Anyone tried X-Plane?

[aidanf]

I'd like to try and do some sim flying for those occasions when I can't get it up (oo er missus) but I'm stuck with Apple Macs so MS FlightSim is out for me. I've been taking a look at X-Plane and it seems quite good - I haven't purchased or used it yet, just some queries on the web. I'm being told by those apparantly in the know, that a well designed a/c sim performs more accurately on this platform and now even New Piper are using it for virtual test flights, so it looks good to me. But I now need an opinion from the coal-face (that's you guys!!). have any of you tried it, and if so what are your opinions of it?

[Splat]

I used it to back up my IR training. Comes with my recomendation.

[timmcat]

By the way, saw it in HMV recently in the bargain bin for a fiver..

The specialist flight sim magazines certainly seem to rate it, I tried a demo a while ago and although MSFS 2002 kicks its ass on scenery etc, the actual flight model seemed pretty good (although I speak as one who has never flown anything other than my kids kite).

Tim

[WeatherJinx]

aidanf

'Stuck' with a Mac? No, you are 'blessed' with a Mac! I'm not a flight simmer myself (spend enough of my time with the dirtier and smellier real variety ;)), but you are most certainly not left high and dry by your choice of platform. Indeed, if you have a powerful, top-end Mac, it could be argued that you have even more choice:

1. If your Mac is powerful enough, VirtualPC plus a Windoze partition on your HD will allow you to run MS Flight Simulator.

2. You mentioned X-Plane (http://www.laminarresearch.com) - but have you checked out Fly II (http://fly.godgames.com/) ? It looks absolutely stunning and I am told by those that know, that it flies as good as it looks.

Check out the screenshots here. (http://fly.godgames.com/fly2_screenshots.htm) You can also download the full manual from the site for evaluation purposes.

Good luck! and happy simming.

Jx:cool:

[timmcat]

Never tried Fly II but I'm sure I read somewhere that it has more holes in it than my Grandfathers string vest.. apparantly it's release was rushed by 'the men in suits' and it was not fully developed. There are online patches but again I understand that to download them all without broadband would take an eternity.

Tim

(If I'm wrong, apologies to all in advance)

[18-Wheeler]

I've tried both and find X-Plane better in every way possible than FS200#.
The planes, although they have some odd quirks every now and then, fly much more like a real plane than FS ones do.