I got Xplane 10 a few weeks ago, but for some reason my DVD drive had issues with it. Then other things came up with work and home and I started to feel like Id never get time to install it.I just got around to replacing my DVD drive and I spent a good 4 hours installing XP10 today and finally took my first flight with it a few hours ago. I took some time to set up my joystick, Pedals and Saitek throttle. I dont have everything set up yet, but im more than half way there.Im a veteran FSX user and Xplane is very different in many ways. Im a little overwhelmed by everything new to learn about XPX, but I see that as a good thing. Im ready for something new and different. I also bought my first payware plane for Xplane (Carenado Bonanza). Im going to pickup Gorran's Duchess later this week. So far, Ive already had a couple of "wow" moments, when it just blew me away! I went to my hometown airport on LongIsland NY and really expected it to be a mess. It wasn't. The airport looked correct, and the view at 1500' looked just like I remembered it. I was impressed.Sure, theres still lots of work to be done, but this is really going to be an amazing journey watching xplane mature. Im very happy I got it!Here's a shot from my first flight with the Bonnaza.

Commanche - excited to hear your experience with XP10 - the new kid on the block...I'll be happy to hear your thoughts here http://forum.avsim.net/topic/362324-any-hardcore-fsx-simmers-who-also-go-hardcore-xp10/ if you have a spare few minutes from enjoying the beautifull scenery it looks like ;)Mas

I use FSX and had all previous versions too...I try and buy any flightsim available,they all offer a vast array of different experiences.I've had 10 for a while now,also suffered from DVD problems :)The biggest plus points for me are the actual feeling of flying is strengthened my some staggering graphics at times,HDR is my favourite feature,it seems to create a real feeling of flying in a believable atmosphere. :)The same goes for the night lighting.I won't make a big list but i get the impression it was really well thought out in some respects.An example being i recently purchased a helicopter i see quite often in my home town,and flying it at low level in a similar fashion and following the motorways and seeing the shadows from trees,houses and in cockpit is pretty immersive :)The speed at which all this stuff is pushed around does really give you that sense of "speed" too at low level. It's something i think X Plane has always done better than the other titles.I think all the shortcomings have been pointed out,my simple conclusion would be X Plane has the technology there to make things very believable and in the right places it does.All it needs is more content to flesh it out,i really can't see how it could fail. :)Using FSX,there's tons of content to replicate the real world, scenery wise but i prefer the X Plane Experience better. The graphical effects make it look more believable and it gives a better sensation of speed.:)

Beautiful shots Rob.

@doodelbugThx for sharing mate - I guess I'll just have to take the jump and fiddle around with it... It's not like it costs a mio bucks, and besides, I think that no one can argue against that this will be the sim of the future - be it in 2 years or 5 years.. Might as well get started ;)Mas

Edited February 11, 201214 yr by mas618

I have been flying XPX when I get the chance, which is usually only a couple of times a week because of time constraints. I have a new born baby and a 2 year old to chase and that doesn't leave a lot of time. I found that I can get XPX running really smoothly by reducing clouds to 5-15%... yet it STILL looks incredible. I flew from KOSH to 3CK the other day in the Carenado 172II. I can't believe how crisp and smooth the cockpit instruments are and the very high framerate. It really is a different experience from FSX. The instruments are just so much smoother and precise versus the coarse representation you get with FSX. I used a real sectional chart and flew by mostly dead recogning starting at dusk. Something I have done in FSX and in real life. XPX was way more realistic than FSX. It may sound silly as the landscape between these 2 airports can be considered flat and boring by some, but it is one of the best flights I have ever had in a simulator, and i've done flight simulators for nearly 30 years.My equipment:INTEL i6700 quad core extreme (5+ yrs old)4 gb ram(2X) BFG Nvidia 8800 GTX cards in SLIGHTLYSaitek flight yoke, Saitek TPM, Saitek Trim, Saitek switch panel, CH Products pedals, TrackIR 4

I have been flying XPX when I get the chance, which is usually only a couple of times a week because of time constraints. I have a new born baby and a 2 year old to chase and that doesn't leave a lot of time. I found that I can get XPX running really smoothly by reducing clouds to 5-15%... yet it STILL looks incredible. I flew from KOSH to 3CK the other day in the Carenado 172II. I can't believe how crisp and smooth the cockpit instruments are and the very high framerate. It really is a different experience from FSX. The instruments are just so much smoother and precise versus the coarse representation you get with FSX. I used a real sectional chart and flew by mostly dead recogning starting at dusk. Something I have done in FSX and in real life. XPX was way more realistic than FSX. It may sound silly as the landscape between these 2 airports can be considered flat and boring by some, but it is one of the best flights I have ever had in a simulator, and i've done flight simulators for nearly 30 years.

