X-Plane noob - first questions

[swiesma 625]

Hello guys,

 

I really like to try X-Plane.

What I am looking for is flying airliners. I saw some videos about the Jardesign A320 / A330.

It doesn't look too bad.

 

So here are my questions:

- Is there a weather engine like ASN for X-Plane?

- Is there a good AI traffic tool like MyTraffic?

- Which scenery could you recommend?

- Is the default ATC ok to use?

- Any other "must have" addons?

 

Edit: Another question:

Is it possible to use PFPX and the Jardesign Airbuses together to load the FP directly into the FMC?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Best regards,

Stefan

[flightskyc 256]

So, this is my personal opinion, but..... If I had the option of going back in time and not paying near $120 for that A320 & A330 , I wouldn't. So many quirks, bugs - I've just uninstalled it. But again, that's my personal opinion. I would rather support devs that are constantly improving their products vs churning out product after product that are unfinished.

 

- I would honestly buy IXEG 737. The devs are super, super responsive with investigating bugs and fixing them and if you were spending 60-70$, that would be the aircraft I would buy . It isn't complete yet, but the immersion is outstanding and you know that these devs are going to continue iterating and building until it's perfect.

 

- I use either IVAO or FSGRW  for weather, I believe NOAA (free, is a good plugin too).

 

- Any scenery by MisterX (outstanding freeware). His latest is KBOS, which is a work of art. (you can find much more on x-plane.org forums/downloads area, sort by most downloaded, reviewed etc etc to see some of the top ones). There are countless others (ApilotX Mesh, http://www.spainuhd.es/p/descarga.html (Spain  UHD photoscenery) + I love Tenerife GCXO, 

 

- G2XPL (donationware for unlocked version) (create your own photoscenery). I love this tool, it gives fantastic results like this:

 

 

 

 

 

- I've never used ATC in any simulator other than IVAO/PilotEdge so I can't really comment on that.

[jcomm 5,889]

No weather generator presently available for X-Plane is so complete / complex as ASN for FSX / P3D.

 

The closest you can get is, as typical about many good things about X-Plane 10, freeware - with the NOAA plugin which requires the Python interpreter ( linked in their web site ).

 

The NOAA pugin sets the physical characteristics of weather, not the looks!  For looks you have many options, including freeware and the payware. In the upcoming 10.50 update we're supposed to get winds aloft injcetion by the core X-Plane weather model for the whole World - presently only USA is covered. But NOAA gives you also temp and turb data - you can easily check it against for instance Skyvector.com zones of SIGMET.

 

For scenery, visit:  Simheaven.com

 

Vanilla ATC is X-Plane 10 was also lausy, worst than vanilla FSX / P3d, but AFAIK that's also going to be updated starting 10.50, as well as AI and aircraft types / class at the "Offcial X-Plane Scenery Gateway" airports.

[pilot83 387]

So, this is my personal opinion, but..... If I had the option of going back in time and not paying near $120 for that A320 & A330 , I wouldn't. So many quirks, bugs - I've just uninstalled it. But again, that's my personal opinion. I would rather support devs that are constantly improving their products vs churning out product after product that are unfinished.

 

- I would honestly buy IXEG 737. The devs are super, super responsive with investigating bugs and fixing them and if you were spending 60-70$, that would be the aircraft I would buy . It isn't complete yet, but the immersion is outstanding and you know that these devs are going to continue iterating and building until it's perfect.

 

- I use either IVAO or FSGRW for weather, I believe NOAA (free, is a good plugin too).

 

- Any scenery by MisterX (outstanding freeware). His latest is KBOS, which is a work of art. (you can find much more on x-plane.org forums/downloads area, sort by most downloaded, reviewed etc etc to see some of the top ones). There are countless others (ApilotX Mesh, http://www.spainuhd.es/p/descarga.html (Spain UHD photoscenery) + I love Tenerife GCXO,

 

- G2XPL (donationware for unlocked version) (create your own photoscenery). I love this tool, it gives fantastic results like this:

 

- I've never used ATC in any simulator other than IVAO/PilotEdge so I can't really comment on that.

Nice screenshots! Which clouds textures do you use?

[JLuis 409]

Nice screenshots! Which clouds textures do you use?

 

I believe that is: Skymaxx Pro v3 http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php/skymaxx-pro-p-115?osCsid=cde7fcfa42f0f0a9348c894fb744816b

[swiesma 625]

So, this is my personal opinion, but..... If I had the option of going back in time and not paying near $120 for that A320 & A330 , I wouldn't. So many quirks, bugs - I've just uninstalled it. But again, that's my personal opinion. I would rather support devs that are constantly improving their products vs churning out product after product that are unfinished.

 

- I would honestly buy IXEG 737. The devs are super, super responsive with investigating bugs and fixing them and if you were spending 60-70$, that would be the aircraft I would buy . It isn't complete yet, but the immersion is outstanding and you know that these devs are going to continue iterating and building until it's perfect.

 

- I use either IVAO or FSGRW  for weather, I believe NOAA (free, is a good plugin too).

 

- Any scenery by MisterX (outstanding freeware). His latest is KBOS, which is a work of art. (you can find much more on x-plane.org forums/downloads area, sort by most downloaded, reviewed etc etc to see some of the top ones). There are countless others (ApilotX Mesh, http://www.spainuhd.es/p/descarga.html (Spain  UHD photoscenery) + I love Tenerife GCXO, 

 

- G2XPL (donationware for unlocked version) (create your own photoscenery). I love this tool, it gives fantastic results like this:

 

 

 

- I've never used ATC in any simulator other than IVAO/PilotEdge so I can't really comment on that.

 

Thanks!

The screenshots look superb!

