FlightGear cessna 172p takeoff tutorial

This video tries to explain how to takeoff with the cessna 172p on flightgear.
Note: In more recent versions than the one used on this video, the top menu changed, instead of "???" now it displays "Help".
If you have any doubt feel free to ask in the comments.
If you want to skip the checklists you can jump to: 1:47
Engine startup tutorial: • FlightGear cessna 172p...

[@Elliottt314]

Total noob here just starting today, If I didn't watch this I would've been very lost. Thanks for the help!

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

You're welcome. :)

[@pino9055]

I have a problem, when I take off my plane does a hard left turn and when I try to stabilize it. I just go down and crash.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

That's because the unbalanced weight, there is just the pilot on the aircraft so it will turn left since he sits left. You have to make small corrections turning the yoke to the right slightly. Take a look at the takeoff part, as I leave the runway i turn a little bit right. To prevent the aircraft from being turning left you can change the weight of the co-pilot, on the top bar click on equipment, there should be an item saying something like "Fuel and cargo", click on this item and it will open a window. At the right of that window there are the weights. Increase the co-pilot weight until it is equal or almost equal to the pilot weight and the turning left tendency should be gone. Hope this helps.

[@pino9055]

Alright, thanks I'll try it later.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Also when turning be careful to not turn too much and pay attention to the pitch angle. The pitch angle is the angle the nose of the aircraft is in relation to the ground on a straight line. When I started to fly on this aircraft i used to turn but also accidentally pulling the yoke causing me to crash. There is an instrument on the aircraft called the "Turn coordinator". The objective is to mantain the black ball in the center, if the ball moves right you should apply some right rudder until the ball reaches the center and keep the ball there, if the ball goes left apply left rudder. With some practice you will make it. If you need more info let me know. :)

[@pino9055]

Okay thanks a lot

[@pino9055]

Thanks for all the help man. 6 months ago when you were explaining this to me, I had no clue what you were talking about. But I’ve been playing sim for some time. Not this, but FSX I love to fly A2A Cessna 172 it’s one of the most realistic C172s you can get in FSX. Anyways I took a discovery flight at my nearby aeroclub, instructor gave me controls a couple of times and I handled it without a problem. I’m soon going to start my flight training, and I have decided to try to get a job as a pilot in Croatian Air Force, in case something goes wrong, I’ll try to fly commercialy then. Just wanted to let you know that you helped me a lot in finding out what I want to do for a living. You are the one that made me understand that aviation is where I want to spend the rest of my life at. I’m very grateful that I now know what my passion is and I’m young so I can pursue it easily. Thank you a lot, you changed my life for better. Greetings.

[@pino9055]

Thanks so much, helped me a lot

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

You're welcome, I'm here to help :)

[@yashodhantamane212]

Thanks a lot dude .. Keep up the good work Please upload more tutorials

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Thank you for your support. :)

[@mattymurphy8929]

I downloaded today, Complete noob. I want to do a tutorial but the grey bar where you click "Help" and all the other options, that bar isnt there for me. I was pressing random buttons and might've made my HUD dissapear or something. PLEASE HELP! Thanks! :)

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hi, you may have pressed F10. Press F10 again and the bar should be back. Hope this helps. Let me know if it worked. :)

[@warisislive6623]

Thanx a lot man.. your videos are really informative

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Thank you for your kind words. :)

[@Chx_s]

Hi, nothing happens when i move the throttle. The plane isnt even making any noise

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, did you start the engine? You have on the top bar menu a button to autostart the aircraft. F10 is the key to show/hide the top bar menu if the buttons didn't change.

[@neerajkulkarni6506]

Do you mess with the rudders during flight at all or is it only during takeoff?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

You use it whenever you need. Always when you turn you need to use it to coordinate the turn. There is an instrument called the turn coordinator, this indicates how much rudder you need to apply and to which side. When you start turning you can see a black ball moving, the goal is to keep the ball on the center. Just remember the statement "foot on the ball", if the ball goes left you press the left pedal until it becomes centered. Same for the right side. If the wind is strong you also may need to use it to keep the airplane flying straight and level. I hope this properly answers your question. Enjoy the flights! :)

[@a.k349]

where does it show the 'KIAS'? Also, I level the weight in the middle with the fuel and the pilots but it still banks to the left, is there a way to fix it please???

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, the KIAS is the indicated airspeed in knots. You can see it on the top left instrument which has green and yellow arcs and a red mark where the yellow arc ends. Regarding the banking left question, you can try to set the right sit pilot a weight higher than the left pilot. I hope this helps.

