Unfortunately, you won't get any x plane developers posting their work in progress at avsim. It's in breach of the terms and conditions (and I unequivocally respect that!). So I can safely say you're missing out on a lot of screenshots from a lot of developers. Dare I say there are add ons available now in x plane that have the aesthetics AND the FDE? Well, it's not really up to me to say, is it?

Unfortunately, you won't get any x plane developers posting their work in progress at avsim. It's in breach of the terms and conditions (and I unequivocally respect that!). So I can safely say you're missing out on a lot of screenshots from a lot of developers. Dare I say there are add ons available now in x plane that have the aesthetics AND the FDE? Well, it's not really up to me to say, is it?

Well, I have always favored Carenado for asthetics, and most recently a few of their releases have been pretty solid FDE's I understand. So if I do purchase XPX, Carenado will be my first purchase.Bob

And rightly so!As far as I have heard, they are the best in GA for FSX. I personally don't have any of their X Plane stuff, but I'm sure their reputation precedes them. Hopefully their x plane flight model author does right by them. Going By Geof's testimonial of their F33, he's doing a fine job!

Carenado will be my first purchase

Bob, allow me to suggest purchasing the Beechcraft Duchess, from Leading Edge Simulations. I have absolutely no connections to them or any other developers, for that matter, but If you want aesthetics as well asan excellent FDE, you will not get any better. Any of the Carenado offerings are good also, I own them all. :(

And rightly so!As far as I have heard, they are the best in GA for FSX. I personally don't have any of their X Plane stuff, but I'm sure their reputation precedes them. Hopefully their x plane flight model author does right by them. Going By Geof's testimonial of their F33, he's doing a fine job!

I agree, Geof's opinion does matter. He is well respected for his opinions.Bob

Bob, allow me to suggest purchasing the Beechcraft Duchess, from Leading Edge Simulations. I have absolutely no connections to them or any other developers, for that matter, but If you want aesthetics as well asan excellent FDE, you will not get any better. Any of the Carenado offerings are good also, I own them all. :(

Hi Don,I went to their site and looked at this plane. OMG, it is very nicely done. The cockpit is gorgeous! The 3D look is really well done and the instrument reflections are incredible.I have no experience with XPX planes. What in your opinion can be done better in XPX vs FSX as far as the appearance of the models? Is there something that really stands out?Thanks

Actually Bob, and keep in mind that I have owned run MSFS fkight sims from about what would have been FS2 on a TRS 80 model 1 computer, so I have no axe to grind, I use them all, but I find myself lately using XPlane more than FSX. XPlane is not without its warts and bumps. I don't think one is better or worse than the other, just different approach to the same end. Both of these flight simulators need tweaks, adjustments, addons and whatnot, but therein is the fun of it all, is it not.To be truthful, I cannot quite put my finger on why I tend to use XPlane a bit more than FSX, perhaps it is the newness for me, ( I have only used XPlane since ver 9.5). I can only say, I am glad that I bought the version that I did.In both sims I think it is the quality of the developer, that makes a really big difference. Of course the payware people probably make the better quality planes, but there are freeware developers, that are amazing. There is a freewar B17 available that rivals or outdoes any payware plane that you will get, (hint: google XPFR).The only thing I can say Bob is I can recommend either or both sims, I for one don't regret the money spent.When you get X-Plane, (we know sooner or later), :( I can hearily reccomend anything from Leading Edge, IXEG, or JRollon, the art is fantastic, the flight abilities are as well.Hows that for wishy washy?

Thanks Don, and no, it was not wishy washy. The one thing I can say right now with XPX is that I love the night scenery, with the exception of the hi-rise buildings with no lights. The day time scenery, well, I have to say it looks too cartoonish. It does not look like they will change this style (for a lack of better words) of scenery as I am sure there is just too much invested in at this time by Laminar. This does not mean I will not purchase, but if I do, it will most likely be used for night flights only.Since you have used both sims, what is your opinion of the ATC?Bob

The ATC in X-Plane, in my opinion is not worth the effort. Better to go Vatsim or something. Download the opensceneryX library and the Seattle scenery that Honnli and Simmo made, it has night lighting. Here's a link. http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=15392

Bob, allow me to suggest purchasing the Beechcraft Duchess, from Leading Edge Simulations. I have absolutely no connections to them or any other developers, for that matter, but If you want aesthetics as well asan excellent FDE, you will not get any better. Any of the Carenado offerings are good also, I own them all.

Don, just purchased this a few hours ago after your recommendation, and very glad I did. She will do very nicely in my hanger. Now, just have to find enough hours in the day to fly them all, Beechcraft Duchess, F33a, T28C, STMA DHC-2 Beaver, and the CRJ200. All very nice aircraft, the Beaver is a bit dated, still fun to fly.Glen

Glad to hear that Glen,The only thing I have found in the Duchess, is if I start on a ramp with engines off, which is what I normally do, I get no illumination in the radio stack. The radios are on, the OBI work as well as the ADF, I just have no lights in the radios. The only solution I have found is to set the sim to have engines running at start up. I don't know if that is specific to my setup or not. I talked to GoranM about it, and he couldn't duplicate it, but I thought I would throw that in, just in case you run onto it. I've never had that problem in X-Plane 9.70 so I would guess it is a version 10 fault. One other thing the manifold pressure gauge will only show a maximum of 25 in of Hg, but it does get full power. Gorton said he would, get that fixed when version 10 gets stable. He also plans on introducing some other improovements he has apprently learned along the way. :smile:Really glad to hear that it lives up to my billing. :(

I don't know if that is specific to my setup or not.

First time I tried it the radio lights were out, second time they worked fine. I always start with the engines running, next time I'll try with the engines off and see how it goes.Glen

That doesn't happen all the time, don't know why. One thing I should have mentioned just as a tip, the Duchess is very very VERY light on the controls. Thought I would throw that in although i doubt very much if you are ham handed on the controls. :(

Good buy the Duchess. And I assume that u know Goran (but I do prefer GORTON!!) is the Dev of both the Duchy and it's little scary brother :-)I find the carenado fsx fm too simple, id love to know if the new a2a accu feel improves it? Hell, I might just buy it to try. But the reflective exterior of their planes- amazing!It's great to see more mature comparisons of the sims. And I've just noticed the latest beta has improved fps yet again, a little more. Not major, but enuf for me to switch HDR back on sometimes.

Yes I knew he is the dev, I'm not embarrassed to give credit and compliments and or recommendations to or for those who deserve it. :( which by the way does include your blog.

I agree, Geof's opinion does matter. He is well respected for his opinions.BobHi Don,I went to their site and looked at this plane. OMG, it is very nicely done. The cockpit is gorgeous! The 3D look is really well done and the instrument reflections are incredible.I have no experience with XPX planes. What in your opinion can be done better in XPX vs FSX as far as the appearance of the models? Is there something that really stands out?Thanks

Don, just purchased this a few hours ago after your recommendation, and very glad I did. She will do very nicely in my hanger. Now, just have to find enough hours in the day to fly them all, Beechcraft Duchess, F33a, T28C, STMA DHC-2 Beaver, and the CRJ200. All very nice aircraft, the Beaver is a bit dated, still fun to fly.Glen

Thanks gents. :(