VATSIM on X-Plane 11

[Wojciech Wolny]

Hi,

 

I fly FSX with full stack ORBX, PMDG, AS2016, Drzewiecki Design, some freeware airports. Never had any trouble. But when I started using VATSIM, I also started to have out of memory crashes for the first time (now I understand what everyone was talking about). Decision was made to move away from FSX for good.

Since switching from FSX to Prepar3D is very expensive due to PMDG pricing policy (no transition discount) not to mention that's legally impossible (Funny, is it not? Why do I even care?) due to P3D licensing model, it will be way cheaper and legal :-) to switch to X-Plane.

Few questions:
1. Everyone flying FSX and P3D are using payware or freeware sceneries of their favorite airfields. Are XP stock airfield good enough to use them in VATSIM (I fly Europe destinations)? If not, are there any freeware airfields with real layout? (I fly using Eurocontrol charts and want to keep it that way).
2. I understand I have only one real choice if I want to stay in Boeing family: FF 757v2 ...or should I switch to Airbus? ...or what?
3. How model/liveries matching for other traffic works on XP? In FSX I have few hundreds of them, can I use them in XP? How Do You connect it to XP? I tried but no result :(

 

Regards.

[Bondiblu2]

Hi Wojciech

I was stuck with the same thing: Over the years,  I've purchased so many FSX product and knew that if I made the move to P3D, I'd have to re-purchase most of them - especially PMDG's aircraft - and I have all of them - except the DC-6..  But then I stumbled across XP11 and saw them at the 2015's Fight Sim Conference and thought I'd give it a shot.  I really really like it.  I do mainly long-haul flights, so the A330 from JarDesign, and the 767 from Flight Factor (FF) is really good.  Better, IMO, than any FSX's version (BB, Wilco and Level D).  True,  they don't have as many airfields as FSX - but FSX is more than 10 yrs old - and XP11 is catching - fast!  Also, some of XP11's airfield freeware versions, like TNCM, for example, is nearly as good as  FlyTampa (and I have 90% if their product).  Currently the only reason i return to FSX is to fly the 747.  Period.  I'm quite OK using XP11's 737 .  Once FF releases their A320, I'd have even less reason to return to FSX.  XP11 - and again it's only opinion,  just feels more and looks more realistic than FSX - but of course they're a much newer sim.  So the comparison is almost unfair.  FSX no doubt will always remain the bench mark for everything flight sim.    With regards to your 3rd point - I don't care really about model/livery matching - although other aircraft (landing/taking off/taxiing) looks better in FSX.   Lastly,   FSX has FSInn that I really love.  Getting used to Xsqawkbox has been uphill - and still is.  If PMDG would ever release their aircraft to the XP11 platform, I think I would permanently close FSX.  

Hope what I said helped in some way.  

Warren

 

[Wojciech Wolny]

Hi Warren,

Thx for replay. Yes, it helped :)

It seems like I'm not the only one having the same thoughts. Funny fact is: If PMDG offer transition discount, they would never loose customers like us and X-Plane would be less popular among enthusiasts like us.

Anyway, coming back to VATSIM. From what I understood:
 - out-of-the-box airfields in X-Plane 11 are good enough for VATSIM (proper runways and taxiways) at least for major destinations.
 - FF 757/767 and JD Airbuses are good enough in terms of RNAV capabilities so I can practice real-world approaches based on real-world charts adjusted by vectors from ATC.

Xsqawkbox is a bit... outdated... comparing to vPilot I use - I admit.  Major problem I see is that sometimes planes are taxing above ground level :)

Btw. I'm also waiting for FF A320 to be released.