RealAir
Simulations Cessna 172SP
Flight Model and Textures commissioned
by the Kangan Batman TAFE Aerospace Industry Training Centre,
Melbourne, Australia.
Copyright RealAir Simulations 2003 - all
rights reserved. For use with Microsoft FS2002 only.
This aircraft should
be flown with the general realism slider in the FS2002 aircraft/realism
menu set to maximum (ie: fully right). This
aircraft will only perform as we intended with this setting.
With the realism slider set to maximum you will be able to
obtain up to 40 degrees side slip and spinning will be possible.
Please see the notes below for further details.
Contents of this package
Your installation places an entirely seperate
C172SP in the RealAir Simulations C172SP folder. This folder
contains default panels, models and sounds, but with the addition
of the following:
1. Customised sounds including an improved
"wind" sound, vital in communicating airspeed of
the aircraft and perhaps unconsciously used by many pilots
for indications of approaching stall and/or excessive speed
without reference to the airspeed indicator.
2. An alternative Virtual Cockpit panel
which matches the grey tones of the default 2D panel. The
Virtual Cockpit panel carries the Kangan/ Batman TAFE logo
plus the RealAir Simulations logo, and our 2D panel has the
addition of the RealAir Simulations small strip at the foot
of the panel background.
3. A customised exterior re-paint in the
livery of the Kangan/ Batman TAFE. We are happy for users
to produce other repaints of the exterior — but please
first contact us at RealAir Simulations before proceeding.
You will need our permission to attach new textures to this
package if you wish to publish them. Please note that due
to FS2002 mdl file implementation, textures in the default
C172 are mirrored rather than built individually. This results
in the lettering appearing reversed on one side of the aircraft.
We were unable to fix this without redesigning the entire
C172 model afresh.
4. A customised flight model specially
commissioned by the Kangan Batman TAFE Aerospace Industry
Training Centre. This flight model is optimised for training
purposes and will produce predictable aircraft reactions when
flying outside the Cessna 172 SP's normal flying regime. This
includes wing drops, spinning and side slip capability up
to 37 degrees.
This package is released "as is"
and RealAir Simulations is not obliged to provide support
for individual users. If you do not find this aircraft to
your liking then please simply discard it. We have made all
efforts to provide a good training aircraft which in the main
reflects the behaviour of the real aircraft, within the limitations
of FS2002, and within the constraints imposed upon us in enabling
slipping and spinning.
Important flying and setup notes
This flight model must be flown with the
general realism slider set to maximum in
the aircraft/realism menu in FS2002. Additionally, you
must uncheck "auto-coordination" in the
same menu if you want good rudder control, slipping and spinning.
Rudder Pedals or a twist grip on your joystick will significantly
enhance this.
The C172 SP requires a wealth of performance
parameters to be harmonised with each other, not only in general
flight behaviour but also in terms of climb, cruise, descent
and higher altitude performance. Where possible we have made
efforts to keep these specifications as close as possible
to the actual aircraft. Where exact performance values have
made certain manoeuvres difficult we have compromised to give
a good overall feel to flying.
Please check your throttle calibration.
If you are getting an under-performing engine it is probably
because your throttle slider or lever is not actually producing
full throttle. You can check this by flying straight and level
under auto pilot, then disabling your joystick in FS2002,
and pressing F4 for full throttle. If you see a slight rise
in rpm when doing this you can be sure your throttle lever
needs re-calibrating. Often, the solution is to not quite
push the lever to maximum when prompted by the Microsoft Joystick
Calibration routine. This ensures that when you push your
throttle fully foward in the sim it will be at maximum. You
might also get slightly better throttle accuracy by applying
a very slight "null zone" to the throttle in FS2002's
control/ sensitivity menu.
Our Cessna 172SP loads with just two pilots
(Instructor and Student) and a little baggage. Thus climb
and cruise performance will exceed specification (Climb will
be well over 800 fpm as against 720 fpm at Sea Level fully
loaded). If you wish to fly fully loaded then backup your
aircraft.cfg file, then open it. Find the Weight and Balance
heading and add some rear passengers and more baggage to bring
total weight up to near maximum permitted:
station_load.0 = 190, -2.0, -1.5, 0.0 //Pilot
(first value lbs weight)
station_load.1 = 190, -2.0, 1.5, 0.0 //Front Passenger
station_load.2 = 0.0, -6.2, -1.5, 0.0 //Rear Passenger
station_load.3 = 0.0, -6.2, 1.5, 0.0 //Rear Passenger
station_load.4 = 30, -8.0, 0.0, 0.0 //Baggage
For general flying and circuit/ pattern
practice, plus spinning and side slip practice, we recommend
using just two pilots.
