Dominic Smith

Aircraft Review: Beechcraft Bonanza G36 by PAE By Jack Thompson Introduction Introduction & History Ah, the Beechcraft Bonanza, an aircraft that needs no introduction for anyone who’s spent time around general aviation. The Bonanza has been soaring through the skies since the late 1940s, and for good reason. It’s fast, sleek, and dependable, designed to offer pilots a bit of fun and a whole lot of performance. In fact, I first flew a Bonanza back in the early ‘eighties, and let me tell you, it’s the kind of plane that sticks with you. Over the years, the Bonanza has evolved through several models, but the G36 is one of the standouts. Introduced in 1968, this six-seater with its IO-550 engine packs a punch and delivers a pretty solid flying experience. And with the addition of the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit in 2005, the G36 has managed to stay right up to date, unlike my fashion sense! Whether you’re looking for a versatile utility aircraft or something that can take you from one end of the country to the other in style, the Bonanza has always managed to deliver. Documentation & First Impressions For those who take the time to read, the G36 comes with some handy documentation. You’ve got a profile chart from the American Bonanza Society and the performance section of the pilot’s handbook, which is a nice touch. There’s no full manual, but if you’ve flown a Bonanza before, you’ll likely know your way around. With all that out of the way, let’s see how PAE’s version of the G36 holds up in X-Plane 12. When you first fire up X-Plane, you’ve got four variants to choose from: normally aspirated and turbocharged versions, each with or without tip tanks. So, whether you’re planning short hops or longer cross-country flights, there’s a variant to suit your needs. For the liveries… well, there are just three to choose from (plus a paint kit), one US-registered and two European options. Not bad, but I have to say, there’s no Aussie livery! We might be standing upside down here in Oz, but don’t forget about us next time, eh? Exterior Model & Texturing When it comes to the exterior, the G36 Bonanza is immediately recognisable, and that’s a good start. The shape, the lines, it’s all pretty much there, and it gives off the right vibe from the moment you see it in X-Plane. The landing gear, in particular, stands out with some well-executed texturing, showing real attention to detail in places that matter. From what I’ve experienced while testing out the G36 over my home airport is that the overall proportions are solid, and while there’s room for a bit more polish in the finer details, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this plane looks like a Bonanza should. The empennage and wings all look the part, and sure, a few small tweaks here and there wouldn’t hurt, but nothing that detracts from the overall visual appeal. In flight or sitting on the ramp, the aircraft gives you that classic Bonanza presence. For those looking for a familiar and iconic GA aircraft, PAE's model does the job. With a bit of refinement in future updates, it could really stand out even more, but as it is, it’s more than capable of delivering a satisfying experience. Interior Model & Texturing Stepping inside the G36, I was greeted with a cockpit that felt familiar, and that’s exactly what you want from a model like this. The general layout is spot on and while there are some areas that could use a bit of extra detail, the overall design gets the essentials right. The seats look good and match the real-world photos pretty well, though they do have a slightly rigid appearance (if you have back issues, bring a cushion). There’s not much in the way of animations beyond the rear doors, but once you’re settled into the cockpit and focused on flying, the interior more than does the job. In all, it feels like home. The panel itself is nicely textured and really does give off that Bonanza vibe. Sure, there’s always room for improvement, like the yokes, which are a little shinier than I remember in the real thing, but it’s not something that’ll break the immersion. The rudder pedals although detailed, could be a tad bigger, but unless you’re staring directly at them, it’s a minor thing. In short, the interior captures the essence of the G36. It’s got the right feel, and with a bit of refinement, it could really shine. As it stands, it’s a solid starting point that’ll keep most pilots, me included, happy. Avionics & Systems One of the standout features of this G36 is the avionics. You’ve got a slightly souped-up version of the Laminar G1000, complete with a custom startup that adds a bit of extra immersion. For those familiar with the G1000, you’ll feel right at home, nothing too fancy, but it’s intuitive and gets you flying without fuss. Some of the circuit breakers are functional, which is a neat detail, though not all of them are. But honestly, the core systems you need for a solid flight experience are well-represented here, and they mirror the real aircraft’s layout quite closely. It’s not the deepest systems modelling you’ll find, but for what’s on offer, and for the price, it more than gets the job done. Flight Dynamics Now, here’s where this G36 really shows its true colours, the flight dynamics are an absolute treat. I took the Bonanza for a spin from Kempsey to Port Macquarie, and let me tell you, it handled like a dream. Whether you’re cruising over the red centre or flying along the coast, it’s got that snappy, responsive feel you’d expect from a Bonanza. From takeoff to landing, it just feels right. The power settings are spot on, give or take a smidge of manifold pressure here and there, but nothing that’ll make you sweat. Takeoff is straightforward, with the rudder offering just the right amount of authority without feeling like you’re wrestling a croc. The ailerons and rudder are linked beautifully, so keeping the G36 in check through steep turns or a chandelle is a breeze, 45, 50, or even 60 degrees, it holds steady like a true workhorse. Stalls are recreated well, with the customary buffeting and wing drop, giving a realistic feel during those moments. In cruise, the G36 remains steady and responsive, handling beautifully through steep turns or more complex manoeuvres. The power settings are accurate enough, and the plane feels like it’s in its element whether you're making small adjustments or just enjoying the ride. When it came to managing the power and speed for approach, I had no trouble. With half flaps and the gear down, it settled comfortably around 110 knots, just a touch higher than the real thing, but nothing that’ll pull you out of the experience. All up, the flight dynamics are the star of the show. Whether you’re doing a quick hop between bush strips or tackling something more challenging, the G36 feels natural. If you’ve flown a real Bonanza, you’ll feel right at home, and if you haven’t, this will give you a solid taste of what it’s like! Night Lighting The night lighting is solid overall. The panel is nicely illuminated, and you’ve got a few switches and knobs to tinker with, so you can set it up just the way you like it. The cabin lighting, though, is a bit on the dull side, especially when compared to some of the other GA aircraft I’ve flown. A touch more wattage wouldn’t hurt! The exterior lights are spot on though and really get the job done. Sound When it comes to sound, PAE's G36 does a pretty good job, especially where it counts. The engine sounds are absolutely top-notch. That throaty IO550 roar is music to the ears, walk around the plane and you’ll hear all the right notes. From the muffled hum behind the engine to the deep rumble up front, it’s clear the developer nailed this part. Inside the cockpit, the engine sounds are close enough to the real thing, especially at idle, and once you push the power up, it delivers that satisfying growl. The auxiliary fuel pump sounds a bit tinny, but it gets the job done. Open the pilot-side window, and you’ll even get some wind noise, though there’s a bit of a delay with that, which makes you wonder if the wind’s just catching up with you! The other sounds, switches, flap motors, and landing gear are functional and do the job, though they don’t quite have the unique Bonanza character just yet. The landing gear sound could use some tweaking, as it’s a bit loud in comparison to the rest, but once you’re in the air, it’s not something you’ll dwell on. All in all, the sound package is solid where it matters most. The exterior sounds, in particular, are fantastic and really add to the immersion. With a few updates to the interior sounds, this could easily become a standout feature. Final Thoughts At the end of the day, this G36 Bonanza brings plenty to the table for sim pilots. It’s fast, responsive, and has that lovely balance of performance that’ll keep you grinning whether you’re cruising over the outback or weaving through some tighter bush strips. There’s still a bit of room for polish in the modelling and sound department, but what’s here lays a solid foundation. The engine sounds really give this plane a lot of character, and the flight dynamics make it a joy to fly. If you’re after a piston single that’s not a Cirrus and carries that classic Beechcraft charm, this Bonanza ticks all the right boxes. And with a few updates down the line, there’s no doubt this aircraft can grow into something even more special. As it stands, PAE’s G36 is a versatile, fun aircraft, and it’s well worth adding to your X-Plane hangar. ________________________ Beechcraft Bonanza G36 by PAE is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Beechcraft Bonanza G36 Priced at $29.99 Features X-Plane G1000 enhanced to show Annunciators in the PFD and custom Start up sequence Working Circuit Breakers Animated Doors VR Compatible PBR Materials Custom Sounds Rain / Defroster on the Windshields Avitab Integration - Tablet to Enable and Disable The Plane has been tested and it matches the POH performance numbers for the LOP settings. Requirements X-Plane 12 Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Download Size: 606 MB Current version: 1.1 - June 10th, 2024 Review System Specifications AMD Ryzen 7 5800X – 32GB RAM - Nvidia RTX 3080 – Windows 11 __________________________________ Scenery Review by Jack Thompson 30th September 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: KBOI - Boise Air Terminal XP12 by Verticalsim By Dennis Powell Introduction Idaho, long known as the Gem State, boasts scenery that truly lives up to its name. With rugged, majestic mountains, rivers with challenging rapids, and lakes that are a fisherman’s dream, the landscape is the real gem of the state. Boise, the capital, is in the southern part of Idaho, where agriculture plays a key role, and is served by the airport we’ll be exploring today. This joint-use civilian and military facility also serves the Idaho Air and Army National Guard. KBOI is Idaho's largest and busiest airport, serving just over 2 million passengers in 2022, more than all other airports in the state combined. Verticalsim includes not only Boise Air Terminal but also the detailed representation of the National Guard side of the field. The civilian side features the airport terminal and the headquarters of the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), while Gowen Field is home to the 124th Fighter Wing, flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog. The airport features two runways: 10L/28R, which is 10,000 feet long, and 10R/28L, just shy of that at 9,763 feet. Runway 10R/28L is equipped with ILS/DME, while both have VASI systems to aid in landings. There’s also a helipad, H1, which measures 50 by 50 feet, perfect for rotor heads like me. Verticalsim has recreated many of the airport’s unique features with impressive detail on both the civilian and military sides, using a variety of custom buildings and objects. You can even spot the area where firefighting aircraft load up, with fire retardant spills replicated on the ramp. Installation Process The package is quite large at 1.8 GB, but once downloaded and extracted, it was a simple drag-and-drop into my custom scenery folder. Although the scenery requires the SAM 3 suite to animate the jetways, the airport will still load and function without it. No online activation was required for installation. Documentation Verticalsim provides an 8-page PDF that explains the installation process and outlines the key features of the airport. It also covers known issues with the scenery, along with contact and licensing information. This PDF is the only documentation included with the package; no charts or navigation aid information are provided. Exploration Walkthrough For this review, I’m using Ortho4XP and X-World America. These addons help show both the surrounding area and how the supplied ortho at the airport blends in. That said, the colouring of the supplied ortho is a bit different from the wider area, and it only extends to the airport perimeter. Keep in mind, the quality of the ortho can vary depending on the source used. When I mention the quality of the orthos here, I’ll be referring specifically to those included with the scenery package. At high altitude, the view of the airport closely resembles what you’d see on Google Earth. This is largely due to Verticalsim’s use of ortho photos for the ground cover. While I appreciate the accuracy these photos bring to textures and ground markings, they often come with a drawback, and this scenery is no exception. As you get closer to the ground, you’ll notice that the ortho photos haven’t been adjusted to remove time-sensitive elements like shadows, parked vehicles, or other temporary objects. Some of these vehicles, especially parked cars, are covered with 3D models, but others, particularly cars that were moving when the photo was taken, are not. This has been a common issue with Verticalsim sceneries, and it applies to Boise here too. Runway & Taxiways For the runways, taxiways, and ramps, it seems Verticalsim used ortho photos as a guide, placing polygons over the top to replicate surface textures. As with their previous airports, all the surfaces where aircraft move are given a transparent texture with a polygon overlay. This was common practice before X-Plane 12, when different textures were required for runways. One unique feature is on the ramp near the NIFC, where fire retardant spills are replicated both through the ortho photo and a custom polygon. By using ortho photos as a guide, the custom markings align well with those at the real airport. However, one small detail I noticed during taxi testing is that not all the taxi lines match up perfectly. It’s a minor detail and easy to overlook at an airport of this size. Another observation is that some of the runway edge lights are placed right in the middle of the taxiway leading off the runway. Ground Textures & Foliage Ortho photos cover the entire airport, not just the runways, taxiways, and ramps. The ground cover, along with trees, bushes, and other plant life, is also part of the ortho photos, with 3D trees placed in the appropriate spots. The ground cover looks accurate and blends well with the surrounding autogen just outside the airport, unless you notice the 2D trees beneath the 3D ones, which usually only becomes an issue for helicopter pilots flying very low. As for the 3D trees, they are custom objects that appear to move with the wind and change with the seasons. After checking the overview in WED, it seems the trees are placed as individual points, not as area forests. I have to give Verticalsim credit here: the trees on the airport don’t include the random palm trees often seen in X-Plane’s autogen foliage. Kudos for that. Signage & Navigation Aids As is the norm for an airport of this size, it has plenty of signage for both the runways and taxiways. The taxi and runway signs are clearly visible and accurately marked. Some are even enhanced with painted markings on the taxiways directing you to the runways and parking areas. The airport has a tower frequency, so AI planes would be able to use the airport if it weren’t for the use of transparent textures for the runways and taxiways. Boise features a VOR station on the eastern edge of the field, and while flying my Cessna 172, I was able to tune into the signal, which it tracked very accurately. The airport is also equipped with ILS, but I didn’t test that feature, as I was flying VFR for much of this review. Main Airport Buildings Starting with the terminal, it’s well-rendered with 3D detail and really does resemble the main terminal at KBOI. There’s no visible interior, even when flying “dangerously” through the building. Other notable structures on the civilian side include the National Interagency Fire Center, cargo terminals, hotels, restaurants, hangars for various tenants, and a large multilevel parking garage. All are rendered in 3D and look sharp and highly detailed. On the military side, the Air National Guard hangars really stand out. The entire National Guard base is represented, not just the hangars. Even the Army National Guard buildings are included, along with some of the old World War II temporary barracks that somehow became permanent fixtures on many U.S. bases. However, the use of orthos does bring a few drawbacks. A few of the buildings, particularly on the military side, are only partially 3D, with sections left as 2D ortho photos. In some cases, buildings are just 2D photo representations with no 3D models over them at all. This isn’t noticeable if you’re flying a fixed-wing aircraft and sticking to the runways and taxiways. But for rotor heads like me, it’s a glaring issue that sticks out like a sore thumb. Ground Clutter Ground clutter, both 3D and 2D, is abundant at Boise. On the civilian side, you’ll find plenty of vehicles, including baggage carriers, cars, trucks, and the usual assortment of cones, barriers, dumpsters, and waste cans. Over on the military side, the clutter takes on a more tactical feel, with tanks, A-10 Warthogs, and other military hardware scattered around. Despite all this, not a single person is visible anywhere in the scenery. It feels like everyone took a lunch break and left the airport at the same time, giving the place an eerie vibe, like the lights are on, but no one’s home. Having an airport of this size completely to yourself feels a bit unsettling. Surrounding Area Depending on your scenery source, both default and custom, the package blends quite well with the surrounding area, although there is a noticeable boundary where the airport ends. This isn’t unique to Verticalsim; all X-Plane custom airports have this issue, so it’s not a major concern. Even when using X-World America and an ortho tile of the area, there aren’t any custom features that are specific to Boise. For example, I couldn’t find the Capitol Building, even though Boise is the state capital. Anything unique to Boise can only be found within the airport itself. Night Lighting When I first started making airports, the temptation to make them stand out like neon signs was hard to resist. But after watching tutorial videos by Jan Vogel, I learned that airports are almost like black holes in their surrounding areas. Verticalsim nailed this part! The airport doesn’t stand out at night, except for a few features like the runway, approach, and taxi lights. They’re all visible, but not overdone. The same goes for the ramp lighting, it’s subtle and effective. Many buildings, along with the hotels and restaurants, have lit signs, which add a nice touch. One standout detail is the use of yellow lights for the parking lots, representing the sodium vapor lights that I remember Idaho using in the 1970s. The airport beacon sits atop the tower and can be seen for miles, but the tower itself lacks any noticeable night lighting. Overall, the night lighting is well done and successfully captures the feel of a midsized airport. Performance Impact In the past, a scenery package from Verticalsim would really put a strain on my computer. However, after upgrading my motherboard, processor, and RAM, I was able to achieve respectable frame rates with this scenery. On the military side of the field, I was getting frame rates in the high 30s, though they dropped to the high 20s on the civilian side. I’m not sure what caused the difference, as both sides contain a lot of detail to render. I’m running an NVidia RTX graphics card with 12 GB of video RAM and 32 GB of system RAM, so I’d consider my machine to be pretty robust. For anyone using an older machine with less RAM or a weaker graphics card, Boise might significantly impact your performance. To enjoy the scenery, I’d recommend at least 16 GB of RAM and a graphics card with 8 GB of VRAM. Conclusion Overall, I’d say this is a fantastic airport. It’s not too big, not too small, about the same size as my home airport, KBTV, and similar in that both are joint civil and military airports. There are so many extras, like military vehicles and aircraft, and the fact that the entire airport is represented makes it well worth the price of just under $15 USD. The use of ortho photos has its pros and cons, but overall, especially for fixed-wing pilots, it’s not a deal breaker. There are a few small tweaks that could make this airport truly shine, and luckily, it’s accessible in WED for anyone wanting to fix the minor issues or add some people. Even though it’s a bit outside my usual flying area, I might just add a cat and duck for personal use later. If you’re really into bush flying, this airport is a perfect gateway to Idaho’s backcountry, where you can regroup and enjoy a bit of civilization before heading out into the wild of Idaho. ________________________ KBOI - Boise Air Terminal XP12 by Verticalsim is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: KBOI - Boise Air Terminal XP12 Priced at $14.99 Features 2021 Airport layout PBR Ground Textures Sam Custom Highly detailed jetways Animated Vehicle traffic 4K HD Textures Highly Optimized Accurate 3D models of terminals, hangars Commercial Grade 0.5ft resolution Aerial Imagery HDR night Lighting Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.8 GB Current version: 1.0 (September 9th, 2024) Review System Specifications AMD Ryzen 5 7600X – 32GB RAM - Nvidia RTX 2060 12GB – Windows 11 __________________________________ Scenery Review by Dennis Powell 27th September 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: PASI - Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport XP12 By Northern Sky Studio By Dominic Smith Introduction Everyone has a bucket list, right? After all, you only live once! One of the top items on mine is a visit to Alaska, specifically the Inside Passage, even if the name does raise a few smiles (I’m looking at you, Mrs Smith!). One of my favourite airports in this breathtaking region is Sitka. I first discovered the area back in the days of X-Plane 8, through the legendary Tom Curtis and his scenery packages Inside Passage and Final Frontier. A lot has changed since then, with even the default X-Plane terrain now offering a far more convincing environment. But whenever I see new scenery for this area, whether in the file library or the store, I can’t help but remember Tom’s fantastic work. So, when I spotted a new version of Sitka, this time by Northern Sky Studio, I knew I had to check it out. If you’re not familiar with Northern Sky Studio, you’re missing out as they create some of the best small airport sceneries for X-Plane. Their rendition of Sitka comes packed with high-resolution ground textures, custom runway textures, detailed building textures, PBR effects, custom 3D vegetation, updated lighting effects, and even an optional custom Ortho4XP tile for the surrounding area. If that’s not enough for you, well, I don’t know what is! Sitka Airport The real airport is named after Sitka's former mayor, Rocky Gutierrez (and no, he wasn’t a boxer!). It features a single paved runway, situated on a causeway that extends from Japonski Island. The runway, designated 11/29, has an asphalt surface and measures 7,200 by 150 feet (2,195 x 46 metres). The airport includes a single terminal with a jetway, offering year-round air service by Alaska Airlines, with seasonal flights provided by Delta Air Lines' regional affiliate, Delta Connection, operated by SkyWest Airlines. In addition to the terminal, the airport hosts hangars and offices for local air traffic control, the Civil Air Patrol, and various private enterprises. The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka is also attached to the airport for its helicopter operations, although their rotary-wing aircraft seldom use the runway for takeoffs and landings. The airport’s location comes with its share of safety hazards, including ocean waves washing over the runway during storms, high winds due to its exposed position, and large flocks of birds living nearby. These factors combine to make Sitka Airport one of the ten most thrilling landing experiences in the world. Installation As has become the norm with sceneries from Northern Sky Studio, installation is straightforward. Once purchased, download the 2.2GB file, unzip it, and place the newly created “PASI_Northern_Sky_Studio” folder into your Custom Scenery directory. The included documentation recommends downloading and installing not only the optional photographic ortho tile of the area but also X-World America by simHeaven and Global Trees from Orbx, all of which I did for this review. There’s no need for third-party launchers or online activation, making it an easy and hassle-free process, unlike some sceneries I’ve come across recently. First Impressions Having lived in Scotland for most of my life, there’s something very homely about Alaska. For me, it’s the remoteness, the idea that if you wanted to escape the world, it wouldn’t be too hard to do. Of course, Alaska’s landscape dwarfs that of Scotland in size, but the ruggedness and sheer beauty of the topography are strikingly similar, and that’s what makes Sitka such a great starting point for your adventure. The only thing you need to decide is which direction you want to take. Default X-Plane 12 does a reasonable job of recreating the airport, the town, the jetties, and the numerous small islands scattered around, but with Northern Sky Studio’s scenery installed, everything is elevated to a whole new level. And it’s a big level at that. Perhaps the most noticeable difference, particularly from above, is the edited coastline and water bodies. X-Plane’s default coastline and its rendering of small islands can be quite poor in places, to say the