P8 and GF-45PM for avionics and the GF-T8 switch module. As the panel had to integrate with my existing set up building it from scratch would make this easier. With the intention of spreading the cost over several months, I initially ordered just the ASI, Attitude and Altimeter gauges along with the central control unit from SimKits. I sourced the HS322 servos from a UK company, Helicopters Online for £8.81 including VAT. Some gauges require the servos to be modified for continuous rotation. These can be bought pre-modified from SimKits, or you can download instructions from the website and modify them yourself - I chose the latter route. Construction Of The Panel SimKits provide an AutoCAD drawing for the panel, which I had printed to 1:1 scale. I purchased a half sheet of 4mm ply and cut it to size, using the drawing as a template: The instrument panel cut to size The large instruments are 79mm diameter. and the small ones are 56mm. After accurately marking out the gauge positions it was off to my local tool store to pick up the hole saws. Unfortunately, these sizes were not stocked by any tool shop locally, so they had to be ordered. With the holes cut, the panel was really starting to take shape. Instrument cut-outs drilled with 56mm and 79mm hole saws To obtain a good finish the plywood was coated with a plastic film and shrunk on with a hair dryer. The whole thing was then sprayed with a matt grey acrylic paint (designed for vinyl and car bumpers). The final bit of work with the panel was to build the avionics stack, designed initially for the GF-45 and GF-P8, but with room for two GF-166 radio modules and another GF-P8 pushbutton module that could be added at a later date. The panel complete with avionics stack Construction Of The Gauges I decided to build the Airspeed Indicator first as this was a simple kit with a single normal servo and only consisted of nine parts. The kits are very well made with clear and concise instructions. The ASI took only ten minutes to put together, and once I had dug out an old AT power supply I hooked up the CCU (Central Control Unit) and calibrated the instrument. No problems there, so it was on to the Attitude Indicator, with 22 different components and two servos. The Attitude Indicator during assembly The gauge was again simple to make, taking about 1½ hours to complete and calibrate. I left the Altimeter until last, as it was the most complex kit with a plethora of gear wheels, soldering and a servo to modify. This instrument took over two hours in total, but when completed the gauge refused to calibrate. The SimKits website has a very active technical forum which is a great source of help and information, and the SimKits support department is very quick to help out. I eventually traced the problem to the servo I modified. This involves cutting the top of the potentiometer shaft inside the servo and then gluing it centrally. As there was a lot of grease inside the servo mechanism the glue had not stuck, and a tiny shard of plastic on the output shaft was turning the pot shaft when the servo ran. Clearing out the grease and gluing properly cured the problem. The first three instruments completed Three gauges and the avionics stack installed in the panel The next consignment of instruments arrived from Simkits enabling me to nearly complete the panel -- VOR 1 and 2 gauges would be installed at a later date. I had very few problems building any of the remaining gauges, although I managed to break the bulb on the turn coordinator! This gauge really needs a person with three hands to position the front plate, as very accurate alignment is required to ensure the slip ball fits exactly over the eccentric shaft. One other issue was slipping of the heading bug on the Heading Indicator. A quick visit to the SimKits forum found a solution, and highlighted that you should never glue the units face plate on until it is fully tested. Although the face plates can be removed, the noises the plastic makes when breaking the glue weld is very disconcerting! Installation And Testing With the panel largely complete, modifications to the simulator mounting unit were required to fit it properly. I had decided not to modify the CH yoke at this time, as there is a possibility SimKits may release a yoke compatible with their CCU (Central Control Unit). As the attitude and direction indicators had to be central with the yoke, the avionics panel would sit out to the right hand side. To accommodate this, the Wideview monitors had to be offset to one side, with the added advantage of creating a more "left hand seat" feel to the cockpit view. The panel in place (without IFR instruments). Note the slight