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X Plane

John York

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Hm. Thanks David, I had heard about it but when I looked it up, it looked more like an aeroplane game to me rather than the realism we're used to with P3D and the various aircraft suppliers.

 

Perhaps I was on the wrong site?

 

I'll investige further

 

John

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Scott Harmes Life Member

Scott Harmes

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Hi John.  Me again ;).

 

I just saw this post, so here are my 2 cents from a very recent newcomer to X plane.

 

It's definitely not a game, and in fact I have heard that the flight dynamics and in particular the ground handling of aircraft during takeoff and landing are modelled much better than FSX/P3D.

 

I don't buy in to this "my sim is better than your sim" philosophy at all, and the only reason I hadn't installed X Plane up until recently was due to a lack of hard drive space and a lack of time to use yet another sim.  In fact after installing X Plane 11 I now have 9 sims currently installed, and I enjoy using them all.

 

All I can say is I think if you give X plane a go you would enjoy it.  It's just flight simming from a slightly different perspective.

 

Cheers,

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olderndirt Life Member

olderndirt

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Never having used P3D (FSX-XP via direct), I can't compare.  It so far outclasses FSX, there's not much to say.  So many things the user can do - it often boggles my mind.  A weak area was developer scenery but Orbx is solving that.  Not your easy peasy sim but, once you get the handle, it's great.

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lawrence aldrich Life Member

lawrence aldrich

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33 minutes ago, olderndirt said:

Never having used P3D (FSX-XP via direct), I can't compare.  It so far outclasses FSX, there's not much to say.  So many things the user can do - it often boggles my mind.  A weak area was developer scenery but Orbx is solving that.  Not your easy peasy sim but, once you get the handle, it's great.

I run FSX all the time...full install of orbx…...and I cannot disagree more.

The first time I tried Xplane 11, I was amazed at how superior my fsx (and p3d) graphics were.

Perhaps it's my eyes, my age or my hardware, but to me there is no comparison with FSX and Xplane11.

My suggestion is that you try the demo of Xplane11, and if you don't actually have a full FSX install full sliders right with a full orbx install to immediately compare to it

you have missed the show.

Same with P3Dv4.....although I still prefer FSX.

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olderndirt Life Member

olderndirt

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6 hours ago, lawrence aldrich said:

I run FSX all the time...full install of orbx…...and I cannot disagree more.

The first time I tried Xplane 11, I was amazed at how superior my fsx (and p3d) graphics were.

Perhaps it's my eyes, my age or my hardware, but to me there is no comparison with FSX and Xplane11.

My suggestion is that you try the demo of Xplane11, and if you don't actually have a full FSX install full sliders right with a full orbx install to immediately compare to it

you have missed the show.

Same with P3Dv4.....although I still prefer FSX.

And this is why we're a great country - everyone has the right to be wrong :).

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Hm.  Thanks everyone.  I'll have to think about it.  I have to make the decision. Do I really want something different or just carry on as I am which works well.  I treally don't want the choice of both.  Its not a question of space, just simply the added business of learning something new for my hobby. 

 

I know, I know!  Basically, I'm getting lazy in my old age!

 

John

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olderndirt Life Member

olderndirt

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John - to be perfectly honest, Xplane doesn't immediately fall into place - so many things done differently from FSX.  Some things are simpler and some more complex.  If you're searching for a different experience, go for it but if your inner simmer is happy where you are, don't.

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Thanks for that good advice oldendirt.  I've more or less come to that conclusion myself and having just installed a load more European Airports and towns I'm familiar with I've got enough to keep me occupied for a bit I think.

 

Hi Iain.  Are you sure you're old enough for the Old Coots forum?  You do know that for the most part the old guys on here are quite crazy don't you?!!  Specially my friend Rodger who's been daft enough to read some of my books!!

 

John

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lawrence aldrich Life Member

lawrence aldrich

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Right

From my standpoint, having pretty much unlimited drive space, I often just try everything …...play around with it a while, then pitch it if 

I don't like it.

Xplane is a realistic sim, but no matter what you do any attempt to totally simulate real flight is not possible for some primary reasons.

1. You can never feel your "seat of the pants" .  Anyone with actual flying experience knows this.

2. You can never feel "real" concern (fear) when things go wrong.....there is no reset button.

To me, these are the primary reasons that sims of all types (including the best iterations) are really just games.

I like the games simple and enjoyable, after having some experience with 1.  and  2.  listed above.

So....obviously....to each his (or hers) own

 

 

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olderndirt Life Member

olderndirt

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Absolutely.  Until they can simulate air flow,  the feeling of flight will always be artificial.  Airflow is the key to flight and the pressures it creates allow your axes to do their thing.  In order to realize flight, certain procedures must be performed and this is where Flight Sim begins to shine.  If your flight involves instrument flight procedures, it shines even brighter.  Finally you're able to create a flight environment based on your whim - not always so in real life.

