Does anyone know if the the RealAir Flight model can be used with Carenado's 172?. Carenado's model is a dead ringer for the plane I'm taking my RW lessons in, so I'd like to get the best of both worlds, if possible.

Although I have the F1 172, I also really like the RealAir 172 software package. Be sure to set the realism sliders to full right so that the model can perform to its expect standards. Also, within the libary there are a couple of replacement panels that are available for the RealAir Model.Tom

Does anyone know if the the RealAir Flight model can be used with Carenado's 172?. Carenado's model is a dead ringer for the plane I'm taking my RW lessons in, so I'd like to get the best of both worlds, if possible.

Sure can! All it takes is replace all the date in the Carenado .cfg EXCEPT for the contact points and lights. If you do replace those you'll end up with a plane that is somewhat sunken into the ground :( There was a recent thread about this that should explain more but from my experience when you combine them you'll make a 172 that is irresistible to fly in.CheersAlex

Sure can! All it takes is replace all the date in the Carenado .cfg EXCEPT for the contact points and lights. If you do replace those you'll end up with a plane that is somewhat sunken into the ground :( There was a recent thread about this that should explain more but from my experience when you combine them you'll make a 172 that is irresistible to fly in.CheersAlex

Great news - thanks Alex!

Realair one is probably the smartest choice if you are using it as a training aid to supplement ab-initio flying, since it has a pretty realistic flight model. The default Cessna is fine for learning the instruments, although I daresay after 20 years of simming that's not something you'll need to worry about!For your first flying lessons, you actually need to concentrate more on the flying, feedback from the controls, the sounds the engine is making, and the view out of the window, so the visual model and the panel are less important than the fidelity of the flight model and sounds. These are likely to be your reference points on a circuit rather than merely the instruments as is the case in a flight sim, since when you get used to things, you will find that you can get a good idea of your height from seeing how big cars and such look, and a good idea of your speed from the sounds and the feel of the controls.So stand by to get shouted at for looking at the instruments too much, which will likely be an unfortunate legacy of using FS for a long time before getting in the real thing - in other words keep a good lookout on the circuit, and take a quick look before you initiate a turn. Notwithstanding the difficulties of 'getting your eyes off the panel', you will be at a considerable advantage over many if you have been simming for a long time, since your instructor will not have to spend a lot of time sitting on the ground pointing stuff out to you, and in my experience, instructors are usually quite happy when they find that to be the case.More importantly, good luck for your first solo - that's a day you will not forget, and I can guarantee that you will feel like the king of the world when you bring it in on your own for the first time. Make sure you have plenty of money on you that day too - it's a tradition for a first solo pilot to buy a round of drinks in the bar in most flying clubs.AlGood morning to you Al,Thanks so much for the reply. Yes....I am well aware of the issue of flight simmers tending to be visually bound into the cockpit. About 16 years ago I had the opportunity to fly in a sailplane (in the front seat) and quickly realized that I became more or less fixated with repeatedly checking the instruments (and not looking outside enough)....enough that I got very airsick and actually puked (much to the chagin of the instructor behind me who had the unpleasant job of cleaning it up after we landed). I had been "flying" the MS sims for about 7 years by then. I learned my lesson from that one.Before I went up in the Cessna on Saturday I had the chance to chat awhile with the instructor about my love of anything related to aviation and especially my love of the simming hobby and voiced my concern that I know that I know I've learned a lot about planes and flying but that I may have leaned a lot of bad habits along the way. I mentioned to him about my concern of not being fixated on the instruments....he knew that I was worried about it. He apparently watched me closely as I flew and told me afterwards that I was (for the most part) flying as I "should have been," keeping my eyes outside, keeping a good reference point between the horizon and cowling during straight/level flight and in turns and only periodically scanning the instruments. He also commented positively that I had a good feel for coordinated flight and handled the plane "with a subtle feel, not manhandling it " (something I know carries over from my hand/eye coordination in my career in dentistry).That said.......I am still a kid at heart and never cease to be amazed at the wonder of it all. Flying in the pristine skies and beautiful weather of Central Coast CA over some spectacular scenery on Saturday was very satisfying. I need more!Mike