least, but here, everything is vastly improved. When you combine that with the photographic elements, both included and optional, the results are simply stunning. Closer to Home As you descend, Japonski Island and the custom mesh of the main runway come into view, really showcasing the slightly elevated terrain. While X-Plane’s default mesh captures this to some extent, the custom mesh here makes it far more pronounced. Thanks to the high-resolution photographic tile, both clarity and detail remain impressive, even when viewed relatively close to the ground. When you combine that with X-Plane 12’s incredible volumetric water, it’s as good as it gets, well, almost. Runway & Taxiway Textures As is typical with sceneries from Northern Sky Studio, the custom ground textures around the airport are excellent. The transition between these and the larger photographic elements is seamless, with none of the abrupt texture changes you might notice in other sceneries. Situated close to Sitka Sound, the runway shows signs of environmental weathering, such as cracks, along with rubber marks and oil stains left by aircraft. These details are even more pronounced on the airport apron, adding to the overall realism. Signage & Foliage Northern Sky Studio uses their own custom 3D signs, which are both crisp and easy to read. Personally, I find the use of default X-Plane signs in custom "payware" sceneries a bit off-putting, so I really appreciate it when developers go the extra mile and include details like these. Complementing the 3D signs are a few 2D elements, mostly found on the taxiways and apron. As for the foliage, Northern Sky Studio has included custom volumetric grass, carefully placed trees, and shrubbery, all of which enhance the scenery without overdoing it. I mention this because, given the location, it would be easy to go overboard with grass and trees, which could negatively impact framerates or VRAM usage. Fortunately, the developers have been quite disciplined in this regard, balancing realism with performance. Airport Perimeter For me, the difference between a standout scenery and a merely good one often comes down to the small details, and this is another area where Northern Sky Studio excels. It’s those little touches that make a scenery feel alive, and Sitka is no exception. Along the shore and around the airport perimeter, you’ll find small huts, aircraft floats, logs, windsocks, and other minor elements, all of which help bring the scene to life and elevate the overall experience. Airport Buildings In addition to the main terminal (which we’ll cover shortly), the scenery includes several key buildings such as the U.S. Coast Guard building, the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Aero Services, an Alaskan cargo building, Alaska Seaplanes, and a FedEx facility. Each of these buildings features excellent 3D modelling and texturing, with the latter enhanced by PBR effects, adding a layer of realism to the overall environment. Ground Clutter & Vehicles No scenery is complete without ground clutter, and you’ll be pleased to know that Sitka has plenty! Scattered around the airport are numerous small items, including cones, pallets, ladders (even stepladders), fire extinguishers, cargo containers, trailers, and much more. Alongside these static elements, there are also the usual animated airport vehicles we’ve come to expect, such as luggage carts, tugs, and tankers, adding life and activity to the scene. Terminal Building As with most airport sceneries, the terminal building is one of the main highlights, and it’s wonderfully recreated here. The 3D modelling is of an exceptionally high standard, as is the texture work. The painted wooden exterior features plenty of suitable weathering, giving it an authentic feel. The welcoming airport sign and the see-through windows, offering a glimpse of the modelled interior, add to the realism. Upon entering the terminal, you’re greeted by a distinctly Alaskan theme. Above you, various wildlife trophies (beautifully modelled), along with maps, posters, and local artwork, create a welcoming atmosphere. These are of good quality and remain sharp, even when viewed up close. Adding to the scene are numerous 3D models of passengers going about their business, along with airport staff, a signature feature of Northern Sky Studio. There’s also an inviting dining area, perfect for grabbing a bite before your flight. The waiting area, like the diner, features plenty of seating, along with a few ATMs and boarding pass machines. If you’re heading somewhere remote, now’s the time to take out some cash, it could come in handy if you need to bribe a bear! Sitka As you leave the airport, the town of Sitka comes into view once again. The custom autogen and photographic tile work seamlessly together, bringing this small town to life. Despite the limitations of X-Plane’s default scenery, I’ve always found the area around Sitka reasonably beautiful. But with this rendition by Northern Sky Studio, everything is taken to a whole new level. The varied custom autogen and high-quality photographic tile combine to create an environment that is extremely pleasing to the eye. The seaplane base, piers, and numerous jetties, which were already reasonably detailed in the default scenery, are even more impressive here. The custom autogen extends beyond the John O’Connell Bridge, which links the airport to Baranof Island, and into the town itself. Here, you’re greeted by a mix of residential and commercial buildings, offering a glimpse into the town’s character. Beyond this, the autogen ends, but the surrounding mountains and forests continue, maintaining the natural beauty of the area. Night Lighting The dynamic lighting at Sitka Airport is very well done, with just the right balance, not too bright and not too dim. Achieving that perfect middle ground is harder than you might think, but Northern Sky Studio has nailed it here. Both the runway and taxiways are well lit, as are most of the main airport buildings. The interior of the main terminal looks particularly inviting at night, though I do wish we could do something about the bear and moose heads, the fish, on the other hand, I can live with! Performance I was very pleased with how the scenery performed on my system. Frame rates, even at night, remained in the upper forties to lower fifties, with most sliders set to maximum (except for antialiasing). Of course, performance is always system dependent, so your experience may vary depending on your X-Plane setup. Conclusion Northern Sky Studio has once again delivered an exceptional scenery. Not only do you get an incredibly detailed rendition of Sitka Airport, but also a highly detailed representation of the town. Add the optional photographic ortho tiles, and it becomes a totally immersive experience. At just $15, the scenery offers incredible value for money, especially considering the level of detail on offer. Whether you're familiar with the area, as I was, or simply looking for a new place to explore in X-Plane, Sitka by Northern Sky Studio is a must-have addition to your virtual world. Just be prepared to bribe those bears! ________________________ Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport by Northern Sky Studio is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport Priced at $15.00 Features The most detailed replica of airport buildings and vehicles High-resolution ground textures / Custom runway textures High-resolution building textures Compatible with all X-Plane 12 features: Weather effects Native jetways PBR materials New lights 3D vegetation Ortho4XP tile (link in the manual): X-Plane 12 bathymetry X-Plane 12 DSF sound High resolution elevation Edited orthophotos Edited coastline and water bodies All materials created for full PBR Shading and occlusion effects on all airport buildings Custom orthophoto for the airport and surrounding areas World Traffic 3 compatible Compatible with Ortho4XP and default mesh Requirements X-Plane 12 (Not for XP11) Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 2.2 GB Current version: 1.0 (September 2nd, 2024) Review System Specifications Intel i5 12400 – 32GB RAM - Nvidia Asus RTX 4070 – Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit __________________________________ Scenery Review by Dominic Smith 13th September 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Hi copacetic4, I appreciate your perspective, and I agree that X-Plane has excelled in areas like aircraft modelling, system depth, and flight dynamics. These are certainly core strengths that attract dedicated simmers. However, as Stephen mentioned, there’s evidence of stagnation or even a decline in the user base and third-party support, which raises concerns about the platform's future growth. While I can’t point to hard data either, anecdotal evidence from the departure of third-party developers and dwindling activity in the community suggests that these issues are indeed very real. You mentioned that some developers leaving the platform weren’t that invested, and while that may be true in some cases, I can tell you firsthand that fewer developers mean fewer add-ons, which weakens X-Plane's overall appeal, especially when MSFS is attracting so much attention with both high-quality aircraft and visuals (although the former is debatable). Whether or not these developers were key players is beside the point, the loss of third-party investment in any form is a signal that X-Plane needs to adapt to maintain competitiveness. Regarding the importance of true-to-life scenery, I understand it may not be at the top of your priority list, but I would argue that visuals are not just about aesthetics; they’re essential for attracting a wider audience and keeping the simulator competitive. As Stephen pointed out, X-Plane is currently a “minnow against a whale” when compared to MSFS, which has drawn in a massive user base thanks to its eye candy. Sites like the Org, as you know, rely on viewing numbers and traffic to stay afloat, which is a crucial point. If X-Plane remains a niche product, there’s a very real risk that communities like the Org might struggle to survive, simply because there won’t be enough interest to cover costs. Maintaining a “niche” might appeal to some, but the reality is that X-Plane needs to attract a broader audience to stay relevant in the long term, and true-to-life scenery plays a significant role in that. Laminar doesn’t need to outspend Microsoft MSFS, but it does need to stay competitive. Like it or not, eye-catching visuals attract people, and without that, X-Plane risks being left behind. As a slight side note, before jumping in and criticising Stephen's article with comments like, "It seems you spend time writing and sharing your monthly recaps knowing that some readers won’t agree with your analysis," it would be more respectful to first acknowledge and thank him for the time and effort he has put into the article. A bit of appreciation goes a long way! Cheers Dominic

Utility Review: xOrganizer v3 XP12 By DrishalMAC2 Introduction: xOrganizer is a fantastic tool for X-Plane 12 users, streamlining the often complex task of managing and organizing scenery, plugins, scripts, and preferences. This versatile tool is not just a time-saver but also a powerful resource for enhancing the overall X-Plane experience. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user with a large collection of add-ons, xOrganizer is indispensable. In this review, I will explore the various features and functions of xOrganizer and discuss how it can optimize your X-Plane setup. X-Plane 12 Integration: Since its release, xOrganizer has been continually developed to keep pace with the latest advancements in X-Plane, including the transition to X-Plane 12. This update has introduced significant improvements, ensuring that xOrganizer remains compatible with the latest scenery formats, plugins, and aircraft. The tool now offers enhanced support for the new X-Plane 12 features, enabling users to manage and organize their content more efficiently. Version 3.4.0 Update: The latest update to xOrganizer, version 3.4.0, released on August 10th, 2024, introduces several new features and improvements that further enhance its functionality and ease of use. A notable addition is the Scenery Coverage Function, which provides users with a comprehensive overview of their installed scenery. This feature is particularly useful for ensuring that your scenery tiles cover the intended areas without gaps or overlaps. Additionally, the update introduces the capability to always rescan tile coverage, ensuring that your scenery information is up-to-date and reflects any recent changes accurately. The update also introduces a Details and File Structure Window, giving users a clearer view of the contents and organization of their scenery and plugins. This feature is invaluable for those who need to keep track of complex file structures or troubleshoot issues. Coupled with the new Move Scenery Function, users can now easily reorganize their scenery files without risking disruption to their scenery_packs.ini order. Another handy addition is the ability to list the file structure of any folder within X-Plane, which simplifies the process of identifying and managing files within large directories. The Tooltips with Notes and Version Info feature is another welcome addition, providing quick access to important details about your scenery and plugins, helping you stay informed about the versions and specific notes related to each item. Furthermore, the update includes a Search Aircraft Livery function, making it easier to find specific liveries across your aircraft collection. This is particularly useful for users with extensive custom liveries and aircraft models. In addition to these new features, version 3.4.0 includes several improvements and small bug fixes that enhance the overall stability and performance of xOrganizer. These enhancements make an already powerful tool even more user-friendly and efficient. Installation: Installing xOrganizer is straightforward. After downloading it from the X-Plane store, simply extract the files and place them in your preferred location. The user-friendly interface ensures an easy start, and the comprehensive documentation provides all the necessary instructions, making it accessible for even beginners to quickly master. Scenery Management: One of the most challenging aspects of managing an X-Plane installation is maintaining the correct order of scenery packs in the “scenery_packs.ini” file. xOrganizer excels in this area by automatically sorting scenery based on several criteria, including continent, country, and region. This feature alone is a game-changer for users with extensive scenery collections, as it prevents conflicts and ensures that everything loads in the correct order. Additionally, xOrganizer offers a fantastic map view of your airports, orthophotos, and other scenery, providing a clear overview of what you have installed and where it's located. This map feature is particularly useful for identifying coverage gaps or areas where mesh might overlap, helping you fine-tune your setup for the best performance and visual quality. It has proven invaluable in my experience for seeing which Ortho4XP tiles I have already downloaded and whether they cover the airports I plan to fly to or from. Plugin and Script Management: Managing plugins and scripts in X-Plane can be tricky, especially when dealing with potential conflicts between them. xOrganizer simplifies this process by automatically sorting plugins by type and function and checking for missing or outdated plugin XPL files. This systematic organization significantly reduces the likelihood of conflicts and ensures that your X-Plane runs smoothly and error-free. X-Plane Preferences and Aircraft Management: xOrganizer extends its functionality beyond just scenery and plugins, offering sophisticated tools for managing X-Plane preferences and aircraft. The software allows you to create multiple user profiles, each tailored to different flying experiences, such as specific setups for VR versus traditional monitor use. This flexibility enables you to optimize X-Plane’s performance and reduce load times by disabling unnecessary content. This is particularly beneficial for users with lower-end systems or those with extensive add-on libraries. For instance, you could have two shortcuts on your desktop for X-Plane: one configured for VR and another for use with a regular monitor. Extra Functions: xOrganizer is packed with additional features that significantly enhance its utility: Scenery Checks: Automatically checks the contents of your scenery packages for missing or outdated libraries and identifies duplicate or conflicting airports. Plugin Checks: Ensures that all necessary plugin files are present, significantly reducing the risk of crashes. Backup System: Creates backups of critical files like the “scenery_packs.ini”, X-Plane preferences, and logs, which are crucial in case of issues. Profiles: Allows you to set up different profiles for scenery, plugins, preferences, and aircraft, enabling you to launch X-Plane with your selected profile tailored for specific types of flights. General Maintenance: xOrganizer can check for bad shortcuts, symlinks, and junctions, which are often overlooked but can lead to significant issues if not managed properly. Performance Optimization: One of the most appreciated aspects of xOrganizer is its ability to enhance X-Plane’s performance. By enabling users to disable content that isn't required for a particular session, xOrganizer can significantly reduce load times and improve frame rates. This feature is particularly valuable for users operating X-Plane on systems with limited resources or for those aiming to maximize performance during complex flights. Ease of Use: xOrganizer’s design is well-suited for both novice and seasoned X-Plane users. Beginners will appreciate the automated sorting and straightforward interface, while advanced users will value the detailed control and comprehensive information available for every aspect of their X-Plane setup. The tool’s ability to offer precise details about the contents of X-Plane files ensures that users can effectively manage and troubleshoot their setups. Conclusion: In summary, xOrganizer is an indispensable tool for anyone dedicated to their X-Plane 12 experience. Whether you’re managing scenery, plugins, scripts, or preferences, xOrganizer streamlines the process, ensuring that your simulator runs smoothly and efficiently. With its extensive feature set, including automated scenery sorting, plugin management, and performance optimization, xOrganizer is essential for both beginners and advanced users. If your aim is to enhance your X-Plane 12 experience and minimize time spent on repetitive tasks, xOrganizer is certainly worth the investment. ________________________ xOrganizer v3 XP12 is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: xOrganizer v3 XP12 Priced at US$15.00 Features xOrganizer helps you manage your: Scenery Plugins/scripts X-Plane preferences Aircraft xOrganizer does this by helping you with: Maintaining the right scenery order (scenery_packs.ini) Overviews, especially handy if you have collected a lot of stuff Preventing conflicts between scenery packages and between plugins/scripts Setting up X-Plane for a specific type of flight, but also for instance for VR versus monitor setup Increase X-Plane performance and load time by disabling content Managing scenery One of the more difficult tasks managing your X-Plane installation is keeping the right order for your scenery. xOrganizer uses several methods to automatically determine the type of scenery and help you create the right order. For beginners AND advanced users Although xOrganizer helps beginners a lot, xOrganizer is also a powerful tool for advanced users. Anything you can do manually can be done with xOrganizer, but much quicker and easier! Furthermore, xOrganizer offers a lot of detailed information on the contents of X-Plane files. Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows only (Windows 10 and above) Current version: 3.4.0 (August 10th 2024) Review System Specifications Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32GB DDR5 RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Utility Review by DrishalMAC2 30th August 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: EDVK - Kassel Airport XP12 by Aerosoft By Dominic Smith Introduction Kassel Airport, opened in 2013, serves the city of Kassel in the German state of Hesse. Primarily catering to business and general aviation, the airport hosts a variety of training facilities including a flight school, an ultralight flying school, and a parachuting school. The airport comprises of a single runway, designated 09/27, which is 2,500 meters in length and 45 meters in width. Accompanying the runway is a passenger terminal that provides basic amenities such as car rental desks and a small selection of shops. In the absence of jet bridges, passenger boarding is managed through buses and walking. It's a bit different, but it works well. This depiction of Kassel-Calden by Aerosoft promises to offer a detailed and authentic representation of the real airport, boasting a high-resolution, custom-coloured orthophoto at 20cm per pixel and a specially designed mesh by those 'elevation masters' over at Maps2XPlane. The scenery is further enhanced with PBR ground textures, HDR night lighting, and strategically placed vegetation. Installation The installation process for Kassel Airport employs the Aerosoft One launcher, which, from previous experience, is somewhat convoluted and cumbersome. The launcher requires multiple steps, including logging in and entering a serial number, which some users may find tedious. Once installed in your Custom Scenery folder, the scenery occupies just under 3GB. However, the absence of any documentation is rather notable. While this is a relatively affordable scenery as things go, when other developers include manuals at this price point, it’s fair to wonder why Aerosoft hasn’t followed suit. First Impressions As has become customary with my scenery reviews, I like to start from above to assess the overall coverage of the package. The included photographic tile of the German countryside surrounding Kassel Airport is very well done. As described, the "custom coloured orthophoto" is executed nicely and maintains its quality even as you get closer to the ground. The use of custom autogen, including houses, roads, and trees, with the photographic ortho tile works seamlessly and does a great job of bringing the German countryside to life. However, the scenery’s boundaries become apparent a few miles out, where the detailed ortho tile transitions to X-Plane’s less refined default textures. Approaching the runway, the custom mesh by Maps2XPlane becomes noticeable, particularly with the elevated runway banking. It's subtle but works well. Runway Textures The textures for the runway are well implemented, offering plenty of clarity and definition. The use of PBR effects is particularly impressive, especially at certain times of the day when the light interacts with the surface. Whilst some areas of the runway may appear overly clean, the numerous rubber marks from aircraft tires help to mitigate this, keeping the overall appearance balanced. As with the runway, the taxiways feature the same level of detail, though without the aircraft tire marks (after all, whoever lands on taxiways?). Foliage & Signage The areas around the runway feature volumetric grass and scattered wildflowers, with shrubs and bushes lining the service roads. Thanks to the extensive photographic tile, the transition from the airport to the countryside is both smooth and natural. While this vegetation enhances the scenery's appearance, it's worth noting that the volumetric grass areas were the only places where I observed a slight dip in frame rates. The airport signage is, in my view, a step up from the usual default Laminar offerings, featuring high-quality custom 3D signs that include realistic wear and tear. The ground textures also exhibit accurate 2D signage, closely mirroring what is found at the actual airport. This attention to detail extends to both aprons, one situated in front of the passenger terminal and the other near the general aviation facilities. Main Terminal Area The main terminal features above-average modelling and good texturing that effectively portray its real-life counterpart. The developers have utilized PBR on some of the textures, particularly on the main windows, which enhances its overall appeal. The welcoming text on the side of the terminal is a nice touch, as is the small play area off to one side (though it’s a shame I’m too old to enjoy it). Despite these positives, there are a few areas that could be improved. The absence of any 3D people creates a somewhat deserted atmosphere, which detracts from the terminal's appeal, even for a quieter airport. Additionally, the lack of an interior is a bit of a letdown, even at this price point. While I understand that this scenery is priced at the lower end of the scale, many developers have upped their game in recent years by including interiors even at this price. That said, the absence of an interior might have been a deliberate choice by the developers to avoid impacting performance. In front of the terminal are three car parks, two of which are populated with an assortment of 3D vehicles. Overall, these look good and are a significant improvement over the flat 2D representations commonly seen in older photographic sceneries. Behind the terminal, heading towards the runway, is the fire station, which is both well-modelled and nicely textured. However, like the terminal, it suffers from a lack of life and activity. The absence of fire engines and personnel makes it feel somewhat sterile. Including these elements would significantly boost its realism and appeal. Perhaps something for the developers to consider in a future update? Nearby, a small viewing area with a couple of benches, surrounded by custom vegetation, offers a place in which to view incoming and outgoing aircraft. GA & Business Area A significant portion of the airport is allocated to general aviation (GA) and business flying, featuring an array of hangars, maintenance buildings, and a dedicated control tower. The approach roads to this area are lined with trees and bushes, creating a welcoming scene. The buildings are well-modelled, with some nicely executed texturing. The use of PBR on several buildings, particularly the