I used almost all the sims before 2020 came along, and the last one before I jumped to MSFS 2020 was XP. Sure, in the initial days of 2020 we only had the the earlier versions of the default aircraft which were rubbish (although most of us knew we really couldn't evaluate until we started getting higher fidelity aircraft). As 2020 matured and high fidelity aircraft started coming out, and as MS/Asobo also ramped up the fidelity on default aircraft then it was a different story for me. The ground handling was still lacking for me though in 2020, and now with 2024 both flight dynamics and ground handling are stellar, when the sim is paired with properly developed aircraft (be they 3rd party like those from Fenix, PMDG, JustFlight, etc or default like the Cessna 172 G1000, ini A330, and some others).

For me, MSFS 2020 and now 2024 even more, completely satisfies my need for high fidelity flight dynamics, high fidelity avionics/systems, high fidelity visuals, array of choices when it comes to 3rd party aircraft and add-ons ecosystem, array of choices in the default fleet and what's included in the sim, etc, etc.
 

Xplane 12.20 beta atmosphere is incredibly realistic. It just feels alive with proper representation of many cloud formations realistically simulated from stratocumulus to meteorologically correct CB's....all of which have different structures from single cells to large multicell storms...even embedded CB's within stratiform cloud layers. Overshooting tops are simulated even the cirrus cloud shield at the tropopause!! Medium level cloud like AC and AS are properly depicted. It's amazing and very satisfying flying through a frontal cloud band to experience authentic stratiform cloud layers rather than just lumpy cumulus clouds all of the time. Xplane even depicts virga (fall streaks) from cloud bases....just incredible. Cloud turbulence is realistic the severity of which is reflected in the type of clouds you fly through. Light turbulence in stratiform compared to more severe chop in cumuliform clouds...all very realistic. Upper clouds (cirriform) cloud decks are also realistically depicted including cirrus, cirrocumulus and cirrostratus. I love the way the simulator properly emulates the smaller lumpy appearance on the tops of many cloud layers due to convective turnover.
Above all this though is the simulation of actual HAZE... globally represented rather than these highly unrealistic rings of mist or fog around an airfield based on a metar. The atmosphere has actual depth to it....rather than almost complete unlimited visibility all of the time. 

For me I only use XP12. 

I use both, I don't have to give up anything. I like x-plane much more because the Laminar development approach is what I look for in a simulator and because Hot Start is my favourite third party studio far above the rest, without detracting from Torquesim, Toliss and other great studios that make real gems, but I'm not going to stop enjoying Leonardo or A2A either.

@alanw2005

I started with X-Plane in 2017.

Added DCS World.

Added Prepar3D.

Added MSFS 2020.

Added MSFS 2024.

Stopped using MSFS 2020.

Infrequent use of Prepar3D now (+/- 2 addons only)

 

For me, it's not Either OR.

The simulator has always been secondary. It comes down to flying "the best" addon available across ALL simulators.

X-Plane is a great simulator, and you should ADD it to your collection if for no other reason than to expand your perspective AND to have options for when things go haywire. 🙂

13 minutes ago, Franz007 said:

That's pretty much...entirely wrong. The FAA certification process ensures that the simulator meets specific standards for realistic flight dynamics, avionics behavior, and system accuracy. Otherwise you could get GTA V certified with the right hardware.

And that's pretty much wrong, again 🙂 And let's not get into silly extreme examples with GTA V, we are talking about desktop flight simulators here. So read what I wrote again, the *fidelity* of a sim's flight dynamics, systems etc does not weigh on the FAA certification, at all.

Per the FAA requirements which is centered around procedural training, almost all current desktop simulators could get FAA certification if they wanted to. Even P3D, with its FSX-based flight dynamics, has the certification.
 

13 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

I used almost all the sims before 2020 came along, and the last one before I jumped to MSFS 2020 was XP. Sure, in the initial days of 2020 we only had the the earlier versions of the default aircraft which were rubbish (although most of us knew we really couldn't evaluate until we started getting higher fidelity aircraft). As 2020 matured and high fidelity aircraft started coming out, and as MS/Asobo also ramped up the fidelity on default aircraft then it was a different story for me. The ground handling was still lacking for me though in 2020, and now with 2024 both flight dynamics and ground handling are stellar, when the sim is paired with properly developed aircraft (be they 3rd party like those from Fenix, PMDG, JustFlight, etc or default like the Cessna 172 G1000, ini A330, and some others).

For me, MSFS 2020 and now 2024 even more, completely satisfies my need for high fidelity flight dynamics, high fidelity avionics/systems, high fidelity visuals, array of choices when it comes to 3rd party aircraft and add-ons ecosystem, array of choices in the default fleet and what's included in the sim, etc, etc.
 

It's getting there, but for me, there's still too many Tier 1 addons in X-Plane that aren't in other sims, and X-Plane itself is much improved.

I like choices!

1 hour ago, Bobsk8 said:

I have about 600+ hours as a PPL. I have never flown anything in X plane that felt like a real aircraft. 

Then you didn't fly the good ones, Bob!

There are good addons and bad addons in every sim. 👍

2 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

I like choices!

Exactly, I'm got more car racing Sims than I have time to race them all, flight Sims are slowly building up in my collection too so I have no idea where the time is coming from!

It's never a bad thing to have choices, no matter the Sim enjoy what gives you enjoyment.

Been running MSFS and XP side by side since 2004. Back when the titles were FS9 and XP7. 