offset of the monitors to the right creating a "left hand seat" impression The main and avionics panels were mounted to a wooden frame constructed over the existing yoke, fixed with small self tapping screws. I played around with the eyepoint, and with the panel assembly sitting directly above the yoke the forward view and instrument height were almost identical to a real 172. The CCU was mounted directly behind the panel giving easy access to all the connectors. With the GoFlight GF-45 and P-8 (push button unit to control the GF-45) modules installed in the avionics stack I now had a capable VFR panel. Although some mouse and keyboard actions were still required -- typically at start up and shut down -- the feeling was much closer to sitting in a real aircraft. To complete the panel the two VOR instruments plus another GoFlight GF-P8 and a GF-166 Versatile Radio Panel were ordered. The GF-T8 toggle switch unit was installed to the left of the yoke to operate most of the electrical equipment. IFR Fit The GF-166 and P-8 units were ordered from Canada at a considerable saving, even including import tax and shipping, and I was fortunate to receive a $35.00 (US) discount on the two VOR gauges from SimKits. The servos were again ordered from Helicopters Online in Farnborough, and most of the kit arrived about the same time. The VOR gauges were easy to build, although the VOR 1 gauge was a bit fiddly positioning the top plate so the needles engaged on the servo eccentrics. There was also a problem that developed with the OBS gear wheel slightly fouling the casing, which resulted in the gear shaft on the cap shearing -- the OBS turned fine clockwise but anti-clockwise seemed very stiff. As luck would have it there was an extra gearwheel cap included in the kit -- the only duplicate part I'd ever received! The bezels of the two VOR gauges were painted with silver enamel, and the black anodise was sanded off the rim of the aluminium OBS knobs to reflect the look of the real instrument. Once tested and calibrated the VOR gauges were installed in the panel, along with the GF-166 radio panel and associated GF-P8 to control the functions (more on this later). I moved the clock/timer unit (a UWIN multi-function clock/stopwatch) from the position of VOR 1 to the correct location above the engine instruments. I hadn't done this before as it would not fit into the smaller instrument recess, and a special mounting had to be made for it. The GF-45 in the avionics stack was moved down, with the radio installed below the top GF-P8. The completed IFR fit. Note the GF-T8 switch unit to the left of the yoke and the repositioned clock Panel And Avionics Layout The main panel instrument layout is exactly as you would find in a real 172SP (or the FS2002 panel for that matter). With the avionics panel I tried to create a realistic arrangement, mounting the GF-P8 push button unit above the GF-166 radio that it controls. The second GF-P8 sits above and controls the GF-45, along with autopilot functions. The GoFlight GF-P8 push button modules allow you to assign various functions to the GF-166 radio and GF-45 device. The top buttons assign Com 1; Com 2; Nav 1 and Nav 2 to the GF-166 along with DME 1 and 2 to the GF-45. The remaining two buttons are currently used for the magneto positions, allowing me to start the engine without using the keyboard. The lower GF-P8 assigns Transponder, ADF, AP Settings and Instrument Settings to the GF-45. The remaining four buttons control Autopilot Master; Altitude Hold; Heading Hold and Nav 1 Hold functions. The buttons on the GF-166 control active/standby frequency toggle plus NAV 1 & 2 Ident. The cockpit layout and aircraft controls As well as the control surfaces, the CH three-lever yoke operates the throttle and mixture, flaps, trim and parking brake. The centre lever (normally used for prop pitch) is not used at the moment. To the left of the yoke is the Main Switch Panel, a GoFlight GF-T8 toggle switch module. As there was not enough room to mount it below the main panel (it sits where the circuit breakers should be) I had to make a mounting for it: it could not be mounted flush into the panel due to the support frame behind. From left to right: Alternator Master; Battery Master; Avionics Master; Landing Lights; Taxi Lights; Nav Lights; Beacon/Strobe Lights; Pitot Heat. The alternator and battery master switches will be replaced by more appropriate switches at a later date. The avionics stack Key: GF-P8 assigns Com and Nav functions to GF-166 and DME to GF-45 .GF-166 Versatile Radio Panel. Controlled by the GF-P8 above this device acts as Com 1, Com 2, Nav 1 and Nav 2. .GF-P8 assigns ADF, XPDR, AP and