It's great to sense your enthusiasm from what you write Mike, and it sounds like you did pretty well there too, managing the tricky part with skill (that being smooth coordination on the controls rather than gripping the stick/yoke like a vice - another thing some student pilots do).Since that is true, I reckon you'll be off on your own in fairly short order if you keep that kind of progress up, because if your instructor knows and sees that you can fly well, and he also knows you have a lot of knowledge from your interest in aviation and simming, then he will be quietly ticking mental boxes, with a view to thinking you are good to go. So don't be surprised if he springs it on you after only a few hours, which is common for those with sim experience. One thing I will suggest though, is that if it is at all possible for you to manage it, see if you can have a big block of training over a couple of days, rather than taking it in dribs and drabs over several weeks, because that way, your experience tends to accumulate better, and your confidence will improve with that.Of course going up around and down for a quick circuit and landing is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, yet it takes on massive significance when you do it on your own for the first time, and is a real 'rite of passage' for a new pilot. But I suspect you will find that your knowledge about the aircraft will serve you in good stead for that. It's pretty natural for people to feel nervous about that first solo, however, what is valuable for people who have a lot of familiarity from simming, is that in a circumstance where you are alone in an aircraft for the first time, and quite naturally a little apprehensive, your familiarity with things means that you are far less likely to struggle to remember something important when under some pressure born of apprehension if it has been ingrained in you from all those years of simming. That's where you will certainly profit from your sim experience.I wouldn't worry too much about puking up in a glider either, I fly those more than anything else so I'm quite familiar with people losing their lunch in them on air experience flights, I suspect you will not have been the first person to puke in that cockpit. Gliders do tend to bounce around a bit (which is in fact a plus point when you get used to it, as it lets you know where the lift is), but until you get used to it, it is quite alarming and certainly nothing like being in seat number 23 on a 737. As you probably recall, in a glider seat you are fairly well reclined, which not everyone likes, so that might have had something to do with your mishap too. Of course I am certainly biased when it comes to advocating gliding over other forms of flying, since it is my favourite kind of flying, but when you have that PPL ticket, take another flight in a glider and do some aerobatics - I guarantee you will love it, and I bet you won't puke either!Al

It's great to sense your enthusiasm from what you write Mike, and it sounds like you did pretty well there too, managing the tricky part with skill (that being smooth coordination on the controls rather than gripping the stick/yoke like a vice - another thing some student pilots do).Since that is true, I reckon you'll be off on your own in fairly short order if you keep that kind of progress up, because if your instructor knows and sees that you can fly well, and he also knows you have a lot of knowledge from your interest in aviation and simming, then he will be quietly ticking mental boxes, with a view to thinking you are good to go. So don't be surprised if he springs it on you after only a few hours, which is common for those with sim experience. One thing I will suggest though, is that if it is at all possible for you to manage it, see if you can have a big block of training over a couple of days, rather than taking it in dribs and drabs over several weeks, because that way, your experience tends to accumulate better, and your confidence will improve with that.Of course going up around and down for a quick circuit and landing is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, yet it takes on massive significance when you do it on your own for the first time, and is a real 'rite of passage' for a new pilot. But I suspect you will find that your knowledge about the aircraft will serve you in good stead for that. It's pretty natural for people to feel nervous about that first solo, however, what is valuable for people who have a lot of familiarity from simming, is that in a circumstance where you are alone in an aircraft for the first time, and quite naturally a little apprehensive, your familiarity with things means that you are far less likely to struggle to remember something important when under some pressure born of apprehension if it has been ingrained in you from all those years of simming. That's where you will certainly profit from your sim experience.I wouldn't worry too much about puking up in a glider either, I fly those more than anything else so I'm quite familiar with people losing their lunch in them on air experience flights, I suspect you will not have been the first person to puke in that cockpit. Gliders do tend to bounce around a bit (which is in fact a plus point when you get used to it, as it lets you know where the lift is), but until you get used to it, it is quite alarming and certainly nothing like being in seat number 23 on a 737. As you probably recall, in a glider seat you are fairly well reclined, which not everyone likes, so that might have had something to do with your mishap too. Of course I am certainly biased when it comes to advocating gliding over other forms of flying, since it is my favourite kind of flying, but when you have that PPL ticket, take another flight in a glider and do some aerobatics - I guarantee you will love it, and I bet you won't puke either!Al

Just got home with my significant other after a nice meal at a Greek Restaurant....to find your reply. Not only are you quite informative, but you have a good sense of humor (very important...me thinks!). I hope you don't mind if I sometimes turn to you (directly) for advice as I pursue this dream?BTW...forgot to mention that I do some volunteering at a local museum, the Estrella Warbirds Museum http://www.ewarbirds.org/ in Paso Robles, CA (my home for the last year). I'm a docent and also an operator of the F-18 simulator. The museum inherited this "real" sim from the Lemoore Naval Airstation in CA a few years back, after they upgraded. I truly enjoy teaching the patrons some stick and rudder flying (some appreciate it, but most of them just want to shoot at things as they sit in the real cockpit). Mike

Would it be possible to use the Realair 172 in Rods training. I downloaded it and it flys great, way better than the default 172.Bill