FSX vs X-Plane 9

[VWE]

Well the other night I was tooling around FSX in an F-18 doing touch and goes at DFW when it hiccuped and I got a really nasty blue screen of joy on my brand new 1 week old 'puter. So after spending a night and day reformating my hard drive, re-installing XP and all my drivers that were not included on various disks I though I'd try X-plane 9 out. Its 11.9 gigs to install it and I was surprized to see just 1 DVD for that install, the package contains 6 DVD's. Included with X-Plane is 60 gigs of scenery, I didn't expect that but then again it isn't a microsoft product. My new 'puter is pretty much a maxed out gaming machine but on FSX I could only crank up the graphics offline, try it online and it would cut my frame rates down to single diggits with graphics turned up high. I've just been flying round today on X-Plane and wow what a difference! Not to mention all the aircraft included... So what does everyone else think about X-Plane or FSX?

[Spikes]

Never heard of Xplane...FSX doesn't run that great on my system...I can turn GFX to highest and only get 30 or 40 frames offline, online is a pain in the arse...

[SD67]

X-Plane!!!

Have you tried the plane maker yet?
If you wish I can custom build some airfoils for your models if you can supply me with the details.
You will get excellent results using both the high and low reynolds number files as it gives the physics engine a better range to work on.
X-plane airfoil maker sucks, I don't recommend it at all.

[Dinan]

Does X-plane have a mossie?

[Gixer]

X-Plane is great, but it really doesn't have the support like FS9 or FSX for addon professional software. PMDG,Level-D,Captain Sim, Wilco Publishing etc don't make aircraft for X-Plane so it's a no brainer for IFR. Then there is the better world coverage by FS9/FSX landscape,terrain,airports etc.

Personally if your into plane design then X-Plane for sure fantastic product.

VFR - FSX graphics are fantastic! (great for IFR as well since the latest service packs)
IFR  - FS9 (currently better support for Vatsim software)

Vatsim for added realism, once you start flying online with real ATC flying offline feels very boring and only good for practicing circuits or getting use to a new plane. Plus MS ATC in FS is terrible!! Radar Contact isn't much better. There is no substitute for real ATC sometimes I even get more jitters flying online via Vatsim then I do real world.

Bascially for the best experience imho, get some practice flying twin props, go online with Vatsim get some hours up,join a Virtual Airline and start a career. Won't be long and you'll be flying 744's in and out of major airports. And hand flying SID/STAR's.

Then again maybe all you want to do is Bush Flying in Alaska. 


Have Fun!


<S>...-Gixer

[VWE]

Does X-plane have a mossie?

Not that I have found yet... so I'll still be flying mid war.

[SD67]

I'm working on a YAK model for X-Plane, it's going to be a while before I can get some of the critical data to make it accurate.
If I can find some critical aerodynamic data for the mossie I might have a go at making one of those too. I'm only using X-Plane 8.something  at the moment, but the model should convert accurately.
Bear in mind, this will not be a swift process unless somebody already has an accurate DXF of similar 3D model I can work from.
In any case I usually still need the critical wing data since most 3D models I have come across lack these finer details.