Is it faster to cruise in low level , let`s say 2000 - 3000ft or is it faster high level 15.000ft. For the Maule e.g.I found out that IAS is less, but maybe Groundspeed is more?I know jet aircraft are faster in high altitude, but what about this GA piston planes?

I'd say somewhere inbetween there... below 10.000'Your TAS (same as groundspeed IF no wind) should increase as you climb out... problem is you won't be able to maintain MAP (manifold pressure).If you want the fastest speed it will be close to where MAP starts falling off.If you want to get more range and are willing to climb and are willing to sacrifice a few knots...There's a guy named Jack Norris (Aerospace Engineer / Technical Director of Voyager) gives the rule of thumb of: cruise climb at 1.31 x Vy as high as possible with full throttle. Says its good for most GA aircraft.Try 90mph for your Vy1.31 x 90 = 118mph (so try to go as high as you can and maintain 118mph)-Rob

Heimi: to get your ground speed, tune a VOR and fly directly toward or away from it, and check the DME reading on your radio stack. Winds will make a difference, so if you're just testing this fly in Clear Weather. Hook

Since we don't have any thermometers for OAT (Outside Air Temperature), we can't calculate our density altitude and therefore also can't calculate our TAS. Strangely, it's one of the instruments I miss the most in Flight. The only other way to calculate GS is to use the above mentioned tip of flying directly at a VOR or other navaid equipped with DME. But, what about in the Icon or the Stearman? Neither have nav radios much less DME. Only other way is via dead reckoning but I doubt the scenery is accurate enough to use real-world VFR charts to plot course and speed the old-fashioned way. My poor E6B just doesn't have enough data from Flight to give me good results. GIGO!WildBill

Since we don't have any thermometers for OAT (

In "Clear Skies" theme I would think one could safely assume STD. pressure and temperature.

In "Clear Skies" theme I would think one could safely assume STD. pressure and temperature.

In Clear Skies, probably so. But even then, what if it's a clear day in January? Should be much higher than a clear day in August, don't ya think? The key word is temperature.Also, I've run the automated checklist many times, and I've never seen the altimeter set to anything other than 29.92. Does Flight not simulate actual weather conditions or does it only "draw" them?

Heimi: to get your ground speed, tune a VOR and fly directly toward or away from it, and check the DME reading on your radio stack. Winds will make a difference, so if you're just testing this fly in Clear Weather. Hook

Be sure to be far away from the vor as the dme is the direct line distance to the vor. It change at a slower pace as you approach the vor.

You can check the outside air temperature on the ground before starting the engine by mousing over the oil temperature gauge, for example. I've never see anything but 14-15 degrees C.Hook

Also, I've run the automated checklist many times, and I've never seen the altimeter set to anything other than 29.92. Does Flight not simulate actual weather conditions or does it only "draw" them?

I had just departed upwind and noticed my altimeter didn't seem right, so I defaulted to my old FS trick of hitting 'B' to correctly set the altimeter. Protip: 'B' does something different in Flight. Don't press it in-flight. :Whistle:

OK, according to my test best cruising altitude for the Maule is about 7.000ft.I achieved maximum difference between Ground Speed indicated at DME to IAS at tis level.130kts IAS was at 7.000ft 156kts GS. On higher altitudes there was no more accelearation.