x-plane desktop manual

7/18/2019 X-Plane Desktop Manual

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X-Plane Operation Manual

About This Copy of the Manual

This is revision 9.61 of the manual to the desktop and professionalversions of X-Plane, last updated on November 13, 21!.

Using This Manual

Throu"hout the manual, there #ill be $ross-referen$es to otherparts of the manual. These #ill "enerall% be in the form of a dark"ra% pa"e number&for instan$e, 'hapter ! is on pa"e 54 ($li$kin"the number there #ill "o dire$tl% to pa"e )3*. The Table of'ontents is also $ross-referen$ed+ $li$k on the se$tion %oure

lookin" for to travel there instantl%. lternativel%, the P/0sbookmarks $an be used to navi"ate ui$kl% throu"h the manual.

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Table of Contents

'li$k a $hapter or se$tion headin" to "o dire$tl% to that pa"e.

1. About X-Plane......................................................................10

. vervie#. 4hat X-Plane n$ludes. 5istor%

. ustins io, 7ast 8pdated id-26. X-Plane Toda%

. vervie#a. The 7evel 1 X-Plane :imulator b. The 7evel 2 X-Plane :imulator$. The 7evel 3 X-Plane :imulator d. The 7evel ! X-Plane :imulator e. :ummar%

. !nstalling an" Configuring X-Plane....................................1#. :%stem ;euirements. /li"ht 'ontrol :ele$tion

. <o%sti$ks. =okes'. ;udder Pedals. ther 'onsiderations

. ispla% ;euirements and :%stem r$hite$ture>. ?raphi$s rivers and X-Plane

. 8pdatin" ?raphi$s rivers in 4indo#s

>. nstallin" X-Plane . nstallation on a 4indo#s P'i. :pe$ial 'onsiderations for 4indo#s XP

8sersii. :pe$ial 'onsiderations for 4indo#s >ista

and @ 8sers. nstallation on a a$intosh

i. :pe$ial 'onsiderations for a$ 8sers'. nstallation in 7inuA

>. 7aun$hin" X-Plane

>. 8pdatin" to a Ne#er >ersion of X-Plane . 8sin" X-Plane etas

>. 'ompatibilit% #ith Barlier >ersions of :$ener%,odels, and Plu"-ns

X. 8ninstallin" X-Plane

X. ?ettin" 5elp and :upport

$. !nitial %light &etup................................................................$. ?eneral $$ess. <o%sti$k 'onfi"uration and 'alibration

. Ais ssi"nment. 'ontrol 'alibration'. utton ssi"nment. 'ontrollin" <o%sti$k :ensitivit% and ir$raft

:tabilit%i. :ensitivit%

ii. :tabilit%B. :ettin" Null Cones/. 'enterin" the 'ontrols?. ddin" :pe$ial Buipment5. Troubleshootin" /li"ht 'ontrols

. ;enderin" ptions :etup . /rame ;ate and the Dualit% of /li"ht :imulation. :ettin" 8p the onitor

i. TeAture ;esolutionii. :et 'olor epth and onitor ;esolution

on X-Plane :tartup

iii. nti-lias 7eveliv. :$reen ;es (;esolution*

a. akin" X-Plane /ull :$reenv. ra# : on :e$ond onitor on :ame

>ideo 'ard'. :ettin" 8p the X-Plane 4orld

i. /orest ensit%ii. 4orld etail istan$eiii. Number of bEe$ts

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iv. Number of ;oadsv. irport etailvi. Traffi$ ensit%vii. nisotropi$ /ilter TeAturesviii. ra# irds in Ni$e 4eather

iA. ra# 5i-;es Planet TeAtures from rbitA. ra# /orest /ires and alloons in 4arm

4eather Ai. ra# >ie# ndi$ator Aii. im 8nder 5i"h ? 7oad or 5%poAiaAiii. 8se PiAel :haders for maFin" /o" and

4ater Bffe$tsa. ra# >olumetri$ /o"b. 4ater ;efle$tion 7evel

. :ettin" up 'loudsi. Number of 'loud Puffs

ii. :iFe 'loud of 'loud PuffsB. BApert ;enderin" ptions

i. 'ompress TeAtures to :ave >;ii. o n% :$ener% 7oads in the a$k"roundiii. ;un#a%s /ollo# Terrain 'ontours

/. :pe$ial >ie#in" 'ontrolsi. 7ateral /ield of >ie#ii. inimum /rame ;ateiii. ulti-'omputer :imulators

a. 7ateral, >erti$al, and ;oll ffsetsiv. 7o$k >ie# to /or#ard 'o$kpit

?. :ettin" up X-Plane to $hieve the est ;esultsi. ispla%in" the /rame ;ateii. odif%in" >isibilit% and 'loud ;enderin"iii. 'han"in" TeAture ;esolution for est

