Hey Robert have you updated anything with your sim pit? Hardware, pc updates, etc? Do you flying exclusively with sim avionics 737 on X Plane 10? What are you thoughts on X Plane 10.30B3? Really have enjoyed watching your videos. You were a big influence on trying the X Plane 10 platform for me. Thank You!

 

Hiya Justin...

 

I am pretty happy with  XP10.3b3 thus far, with the notable exception that I'm sad that the hoped-for blur-at-the-horizon fix will not be part of 10.3 release when it goes official according to Austin.  I am waiting for my pals at FlightDeckSolutions to unveil some possible new products, and I'm sure at some point I will be ordering their Throttle Quadrant for the 737.  I pushed all my system ram to 32GB on all 3 of the rendering PCs (for the triple monitors) in anticipation of the horizon line tile fix.  So I'm a bit sad that that item is apparently going to be delayed.  Still, after experiencing the frames and some of the dazzling eye-candy that is already available on 10.3b3 (along with AiPilots HD Texture Mesh and the accompanying SimHeaven OSM North America plus some killer City packs also from Sim Heaven -- all I can say is WOW.

 

If it never got any better than what I have right now, I'm still pretty danged satisfied.

 

Thanks for the kind comments on the vids.  I keep meaning to build a how-to with the FDS CDU unit for the incoming new tubeliner pilots.  Just like everything else, takes time.

 

GARMIN PILOT is a must have product (to me) because of the moving map of your flight plan, plus 'safe taxi' shows all the taxiways and airport layouts and a whole lot more.  Garmin Pilot full pkg is like $18 a month on annual basis.  Used by RW pilots as well as sim pilots.  Works with XPlane 10 using XPlane2GPS software app from Android Play Store (free download).  Garmin Pilot can be free-trialed all features EXCEPT safe taxi for 30 days.  I bought it immediately, once I saw all the features.  Running on my Note 10.1 Samsung tablet.

 

Cheers!

FlightDeckSolutions new products . . . . ???? I have been eyeing thier jetmax 737 for sometime now. What more could there to be to add too? Hum . . . . . 

I'm chuffed to bits with the performance and look of this sim now. Went for a jaunt around Nice and Lugano yesterday and it's just breathtaking with the mesh, RTH art changes etc.

 

I only do lower altitude GA so using notice the Distance thing so much but it's a shame to hear it's now not going to be part of 10.3 at all?! Where did you hear that Robert?

This thread is the first I've heard about the clarity at distance getting dumped from 10.3 for sure.

 

Is this true? Where was that confirmed!

 

HUGE bummer if true.

FlightDeckSolutions new products . . . . ???? I have been eyeing thier jetmax 737 for sometime now. What more could there to be to add too? Hum . . . . . 

 

We won't know "if" there are any new products coming from FlightDeckSolutions until and unless they make an official announcement.  Their Jetmaxx gear is GREAT.  I have their MCP/EFIS and the ProMax CDU.  Both are really solid, well-built and realistic products.  The CDU is my prized possession, followed extremely closely by the MCP/EFIS.

 

I'm chuffed to bits with the performance and look of this sim now. Went for a jaunt around Nice and Lugano yesterday and it's just breathtaking with the mesh, RTH art changes etc.

 

I only do lower altitude GA so using notice the Distance thing so much but it's a shame to hear it's now not going to be part of 10.3 at all?! Where did you hear that Robert?

 

Direct email response to my specific question "When will the view to the horizon at altitude blur be fixed?", written to me by Austin Meyer himself.  Austin emphatically said that that specific issue would NOT be addressed in any part of 10.3 beta or final.   

 

This thread is the first I've heard about the clarity at distance getting dumped from 10.3 for sure.

 

Is this true? Where was that confirmed!

 

HUGE bummer if true.

 

Yes, it's a HUGE disappointment, having just spent substantial amount to move all my rendering PCs to 32GB in anticipation of what I (wrongly) believed was soon-to-be-released 'extra scenery tile renders for high-altitude flight option'.  I'm sure at some point that Laminar will address it, and like you (and the other jet pilots in XPX), I would love the long-awaited fix to be much sooner rather than later.  It's a total buzzkiller to have about 1/3 of your triple screens in fuzzy/hazy/blender mode instead of seeing the scenery extend (as it should) all the way out to the horizon.  As strong as XPlane is in every other regard, this is a BIG weakness and immersion-killer.  I fault the screenies that appeared on the blog that showed the 10.4 version, and I'm thinking if we are lucky, 10.4 (if and when it comes out) may finally handle the problem, though even that is only speculation.

Hmmm, that seems to go against what's been said by Ben on the dev blog which is that it'll be in the latter stages of this beta run. When did you get that mail?

WTH? I was rather looking forward to having the fixed visibility very soon. Say it ain't so!

Honestly I think it looks like XPX with a light mod. I hope XPXI they focus less on the visuals and more on the immersion.