[@a.k349]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 ok thanks!

[@alecolander6695]

how do you higher the nose? and how do you like "control" which way the plane is moving?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hi, you can use the mouse or the arrow keys. If you want to control using the mouse click on tab and then the yoke will do the moves you do with the mouse. Also you can control the rudder with 0 to turn it left and enter to turn right. Hope this helps.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Sorry if the last comment didn't answer your question properly, to higher the nose click on the back arrow (on the keyboard) or if you use the mouse, after clicking on TAB (on the keyboard) pull it gently back.

[@alecolander6695]

Sérgio Rodrigues thanks very much

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@alecolander6695 You're welcome. :)

[@jeteamleider3714]

i know how to start and stuff but every time i take off the plane starts going to the left and right and then it just crashes. I'm really trying not to let it wobble but I don't think I'm doing it right. Can somebody please help me?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hi, have you read the thread below where you said "same"? I explained there some things. But I forgot there to mention the weather. The wind can also make it impossible to fly properly. If this is the case, you'll need to set the weather conditions using the top bar. Clicking on Environment->Weather, then a menu should open. There you can click on the square on the left of "Manual configuration" and if you click on the button that says "Manual configuration" you can change the windspeed. Then don't forget to click on Apply before closing the menu. The controls are very sensitive. Also when turning be careful to not make moves forward or backwards, when I started, when turning, I also pulled or pushed the yoke accidentally ended up crashing. I would write more stuff, but this comment is already too large. If you need more help, please let me know. :) If it is necessary we can combine a day and hour to fly online and I try to help you. ;)

[@jeteamleider3714]

Yeah, I’ve seen it. I read it after I wrote this comment. Thank you.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@jeteamleider3714 No problem. You're welcome. :)

[@thoriq_faris_risyana]

Nice tutorial

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Glad to know you enjoyed! Thank you for your support! :)

[@thoriq_faris_risyana]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 Your Welcome:)

[@Pilot_engineer_19]

Why can't I see the runway from the cockpit? The only way I can even taxi is go to the chase plane view.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

It is weird, did you correctly download the aircraft?

[@STEEZY2BREEZY]

hey um im a total NOOB at this game i just started today but, does this game work with WASD controls?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, there is a way to change the control keys. You will need to know how XML works, this article explains how to do it: wiki.flightgear.org/Howto:Reassign_keyboard_bindings. It may be a bit though but it's possible. Have good flights. :)

[@STEEZY2BREEZY]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 Thanks! also great tutorial

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@STEEZY2BREEZY Nice to know you enjoyed. Thank you for your support. :)

[@YS-eu4ne]

hi are you using joystick?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Yes I am. In order to control using the mouse we should press the tab key. It is also possible with the arrow keys but with them I never do well.

[@YS-eu4ne]

Sérgio Rodrigues thanks!!

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@YS-eu4ne You're welcome :)

[@joshuabaker2833]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 if i connected a xbox one controller would it be recognised as a joystick

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@joshuabaker2833 Well, I don't really have an idea. But if you tried other games with the xbox controller on computer and it worked, there is a chance that here it will too.

[@igorpashev]

Gear up! 😅

[@uniqueskills6313]

I can't move with my mouse and keyboard my engine is ok but i can't take off my plane what i need to press ?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, you press 9 to increase the throttle. 3 to decrease the throttle. TAB to allow to control the aircraft by using the mouse. TAB again and by moving the mouse you move the camera. And another TAB to turn the before functionalities off. 0 allows to turn left the rudder. enter allows to turn the rudder right. [ and ] are to increase and decrease the flap setting, at the moment I don't remember which one increases and decreases, but you find it easily by testing. Hope this helps, enjoy the game :)

[@uniqueskills6313]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 Thanks

[@alecolander6695]

its night and i cant see shit, can i change the time somehow?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Yes you can. You should have on top of the screen a menu like on the video. If you don't press F10 so it appears. Then there click on Environment->Time settings and a window pops up allowing to choose morning, dawn,dusk, etc. Click on the part of day you want and wait a little to the game adjust the clock and it's done. Hope this helps.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Also when launching the game, there is an option called "Environment", there you can set some stuff and there is a select box allowing you to change the time of day.