prominent Piper building, is especially effective. However, despite these positives, the absence of people remains a consistent issue, detracting from the overall sense of realism. Numerous static aircraft are strategically placed on the aprons. While these aircraft are, according to the product description, appropriate types for this airport, they are default X-Plane models with US registration numbers, which is a bit of a letdown. Ground Clutter & Vehicles The usual small items of ground clutter you’d normally expect to see, such as cones, bins, ladders, and more, are unfortunately missing. However, you do get a few fuel tanks and skips to brighten your day. The scenery employs a variety of standard airport vehicles to populate the area, which helps to add a sense of activity and life to the airport. That said, the absence of marshallers (unless using SAM), or any other people for that matter, makes these vehicles feel somewhat out of place. Old Airfield Adjacent to the new Kassel Airport lies the now defunct old airfield, which is primarily used for vehicle storage. Although no longer in operation, its original buildings, such as hangars, maintenance facilities, and even the old control tower, still stand. Calden One aspect of the scenery I particularly appreciated, and mentioned earlier, is the inclusion of the nearby town of Calden. The developers could have easily limited the photographic ortho tile to the immediate vicinity of the airport, but instead, they chose to extend it to encompass this small town. They also went the extra mile by including regional autogen, complete with roads and buildings typical of a German town! Night Lighting The night lighting at Kassel Airport includes some excellent highlights, particularly the custom animated approach lights that create an inviting path for landing after dark. The Piper building is also effectively illuminated, making it stand out during the night. However, the lighting at the main terminal leaves room for improvement. The glass areas of the terminal appeared dull, and the streetlamps outside the entrance were noticeably unlit. Given the terminal's prominence in the scenery, the lacklustre lighting feels like a significant oversight and a missed opportunity. The town of Calden, however, fares much better. PBR Effects As I alluded to earlier in the review, the use of PBR truly shines (pun intended) at certain times of the day, particularly with the runway and taxiway textures. X-Plane really has come a long way! Conclusion Kassel Airport by Aerosoft offers an enjoyable and immersive representation of both the airport and its surrounding area, including the nearby town of Calden. The scenery benefits from accurate modelling, effective use of PBR textures in certain areas, and well-executed night lighting, all of which contribute to a convincing and satisfying experience. While there are a few areas that could be improved, such as the absence of 3D people, the somewhat lifeless feel of certain sections, and the lack of documentation, the overall package provides good value for its price. For those who enjoy exploring smaller regional airports without the hustle and bustle of larger hubs, Kassel Airport is a worthy addition to the X-Plane world. ________________________ Kassel Airport XP12 by Aerosoft is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Kassel Airport XP12 by Aerosoft Priced at $14.99 Features Detailed replica of the airport of Kassel-Calden Custom colored orthophoto (20cm/pixel) Custom Mesh by Maps2XPlane incl. Ortho4XP patch PBR ground textures HDR night lighting HD hand placed vegetation Adapted roads and autogen Custom animated approach lights Matching static aircraft Full SAM compatibility (SAM3 plugin required) Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11.52 Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Installation via Aerosoft One necessary Current Version: XP12 1.0 (August 12th 2024) Review System Specifications Intel i5 12400 – 32GB RAM - Nvidia Asus RTX 4070 – Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit __________________________________ Scenery Review by Dominic Smith 29th August 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12 by Northern Sky Studio By Felicity Smith Introduction Welcome to my review of Northern Sky Studio's Lanai Airport for X-Plane 12. Located in Maui County, Hawaii, Lanai Airport (or Kahua Mokulele o Lāna‘i, as it is sometimes known) is a mere 3.4 miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Lanai City. Having begun regular operations in 1930, to date, it is the only airport serving the beautiful island of Lanai, the sixth largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the chain. Up until quite recently, Lanai Airport was served by two commercial airlines, Mokulele Airlines with the Cessna Grand Caravan 208EX and Ohana by Hawaiian with the ATR-42. However, due to Hawaiian Airlines suspending the Ohana service, Mokulele Airlines is now the only commercial airline that flies in and out of Lanai. X-Plane 12 Update This updated version of the scenery is now compatible with all the main X-Plane 12 features, including weather effects; that’s puddles to you and me. It also includes PBR materials, enhanced lighting, and 3D vegetation. The optional photographic scenery tile has been upgraded as well, now featuring bathymetry and DSF sound. Download & Installation As with the X-Plane 11 version I purchased a few years ago, the download is relatively large for such a small airport at just over 1.6GB and increases even more when you factor in the additional 1.2GB download for the optional photographic scenery. You can use the airport without the ortho, but to experience the scenery at its best, I highly recommend you download both it and X-World America by simHeaven. If you’re limited by bandwidth, you can always take a power nap! Documentation is minimal, being a single page PDF, but it gets the job done by covering all the basics. To install the scenery, simply extract the suppled ZIP file, and copy and paste it to your X-Plane Custom Scenery folder. The same goes for the optional photographic scenery. When done, make sure they all align correctly in your scenery_packs.ini file. When completed, restart X-Plane and you’re good to go! First Impressions Situated on the southwestern side of the island of Lanai, the airport stands at an elevation of 1,308 ft (399 m) above mean sea level and spans 505 acres. It features a single asphalt runway (designated 3/21), which is 5,001 by 150 ft (1,524 by 46 m) in size. Previously, the airport supported 6,326 aircraft operations; however, as of April 2022, it no longer functions as a base for any aircraft operations. Mokulele Airlines remains the only commercial airline operating a limited number of flights into Lanai. Despite the significant decline in passenger numbers following this change, the airport continues to be enveloped by its inherently mesmerizing beauty. Runway & Foliage The main runway and apron are exceptionally well-done, marking a substantial improvement over the previous version. The use of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) and numerous weathering effects provide a very satisfying experience. In another notable upgrade, the grass areas, which previously resembled flat, rolled-out textures, now feature 3D vegetation, enhancing its appearance significantly and adding a touch more realism. The layout of Lanai Airport is as follows: On approach, and we’re talking by car here, you're greeted by a passenger car park at the front. This area boasts a diverse array of vehicles, providing enough variety to avoid a 'cut and paste' feel. Directly behind the car park lies the main airport building, with a larger employee car park to the right. In front of this area, there are four hangars. Starting from the far right, you'll encounter the ARFF station. Next to it are the cargo bays, complemented by some conveniently placed public toilets. Adjacent to these is the maintenance hangar, and nearest to the main terminal, you’ll find the office building. This building houses a range of facilities including a conference room, TSA, Security, Bradley, FedEx, USDA, Air Service, and Operations. Main Airport Building So, what does this airport, recreated for X-Plane by Northern Sky Studio, have to offer? Firstly, it stands in stark contrast to large or even medium-sized airports. Here, instead of the shoulder-shoving hustle and bustle of modern life, there is a gentle, meandering pace. While everyone has places to be, this airport eschews the frantic 'must dash, no time to waste, I’m late!' atmosphere. No need for jostling here! As you approach the car park, the airport exudes none of the cold impersonality often found at larger facilities. It warmly welcomes you, as if to say, ‘Come, my friend, let me guide you to your destination.’ If it had hands, it might even carry your luggage! Environmentally conscious passengers will be delighted to observe the multitude of solar panels adorning many of the roof sides of the main airport building. The different materials used on the roof, ranging from glass and wood to solar panelling, demonstrate Northern Sky Studio's commitment to detail. These features, which might easily be overlooked, are truly appreciated, particularly considering the scenery's reasonable cost. The attention to detail extends beyond the main building, as evidenced by the 3D trees new to X-Plane 12, an animated flag, and airport signage. The interior boasts an appealing frontage for ticketing and check-in. And the queues? What queues? The notably short line to 'the other side' is a welcome sight. If, like me, you detest feeling crammed like a sardine in a box (think Heathrow), then this airport is tailored for you. The developer has upgraded the interior to now include PBR, which is evident in the floor's impressive shine. The walls are adorned with a mix of airport signage and local artwork, adding a charming touch. The ceiling, enhanced with wooden beams, looks exceptionally authentic due to its detailed texturing. Scattered around are numerous 3D figures, likely all on holiday, well, they’re not alone! Night Lighting Thanks to X-Plane 12’s lighting effects, the airport presents a reasonably good appearance when illuminated at night. The runway lighting is minimal but sufficient for night operations, though the apron area may seem quite dark, potentially mirroring those of its real-life counterpart. In stark contrast, the two car parking areas are lit up like a Christmas tree, ensuring you’ll have no trouble locating your car! The interior of the main building undoubtedly showcases the best use of the night lighting, especially highlighted by the newly added PBR effects. Conclusion So, would I recommend this scenery? The answer is a pretty reassuring yes. It builds upon the already impressive scenery from X-Plane 11. When you consider the incredibly low price, along with the fact that you receive not only a well-detailed and lovely airport but also a complete photographic scenery of the entire island, it’s really a no-brainer. Yes, there are areas for improvement, such as the lack of people around the airport and the somewhat light documentation, but these are minor when weighed against the cost. In summary, if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of life, I highly recommend picking up this charming little airport as it has plenty to offer those seeking a getaway. Right…where’s my bags? ________________________ PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12 by Northern Sky Studio is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12 Priced at $12.00 Features: The most detailed replica of airport buildings and vehicles High-resolution ground textures / Custom runway textures High-resolution building textures Compatible with all X-Plane 12 features: Weather effects PBR materials New lights 3D vegetation Ortho4XP tile for the whole island (link in the manual): X-Plane 12 bathymetry X-Plane 12 DSF sound High resolution elevation Edited orthophotos Edited coastline and water bodies Real runway profiles for all airports All materials created for full PBR Shading and occlusion effects on all airport buildings Custom orthophoto for the airport and surrounding areas World Traffic 3 compatible Compatible with Ortho4XP and default mesh Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.6 GB Current version: 1.0 (July 21st 2024) Customers who own PHNY XP11 can get this new XP12 version at 50% OFF. Discount code can be found in the original PHNY XP11 Invoice. Review System Specifications Windows 10 64 Bit, AMD 5800X3D, 32GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB ________________________ Scenery Review: Felicity Smith 31st July 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Update Review: PAC CT/4E Airtrainer XP12 by vSkyLabs By DrishalMAC2 Introduction The VSKYLABS CT/4E Airtrainer for X-Plane brings an iconic training aircraft to the virtual skies with remarkable attention to detail and realism. Renowned for its versatility and fantastic performance, the PAC CT/4E Airtrainer has served military and civilian aviation training programs worldwide since its first flight in 1972. In this updated review, we will delve into the various aspects of this add-on, taking a look at its visual fidelity, flight dynamics, system accuracy, and overall user experience in X-Plane 12. X-Plane 12 Update Stephen originally reviewed the VSKYLABS PAC CT/4E Airtrainer back in 2021, and as mentioned, it has since been updated for X-Plane 12. If you're seeking a comprehensive review of the aircraft, I strongly advise you to check out Stephen’s original review, which covers the aircraft in far more detail. This review serves more as a follow-up on how the aircraft has been adapted and performs within X-Plane 12. The updates and changes are noteworthy, featuring a “Major Update Release”. The flight dynamics now include simulation of the inverted flight fuel-tank, allowing a maximum of 10 seconds of inverted flight or negative g. The AEIO-540-L1B5 engine has received several tune-ups, including power adjustments and a recalibrated fuel consumption curve to enhance cruise performance, along with an airfoils update. In terms of graphics, there’s a PBR setup for both interior and exterior models to align with the latest X-Plane 12 visuals, various 3D modelling enhancements for the interiors, and an updated paint kit. System updates include the addition of a 3D HUD as an optional feature. Additionally, the aircraft now features a new FMOD 2 sound pack, so all told, some nice updates. Installation Installing this aircraft is very straightforward. Once purchased from the X-Plane store, simply download the appropriate version (XP11 or XP12). The download is around 243MB, and when extracted, just over 400, which is quite reasonable for an aircraft of this size. After the download is complete, extract the file from the zip folder using the default Windows extraction tool or your tool of choice. Then, place the aircraft folder into your X-Plane\Aircraft folder. You can even create a folder called VSKYLABS within your Aircraft folder and place it there to keep your Aircraft folder organized. The file path would then be something like "X-Plane 12\Aircraft\VSKYLABS\XP12-VSL CT4E Airtrainer AU v3.0.1". Documentation Plenty of documentation is provided, including instructions on how to install, how to update, plus the “VSKYLABS CT4E POH” (Pilot’s Operating Handbook). There is also the “VSL CT4E Airtrainer Essentials”, an update log, and the license. The " How to UPDATE your VSKYLABS aircraft" PDF, in particular, explains the fantastic integration with the Skunkcraft Updater, making updating this aircraft an absolute breeze. Liveries & External Texturing The aircraft comes with four liveries, including: Default, RAAF Trainer, RNZAF Red Checkers, and RTAF CT4AB. There’s also an included paint kit, should you wish to create your own custom livery. This feature is very much appreciated. The paint kit provides .PNG and .XCF files for both the propeller and fuselage textures. .PNG bump textures are also included for more experienced painters. All liveries are exceptionally high quality and look fantastic. One suggestion from me would be to incorporate a bit more dirt and general wear on some of the liveries and external textures. In my opinion, this would further enhance the already impressive level of immersion. Modelling Both the external and internal modelling of the aircraft have been executed to a very high level of detail, with features such as the external rivets and various struts and wires inside the cockpit being visible. Particular attention has been paid to the control surfaces, each of which boasts a ridged texture. This detail is particularly striking when viewed from the canopy, looking out at the wings. Inside the cockpit, switches, levers, and control column, are all faithfully recreated with smooth edges, and with no noticeable low-poly models on show. The seatbelts are modelled particularly well, reflecting the quality expected from a VSKYLABS add-on. Internal Texturing The texturing inside the cockpit is absolutely stunning, featuring noticeable wear and tear that adds to its realism. All textures are of very high quality and are remarkably sharp, even often-neglected areas, such as the footwell. The main panel is particularly well-textured, and again features plenty of weathering, which enhances its authentic appearance. The optional 3D HUD is optimized for both VR and 2D modes and provides essential flight data and accurate velocity-vector references. To activate the HUD within the sim, simply interact with the artificial horizon zone using either your mouse or touch controller. Alternatively, you can use the X-Plane default "HUD toggle power" assignment for ease of use. For the purpose of this review, I opted not to use it. Flight Model & Aircraft Performance The flight model of this add-on is excellent and reacts exactly as one would expect. Although I have not flown this exact aircraft before, my regular flying experiences with a Cessna 152 in the real world give me a good reference point for how a general aviation aircraft should handle, despite the differences between the C152 and the PAC CT/4E. Taking off with a rotate speed of around 55 knots, the power of the 300hp Lycoming engine becomes very noticeable once in the climb. At full climb power, the aircraft has no problem climbing at a rate of well over 2000 feet per minute at 65 knots. Oh, how I wish we had this kind of performance in my little C152! Once at a cruise altitude of around 3000 feet, I levelled off and brought the power back to around 2300 rpm, which gave a cruise speed of 110 knots, which is very comfortable indeed. Next, I attempted a power-off clean stall; the aircraft stalled at around 50 knots with a very pronounced right wingtip dip. The aircraft handled absolutely beautifully and really blew me away with its level of performance. The aircraft is incredibly nimble and aerobatic, making it incredibly fun to fly. It is also fairly stable, as one would expect from an aircraft primarily used for training. Overall, the Airtrainer handled beautifully and really blew me away with its level of performance. Night Lighting The internal night lighting of this aircraft has been executed very well, ensuring that even at night, the cockpit looks fantastic. The lighting strikes the perfect balance in brightness, creating an authentic night flying experience. The exterior night lighting is also quite impressive; however, the lighting flares from the navigation and landing lights can appear quite strange from certain angles. Additionally, if you are not looking at the landing lights directly head-on, they can appear to be off. Sounds In general, the sounds on this aircraft are satisfactory, though there is room for improvement. The switch sound, while pleasant, is used repetitively for almost every switch in the cockpit; some variation here would be greatly appreciated. This lack of variety also affects the sounds of the buttons on the Garmin devices. Furthermore, sounds for opening and closing the canopy are missing, I would expect at least a noticeable clunk when closing the canopy. The sound of the rotary dials for the Garmin navigation devices is another missing element. Another minor issue I've observed is that clicking a button on your flight sim hardware that is not assigned to any action (e.g., “Do Nothing”) still triggers a button press sound. While this is a small detail, it can be confusing if you accidentally press a button on your hardware and think you have changed something within the aircraft. The engine sounds, however, are quite good, and the effect of air hitting the canopy at different speeds has been exceptionally well done, adding greatly to the realism. Since it’s challenging to convey sound quality through text alone, and because the engine sounds closely resemble those of the real aircraft, I have included a video below. Performance VSKYLABS have done a great job at optimizing the aircraft, as on my system (specs at the bottom of the review), I am achieving approximately the same frames per second (FPS) as I do with the default C172 at EGNX. Additionally, I have not noticed any stuttering attributable to this aircraft. Conclusion In summing up, the VSKYLABS PAC CT/4E Airtrainer for X-Plane 12 offers a highly immersive and detailed flight simulation experience. The installation process is straightforward, and the extensive documentation facilitates smooth updates and customization options, including a paint kit for creating custom liveries. The high-quality modelling and texturing, both inside and outside the cockpit, significantly enhance the aircraft's realism. The flight model is responsive and accurately reflects the characteristics expected from a nimble and aerobatic training aircraft, providing an engaging flying experience. Although the external night lighting and sounds could benefit from some improvements, especially in terms of variety and completeness, the overall performance of the aircraft is commendable, with stable FPS and smooth operation. When you factor in the competitive pricing, the VSKYLABS CT/4E Airtrainer stands out as a well-modelled add-on that is sure to delight both novice and seasoned pilots alike. ________________________ The PAC CT/4E Airtrainer by VSKYLABS is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: PAC CT/4E Airtrainer Priced at $32.95 Project Highlights: VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot' Project: designed for use with X-Plane cutting edge flight model environment, featuring superb flight dynamics with authentic performance and flight handling characteristics. Built for VR: development was tailored specifically for VR and optimized for 2D usage. Engineered and designed as a default X-Plane aircraft (Like all VSKYLABS projects). The VSKYLABS projects are practically show-casing X-Plane, as they are stretching X-Plane default features, systems and flight model to its limits without any dependencies on complementary plugins or software...delivering a very robust simulation model, having maximum compatibility with the ever evolving X-Plane flight simulator. Perfect fit for beginner and expert pilots, including aerobatics. Optional 3-d HUD (optimized for VR and 2-d environments). Built-in Avitab Plugin Compatibility (AviTab plugin is not included). Autoupdater based on the SkunkCrafts autoupdater (XP12 only) - all updates are being pushed smoothly without the need to re-download the entire base package (base package will be updated every once in a while to minimize the gap). Highly responsive VSKYLABS support forums: VSKYLABS is offering continuous professional support from aircraft related aspects (operating and flying) to X-Plane technical support. The project is under constant maintenance and development. Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Current version: 3.0.1 (May 13 2024) Review System Specifications Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32GB DDR5 RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Aircraft Review by DrishalMAC2 30th July 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

