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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2016 18:35:53 GMT -5
Steve, I really appreciate your comments and I'll keep watching out while my son, who arrives tomorrow afternoon, is here with me. Small point, the X-Plane 11 team said that they have a few tweeks up their sleeves that might boost performance. I suppose nothing in the update you mention?
Roger
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 7, 2016 19:14:23 GMT -5
Funny you mention performance....I did think everything seemed to run smoother, however, I have never checked FPS in X-Plane as it seems to run very smooth. With this new computer, I've been running FSX with most sliders maxed out...although air/land and sea traffic I still have down around the 20 - 30% levels. I have checked FPS there and have been getting triple digit frame rates. (Big Smile) That of course is just basic FSX-Steam with just a handful of add-on aircraft. So....based on that, I'm assuming my X-Plane has to be upwards of 60+ FPS....or at least it performs like it is. I'll try to remember to find the toggle to turn FPS on the next time I'm in there.
Cheers!
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 9, 2016 17:24:56 GMT -5
Roger, Here's what I've done. When I purchased X-Plane 11 Beta, I received an e-mail informing me that my "key" would also work for the current X-Plane 10. I saw a couple comparison screenshots and version 10 looked pretty nice, so I went ahead and installed it on my machine. I must admit.....I do think there are some nice improvements with 11 Beta....and I like the layout Much better in 11, however, I'm now using X-Plane 10 on a limited basis and I'm starting to like it. I still need to set up my joystick properly....but it's not too bad.
Visually speaking.....I think 11 is better....but I don't have the issues with the night lighting in version 10. Also.....10 comes with a BUNCH of aircraft. I'm still sorting all that out.
Stay tuned..........
Cheers!
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Post by bhk on Dec 10, 2016 1:59:40 GMT -5
I STILL haven't downloaded this yet. Should I?
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 10, 2016 3:04:57 GMT -5
I STILL haven't downloaded this yet. Should I? There have been many computer programs I've tried over the years....some were even Flight Sim's, however, not many could compete with Microsoft etc. However, with that said.....The more I use X-Plane....the more I like. I just wish I didn't have a small fortune invested in FSX. (smile) I just completed about an hour flight in X-Plane 10.....just because I recently installed it and I must admit....there were a couple of WOW moments in this past hour. If it wasn't already midnight...I'd boot up X-Plane 11 and take to the sky's again. (I honestly think 11 is going to be much better than 10) If you compare apples to apples; i.e., Microsoft Flight Simulator out of the box to X-Plane out of the box......X-Plane I think is the better program. (Just my opinion) If you are counting all the developers for MSFS to X-Plane......Microsoft has both the quality and quantity covered over X-Plane....however, some company's like Carenado has both platforms covered. Note:....X-Plane 10 aircraft don't always convert to 11 program. Reading the forums, the folks for X-Plane have changed some of the file formats between the two. (Suppose to make it better.) There are enough aircraft in X-Plane 11 to give you a nice sampling. The glider is a blast, as well as the Cessna 172 and the Beech Baron. So....to answer your question.....I highly recommend giving X-Plane Demo a look. I think you'd like it. It only took me about 10 minutes before I purchased (or pre-purchased) 11...which the key will unlock X-Plane 10 also. (It was kind of a bonus thing.) Cheers,
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2016 6:25:18 GMT -5
Good stuff Steve. What's the spec of your new PC?
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 10, 2016 9:40:04 GMT -5
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 10, 2016 23:11:34 GMT -5
Okay.....I'm going out on a limb here..........BUT.....
I've spent the better part of the day flying around in X-Plane 10. At the end of the day, I think I can honestly say that I'm making the move officially to X-Plane!!
WOW..WOW...WOW!!! I'm so thrilled with how well this performs and how nice it is.
Since the wife and I usually don't exchange Christmas gifts anymore....we usually buy something for ourselves....which my new computer was actually my Christmas present to myself this year....and next....and next....and next. (smile) I did splurge and purchased an add-on aircraft I wanted. Yes....it's for X-Plane 10 only, but I'm hopeful the developer will eventually come out with an update for 11. Anyway...I'm still getting to know the program, and now can also learn a complex aircraft. This should keep me out of trouble until at least the new year. (smile)
Cheers!!
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Post by bhk on Dec 11, 2016 5:42:31 GMT -5
Okay...guess (or "reckon" in Aussie) I'd better get it.
