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Summary: How to operate a Cessna 172 for takeoff and cruise in Microsoft Flight Simulator X; learn more about flight simulator software in this free instructional video.
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Dixon Gillette Dixon Gillette has been reviewing and testing video games for nearly Ten years. Currently Dixon's hobby is to refurbish antique video game consoles and locate... read more
DIXON GILLETTE: Welcome back to Expert Village, my name is Dixon Gillette and let's continue our tutorial on Microsoft Flight Simulator X. All right, we're going to learn about take off and approach and landing procedures for a Cessna 172. For this 172, we have full fuel and payload. The required runway length is going to be approximately 960 feet. Keep in mind the other factors such as density, altitude, temperature, headwinds will all affect take off and landing performance of this aircraft. When taxing in a 172, set your RPM on your tachometer to 1000 revolutions per minute. Your mixture should be fully in or set to fully rich. For take off, set your flaps between zero and ten degrees. Cessna recommends that 10 degrees of flaps will reduce your take off distance by 10%. Once you have the nose of your aircraft aligned on the center line of the runway, advance the throttle forward smoothly. Once you reach 70 knots on your indicated air speed, gently pull back on the stick, rotating the nose up. Then, once your airspeed hits 75 to 80 knots, climb off the runway and maintain this climb at 80 knots until you reach 3000 feet. The ideal cruise setting power for a Cessna 172 between 45% and 75% power; adjust your throttle accordingly. Also, if you're above 3000 feet MSL, reduce your mixture to optimize your fuel air ratio into your engine, maximizing your performance.