X-Plane 11

[ChrisHunt]

I decided to download the X-Plane 11 demo the other day (it took a while). For those not up on the latest X-Plane developments the user interface is very much improved but still not as intuitive as the makers would like to think. There are fewer aircraft that come as standard but those that do are pretty much top notch in most areas and the graphics are a real treat. Scenery is improved and compares well to default P3D or FSX scenery but not so well to enhancements such as ORBX regions. Apparently the X-Plane support community is pretty active and there's add on scenery that much improves on the default. The demo was pretty good but I kept getting graphical glitches and also various twins I tried all suffered from one engine failure when revved up a bit - I had a quick look as to what might be causing it but couldn't be ar*ed to spend too much time on it so I resorted to the VLJ with single engine and that was fine. Having suffered the twin engine problems it was a while before I actually got airborne and the demo ran out of time after about 5 minutes of flight.

On it's own I thought X-Plane 11 might well be worth the investment but with a big announcement about P3D due this year (64bit anyone?) I've now stopped all sim purchases until we get a clear direction on where things are going (apart from Aerofly as that's quite a different approach). If Lockheed can (and do) considerably improve the performance of P3D I'll probably stick with that. It's worth noting that ORBX are not now developing scenery for X-Plane but will do for Aerofly, albeit we're probably many months from that.

[Scorpius]

Good comment Chris. I too tried Xplane but did not like it for the graphics.

I stick with P3DV3 as I use it for keeping my PPL skills up to date. It certainly help me pass my Bi-annual flight exam last week.

I was unaware of a big announcement from Lockheed.

All the best,

Nev

[ChrisHunt]

Thanks Nev. There's a brief mention on the P3D site about a big announcement soon(ish) and given the general trend to 64bit there's an expectation that this is what it will be. Apparently there's also to be big announcements for Aerofly but we'll have to wait a bit longer for that - June to be precise.

I quite like X-Plane but I don't have the time (or inclination to be honest) to support two large scale flight sims and as I've invested in quite a bit of P3D stuff that's where I'll stay for the time being.

[Paul K]

I was thinking about giving the X-Plane 11 demo a try. I particularly like the night lighting, such as runway, taxiway and approach lighting - it looks a lot crisper than P3D. But, as you say, Chris:

... I don't have the time (or inclination to be honest) to support two large scale flight sims and as I've invested in quite a bit of P3D stuff that's where I'll stay for the time being.

I think the same applies to me.

[blanston12]

I usually get X-Plane when the new version comes out, if nothing else to support the flight sim industry, but its never really grabbed my imagination. I already know the keyboard commands for the MSFS derived simulators and most joysticks and controllers you can just plug in and they have reasonable defaults, X-Plane however you have to completely override the keyboard and assign all the joystick controls. I usually don't have the patience to relearn all the controls and go back to what I know.

[Paul K]

Can someone point me to the announcement of the big P3D announcement, please ? Can't seem to find it.

[DaveG]

It's not much of an announcement, but it's on this page: http://www.prepar3d.com/latest-news/

Thanks again for your support and we will see you all in 2017 with some major news!

[Paul K]

It's not much of an announcement, but it's on this page: http://www.prepar3d.com/latest-news/

Thanks again for your support and we will see you all in 2017 with some major news!

Thanks Dave - not very revealing is it. Just reading that page, they say that the team ' is excited to announce the second Hotfix update to Prepar3 v3.4' I wonder if they actually did get excited, jumping out of their chairs and hugging each other. Or did they just say to each other ' That's the hotfix done', and then go home ? More blather, I suppose. Sorry, I'm having a sub-optimal day.

[ChrisHunt]

I like the idea of Major News - always better than General Apathy! And I suppose there might be a Colonel of Truth that LM are about (ish) to release a 64bit version of P3D. Mind you; you have to be careful about which site you post speculation otherwise you may be offered Corporal Punishment as such information is for Private Eyes only.

I think I had better stop now - it's strange where the odd thought can take you. I hope you've surfaced from your sub-optimal day Paul and that you are now happily optimal.

[Vancouver]

Major News - General Apathy, Colonel of Truth, Corporal Punishment, Private Eyes only.

I was about to get all Obersturmbahnfuhrer grammar police re the Colonel/kernel switcheroony thing when suddenly the penny dropped.