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ErichB

So I bought Xplane 10...

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Finally decided to give XP10 a go, even if just to experience the night lighting.

 

Are there any 'must have' addons for Xplane as there are for P3D (eg, REX, Orbx type enhancements) which I should consider?  

 

One thing Iiked very much was how easy it was to configure the controls and assign buttons.  Haven't actually done any flying yet.  Before I launch into any addon scenery, I think I'll try the Airfoil labs (?) 172 and the IXEG to get a feel for both GA and tubes.  My biggest fear is that I won't wont to go back to P3D after flying GA in XP.  I'm really keen to see how this pans out.

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Welcome to the club Erich!

 

Most "essential" addons for X-Plane are for free! Have a look at the X-Pilot or X-Plane.Org forums and look for PLUGINs. The NOAA Weather plugin comes to mind, for instance.

 

Check AltpilotX for free and great HD/UHD Mesh of a lot of world regions.

 

If you like flying in Spain, the project SpainUHD covers the whole of Spain and weighs a staggering 500GB to have it all! I only have the Canary Islands so far and they look really STUNNING. See here.

 

There's great freeware aircraft, for instance the x737 Project which recently released their v5.

 

As payware addons, one that gets mentioned a lot is SkyMaxx

 

And of course, for planes you already now AirfoilLabs and IXEG. I've also heard very good things about the LES Saab 340 (in case you're into turboprops). FlightFactor also have a very interesting 767 worth checking out!

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Jaime Beneyto

My real life aviation and flight simulation videos [English and Spanish]

System: i9 9900k OC 5.0 GHz | RTX 2080 Super | 32GB DDR4 3200MHz | Asus Z390-F

 

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Finally decided to give XP10 a go, even if just to experience the night lighting.

 

Are there any 'must have' addons for Xplane as there is for P3D (eg, REX, Orbx type enhancements) which I should consider?  

 

One thing Iiked very much was how easy it was to configure the controls and assign buttons.  Haven't actually done any flying yet.  Before I launch into any addon scenery, I think I'll try the Airfoil labs (?) 172 and the IXEG to get a feel for both GA and tubes.  My biggest fear is that I won't wont to go back to P3D after flying GA in XP.  I'm really keen to see how this pans out.

Hi Erich,

 

I am by no means an experienced hand but I can recommend the following:

 

HeadShake: gives you roughly the same effects as EZDOCK..this is for effects only

X-Assign: a marvellous utility, allows you to save up to 3 different control configurations per aircraft...kind of like FSUIPC does as far as controls...does not calibrate, you simply set up your Cessna controls in X-Plane, and go to X-Assign and save it...then you can go to your IXEG, set up the controls in X-Plane and again save in X-Assign....you then no longer have to re-do mixture lever to use as throttle later, etc...it is done.

X-Camera: You probably wont need this but I use it all the time....it is like EZDOCK, you can save any amount of views and assign them to your yoke or joystick, or keyboard press....this is donation ware and well worth it.

XPUIPC: If you use third party configurable stuff like ACARs, etc or even some hardware.

 

I would count those as my must-haves for now....later you may want to check out "AutoGates" as well as weather programs.

 

Have fun!

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X-Camera: You probably wont need this but I use it all the time....it is like EZDOCK, you can save any amount of views and assign them to your yoke or joystick, or keyboard press....this is donation ware and well worth it.

 

But this is in-built within X-Plane 10, no?


Jaime Beneyto

My real life aviation and flight simulation videos [English and Spanish]

System: i9 9900k OC 5.0 GHz | RTX 2080 Super | 32GB DDR4 3200MHz | Asus Z390-F

 

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X-Camera: You probably wont need this but I use it all the time....it is like EZDOCK, you can save any amount of views and assign them to your yoke or joystick, or keyboard press....this is donation ware and well worth it.

As long as 10 stored views per aricraft are sufficient, you can use X-Plane's built in quick-view function and don't need an addon.

