Do you suggest a plane that has more realistic handling characteristics. I am new to the sim world.

A C172 (which I think you mean?) in real life doesn't perform like a C152, so it should come as no surprise that the one in FS doesn't.Flight1 has a C152 for sale that (according to the experts, I've never flown a 152 for real) performs quite well.

I learned to fly on 152's and I enjoy the Flight 1 version. Pretty realistic in my view.Paul