[@alecolander6695]

Youre very helpful :)

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@alecolander6695 Thank you for these words. :)

[@jeteamleider3714]

It's so difficult when you only play with keyboard and mouse I always crash just after take off.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

I agree with you. Playing with the mouse on a sensitive aircraft like this is hard to do. But it is possible. Keep practicing :). The secret is to make really slightly moves, when you move the mouse forward, back, left or right try to move it really slowly until you see the aircraft behaving as you move the mouse. A small touch is enough to make the aircraft move, the controls are really really sensitive. One thing that might help is to reduce the mouse sensitivity. As you takeoff, this aircraft will want to go left, you have to correct by turning right, this is, to fly straight you need to turn the yoke right, but not much, just enough to counter that left move. If this doesn't help, the last thing you could do is show me a video of you taking off so I can try to see if you're doing something wrong and tell you exactly what the problem is. Hope you manage to make that aircraft fly. Best regards. :)

[@wheretfisnoah]

Can a xbox one controller work for this cause I cant even takeoff

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hi, as I don't have a xbox one controller I can't test it. But I found some topics about this on the forum. forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?t=29576 forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13183 forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=29037

[@nokitosembrano3657]

how do you control the rudder which key in the keyboard?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

0 - Turn rudder left Enter - Turn rudder right 5 - Not your question but useful. This makes all the controls return to their original position. I hope this helps. If you have more questions please let me know. Have good flights. :)

[@drpoundsign]

in OS X it won't even WORK. Using my Boss' PC but can you fly with mouse or trackpad?? If so...HOW?/

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hi, in order to activate the mouse clicking on TAB should work. Could you please let me know if it works? Thank you :)

[@drpoundsign]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 Will have to try it next time I'm at his office. Will keep you updated. THANX

[@drpoundsign]

PS: do you use X-plane?? I have it on my chromebook, but it uses tilt control. My chromebook does NOT have "tilt." Will need to try a Saitek youke!

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@drpoundsign Nah, I only play flightgear for now.

[@drpoundsign]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 you're Smart

[@Webcode4906]

Hey sir how to control the plane using joystick?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, you just need to pull the joystick to you to climb and forward to descend. Turning left and right turns the aircraft and to control the rudder you can rotate the joystick on its own vertical axis if it contains this functionality.

[@Webcode4906]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 ok but when turn the joystick to left and right, the plane wont turn at all? How to configure it?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@Webcode4906 Hello, on the top bar menu, you can click on File and then on Joystcik Configuration. If you don't have the top bar, press F10. You can try to configure it here, but be aware that the joystick may need drivers, if you need drivers I suggest you to search on the internet how to install the drivers for the joystick you have. If the game doesn't detect the joystick I suggest you to search on the internet how to check if at least your operating system detects it. I hope this helps.

[@Webcode4906]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 my joystick has already detected should i need a drivers? It works in the game. But when i try to turn the plane to left or right. It doesnt works, can u tell me how to configure for joystick plz?

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@Webcode4906 Hello, try to calibrate the joystick. You can search how to do this on the internet. I can't give more advice for now because I don't know which operating system you are using.

[@litemouse2748]

how do u take of a plane which is not a cessna

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, you can do it like the same way, the only difference is that if it is a big aircraft you may need to use the flaps, in case of the boeing 777 the flaps need to be at 20 for takeoff. Then increase the throttle and as soon as you get enough speed to lift of the ground just pull the yoke/joystick to you. :)

[@litemouse2748]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 yes but my plane (the one with engines at the back) will not move the way i want it to

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@@litemouse2748 Please tell me the model :)

[@creeper_mo461]

how to turn bc i cant go to the runway

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hi, to turn the aircraft while in the ground you need to use the rudder. To turn it if you use the keyboard press ENTER to turn right and 0 to turn left. If you are using a joystick you just need to rotate the joystick on its vertical axis to the side you want to go. I hope this helps and have good flights :)

[@creeper_mo461]

@@sergiorodrigues4920 thx

[@Error-pm3iu]

How do I check rpm

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

Hello, if you take a look to the instruments there is the RPM indicator on the left side of the yoke. It even says RPM there. Hope this helps and enjoy the flights.

[@sergiorodrigues4920]

@Omar Parker You're welcome. :)

[@ptsdon]

This is unbelievably bad! I have tried a joy stick. I have tried rudder peddles and NOTHING works! The Censsna is uncontrollable out of the box! I am so disappointed. I thought this software would work. Not even close. Trying to use keyboard commands is totally out of the question. What a bust!

[@ekurve]

i hate flight gear its the laggiest game in the world

[@SuperLiltroll]

WORST GAME EVER,,,CANT CONTROLL SHYT ...ALWAYS GOING LEFT .....UNINSTALED IN TWO DAYS

[@HarryHaller1963]

This tutorial is useless, and I'm begining to thing that FlightGear is a terrible program.