Hi all!

 

Am really, really loving X-Plane. My question is regarding night lighting.

 

I am up to date with 10.10 RC3, and I've noticed that the airport lighting is brighter and were made to be more realistic. In my opinion, it is far too bright. I flew around the Chicago area last night, and could easily spot every airport (every runway direction) within 20 miles...even small private strips. One feature of X-Plane I've loved is the night lighting, and the realism in trying to find the airport, especially when you are parallel to runways.

 

So, my question is (for rw pilots as well), is the night lighting realistic in your opinion? I am not a rw pilot, but it has been my understanding that runway lights are brighter when you are facing the runway head-on, and less bright when you are parallel to the runway.

 

Awesome sim! Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Bob

This seems to be a concern which swings like a pendulum one way and the other.

 

There are users today who feel the corrent runway lighting is far too dim based on their real-world experiences, and there are users today who feel the adjusted lighting is far too bright. I think it depends entirely on who you're asking and what their individual night flying experiences are. I believe one of the recent changes made was to make the runway lighting a bit more omnidirectional, rather than being primarily directional along the axis of the runway. This may contribute to the sensation of the lights being brighter, especially when running in the pattern.

 

I think the runway lighting can be refined endlessly - but you will never be able to match each airports circumstances with a global setting change. A happy medium is needed, and I think they are zeroing in on that very thing. Personally, this is one of the few times I'll use the word "plausible" - so long as it looks reasonable, it's suitable for me.

 

(*I just wish they'd do something to improve the visuals of REIL's and approach strobes - the meager blinks do these flashbulbs little justice!)

Thanks much - I agree with you spot on.

 

I preferred the lighting prior to this recent change, as I am not a fan of that omnidirectional lighting...especially flying in an urban area where you can pick up 30+ airports easily by just panning around the cockpit 360 degrees. I am really happy that they are tinkering around with this to find a happy medium, rather than saying "Done...you're stuck with it as-is". Great product.

There are users today who feel the corrent runway lighting is far too dim based on their real-world experiences, and there are users today who feel the adjusted lighting is far too bright. I think it depends entirely on who you're asking and what their individual night flying experiences are.

 

I think you underestimate another factor: monitor calibration. My flightsim computer is my Photoshop and Lightroom computer, too. So it is calibrated but in fact most monitors are not calibrated and show totally different settings.

Have a look over here if you want to know more about the bright lightning.

Thanks all for the info!

 

Bob