eBook Review: Introduction to X-Plane 12 by Dave Britzius By Dominic Smith Introduction Navigating the complexities of X-Plane 12 can quite often be a daunting experience, especially if you're a beginner just starting out. This is where "Introduction to X-Plane 12" by Dave Britzius comes in, as it’s tailored to make one of the most advanced flight simulators for the PC/Mac more accessible and manageable. This beginner’s eBook extends beyond the basics of typical manuals by breaking down sophisticated controls and challenging scenarios into manageable parts. Through practical tutorials and realistic flight scenarios, Dave provides not only the tools to navigate X-Plane but also the guidance to excel, ensuring a learning experience that is as effective as it is enjoyable for pilots at all levels. Comprehensive Coverage Attempting to master a flight simulator like X-Plane 12 can be rather intimidating (I’m still trying after many years) but Dave Britzius begins "Introduction to X-Plane 12" at the very start, by addressing the common challenges and questions that often overwhelm newcomers. His approach helps smooth out the steep learning curve, making initial steps far more approachable. In the "Your First Flight" section, for example, Dave goes beyond simply listing steps as he explains why each action is necessary, such as setting the flaps to 10 degrees during alignment on the runway to optimize lift and reduce drag, which is, as we all know, crucial for a smooth takeoff. This practical advice not only clarifies the complexities of the sim but also enhances the learning experience, thus making it feel like you're being guided by a knowledgeable friend. As such, the eBook is free from overwhelming jargon often seen in many manuals. Instead, it breaks down aviation concepts into digestible, manageable pieces. Dave’s progressive teaching style gradually helps build your confidence and prepares you to tackle increasingly complex tasks. Each chapter slightly raises the bar in terms of difficulty, yet the pacing is carefully managed to ensure it remains within your grasp. In many ways, it’s like teaching someone chess. Hands-On Approach As mentioned above, technical manuals can quite often feel impersonal and robotic, but "Introduction to X-Plane 12" adopts a distinctly human approach. Recognizing that the most effective learning is hands-on, Dave's guide immerses you directly into the pilot's seat from the very beginning. The eBook systematically introduces you to your virtual cockpit with clear, accessible language, making each step from engine start to taxi and takeoff feel like a personal tutorial. In many ways, it’s like having a seasoned instructor right beside you, guiding each manoeuvre with practical insights. For example, the section on your first flight is presented more as a conversation than a lecture. Dave walks you through engine startup, explaining each control. This approach not only makes the learning process engaging but also deeply practical. By breaking complex procedures into simple, actionable steps, this hands-on method ensures you’re not just following instructions but actually getting the hang of things. It’s about experiencing, doing, and really learning how to fly, rather than just reading about it. Ease of Use As newcomers of X-Plane will know, navigating through the complexities of the sim can be quite often overwhelming, akin to needing a co-pilot guide you through each step, and in way, this is what the guide helps hopes to achieve, as it acts as your virtual friend, ensuring you master the controls and scenarios you'll encounter. Imagine you're getting ready for a challenging cross-country flight in different weather conditions. The eBook provides checklists similar to what real pilots use, with clear explanations on why each step matters and how it affects your flight. There's also a handy checklist included in the download package (pages 94/95) that’s tailor-made for the book, making everything safer and more efficient. The scenarios provided in the eBook are all derived from real-life challenges, such as preparing to manage situations like navigating through a thunderstorm or handling unexpected engine failures without screaming “we’re all going to die” at your passengers! Dave’s clear explanations help demystify complex concepts. For instance, he describes aerodynamics with accessible analogies, such as comparing the function of airplane wings to a swimmer's arms moving through water. This method helps you grasp the principles behind the procedures, which in turn deepens your understanding and enhances your flying skills within X-Plane. Layout Key to the learning experience, "Introduction to X-Plane 12" integrates visual and interactive teaching tools. Unlike traditional textual descriptions, the eBook employs high-quality screenshots that directly illustrate each step of complex procedures, whether it’s adjusting the throttle, engaging the autopilot, or adapting to shifts in different weather conditions. These visuals simplify the technical details, making them more accessible and easier to replicate during your own sessions. Interactive elements in the eBook also play a vital role. For instance, diagrams that show the effect of wind shear on an aircraft's trajectory are not just visual aids, they're interactive tools that invite you to explore and manipulate variables to see real-time effects. Another example are the clickable checklists which transform routine pre-flight checks into active learning exercises, allowing you to engage with each step rather than passively reading through them. As a visual learner myself, I greatly value this approach (as I’m sure many others will) as it ensures that the knowledge gained is not only retained but also applied in an effective way. Advanced Topics Once you're comfortable with the basics, the guide elevates your training by delving into advanced topics that deepen your understanding and broaden your skills. Here, Dave covers essential techniques such as adjusting aircraft settings for challenging wind conditions to using navigational aids in poor visibility. The guide also includes sections on how to tweak your settings for optimal performance, such as adjusting the altimeter for varying atmospheric pressures, critical for maintaining accurate altitude readings during storms. With step-by-step guidance, the eBook ensures you make these changes both safely and efficiently in the sim. Conclusion "Introduction to X-Plane 12" by Dave Britzius is a highly valuable resource for navigating the many intricacies of X-Plane 12. It offers practical support to both novice and experienced pilots, helping them enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of the sim. This guide focuses on practical flying, in contrast to Dave's other book, "X-Plane 12 Handbook – Book 1 - Setup," which deals with hardware and software aspects. The eBook's hands-on approach to learning ensures that users are able to gain confidence through active learning, not just theoretical knowledge. By explaining the reasons behind each action, it helps you truly grasp the principles of flight simulation, thus making learning both effective and long-lasting. In summing up, I must say I really enjoyed using "Introduction to X-Plane 12." It truly helps you get the most out of X-Plane 12. Whether you’re a newcomer to the sim or a veteran user, Dave’s guide comes highly recommended as there's something valuable for everyone. ________________________ Flying Low: Introduction to X-Plane 12 by Dave Britzius is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Flying Low: Introduction to X-Plane 12 Priced at $15.00 Features There are three sections: The pages dedicated to the Laminar Tutorials just add a few questions and answers and some guidance to the existing tutorials bundled with X-Plane 12. The Take-off and Landing tutorials go into matters much more deeply than the superficial Flight-school tutorials.. The bulk of the e-book is the detailed IFR and VFR flight from PAJN to PAKT and will cover step-by-step: Preflight procedures Starting the engine Filing a flight plan and creating one for the G530 moving map. Talking to ATC and following ATC’s instructions Taxiing and Takeoff Using some of the navigational instruments Navigating with VORs and extensive use of the CDI Saving and restoring a flight and the “gotchas” involved Sightseeing and Screenshots The autopilot Weather Landing without ATC in a traffic pattern in bad weather Checklists Replays At the end of some sections, there is a genuine report by a novice X-Plane user on where he had problems and lessons that he learnt. Length – 263 pages – 131 double-spreads. Checklist file included as well. Requirements Adobe PDF reader Download size 85MB This is a large interactive PDF and requires the free Adobe PDF reader to experience full interactivity. The PDF has an extensive index in the form of dynamic bookmarks available on the left-hand side of the viewing window. In addition, the main Table of Contents is one clickable chart to enable easy and quick navigation. Review System Specifications Intel i5 12400 – 32GB RAM - Nvidia Asus RTX 4070 – Windows 10 Home 64 Bit __________________________________ eBook Review by Dominic Smith 24th July 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Aircraft Review: Polaris AM-FIB by VSKYLABS By Stuart McGregor Introduction When is a boat not a boat? Well, one answer is when it is the Polaris AM-FIB, or to give it its full name, the Amphibious Flying Inflatable Boat. It has been quite some time since I have written a review for the org, and in that time, I have been pretty much immersed in flying the much larger passenger cousins of the Polaris. So, to have the opportunity to try it out was a welcome break from the high-tech and frantic world of tube liners. To be honest, I had forgotten just how much fun you can get out of the simpler things in life, and please don’t get me wrong, simple doesn’t mean dull and boring, as I found out. The aircraft being reviewed here is based on the Italian 'Polaris FIB' ("Flying Inflatable Boat"), which is an ultralight trike, designed and produced by 'Polaris Motor' in the mid-1980s. It was then further developed in the 2000s and went on to become the Polaris AM-FIB, an Amphibious ultralight trike. I found it interesting to read about the collaboration between the real-life aircraft manufacturer (Polaris Motor) and the simulator developer (VSKYLABS). To see sim developers going to such lengths to bring us the best simulation products possible is pretty commendable, in my opinion. X-Plane Model The Polaris was initially released for X-Plane 12 in 2022, and since then, it has undergone several updates. The most recent, version 4, was released in June this year. The developers have described this as a major update, introducing new features such as upgraded flight dynamics to fully leverage what X-Plane has to offer, improved graphics with PBR adjustments, and enhanced FMOD 2.0 sounds, including better engine, prop, and wind sounds. It's great to see the Polaris continually refined and improved over the years. I believe this is a sign of developers who truly care about their users. It would be easy to develop a product, release it, and then move on; however, witnessing new features and refinements added over time is very much appreciated and helps keep each model vibrant and engaging. Installation Procedure Installing the Polaris couldn't be easier. Once you've purchased your copy, there's no need for installers or digital security codes. Simply download, unzip, and you’re ready to go, dead simple! As the file is not particularly large, only about 150 MB, it only takes a few minutes to download with a fast internet connection. It’s worth mentioning that there is also an option to download a version for X-Plane 11 if you’re still using that version of the platform. When you download from the org, you'll also receive a copy of the manual and the VSKYLABS brochure, which you can peruse at your leisure. I'll discuss the manual a bit later. Another feature worth highlighting is the use of the SkunkCrafts updater. While not new for those who already have the Polaris (it was introduced back in 2022), it’s a nice touch if you’re considering purchasing for the first time. Documentation The download includes several documents, some of which I've mentioned earlier. Within the download, you'll find a couple of folders containing everything you'll need. The contents of the "HOW TO INSTALL" folder are self-explanatory, and similarly, no surprises await in the "INSTRUCTIONS-MANUAL-POH" folder where the main manual is located. It's highly recommended to read through the manual cover to cover. Although it's only ten pages, it's packed with useful reference information, tips, and tricks to help you get the most out of your purchase. The manual is well-organized and easy to read. I particularly enjoyed the mix of text and photographs, with annotated images that are especially helpful for understanding the main features and aircraft controls. The manual does an excellent job of covering all the important features, and it's a credit to the developers for making it simple, informative, and well-laid-out. Exterior Although not a large aircraft, the Polaris is beautifully modelled. The textures are exquisite, from the wood grain details on the prop and the well-worn surfaces of the wings to the intricate details on the engine, fuel tank, and battery. The inflatable hull sponsons and the two passengers are also meticulously rendered. One particularly charming feature is the ability to add or remove the pilot and passenger via click spots on the seats, allowing for configurations with both, one, or neither. It’s amusing to note that the female passenger goes flying in her high heels, a curious choice for getting in and out of the Polaris! The aircraft includes a set of wheels that can be raised and lowered by clicking on the right sponson. Similarly, the brakes and sea anchor are operated from the left sponson. While the wheels look fantastic, I found it challenging to get real control whilst on land, perhaps missing something in the process. However, when on water, the boat rudder ensures easy manoeuvring, especially when using a set of rudder pedals. Interior When you sit in the pilot's seat of the Polaris, the view is exceptional, especially if you're flying in VR. The animations of the pilot’s arms and feet are impressively synchronized with the control movements. In VR, the alignment of the pilot’s virtual legs with your own can be quite uncanny. Looking down and seeing your virtual feet moving is a superb, albeit a little unnerving, experience. The throttle control is located just above your head, and a small mobile phone is positioned right in front of you. This setup allows you to manipulate the brakes and monitor your airspeed, altitude, as well as wind speed and direction, a crucial feature for aligning yourself with the wind during landings. The artificial horizon is also useful for flying, although, as noted in the manual, real pilots often rely more on their senses than on instrumentation. The increased sound of the wind as you turn into it is a fantastic example of how you can "feel" your way around the skies with the Polaris. Getting used to the control bar in your view might take some time, but the instrument panel is still quite visible. Here, you’ll find gauges for engine temperature, RPM, EGT, HOBSS, and fuel, along with a few switches for the battery, igniters, and a prominent starter button. Starting the Polaris takes only a couple of seconds, but when the engine kicks in, the aircraft truly comes to life. The FMOD sounds enrich the experience, bringing a real depth to the auditory environment. Flight Dynamics Due to the lightweight nature of the Polaris, the developers recommend setting the flight models per frame to at least five to counteract any odd ‘jumping’ behaviour during takeoff. Following this advice, I encountered no noticeable issues. While I struggled with land-based takeoffs, taking off from water proved to be incredibly enjoyable. The wind direction indicator is essential for aligning the nose into the wind, which significantly smooths the takeoff process. The water textures and lighting effects in X-Plane 12 enhance the overall immersion, making skimming along the water surface a novel experience for me. You could almost feel the water spray on your face. It’s worth noting that the sea anchor performs admirably when stationary, keeping everything steady as you prepare for takeoff. Once airborne, the Polaris is exhilarating to fly, quite a departure from the complex airliners I've been piloting recently. Its simplicity greatly contributes to the enjoyment, truly embodying the concept of "flying by feel". Although it climbs slowly due to its modest airspeed, this offers a perfect chance to relax and take in the scenery. However, the Polaris requires gentle handling in the air; abrupt or sharp inputs can make it feel like you’re on a roller coaster. Flying in VR adds an extra layer of magic, especially the sensation of rising from the water with the wind whistling past your ears. Skimming low across the water or ducking under bridges is simply magical. Once I mastered a few basic manoeuvres, the Polaris was delightful to fly. Given that it's essentially a boat with wings, exploring the myriad waterways that X-Plane offers adds a whole new dimension to the sim. The perspective is very different when you’re looking up rather than down. Perhaps VSKYLABS might consider adding a variant without wings, just the boat section. How much fun would that be! Landing posed its own challenges and required several attempts to perfect. It’s crucial not to reduce power too abruptly to avoid a bumpy landing, or worse. Mastering power management is key to handling the Polaris effectively. Performance The no-frills simplicity of the Polaris's design ensures that frame rates are consistently high. Even when flying over densely populated cities at low altitudes, the frames per second (fps) typically remain in the 50-plus range, rising to around 70 or 80 over waterways. Throughout my flights, I experienced no complaints in this department and observed no noticeable impact on the sim’s performance. Conclusion Overall, my time in the Polaris was thoroughly enjoyable, and it's certainly worth considering if you're in search of something a bit different. The enhancements in X-Plane 12, particularly in terms of aircraft performance on water, coupled with the new lighting and texturing techniques, make spending a few hours in the Polaris a truly unique experience. If you're looking for a lot of bells and whistles or high-tech features, the Polaris might not meet your expectations. However, if you're in the mood for some straightforward, seat-of-the-pants fun on and over water, this flying boat is definitely worth considering. Priced at $24.00, it's a bargain. You might even find it on sale, which would be an added bonus. ________________________ Polaris AM-FIB by VSKYLABS is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Polaris AM-FIB by VSKYLABS Priced at $24.00 Features Project Main Features: VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot' Project: designed for use with X-Plane cutting edge flight model environment, features superb flight dynamics with authentic performance and flight handling characteristics. VSKYLABS development for X-Plane approved by 'New Polaris FIB' company (however, it is an independent VSKYLABS project, not affiliated with 'New Polaris FIB'). Real-Physics, incorporating weight shifting and wing simulation of a hang-glider trike. Unique trike flying aspects are being simulated: stalls, slips, spins and tumbling. Designed with the focus on control and handling characteristics, excellent for basic and advanced hang glider trike training / conversion from fixed wing aircraft. Additional passenger which can be removed, to simulate light vs heavy trike operations. Amphibian aircraft - operation in water/land and snow/ice. Built for VR: development was tailored specifically for VR, and optimized for 2D usage. Autoupdater based on the SkunkCrafts autoupdater (XP12 only) - all updates are being pushed smoothly without the need to re-download the entire base package (base package will be updated every once in a while to minimize the gap). Highly responsive VSKYLABS support forums: VSKYLABS is offering continuous professional support from aircraft related aspects (operating and flying) to X-Plane technical support. Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Current Version: 4.0 (June 7th 2024) Review System Specifications Windows 10 64 Bit, CPU Intel i9-9900k, 64GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti, Oculus Rift S ________________________ Aircraft Review Stuart McGregor 5th July 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: KSJC - San Jose International Airport by Short Final Designs By DrishalMAC2 Introduction Situated in the vibrant heart of Silicon Valley, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (KSJC) serves as an important hub for technology professionals, business travellers, and tourists alike. Conveniently located near the bustling downtown area, KSJC offers easy access to the heart of tech innovation, with close proximity to key players such as Google, Apple, and Facebook. KSJC features two parallel runways (12L/30R and 12R/30L) and primarily hosts regional carriers such as Southwest, Alaska, and Spirit; however, larger carriers like Delta, American, and even British Airways also operate from here. As a fan of large airports and heavy metal airliners, I was particularly excited to explore ShortFinal Designs’ (SFD) latest airport for X-Plane 12. Known for their attention to detail and realism, my expectations were high. Let’s see if this scenery package lives up to everything I want it to be… Installation The installation process for "SFD_KSJC_San_Jose" is straightforward. Simply extract the zip file and drag the “SFD_KSJC_San_Jose” folder into your X-Plane 12 Custom Scenery folder. The initial download is 1.21 GB, and once extracted, expands to a slightly larger 1.86 GB. Quite reasonable considering both the size of the airport and the quality within. For those who prefer using their own ortho textures, an option is available. Navigate to the “!Alternative versions” folder and open the “No Ortho” folder. Here, you will find an “Earth Nav Data” folder. Copy this folder into the main “SFD_KSJC_San_Jose” folder and, when prompted, overwrite the existing files. This change can be reversed by dragging the “Earth Nav Data” folder from the “Ortho (default)” folder back into the main directory. This flexibility in texture choice is a highly welcomed addition to the scenery and one that is often overlooked by developers. Additional plugins that enhance the scenery, such as LST (Living Scenery Technology) or SAM (Scenery Animation Manager), can be installed into your X-Plane "plugins" folder. These plugins are not required but highly recommended for an enhanced experience. If you are using X-Plane 12.1, I recommend using the openSAM plugin as an alternative to SAM, since SAM may cause some issues with XP12.1. Documentation The PDF manual included is short but thorough, covering the entire installation process as detailed previously. It also provides links to the above-mentioned plugins and offers a description of the airport along with special features of the scenery. Additionally, the manual contains license information and contact details should product support be required. While the manual is comprehensive in many respects, it was slightly disappointing to see that no airport charts were included. However, they are readily available online, allowing users to easily obtain them as needed. Ground Textures For this review, I selected the 'No Ortho' version, complemented by simHeaven’s excellent X-World America, my own custom ortho textures, and Global Trees. This combination significantly enhanced the area surrounding the airport, making it far more inviting than X-Plane’s default autogen and textures. The runway textures are of extremely high quality, with elements such as touchdown zone markers and aiming points accurately placed, reflecting the real airport's layout well. Additional textures like tire marks and various grunge effects have been added to the runway textures to give an authentic appearance. The taxiway textures are also impressive, featuring a high-quality base texture adorned with various grunge effects and tire marks to suggest usage. This depiction is true to life, as verified by examining Google Maps, where the taxiways at KSJC appear quite clean despite the airport's heavy traffic. However, plenty of marks, damage, and oil spills have been realistically replicated at the aircraft stands, ensuring the airport still presents a used feel while remaining authentic. The ground textures on the southwest side of the airport (not to be confused with the airline) are particularly appealing, featuring a darker shade with more wear and tear. Additionally, the patchwork on the airport taxiways has been carefully modelled by SFD, with the various shades of concrete visible on Google Maps faithfully reproduced here. Tar lines have been beautifully utilized in some areas to provide a smooth transition between different concrete textures. I especially appreciate it when scenery developers take the time to include these details, as they significantly enhance the overall scenery. Signage and Foliage Both the 3D airport signs, and the ground signs are of high quality and are placed exactly where one would expect them to be for an airport of this size. The 2D signs on the ground are particularly notable for their textured depth and slightly washed-out appearance, which avoids the overly bright and heavy contrast typical of default airport signs in X-Plane. SFD has done a brilliant job here. Custom trees and foliage have been strategically placed, especially along the northeast corner where a dense strip of trees significantly enhances the approach. Additional foliage has been added around areas such as the car parks and along nearby roads, contributing to a cohesive landscape. I'm happy to report that all the trees are 3D, demonstrating SFD's use of the latest X-Plane 12 features. 