Hey guys,

Ive been watching and listening to those who use XP-12 as opposed to MSFS2024, and think im willing to take the plunge and try it..

I'm aware each sim has its benefits but from a realism perspective, looks like XP-12 has the edge... I run a home cockpit setup with WinCtrl peripherals, and was wondering if there are any must haves to get (have some extra dosh for this thankfully!) to make the experience a great one..

I'm aware it will take some time to set up but want to do this right and i see form some YT content that XP-12 can look and behave extraordinarily well... my system specs are on the sig

but do have a high end system...

Thanks for any assistance and look forward to this journey!

Cheers

Dug

Welcome to XP12!

I run MSFS2024 as well, but find I love the feel and look of XP12 far more, despite the terrain not being orthophotos (though there are ways to get that too).

Some suggestions I have are to install the latest beta (box on the installer) when installing XP12 and maybe keep it to default only until you get everything configured - there are plenty of default planes that are very nice and I think you’ll find adjusting settings and key assignments very intuitive vs MSFS2024.

Depending on your PC, you may or may not want to use some sort of frame gen for extra smoothness if needed (I use Lossless Scaling off Steam).

Once you start looking at add ons, the free Zibo 737 and LevelUp 737s are very nice (and all free).

I don’t have that many payware jets, but do have the ERJ-175, BAe-146 and 757 for XP12 and enjoy them all.

I’ll let others advise on scenery enhancements as I find the closer I can keep my sim to default the better (same concept as an empty community folder in the other sim).

Must have scenery enhancements are.

Must have scenery enhancements are

Sim heaven, preferably pro

Explain map enhancement, definitely pro for about $40 dollars

Here’s more detailed information as taken from Gemini AI

The X-Plane 12 add-on ecosystem is split between major central hubs, independent developer sites, and utility portals.

Major Community Hubs & Marketplaces

X-Plane.Org (Store & Forums)

The primary hub for the entire platform. The Org Store (store.x-plane.org) host major payware releases (ToLiss, Aerobask, FlyJSim, AirfoilLabs, VSKYLABS). The separate .Org Download Manager/Forums (forums.x-plane.org) serves as the largest repository for free community-submitted aircraft, custom airports, liveries, and Lua scripts.

X-Plane.Org Forum

X-Plane.to

A modern, community-driven file share portal dedicated specifically to free mods, liveries, tools, and regional sceneries with fast downloads and clean categorization.

X-Plane.to

SimMarket & Just Flight

Large third-party flight simulation stores featuring a broad selection of commercial X-Plane 12 airports, aircraft, and utility software.

simMarket

Specialist Scenery & Terrain Sites

simHeaven (simheaven.com)

Home to the essential X-WORLD series. It replaces default auto-gen placement with precise OpenStreetMap (OSM) data and Microsoft building footprints worldwide, fully updated for XP12 3D vegetation and seasonal controls.

simHeaven

X-Plane Scenery Gateway (gateway.x-plane.com)

Laminar Research’s official community project. Thousands of 3D 2D/3D airports built using World Editor (WED) are submitted here and continuously integrated into official XP12 updates.

X-Plane

FlyAway Simulation & Threshold

Great secondary sources for pre-compiled photoreal scenery packs (Ortho4XP tiles) and news on freeware terrain releases.

Fly Away Simulation

Popular Direct Developer Sites

Developer Specialization Focus

ToLiss Airliners High-fidelity Airbus family (A319, A320neo, A321, A330, A340).

Thranda Design General Aviation "DGS" series (Bonanza, Caravan, Wilga, Beaver) with dynamic livery/panel customization.

VSKYLABS Experimental / GA Fast-paced, highly detailed flight model projects (test aircraft, gliders, light GA).

CowanSim Helicopters Detailed rotary-wing aircraft optimized for XP12 flight dynamics.

FlightFactor Airliners Complex long-haul airliners (Boeing 757, 767, 777 v2).

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Sherm

Ill add, no such thing as "essential", add on, depends on how slow you want xplane to run and how much trouble you need. But outside that better pushback doesnt have a great hit.

I second Toliss A320ceo and neo series and the FF 777 is also an incredible aircraft. I am still fairly new to xplane myself but I consider the following must haves at least for me:

Better pushback, Map Enhancement, Simheaven (use the freeware version for now), World Traffic 3 (WT4 is being worked on)

Payware airports:

Anything Nimbus, Shortfinal, X-codr. I also use various DominicDesign, Taimodels, Verticalsim, GloballArt and CFXP addons. The DD KEWR is also a fantastic airport.

If you end up going Toliss, I highly recommend the KOSP sound pack. It is incredible.

IMHO just get the sim and start flying the Default addons. They’re all worthwhile to spend time with

My personal affliction is photoreal, so I’ve spent considerable time / money on regional scenery like Orbx TrueEarth (the Great Britain trio being my fave). There are freeware packs here and there, and of course you can make your own. But “I’d rather be flying”, so I generally buy them one way or another.

Planes…? That’s entirely up to you.

Can’t go wrong with the free Zibo/Level Up 737’s.

My ToLiss A346 runs like a scalded cat - by FAR the best optimized airliner in the sim, and also outperforms many other addons. Only downside is the cost of entry…

For GA, my faves are SimCoders anything, and Airfoil Labs. TorqueSim are also excellent, but do yourself a favor and wait for a sale.

