Just playing around in the 172 in Colorado Springs. Taking off from the Air Force Academy and then shooting an NDB approach to 34L @ KCOS.Airport Elev ~ 6,000msl.ATC assigns me to 11,000 which takes forever (and then 3 days) to make and then it tells me to go to 13,000. Now at 12,000 the little out-of-breath Cessna is making about 100fpm and I'm down to 60-65 knots just to make a positive climb rate. (not to mention no oxygen on board)Is there any way to request another altitude? I'm tired of the nagging from ATC to expedite my climb every 30 seconds! Finally had to cancel IFR and just do it on my own.Also on leaning procedures...Am I doing it correctly? (Lean till rpm drops 100, then bring back rich to maintain original rpm)Thanks,Gary

Yes. Press the "`" key to bring up the ATC dialogue and select one of the altitude increase/decrease options, if any such are allowed.Even so, ATC can (and sometimes does) refuse your request because of terrain avoidance.

Sorry for delay, wife grounded me to get some ground-based chores completed.I tried the scroll lock key as well to get ATC window, only options are change airport,runway, approach." ' " key does not give me any new windows. Am I in the right place?

>I tried the scroll lock key as well to get ATC window, only>options are change airport,runway, approach.>You are already on the approach phase at this point, so no altitude changes are allowed here (only in the cruise phase). In any case, FS ATC doesn't understand that a normally-aspirated Cessna can't maintain 500 fpm at those altitudes. I suggested you try a turbo-charged or turboprop aircraft if you want to fly IFR at those altitudes in FS. Such aircraft are the Mooney, Beaver, Caravan, or the King Air.

You're at KCOS - right - Rwy 35L ??You need to fly that approach on a VFR flightplan because you've run up against one of the limitations of FS.If you look at the approach plate - your MSA for the airport is 8,000 ft if your approach course is between 250 and 020 degrees (from the SouthEast), 9,000 ft if you are approaching on 160 to 250 (NorthEast) and 15,200 ft if you are approaching from the west.Flight Sim is going to expect you to fly at the MSA altitude or higher until you get on the approach.And FS uses a terrain grid system to identify aircraft location and assign MSA which results in the MSA extending out farther than the real world usage.While Bill's procedure works most of the time - FS will not clear you to an altitude below the MSA.KAFF is northwest of KCOS, so the altitude assignment is proper.It's also beyond the capability of C172.So fly VFR.

Thanks! Appreciate the explanation. Hadn't thought about the MSA.Gary