3D grass, available exclusively with the Ortho (Default)" version of the scenery, is placed strategically within the airport. Its colour matches the ortho imagery perfectly. The grass is kept short, aligning with real-world airport practices to minimize long vegetation, which helps deter birds and other wildlife. Terminal A Terminal A at KSJC has been well modelled, displaying a high level of detail, particularly on the roof, a commonly overlooked area that has been given due attention here. The jetways, drainage pipes, air conditioning units, safety barriers, and extruded pavements are all modelled to an extremely high standard, contributing to the terminal's realistic appearance. The interior of the terminal is also well-designed, featuring just enough detail to be believable from the perspective of your aircraft parked at the ramp. The inclusion of 3D people, airport signage, gate desks, and various shops creates a convincing scene inside the terminal. The external texture work is excellent, showcasing detailed representations of dirt and wear that add to the authenticity. Although the interior textures are of lower quality, this is intentional as higher resolution textures are unnecessary for areas not typically accessed during normal use. This approach not only ensures efficient use of computer resources but also helps maintain VRAM usage and overall performance at an acceptable level. Terminal B Terminal B at KSJC boasts a more unique and striking design, making it instantly recognizable as part of the San Jose airport. The roof has been expertly modelled with a high polygon count, giving its curves a visually pleasing appearance. The overall structure of the terminal mirrors the high standards seen in Terminal A, with equally meticulous modelling. Inside, Terminal B features even greater detail and accuracy than Terminal A, presenting a fantastic visual experience. The eateries, in particular, have been modelled and textured beautifully, likely delighting those familiar with the airport. Important airport elements like departure and arrival boards, as well as various advertisement boards, have been carefully modelled to enhance realism. The quality of the textures, both externally and internally, continues to impress throughout the terminal, reflecting the high standard of the entire package. Other Airport Buildings The additional structures at KSJC, including the fire station, various hangars, the LSG Sky Chefs building, Southwest Cargo warehouse, and multiple FBOs and maintenance hangars, are modelled to a high standard. The texturing aligns with the quality observed in Terminals A and B. Particularly standout features are the NetJets hangar and the ATC control tower, both of which are remarkably well-executed and enhance the airport's realistic feel. Surrounding Buildings SFD has excelled in modelling the area surrounding KSJC. Iconic locales such as PayPal Park, In ‘n’ Out Burger, At Home homeware store, City Sports Club, Staples, and the modern office buildings along Coleman Avenue are rendered with impressive accuracy. These buildings look spectacular both when on final approach and while taxiing to the runway. Additionally, the SP+ parking garage and the SJC Car Rental Centre have been carefully modelled to match this high level of detail. The self-storage buildings to the southwest of the airport are also notable, particularly when making final approaches into runways 30L or 30R. The collection of these distinctive buildings around KSJC airport creates an authentic and unique atmosphere, enhancing the experience of flying into or out of the area. Ground Clutter The airport features an abundance of ground clutter, including custom items such as Southwest baggage carts and pushback tugs. The texture work and modelling of these elements are of very high quality, ranking among the best I have encountered in any scenery. The arrangement of the clutter is both random and orderly, contributing to the authentic feel of the airport without giving it a “copy and paste” appearance. SFD’s attention to detail extends to the placement of 3D people throughout the ramp area, an element that is highly appreciated and often overlooked by other scenery developers. Furthermore, the integration of Living Scenery Technology (LST) from X-CODR injects a vibrant life into the scenery, with airport operation vehicles actively moving across the airport. This bustling activity truly makes the airport feel alive and teeming with movement. Night Lighting The night lighting at KSJC is executed exceptionally well, striking the perfect balance of brightness in the ramp areas. The taxiway and runway lighting are also of high quality, with special attention given to the approach lighting. A comparison with real-world airport data from airnav.com confirms the accuracy of the lighting setups at KSJC. Notably, there is no Touchdown Zone (TDZ) lighting, and the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach lighting is correctly implemented only for runway 12R/30L. Such precision in lighting design demonstrates ShortFinal Designs' (SFD) commitment to detail, closely mirroring the actual conditions found at the airport. Performance On my system, whose specs are detailed at the end of this review, the performance is quite impressive. I observed no noticeable drop in FPS when comparing this scenery to the default, nor were there any stutters. This is particularly commendable given the extensive size, high level of detail, and the comprehensive environment of the airport. For reference, my testing was conducted using simHeaven’s X-World America and Global Forests with settings on high and medium. Conclusion Reflecting on my exploration of ShortFinalDesigns' KSJC San Jose Airport for X-Plane 12, I am thoroughly impressed by how the scenery vividly brings this bustling hub to life. The package's outstanding realism, and careful attention to detail perfectly capture the essence of San Jose's vibrant airport. The installation process was straightforward, helped by clear and helpful documentation. A minor drawback is the absence of airport charts, though these are readily available online. The ground textures are vivid and precise, authentically depicting the airport’s natural wear and tear. The interiors of Terminals A and B boast exceptional depth and realism, enhancing the immersive experience without overtaxing system resources. Additionally, the surrounding airport buildings and landmarks, often overlooked in other scenery packages, receive detailed attention, significantly enriching the atmospheric scene. The dynamic presence of bustling ground vehicles and lifelike 3D people further animates the setting. In conclusion, SFD’s KSJC for X-Plane 12 offers an exceptional experience for the price. It successfully captures the atmosphere of San Jose’s airport, transforming every visit into a uniquely immersive journey. ________________________ KSJC - San Jose International Airport by Short Final Designs is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: KSJC - San Jose International Airport Priced at $22.95 Features High-Definition Airport Accurate airport layout (as of 2024) Detailed models for all buildings with baked ambient occlusion Terminals with fully modeled interiors Detailed general aviation area with several hangar interiors PBR materials on objects and ground Custom dynamic night lighting Custom high resolution pavement textures and markings High resolution photo scenery (30cm/px) Compatible with any mesh scenery Surrounding buildings including the PayPal Park stadium 3D vegetation Fully Animated Airport Animated cars and buses Animated passengers and workers Custom animated airport vehicles with PBR materials and FMOD sounds Detailed animated jetways with SAM integration Various user-controlled hangar doors (SAM plugin required) ATC network included for AI traffic addons Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.2 GB Version 1.0 (May 22nd 2024) Review System Specifications Windows 10, Intel i5-12400F, 32GB RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Scenery Review by DrishalMAC2 21st June 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: LZIB - Bratislava International Airport by Chudoba Design By Michael Hayward Introduction Bratislava International is Slovakia's primary airport, serving the capital alongside the surrounding regions of Ružinov, Vrakuňa, and Ivanka pri Dunaji. It also serves as a convenient alternative for Austria's Vienna Airport, which is merely a short coach ride away. Opened in 1951, it replaced the nearby Vajnory Airport, located just 3 km away. Initially, it had a quiet start due to Vienna's proximity, but it gained popularity in the 1990s with the arrival of low-cost airlines. The airport is named after Milan Rastislav Štefánik, a prominent figure in Slovakia's World War I council. Chudoba Design, a relatively small developer focused on European scenery, creates airports with considerable care and detail. Despite their competitive pricing, which reflects the smaller scale of the airports they develop, they consistently deliver quality sceneries. In this review, we will examine Bratislava International Airport in detail, especially how it compares to the real thing, considering my personal experience flying through here last year. Installation Upon purchase, you receive a serial key and a link to the download server. To begin, select the desired scenery, in this case, Bratislava M. R. Štefánik Airport. Enter your serial key and click 'download'. The first time you install, a user license agreement will appear. It's worth giving this a quick read, and if you're satisfied, click 'continue' to start the download. Once downloaded, simply drag and drop the scenery file into your 'Custom Scenery' folder and X-Plane’s scenery manager will handle the rest. An additional feature of this add-on is the inclusion of a scenery library, which we will explore in more detail later. Taxiways and Runway Chudoba Design has enhanced the scenery with an ortho map, adding high-quality ground textures that closely match the actual airport. The texture detail is split into two levels: high-resolution within the immediate vicinity of the airport and lower-resolution as you move closer to the main boundary. It's important to note that the included photographic tile focuses exclusively on the airport area and does not extend to the surrounding environment. As such, for the purposes of this review, I am using simHeaven’s X-World Europe along with my own Ortho4XP tile to complement the scenery. Bratislava International features two intersecting runways, with taxiways leading from each to the terminal area. Despite its expansion over the years, Bratislava remains a relatively compact airport, making navigation relatively simple. The airport has undergone considerable growth, as evidenced by the remnants of a former taxiway that once spanned the entire airport but is now discontinued and partially removed. The predominant surface material is concrete, notable for its square grid pattern across the taxiways and runways. This concrete is typically pre-formed into slabs before installation to enhance drying and durability. Taxi and ground markings are distinctly visible and easy to interpret, aiding navigation throughout the airport Near the gates, the concrete shows significant weathering; it is darker and marked by liquid stains and tyre tracks, bearing witness to decades of use. This distinction in wear provides visual cues to the airport's development, indicating which areas are older and which have been more recently updated, particularly towards the cargo facilities where newer, brighter, and cleaner taxiways are found. Structures and Facilities Bratislava boasts a single main terminal complemented by hangars and a modest DHL cargo building to its east. These structures are well designed and closely resemble their real-life counterparts within X-Plane. The terminal comprises of two distinct sections: the first is a newer, larger building with a curved roof; the second is the older non-Schengen area, which is positioned at a lower level and connected to the newer structure. Regrettably, the interior of the terminal is not modelled, which is disappointing, though the opportunity to view inside from airside is limited. However, this does not detract from the overall quality of the scenery. The windows feature dark, reflective glass with steel frames securing the panes. Bump mapping and Physically Based Rendering (PBR) techniques add reflections and shine to polished metal surfaces at the main terminal and depth to the walls and roofs of adjoining buildings. This has all been done to ensure the terminal's appearance is optimized with minimal processing power and it works well. The main cargo area is equipped with modern facilities, including new buildings and hangars, while the majority of services outside the terminal consist of older structures dating back to the Czechoslovak era, characterised by grey concrete blocks and warehouses. This includes the original control tower, now overshadowed by a newer tower constructed in the 1990s. This contrast highlights the airport's historical evolution, with various areas developed and renovated from the Soviet era up until Slovakia joined the EU in 2004. Around the airport, ground service and support vehicles are scattered across gates and stationed in their designated areas. Textures vary between 4K and 1K resolution and are allocated based on building size to optimize detail without going over the top. The benefit to this is that it preserves hard drive space and lowers GPU VRAM usage. Static aircraft, including a fleet of Austrian CRJs and a couple of former government TU-154s, are strategically placed around the airport, adding realism and life to the scenery. Other Structures and the Surrounding Area In front of the terminal, you'll find the main car park, bus stop, and forecourt area, all interconnected by a network of roads that weave around the terminal and hangars. These roads lead to a traffic circle directing traffic towards the city centre and are lined with trees and bushes, which all look rather pretty. Having walked these roads last year, I enjoyed using the free cam feature to explore the same area, albeit virtually. Night Lighting The airport is well-equipped for night operations with simple yet effective lighting. Runways and taxiways are outlined with blue edge lighting and green centrelines, while the main terminal is illuminated by spotlights. These features ensure safe and easy navigation throughout the airport during nighttime. Chudoba Design Library Chudoba Design includes a common library in all its airport sceneries. This pack contains hundreds of small buildings, vehicles, and clutter scattered around the airport, enhancing the realism and depth of the scenery. This inclusion is a trend among developers aimed at supporting their sceneries and providing additional models for users to place throughout the X-Plane world, though these are presumably not intended for use outside of their products. Similar to the terminal, these elements employ a mix of 4K and 1K texture resolutions, delivering high detail tailored to the size and scale of each model. Opinion and Closing Remarks Overall, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my virtual flights to and from Bratislava International. Reflecting on my real journey through Bratislava last year, I was delighted to explore all areas of this airport in X-Plane. Chudoba Design, while not the largest developer for X-Plane, offers an impressive range of quality sceneries at competitive prices, making their products particularly appealing for those looking to enhance their Eastern European airport collection. The use of both high and lower-resolution textures throughout the airport strikes a perfect balance, enhancing visual quality without compromising performance. Although the full terminal interior isn’t available, this doesn’t detract from the overall experience. In fact, because of the positioning of airside buildings and bridges, the interior view wouldn’t be particularly visible anyway. This careful attention to detail and performance is really impressive. For those seeking a cost-effective hub for low-cost carriers, Chudoba Design’s Bratislava International is a strong option worth considering! ______________________________________ LZIB - Bratislava International Airport by Chudoba Design is available from the Org store here: LZIB - Bratislava International Airport Priced at US$12.49 Features: PBR Textures Custom Models Optimized for best performance X-Plane 12 Ready Requirements: X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB VRAM Recommended Reviewers System: Windows 10 Professional AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor 32GB RAM Palit GeForce RTX™ 3080 GamingPro Scenery Review by Michael Hayward  31st May 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews   (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)  

Aircraft Review: vFlyteAir Cherokee 140 for X-Plane 12 By Pete Allnutt Introduction First introduced in the early 1960s, the Piper PA-28 Series has become a familiar sight in general aviation. Originating as a more economical alternative to the Piper PA-24, the series started with the Cherokee and eventually expanded to include the Archer. Known for its robust single-engine setup, unpressurized cabin, and fixed tricycle landing gear, the PA-28 has been a reliable choice for pilots who value practicality and reliability over aesthetic complexity. This review focuses on the Cherokee 140, a model celebrated for its straightforward handling and classic design. vFlyteAir's latest version for X-Plane 12 has been thoughtfully modelled to balance historical accuracy with selected modern enhancements. This rendition not only boosts the aircraft's features but also preserves the timeless appeal that has made it a favourite among pilots for generations. vFlyteAir’s updated Cherokee includes three instrument panel options to cater to different flying preferences. The default setup features a modern Aspen E5 PFD/MFD instrument combined with a Bendix/King KFC 230 touch-screen autopilot for those who enjoy contemporary avionics. For traditionalists, there's an option with a conventional HSI, and for the purists, a basic VFR panel is available that strips back to essentials, perfect for sharpening basic VFR navigation skills. Purchase and Installation The PA-28-140 Cherokee is available for purchase at the X-plane.org store for $29.95. After purchasing, you will receive an order confirmation via email that includes a link to download the aircraft. The download consists of a 590MB file that needs to be unzipped, either into a folder of your choice, or directly into your X-Plane 12 Aircraft folder. Upon first launch, you will be prompted to enter an Activation Code, which is also sent to your email. It’s advisable to keep this code noted, although it can be retrieved from your account on the Store if needed. Included in the package is a documents folder containing four PDF files, including a POH (Pilot’s Operating Handbook), providing detailed operational support. These documents are extremely well written, offering some of the best guidance and information I’ve encountered with an X-Plane product. Updates for the Cherokee are managed via the Skunkcrafts Updater, a stand-alone application increasingly used by developers across X-Plane. While the updater simplifies keeping purchases up to date, it required me to re-authenticate my purchase after installation, a step that, in my opinion, could be more streamlined. Although updates are promptly available, a more detailed changelog in the form of a readme file would help show what changes have been made. Exterior Model The Cherokee is equipped with a selection of twelve high-definition liveries, which includes a Paint Kit for enthusiasts who enjoy customizing their aircraft’s appearance. Each livery boasts top-quality finishes, with wonderful attention to detail that becomes even more apparent upon close inspection. The aircraft features fully implemented Physically Based Rendering (PBR) textures that support realistic 3D rain and ice effects, enhancing both the visual clarity and realism. Each livery boasts top-quality finishes, with meticulous attention to detail that becomes even more apparent upon close inspection. The aircraft features fully implemented Physically Based Rendering (PBR) textures that support realistic 3D rain and ice effects, enhancing both the visual clarity and realism. The cockpit door and the small window for the pilot feature animations that not only function smoothly but are also easy to operate. Additionally, external features such as chokes and wheel spats can be accessed and controlled through a pop-up menu system, indicated by the Piper logo near the bottom left of the screen. The Piper pop-up menu offers a guided walk-around function, allowing pilots to inspect fuel and oil levels before a flight, ensuring a thorough pre-flight check. Another option on the pop-up menu is the ability to choose between a male or female pilot, and to show or hide passengers, depending on weight selection. Cockpit and Functionality vFlyteAir has supplied three distinct, fully inactive cockpit configurations for different flying preferences. The first option, the Glass Panel, is centred around the Aspen E5 multi-function display, with a dedicated guide provided by vFlyteAir for navigating this modern system. It is paired with the standard X-Plane Garmin G430, though it can be replaced with the RealityXP GNS430 or GTN650 for those who have these upgrades. The second option features an Analog Panel, replacing the E5 with traditional analogue gauges, supported by either a G430 or the optional RealityXP systems. The final option focuses on VFR flying, featuring the basic "six-pack" alongside an audio panel, COM1/NAV1, and a transponder, but without an autopilot. This setup is ideal for pilots focusing on fundamental flying skills. Each option features high-definition textures that add to the realism, with panels that can vibrate to simulate engine effects if enabled via the pop-up menu. However, a minor disappointment is the static nature of the key fob; having it animated could have significantly enhanced the vibrational effects. Additionally, the needles on the gauges show little to no wobble, which detracts slightly from the realism. Switching between cockpit panels can be done easily, either on the ground or mid-flight, via the Piper pop-up menu. The menu also allows you to show or hide gauge glass and window glass to adjust for clarity and reduce reflections based on varying lighting conditions. Handling As I am not a real-world pilot, my evaluation of the Cherokee 140’s handling is based on my passion for virtual flight and my extensive experience in flight simulators, both civil and military. In my experience, vFlyteAir’s Cherokee 140 ranks as one of the most straightforward aircraft to pilot within X-Plane. Lacking excessive power, it behaves quite docilely during takeoff, making it an excellent choice for novice pilots. vFlyteAir has incorporated a "Realistic Engine Start" feature, which requires different procedures based on the engine temperature and environmental conditions and which adds an additional layer of complexity to pre-flight preparations. The Piper pop-up menu includes a checklist tab that provides comprehensive guidance for managing all aspects of the flight, including a dedicated checklist for the Realistic Engine Start procedure. During cruise, the aircraft moves at a leisurely pace of just over 100 knots, and it can comfortably stall at speeds below 50 knots with full flaps engaged. Trimming the plane is manageable, which is particularly beneficial for those flying with the VFR-only cockpit or who prefer manual control over using the autopilot. The Cherokee is notably forgiving as it is almost impossible to stall in a traditional sense. Instead, it gently sinks until the nose drops and speed is naturally regained. This aircraft is not designed for aerobatic manoeuvres, focusing on stable and predictable flight characteristics. Night Lighting The cockpit lighting proves effective at night, especially the instruments, enhancing visibility during low-light conditions. While the switches are less illuminated, the separate brightness controls for the instruments, panel, and radio stack offer customization options. This feature, however, might be viewed as a drawback for pilots who prefer more uniform lighting across the cockpit. Additionally, the exterior lighting of the aircraft is well executed, casting a realistic glow that significantly enhances night flying. Sounds vFlyteAir's Cherokee utilizes the FMOD 2 sound engine, which is used to excellent effect. Notably, the engine sounds avoid the common pitfall of recognizable looping, creating a more immersive auditory environment. The transition of sounds when moving from inside to outside the aircraft or opening the cabin door is particularly impressive, with each action resulting in a realistic change in volume and direction. In the cockpit, the switches and knobs provide crisp and distinct audible feedback. Performance Throughout my testing of vFlyteAir’s Cherokee, I experienced no performance issues, and observed consistently high frame rates with no noticeable lags or spikes, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. To give you a clearer picture of my testing environment, X-Plane 12 is installed on an Intel i9 10900K, 32GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA MSI RTX 3090 Suprim X graphics card, all running on Windows 11 Home 64-bit. Conclusion Among the numerous PA-28 variants available for X-Plane 12, vFlyteAir's Cherokee distinguishes itself with its exceptional blend of versatility, realism, and user accessibility. Equipped with a range of detailed liveries and customizable cockpit setups, the Cherokee offers a forgiving flight model that appeals to both novice and experienced pilots alike. The realistic sounds and comprehensive documentation further enhance the flying experience, making it as educational as it is enjoyable. In summing up, the Cherokee 140 by vFlyteAir comes highly recommended. It stands out as an enjoyable and rewarding little flyer, and one which would make an excellent addition to any X-Plane user's hangar. ________________________ Cherokee 140 for X-Plane 12 by vFlyteAir is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Cherokee 140 for X-Plane 12 by vFlyteAir Priced at US$29.95 Features: Rebuilt and re-engineered for X-Plane 12 Pop-up interactive Options menu, dynamic Load Manager menu and Check Lists menu Three selectable instrument panel configurations ("glass" panel, analog panel and traditional "trainer" panel) Automatic integrated support for the optional RealityXP GTN 650 plugin or the RealityXP GNS430 plugin Guided, interactive pre-flight walk-around inspection with pop-up check lists. Visually check your fuel and oil levels! Remove wheel chocks and cowl plugs during the walk-around. Selectable pilot gender - copilot will be the opposite gender of the pilot Gauge glass and window glass can be hidden Custom shake and vibration effects - airframe and control surfaces shake when engine is running, when approaching a stall condition and upon touch-down Realistic engine start - if turned ON, requires pilot to follow the Cherokee 140 POH procedures for cold and hot engine startup Passengers can be hidden during flight if desired Automatic support for optional AviTab plugin Selectable wheel pants - if installed, the wheel pants reduce drag slightly Start From Cold & Dark option available on the Options menu Optional transparent yokes - if turned ON, the pilot and copilot yokes appear as see-through for a better view of the instrument panel Custom Tow Bar option - use the Tow Bar to push/pull and turn the airplane into your hanger! Quick Livery Change - quickly select a new livery from the Options menu Dynamic Load Manager menu allows the pilot to select pilot and passengers weights and add or remove fuel. A dynamic Center of Gravity chart shows your current loading. Optional Rear Seat - on the Load Manager menu, click on the rear bench seat to install it and to add a rear passenger Check Lists Menu allows the pilot to view the Piper PA28-140 check lists for all normal phases of flight Pop-up versions of the Aspen E5, Bendix/King KFC 230 autopilot and the AXP 340 transponder available by clicking on the instruments FMOD 2 Sound Effects - spatial 3D sounds and Doppler effects have been re-produced for compatibility with X-Plane 12 PBR textures - re-produced for X-Plane 12 compatibility Full high-resolution textures for all interior and exterior objects 3D Rain and Ice effects Full support for Virtual Reality 12 different liveries included - instrument panel tail number placard is updated with each livery change New updated Paint Kit available Updates are automated using the Skunkcrafts Auto-Updater (available here for free). Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Version 12.0 (February 9th 2024) Review System Specifications Intel i9 10900K – 32GB RAM - NVidia MSI RTX 3090 Suprim X – Windows 10 Home 64 Bit __________________________________ Aircraft Review by Peter Allnutt 24th May 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions.