 

The weather engine / depiction topic is a bit of a holdback for me. As this is one of the core things for big airliners and longhaul flights.

 

Is it a lot of work to get scenery like in your screens? Or do you simply install and run it?

The third screenshot looks like Salzburg :-)

 

It is really a pitty that the Airbuses are not good. I love flying the A330/340/350 and Boeings 777 and 787.

I saw that there is an A350 for X Plane but the reviews are so so... ;-/

 

Any comments on this?

[Jean-Jacques 120]

Regarding X-Plane's camera system, it is reasonably good but if you want an advanced camera utility, check X-Camera available at https://www.stickandrudderstudios.com/. The free version offers the user a good flavour of the utility's capabilities while the donation-ware version unlocks all the more advanced features.

 

JJ

[mikealpha 266]

Sounds weird to move to X-Plane for flying an Airbus, shortly before release of the FSLABS A320. IMO, forget anything else regarding Airbus, be it in Xplane or FSX/P3D.

If you like classical 737s, then the IXEG 737 would be a good reason to Xplane.

 

Mike

[Jean-Jacques 120]

For ATC, check version 2 of Pilot2ATC. Free 10-day trial.

 

http://pilot2atc.com/V2Downloads

 

JJ

[jcomm 5,889]

Sounds weird to move to X-Plane for flying an Airbus, shortly before release of the FSLABS A320. IMO, forget anything else regarding Airbus, be it in Xplane or FSX/P3D.

If you like classical 737s, then the IXEG 737 would be a good reason to Xplane.

 

Mike

 

Well, there's actually something even better, but a bit more expensive, in the line of Aerowinx PSX for the 747-400, but for airbuses - Airlinetools A32X

[JLuis 409]

Here my answers:

 

So here are my questions:

- Is there a weather engine like ASN for X-Plane?

Payware:http://secure.simmarket.com/fs-global-real-weather-fs9-fsx-p3d.phtml

 

Freeware:http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/15453-xpgfs-noaa-gfs-weather-real-weather-for-x-plane/

 

- Is there a good AI traffic tool like MyTraffic?

 

Payware: http://jardesign.org/x-life/www/

 

http://store.x-plane.org/World-Traffic-20_p_226.html

 

- Which scenery could you recommend?

 

Freeware: http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/profile/125097-misterx6/content/&type=downloads_file

 

http://rdesignx.weebly.com/

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/profile/284197-axdg/content/&type=downloads_file

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/profile/348816-tdg/content/&type=downloads_file

 

Payware: http://store-x-plane-org.3dcartstores.com/CZST--Stewart_p_288.html

 

- Is the default ATC ok to use?

 

Payware: http://pilot2atc.com/

 

- Any other "must have" addons?

 

Freeware: http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/16270-enhanced-runways-hd-by-flyjsim/

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/22387-real-terra-haze-for-flywithlua/

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/14790-ground-services-pushback-refueling/

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/4930-airport-navigator-plugin/

 

https://www.stickandrudderstudios.com/

 

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

 

Payware: http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php/skymaxx-pro-p-115?osCsid=cde7fcfa42f0f0a9348c894fb744816b

 

http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php/real-weather-connector-p-120?osCsid=04971deeece0f6a9adca228e548b2cb8

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

http://store.x-plane.org/Boeing-767-300-ER-Professional_p_444.html

 

I think this is enough to beginners  :smile:  :smile:  :smile:

[mikealpha 266]

 but for airbuses - Airlinetools A32X

 

looks interesting, no doubt. But are there any reviews, or certification ?

 

Mike

[jcomm 5,889]

It's being used by at least one operator, in Asia, for type rating....

 

I have been trying to get more details, and will certainly give feedback if I get feedback from users / Airlinetools themselves...

 

AFAIK, ground physics are like those of ELITE, extremely simplified, but all flight control laws are simulated.

[swiesma 625]

Sounds weird to move to X-Plane for flying an Airbus, shortly before release of the FSLABS A320. IMO, forget anything else regarding Airbus, be it in Xplane or FSX/P3D.

If you like classical 737s, then the IXEG 737 would be a good reason to Xplane.

 

Mike

 

After reading their forum it seems to be unclear when the version for P3D will be available?!

I do not use FSX.

 

I installed the X-Plane Demo today and made a short flight in the 747.

I really like the graphics (the built in 747 is rubbish though). But I think with some addons the graphics will be still a lot nicer.

 

I am tired of P3D, a new version every week, CTDs, Tweaks, Updates of all kinds... And still having the same issues of the old FSX engine.

 

The smoothness of the X Plane demo was really nice... Smoething you will never have in P3D :-/

[mikealpha 266]

After reading their forum it seems to be unclear when the version for P3D will be available?!

 

The smoothness of the X Plane demo was really nice... Smoething you will never have in P3D :-/

 

I would be surprised if it would take much longer than the FSX version.

Anyway, few weeks ago I have spend some time in a A320 Fun Flight in South Germany. Big Simulator based mostly on real A320 parts, well, and  X-Plane. The FMGS was something between embarassing and unpredictable and that is similar for all Airbus Addons so far.

Save your money regarding XPlane Airbus !

 

I agree regarding the smoothness and Xplane certainly can be fun, especially at night. But almost all planes are twitchy and hypersensitive beyond belief, especially regarding pitch. I rarely need more than 10% of my Yoke elevator range.

Still the weather engine, even much improved with SkyMaxx and Real Waether Engine, is not on par with P3D/ASN. There is next to no support for external hardware (drivers, etc), developers simply do not care. IMO must-have Airliner Addons like FS2Crew do not exist.

 

I was on the way to change to XPlane as well, and have spend a lot of money for Addons. But I'm back with P3D for 90% of my flights.