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 11, 2016 9:17:21 GMT -5
Okay...guess (or "reckon" in Aussie) I'd better get it. Growing up in Kansas, I COMPLETELY understand "Reckon" (smile) I think you'll enjoy it Bruce....heck...it's a free trial, what have you got to lose? (Maybe some sleep? ?) I was up until almost 2 A.M., and here it is just after 6 A.M., and I'm getting ready to go at it again. (smile) I love the holiday times!!!!!!!!! There was actually even a couple more "Wow" moments last evening. 1. I decided to do a night flight, and when the program (XP 10) came up....you couldn't see a pixel in front of your face! BUT.........I remembered seeing something under the "View" tab that said....."Aircraft Flashlight." SO...I opened up the view tab and presto......it was like I was shining a red lens flash light that moved with the mouse, however, I could still click the battery and dome light switch to brighten the cockpit. Now is that cool or what? 2. During a morning flight in the Pacific Northwest...(Took off out of Bremerton, Washington...KPWT) I realized that you can actually see the reflections of the mountains along the edges of the waterways....again...Isn't that cool. 3. You can also see the shadows of the clouds while flying.....I think you could in FSX also if sliders were turned up......but the cloud reflections will also reflect off your aircraft when in "Spot" view.....I don't ever recall seeing that before. 4. When I took off out of Santa Monica, CA. airport....I was quite pleased with the city in how it actually looked.....both the commercial area's as well as the residential area's.....nicely modeled. Add in the city traffic which is pretty amazing.....plus the ship traffic and oil rig platforms to the west....again, pretty realistic looking......now add in the ....TRAIN Traffic.....yeah....really cool. Puts a smile on your face every time!!! About the only complaint I have so far...........WAY TOO much Hot Air balloon's and deer!!! Again...all the above is X-Plane 10.....I'll have to try some version 11 today. Cheers!!
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 12, 2016 12:10:07 GMT -5
Last evening & today's flight.
I suppose I perhaps should start a new thread.....I'll give it a thought, however, for now.....
Let me first start by telling you about my flight last evening!! WONDERFUL!!! Still can't get it out of my head this morning......a "Must Do Again Soon" type of flight!!! With that said....I'll then tell you about the "Almost" disaster that just about caused a re-install. You're all smarter than me....but just in case...DON'T DO THAT!!! (smile)
Okay....the flight.
I thought I'd take off out of Innsbruck but needed somewhere to go. Hey...why not Paris.....city of lights. So.....I thought I would depart just before sunset and would get some night flying in to arrive in Paris to view the city lights. I started out fine.....in fact.....the mountains are beautiful...almost photo-real scenery, very impressive. Weather was great too....some clouds but not too bad, however, while I prefer flying at lower altitudes, I had to climb to 9000 to clear the hills and cloud layers. Since it was going to be a 3+hour flight....I knew I would have to stop somewhere along the way and will continue on another time.
Again...wonderful flight!!! As darkness started setting in..(I took off around 17:00).....watching the lights come on below, while having myself to turn on and adjust the instrument panel lighting etc., was just magical!! WOW!!! That is going to be my new norm for flying I believe. It seems X-Plane really shines on the external lighting...hands down over FSX! I also might add that when coming down from altitude, there was a very light cloud layer I went through. The cloud layer was so thin that I really didn't notice it approaching and before I knew it my strobes were REALLY blinding!! (You all need to try that.....again.....hands down realistic!! Really lights up the cockpit as compared to FSX.)
Approaching a large city (all the lights)....and looking for an airport hidden within those lights was a little challenging, but again more realistic than FSX. One of the things that has always bugged me with FSX, is how easy it was to spot the airport. Usually a bright blotch that you could pick out for miles. The very limited flying I did years ago.....I found it was not always easy to spot the airport right off....I generally had to hunt a little. The first few times I went out solo....I was always concerned as my airport (Fallbrook Airpark L-18) was right up against a military base (Camp Pendleton) and I was always worried about missing Fallbrook and wandering over into military airspace. Eventually you learned to pick out your landmarks etc., but it wasn't as easy as FSX. (smile)
Okay...back to the flight.....I think I mentioned that X-Plane has this really neat feature of Aviation Flashlight. I hate having to use a drop down to select stuff....so thought perhaps I could assign a key stroke or something to it....which you can....but where I almost destroyed my X-Plane.
Found the keyboard assignments etc., and found I could actually assign key strokes for not only a red flashlight...but also a white one as well. Also....there were a lot of nifty things I could assign key strokes too...(My Big Mistake) I started assigning stuff.....ctrl-R for red flashlight......ctrl-W for white, etc., and I would get some warnings that those were already assigned to something else....."Do You Want to Overwrite?".....Since it was stuff I didn't use in X-Plane.....why not? WRONG!!! Whatever you do.....DO NOT Overwrite any of the keystrokes!!! OR..........if you do one....check out X-Plane first before doing another.