Scenery Review: KDCA Washington Airport & City XP12 by Drzewiecki Design By DrishalMAC2 Introduction Situated in the bustling heart of the nation's capital, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) serves as an essential hub for both business and leisure travellers. Located along the scenic banks of the Potomac River, this airport offers a gateway to the iconic landmarks and political intrigue of Washington, D.C. KDCA boasts three runways (01/19, 15/33, and 22/4), providing a seamless travel experience with its modern facilities and efficient operations. Its advanced amenities ensure smooth departures and arrivals for various aircraft, from regional jets to larger commercial airliners. Besides its operational capabilities, KDCA also holds historical significance, reflecting the rich heritage of American aviation. Named in honour of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, the airport serves as a tribute to his legacy and ongoing impact on the country. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., KDCA provides convenient access to the city’s diverse attractions, including the significant monuments of the National Mall and the legislative activity at Capitol Hill. Whether visitors are exploring political landmarks or engaging with local culture, KDCA serves as an efficient and welcoming gateway, reflecting the standards of excellence and innovation characteristic of American aviation. This is Drzewiecki Designs' first XP12 scenery, which enhances parts of the city and upgrades some nearby buildings with helipads, making them “landable”. This feature is especially appealing for X-Plane users who enjoy flying rotary-wing aircraft. Installation Process Once you've downloaded the ZIP file, it's 1.5 GB in size; when extracted, it expands to 3.4 GB. This size is quite reasonable given the extensive content included in this scenery package. The installation process itself is straightforward: upon opening the extracted folder, you'll find three additional folders. Simply drag and drop the "DD Washington City XP12" and "DD KDCA Washington XP12" folders directly into your X-Plane 12 custom scenery folder. Documentation The download includes four documents. Three of these are installation instructions available in Russian, Polish, and English, and are clearly written and simplify the installation process. The fourth document is a "manual" that provides an overview of the airport, condensed installation instructions, links to relevant charts, a list of scenery features, links to support pages, credits, and a license agreement. Satellite Imagery The satellite imagery directly surrounding the airport is of decent quality, though there are better examples available elsewhere. The package also includes ortho satellite imagery for the entire surrounding area; however, this is of noticeably lower quality. While it improves upon the default textures by X-Plane (what wouldn’t), it would be beneficial to have the option to remove this layer and use our own, self-generated Ortho4XP tiles instead. The lower zoom level of the satellite imagery particularly affects the depiction of the Potomac riverbanks, which appear quite harsh and do not look as impressive, especially when following the DCA river visual approach. In future updates, an option to replace this with self-generated ortho tiles would be highly welcomed. Ground Textures The runway textures in this scenery are reasonable, enhanced by additional tire marks to convey a sense of daily use. However, there is a notable issue with texture uniformity across all three runways. For instance, the real runway 15/33, features a mixture of different coloured surfaces, which has not been replicated here. Introducing more distinctive runway textures that reflect these real-life variations would significantly enhance the scenery's authenticity. Additionally, the edges of the runway textures appear quite harsh, so incorporating some kind of transitional texture could greatly improve the overall appearance and integration with the surrounding environment. Similarly, the taxiway textures, while visually appealing, suffer from repetitiveness, with the same texture used across approximately 90% of the airport. This does not accurately reflect the actual variety seen in aerial images, such as those on Google Maps. Despite this, the added tire marks and wear and tear effects on these textures do lend a highly authentic look. Signage and Navigation Aids The airport signage in this scenery has been handled quite well, with all the necessary runway and taxiway signs positioned accurately. The signs are sharp and easily legible, which enhances navigational clarity for simmers. Additionally, the Washington (Ident: DCA) VORDME has been included and correctly placed, which is particularly noteworthy and adds a realistic touch to the scenery. GA Terminal and Hangars The GA terminal is modelled to a high standard and seamlessly integrates with the main passenger terminal. The GA hangars are also well modelled, with a few having open doors, revealing aircraft inside, and include detailed interiors, including general clutter like ladders, cones, and boxes, adding to the realism. Additionally, banners inside the hangars indicate their specific functions, such as “American Airlines DCA Maintenance” and “Signature Flight Support.” Outside the hangars, there are two corporate jets parked, one of which has its main door open, showing people engaged in conversation. This area also includes the U.S. Coast Guard ramp, where two Coast Guard helicopters are stationed at their designated spots. Terminal 1 Terminal 1 has been modelled to a high standard, effectively replicating the real structure. However, the textures sometimes appear flat and could benefit from more variation to enhance realism. In contrast, the ground texturing around concourse A is notably well-executed, featuring oil spills and signs of wear and tear that add authenticity to the environment. The various concrete and asphalt textures around this area have been accurately reproduced, confirmed through comparisons with Google Maps images of the actual airport. Much like the exterior, the interior of Terminal 1 is also modelled to a high standard, including detailed elements such as airline signs at each gate, reflecting real-life arrangements. Additionally, numerous 3D figures are positioned throughout the terminal, creating a bustling atmosphere that enhances the view from the cockpit of aircraft at the gates. Terminal 2 Special attention has been given to Terminal 2, making it instantly recognisable. The exterior is modelled to a higher standard than Terminal 1, with improved texture quality that enhances its appearance. Inside, Terminal 2 excels at capturing the distinctive atmosphere of DCA with its beautifully recreated roof and glossy floors that contribute to a polished look (pun intended). Each airline is provided with a realistically designed check-in desk area, enhancing the authenticity of the terminal. Although the various shops are represented only as 2D images, this decision is practical, considering that simmers typically spend limited time inside scenery terminals. The concourses B, C, D, and E have also been replicated to a high standard, featuring beautiful ground textures that add to the overall aesthetic quality. Ground Clutter and 3D People The ground clutter around the airport is varied effectively across different stands, contributing to a dynamic and realistic environment that avoids a repetitive "copy and paste" appearance, which is sometimes visible in other payware sceneries. Some of this clutter is airline-specific, featuring items like U.S Airways coaches and Delta baggage carts, although the presence of U.S Airways equipment may not be entirely accurate given the fact that the airline has ceased operations. Whilst the terminal interiors are nicely populated with numerous 3D people, adding to the bustling atmosphere, the ramp areas show a noticeable lack of ground personnel. This absence detracts from the realism on the airside, where the presence of staff is critical for an authentic airport experience. Night Lighting Night lighting is executed exceptionally well, featuring bright white lights around the ramp areas that enhance visibility and ambiance. The taxiway and runway lighting also receive high marks for their clarity and precision, with special attention given to the approach lighting. This is especially notable for the RNAV approach into runway 19, which follows the Potomac River. The approach lights mounted on various bridges along the river are synchronized to flash together, providing a striking visual reference for pilots. Overall, the night lighting is impressive, incorporating several thoughtful details that greatly benefit the night-time flying experience. At night, due to the way the lighting has been applied, the building interiors really come alive. During the day, the lighting comes across as slightly dull, but at night, it is transformed, giving the buildings a vibrant, welcoming glow. The contrast between day and night is quite remarkable. The Capital In addition to the airport, the package extensively covers many of Washington D.C.'s landmarks and a significant portion of the inner city. To the west of the airport, areas known as "Crystal City" and "Pentagon City" are modelled to a high standard, featuring custom buildings that are accurately placed, surpassing the autogen quality provided by simHeaven’s X-World America. The downtown D.C. area, including iconic landmarks such as The White House, Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is also included and modelled to the same standards. In total, the scenery features over a thousand landmark buildings in the vicinity of the airport, each contributing to the authenticity of the package. If you've visited Washington D.C., you’ll certainly enjoy exploring the area; just remember to bring a guide! Performance Impact I'm pleased to report that the scenery is very well optimised, with no noticeable loss in performance on my system (specs below). This is particularly surprising given the extensive detail included in the package and the generally high demands of the Washington D.C. area. Conclusion Having explored the enhancements to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by Drzewiecki Designs, it's clear that the improvements to both the airport and the surrounding Washington D.C. area is impressive. The package excels with its detailed rendering of terminals, hangars, and particularly the night lighting along the Potomac River. The accurate depiction of landmarks and key areas such as Crystal City and Downtown DC significantly enriches the overall experience. Although there is room for improvement in texture quality, particularly the supplied orthos, and a more 'populated' ground environment outside of the terminals, these issues do not significantly detract from the overall high quality of the scenery. In summary, with its thorough execution and extensive features, this scenery provides substantial value, enhancing the X-Plane 12 flying experience in the nation’s capital. ________________________ KDCA Washington Airport & City XP12 by Drzewiecki Design is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: KDCA Washington Airport & City XP12 Priced at $30.00 Features A high-quality model of KDCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, featuring the up-to-date version with extensive details throughout the whole airport FPS-friendly design, with epic night textures, dynamic lighting and PBR materials Performance-friendly interior modeling at terminal buildings, control towers, and some hangars, static aircraft, advanced night lighting (incl. River Visual and dual PAPI), animated trains Animated jetways, VGDS, marshallers (SAM plugin) Washington D.C. city scenery included, with over a thousand landmark buildings surrounding the airport, ortho coverage and some lite airports Requirements X-Plane 12 Windows, Mac, Linux 8 GB+ VRAM highly Recommended Download size: 1.5 GB Current version: 1.1 (March 22 2024) Review System Specifications Windows 10, Intel i5-12400F, 32GB RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Scenery Review by DrishalMAC2 10th May 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Scenery Review: LFKF - Figari, Corsica XP12 by FSX3D By Dominic Smith Introduction Welcome to another scenery review, this time set in the beautiful surroundings of Corsica. Unlike most youngsters, my initial curiosity about Corsica was sparked by an unlikely source, the comic book "Asterix in Corsica". While the story mainly highlighted the island as a unique spot off the coast of Italy and focused on the adventures of Asterix and Obelix, it greatly captured my interest. Since that initial discovery as a child, and despite numerous "unfortunate" geography lessons (my teacher just didn’t have Asterix’s appeal), I have come to appreciate Corsica as a place of considerable natural beauty and historical depth. This appeal extends to both the casual visitor and the avid explorer, although I have yet to visit the island outside of X-Plane. Figari South Corsica Airport, located just 3 km northwest of Figari in the scenic Corse-du-Sud département, serves as a vital hub for accessing this enchanting Mediterranean island. Since opening in 1975, the airport has become Corsica’s third-largest, facilitating connections to major cities via airlines such as Air France, British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair. Conveniently situated 25 km southwest of Porto-Vecchio, it handles upwards of 639,916 passengers annually. More than just an airport, it serves as a gateway to exploring Corsica’s stunning coasts and ancient mountain villages. Installation & Options The main airport download size is 815MB, with an option to install additional photographic scenery tiles of the area, totaling just under 9GB. Although this might seem large at first, the tiles have been created using a reasonably high zoom level, making them a worthwhile addition, especially for users of simHeaven. Alternatively, you can choose to create your own photographic tiles with Ortho4XP. For this purpose, the developer has included patches to ensure the airport aligns correctly, applicable to users of AutoOrtho as well. There's no online activation or third-party wrappers involved, so while the installation process might differ slightly from the norm, it remains relatively straightforward. Documentation The provided documentation is quite comprehensive; it includes text documents detailing the various installation options and a full-colour chart of the main airport along with its layout. Given the relatively low cost of the scenery package, I was quite impressed with what was provided, especially considering that more expensive sceneries often offer less. Initial Impressions Upon opting to install the additional photographic tile of the area, I was immediately struck by its quality. The documentation reveals that this imagery was created using zoom level 17 (ZL17) with custom elevations. From the views provided, it was evident that this enhancement significantly surpasses the default textures and mesh included with X-Plane 12. Beyond the undulating hills, the Mediterranean Sea stretches into the distance, presenting a captivating sight even in this virtual setting. Ground Details As you descend closer to the ground, the custom orthos remains sharp and clear. This level of detail is particularly beneficial for those who enjoy flying low in general aviation (GA) aircraft. Indeed, if you’re exploring Corsica by air, there really is no better way. However, while the runway textures were sharp and clear, they appeared somewhat clinical. The asphalt's colour was overly intense and seemed unbalanced. Additionally, the transition from asphalt to grass was too abrupt, lacking a smooth blend which could potentially be refined with further development. Taxiway & Apron Textures On the flip side, the textures of the taxiways and apron were far more aesthetically pleasing. Here, the asphalt and concrete had a more subdued appearance, which seemed more fitting with their environment. The edges where the asphalt met the grass were well-executed, featuring realistic cracks and wear. Moreover, the presence of rubber marks and oil or chemical stains enhanced the authenticity, contributing significantly to the overall visual appeal. Airport Signage One of the features of the scenery I was most impressed with was the custom airport signage, particularly noticeable on the taxiways and apron. The detailed guides for taxiing aircraft are well represented. A comparison with its real-life counterpart on Google Maps shows that the layout is almost identical, which greatly enhances the authenticity of the scenery. Parking areas for both general aviation and business aircraft, as well as helicopter zones, are clearly marked. Closer to the main terminal, the stands are accurately laid out with all the correct markings. Overall, I was very impressed with the signage accuracy and detail. Airport Foliage The airport is bordered by several wooded areas that extend right up to the boundaries of the scenery before stopping abruptly. It’s worth noting that with Global Trees installed, this coverage might continue beyond the scenery’s limits; however, I haven't tested this add-on as I do not own the product. However, I did have X-World Europe installed, which might have accounted for the slight increase in tree variations. Situated around the airport buildings, particularly the terminal and control tower, are small shrubs, flowers, and a few mature palm trees. Main Terminal Building & Surroundings The main terminal at LFKF, while lacking an interior, is well-modelled and effectively represents its real-life counterpart. Along the length of the terminal, bollards and benches contribute to the overall visual appeal, and the texturing on the concrete walls shows a realistic degree of weathering. However, the terminal area lacks airport signs or posters and feels somewhat lifeless, particularly in what should be the busiest part of the airport. There are a few cars lined up for passenger drop-off and collection, but the noticeable absence of passengers diminishes the overall effect. Hopefully, future updates will address this issue, but as it stands, the terminal building, whilst impressively modelled, requires a bit more liveliness to truly come to life. Directly across from the main terminal entrance is the main airport car park, which features a variety of custom-made vehicles. These vehicles are a significant and highly welcomed improvement over the stock models typically included with X-Plane. I don’t know about you, but I get tired of seeing the same old models all the time! The vehicles, all European makes, fit the Corsican setting perfectly and add a touch of authenticity to the scenery. Close to the car park, you'll find several car rental facilities, including Ada, Hertz, Avis, National, and Europcar. These buildings are modest in size but effectively serve their purpose. Given Corsica’s expansive landscapes, renting a car is almost essential for visitors. Additional Airport Structures Adjacent to the terminal lies the control tower, which I found to be modelled to a slightly higher standard than the terminal. The control tower's numerous angles and curves lend it a quite unique appearance, and the central staircase is a welcome touch. Next to the control tower is the Terminal Aviation d’Affaires, catering exclusively to business travel. The modelling here matches the high standard of the control tower, with notably good texturing that includes realistic weathering effects. The large glass areas are particularly impressive, although it's a pity there isn’t an interior modelled. A few metres away from the main buildings, there is a small maintenance building, and next to it, a fire station. The fire truck is positioned further up on the apron, perhaps there was some emergency I missed. Nearby, several smaller buildings of various types and a fuel service area contribute to the functional diversity of the airport. Completing the scene is an animated radar dome, faithfully watching over the airport. Night Lighting The night lighting at the airport is primarily provided by dynamic lighting from street and airport lamps, which stands in stark contrast to the complete absence of lighting effects from the buildings themselves. This omission is rather disappointing, as it contributes to a rather lifeless atmosphere during nighttime hours. Much like the notable absence of 3D people, I really do hope that the developer will address this issue in future updates. Performance Overall, I found the performance at LFKF to be pretty impressive, allowing for all settings to be maxed out, apart from anti-aliasing, while running at 1440p. At this resolution, I managed to maintain roughly sixty frames per second during the day. However, during nighttime hours, there is a noticeable drop, with frame rates dipping to the mid to high thirties. This significant reduction may be more reflective of X-Plane's general performance quirks during certain times of the day, nighttime in particular, rather than a specific issue with the scenery itself. Nonetheless, it's an important consideration for those using lower-end systems, as these performance shifts could impact your experience. Conclusion Reflecting on my time at LFKF, it’s clear that the experience was, on the whole, rather enjoyable. The airport features some well-modelled buildings, especially considering its low price point, and an authentic layout which closely matches its real-life counterpart. The addition of the optional ortho tiles significantly enhances the value of this scenery package, offering a level of detail not commonly found in more expensive counterparts. However, it’s not without its shortcomings. The absence of 3D people and the inadequate night lighting stand out as the most notable flaws. Addressing these issues in future updates could transform this from a good to an exceptional scenery package. As it stands, I am happy to recommend LFKF to those who have a fondness for Corsica, and perhaps an affinity for adventure reminiscent of our beloved two Gauls. Just as Asterix and his companions would conclude their adventures with a grand feast, albeit always without the bard, this scenery too promises a delightful exploration, if not a perfect one. ________________________ LFKF -Figari, Corsica XP12 by FSX3D is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: LFKF -Figari, Corsica XP12 Priced at $14.99 Features Ultra detailed car parks, taxiways and track PBR on all objects Ambient occlusion (Objects and ground) Wet track effects Dynamic lighting Animated Radar Pylon Altimeter patch for Ortho4XP Compatibility AutoOrtho Requirements X-Plane 12 Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB VRAM Minimum Download Size: 815 MB Review System Specifications Intel i5 12400 – 32GB RAM - Nvidia Asus RTX 4070 – Windows 10 Home 64 Bit __________________________________ Scenery Review by Dominic Smith 19 April 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