 

+1

 

I think the visuals are already stunning. We're close:

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/443663-this-737-is-so-beautiful/

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/443911-x-plane-1030b-flying-around-new-york-san-francisco-portland-lots-of-photos/

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/443039-xpx-1030b1-looks-really-good/

 

Of course, things will always improve, but we can contribute right now with airports and OpenStreetMap and textures.

Hmmm, that seems to go against what's been said by Ben on the dev blog which is that it'll be in the latter stages of this beta run. When did you get that mail?

 

 

WTH? I was rather looking forward to having the fixed visibility very soon. Say it ain't so!

 

 

Here is Austin's e-mail to me (followed by my original inquiry about this issue also via email)

 

Austin Meyer

Jun 3 (6 days ago)

 

to me

 

 

 

 

we dont have this planned for 1030, no

 

for 1030, we are making all the technical elements of the sim work perfectly, not adding any more eye candy

 

1030 is full as it is now

 

austin

 

Sent from my iPhone

 

On Jun 3, 2014, at 12:16 PM, "R. Scott McDonald"  wrote:

 

Hi again 

Austin

,

 

I'm trying to get the fix for the 'blurries' when flying at high altitude and looking to where the sky meets the horizon line.  Presently it's fuzzy and out of focus.  There are a lot of jet pilots salivating at the thought of having that issue go away for good.  I purchased 32gb of system ram x 3 PCs so I can have crystal-clear scenery going all the way out to the horizon.  I would LOVE to be able to beta-test that feature, many of us were thinking it would be in 10.3.  

 

[deleted further comments by me to Austin about x-Plane]

 

Robert McDonald

 

Here is Austin's e-mail to me (followed by my original inquiry about this issue also via email)

 

I must say, that I wouldn't recognize the long distance feature from your description. Furthermore:

If you want to know something about a beta feature ask the developer who is responsible for this bug. No one except him can give an answer

I must say, that I wouldn't recognize the long distance feature from your description. Furthermore:

If you want to know something about a beta feature ask the developer who is responsible for this bug. No one except him can give an answer

 

1.  Flying at high altitude.   2.  Look to where the sky meets the horizon... the ground scenery there is one giant horizontal BLUR BAR!  3.  Additional system memory (ram) is going to be a 'requirement' for this feature when it is released.  4.  Austin Meyer clearly knows what is going to be or not going to be in every one of his flagship product release versions.  It's HIS COMPANY.  They aren't going to put anything out the door with his name on it that he doesn't know about. 

 

The information has been given me by a development team member, and confirmed by the president of the company.  I am reasonably sure that we won't see a fix for the high-altitude long-distance view issue until 10.4 or later.  

 

 

1.  Flying at high altitude.   2.  Look to where the sky meets the horizon... the ground scenery there is one giant horizontal BLUR BAR!  3.  Additional system memory (ram) is going to be a 'requirement' for this feature when it is released.  4.  Austin Meyer clearly knows what is going to be or not going to be in every one of his flagship product release versions.  It's HIS COMPANY.  They aren't going to put anything out the door with his name on it that he doesn't know about. 

 

The information has been given me by a development team member, and confirmed by the president of the company.  I am reasonably sure that we won't see a fix for the high-altitude long-distance view issue until 10.4 or later.  

Ben thinks the beta will be a short 4 weeks, so hopefully 10.4 will start shortly there after !

Personally I'm hoping to see some DSF re-cuts appear in 10.30 more so than the high altitude horizon fix.

 

Right now areas such as Botany Bay in Sydney are completely filled in with land instead of water, when on approach into YSSY for example it seems as though the whole bay has been drained of water with trees/forests growing out of it. Looks quite ridiculous.

 

Anyone who has ever flown into Sydney International would know that the rwy 34L/R approach begins out over a bay.

Ben thinks the beta will be a short 4 weeks, so hopefully 10.4 will start shortly there after !

 

We can only hope... and wait...

 

Personally I'm hoping to see some DSF re-cuts appear in 10.30 more so than the high altitude horizon fix.

 

Right now areas such as Botany Bay in Sydney are completely filled in with land instead of water, when on approach into YSSY for example it seems as though the whole bay has been drained of water with trees/forests growing out of it. Looks quite ridiculous.

 

Anyone who has ever flown into Sydney International would know that the rwy 34L/R approach begins out over a bay.

 

Any hope that OSM / SimHeaven might alleviate your issue?  Do they have the city of Sidney available for download?  If so, you might be able to solve your scenery woes...

 

Check out SimHeaven website if you haven't already... it's free BTW.

 

 

Any hope that OSM / SimHeaven might alleviate your issue?  Do they have the city of Sidney available for download?  If so, you might be able to solve your scenery woes...
 
Check out SimHeaven website if you haven't already... it's free BTW.

 

Hi Robert, unfortunately this is a problem with the original OSM import of the terrain data from that area and will require LR to completely re-do and 're-cut' the terrain. I've looked around at various OSM sources including SimHeaven which do have a nice city scenery for Sydney, but this only includes buildings and other objects.

 

Ben has acknowledged this in his blog some time ago and indicated it would get done at some point 'around 10.30' so one can only hope..

 

Is it all possible to modify terrain in the sim using custom OSM?