Performan$eiv. :ettin" :$reen ;esolution for est

Performan$ev. ptimiFin" ther ;enderin" ptionsvi. 'han"in" the Number of ther ir$raft

4. %light.....................................................................................54. penin" an ir$raft. 'hoosin" an irport

. irport s BAplained

. :ettin" 4eather . asi$ 'loud 'onfi"uration. Dui$k-:et uttons'. 4eather :liders. Temperature and PressureB. 4ind 7a%ers/. Thermals?. ;un#a% 'onditions5. 8sin" ;eal 4eather

>. 8sin" the Ge%boardHGe%board :hort$uts>. 8sin" the ouse nstead of a <o%sti$k

>. 'ontrollin" nstruments and vioni$s #ith the ouse . Note on ;adio Tunin"

>. rtifi$ial ntelli"en$e (* emo /li"ht>. /l%in" =ourself

5. X-Plane Menus.....................................................................'(. The bout enu

. bout X-Plane. nstru$tions'. .. :ele$ts =our ir$raft. .. /lies =our ir$raft

B. .. 'ontrols =our >ie#s. The /ile enu

. :aveH7oad :ituation. :aveH7oad ;epla%'. Dui$ktime ovie :pe$s. To""le ovieB. 7oad /li"ht ata ;e$order /ile/. Take :$reenshot

. The ir$raft enu

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. pen ir$raft. pen 7iver%'. 4ei"ht and /uel

i. The /uelHPa%load Tabii. The rdnan$e Tab

. Buipment /ailuresB. ir$raft I :ituations/. :ho# ouse-'li$k ;e"ions?. :ho# nstrument es$riptions5. To""le Puff :moke. '%$le 3- /li"ht Path<. ;eset 3- /li"ht PathG. 7o"book

>. The 7o$ation enu . :ele$t ?lobal irport

i. The Take ff uttons

ii. The /inal pproa$h uttonsiii. The ;amp :tart uttons

. 7o$al api. The 5i-:peed Tabii. The 7o# Bnroute Tabiii. The 5i"h Bnroute Tabiv. The :e$tional Tabv. The TeAtured Tabvi. 'he$k oAes

a. The nstru$tor perator :tation(:* oA

b. The Bdit oA$. The ;epla% oAd. The :lope oAe. The nst oAf. The 3- oA

vii. ir$raft 'ontrolsviii. >ie#in" 'ontrols

'. Planet ap. :et Planet to Barth or ars

B. ?et e 7ost>. The Bnvironment enu

. 4eather . ate I Time

>. The :ettin"s enu

. ata nput I utputi. The ata :et Tab

a. The /our 'he$kboAes in epthaa. nternet via 8P (/irst

'he$kboA*bb. isk /ile ata.tAt

(:e$ond 'he$kboA*$$. ?raphi$al ispla% in

ata-:ee Tab (Third'he$kboA*

dd. 'o$kpit urin" /li"ht

(/ourth 'he$kboA*ii. The ata :ee Tab

. Net 'onne$tionsi. net 1ii. net 2iii. net 3

'. <o%sti$k I Buipment. ;enderin" ptionsB. :ound/. Dui$k-/li"ht :etup?. perations I 4arnin"s

i. /li"ht odelii. :tartupiii. 4arnin"siv. ama"ev. ata

>. The >ie# enu>. The :pe$ial enu

. :ho# /li"ht odeli. /un #ith the /li"ht odel

)



. utput /li"ht odel'. penHTo""le TeAt /ile for >ie#in". penHTo""le 'he$klist for 8seB. /ind Pit$hH=a# :tabilit% erivative/. :et Bnvironment Properties

?. :et rtifi$ial :tabilit%, utopilot, and /B'$onstants

5. :ho# 'ontrol efle$tions. :ho# 4eapon ?uidan$e<. :ho# :k% 'olorsG. :ho# ProEe$tor Test

X. The Plu"ins enu . Plu"-in dmin

'. )a*igation+ Autopilots+ an" %lying on !nstru,ents(5. Navi"ation

. 5istor%i. ead ;e$konin"ii. ural Navi"ation

. odern Navi"ationi. N Navi"ationii. >; Navi"ationiii. 7: Navi"ationiv. ?P: Navi"ation