Aircraft Plugin Review: Reality Expansion Pack for DHC-2 Beaver by Simcoders By Michael Hayward Introduction The de Havilland DHC-2 "Beaver" is a well-loved high-wing propeller aircraft that was produced in Canada from 1947–1967. With over 1,600 units produced, many continue to grace the skies today, demonstrating exceptional performance in rugged terrains and on water with the addition of floats. In 2020, Thranda released their rendition of the DHC-2 for X-Plane, later updating it for X-Plane 12 compatibility. This model has garnered praise for its attention to detail and realism, as highlighted in Stephen’s thoroughly detailed review. This review takes a closer examination of the Reality Expansion Pack (REP) by SimCoders for the Thranda DHC-2. This enhancement introduces a plethora of features and adjustments that elevate the aircraft’s realism beyond its original release. It includes a virtual economy system and improved flight checks, offering a more immersive flying experience. Having had some experience with the aircraft prior to the expansion pack, I am keen to explore the depth of enhancements SimCoders has integrated. Let's delve deeper, shall we? Installation It's a tricky installation, because you are installing a package (REP) on top of another package (Thranda DC-2). Then have to blend them together. Note that you will need the original DHC-2 Beaver - DGS Series XP12 Package to install this Add-On. First you will need to duplicate the Thranda DC2 aircraft to create a secondary aircraft file folder... When downloaded in the REP Package, there are two Folders, a read-me installation pdf and a REP user Manual. One folder "Into-aircraft-main-folder" goes into the main DC-3 Beaver root folder. It will ask you to overwrite two files... Second install folder is the "Into-aircraft-plugins-folder" which is put in the Thranda DC-2 Plugins folder. On Startup of the REP-Thranda DC-2, you will be asked to authorise (Enable) two items, both the original Thranda DC-2 Aircraft, and the separate REP Pack... this is done via the REP Pack menu in the Plugins folder.... "Enable package" Then the REP Installation process is completed. When installed the REP Menus are accessed via both the side quick "Pop-out Menu", and the more detailed menu in the "Plugins Menu". The Pop-out Menu has Six Options; Show Checklists, Show Fuel Management, Toggle Walkaround Mode, Toggle Low Mode, Toggle Maintenance report and Engine autostart... these items are reflected in the Plugin Menu. Added options in the Plugin Menu include; Settings, Wear out to (Brand New, Privately Owned - New, Privately Owned - Old, Flying Club), Check Fuel Price at airport, Toggle Static Elements, Disable Package and About. Key Features Overview SimCoders have introduced several key enhancements to the Thranda DHC-2 with their expansion pack, each designed to deepen the simulation experience. A hallmark of X-Plane is its ability to replicate realistic flight dynamics, significantly influenced by the aircraft’s airfoil shape. In this expansion, considerable effort has been invested in refining the DHC-2’s flight behaviour. This includes modifications to stall speeds, climb and cruise speeds, weight distribution, and balance, as well as enhancements to taxiing behaviour, contributing to a more authentic feeling, both on the ground and in the air. Included in the expansion is an economy system that allows pilots to accumulate virtual currency through completed flights. This currency can then be allocated towards fuel purchases and aircraft maintenance, enriching the Beaver experience with an added layer of strategy and management. Another notable feature is an enriched walkaround system, enabling pilots to conduct thorough pre-flight inspections outside the aircraft, enhancing the realism of pre-flight preparations. A significant overhaul detailed by SimCoders is the re-engineering of the engine system. By replacing the default engine with a custom-designed alternative, they introduce a range of factors for pilots to consider and manage. This, along with modifications to the electrical systems and battery configurations, will be discussed further in this review. Additional improvements include simulation state changes, maintenance protocols, and pilot behaviour adjustments, all aiming to mirror the lifelike intricacies of operating a DHC-2. These enhancements collectively serve to elevate the simulation experience, introducing a variety of real-world considerations into virtual flight that offer a comprehensive and educational exploration into the mechanics of flight. Flight and Ground Dynamics We begin by exploring the enhanced flight and ground dynamics of the DHC-2 Beaver. Flying the Beaver is relatively straightforward, offering a smooth experience when airborne and requiring minimal pilot intervention once properly trimmed. A comfortable cruise speed is approximately 125 knots, though it's capable of reaching 140 knots at full throttle, with the propellers set to high RPM and the mixture at maximum rich. These performance figures align closely with the real aircraft, which is documented to cruise at 124 knots at 5,000 feet and can achieve a maximum cruise speed of 137 knots under ideal conditions. The aircraft's climb and descent profiles have been carefully adjusted to mirror those of the actual Beaver, with an average climb rate of about 1,000 feet per minute. Its maximum cruising altitude is noted to be 18,000 feet, adhering to the US standard for altimeters. Note the "Tips" in the REP banner, they guide you through areas that are the best to fly and maintain the Beaver in flight. Maintenance of your aircraft is key, as parts wear down over time, directly impacting fuel efficiency and flight performance. For instance, a clogged fuel filter will manifest as reduced fuel flow on the gauges, limiting engine power. Consequently, pilots must manage their aircraft's condition and flight performance proactively to extend its operational lifespan. The development team at SimCoders, comprised of pilots with real-world experience possibly even with the DHC-2 itself, has dedicated substantial effort to ensure the flight dynamics are as true to life as possible. The Beaver is equipped with five ground configurations: standard tires, tundra tires, skis, floats, and amphibious floats, each altering its separate distinctive handling characteristics. With tires, it operates as a taildragger, incorporating a redesigned suspension system for smoother navigation across soft terrain. Pilots are cautioned against oversteering, as locking the wheel can lead to abrupt stops. Water operations offer a distinct and enjoyable challenge, as the Beaver handles well on calm waters, but adverse weather can necessitate skilled corrective manoeuvres to maintain control. Engine and Systems Complexity A standout feature of the SimCoders DHC-2 Beaver expansion is the overhaul of the engine function and logic. Rather than refining the existing Thranda engine, SimCoders dismantled it to construct an entirely new engine, integrating this with their unique maintenance and damage model. This reimagined engine now accurately reflects the performance of the Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior, the powerplant used in the aircraft. Enhancements even extend to the propeller animations, offering more realistic visuals through subtle vibrations and speed fluctuations with engine and throttle adjustments. With the introduction of a new engine comes a detailed startup procedure. While it's technically possible to initiate a cold start, it's ill-advised due to potential wear on the engine and the need for precise priming to get it running. Instead, SimCoders added a preheater option to warm the engine chamber for a smoother start, negating the need for priming. This attention to detail includes the low-tension booster coil, critical for initiating fuel combustion during engine startup. If you don't want to do this, then there is the "Autostart" feature that does the tricky work for you... the startup procedure is shown in a banner top of your screen, and the startup process is extremely authentic including exhaust effects. Fuel and oil dynamics are more sophisticated, with temperature variations influencing fuel viscosity. This affects how easily fuel can be pumped through the system, highlighting the challenges of cold starts and the potential for fuel flooding if the engine is shut down shortly after starting. These issues can be identified during pre-flight inspections and addressed through maintenance. Pilots must also pay close attention to the avionics state during engine startups and shutdowns to avoid damaging the systems. I learned this lesson the hard way, failing to notice my attitude indicator was inoperative after takeoff, leading to unintended banks and, subsequently, a costly virtual repair. These intricacies significantly enrich the experience, demanding more attentive micromanagement from pilots to maintain safe and efficient aircraft operation. Economic and Custom Systems SimCoders introduces an economy panel for the DHC-2 Beaver, drawing parallels to virtual airlines where good flying earns points and promotions, but here, it's all about the financial health of your aircraft. This feature, while optional, adds an additional intriguing dimension to the experience, allowing pilots to manage the economic aspects of aircraft operation. Damaged a gauge? That’ll hit your wallet. A broken flap and its linkage might just make you consider remortgaging your virtual home! The more damage your aircraft sustains, the more you’ll find yourself investing in repairs. And it doesn’t stop at repairs; even refuelling the Beaver costs, with fuel prices fluctuating based on your global location. On the lookout for savings? Word on the street is that Venezuela offers the world's most budget-friendly fuel prices! The economic system is designed to integrate seamlessly with well-known virtual airline platforms like FSEconomy and X-CPL-Pilot, enhancing the experience for pilots already engaged in virtual aviation careers. And you have to access, or create an "Aircraft Key" to use the Economy System... Another enjoyable feature is the towing system. Although straightforward, it provides a practical method for aircraft positioning on the ground. Pilots can secure the aircraft when parked and then manoeuvre it using the joystick, offering a user-friendly and realistic ground handling experience. Additionally, the Beaver is fully compatible with VR, inviting pilots to immerse themselves in a highly realistic virtual cockpit and environment, enhancing the overall experience of flying the Beaver in X-Plane. Interactive Walkaround and Maintenance SimCoders’ pièce de résistance in their DHC-2 Beaver expansion is the comprehensive damage engine and maintenance panel. Operating an aircraft that has been flying for over sixty years, requires special care and attention, especially as a lot of the technology used is now dated. SimCoders emphasizes the necessity for correct pilot procedures to prevent wear and tear. An early lesson I learned is the importance of deactivating avionics during engine startups and shutdowns to avoid system failures. With the economy feature activated, repairs come with a price tag, proportional to the damage extent. The risk of overstressing parts to the point of affecting flight surfaces and potential failure highlights the significance of careful handling. Indeed, a malfunctioning Beaver is an unwelcome scenario for any pilot. On the ground, pilots can generate and review a maintenance report detailing the aircraft's condition, including the state of engine cylinders, oil, filters, and pumps. Over time, these components degrade, presenting the pilot with repair decisions to maintain optimal performance. A notable addition is the virtual walkaround, allowing pilots to exit the cockpit and conduct a thorough visual inspection prior to flight. This interactive feature includes a checklist for assessing potential wing damage, ensuring engine components are intact, confirming cylinder integrity, and verifying the pitot tube is clear. Successfully completing these checks ensures the aircraft is flight ready. This system not only emphasizes the necessity of maintaining operational safety but also introduces the realistic challenges and expenses associated with aircraft ownership. As systems wear and potentially fail, constant vigilance over your Beaver's condition is crucial for sustained operation. Conclusion Embarking on the journey with the Thranda Design DHC-2 Beaver, supplemented by the SimCoders Enhancement Pack REP, which introduces a captivating complexity to piloting this beloved aircraft. The addition places a significant emphasis on engine performance and maintenance management, transforming routine flights into a series of informed decisions and actions. The degradation of components serves as a constant reminder of the aircraft’s demands, underscoring the importance of thorough management and adherence to operational protocols. Piloting the Beaver not only becomes an exercise in flying skills but also in vigilance and preventive care, ensuring longevity and reliability. This enhancement pack enriches the original aircraft with a deeply immersive engine simulation, where even minor variations in engine startup procedures can influence the entire flight experience. This level of detail demands a more nuanced understanding and appreciation of the aircraft’s operational characteristics. Adding to the complexity is the virtual economy feature, which introduces financial decision-making into the mix. Pilots must carefully manage their virtual funds, prioritizing repairs and maintenance to ensure the aircraft remains airworthy, while also navigating the compromises of system management. To benefit from this comprehensive enhancement pack, pilots must have the Thranda DHC-2 Beaver for X-Plane 12 in their collection, as it is not backward compatible with X-Plane 11. For enthusiasts of the golden age of aviation who desire a hands-on, intricate flying experience, this enhancement pack is an invaluable addition, offering a richly detailed and rewarding challenge. ______________________________________ The... Reality Expansion Pack REP for DHC-2 Beaver XP12 by Simcoders is available from the Org store here: Reality Expansion Pack for DHC-2 Beaver XP12 On sale: $US19.99 US$13.99 You Save:$6.00(30%) Features: Ultra Realistic Flight & Ground Dynamics Realistic stall speeds & behavior Correct climb speeds Realistic cruise speeds Real World Weight & Balance Realistic taxi behavior with realistic spring-loaded/free-castoring tailwheel Complex Damages System Triggered by the pilot actions Based on real world data Target every system in the aircraft Meant to teach you how to correctly manage an airplane Economic System Can be enabled/disabled on the fly Earn virtual money when you fly Use virtual money to buy fuel and do maintenance/repairs Realistic fuel prices around the World Fully compatible with FSEconomy and X-CPL-Pilot More info at https://www.simcoders.com/reality-expansion-pack/economy Custom Towing System Driven by the joystick/steering wheel Realistic point of view (POV) Interacts with tie-down and brakes Interactive Walkaround Cockpit checks Lights checks Engine soft cover removal Aileron, rudder, elevator and flaps check Tire check and choks removal Tie-down removal Pitot tube check Engine cowl check Floats and water rudder check Realistic Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior Engine Logic 100% Custom engine model Realistic power output for given manifold pressure/RPM settings Realistic propeller animations as never seen before on X-Plane Realistic booster coil Switch between conventional and Bendix-Stromberg pressure carburetor (with automatic mixture) Correct fuel consumption Oil System: 1. Realistic oil viscosity 2. Interchangeable oil type 3. Oil pump failures 4. Realistic oil filter Fuel System: 1. Realistic wobble pump 2. Realistic fuel pressure behavior 3. Realistic fuel filter 4. Realistic primer Starter Realistic startup procedure Automatic startup procedure for newbies Realistic engine temperatures Fuel Flooding simulation The engine parts wear down when not managed correctly Engine Preheater The engine may be warmed up upon start with the provided electrical heater Once activated, the electrical heater runs even when you close the simulator Realistic Landing Gear The landing gear is damaged by hard landings The brakes and tires are damaged if not managed correctly The steering wheel acts like the real one. Spring loaded under 35° of turn, then free castoring. Electrical & Avionics System Realistic Battery The avionics are damaged if on when the engine starts/shuts down Native Virtual Reality Support Complete support of new X-Plane SDK 3.0 Menu visible in VR Windows visible in VR Learn with the in-flight tips A non invasive tip with a suggestion about the conduct of the flight is shown when you are not flying the airplane properly A non invasive tip with a suggestion on how to recover the problem is shown when you damage the airplane Custom simulation of Hypoxia Tunnel vision Hard breathing Popup Kneeboard Normal operations checklist Emergency operations checklist Reference tables (speed, fuel consumption etc.) May be shown/hidden with mouse gestures Simulation state saving Every single switch and lever position restores its position when you reload the aircraft The battery may discharge if you leave it on and then close X-Plane The engine restores its cylinders and oil temperature basing on the elapsed time between restarts Maintenance Hangar Engine maintenance tab Electrical systems maintenance tab Landing gear, brakes & tires tab Instruments tab Economic System tab HeadShake Integration REP drives HeadShake to simulate the correct vibrations of the Wasp Junior engine Developed with love Coded by real pilots Very easy on FPS Written in C++ with no compromises Requirements: This is an add-on to the DHC-2 Beaver - DGS Series XP12. It will not work on the Thranda DHC-2 Beaver XP11 or any other aircraft. X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Current version: XP 12 - 4.8.2 (February 10th, 2024) Customers who own the Reality Expansion Pack for DHC-2 Beaver XP11, can get the new XP12 version for 30% off. Coupon code can be found in the original invoice. Reviewers System: Windows 10 Professional AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Processor 32GB RAM Palit GeForce RTX™ 3080 GamingPro Scenery Review by Michael Hayward  2nd April 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews   (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)  

Aircraft Update Review: Boeing 757 Professional Global package v2.6.12 by FlightFactor/VMax By DrishalMAC2 Introduction The Boeing 757, a twin-engine marvel with a narrow body, represents an enduring legacy in commercial aviation. Launched in the early 1980s, this adaptable aircraft was the result of Boeing's dedication to addressing the industry's growing demands for a medium-haul mainstay. With its distinctive narrow fuselage and potent twin engines, the Boeing 757 rapidly gained a reputation for its efficiency and flexibility across a variety of routes. Engineered to span the divide between short and medium-haul flights, the Boeing 757 has become essential for airlines in search of a dependable, fuel-efficient solution for both domestic and transatlantic trips. Despite the arrival of newer models, the Boeing 757 continues to enchant aviation aficionados and professionals, representing a time when innovation met practicality in an iconic design. In this review, I revisit the FlightFactor 757, previously reviewed by Stephen way in X-Plane 10, this time within X-Plane 12. My goal is to offer a balanced examination of how this well-regarded model has adapted to the advancements and features of X-Plane 12. Join me as we explore the updated performance, features, and overall experience it delivers, assessing its fidelity to the real-world aircraft's legacy and its place in the virtual aviation world. Installation Installing the FF 757 is remarkably straightforward. Firstly, download the file from the X-Plane.org store, unzip it, and then place it in the X-Plane/Aircraft directory. When you load the aircraft for the first time, you'll be prompted to enter your licence key, which can be found in the “My Account” section of the X-Plane.org store. After you've reloaded the simulator, you can start enjoying your brand new 757! Updating the aircraft is just as easy; you have the option to download the update from the store and drag and drop the files into the aircraft folder, or alternatively, you can download and install X-Updater and use it to update the aircraft. Personally, I find X-Updater to be the preferred method as it's very quick and straightforward. Documentation The FlightFactor 757 Global package is accompanied by ten distinct PDF documents relating to the aircraft. These encompass a variety of resources such as the "752 Checklist v1.1 Double side," "752 Checklist v1.1 Full Page," the extensive "757 FCOM," "757 Remote CDU Manual," "757-300 performance," supplementary "FCOM FPDS," "FMS (All Variants)," and three versions of the manual including "Manual," "ManualFPDS," and "ManualVR." These documents are incredibly detailed and informative, with the "757 FCOM" document alone surpassing 1,000 pages in length! Indeed, you've read that correctly…a staggering 1,000 pages! About FlightFactor FlightFactor continues to offer regular updates and enhancements for their 757/767 and A320neo models. While the A350 remains supported, updates for it are issued less frequently. The 757 and 767 models are notably similar, both in terms of quality and flight experience (in real-world aviation, they share the same Type Rating). FlightFactor is also working on the eagerly awaited Boeing 777 V2, expected to be released later this year. This upcoming version is highly anticipated to establish a new benchmark for payware aircraft in X-Plane 12. Versions and Variants The X-Plane.org store offers several packages of the 757, each catering to different preferences and requirements: Boeing 757 Professional, which focuses on the 757-200 model. Boeing 757 Extended, encompassing the 757-200, 757-300, 757-SF Cargo, and 757-C32 variants. Boeing 757 Global Pack, a comprehensive collection that includes all variants alongside a modern avionics package. For the purposes of this review, we will concentrate on the Global Pack, as, in terms of quality, all variants are remarkably similar. Included with the Global Pack are a total of fifteen liveries, which includes a blank paint kit. These liveries are mostly specific to the passenger, freighter, or C32 versions of the aircraft, representing a generous selection that encompasses several of the primary 757 operators. It’s worth noting that upon loading the aircraft, a popup will emerge, offering options to configure aspects such as the aircraft’s engines and winglets. Updates Recent months have seen significant updates to the aircraft, enhancing both its performance and realism in X-Plane 12. Notable among these improvements is the refinement of spoilers and flaps drag in version 2.6.9, aimed at achieving greater accuracy and optimisation for X-Plane 12. Moreover, version 2.6.10 addressed the "slow flight controls" issue, a problem that emerged with the comprehensive X-Plane 12 overhaul introduced in update 2.6.6. FlightFactor has also been fine-tuning the engine performance and lighting, further optimising these elements for X-Plane 12. In addition, "Apple Silicon native support" was recently introduced, alongside fixes for multiple bugs, including the "default view and fuel issues in the -300 variant" and a "possible engine shutdown" bug. These updates underscore FlightFactor's commitment to the continuous improvement of this aircraft. Furthermore, with update 2.6.10, the dependency on "libGLU" was eliminated, streamlining the software's operation. This series of updates highlights the FlightFactor team's dedication and ongoing efforts to enhance and refine the aircraft. Current version at time of writing is 2.6.12, which adds/addresses the following: Added an ability to enable/disable LuaJIT from the tablet Added BUS ISOLATED eicas messages Fixed RAT door LIT texture issue Fixed cockpit windows de-ice feature (xp12) Fixed possible unexpected ILS freq/crs changing without your input Fixed CG calculation in the tablet (xp12) Fixed the RAT beacon color Fixed the stab in 200, RF and C-32 Small fixes for de-ice systems Small fixes for brake press indication Got rid of libGLU dependency in FF_Effects plugin Retuned fuel flow Exterior Modelling The exterior modelling of the 757 is nicely executed, with the aircraft being accurately depicted within X-Plane 12. While it may not boast the highest level of detail, it is certainly more than satisfactory, especially when taking into account the aircraft's size and the potential impact on performance. The landing gear and engines are exceptionally well-modelled, standing out as particularly high-quality elements. However, there are areas that could benefit from further refinement, such as the roof where the