Flight performance
At maximum take off weight, the RealAir
Cessna 172 SP will perform as indicated below. Included in
brackets are the accuracy values you can expect from this
flightmodel.
Climb on full throttle at 76 KIAS, sea
level — 720 FPM (within 5%)
Max speed sea level to 400 FT ASL at full
throttle — 126.3 KTS (within 0.5%)
Cruise, 80% power at 8000 FT — 122-124
knots (within 3%)
Ceiling — 14,000 FT (please note,
this requires reduced fuel to attain).
Descent: all at 1500 RPM at typical landing
weight with 2 persons on board, no head wind, and 500 FPM
descent —
Flap 10° — 70-75 KIAS
Flap 20° — 65 KIAS
Flap 30° — 60 KIAS
Note: For approaches with
significant head wind, descent rate would be nearer 350 FPM
than 500 FPM, in which case more power would be needed —
perhaps 1700 RPM.
Stalls and Spins
Stalls are reasonably benign, unless you
insist on fighting them. The stall drop is a little greater
than on the real aircraft due to our spin and wing drop routines
kicking in. Generally though a smooth forward push of the
stick and powered recovery should feel close to the actual
aircraft.
Wing drops will occur (more often to the
left) if a stall is held and not recovered.
Spins are reluctant and, as with the real
C172 SP, tend to collapse occasionally into a spiral. You
may need a little up trim to encourage a spin. The procedure
is classic. Stick fully back and as the nose drops, kick in
full rudder. Spins to the left are easier to promote than
to the right. Often, typically with the 172, a spin will first
mimic a spiral, then reluctantly the nose will "tuck
in" and a spin will begin. Descent speed of spin will
vary according to total load but generally settles around
15-20% above the stall speed. Rotations are relatively slow.
Recovery is almost instant upon centering the controls.
Side slipping can aid quick descent on
too-high approaches. Our C172 SP will side slip very easily
with rudder and aileron controls crossed.
Please don't forget
to set the General Realism slider to Maximum. Have Fun!
Our association with the Kangan Batman
TAFE
Greg Free, of the Aerospace Industry Training
Centre at the Kangan Batman TAFE (TAFE stands for Tertiary
And Further Education, and is roughly similar to a UK Polytechnic)
contacted us a while back after trying our award winning SIAI-Marchetti
SF.260, the first ever aircraft for the FS series to spin,
and expressed interest in using this aircraft simulation as
a training tool. At a recent Airshow in Melbourne, which featured
display aircraft from all over the world, our SIAI-Marchetti
SF.260 was demonstrated on a large screen and received huge
interest from airshow visitors and pilots alike. Our SF.260
is now used as an additional tool for advanced flying manoeuvres
at the TAFE. We also demonstrated the beta of our C172 at
the show and subsequently were commissioned by the TAFE to
develop the first ever third party aircraft for FS2002 to
be used as an official training tool for ab initio students
at a flying school. Training on this aircraft began in February
of this year (2003).
Since the TAFE contacted us, we have now
received other commissions for flight models from various
other training establishments around the world, including
one from a European Air Force.
RealAir Simulations seeks to constantly
improve its products. We welcome feedback, and do listen to
suggestions. However we are not able to respond to every request
for support with this particular package, the licence for
which we provide free of charge to single users who are interested
in a more in-depth GA flying experience. Please note that
commercial use of this package is prohibited without first
obtaining our permission.
For information on
our products and addons for Fs2002, please visit our website:
www.realairsimulations.com
Credits:
Aircraft and panel textures, installer
— Bill Womack
Documentation — Sean Moloney
Flight-model and custom sounds — Rob Young
Flight Testing
Greg Free on behalf of the Kangan Batman TAFE Aerospace Industry
Training Centre
Stephen "Beach" Comer
We extend grateful thanks to Bill Womack,
Greg Free and Stephen Comer for their generous work and support
in the development of this package.
Copyright Notice
This aircraft flight model, custom textures
and sounds are the property of RealAir Simulations.
You are granted a single user licence to use and enjoy this
aircraft. This package must
not be used for any commercial purpose, including flight school
training, without the/express and written permission of RealAir
Simulations.
The files accompanying this package are
digitally encrypted and can be traced. Copying, disassembling,
and/or re-editing this flight model and/or textures, in likeness
or feel, is a breach of copyright and prohibited. This package
may not be uploaded to any website without the written permission
of RealAir Simulations.
If you wish to add textures to this package
please first write to us at www.realairsimulations.com and
seek written permission.
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