Does anyone use or has used gliders in X-Plane?

 

I've developed a small glider airfield for use with World2XPlane and thought I'd give gliding a try, but found the choices of gliders a little disappointing. Although I've never used a glider in reali-life, how is X-Plane's representation and treatment of gliders. I know it models thermals somewhat, but does it also model the airflow up the sides of hills and mountains? I didn't seem to be able to get much lift like I can in say AeroflyFS.

 

Also, I've been having a look at some microlights as well, again there really isn't much out there for X-Plane, which is quite surprising. I know Dreamfoil are developing a trike, but interest seems low. I downloaded The Uno2 from the .org and it's quite nice, and a great way to fly really low-and-slow over HD generated scenery. Can anyone recommend any other microlights?

Currently there are not many gliders for X-Plane. One well-known developer is developing one, though (still in early stage; not officially announced yet).

 

In the meantime, there are a few glider freeware downloads. For best experience with gliders, be sure to adjust thermal coverage in the weather settings.

Thanks Mario

 

I've tried a few, but actually I found the best is at present the default one in X-Plane, which seems quite good. It seems you need to be quite high up, i.e. At least above 3000ft to get any lift from the thermals or mountain winds. 

To be honest, I didn't do much gliding in X-Plane (and already long time passed since then). I also don't know whether XP simulates ridge lift.

 

But I can recommend one more microlight - the Firestar II. You can see it in action below (guess where ).

 

Unfortunately, soaring in X-plane is somehow disappointing :-(

 

Not only the flight dynamics are lacking a lot of important aspects from RL glider flight dynamics, and probably the default K21 is on of the best models I have used, specially when you use the hidden flaps :-)

 

I also don't like the way X-Plane models thermals, but ridge lift is not bad... although lacking a whole lot of details to be comparable to what other sims like Condor or Silent Wings offer.

Have you seen this?  It's the best thing going in soaring simulation...

 

http://www.condorsoaring.com/

 

(the site is down right now (12:57 EST) - not sure why)...

Condor looks 30 years old graphics wise though.

Condor looks 30 years old graphics wise though.

 

I still find its graphic engine very capable, and for my tastes, I prefer its visuals to e.g. those of DCS. Not to mention in Condor Soaring you have incredible smoothness and FPS (100 fps on a mid-low end PC)

 

I went up in an AirBorne Edge X microlight today (IRL).  We glided for a while, and even caught some good thermals.  It was great fun.

 

I asked myself how much demand there would be for something like that in X-Plane, and how or even if one could go about making it worthwhile.

 

 

 

I asked myself how much demand there would be for something like that in X-Plane, and how or even if one could go about making it worthwhile.

That's a pretty good question. I have to admit that what I saw in X-Plane till today wasn't very impressive. In fact I have to say that the best light weight aircraft that I found in X-Plane till today is the Aero Boero ( http://store01.prostores.com/servlet/x-planestore/Detail?no=535 ).

 

I think especially the sound effects would play a big role and would probably mean so much work that the whole project would have a hell of a time to get to the break even point, since it would probably be a small niche within the small niche of X-Plane customers.