INST functions to the GF-45, along with autopilot master switch and functions. .GF-45 via GF-P8 above acts as ADF, XPDR, AP and DME 1 & 2 (via top GF-P8) IPAQ Pocket PC running Memory Map Navigator software. This moving map display uses CAA digitised 1:250,000 and 1:500,000 aeronautical charts with GPS data supplied from FS2002 using Pete Dowson's GPSOut utility. WidevieW System During the construction of the panel I carried out some upgrade work on the WidevieW system, building a new server and making the front view a client. This enabled me to reduce the work the server had to do by not displaying high resolution and quality graphics -- all the sliders were set at minimum and FS was run in a 640x480 window. Schematic diagram of the entire system. Note how the server no longer displays an outside view. The current WidevieW system comprises a 3.1GHz P4 with 1GB DDR RAM running Windows XP Professional. The five clients are mostly 2100XP Athlon units with 512MB DDR RAM and GeForce 4 Ti4800 graphics driving 19" Iiyama screens. The clients all run Windows ME. Each computer is equipped with a Fast Ethernet NIC connecting to a 16 port unmanaged Fast Ethernet switch. TCP/IP is used for file sharing, and WidevieW runs on the IPX protocol. Not shown in the above diagram is the file server, not actually integral with the WidevieW system. This holds a complete copy of all the add-on scenery and scenery config in a shared folder: any additions to the scenery library is added here first then copied to all the WidevieW PCs via a mapped drive. This ensures all the computers in the system have an identical scenery library and layering -- very important to ensure identical views. There is also now an Instructors Station that connects to the flying PC via FS2002 multiplayer. Connected to the server (or flying PC) via USB is the TRC Central Control Unit, the GoFlight avionics and the CH Yoke and Pedals. All the GoFlight units are connected into a high power USB hub, with the controls and TRC CCU plugged directly into the PC's ports. The iPAQ is connected via a 115200 bps serial link into COMM 1. Operation And Flying As the system has evolved, so has the complexity of operation. As the startup and shutdown sequences have to be performed in a specific order I have created a simple checklist for the purpose. From cold it takes around 10 to 15 minutes to make the system flyable. The startup and shutdown sequence checklist A typical flight proceeds as follows. Firstly the master power switch is set on providing power to the entire system. The monitors are then switched on (if they are left on there is quite a power surge when the master switch is turned on). I then check that the LED on the TRC Central Control Unit is steady red -- if the LED is flashing the unit still has an active configuration which can prevent the instruments working correctly when the link to FS is started. I then check all the USB connections are secure for the GoFlight units. After the initial checks each computer is switched on, and TRC CCU power supply is turned on. FS is then started on each PC (six of them!) and the weather is set on the server. After setting the time the default flight is started on each PC (normally saved from the previous flight), and as all my flying takes place within the area covered by the Visual Flight/GetMapping VFR scenery volumes it can take several minutes for the flight to load. Once the flight has loaded on the server I start the TRC Link software that links the CCU with FS, via FSUIPC. As the panel boots, each client has to be set to WidevieW client mode with blocking mode (WidevieW Config). If the computers are left as clients at the end of the previous flight it can take over 10 minutes just to load the flight in the VFGM VFR scenery areas, and sometimes they can get stuck in a loop and not start at all. After the clients are set the altimeter correction has to be adjusted on the TRC Link software -- the altimeter does not auto zero, and may be one or two thousand feet out at startup, although it is always complete thousands. The sub base unit under the seat is switched on, and finally WidevieW is started on the server. This loads the current server weather on the clients and synchronises the time. At last it's time to go fly! Once "in" the aircraft -- always the RealAir Simulations 172 re-registered G-JHML -- it's time to pre-flight and fire up the engine. After checking the parking brake is set the battery master is switched on followed by the beacon. When the aircraft is fitted with a working fuel selector I will switch the fuel on at this point, but for now the fuel is left on "both" at all times. The throttle is opened ½ an inch, mixture full rich, and after a virtual "Clear Prop" I advance the magnetos until the engine fires into life. Checking the oil pressure, I set the RPM at around 1100 for the warm up then flick on the alternator and avionics master switches. The radios and selector buttons are then all checked and set, clock set, altimeter subscale set, DI synched with the compass, and after another check of the T's and P's it's time to move to the engine run up area. The airfield I usually fly from is Eddsfield, a small grass strip in East Yorkshire. As I can be pretty sure there's no other traffic about I usually do the run up at the threshold, a short distance from the parking area. Setting the parking brake the RPM is gradually brought up to 1900, and then the magnetos are checked: first the right on its own, then the left, looking for about a 50 rpm drop (it never really varies from 50 rpm but it's good practice for the real thing!). The throttle is then retarded fully for the idle check before setting at 1100 rpm again. The final cockpit checks are made (trim, flaps, fuel, mixture full rich, T's & P's), landing lights on and a virtual blind call on the Eddsfield frequency to announce "Golf-Mike Lima ready for take off runway two-seven, right hand circuit to full stop landing" and we're away. The parking brake's released, and counting to three the throttle is advanced to fully open. Keeping straight with the rudder and holding the weight off the nose wheel with some back pressure on the yoke we soon reach 55 Kts on the downhill runway, and the aircraft gently un-sticks. Holding off just above the strip I let the speed increase to 75 Kts before climbing out over the fence. The after take off checks are completed (flaps, throttle full, mixture full rich, airspeed, T's & P's) and the aircraft is trimmed for around 75 to 80 Kts, switching off the landing lights at 500' AAL and turning right for the crosswind leg. The climb continues to 1000' AAL where we level out, reduce power, turn downwind and trim. A quick scan of the engine instruments to check the T's & P's, the throttle and trim is adjusted to maintain around 90 Kts, and a downwind call is made when abeam the 09 threshold. As we pass the 27 threshold I reduce speed to 80 Kts and re-trim, before turning base when the threshold is about the eight o'clock position. At this point the first stage of flaps is dropped and the aircraft re-trimmed, then the landing checks are completed -- fuel, altimeter, DI, mixture full rich, T's & P's, brakes off and landing lights on -- and the base call is made. By this time the speed has dropped back to about 70 Kts with the first stage of flaps, and a slight reduction of the throttle pitches the nose down to commence the descent. At about 700' AAL the turn to final is commenced, lining up with the runway at about 550' AAL and dropping the next stage of flap. I trim the aircraft for 65 Kts and call "Golf-Mike Lima final Eddsfield two-seven". If the wind is light I may drop the last stage of flap at about 300' AAL and re-trim. The throttle is hardly touched during descent unless large corrections in the approach path are required. Airspeed is controlled by pitch, and once trimmed the aircraft will almost fly itself right down to the threshold. As we approach the threshold I ease the nose up slightly aiming for around 60 Kts over the fence. The flair is initiated, and the aircraft held a few feet off the runway until the airspeed decays (this is easy with the peripheral vision from the side views). Just as the stall warning sounds the aircraft lightly settles onto the runway, and I keep the nose wheel off the grass and gently ease it down as the speed reduces. Once all three wheels are on the ground the aircraft comes to a stop with little or no braking required. As there's no taxiway at Eddsfield I turn to backtrack the runway, running through the after landing checks -- flaps up, transponder standby, landing lights off and taxi lights on -- on the way. At the parking area the parking brake is set, RPM set at 1000 to cool the engine, avionics master off, mixture idle cut-off to shut down the engine then turn off the magnetos. Once shut down the beacon, alternator and battery master switches are turned off and the flight is complete. As you can see from the above the realism of the system is absorbing, and you feel like you are actually flying. With the peripheral vision the feeling of motion is quite surprising -- some people who have flown the system for the first time have actually felt slightly nauseous! You pay far more attention to real instruments than those displayed on a screen, and because most of the systems are in place you tend