The C42 is a single-engined, high-wing microlight and light sports aircraft built by Comco Ikarus in Germany. It is used for flight training, touring and personal flying. Capable of seating two people in a 1.22-meter wide cabin, it comes with two different engine variants - an 80 or 100 hp Rotax 912 engine, with the Sim720 model incorporating the 80 hp version. The body is supported structurally by a large aluminium "backbone", whilst the rest of the aircraft is built from composite materials.
The aircraft itself is controlled by a single center stick, the trim via two buttons on the top of the stick, and the brakes by a vertical brake lever similar to that of a motorbike. The rudders are also dual control, with two foot pedals, but the distance is fixed due to the seats not being adjustable.

The Ikarus C42 represents Sim720's first foray into aircraft design, having previously only modelled high quality scenery for FSX/P3D.

Throughout the development phase, Sim720 were supported by Comoco Ikarus who continually tested the aircraft. The flight dynamics (used in the model) are also in use for real flight training and approved by Comco Ikarus.

Capacity for 2 (pilot and passenger)
Length: 20ft 6" (6.25m)
Wingspan: 31ft (9.45m)
Height: 7ft 4" (2.24m)
Empty Weight: 583lb (265kg)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 1041lb (450kg)
Powerplant: Rotax 912ULS flat-4 engine

Range: 432 miles (375nm, 695km)
Extended range: 898 miles (780nm, 1,445km) with long-range tanks fitted
Rate of Climb: 1050ft/min (320 m/min)

Installation of the aircraft was quick and hassle free. Via the FSPilotShop, you are given a 53.3 MB zip file which (once unzipped) includes two items, an installer in the form of an executable file and a highly detailed PDF which we will come to later.

The installer gives you options on which simulator to install into: FSX, FSX:SE, P3Dv1, P3Dv2 and P3Dv3. You then input the license key (provided by the FSPilotShop) and the installation process begins. Once completed, the aircraft's PDF opens.

The PDF supplied is simply spectacular. It is actually labelled 'Owner's Handbook.pdf' and well...it genuinely is a pilots operating handbook! It covers everything from how to fly the aircraft, to maintenance (yes, even this is included), to the circuitry around the aircraft. There are numerous images taken directly from a real-life pilot's operating handbook which is a nice addition. However, as with most documentation included with simulated aircraft, there are warnings throughout telling you not to use this in the real aircraft!

If this document is too much, a smaller 7-page Quick Start Guide is also available to read once installed.

Sim720's rendition of the Ikarus looks fantastic, with even small details getting attention. All control surfaces are animated and, since the 1.10 update, so too are the landing gear shock absorbers. The 1.10 update also added a pilot model to the aircraft after users raised issues about it being omitted. However, as of yet, it is completely static and does not move in relation to the flight stick.


The main body of the aircraft features gull-wing doors which look really nice, along with high detailing across the rest of body, including the wings. Each decal printed on the aircraft (such as the 'Prop Rotation' arrow) is positioned correctly and is also clear to read.

There are two different liveries included in the package: the standard Comco Ikarus livery with the tail number G-CDVI and an Airbourne Aviation trainer livery with the tail number G-CCYR. Both are of high quality and look fantastic on the aircraft. With a 4096x4096 high-resolution texture file, lines and logos are smooth even when viewed up close.

The interior of the aircraft is equally impressive. All of the gauges are modelled in 3D and the panel looks true-to-life. Everything that you would expect to see in the real cockpit is present, from the small buttons on the top of the flight stick to the highly detailed seatbelts and seats.

All switches and buttons present in the virtual cockpit (VC) mode are clickable, which is great, especially for the simmer (myself included) that enjoys controlling the aircraft from the cockpit as opposed to keyboard commands. Also included are reflections on each one of the glass gauges that, even though small, add to the overall effect.

