Best study level or near study level GA aircraft in MSFS for a beginner?
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Cessna 152 or 172
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If you want to go for something a little faster I highly recommend the Cirrus SR22.
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Any mods that have a really good 152 or 172 that you can point me in the direction of?
Any of the Just Flight Pipers.
And the Working Title G100 NXi mod for any G1000 planes.
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I agree with @loulemon regarding the C152/C172. There is a reason these are probably the most used training aircraft, and the MS/Asobo versions (especially the analogue 172) are definitely adequate to help you begin to understand the fundamentals of flight and basic navigation. The sim has good built-in training modules as well. Just my thoughts…
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This is currently the best C152: https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/msfs-c152-community-v1-0-0-updated-09-10-2021
It’s a really good aircraft to learn in, and it’s a really good mod.
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Echoing the comments on C172 and C152, and I would even say you do not have to mod them.
C152: Leave default. C172 analogue: Leave default. C172 G1000: Use the WT G1000 NXi mod if you want the avionics modeling to be a lot more accurate, but some users on some systems have fairly frequent CTDs with that mod (seems to very quite a lot, I had about 80% CTD rate on launch with the NXi mod for a while, some have none).
The nice thing with the C152 and C172 analogue (at least if you do not dig into the GPS much) is that their avionics is so simple that you do not need any mods to get them to what people tend to refer to as “study level”. Flight characteristics do not need moded IMHO.
Engine behavior modeling will not be very accurate, things like how you start the C172 engine, how oil pressure and temperature varies, carburetor icing on the C152, and so on will not behave anything like a real aircraft. The only simulation I have seen that even remotely accurately models such aspects is from A2A, and they have not released anything for MSFS yet. Many MSFS users do not consider those aspects to be particularly important as long as aircraft performance matches reality, e.g. getting the right airspeed from a particular RPM.
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Just Flight’s Piper Warrior is an excellent trainer.
The C152 is also very good, but certainly not study level.
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The Asobo Cessna c152 or the Just Flight Piper Warrior II as recommended above. Both are simple basic trainers with no fancy retractable gear or CSU props to worry about. They are no nonsense “stick and rudder” aircraft with no unnecessary bling and both used all around the world as training aircraft.
The Asobo c152 has the advantage of being free with MSFS. The Just Flight Warrior II is payware but really well made with a bit more system depth than the c152 and one of the most immersive GA planes in the sim at present.
Video that I made last year of a basic circuit in the Just Flight Warrior II …
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If you go with the 152, be sure to pick up JPLogistics Enchancement mod:
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The SR22 is great for IFR training!
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The OP is looking for something resembling a ‘study-level’ aircraft.
The SR22 is a beautiful plane, but I am unaware of a serious ‘study-level’ mod for it.
I second the JF Piper opinions out there…
the Warrior II, followed by the Arrow III or the Turbo versions depending on the level of complexity the OP seeks. They really aren’t all that different. Personally, I am a fan of the Arrow III.
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The default and and even better JPL Mod C152 is essentially a study level beginners aircraft for learning how to fly. I’d say it would be best to start with the default C152, and, when it is understood, move up to the JPL mod. There’s a lot to learn about adding community mods for a beginner.
The SR22 is decidedly NOT study level. The glass panel is quite different in function from the real plane, and the keyboard input is non-functional.
Once the C152 is mastered, then I’d suggest moving up to the Just Flight Piper Warrior, and, after that is mastered and the additional systems (including the GPS('s) and tablet) are understood, move up to the Just Flight Arrow when the OP is ready to master the added complexity of retractable gear and variable pitch propeller.
As far as IFR training is concerned, I’d go for any of the above planes or the Steam Gauge C172 or G1000 C172. Steam gauge C172 would probably be best as it’s got all the IFR goodies including NDB, VOR, and GPS nav, as well as fixed pitch prop and landing gear to reduce complexity of flying.
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The piper pa 28 family is also good low wing trainers.
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I highly recommend JPLogistics C152 and Just Flight Warrior.
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The Warrior II and the various Arrows are all variants of the PA28. However the PA28 Turbo Arrows with RG and CSU and a turbo charger to manage are well and truly moving into the complex aircraft category versus the PA28 Warrior II which is definitely a trainer.
The early model PA28 “Hershey Bar” Cherokees would also be great trainers but we do not have any.
What we ARE getting shortly is a Just Flight PA-38 Tomahawk which hopefully will be another excellent training aircraft for beginners …
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What is everyone’s definition of “mastering” a plane?
As for the Tomahawk, my understanding was that it was just announced which would likely mean it is still a long way from release. But are we really getting it “shortly”?
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Well that depends on your definition of “shortly”. At my age, about 6 months away is still “shortly”.
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Mastering a plane is being able to fly it without issue. That’s my thoughts!