Hello everyone, just been trying to research carenados piper cherokee 180F and was wondering if anyone out there that has it in their hanger can comment on it, such as model,visual,cockpit, VC, performance etc etc. Im looking into purchasing it but was just looking for some info on it. I find it weird thet it is more money than their newest adition the 206, i would just go ahead and get the 206 but i have their 182 and am looking for something low wing. thanks alot

I've had the Cherokee 180 since it came out, and it's a nice single engine VFR aircraft. Typical nice Carenado quality, with a great VC, very good frame rates, and a pretty realistic flight model (I've logged several hours in the real thing). I've since modded it with dual Reality XP GNS430's and their FLT gauges, so it's now a nice little instrument platform as well. The one complaint is the wacky tinted windows that tend to give everything a grey/green cast.For the price you really can't go wrong. If you have and like the Dreamfleet Archer, then this one is up your alley as well.

>The one complaint is the wacky tinted windows that>tend to give everything a grey/green cast.I don't have the Cherokee 180, but if it's like the C182RG and C206 (which I do own) and memory serves, the window tint should be a texture file, meaning you can modify it if you dislike the gray/green look.

I have it too and it's a great little plane, a joy to fly about. For the money it's WELL WORTH it's price tag................Randy J. Smith................CAUTION! My views represent no one but my own. While I do help companies test products - this in no way means I represent them in ANY fashion.[h4]Evolution is a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations[/h4]

I've got it and really enjoy it. Matter of fact, I just did a couple legs with it this weekend for the first time in a while. The VC is very sharp and clean (especially the cabin enviroment), still one of the best IMO. And has been stated, the framerates are great, as all Carenado's are, except perhaps the 210.As Neil above, I have mine fitted with full boat RXP stuff, including dual 430's, and also have it set-up to use an AP, something the origional aircraft does not have. But to be honest, even though I have it set-up this way, this plane really wants to be flown VFR style. It isn't fast, but it does have great charachter.Here are a couple shots, including the panel with my RXP mods:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147727.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147728.jpg

Those are some nice pics, can it be flown ifr at all, lets say i encounter bad weather would i be able to fly an approach, is she equipped with vor adf etc etc. thanks againif you have anymore pics that be great

Has anybody done a rework to remove the VC window tint? Would love to have a bright view out the VC.

Yes, it comes stock with VOR1, ADF, and two comms and a transponder.Here are some shots of the stock cockpit:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147732.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147733.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147734.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147735.jpg

thanks for the extra pics, it looks realy nice

Mike, check this texture out, I believe I downloaded it?? Don't believe it is stock anyhow...This has clear windows. All you would have to do would be to copy/paste the .bmp files in the texture folder of this aircraft into the texture folders you want to change. I believe there are one or two files, and both have 'wind'(or similar) in the file name for 'windows'. They should not be hard to spot...http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147736.jpg

Actually Mike, I do believe there are some stock textures with the 'clear' windows as well (as I just posted one ;) ). Same procedure applies as I stated above. I believe you only want to change the aircraft with the blue/green tint?

How did you add the RXP guages to the panel and VC? Forgive my newbness, I know the RXP stuff comes with a util to add the GPS units to the panel, but I didn't think it allowed you to 'position' it on the panel or remove one guage to replace it with the RXP one.Would you be using the Abacus panel designer? And does it handle the VC also? [hr color=#000000][table border=0" width="98%" id="table1" height="4" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2][td width=500]Jason[br /]General Aviation Fan[br][/b]P4 3.2Ghz, 1GB Ram, FX5900 128MB, XP SP2.[br /][br /]

>How did you add the RXP guages to the panel and VC? Forgive>my newbness, I know the RXP stuff comes with a util to add the>GPS units to the panel, but I didn't think it allowed you to>'position' it on the panel or remove one guage to replace it>with the RXP one.>>Would you be using the Abacus panel designer? And does it>handle the VC also?Personaly, I do it all by hand. Some panels are more difficult than others.It is simply achieving a fundemental undertstanding of gauge placement, size, etc. in the panel.cfg. If three is a default attitude gauge (as there usually is), you find that line in the panel.cfg, and replace the stock gauge with an RXP gauge. You can start with the stock placement and size info, but many times they have to be adjusted. Or, sometimes, you can remove a stock gauge(s) entirely and install new RXP gauges as you like, or reorganize the sock gauge placement. Again, some panels are easier than others depending on how the panel .bmp files are designed.FS Panel Studio is a program many use, I've simply used the 'old fashion' method instead.As an example of one I really moved stuff around with from the stock set-up, this is my modified Carenado 210:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147783.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147784.jpg

>How did you add the RXP guages to the panel and VC? Forgive>my newbness, I know the RXP stuff comes with a util to add the>GPS units to the panel, but I didn't think it allowed you to>'position' it on the panel or remove one guage to replace it>with the RXP one.>>Would you be using the Abacus panel designer? And does it>handle the VC also?> Jason, I use FS Panel Studio for some mods, but I'm lazy and also use quite a few of the retrofits posted by others on the RXP web site. Many thanks to all who have posted on there and saved me work. :)http://www.reality-xp.com/community/files.htm

Just to be a little more clear on how to implement the "clear" windows on the default texture (they are still somewhat tinted, but no green/blue). There are two textures to take from any of the other texture directories to put in the default texture directory,Carenado Cherokee Windows.bmp and WindowsExt.bmpI really like the panel layout of the 180F over the DF Archer. It's really hard to see the Tachometer on the DF, and for the 180F they made the yoke a little smaller which then allows just enough of the tach to show to make it usable in flight. Plus, if you click on it, it makes a little popup gauge so you don't even have to worry about shifting your head with the TrackIR at all to see it. It is a little touchier in bank than the DF Archer (shorter wings?). From a power perspective, it's right on the numbers compared to my plane. My plane and the 180F do around 115 - 118 in cruise, while the DF Archer can get to close to 130 or more in cruise on my system. It climbs nicely at around 1000 fpm at sea level, just like my plane. It does seem to flip into a spin much too easily in a full power stall, but now we are approaching a subject I shouldn't get near. The VC is quite nice, you can do a full checklist start from cold and dark from the VC. It's not as flashy as some of the latest releases and could be a little more funtionally detailed (moving visors, etc.) but I only need that stuff once in a while, usually when I am bored and looking for something to twiddle. I was sad the little side window doesn't open. I don't know how people will hear me yell "Clear Prop!". Otherwise, it is a very clear and texturally detailed VC. In comparison it does hit the FPS a wee bit more than the DF Archer, but its VC is wayyy nicer. But really neither plane taxes the fps much at all.While we are showing off our mods, here's how I redid it to match my own plane:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147818.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147814.jpgChanges I still need to make - Create an Airmarc 288 Comm switch panel, Create a Bendix T-12C ADF, add a digital readout for the ADF below the Transponder. The second VOR should also have a glideslope, but I won't bother with that. The external textures need a little more color in the stripes, too. But I was pretty happy with the result, my first ever outside texture. No autopilot on this puppy. Real one doesn't have one, and I never use it in FS anyway.Here's the real one. It's actually a '73 Challenger, which has the Hershey bar wings (with extensions) and seats of the 180F, and the fuselage (5" longer), vertical tail strake, and interior trim of the Archer:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147816.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/147820.jpgThomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com/FC_StartJava.html] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)