I Want to get to Know the 172!

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Shadepiece
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I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Shadepiece » Sat Jun 30, 2018 6:15 am

Hello gents,

This fall, after my recent separation from the military, I hope to embark on a Professional Piloting Degree program with the Community College of Beaver County in Pennsylvania. I am very anxious and excited to get in the air for real!

I know there are some downright fantastic simulators out there for GA aircraft, and I want to hear your guy's suggestions on how to get into it. I really know just about nothing about these GA sims, and could really use a guide to which one is the best for me. Through the school I will be up in Cessna 172R's and S's therefore, I am looking to grab the best 172 sim I can get my hands on.

Disclaimer! I understand that a simulation isn't the real thing. I also understand that simulations can sometimes develope bad habits when you get in the real thing however, I think being familiar with the aircraft that I'll be dealing with is worth it for me as it will really allow me to feel like I'm not just starting completely from scratch.

That said, I want to pick up the BEST sim that is out there, and from what I've read the A2A C 172 is hands down the best you can get with a close second being from Air-foil labs. I also have heard of FSX, Prep3d, and MFS 11 but I really know nothing about any of those sims or how the modules plug into them. I would really appreciate some help on where to begin.

Thank you,
-Shadepiece

Thaine
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Thaine » Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:20 am

At this point I would recommend you take up XP11. It's cheaper and has the better flight model. Also, you can fly shared cockpit with a cheap add-on in almost every plane. P3D is more expensive. There's some more high fidelity add-on planes in P3D still but XP11 is closing in fast, if not already at the same level.
You get the 172 as a standard trainer in almost all simulators, defniitely P3D and XP11. The A2A has some more system depth and airframe history, which is cool, but not really necessary, depending on what you want to do.
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Shadepiece
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Shadepiece » Sat Jun 30, 2018 2:33 pm

One of the biggest reasons I liked the A2A 172 is because, you can do preflight checks. I've read it's good habit for checking the aircraft out, and getting an idea of what to look for when you get near a real one.

Shadepiece
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Shadepiece » Sat Jun 30, 2018 2:34 pm

Can you get the A2A for XP 11?

Trystan
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Trystan » Sat Jun 30, 2018 2:49 pm

Shadepiece, definitely X-Plane 11. With the add-on key it is an FAA certified simulator. I helped install up St. Louis University's (Parks College of Engineering) simulator setup for their aviation program and it is all XP 11.

I'd strongly suggest the Airfoil Labs 172 and then get the Clayviation addon for preflights.

Claviation: http://clayviation.com/2017/08/03/take- ... preflight/
Airfoil Labs: https://www.airfoillabs.com/x-plane-c172sp

:salute:
Trystan

BTW, I like flying the M model with the 40 degree flaps in real life :B:
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Shadepiece
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Shadepiece » Sat Jun 30, 2018 3:50 pm

Awesome! Thanks gents! The price point is much more reasonable than prepare3d.

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Vukac
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Vukac » Sat Jun 30, 2018 5:59 pm

:nice: XP 11 :nice:
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Shadepiece
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Shadepiece » Sat Jun 30, 2018 6:10 pm

Toxic also gave me a link to the Reality Expansion Pack for the 172, and that sounds like a really good deal.

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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Pariah » Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:42 pm

Shadepiece wrote:
Sat Jun 30, 2018 6:10 pm
Toxic also gave me a link to the Reality Expansion Pack for the 172, and that sounds like a really good deal.
That is what I would do if I was starting from scratch again.
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Shadepiece
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Re: I Want to get to Know the 172!

Post by Shadepiece » Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:19 pm

I read up on X-Plane 11, and I decided to go with the REP (Reality Expansion Pack) for the 172. Both the base sim and the REP are currently on sale, so gor $55 I thought it would be the ideal entry into GA sims. There is a walk-around and pre-flight feature as with the A2A. I would love to get the A2A and the Airfoil labs 172 as well just to compare and get a well rounded feel, but for the sale price on the REP and XP11 I felt it couldn't be beat.

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