My issue......the next time I went into X-Plane....it crashed when I tried starting the program. Immediately I figured out what I had done.........however, a new program.....my feeble memory trying to remember where and what menu's I changed......what key strokes I wrote over. Let's just say it took me a while to find them all and cancel them. My X-Plane is now restored without having to re-install. Whew!!!
That about does my rambling for today. Busy day today.....but I'm looking forward to my continued journey towards the city of lights this evening. Again....I'll leave just before sunset and arrive after dark. MARVELOUS!!!!!
Cheers!!
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 15, 2016 3:51:40 GMT -5
Had another wonderful flight this evening. Took off from Paris, and flew to the U.K. (XP-11 Beta)
My Observations....
While crossing the channel, I happened upon a military style ship that had a helicopter platform on the back. Hmmm.....I'll have to take out one of the helicopters one of these days and see if I can actually land there. (My guess is probably so.)
I headed for EGKK.....however, was curious to see if the White Cliffs of Dover was modeled. Hmmm doesn't appear so.....or at least the cliffs were there but green. Perhaps on the final release landmarks will be modeled. Still a beautiful job on flying. I love seeing trains as well as cars, trucks, boats etc., I've only spotted air traffic a few times....usually very high altitude but it is there.
Lastly.....Once I got over Dover, the nearest airport looked to be about 50nm away and it's after midnight so decided I'd practice emergency landings. (smile) I pulled the mixture to kill the engine...dropped one notch of flaps and found a nice looking green grassy area to aim for. Not only did the prop wind down.....had a very nice slapping noise at the end before coming to a dead stop. SO.......that peeked my interest so I pushed in the mixture....nosed the aircraft over to pick up speed and low and behold....the engine caught and away I was flying again. Pretty cool they modeled that.
Alright.........off to bed, more perhaps another time.
Cheers!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2016 15:24:22 GMT -5
Steve, brilliant commentary! I do hope that they do the scenery/landclass to a reasonable standard but I guess that's one of the things that 3rd party developers are good at in any case. It sounds to me that my suspicion that X-Plane 11 will ultimately eclipse FSX is not far off the mark. If it does go that way, I'm sure that the scenery designers and developers will start piling in.
Roger
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 21, 2016 17:19:18 GMT -5
I received a notice this morning that X-Plane 11 will go "live" in next month, followed by release on Steam in February. I must say that I'm using X-Plane 11 more and more all the time, with it being my #1 choice for both night flying and helicopters.
My final thoughts........
It's not quite there yet in terms of replacing FSX....but it's on the move and I think it will eventually take over. While I haven't followed many of the forums thus far...from what I've seen/read it seems X-Plane has a different type of following. Seems more rude if that's possible....but that could just be the forum I've been in. It's more like there isn't many developers out there so they can talk to folks any way they please.
Probably my imagination, but.............we'll see.
Product wise.....again...not the same quality as A2A or RealAir in most regards....but there are a few dandy's out there. I did purchase a VERY nice Robinson R-22 and 300 CBi from a developer called Dreamfoil. (There are some nifty YouTube video's showing these off.) Since both were developed for XP10....there are some little quirks that will need ironing out. But the R-22 I'm VERY happy with as I think it's one of the best simulated helicopters I've seen. The 300 CBi I can get to fly in XP11....but it's not right as yet.
While some of the scenery stuff is MUCH better than FSX out of the box....there are also a few shortcomings....but over all. I think X-Plane would win out in "Out of the Box" comparison. Example: I've already mentioned the cars, boats, TRAINS...etc., however, flying my little helicopter over a big city I was amazed to see some landing pads on some of the larger buildings. Even more surprised when I went to land I saw the air conditioner units on top the buildings had their cooling fans turning. AMAZING!! (smile)
One thing I will mention I've noticed. On an hour flight, occasionally I will have the frame rates drop for a few moments. It will become "stuck"....and jerky almost like it's loading another bunch of textures. Takes less than 5 seconds generally....but it does happen and then everything is back to smooth again.
So....could that be just my install? Perhaps a beta version issue? Who knows. It bugged me at first...but now I've gotten use to it. (smile) Small price for all the other pluses the sim has to offer I think.
Cheers!
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Post by sgtmajor on Dec 31, 2016 11:11:05 GMT -5
Stumbled across this "Out the box" demo flight of New York. Amazing stuff.....although I wish he would have spent a little more time at night. Love flying the night flights!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYUgisgPRsQCheers!!
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