AircraftPower vs C172 Performance
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AircraftPower
This app calculates and displays the performance of various aircraft engines. It offers a graphical representation of engine performance charts and allows users to input various parameters to see real-time output. Users can choose between English and metric units for measurements.
- Reciprocating engine performance model
- Calculates sea level and altitude performance
- Graphical engine performance chart
- Manual construction method illustration
- Input manifold pressure, RPM, altitude, temperature
- English and metric unit options
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AircraftPower is an Aircraft Engine Performance App. It uses a standard reciprocating engine performance model to calculate and display the sea level and altitude performance of 74 normally-aspirated Continental® engines and 108 normally-aspirated Lycoming® engines. A graphic display shows the engine performance chart and illustrates the manual construction method for determining altitude performance that we learned in ground school (and promptly forgot). As the user changes the input values, using the sliders or the custom keypad, for manifold pressure (or % power), rpm, pressure altitude and outside air temperature, the power output and percent power (or manifold pressure required) are displayed, and dotted lines and colored dots in the graphic display follow the manual construction method. While the graphics aren't really necessary, they are instructive (and interesting) to watch. The user may choose english or metric units for altitude, altimeter setting, temperature, manifold pressure and power output (however, the graphic always uses english units), and may select default values for the inputs and the engine. The user can also choose to input the indicated altitude instead of the pressure altitude (the default), and choose to input the % rated power instead of the manifold pressure. If using the indicated altitude, an input window for the altimeter setting appears.
C172 Performance
This app calculates essential flight performance data for Cessna 172 and 150 aircraft. It covers takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures, and emergencies, with additional tools for holds and glide calculations. Cloud sync ensures your flight plans are accessible across devices.
- Takeoff and landing calculations
- Climb, cruise, and descent performance
- Instrument procedure planning
- Emergency scenario calculations
- Interactive hold calculator
- Emergency glide distance calculator
- Cloud sync for flight plans
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C172 Performance computes all the useful performance numbers for flight planning for Cessna model 172 and 150 aircraft. It includes calculations for takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures as well as emergencies. It also includes an interactive hold calculator, a risk analysis tool, and an emergency glide distance calculator that handles head and tailwinds. C172 Performance is also available on other mobile devices and as a WebApp (an App that runs in a browser) that runs on a variety of platforms (PC, Mac, tablets, phones). The cloud sync feature allows flight planning profiles entered on any device to be synchronized with your other devices when connected to the Internet. C172 Performance is a free, open-source development effort and has Apps and WebApps for other aircraft. See http://pohperformance.com for complete details.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: AircraftPower at none against C172 Performance's shown. AircraftPower also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and review sentiment (100% vs 90%). C172 Performance's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for AircraftPower against 4.9 for C172 Performance. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 52 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of AircraftPower's written reviews are positive against 90% of C172 Performance's.
AircraftPower ships an update every 7 months, C172 Performance every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AircraftPower | C172 Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (18 ratings) — better | 4.9 (52 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 90.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18 | 52 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Ad-supported |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.5 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | James Petty | POH Performance L.L.C. |
Customer experience
AircraftPower
C172 Performance
In-app purchases
AircraftPower
No in-app purchases
C172 Performance
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AircraftPower free?
Is C172 Performance free?
Which has better reviews, AircraftPower or C172 Performance?
Do AircraftPower or C172 Performance have ads?
Which is updated more often, AircraftPower or C172 Performance?
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