X-Plane, Microsoft Flight Sim

Thr-Bird · Post by **Thr-Bird** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:21 am

X-Plane (I have a Macintosh computer)/ Microsoft Flight Simulator

Are these computer "games" realistic enough to be helpful in flight training?
I suppose for instrument approaches?

kzcvtm · Post by **kzcvtm** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:37 am

X-Plane is used in TC approved sims that I have used. MS Flight Sim X is good but requires a lot of video mem and overhead if you really want to use it to it's fullest.

Reality-wise, both are good.

My $.02 worth.

Thr-Bird · Post by **Thr-Bird** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:57 am

X-Plane is used in TC approved sims

Very interesting... MS flight sim won't work with Mac. I'll consider to get a copy of X-plane seems like a very good program.

LAX · Post by **LAX** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:42 am

I can't speak to much for X-plane but MSFS would deffinitly be a decent instrument proc trainer. You can actually just use the actual CAP/LO charts etc and fly some pretty realistic approaches.

kilocharliemike · Post by **kilocharliemike** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:26 pm

why wont fsx work on a mac?

im asking because i am considering a mac and i was told it (fsx)would run if you get something that runs windows (i forgot the actual details... boot camp maybe?).

am i being duped?

thks
KCM

Thr-Bird · Post by **Thr-Bird** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:56 pm

I think it works if you install Windows on your Mac, there were some reviews on the internet that said it worked but had a few bugs. I'd say you should investigate more. I tried X-plane on my Mac and it works great, it seems to me that the program is overall better than MSFS but i could be wrong.
I have a Mac since last year and I will never go back to PC.

Walker · Post by **Walker** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:06 pm

I have both macs and PCs... as for running FSX on your apple you will be able to but it will involve some monkeying around.

HOWEVER having used all the sim products out there, X-plane is HANDS DOWN the best app on the market. The application uses real time physics models, is far more realistic in the realms of control and instrument procedures, WAY more aircraft available (which are free btw,) and has a plethora of other goodies such as the ability to design/ modify existing or your own aircraft, airfoils etc... Want to put a PT-6 on a Katana, well just punch in a few numbers and presto there ya be....
You can use X-plane in a sim in Canada (granted the "certified" version of the software is a tad more pricey.) you will find FSX under the "games" category of Microsoft's website.

THEICEMAN · Post by **THEICEMAN** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:37 pm

Are these computer "games" realistic enough to be helpful in flight training?

The basic FS2004 or FSX is very useful for IFR
-Holding patterns
-Approach
-ADF tracking
-VOR tracking

Maybe also for applying multi-theory?

renfley · Post by **renfley** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:03 pm

What TC approved Sims use Xplane?

tvguru · Post by **tvguru** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:23 pm

renfley wrote:What TC approved Sims use Xplane?

http://harvsair.com/photos/details.php?image_id=1451

wxnut · Post by **wxnut** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:18 pm

THEICEMAN wrote:
Are these computer "games" realistic enough to be helpful in flight training?

The basic FS2004 or FSX is very useful for IFR
-Holding patterns
-Approach
-ADF tracking
-VOR tracking

Maybe also for applying multi-theory?

And complex concepts like Level D simulations of the 767, 737, 747's all available as addon's get 85% of the real thing in the game.

How to use IRS Nav's, FMC's, VNAV, LNAV, work the over head... and all the other stuff...

Aside from basic VOR work... if you know you're going to be sitting in a 767 ground school class... hit up one of these level d addons and impress your instructors

THEICEMAN · Post by **THEICEMAN** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:21 pm

wxnut wrote:
THEICEMAN wrote:
Are these computer "games" realistic enough to be helpful in flight training?

The basic FS2004 or FSX is very useful for IFR
-Holding patterns
-Approach
-ADF tracking
-VOR tracking

Maybe also for applying multi-theory?
And complex concepts like Level D simulations of the 767, 737, 747's all available as addon's get 85% of the real thing in the game.

How to use IRS Nav's, FMC's, VNAV, LNAV, work the over head... and all the other stuff...

Aside from basic VOR work... if you know you're going to be sitting in a 767 ground school class... hit up one of these level d addons and impress your instructors

I have the 767 level-D...

But in all fairness.....the FMS they give you is no good!

Working with the basic essential IFR skills is far more important in the beginning then the level-D...

For the training stage, the 767 level-d is useless....
students should spend their time working on flying skills not learning on how to work an IRS navigation system!

worry about it when you trainign on type not learning how to fly!

sstaurus · Post by **sstaurus** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:32 pm

I always wondered how in FS2004 I could take a 172 and fly to 20,000 ft...

wxnut · Post by **wxnut** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:39 pm

sstaurus wrote:I always wondered how in FS2004 I could take a 172 and fly to 20,000 ft...

rofl - the physics are completely wrong.

Iceman ... you fly 767 or have been apart of it's ops before? cause i've given it to a few 67 pilots i know and they seem pretty glad with the way they've managed to simulate it.

I guess yea... but if you know how to fly it doesn't hurt to understand way b4 gs class what's happening ... like why do you have to apply fuel when N2 reaches 18% ... why not be ahead right?

Good point though ! you can never reach realism in a sim.

Cheers

C-GPFG · Post by **C-GPFG** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:10 pm

renfley wrote:What TC approved Sims use Xplane?

The PFC MFD at Toronto Airways uses Xplane...

THEICEMAN · Post by **THEICEMAN** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:34 pm

wxnut wrote:
sstaurus wrote:I always wondered how in FS2004 I could take a 172 and fly to 20,000 ft...
rofl - the physics are completely wrong.

Iceman ... you fly 767 or have been apart of it's ops before? cause i've given it to a few 67 pilots i know and they seem pretty glad with the way they've managed to simulate it.

I guess yea... but if you know how to fly it doesn't hurt to understand way b4 gs class what's happening ... like why do you have to apply fuel when N2 reaches 18% ... why not be ahead right?

Good point though ! you can never reach realism in a sim.

Cheers

I was not referring to realism. The Level-D is super! Don't like the fms they give you though.

Just don't think it's the best for beginner in-flight training?

wxnut · Post by **wxnut** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:37 pm

oh now i read you

yea ... definately not for beginners no no ... lol

clubzed · Post by **clubzed** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:09 pm

Hi Y'all

I'm a recent convert from FS2004 to X-Plane because my PC had a meltdown. It's a GREAT flight model and platform for future aircraft. I use an Intel Mac, 2.1Ghz, and 2G of Ram (I didn't eat for 6 months but they are cheaper now - stupid me!!).

My only issue was with the 'look' of aircraft in x-plane that is, until I discovered the B757 under development by the xplanefreeware (XPFW) team. Do a search in YouTube under "b757 beta4" and see what you think (it's in Continental livery) - it's amazing and a huge leap forward for the x-plane community.

I registered as a 'beta tester' to get access to the 'Skunk Works' section of xplanefreeware.net and was able to download it. It hasn't been officially released yet as a finished product but it's incredibly close (3d cockpit, amazing airframe detail, proper leading edge slats and flaps, spoilers, reversers, detailed undercarriage, sounds and spinning turbine fan blades!!) and my framerate didn't take a dive.

I don't want to expose my Mac to any 'nasties' by running FS2004 or FSX on a Windows platform via Bootcamp so I'm sticking with X-Plane. I'm running 8.64 for now until X-Plane9 has settled down a little but version9 looks great.

Big thanks to the XPFW team and to X-Plane for taking on Microsoft and providing a great system in it's own right.

The Clubbstah