Is it just me, or does the C172 feel a tad underpowered? When doing a normal, no flap takeoff, it feels like the aircraft struggles to maintain an airspeed above 60 knots. This is with the plane almost level to the horizon, near sea level, so lean mixture isn't really needed.

I'm not convinced the mixture modeling in MSFS isn't faulty.

Pull the mixture control back to 75% and try again.  In hot weather this might be better at around 68%.  This should give you best power.

During run-up I set mixture for best power.  I do this by advancing the throttle to run-up RPM, then adjusting the mixture to give maximum RPM.  This usually gives the numbers described above.

Since I've only flown the steam gauge version, I got to external view so I can see the digital RPM on the lower left.  Adjust the mixture until this is maxed.  I do this before takeoff, then again at cruise.

Hook

make sure fuel mixture is set correct. I experienced that full in isn't really doing it, it needs to be backed out just a bit.

You must have typed your reply, just when I did. 😉

The mixture in this game is pretty meh. In real life on the G1000 I use EGT for best mixture, as my overly-expensive flight school taught me. (As opposed to my cheap flight schools "just twist until rpm drops then give it two twists back in).

In this game I can never reliably use either. I get pretty close to no mixture before it wants to fall off. Could definitely use fine tuning.

EDIT: To the OP's question: I think the C172SP is underpowered in real life. It's tough flying something that can barely do 100 ft/min climbs on a hot day. But I've done it... I don't think the game 172SP is noticeably underpowered.

Edited September 11, 20205 yr by WestAir

Real 172 very easy getting from wheel off ground at 55 kts  (mixture as   sea leve)l. Asobo 172 little bit nose heavy, add some elevator trim and it will climb as expected. I compare 172 performance vs POH and it was reasonably spot on, so I don't believe there are performance issue. 

Mixture is broken.

For now, do this:

Full power / mixture full rich

Pull mixture down slowly until Fuel Flow peaks

 

You can set a keyboard control for Set Best Mixture.

Open the control settings for the keyboard, select All, type "mixture" in the search box.  Near the bottom of the list is a setting for Set Best Mixture (or similar wording).  I assign it to control-X.

When you are in the cockpit with mixture control pushed full in and press control-X, the mixture control will pull out a bit.  If you are using a hardware mixture control, you'll have to adjust it manually to match what control-X gives you.

This appears to be max fuel flow.  Max power is a bit farther back.  Max EGT is much farther back, usually around 45% on one of my ported aircraft.  I have not experimented with it in any stock aircraft, so your mileage may vary.

Hook