Choice is always good, and they are both great simulators.

I prefer Asobo offering. But it's more a matter of specific addons than core sim tbh.

Also xp has a free demo. Cost nothing to try it.

3 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

And that's pretty much wrong, again 🙂 And let's not get into silly extreme examples with GTA V, we are talking about desktop flight simulators here. So read what I wrote again, the *fidelity* of a sim's flight dynamics, systems etc does not weigh on the FAA certification, at all.

Per the FAA requirements which is centered around procedural training, almost all current desktop simulators could get FAA certification if they wanted to. Even P3D, with its FSX-based flight dynamics, has the certification.
 

You are wrong. By a big margin.

A FAA certified flight simulator is a training device that meets the rigorous standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in official flight instruction programs. Certification ensures that the simulator replicates aircraft behaviour, instrumentation, and controls with a high degree of acuracy.

1 hour ago, ricka47 said:

When FSX stopped being developed, I tried X-Plane and just couldn't do it. So, I went with P3D until XP11 came out. It was very good, and XP12 looks pretty good as well. But, I switched on day 1 to MSFS 2020 and then 2024 and won't go back to XP unless MSFS stops being developed.

As far as having two sims and keeping them up-to-date, that goes with that - no thanks. One is more than enough!

Yes, having 2 sims is like having 2 wives!!!

1 hour ago, JBDB-MD80 said:

Yawn thread, just fly what  you like. Does it matter?

I have MSFS 2024 and it is always broken. It is a mess.

1 hour ago, jcomm said:

Now I am also considering reinstalling p3d to be able to use again my preferred ever Bell206... DODOSIM v2...

I keep P3D around for the MilViz T-38C & A, the A2A Civ Mustang. Nothing like those available in the other civ sims. And as a result, I haven't replaced the Majestic Q400 because, though close, the FJS Q400 isn't "better enough" (AFAIK 🙂 ).

On the helo side, though, especially with the Bell Jet Rangers, i'm not sure if the DodoSim 206 compares well enough to justify its own simulator (I do stand to be corrected, tho!).

We've got the JRX B407, Nimbus Bell UH-1, and Ubben/Khamsin SA 315 Llama in XP. In MSFS, the Fly Inside B206, Taog's choppers, et al. And in DCS World, well...there's just a plethora of Hi Fi helos.

But, since I still have P3D installed, I might just give the DS B206 a try, just to see what all the fuss is about. 🙂

Edited May 12, 20251 yr by UrgentSiesta

1 hour ago, Bigmack said:

X plane was never my cup of tea. Why would I try it when I have 2024 running and working great for me? I think the OP is trolling for his negative 2024 conceptions.

I have MSFS 2024. It is terrible. The majortity of MSFS simmers are on 2020 and refuse to buy 2024. I am tired of reporting bugs that never get fixed. I bought 2024 on day 1 and it has been nothing but a disappointment.

12 minutes ago, Franz007 said:

You are wrong. By a big margin.

A FAA certified flight simulator is a training device that meets the rigorous standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in official flight instruction programs. Certification ensures that the simulator replicates aircraft behaviour, instrumentation, and controls with a high degree of acuracy.

I get that you dearly wish to equate FAA certification to some great flight dynamics and systems fidelity standard, but sorry nope. I remember @SAS443 has chimed in on this topic before, and looking at his posting history lo and behold I find this thread where you were arguing the same thing and had to be educated by both him and others 🙂 

Here, let me quote some from there for your further re-education: https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/666536-122/page/8/#findComment-5409302

- For the kind of installation XP is certified for - BATD/AATD - flight model is not the focus. ... I could go on, but do not believe that the "flight model" is what makes a fixed base simulator approved by the authorities. Quite blunt: you do not need accurate FM for the items you can log in these things.

- FAA approval does not require "plausible" scenery, ATC, AI traffic, GPS, volumetric clouds, spatial sounds, PBR textures, tire smoke effects, wake turbulence, heat blur, VR, rain/snow, terrain based wind flow ... and so on and so forth. You can have a basic FTD "flight training device" FAA approved that none of us would ever want to own, yet you can log IFR training hours on it. the label "FAA approved" in our context therefore is only trying to suggest super realistic quality and superiority over other, non FAA approved simulators, to excuse the many deficits that has plagued xplane for years. wasn't already x-plane 8 or 9 FAA approved? I, as a real pilot, use x-plane 12 sometimes for what it is, but "FAA approved" is the least of my requirements

- Flight dynamics are not part of FAA certification, so the equation "xplane=accurate flight dynamics=FAA certification" makes no sense.
This false belief that "flight dynamics=serious simulation=FAA certification" continues to spread like wildfire on all the forums instead of being debunked.

- I cringe every time that my fellow X-Plane fans field the "FAA approved" argument as a means to achieve domination in the "sim vs sim" debate ... Ultimately, the "professional" version of X-Plane allows to use X-Plane in a commercial way - to make money with it. Much like the infamous "licensed by Airbus/Boeing" badges that third-party airplane devs like to slap on their models, this says next to nothing about the fidelity or accuracy of the model, it simply states that those companies allow their name to be used to "make money" with it
tl;dr: Don´t use the "FAA approved" argument anymore when trying to achieve my-sim-is-better-than-your-sim dominance - it can be dispelled easily and carries little weight.
 

 

Edited May 12, 20251 yr by lwt1971