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Simulators Training and Proficiency

Turn Up the Heat in Sims With Density Altitude Games

Testing the extremes of heat in simulation offers perspective into what would happen to the typical GA aircraft under the same conditions.

Peter James
Verified
Edited By: tccjeremy
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 offers custom weather. [Courtesy: Peter James]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The article evaluates the realism of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS2020) and X-Plane 12 (XP12) in simulating Cessna 172 aircraft performance under various hot weather and altitude conditions.
  • Tests conducted at sea level, "hot-and-high" airports, and extremely low altitudes consistently showed that both simulators accurately depict the expected degradation in aircraft takeoff and climb performance due to density altitude.
  • While generally realistic, there were slight differences in specific performance metrics (takeoff ground run, acceleration, climb rates) between the MSFS2020 enhanced Cessna 172 and the XP12 default Cessna 172 across the varied test scenarios.
  • The author concludes that flight simulators serve as a valuable and safe tool for pilots to understand and experience the critical real-world implications of heat and altitude on aircraft operations.
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Now that it is officially summer and blazing hot across the U.S., I tested both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS2020) and X-Plane 12 (XP12) for realism and aircraft performance with different hot weather regimes. 

Using live weather was easy enough, but I wanted to test the extremes of heat to see what would happen to the typical GA aircraft under these conditions. In keeping with the theme of how it affects most GA pilots, I chose a late model Cessna 172 featured in both sims, one that many real-world pilots perhaps own or rent from a flying club.

Peter James

Peter is an experienced Part 135 business jet pilot with a passion for simulators and how they blend with the real world. Learning to fly at age 12, he supplemented his passion and career goals with the early versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator. With the growing realism of all PC simulators today, he frequently uses them for extra proficiency, and loves to show other pilots how great they are.

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