to follow accurate procedures. It's not the sort of setup you can jump into for a quick flight as there is so much preparation, and as a training aid for real world flying I personally find it invaluable. With the recent addition of an Instructors Station to my setup it's now possible to simulate system failures and in-flight emergencies such as engine failure, greatly enhancing the training potential of the system. Once the flying is over the system needs to be shut down correctly following the checklist. The most important thing is to reset the clients to server mode, otherwise the next session can take a very long time to start. Further Developments As the sim developed and became more realistic in operation and appearance, any distractions in the surrounding room became more are more noticable, detracting from the feeling of flying. These included seeing through the slight gap between the monitors, the ceiling light, chairs and other general objects. By covering the sim just above the monitors with a sheet of MDF and taping all the gaps up with duct tape I managed to exclude most, although it became very dark! The addition of a 6W fluorescent light illuminated the panel and controls without too many reflections. The result of this was true "total immersion", with the feeling of motion much more prevalent. With the room darkened there are no distractions at all, and it is very easy to forget you are sitting in a spare room in the house! The MDF "roof" in place and the gaps between the monitors covered up with tape. Notice the 6W fluorescent light at the top right Most Recent Changes Work continues on the project even as this article awaited its turn to appear online. I took the plunge and modified the yoke, along with the installation of the lower panel and throttle/mixture controls (which need new knobs). Incidentally the battery/alternator master switch is from a 172! The yoke was modified using 22mm chromed tube. The results are shown in the photos below: The Future As with all projects like this it's never really finished! I'm very happy with the system as it is at the moment, but improvements could be made in areas such as trim and flap control, pedals, throttle and mixture, magneto and starter switch... the list just goes on! My current wish-list includes the SimKits RS372 Radio Stack which is a very faithful reproduction of the stack you would find in a new Skyhawk. At the time of writing the unit was still not available, although pre-orders were being taken (including mine!). I have also recently ordered the Davtron digital clock and warning panel which will complete the main panel instrument fit. The tape and roof are temporary additions until I re-design the entire simulator mounting. I plan to make it a fully enclosed unit with a door entry, no wires, keyboards or mice in sight, and an additional seat for an observer. At this point the trusty CH pedals that have been with me so long will probably go, and I will rebuild the panel in modular form like the real aircraft. The only thing that puts me off doing this now is with the sheer pleasure I'm currently having flying it I couldn't bear the downtime! The Instructors Station has enabled even greater realism with the prospect of failures and weather situations completely out with the pilots control, although the failures are limited to specific systems. With products such as Alert! Pro appearing offering a far greater range of in-flight emergencies and scenarios I'm looking to integrate such a program with the simulator via Pete Dowson's WideFS, giving the Instructor a much greater range of emergencies to throw at the unsuspecting pilot! It is actually great fun sitting in the instructors' seat and watching the pilot's expression when you cut the engine just after take-off, then ask him why he didn't use the full length of the runway! Development of WidevieW is progressing, and to keep up with new features the inevitable switch to FS2004 will eventually happen as any further developments for FS2002 cease. On a system such as this upgrading to a new sim version cannot be taken lightly, and compatibility issues can become a real headache. For the moment anyway I intend to stick with FS2002, and when the time is right to upgrade I'll document the project - watch this space! Acknowledgements: This article was originally published over at Flightsim. No, the home of "Cockpit" and the WidevieW forum. Thanks to all the help I've received with this project from the members of the Flightsimnetwork Cockpit Builders, WidevieW and SimKits forums - it's truly appreciated. Rory Gillies rory@shetland.flyer.co.uk -
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