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Rodger Pettichord Life Member

Rodger Pettichord

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11 hours ago, JohnY said:

Thanks for that good advice oldendirt.  I've more or less come to that conclusion myself and having just installed a load more European Airports and towns I'm familiar with I've got enough to keep me occupied for a bit I think.

 

Hi Iain.  Are you sure you're old enough for the Old Coots forum?  You do know that for the most part the old guys on here are quite crazy don't you?!!  Specially my friend Rodger who's been daft enough to read some of my books!!

 

John

 

Seems appropriate to note here that not only have I read several of John's books, I've enjoyed them. I'm currently reading his novel The National Serviceman and am pretty sure this will by favorite so far. Starts with a bang (sorry John--I couldn't resist the in-joke). Kindle has them all. 

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Iain Emms Orbx VIP

Iain Emms

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14 hours ago, JohnY said:

Thanks for that good advice oldendirt.  I've more or less come to that conclusion myself and having just installed a load more European Airports and towns I'm familiar with I've got enough to keep me occupied for a bit I think.

 

Hi Iain.  Are you sure you're old enough for the Old Coots forum?  You do know that for the most part the old guys on here are quite crazy don't you?!!  Specially my friend Rodger who's been daft enough to read some of my books!!

 

John

Aye John my friend I will be sixty in four months so I might be a bit young yet.

cheers

Iain

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Dadtom65 Life Member

Dadtom65

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Hi JohnY just my two cents or two bobs worth. I must say when I first tried Xplane which was version 10 back then, I hated it especially trying to sort the controls out. But now with version 11 it is definitely a lot easier. Plus it’s getting updated all the time, plus with another 800 Airports in the next patch which is due soon. There are loads of free stuff be it Airports or scenery. Check out an Airport developer called MisterX6 and see the large airports he has produced and all free. Plus now a lot of main developers for aircraft like Albeo and Carrenado are all bringing out stuff for it and now even Orbx have joined the ranks so they must think it will be worth it in the long run. Like some one said at least try the demo and see what you think. If you have any problems let me know and I will try to help you. Derek.

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kaboki Life Member

kaboki

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Things i loved about xplane when i ditched p3d and fsx 1.5years ago is:

 

- the night lightning, nothing out there beats xplane when it comes to lightning..

- no blurries on ground textures(not sure they fixed it in p3dv4)

- the feel of flying is much better I think, for me FSX feels more like flying on rails...

- the look is less cartoonish than FSX/p3d

- the road traffic is also much better than FSX/p3d, + moving trains by default..

- the performance is also superior

 

What i didnt like:

 

- I cant fly my A2A planes in xplane

- ATC

- lack of orbx scenery(not a problem anymore)

- the look of the default water,,,,

 

 

I will never go back too the old ESP platform, even if held by gunpoint...i rather get shot...

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Just for the record, my books are available world wide on Amazon Kindle.

 

On the subject of simulation, I've had two experiences of simulation apart from this computer.

 

When I was working for a company specialising in the manufacture of miniature steel balls and bearings I was invited to a firm at the top of the Manor Royal industrial estate in Crawley, Sussex.   They had a life size cockpit of a new midsize passenger jet I think called the Comet that was about to undergo flight trials in a couple of weeks time and they were training the pilots on it.  They invited me to have a go, and my goodness, was it life like.  I have to thank my co-pilot for landing me safely as I was about to put it down with the wheels still up!

 

Another experience was one of space flight in the National Science Museum.  It was again a very lifelike.    My daughter came with me and our mission was to divert the course of a space rock that was hurtling towards earth and if it arrived would mean the end of the world.  It was a great adventure for us with the simulated vibrations, varying directions to get us on course to nudge the rock off course, which obviously we did successfully because we and the world and you lot are still very much here.

 

John 

 

PS - Pat, I think Iain Emms is already here mate, despite his age.  He's always been one to go where others fear to tread!:lol:

 

 

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andy1252 Life Member

andy1252

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I don't usually like to offer an opinion (it's gotten me in enough trouble over the years that I've finally learnt to curb the urge), but I'll just say a couple of things here. For me, X-Plane has its pros and cons like most things. I tried it first with r10 and couldn't get on with it, hated the menus and the general feel of it. But r11 had vastly improved that aspect and I find it much more manageable now.

 

I also struggled at first with the controls, but now I have all the same shortcuts/assignments set on my controls for P3D, X-Plane and AFS2 life is a whole lot simpler. Some things are done differently in the different sims, but generally I have found equivalents to make them all feel similar.

