I have been a casual user of X-Plane for some time, I use it for a while then go back to FSX with all of it's multi-$,000 add-ons that I have collected over the years.....

 

But last night I tried the new version of XP-X with the 64-bit (I'm running Windows 8/64 bit). As a RL small plane pilot, I can really say that I don;t think I have found this level of immersion before with a desktop sim. Stuff like the sloping runways (which appears exaggerated, but is still very cool), and the visual perspective on approach...

 

I looked around this forum and finally discovered how to configure my CH yoke hat switch to "pan" (in steps) laterally (still working on the vertical). Also have calibrated some of the CH yoke / throttle quadrent axes, which appear to work but need more of my time....... oh for an XP version of FSUIPC...

 

I will always gravitate between FSX and XP, more to XP as things are looking now- is there any "tutorial" for those of us that comes from the world of FSX beyond what the manual contains? Some of the XP-X interfaces are intuitive, but there's stuff that isn't too. I got into the stock C172-S last night (which I fly), and the appearance of the panel initially was that it was like a 2D panel - at least in FSX, where everything is placed in one view and the panel distorted accordingly. Then I found that I could pan (in my limited form that I know of so far), but felt the need to move my eyepoint to place the panel in another perspective... I'm sure it's possible- in FSX we would edit aircraft.cfg, or (better still) use EzDoC.

 

My work life and gym schedules are such that I only get an hour at most on the PC during the week- but I am so tantilized by what I saw last night, with so many questions

 

Thanks, Bruce.

Bruce, try the KingAir. Very good flight model and 3D cockpit. It´s my favorite XP10 stock plane.

Bruce,

 

Look in the extreme right column of the buttons section and there are, I think, scroll right and scroll left. I think because I am not near my flightsim computer right now. Below these are the "fast" versions of the same thing. With these, you can avoid the "in steps" mode. There are also some up and down functions, maybe in the same area. You will find all these things as you get more familiar with them.

 

As Emerson67 says, the KingAir C90B is a real pleasure to fly. There have been many improvements and Tom is working on more.

 

One thing I like, especially with the KingAir, is that you can adjust the sounds for the prop and the engine seperately, giving you a realistic differential as opposed to just raising and lowering the entire module volume.

 

Careful with the prop control as, even at idle, you get pulled around unless you pull back on that lever. I haven't flown a KingAir in real life, but have been told that this is the way it is in RL.

 

I very seldom go back to FSX or even P3D anymore since learning more about X-Plane although I still have both.

 

Oh yeah, if you invest in TrackIR, the hat switch becomes virtually useless except for button functions and you can just look around as you do naturally.

 

Have fun.

 

John

I got into the stock C172-S last night (which I fly), and the appearance of the panel initially was that it was like a 2D panel - at least in FSX, where everything is placed in one view and the panel distorted accordingly.

 

Bruce, I'm certainly not an expert as I'm just starting out with XP myself, but I believe that what you're seeing IS the 2D panel, as that's what the 172 will start in by default. Shift-9 (I think) will take you to the 3D panel, or mouse up to the top to bring up the menus, select "View" and change to the 3D.

 

I'm sure there's a way to start in the 3D view by default, but I'll let those who actually know something to comment.

 

Scott

Then I found that I could pan (in my limited form that I know of so far), but felt the need to move my eyepoint to place the panel in another perspective... I'm sure it's possible- in FSX we would edit aircraft.cfg, or (better still) use EzDoC.

 

Hi Bruce,

 

I find that the following keys work quite well for me when changing eyepoint in the VC.

 

'<' key to move forwards

'>' key to move backwards

 

Holding down the SHIFT key in combination with any of the above will make quicker movements.

 

You can also combine this by holding down right-mouse click and panning around to provide total freedom of movement within the VC. In FSX I always use the hat switch on my joystick to pan around the VC, and I also have this setup in X-Plane, but have found over time that panning around with the mouse is much more effective than in FSX.

Get TrackIR 5 and you will love the virtual cockpit.

I use Sandy Barbour's Pilot View plug-in, which is similar to EZdok Camera for FSX. It works great.

You can enable it from the plug-ins menu, or use Shift+F1. Then Shift+F4 brings up the control panel for view settings.

With 64bit, the head movement is as smooth as silk.

XPUIPC for XP, i believe rencently had a 64-bit version released. Check over here for XPUIPC and all your FSUIPC addons should work remarkably well..

 

Also, in the rendering options, I believe there to be a setting that sets the default view of the aircraft to 2d panel or 3d panel so that when you start in a different aircraft or load up at first, it will go to that view, then you can change from it to any view you want.

Thanks for all the helpful tips, just now getting to my sim to try some of this out.

 

much appreciated, Bruce.

 

Edit: Having now tried some of this out- I found that the trick was to go the Views /3D (or Shift-9) to get the 3D panel, then the commands that I was trying now scroll (in 2D they more step in fixed angular displacement). So, Jon Scott and Michael- when I put all your posts together they worked graet in solving this question.

 

I don't have TrackIR 5, however I'm looking forwards to trying out XPUIPC and the Pilot View plug-in, thanks Robert and Aaron.

 

B

I mostly use FS9 and FSX to create custome AI around places I have lived. I have enjoyed the Beech Baron in XP10, but my WIN7 system is 32bits. I have just finished installing Fedora Linux 18 which is 64bit and will try to load XP10-64bit there as well.

I don't have TrackIR 5, ...

 

... but if you have a webcam, you can use it with FaceTrackNoIR instead.

 

... but if you have a webcam, you can use it with FaceTrackNoIR instead.

Thanks