Position the view the way you like/need it, and save it with Ctrl+Num0-9 to any number on the num block. You can then assign any joystick button or key to this view, or just use the number on the num block for quick access.

 

For example, I usually use 4 for the pilot's view, 6 for the FO side, 8 for the overhead panel etc.

 

X-camera of course has much more additional features and allows you to store more than 10 presets. But for quick navigation in the cockpit, the built in functionality is sufficient in my opinion.

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Nice thread. I'm also on the fence of giving X-Plane a try. I just can't resist the IXEG 737. This thing look so amazing. I will wait until X-Plane is on sale at Steam. I'm also hesitating a bit because I don't know where to start... But these threads are great to get an idea about how to get going. So thanks to all contributors!


i7-10700K@5.0GHz ∣ Asus ROG Strix Gaming Z490-E Gaming ∣ 32Gb@3600MHz ∣ AMD Radeon 6900 XT

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with each new x-plane update more default 3d airports have been added,the default 3d airports in x-plane look 10 times better than p3d and they are up to date.alot of payware looking airports in the download section of the x-plane 10 forums,a developer called mrx has made alot of great airports,klax,pajn,ksfo,he is currently working on boston.the next 10.50 update will have alot of new buildings

added.i switched to x-plane about 6 months ago and have bought almost every payware aircraft from xplane.org.

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I'm also hesitating a bit because I don't know where to start.

That was my thought too. Learning all the quirks of a new flightsim can be a bit overwhelming. P3D is bad enough with all the tweaking and fiddling.

 

 

with each new x-plane update more default 3d airports have been added,the default 3d airports in x-plane look 10 times better than p3d and they are up to date.alot of payware looking airports in the download section of the x-plane 10 forums,a developer called mrx has made alot of great airports,klax,pajn,ksfo,he is currently working on boston.the next 10.50 update will have alot of new buildings

added.i switched to x-plane about 6 months ago and have bought almost every payware aircraft from xplane.org.

 

Did you come from P£D and if so, do you still use it?

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I have FSX SE, P3D and now XP installed in my machine....I find they all have something to offer, but if I am brutally honest, the reliability of XP sees me using it more and more. I only ever had 1 CTD in it, when I downloaded high resolution scenery for all of Europe, only had 8G of RAM and my settings way too high....not sure what I was expecting.

 

I now have 24G of RAM, I can fly to Aerosoft Heathrow in heavy weather and heavy traffic and it is butter smooth...

 

Yes it does have its Achilles heel....in my view, it is the weather....it has been an aspect long neglected but with the recent releases of payware SkyMaxx Pro and RWC it has made a quantum leap, plus XP version 10.50 is just around the corner, and also promises more weather improvements so things are looking up.

 

It has a massive community and the amount of free stuff is truly staggering. Do a search for MisterX and his scenery....particularly KSFO and KLAX...in my eyes, truly unbelievable...and free.

 

Also, creating your own scenery is far more user-friendly than FSX or P3D...you don't have to create day and night textures, you don't have to create light glow for every light bulb you place in the scenery....you don't have to place a shadow square around an object to give the impression of ambient light....in XP...all you do is add a light pole....that is it...the sim will take care of the rest...no gimmicks, no tricks, you wont crash into invisible objects when taxying.

 

So don't be afraid of giving it a go...you can have a whole new SIM set up for a small fraction of the price that it would cost you to purchase any other SIM, and the 64bit power is there to be used, and there is no law that says you cannot have XP as well as FSX or P3D and enjoy them all.

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One thing I do not like about XP is the way clouds are depicted - it just doesn't look realistic.   At least in the screenies I've seen.   Does anyone use REX for XP - looking for the REX Soft Cloud look.


I have FSX SE, P3D and now XP installed in my machine....I find they all have something to offer, but if I am brutally honest, the reliability of XP sees me using it more and more. I only ever had 1 CTD in it, when I downloaded high resolution scenery for all of Europe, only had 8G of RAM and my settings way too high....not sure what I was expecting.

 

I now have 24G of RAM, I can fly to Aerosoft Heathrow in heavy weather and heavy traffic and it is butter smooth...