SATCOMs are situated, which appears to require a slight visual improvement. Exterior Texturing The exterior texturing of the aircraft is generally satisfactory, with most essential details captured, though some textures display a lower resolution, even when the “texture quality” setting in X-Plane is maximized. The engines, for instance, feature exceptionally sharp manufacturer logos, including those of Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney. Similarly, warning labels and text maintain a high level of clarity. However, textures depicting panel edges, bolts, and signs of wear such as dirt and scratches are of markedly lower quality, detracting from the overall immersive experience. This inconsistency extends to the fuselage, where although text on the doors is crisp and clear, other elements like panel edges and bolts suffer from low resolution. While parts of the landing gear textures are well executed, others fall short of this standard. In conclusion, the exterior visuals are acceptable, especially considering that the majority of the time is spent in the cockpit, engaged in flight. In saying that, there is considerable room for improvement to enhance the visual fidelity and immersion of the model. Interior Modelling The cockpit's interior modelling is impressively executed, with every knob, switch, and lever accurately rendered to reflect the real Boeing 757 flight deck's high level of detail. The overhead panel, with its switches and buttons, looks particularly well modelled, as does the Flight Management Computer (FMC). The yoke, tiller, and throttle levers are also nicely modelled, though, when compared to actual photographs of the flight deck, the yoke appears somewhat smaller than its real-world counterpart. In the passenger variants, the seat modelling is nicely done, presenting a nice level of detail. However, the rest of the cabin does not maintain this standard; the galley is notably featureless, and the modelling of the overhead lights and seat buttons is lacking. Interestingly, the rear galley exhibits slightly more detail than the forward galley, which seems slightly strange. The C32 variant boasts a unique interior cabin that mirrors a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), with the general modelling quality on par with the passenger variants. A feature which stands out is the command room, which is exquisitely detailed and offers a high degree of authenticity. As for the freighter variant, it features a simplified forward galley, but access to the cargo hold from the interior is not modelled. The cargo hold can only be viewed using the “free look” camera mode. Although the cargo hold's modelling is basic, it adequately represents such a space. Given the primary focus on the cockpit (which has evidently received the bulk of attention and effort) the lack of intricate detail in the cargo hold does not significantly detract from the overall experience. Interior Texturing Within the cockpit, the texturing, in my view, falls somewhat short, as the textures appear "flat" and lack the nuanced details of wear and tear one might expect. While the textures on switches and knobs are consistent and accurate, they do not convey a sense of the aircraft having been frequently used. Essentially, the cockpit looks almost brand new, apart from some slight weathering, which, for an aircraft that is getting on in years, seems like a missed opportunity in which to introduce some signs of wear, such as peeling paint. However, the colour accuracy, when compared to real-world images of the Boeing 757 flight deck, is pretty much spot on. On the positive side, the sharpness and legibility of text within the cockpit are outstanding features. The jump-seat texture is also notably sharp and detailed. Furthermore, the lighting on the overhead panel buttons is well executed, contributing to a more immersive experience. The inclusion of dirt and scratches on the displays adds a layer of realism, with the extent of wear adjustable via three settings in the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), a feature we'll explore in greater detail later. The cabin textures in the passenger variant mirror some of the cockpit's limitations. The carpet's deep blue hue adds a touch of appeal, yet the side panels, overhead bins, and walls suffer from somewhat flat textures, occasionally appearing less detailed. The seat textures fare slightly better, offering more clarity, though this diminishes upon closer inspection. Given its price point, one might expect more refined interior textures, but considering the model's age and the pace of X-Plane’s development, some leniency may be warranted. Night Lighting The night lighting, both inside the cockpit and externally, is very nicely done. The colours and brightness levels are spot on, creating a highly immersive nocturnal flying experience. It's worth noting that I have a particular fondness for operating this aircraft at night, primarily due to the exceptional quality of the night lighting. Among the noteworthy features are the dynamic reflections on the windscreen, which vary according to the cockpit lighting's intensity. Similarly, the cabin lighting, which is entirely adjustable from the cockpit, enhances the overall ambiance. The cabin, in my opinion, appears significantly more appealing under the night lighting, contributing to the allure of nocturnal flights. Furthermore, the cabin lighting is visible from the exterior views, with its appearance altering in response to the cabin lights' brightness settings. The lighting system has received considerable refinement in recent updates, a fact that is clearly reflected in the outstanding quality of the night lighting. Flight Model The flight models across the 757 fleet are impressively realised, with variations that reflect the differences in engine types and the distinct characteristics between the 757-200 and the longer 757-300. The flight model captures a satisfyingly heavy feel, appropriate for an aircraft of its size, yet remains keenly responsive to pilot inputs. Despite the absence of a fly-by-wire (FBW) system for the primary flight controls: though FBW is employed for certain control surfaces like the spoilers, the connection between pilot and aircraft feels direct and intuitive, enhancing the flying experience. FlightFactor has excelled in simulating the ground physics of the 757, making taxiing a straightforward and responsive task, whether using the rudder or tiller for navigation. The 757's reputation for being overpowered is accurately depicted in the FlightFactor 757. Advancing the thrust levers, particularly with the Rolls Royce RB211 engines, results in remarkable acceleration, capturing the aircraft's real-world performance perfectly. A fully laden 757 demonstrates a realistically extended take-off roll, adhering to expectations. Recent updates have significantly refined the flight model, addressing previous issues related to bugs and sluggish response times. Efforts to update the simulation of flap and speedbrake drag have resulted in enhanced accuracy, bringing the virtual experience ever closer to the realities of flying the actual aircraft. Sounds The default sound package of the aircraft is generally acceptable. The simulation of switches and rotary knobs in the cockpit is notably well done, delivering satisfyingly crisp auditory feedback. However, this level of detail and depth doesn’t extend to all sound aspects, such as the air conditioning and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) noises, which fall short in terms of depth and variation. A notable absence of bass contributes to these sounds feeling somewhat flat and lacking in interest. The engine sounds differentiate adequately between the Pratt and Whitney and Rolls Royce engines, although, like the air conditioning and APU, the interior engine sounds could benefit from a richer bass presence. Conversely, the exterior engine sounds are more robust, offering a substantial depth and a significant amount of bass, though they are quite loud in their default setting. Thankfully, sound levels can be adjusted within the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), allowing for a more tailored auditory experience. The flyby sounds are also decent, aligning with the standard of default X-Plane aircraft sounds. Ambient noises, such as those of a bustling airport, can be heard in exterior views when the aircraft is in a cold and dark state. Personally, I find this addition slightly strange, detracting rather than enhancing the realism. Furthermore, the persistent interjections from the flight attendant regarding issues like cabin temperature, while aiming for realism, may not be universally appreciated. The option to disable this feature would be a beneficial addition for those who find it more intrusive than immersive. Moreover, the aircraft features an extensive selection of Passenger Announcement (PA) options, yet these PA sounds lack authenticity, bearing a resemblance to synthetic text-to-speech outputs rather than genuine in-flight announcements. Performance On my setup, the performance impact of operating the 757 is noticeably more pronounced than with any of the Toliss aircraft, which are renowned for their exceptional optimization. Specifically, I experience a reduction in frames per second (fps) by approximately 20% to 30% on average compared to the Toliss fleet and the default A330. Additionally, the 757 appears to demand more VRAM than the Toliss models and the default A330. An analysis using the plugin admin reveals that the 757's SASL plugin is a significant factor, accounting for nearly 20% of the performance load as depicted in the "performance pie chart." This indicates a clear need for an overhaul of the SASL's performance to enhance overall efficiency. Despite these performance challenges, I haven't experienced any stuttering issues, even when flying into more demanding airports like EGLL (London Heathrow) or KLAX (Los Angeles International). This suggests that while there is a tangible impact on performance, it may not critically affect users capable of running the default A330 at a reasonable fps. Nonetheless, improving the performance of the 757 remains an area in need of attention to ensure it aligns more closely with the high standards of efficiency seen in other aircraft within X-Plane. Systems The systems on the 757, while not as intricate as those found on Airbus aircraft, still present a level of complexity and accuracy expected from a Boeing model. The engine pages, Primary Flight Display (PFD), and Navigation Display (ND) are well-executed, displaying all the requisite information one would anticipate from such an aircraft. However, I would hesitate to categorize the systems as "Study Level," primarily due to the basic nature of the failure simulation. Some failures, for instance, either fail to activate or have no discernible impact on the aircraft's operation. A case in point is an attempted simulation of an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) engine failure, where the APU merely switched off without triggering an auditory warning like the Master Caution. The sole indication of the failure was an "APU Fail" message on the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) display. Additionally, the Electrical Bus (BUS) system, although generally accurate, suffers from a frustrating bug. Occasionally, when the APU or Ground Power Unit (GPU) is disconnected, the BUS Ties unexpectedly switch to the "Isolate" position rather than remaining in "Auto." This deviation from expected behaviour has, on several occasions, led to the aircraft shutting down during pushback, despite the APU and its generator being operational and connected to the BUS. On a positive note, the terrain and weather radar systems perform commendably, offering accuracy and reliability that significantly aid navigation in challenging weather conditions or when flying in proximity to hazardous terrain. EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) The EFB featured in this aircraft boasts a comprehensive array of options and functionalities, accessible either through the X-Plane “Plugins” menu or by interacting with the tablet within the cockpit. Engaging the tablet brings up the EFB as a 2D window. The "General" page presents some basic settings, including a master volume slider, providing a straightforward interface for adjusting essential parameters. The “Operations – Ground” page facilitates interaction with various ground services and the management of the aircraft’s weight and balance. Although it lacks a dedicated Weight and Balance chart, the "Optimise CG" button proves invaluable for adjusting the centre of gravity according to different load configurations. Loading the aircraft requires precise coordination of ground services and the opening of specific doors, a process that, while occasionally cumbersome, enhances realism. On the “Operations – Aircraft” page, users can manage door controls, adjust certain settings, and select engines. It's important to note that engine swaps are not possible once the aircraft is operational. The "Options" page, along with its subpages, offers an extensive selection of adjustable settings, ranging from auditory cues to visual effects. This section also provides the opportunity to install the "Modern Avionics" pack, assuming ownership. Further details on this upgrade will be discussed later in the review. The “Failures page” allows for the simulation of various system failures, designed with user-friendliness in mind, reminiscent of an installation wizard. This feature enables pilots to prepare for and respond to potential issues in a controlled environment. Insert failures page Lastly, the "In-Flight" page includes functionalities for activating Passenger Announcements (PAs), accessing navigational charts, and utilising a checklist feature that simulates the presence of a first officer, enhancing the realism and immersion of the flight experience. Modern Avionics Upgrade The "Modern Avionics Upgrade" package integrates well, offering a nuanced enhancement for simmers seeking a bit of diversity. It brings new operational dynamics and functionalities, but also a learning curve and the need for adaptation. The package is particularly appealing for those looking to engage with contemporary flight scenarios or enhance their proficiency with advanced systems, acting as a bridge to more modern aviation technologies. However, its value truly lies in the simmer's readiness to explore the aircraft's systems more deeply and to increase the authenticity of their flights. The upgrade is a valuable tool for those willing to invest the effort to fully appreciate its benefits. Conclusion In summing up, FlightFactor’s model stands as a commendable and accurate portrayal of the Boeing 757 and its principal variants. The ability to operate flights ranging from commercial passenger services to cargo hauls and even transporting senior political officials adds a unique and engaging dimension to each flight, ensuring a fresh and challenging experience. Despite the need for enhancements in visual and auditory fidelity, the systems and flight model are robust, offering a high-quality simulation of the Boeing 757, that will satisfy aviation enthusiasts and serious simmers alike. FlightFactor's commitment to continuous improvement is evident in their regular updates, giving users confidence that existing bugs will be addressed in due course, following the precedent set by previous fixes. While a visual overhaul is on the wishlist, the existing framework provides a solid representation of this nimble passenger jet. Performance optimisation is another area for potential enhancement; however, the current state remains functional and does not detract significantly from the overall experience. The price point may seem steep, especially considering the aircraft's age within X-Plane’s marketplace, but it's important to remember that the “Global Pack” offers substantial value. This package includes four distinct aircraft variants along with the “Modern Avionics package,” making it a comprehensive choice for those looking to extensively explore the capabilities and variations of the Boeing 757. ________________________ Boeing 757 version 2 Professional Global Package by FlightFactor is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Boeing 757 version 2 Professional Global Package Priced at $119.00 Features Supports both X-Plane 12 (fully updated) and X-Plane 11 The FPDS variant contains High resolution (768 x 1024 pixels) XGA multi-color LCD flat panel display with integrated standard six – FULL glass cockpit All digital electronics with improved accuracy, dependability and responsiveness DCP with Speed Reference Settings Minimum Selection (Radio or Baro) Units Selection Integrated Barometric Altimeter Setting Flight Path Vector Meters Altimeter The Boeing 757 Professional Extended includes 3 variants of the 757: 757-200 Passenger 757-200SF Cargo 757-300 Each plane is available with two different engine configurations (P&W and RR). Officially licensed by the Boeing © Corporation Accurate dimensions based on drawings supplied by Boeing © Support for X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12 Suitable for beginners- Tutorial modes and auto procedures Great for advanced users - Complex systems are simulated Includes both Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney engine types VR Compatible Flight model Accurate flight model, as close as it gets to real performance. Tested by real pilots. Dynamic and customizable center of gravity that depends on actual cargo, passenger placement and burning fuel in flight. Fully Functional Professional FMS and EFIS System Custom designed Flight Management Computer, integrated with other plane systems. Terminal procedures from updatable database. Two independent analogue instrument sets for captain and first officer. Two independently simulated EFIS (EADI/EHSI configuration) for captain and first officer. Dual-FMS with two independently working CDUs. Working instrument comparators. Triple IRS and triple symbol generator systems with realistic instrument source switching. Dual air-data computers with custom failure modes and source switching. Independent 2 nav and an ils receivers. Realistic inertial and radio position updating, you can see the individual inaccuracies of those systems. Triple-channel autopilot with realistic dependencies. Fail operational and fail passive autoland with mode degradations based on system failures. Load company routes generated by Professional Flight Planner X (or other compatible programs) directly into the FMC. FMC can be used on external touchscreen or tablet, optimized for the Retina iPad. Custom cockpit interaction system Adjustable modes for cockpit interaction, you chose what to use for clicks Different cockpit interaction modes, with mouse wheel and right button support In-cockpit tooltips from the manual - you click on the button and see portions of the manual on display In-cockpit life datarefs for cockpit building Options A very flexible architecture: You chose the set up Different options for many avionics instruments including two types of FMC. Options to composite your own EICAS, EADI and EHSI displays. Most of the options that the real 757 fleet has are included. Many additional options for sounds, cockpit interaction, effects etc. Interactive Checklists, Procedures, and auto-helper (Exclusive feature) Full electronic interactive checklists and procedures with automatic action detection. Automatic mode helper that performs all the actions for you. You just CHECK the items. A tutorial which shows the user what to do and when. An option to have a visual aid on what and when to do in procedures. Custom Systems and Failure model Detailed and deep simulation of almost every system in the real aircraft. Custom air and pressure system. Electrical system with all AC and DC busses modelled - see which system depends on which bus. Hydraulic system that uses a little fluid when treated correctly and a lot of fluid if used incorrectly. Multistage custom failure system - over 200 more failures than X-Plane. (Exclusive feature) Ability to fix failure by following proper procedure. Persistent failure and maintenance system - Aircraft wear and misuse will carry over to your next flight. Warning system and radars (Exclusive feature) Fully functional GPWS with all the modes the real plane has. Fully functional terrain radar, with custom database (just like the real plane), a look-ahead warning system and many other features. Weather radar that works like the real thing. Including tilt and gain functions, ground clutter, turbulence detection and windshear prediction. 3D Modeling Accurate dimensions based on exterior drawings provided by Boeing. Very detailed exterior modelling with high resolution textures. Very high resolution 3D cockpit with every switch functional. Spatial rain simulation with high detail. Very detailed passenger cabin graphics including galleys. Additional graphic features: real working oxygen masks both in cockpit and cabin, dynamic window blinds that react to sunlight etc. New and improved wingflex. Special effects (Exclusive features) Multilayer dynamic reflections on all glass objects. Glow effects on screens Reflective metal and plastic objects in the cockpit. Glossy exterior that reflects the outside. XP weather enhancements like custom windshear. Custom Sounds (Exclusive features) Two sound packs by BSS for both engines. Several hundred custom sounds. In-cockpit custom sounds. Switches with individual sounds. Many individual system sound inside and outside. Airport environment sounds. Cabin sounds. 3D stereo sound system for engines. In flight cabin announcements. Interactive communication with the cabin crew (reporting misconfigurations and passenger comfort problems). On Screen menus (Exclusive features) An iPad-like menu popping-up from the cockpit. Custom pages for loading/unloading fuel, cargo and passengers, customizing the CG, calling for pushback and performing maintenance. Ability to customize the plane with winglets, special effects level, wingflex level and set other options to be saved or default. Ground equipment and door pages. Failure monitoring menu. Extra objects and equipment Working push-back truck - Fully controllable with your joystick. Passenger bus and stairs or optional gate configuration (passengers can be loaded from gate instead of bus). Fuel truck, de-Icing truck, GPU, ground-start units both visible and fully functional with airplane systems. Other ground equipment. Liveries 7 default liveries included in the package: Air France, American, Boeing House, Jet2.com, Lufthansa, Thomson, VA X-Airways About 50 additional liveries are available separately. SmartCopilot Compatible Download the SmartCopilot files here Requirements X-Plane 12, X-Plane 11.50+ Windows 10+, Mac OS 10.15+ (Intel or Apple Silicon) or Linux 14.04 LTS or compatible, 64 bit mode Disk Space: 4 GB X-Plane 12: Minimum: CPU: Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 CPU with 4 or more cores, or AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or 9, or equivalent RAM: 16 GB Video Card: a Vulkan 1.3-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 6 GB VRAM Recommended: CPU: Intel Core intel i5-12600K or Ryzen 5 3500 or better RAM: 32 GB Video Card: a DirectX 12-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 8-12 GB VRAM (GeForce RTX 2070 or better, or similar from AMD) X-Plane 11: Minimum: CPU: Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 CPU with at least 4 cores, or AMD equivalent RAM: 16 GB Video Card: a DirectX 11-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 4 GB VRAM Recommended: CPU: Intel Core i5 8600k or Ryzen 5 3500 or better RAM: 32 GB Video Card: a DirectX 12-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 8 GB VRAM (GeForce GTX 1070 or better, or similar from AMD) Review System Specifications Windows 10, Intel i5-12400F, 32GB RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Aircraft Update Review by DrishalMAC2 31st March 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).