The VC is not perfect, however. To operate the flaps on the real aircraft you press an overhead handle and pull the level back, but the handle in the model is not animated and the movement (in my opinion) is too smooth. In reality, it's a very physical movement, especially once the aircraft is airborne. The lever animation is also not synced correctly to the flaps, which detracts from the overall immersion.


The real aircraft employs a flaps system in which a metal rod goes from the lever to the flaps. In the model, it goes through the back wall with no hole or slot modelled, just phasing through it as if it were nothing. This is a minor issue but when you consider how well the rest of the aircraft has been modelled, it is slightly disappointing.

Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed flying from the virtual cockpit as the detail excels that of many other payware aircraft. It is clear to me that Sim720 has put a lot of effort into the interior of the aircraft and as a whole, they've pulled it off well.

As mentioned previously, all of the switches are clickable and all of the gauges (minus the Hobbs) work. They are highly detailed and modelled in 3D (buttons and switches stick out, gauges are indented to the panel) whilst high-resolution textures finish off the job. The compass is also something rather special and worth talking about. In the real aircraft, it rotates to keep up with the pilot, meaning that when the aircraft turns it also stays upright. The flight simulator model does the exact same, which is a really nice touch!

There are also multiple black circular covers built into the panel which at first left me slightly bewildered, but after a little research I found out that they were in fact similar to exhaust vents and were designed to remove engine heat and pass it, when needed, into the cabin.


The animations, however, are unfortunately not that great. In the previous section I mentioned how the flaps are out of sync and that the handle does not move; well another problem is that all the switches have a 3-second delay. This is definitely something which needs to be rectified. Also, when flicking a magneto switch, the drop in RPM is instant and the needle jumps down. In reality, there would be a delay.

Another thing I should mention is that this aircraft does NOT come with a 2D panel. There is one for the Radio ([Shift] + [2]) but there is no main 2D panel available. I know that many people fly exclusively with a 2D panel so adding one would be a nice feature for the future.

The aircraft sounds included in the model are reasonable, but not exceptional. Whilst it is true the sounds are high quality recordings, they unfortunately sound rather flat. Many 'top end' payware aircraft include dynamically changing sounds, i.e. your position in relation to the engine, but for whatever reason, the Sim720 Ikarus is yet to include this feature. Another sound issue relates to wind noise, in that...there isn't any! For an aircraft of this type, wind would definitely be present and again, is something I would like to see incorporated in future updates. Same with when opening the cockpit door, there is no differentiation of sound which would be nice to hear one day.

This is an area in which Sim720's Ikarus excels in. After watching videos of other people flying the aircraft, and bearing in mind that Comco Ikarus themselves approved the aircraft, what you are getting is a high-quality product that looks and feels like the real thing. Using an Xbox 360 controller and an old Saitek joystick, the control surfaces were smooth and the aircraft as a whole was really easy to fly!


Another really nice feature is that the aircraft engine responds to the aircraft's orientation. If you fly upside down, no fuel gets to the engine and it idles. Same thing happens when the aircraft is too high; the engine is starved of oxygen and the air becomes too thin for it to operate.

As a whole, there are no concerns when it comes to how the aircraft feels and flies, she is incredibly fun and highly responsive.

At first, I felt a little 50/50 with the aircraft but within the first ten minutes of flying, it grew on me. Flying this microlight is tremendous fun! It may not be the fastest, but it's certainly agile. You can definitely see why many flight schools around the world use the C42 to teach would-be pilots to fly. With the Sim720 model employing an approved flight model, this aircraft truly is...as real as it gets!

The one major stumbling block I can see however is the price of £24.99 ($37.99). Personally I feel this is perhaps a bit too high, especially for a light aircraft with no substantial flight systems. In saying that though, when you consider that model is officially licensed by Comco Ikarus aircraft, the aircraft is definitely worth it. Development of the aircraft is also still ongoing, with patches and updates on the way, meaning that many of the minor issues I have picked up on may soon be fixed, which would top an overall amazing aircraft.