Lets Fly VFR – Flight Simulation.

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Popular Aircraft Flown in Flight Simulators and Real Life.

Popular Aircraft in Flight Simulators and aviation enthusiasts, certain aircraft models have become icons of the skies, not only in real life but also in the virtual world. Whether it’s for general aviation, commercial, or military flying, these aircraft are favorites for their versatility, performance, and the immersive experience they provide. Here’s a deep dive into some of the most popular aircraft, their specifications, and the reasons they’ve become so widely loved.

1. Cessna 172 Skyhawk

• Description: The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is one of the most popular single-engine aircraft in the world. It’s highly favored in both real-life and simulator training because of its forgiving flight characteristics and reliability. The high-wing design offers excellent visibility, making it ideal for beginners.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 188 km/h (117 mph, 102 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 226 km/h (140 mph, 122 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 13,500 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 10,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: For flight training, the 172 is an industry standard, and in simulators, it provides an easy learning curve for newcomers to aviation.

2. Piper PA-28 Cherokee

• Description: The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a competitor to the Cessna 172, with similar features but different handling due to its low-wing design. Known for stability and durability, it’s also a favorite for training and general aviation.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 236 km/h (147 mph, 128 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 204 km/h (127 mph, 110 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 14,000 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 10,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: The PA-28 has a solid, stable design that’s especially well-suited for cross-country flying, making it popular for simulators focused on navigation and general aviation skills.

3. Cirrus SR22

• Description: The Cirrus SR22 is a high-performance single-engine aircraft known for its modern avionics and safety features, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). It’s more advanced than typical training aircraft, appealing to seasoned pilots.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 389 km/h (242 mph, 210 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 341 km/h (212 mph, 184 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 17,500 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 12,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: With its high-tech features and quick performance, the SR22 attracts private pilots looking for speed and sophistication, which makes it a fan favorite in both real life and simulators.

4. Beechcraft King Air 350

• Description: The Beechcraft King Air 350 is a twin-engine turboprop that’s versatile enough for business, regional transport, and medevac missions. It combines the speed of a jet with the accessibility of a smaller aircraft, making it a great choice for both short and long flights.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 578 km/h (359 mph, 312 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 515 km/h (320 mph, 278 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 35,000 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 28,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: Its versatility and range make it popular in simulators like MSFS and X-Plane for simulating commercial and private flights, especially for users interested in business aviation or high-performance general aviation.

5. Boeing 737

• Description: The Boeing 737 is one of the most widely used airliners for short to medium-haul flights. Known for reliability and efficiency, it’s a staple of commercial aviation. Its advanced avionics and consistent updates make it an essential part of any airliner fleet.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 876 km/h (544 mph, 473 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 828 km/h (515 mph, 447 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 41,000 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 35,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: The 737 is essential for airline operations training and popular among those simulating commercial flight experiences due to its widespread real-world use and detailed simulator add-ons.

6. Airbus A320

• Description: The Airbus A320 is another popular commercial jetliner, often competing with the Boeing 737 for short to medium-haul flights. Its fly-by-wire technology provides smooth, efficient handling, and it’s known for being comfortable for both passengers and pilots.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 871 km/h (541 mph, 470 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 828 km/h (515 mph, 447 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 39,100 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 35,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: The A320’s fly-by-wire system and user-friendly controls make it a popular choice in simulators like MSFS and X-Plane, where pilots can experience high-quality modeling of its complex systems.

7. F-16 Fighting Falcon

• Description: The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a supersonic, multi-role fighter jet known for its agility and versatility in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It’s widely used in real-life military operations and is a popular fighter jet for enthusiasts in simulators.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 2,414 km/h (1,500 mph, Mach 2.0)
  • Cruise Speed: 1,075 km/h (668 mph, 580 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 50,000 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 40,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: Known for speed and maneuverability, the F-16 offers a thrilling experience in military simulators like DCS World and Falcon BMS, where players can experience realistic dogfights and tactical missions.

8. F/A-18 Hornet

• Description: The F/A-18 Hornet is another multi-role fighter, designed for both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. It’s capable of performing fighter, ground-attack, and reconnaissance missions, which makes it versatile and effective for various mission types.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 1,915 km/h (1,190 mph, Mach 1.8)
  • Cruise Speed: 1,128 km/h (701 mph, 610 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 50,000 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 40,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: The F/A-18’s adaptability and dual roles make it popular in DCS World, especially for players who want to simulate complex operations on both land and at sea.

9. P-51 Mustang

• Description: The P-51 Mustang is an iconic World War II fighter, known for its powerful performance and contribution to the Allied victory. Its high speed and range make it a legendary plane that’s cherished by history buffs and flight sim enthusiasts alike.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 703 km/h (437 mph, 380 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 580 km/h (360 mph, 313 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 41,900 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 20,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: In DCS World and MSFS, the P-51 offers a nostalgic experience for simmers, providing an opportunity to explore the history and handling of this warbird.

10. Beechcraft Bonanza

• Description: The Bonanza, often nicknamed the “doctor’s plane,” is a high-performance, single-engine aircraft with a reputation for luxury and reliability. It’s been in continuous production since 1947, making it one of the longest-running aircraft models.

• Performance:
  • Max Speed: 326 km/h (203 mph, 176 knots)
  • Cruise Speed: 278 km/h (173 mph, 150 knots)
  • Max Altitude: 18,500 ft
  • Cruise Altitude: 12,000 ft
• Why It’s Popular: The Bonanza’s blend of performance, comfort, and range make it popular for both personal and business use. In simulators, it’s ideal for long-distance flights and IFR practice.

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Popular Aircraft in Flight Simulators – Conclusion.

Popular Aircraft in Flight Simulators depend very much on the user but, there are the specific aircraft above that seem to rise to the peak of sim pilot interest above all others. These popular aircraft each bring something unique to the table in both real and virtual aviation. Whether you’re looking for the simplicity of the Cessna 172, the power of the F-16, or the elegance of the King Air 350, these aircraft are guaranteed to provide engaging experiences in flight simulators and real-world skies alike.

These very popular aircraft can be found amongst the simulators we cover here at LetsFLyVFR. As always if its military DCS World is an incredible place to experience the power and complexity of military aircraft with Falcon BMS as another solid option. Diving into airliners and general aviation then X Plane 12 as well as Microsoft Flight Simulator and Prepar3d are also great options. These simulators all have there positives and negatives so its very much a personal choice. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Author

Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.

He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multilingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.

Learn More @ DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com

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