 

Two things swung it for me initially - I learned how to alter the haze levels (from this forum, of course!) and I discovered Ortho4XP (ditto) and since then I really do enjoy being in XP. With Ortho4XP I have already created the equivalent of TrueEarth GB, which has transformed my feelings about flying in the UK. Now before Nick or anybody accuses me of undermining ORBX products, let me clarify - the Ortho4XP version is not a patch on the upcoming TrueEarth product, and I will be replacing my current Ortho version the instant I can get my sweaty hands on True Earth GB, but the point is you can experiment and create "True Earth lite" type environments for most of the planet.

 

Oh - and the road network. That's the major thing that annoys me about FSX/P3D - I've always thought the roads are a major let down, and totally destroy any feelings of reality in some areas (and don't get me started on the bridges), but in XP they're great. And with the Ortho stuff, there are ways to have the rather fine XP road and rail traffic running transparently on the photoreal road/rail network underneath. It really does look very impressive.

 

Anyway, for me now I use P3D, XP, AFS2 in probably equal measure, and I also retain FSX and FSW for the occasional dabble.

 

And I'm really excited by all this ORBX activity in the non-FSX based sims, TE in XP is going to be soooo good.

 

OK, I'm done now.

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olderndirt Life Member

olderndirt

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9 hours ago, JohnY said:

Just for the record, my books are available world wide on Amazon Kindle.

 

On the subject of simulation, I've had two experiences of simulation apart from this computer.

 

When I was working for a company specialising in the manufacture of miniature steel balls and bearings I was invited to a firm at the top of the Manor Royal industrial estate in Crawley, Sussex.   They had a life size cockpit of a new midsize passenger jet I think called the Comet that was about to undergo flight trials in a couple of weeks time and they were training the pilots on it.  They invited me to have a go, and my goodness, was it life like.  I have to thank my co-pilot for landing me safely as I was about to put it down with the wheels still up!

 

Another experience was one of space flight in the National Science Museum.  It was again a very lifelike.    My daughter came with me and our mission was to divert the course of a space rock that was hurtling towards earth and if it arrived would mean the end of the world.  It was a great adventure for us with the simulated vibrations, varying directions to get us on course to nudge the rock off course, which obviously we did successfully because we and the world and you lot are still very much here.

 

John 

 

PS - Pat, I think Iain Emms is already here mate, despite his age.  He's always been one to go where others fear to tread!:lol:

 

 

You'd have loved the first Piper Arrow.  Retarding the throttle below a certain point brought down the gear automatically.  There was an override but you needed three hands to do stalls.

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Gypsy Pilot Life Member

Gypsy Pilot

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X Plane 11 has the potential to become the great sim with its flight dynamics and its active developer's community for those who want to do it themselves.  There you will find instructions and help on how to do everything except how to build decent trees.

 

All scenery is dependent on the skill of the developer and I feel that although there are wonderful scenery packages out there that they lack the color coordination and lever of blending that Orbx has demanded of its developers before their scenery can wear the Orbx Logo.  

I am sure that this will change over time and that perhaps Orbx will become the publisher of choice and standard for XP11 scenery. 

 

The only real problem that I have with XP11 ( other than trees ) is the enormous cost of duplicating my FTX Library.  JV has helped by giving us a deep discount on the XP duplicate scenery, but even with that, many of us are looking at a cost exceeding a thousand dollars.

 

I have installed XP11 but I feel that it will remain a sandbox, for now, a place to go and try new things.

 

Dale

 

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Rodger Pettichord Life Member

Rodger Pettichord

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2 hours ago, Gypsy Pilot said:

X Plane 11 has the potential to become the great sim with its flight dynamics and its active developer's community for those who want to do it themselves.  There you will find instructions and help on how to do everything except how to build decent trees.

 

All scenery is dependent on the skill of the developer and I feel that although there are wonderful scenery packages out there that they lack the color coordination and lever of blending that Orbx has demanded of its developers before their scenery can wear the Orbx Logo.  

I am sure that this will change over time and that perhaps Orbx will become the publisher of choice and standard for XP11 scenery. 

 

The only real problem that I have with XP11 ( other than trees ) is the enormous cost of duplicating my FTX Library.  JV has helped by giving us a deep discount on the XP duplicate scenery, but even with that, many of us are looking at a cost exceeding a thousand dollars.

 

I have installed XP11 but I feel that it will remain a sandbox, for now, a place to go and try new things.

 

Dale

 

Wow, Dale. That's eye-opening. Thanks for a valuable perspective. Those of us still with FSX are reading that wall handwriting and starting reluctantly to look at the more current options.Good to hear from those who have made a leap.

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flsm (Frank) Life Member

flsm (Frank)

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I am totally addicted to XP.  Designed and run by an aeronautical engineer.  Certified and used for flight training, R&D, accident analysis etc.  Infinite amount of freeware.  Small, responsive team of staff.  Build your own aircraft and scenery.  Constant development.  Many swapping over from other sims.  Etc, Etc.  Try the free demo.  Cheers.

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