After more messing around for the last few days with XP9, the XP10 demo (with 3rd party aircraft), FS9. and FSX.....................I'm still calling it a draw. I've been reloading some of my saved flights from FS9 & FSX, which featured some great real weather, nice scenery/airport addons, and some well done 3rd party planes. At his point, I'm not yet calling it a WOW moment, in which I'll ditch all past flight sims. (Note: my 3rd party FSX, has smooth instruments also)

I have been flying XPX when I get the chance, which is usually only a couple of times a week because of time constraints. I have a new born baby and a 2 year old to chase and that doesn't leave a lot of time. I found that I can get XPX running really smoothly by reducing clouds to 5-15%... yet it STILL looks incredible. I flew from KOSH to 3CK the other day in the Carenado 172II. I can't believe how crisp and smooth the cockpit instruments are and the very high framerate. It really is a different experience from FSX. The instruments are just so much smoother and precise versus the coarse representation you get with FSX. I used a real sectional chart and flew by mostly dead recogning starting at dusk. Something I have done in FSX and in real life. XPX was way more realistic than FSX. It may sound silly as the landscape between these 2 airports can be considered flat and boring by some, but it is one of the best flights I have ever had in a simulator, and i've done flight simulators for nearly 30 years.My equipment:INTEL i6700 quad core extreme (5+ yrs old)4 gb ram(2X) BFG Nvidia 8800 GTX cards in SLIGHTLYSaitek flight yoke, Saitek TPM, Saitek Trim, Saitek switch panel, CH Products pedals, TrackIR 4

Congratulations on the newborn! I have 6yr old at home, and Im just starting to find the time for simming again. It must be tough with 2 little ones running around! kids are great fun though! Im trying to get my son into flight simming, but so far he's more into Mario Brothers! (lol)Rob

10 mths old daughter here, and a wife whos actually a cabin crew, so shes away much - doesn't leave much time for simming either. Mostly it's only after 8 in the evening, but not till too late though, 'cause it's a looooong day with the baby when you've been simming all night - lol... When I find some spare time (which will be in a year or two) I'll go to XP10 ;)Mas

(Note: my 3rd party FSX, has smooth instruments also)

FSX will never be as good as XP9/XP10 in this area. You just cannot beat the smoothness both XP's offer.

Still we lack a good 737ng in XP, but it willy hopefully come

FSX will never be as good as XP9/XP10 in this area. You just cannot beat the smoothness both XP's offer.

XP's animation of instruments, is certainly smooth. But my RealAir SF260's is just the same. Just did a back to back comparison between the RealAir & the X-Plane Falco. The whiskey compass on the SF260 looks exactly as if it's rotating in a fluid, just as in real life. Smooth 3D instruments was a RealAir niche product for a while.....as the base MSFS product had the jerks.

Edited February 12, 201214 yr by LAdamson

Still we lack a good 737ng in XP, but it willy hopefully come

A good 747-200 and -400 is coming.

FSX will never be as good as XP9/XP10 in this area. You just cannot beat the smoothness both XP's offer.

Absolute rubbish.Instrument smoothness is just a function of the modeller/programmer.

XP's animation of instruments, is certainly smooth. But my RealAir SF260's is just the same. Just did a back to back comparison between the RealAir & the X-Plane Falco. The whiskey compass on the SF260 looks exactly as if it's rotating in a fluid, just as in real life. Smooth 3D instruments was a RealAir niche product for a while.....as the base MSFS product had the jerks.

I think Pirata was talking about out of the box gauge animations. The RealAir gauge animations are specifically coded to be smooth. XPlanes gauge animation smoothness is stock. Out of the box, FSX gauge animations can't touch X Planes gauge animations. To code the smoothness in FSX is not an easy task. I worked with a developer in FSX about 7 years ago and he managed to do it (I think he was the first) but never finished the FSX upgrade. Took him about 2-3 months to code the gauge smoothing.