This is the standard Cessna 172 but with a custom panel to enhance learning the principles of Flight and Navigation.
This aircraft is useful for learning how to fly Flight Simulator X including all facets of aviation navigation. Large gauges are on the panel plus digital readouts for most of the gauges so that there will be no guessing of the readings. The view over the panel is 50% larger than the default Cessna 172.
Not on the panel are most of the non-flying gauges such as fuel gauges, engine instruments, engine controls, etc. The intent was to keep the panel uncluttered.
This program will install a complete aircraft onto your hard disk. No files will be over-written. However, the stock Cessna 172 must be present in your FSX directory since this Learner Aircraft aliases that aircraft's sound files.
Since the installation includes both the aircraft files and gauge files, the install path is into the main FSX directory:
If you installed Flight Simulator FSX with no changes the path is:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X
The self-extracting file included here assumes that this is where Flight Simulator X is installed on your computer. If your Flight Simulator X program is in a different directory, you will have the opportunity during installation to identify the correct directory. Just click the "Browse" button (a rectangle with three dots in it) to the right of a window that will appear showing the intended path of installation.
INSTALLATION
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1) Close your FSX Program and all other Windows programs.
2) Unzip this file, "learnfsx.zip" into a temporary directory. three files will appear:
Readme_fsx.txt ... which you are now reading.
fsx_cessna_learner.exe ... The main install file.
FSX_Learner_Aircraft.jpg ... a full-size picture of the panel.
3) Double click on the filename "fsx_cessna_learner.exe" ...
4) Then follow the on-screen instructions.
5) Again, this installation will not overwrite any existing files.
6) Those uncomfortable with self-extracting files like this one should initially install the self-executing program into a temporary directory then manually move the individual files and folders into FSX.
7) That's it ... you're finished!
8) You will find this Learner Aircraft in the Flight Simulator Aircraft Listing as:
Cessna Learner
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE
===================
Please recall that FSX defaults in the Virtual Cockpit mode. The Nav Trainer HAS NO VIRTUAL COCKPIT!! Therefore you must fly the Nav Trainer in the 2D Panel Mode.
If you are unfamiliar with how to change FSX from the Virtual Cockpit mode to the 2D Panel Mode, here are the steps:
1) Load up the Learner Aircraft and you will see an empty default panel.
2) Click the views tab at the top of the screen (press the alt key if the menu across the top of the screen is not visible)
3) Then on the drop-down menu, click View Mode
4) Click Cockpit
Click Cockpit on the new menu window that appears to the right
Your Learner Aircraft 2D Panel should now appear.
If the aircraft engine is not running, press CTRL-E to start the engine.
Thanks to Norman Hancock and Dave Bitzer for the non-standard gauge designs, and to Tom Goodrick for the auto-start/auto-stop timer (which measures in hundredths of a minute, and it starts and stops when your ground speed reaches 35 kts). Thanks also to Kyle Copeland for the great panel Bitmap.
Note, this is a freeware program and no money may be charged for its use or for the use of any of the non-standard gauges.
