Hi everyone,I just started a month ago taking flying lessons. The aircraft I am flying is a Cessna 172F. Can anyone tell me what the best airplane is that I can download (hopefully freeware) that will best simulate the aircraft that I am flying, flight model, panel, etc.......ThanksRobert

Hey,The best you can get is here: http://www.realairsimulations.com/Go to MSFS Aircraft, then scroll down until you see "Kangan Batman TAFE Cessna 172

Im a student in a 1978 C172 Skyhawk II. Just about done my Lic, have my check ride in about 3 weeks. I use the Defult C172 for practicing stuff and it works fine!Pete

>I use the Defult C172 for practicing stuff and it works fine!Pete,The RealAir aircraft has pretty much the same model as the default C-172, but the airfile is what makes the difference- its amazingly accurate, 100x better than the default airfile.You should try it out, you'll like it :DJason :-wave

I din't like the realair 172. It feels so light... I prefer the Flight1 Piper Archer. The plane feels slightly heavier..more like the real Cessna 172 and the Dynamics are awesome.. Yes its a Payware. But worth every penny. I used the Piper Archer while I was flying the 172 for real (when I was a student Pilot).BTW.. I do like realair's Super Decathlon...But still .. All their airplanes for some reason.. feels very light..Maybe its just me.

>>Maybe its just me.>>Maybe...........I think the RealAir 172 "re-do" is just fine, as is the Dreamfleet Archer. I've never noticed a "light" feeling & both aircraft seem to duplicate the real world counterparts quite well.But then my opinion of the default 172, is that it isn't all that bad to start with. Didn't like the 172 for FS2002, but noticed the default 2004 model was much better the first time I fired it up.BTW--- have flown the real Marchetti & the RealAir version of it, doesn't feel light either! :)Now.......... on the other hand, is the feel of lightness, a tendency to float if airspeed is a bit high? Take the Piper Arrow for instance. It's the same size as the Archer but heavier due to it's retractable landing gear & constant speed prop. The Arrow will actually feel heavy on landing & usually can use a little power during the flare to keep the nose up. Get to slow & the bottom falls out to the runway. Whereas the 172 & Archer can have the power pulled back with no problem. In this respect, both the 172 & Archer "should" feel lighter through the landing process.L.Adamson