FSX Cessna Skyhawk 172 Red

This repaint adds a vibrant red exterior finish to the Carenado Cessna 172N for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. It revives a mid-1970s paint scheme and integrates subtle retro accents for a more authentic flight experience. Created by Craig Davis, this project relies on Carenado’s paint kit and represents a carefully refined version of a classic Cessna Skyhawk.

Classic Heritage from the Early 1970s

The Cessna 172, universally recognized in general aviation, has been a dependable training aircraft and personal tourer since its introduction. In this mod, the mid-1970s styling carries over to the tail, fuselage stripes, and overall color palette, reflecting that classic era of single-engine flight. Craig Davis wanted to encapsulate the design of a scale model he built years ago, resulting in an authentic aesthetic reminiscent of the Skyhawk’s storied lineage.

Paintwork Details and Techniques

Developed exclusively for the payware Carenado C172II N, this repaint utilizes blank texture assets provided by Carenado. DXTBmp and Paint.NET were used to ensure precise detailing, especially around aircraft contours. The exterior stripes incorporate subtle black accents, emphasizing the fuselage’s shape while retaining the red-dominant scheme. Small modifications can be done if desired, though the style was carefully tuned to retain the vibe of classic Skyhawk visuals.

How to Integrate the Repaint

1. Acquire and install the payware version of the Carenado C172II N (mandatory step).
2. Create a dedicated folder named texture.Classic172_Red in your “Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\Carenado C172II N” directory.
3. Copy all files from an existing Carenado livery folder (for instance, texture.blue) into your new texture.Classic172_Red folder.
4. Extract the Classic172_Skyhawk_Red.zip contents into the texture.Classic172_Red folder. Overwrite any files if prompted.

Essential Aircraft.cfg Entry

Open your aircraft.cfg and add the following entry, replacing x with the next sequential number:

[fltsim.x]
title=Classic 172 Skyhawk_Red
sim=SingleEngineProp
model=
panel=1
sound=
texture=classic172_Red
kb_checklists=C172_CHECK
kb_reference=C172_REF
atc_id=N3804Q
ui_manufacturer="Carenado"
ui_type="C172N"
ui_variation="Classic Skyhawk Red,Black"
ui_createdby="Carenado"
ui_typerole="Highwing single Engine Prop"
description="The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is one of the most popular aircraft in aviation. Its easy handling and reliability has made it a favorite of students and seasoned pilots."
atc_heavy=0
atc_airline=
atc_flight_number=
atc_id_color=0x00000000
atc_id_font=Verdana,-11,1,600,0
visual_damage=0

Additional Notes

This texture set is exclusively designed for the payware Carenado C172II N package. Make sure your base installation is functional before applying these files. Craig Davis, along with Carenado’s resources, aimed to bring an authentic and historically inspired finish for those who appreciate the Cessna 172’s enduring legacy in aviation.