MilJet nod goes to the F-104

Preferred basic helos are the Ubben/Khamsin SA315 or the JRX B407. For complex helos, the JRX MD902 or the XT AW109 (beware the 109 - it’s as complex as an Airbus jetliner!).

But truly, don’t spend any $$ until you’ve been in the sim for several months. That’ll give you a chance to get familiar and do research about what $$ you might want to spend. 🤙

Edited August 25Aug 25 by UrgentSiesta

On 8/23/2026 at 4:07 AM, shermank said:

VSKYLABS Experimental / GA Fast-paced, highly detailed flight model projects (test aircraft, gliders, light GA).

CowanSim Helicopters Detailed rotary-wing aircraft optimized for XP12 flight dynamics.

YES to VSKYLABS - love their ethos & have a good handful of their more esoteric addons. even tho not “study level”, they’re great experiences.

BOO to CowanSim.👎 He’s long abandoned X-Plane and isn’t doing great work in MSFS, either. Avoid unless you get one during one of those $9 sales.

JRX is miles ahead for basically the same Price.

Awesome help fellas! Some really good suggestions here...

I have to see how i can setup my popout screens for my home cockpit... get my sim app pro working with all my peripherals and try and get my head around the general UI... but so far so good as all installed and getting the feel of it...

Early days but im liking it already - this seems to have something gritty about it, as in real? Hmmmm

I fly the Fenix so will be getting the Toilis for this and leave it at that until i see how it all performs... very exciting!

Cheers

14 hours ago, vonduck said:

Awesome help fellas! Some really good suggestions here...

I have to see how i can setup my popout screens for my home cockpit... get my sim app pro working with all my peripherals and try and get my head around the general UI... but so far so good as all installed and getting the feel of it...

Early days but im liking it already - this seems to have something gritty about it, as in real? Hmmmm

I fly the Fenix so will be getting the Toilis for this and leave it at that until i see how it all performs... very exciting!

Cheers

Let us know how you progress!

I like your gritty/real comment - and I keep coming back to XP12 for that reason.

I came flying in on final approach in another sim past completely melted photogrammetry then the plane, despite a good flare and speed, booped down the runway at some impossible angle before recovery.

No, no, no - I did the same landing in XP12 and it was just much grittier and felt very real, just without photorealistic scenery (though as noted above, there are ways to enjoy that in XP12 too).

Enjoy!!!

3 hours ago, Republic DC9 said:

I came flying in on final approach in another sim past completely melted photogrammetry then the plane, despite a good flare and speed, booped down the runway at some impossible angle before recovery.

No, no, no - I did the same landing in XP12 and it was just much grittier and felt very real, just without photorealistic scenery (though as noted above, there are ways to enjoy that in XP12 too).

THIS is among the main reasons XP stays in my rotation (particularly with the recent, substantial performance improvements).

There are some VERY good aircraft addons in MSFS, but when it comes right down to it, none of them challenge me in hand flying the way the top tier addons in XP do.

One area it’d be great to see better/more represented in XP is mil aircraft. Just Flight/Thranda haven’t brought their great Hawk or Vulcan forward from XP 11, so the only worthwhile ones (relative to other sims) are the T-6A II and F-104.

If LR would finish the F-14, I’d be a happy camper!😎

3 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

THIS is among the main reasons XP stays in my rotation (particularly with the recent, substantial performance improvements).

There are some VERY good aircraft addons in MSFS, but when it comes right down to it, none of them challenge me in hand flying the way the top tier addons in XP do.

One area it’d be great to see better/more represented in XP is mil aircraft. Just Flight/Thranda haven’t brought their great Hawk or Vulcan forward from XP 11, so the only worthwhile ones (relative to other sims) are the T-6A II and F-104.

If LR would finish the F-14, I’d be a happy camper!😎

Vskylabs, have continued with their phantom, where holding back because of Laminar, so makes me wonder what laminar is doing havnt mentioned it opin a while

1 hour ago, mjrhealth said:

Vskylabs, have continued with their phantom, where holding back because of Laminar, so makes me wonder what laminar is doing havnt mentioned it opin a while

Yeah - given Huffs background, his Phantom will fit the bill admirably. And I’m sure he’ll “cheat” and give us a carrier hook, too!

Edited August 26Aug 26 by UrgentSiesta

Well so far so good and thoroughly enjoying the journey of x-plane..

As i use a home cockpit setup, im in need of a camera utility to set my views up... what is the recommendation for this one chaps?

I think i can pop out the views on the ToLiss (about to buy it) so all should be good!

Thanks for all the help in this, been a great experience and only getting better! Next as well is to get live traffic... hmmmm

42 minutes ago, vonduck said:

Well so far so good and thoroughly enjoying the journey of x-plane..

As i use a home cockpit setup, im in need of a camera utility to set my views up... what is the recommendation for this one chaps?

I think i can pop out the views on the ToLiss (about to buy it) so all should be good!

Thanks for all the help in this, been a great experience and only getting better! Next as well is to get live traffic... hmmmm

This is what I am quite content using.

https://store.x-plane.org/X-Camera_p_889.html

On 8/28/2026 at 7:44 PM, vonduck said:

As i use a home cockpit setup, im in need of a camera utility to set my views up... what is the recommendation for this one chaps?

Another hearty vote for X-Camera here too. It's tried and true and the developer is very responsive to feedback.