Comparison

AircraftPower vs C172 Performance

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

C172 Performance4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AircraftPower versus C172 Performance: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAircraftPowerC172 Performance
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (18 ratings) — better4.9 (52 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better90.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1852 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJames PettyPOH Performance L.L.C.

Customer experience

AircraftPower

All ratings17 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

C172 Performance

All ratings52 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative6.7%

In-app purchases

None

AircraftPower

No in-app purchases

None

C172 Performance

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AircraftPower free?
AircraftPower is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is C172 Performance free?
C172 Performance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AircraftPower or C172 Performance?
AircraftPower is rated higher. AircraftPower averages 4.9 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while C172 Performance averages 4.9 from 52 ratings.
Do AircraftPower or C172 Performance have ads?
C172 Performance shows ads; AircraftPower does not.
Which is updated more often, AircraftPower or C172 Performance?
AircraftPower ships an update every 7 months, and C172 Performance every 2 months. Most recently, AircraftPower was updated on October 23, 2026 and C172 Performance on September 18, 2026.

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