1. At what altitude does XP10.21 show contrails from heavies?  Trying out a 737-800 at FL27...but no contrails.

 

2. Is there a method (button press?) that can update your barometer such as in FS9/FSX by pressing the 'b' keyboard key?

How does one garner the current B.P. until you'd go to standard at FL180?

 

I'm in the learning curve, so there might be a few more, what might be obvious questions from the seasoned around here,

 

Ses

1. At what altitude does XP10.21 show contrails from heavies?  Trying out a 737-800 at FL27...but no contrails.

 

 

I don't know exactly the altitude, but you must fly higher than FL270.

 

 

2. Is there a method (button press?) that can update your barometer such as in FS9/FSX by pressing the 'b' keyboard key?

How does one garner the current B.P. until you'd go to standard at FL180?

 

Is there a 'b' key in a real plane?  :lol:  Well, sorry ... X-Plane is not as user friendly as the other sim , you have to do it the hard way like in a real plane, i.e. turning the appropriate knob.

Suggestion:

 

- on Data Output, set the System Atmosphere to be displayed on the screen (allways at upper left), so that you can easily set you altimeters and also have the instant wind speed and direction plus a numeric value for the turbulence.

Temperature is also displayed.

I see contrails at FL300, my preferred ALT :lol:

 

 

look closely for the contrails, it looks better in sim on my monitor.  Are you flying the freeware x737?  I never flew that at FL300.

1. At what altitude does XP10.21 show contrails from heavies?  Trying out a 737-800 at FL27...but no contrails.

 

2. Is there a method (button press?) that can update your barometer such as in FS9/FSX by pressing the 'b' keyboard key?

How does one garner the current B.P. until you'd go to standard at FL180?

 

I'm in the learning curve, so there might be a few more, what might be obvious questions from the seasoned around here,

 

Ses

 

Early morning contrails over Alaska at FL300

I'll be danged.......I can't find that real Altimeter knob in X-plane anywhere! At least without special hardware, as in a panel. The B key isn't a bad thing; far too often the altimeter is much too hard to read. Much harder than on the real thing, and it takes much more effort to mouse in the numbers.

 

In all seriousness, much of the instrument , engine/ systems work we do in a real plane is setup to flow from one hand to the other. Mousing around a

Monitor panel is not the same at all. Especially time wise. Short cut keys such as the B in FSX are not a bad decision.

Larry, this is how I did it...

Suggestion:

 

- on Data Output, set the System Atmosphere to be displayed on the screen (allways at upper left), so that you can easily set you altimeters and also have the instant wind speed and direction plus a numeric value for the turbulence.

Temperature is also displayed.

Great idea, jcomm, with (and we all know it) less than stellar ATC, that was one of my low-level gripes, lol.  Good idea, and still very much learning the short-cut/ropes of XPX.

 

Mitch

 

 

2. Is there a method (button press?) that can update your barometer such as in FS9/FSX by pressing the 'b' keyboard key?

How does one garner the current B.P. until you'd go to standard at FL180?

 

If you've followed Jcomm's advice, this is really basic stuff from there. Use mouse look if you don't own TrafficIR and zoom into the gauge (using the scroll wheel) and adjust barometric pressure with the knob.

I'll be danged.......I can't find that real Altimeter knob in X-plane anywhere! At least without special hardware, as in a panel. The B key isn't a bad thing; far too often the altimeter is much too hard to read. Much harder than on the real thing, and it takes much more effort to mouse in the numbers.

 

In all seriousness, much of the instrument , engine/ systems work we do in a real plane is setup to flow from one hand to the other. Mousing around a

Monitor panel is not the same at all. Especially time wise. Short cut keys such as the B in FSX are not a bad decision.

Hi Larry, You nailed it. That is why I asked if there was a 'b' button that you could set up in XPX, like FSX. I always used that type of 'dirty and fast', as a virtual F.O. with his or her second set of helping hands. You have enought alligators snapping at you as you set up for a standard arrival and final. I had to search around on a few panels for the knob myself!

 

Mitch

 

 

Early morning contrails over Alaska at FL300

So there they are, Five! Yes, I downloaded the x737 project Air Berlin and took it for a go. I only had time to fiddle around for a few minutes, so achieved FL270 with no contrails at that altitude. I also noted that the drop (well you click the upper left quadrant) down upper panel menus are masked out and do not allow you to click the switches for such things as pitot and other anti-ice settings. Most of the drop down's were inoperable. I might just yet purchase the one you recommended. I need a serious study of FMS protocols and usage. I relied quite a bit on the FSX GPS and flight plan creator. Speaking of flight plans, are there any 3rd party that will write the script and send it to, or allow you to load the plan in any FMS for XPX? I haven't look upon the Net for that, as I am involved with G.A. right now. I have found a great KFNT at XPLANE.ORG and am enjoying shooting day and night approaches into that airport. I fly there for business, so am REALLY enjoying shooting the approaches to R27 over I-75 and that eye-popping, best representation of real-world road traffic yet seen in any simulator. XPX has weaks points---ATC out of the 1980's, no regional custom scenery as of this date and time, but for myself, the list for exceptional is much longer! It's going to be a keeper!

 

I don't know exactly the altitude, but you must fly higher than FL270.

 

 

 

Is there a 'b' key in a real plane? :lol: Well, sorry ... X-Plane is not as user friendly as the other sim , you have to do it the hard way like in a real plane, i.e. turning the appropriate knob.

Yes,lol, I am not a knob-challenged person, lol. I have always used (as I mentioned to Larry) the FSX 'set-it-fast-b-button' press as my First Officer lending a hand from the right seat. In place of that, (and I hope that Laminar might address this...and call it a F.O. button, lol) I am going on the next fire up, to do what jcomm suggests....have it show in the upper left corner for manual input. That's about the best for now. I don't have that place reserved for any form of FPS counter, as I have no need to fuel my FPS-neurosis left over from my FSX jaunts, lol. Actually, in typing that, I am going to end that practice too. I do use all three of my flight sims, and won't throw any baby out with the bath-water. They all have their negatives, but they also have very strong suits that that 'other two' don't. So...when running FSX, no more FPS at the top left! "MItch...did you read that...." "Yeah....I did......it's hard...but ok...., I'll run FSX in XPX mindset. No more upper-left FPS counter, with FSX, it will be what it will be, and just FLY, XPX style, mindset, lol!"

 

If you've followed Jcomm's advice, this is really basic stuff from there. Use mouse look if you don't own TrafficIR and zoom into the gauge (using the scroll wheel) and adjust barometric pressure with the knob.

Yep, I was already doing that, after downloading a metar. I was really looking for my 'F.O''s. help in a one button set method when the alligators were snapping in the cockpit, lol. Thanks!

What about the 'a' key, for "automatic flight: I'll tell the plane (or the F.O.) where I want to fly to, and it/he does the rest" ? Now, THAT would be handy .... One (or even more) step(s) ahead in improving X-Plane to our needs ... :lol:

 

Regarding FPS counter (regardless whether you need it or not - but might be nice to know about): did you hear of "discreet fps" (64bit)? For a more detailed description, you should have a look at the download page for the 32bit version.

By the way, if you like to have a (real) F.O. with you - you should try this plugin. I think there is something similar around since ages, but I don't remember its name, so it's hard to search for it.