 

Yes it does have its Achilles heel....in my view, it is the weather....it has been an aspect long neglected but with the recent releases of payware SkyMaxx Pro and RWC it has made a quantum leap, plus XP version 10.50 is just around the corner, and also promises more weather improvements so things are looking up.

 

It has a massive community and the amount of free stuff is truly staggering. Do a search for MisterX and his scenery....particularly KSFO and KLAX...in my eyes, truly unbelievable...and free.

 

Also, creating your own scenery is far more user-friendly than FSX or P3D...you don't have to create day and night textures, you don't have to create light glow for every light bulb you place in the scenery....you don't have to place a shadow square around an object to give the impression of ambient light....in XP...all you do is add a light pole....that is it...the sim will take care of the rest...no gimmicks, no tricks, you wont crash into invisible objects when taxying.

 

So don't be afraid of giving it a go...you can have a whole new SIM set up for a small fraction of the price that it would cost you to purchase any other SIM, and the 64bit power is there to be used, and there is no law that says you cannot have XP as well as FSX or P3D and enjoy them all.

 

Sounds good Will..  Thanks for your views.

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I ran all the sims in parallel, XPX,FSX, and P3d. Eventually though I found myself firing up XPX more often than the other two as XPX matured and more 3PDs started offering more tweaks & additions. Now I honestly never even fire up FSX or P3D as both seem so dated now.

 

I finally have my ATC with RC4 and AI using X-life. 

Ground support via my ground handling plugin.

FSGRW, weather connector, and Skymax for clouds/weather.

TerraHaze.

Lots of quality AC available now.

My regions are populated with accurate airports with many of them payware quality.

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I ran all the sims in parallel, XPX,FSX, and P3d. Eventually though I found myself firing up XPX more often than the other two as XPX matured and more 3PDs started offering more tweaks & additions. Now I honestly never even fire up FSX or P3D as both seem so dated now.

 

I finally have my ATC with RC4 and AI using X-life.

Ground support via my ground handling plugin.

FSGRW, weather connector, and Skymax for clouds/weather.

TerraHaze.

Lots of quality AC available now.

My regions are populated with accurate airports with many of them payware quality.

Thanks. I fly the PMDG 737/777 almost exclusively these days and only on VATSIM as that for me is what makes the sim truly immersive. What I'd like to do is alternate my PMDG flying with the IXEG 737 on the VATSIM network.

 

Are there any good AI packages/model matching sets for XP to use with VATSIM?

 

Cheers

erich

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I jumped too from P3d to XP and really happy I did... (had xp since 7, but never get into it) at the beginning is not eyecandy, but once you get into some addons, its amazing.

 

 

Great Freeware/Donationware:

http://simheaven.com/

if you use external monitors: http://xhsi.sourceforge.net/   and   https://www.siminnovations.com/  (Air Manager - Payware)

free advanced FMC    http://www.x-fmc.com/

Mesh V3  http://www.alpilotx.net/downloads/x-plane-10-hd-mesh-scenery-v3/

Plugins that might come handy: http://www.xpluginsdk.org/projects.htm

XOrganizer it will help you organize scenery order properly . http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/31085-xorganizer-windows/

x737  http://www.eadt.eu/index.php?new-x737-version-5

Real terra haze

L-410 http://x-plane.hu/L-410/

XPUIPC (theres a new version for IXEG) http://tosi-online.de/XPUIPC/XPUIPC.html

 

Payware: my personal list in order:

 

IXEG 737  http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php/take-command-ixeg-737-classic-p-122

SkymaxxPro V3 http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php/skymaxx-pro-p-115

Rotate MD80 http://store.x-plane.org/Rotate-MD-80_p_441.html

Saab 340  http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php/take-command-saab-340a-p-100

Airfoillabs 172 http://store.x-plane.org/Cessna-172SP-Skyhawk_p_401.html

 

Its a lot of info. time and patience, and you'll be there soon enjoying X-Plane.

 

Good Luck

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