. utopilots . es$riptions of utopilot /un$tions

i. 47>

ii. 5?iii. 7'iv. 57v. >H:vi. :Pvii. /7'5viii. PT'5iA. ?H:A. >N>

Ai. '. 8sin" the utopilot

i. Turnin" t nii. 8sin" the 'ontrols

a. 4in" 7eveler and Pit$h :%n$

b. 5eadin", ltitude, >erti$al :peed,:peed 5old, /li"ht 7evel'han"e, uto-Throttle

$. Pit$h :%n$ #ith the Pit$h :%n$<o%sti$k utton

d. 7' and ?H:aa. 7'bb. ?H:$$. /l%in" an 7: 8sin" 7'

and ?H:iii. /l%in" an /: Plan

iv. Turnin" the utopilot ff . /l%in" on nstruments

. 5istor%. The nner Bar and =our :ense of alan$e'. ?%ros$opes and Their ppli$ation to /li"ht. The :iA Primar% /li"ht nstruments

i. The irspeed ndi$ator (:*ii. The ttitude ndi$ator (*iii. The ltimeter (7T*iv. The Turn 'oordinator (T'*v. The ire$tional ?%ro (?*

vi. The >erti$al :peed ndi$ator (>:*

#. /pan"ing X-Plane..............................................................114. ddin" Third-Part% ir$raft. ddin" Third-Part% :$ener%. nstallin" Plu"-ns

. /pert ssays......................................................................11'. Tunin" the 5andlin" in X-Plane

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. /a$tors ffe$tin" X-Planes Performan$e. Tunin" the utopilot

. Tunin" utopilot ;olli. ;oll Brror for /ull ileronii. ;oll Predi$tion

iii. ;oll Tune Timeiv. 7o$aliFer ' ?ainv. 7o$aliFer ' Predi$tion

. :ummar% of ;oll :ettin"s'. Tunin" utopilot Pit$h

i. Pit$h Brror for /ull Blevator ii. Pit$h Predi$tioniii. Pit$h Tune Timeiv. ?lideslope ' ?ainv. ?lideslope ' Predi$tionvi. Pit$h e"rees per Gnot

. :ummar% of oth Pit$h and ;oll 'ontrolsB. :ettin" utopilot 'onstants Dui$kl%

>. esi"nin" an rtifi$ial :tabilit% :%stem . esi"nin" a =a# amper . :tabiliFin" Pit$h

>. :ettin" 8p dvan$ed Net#orks . :ettin" 8p a Net#orked 'opilot0s :tation

>. :ettin" 8p ultiple onitors . ultiple 'omputers, ultiple onitors. ne 'omputer, ultiple onitors'. :ettin" 8p a 'opilots :tation 8sin" T#o

onitors #ith ne 'omputer >. /l%in" 5eli$opters>. /l%in" the :pa$e :huttle

. 4alkthrou"hX. /l%in" on ars

. ntrodu$tor% 7etter . Tips

(. &upple,ent Airfoil-Ma2er ..................................................14#

. enus . bout. /ile enu

i. Ne#ii. pen

iii. :aveiv. :ave sv. BAit

. esi"nin" an irfoil . The 'oeffi$ient ?raph. ;e%nolds Number '. 'oeffi$ients

i. 'oeffi$ient of 7iftii. 'oeffi$ient of ra"iii. 'oeffi$ient of oment

. ?eneral nfo

i. /indin" 'oeffi$ientsii. ;e$ommended a$k"round ;eadin"iii. T%pes of irfoils

B. ?eneratin" irfoilsi. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift nter$eptii. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift :lopeiii. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift 'urvature Near the

:talliv. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift aAimumv. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift mmediate rop at :tallvi. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift 'urvature fter the

:tallvii. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift rop from :tall to 2

e"reesviii. 'oeffi$ient of ra" inimumiA. 'oeffi$ient of 7ift at 4hi$h inimum

ra" $$ursA. 'oeffi$ient of ra" at n"le of tta$k of

1 e"reesAi. 'oeffi$ient of ra" 'urvature

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Aii. 7aminar ra" u$ket 7o$ationAiii. 7aminar ra" u$ket 4idthAiv. 7aminar ra" u$ket epthAv. 7aminar ra" u$ket 'urvatureAvi. 'oeffi$ient of oment 7o#-lpha

'han"e PointAvii. 'oeffi$ient of oment 5i"h-lpha

'han"e PointAviii. 'oeffi$ient of oment at 2 e"reesAiA. 'oeffi$ient of oment at 7o#-lpha

'han"e PointAA. 'oeffi$ient of oment at 5i"h-lpha

'han"e PointAAi. 'oeffi$ient of oment at 2 e"rees

/. /inishin" 8p

10. &upple,ent Plane-Ma2er ................................................1'0. Plane-aker es$ription. 7i$ensin" of Planes 'reated in Plane-aker . 8sin" Plane-aker to ake a Plane>. ddin" irfoils to a Plane in Plane-aker >. /inishin" the Plane #ith 'ustom 'o$kpits, Paint, and

:ounds . 'ustom Paint. 'ustom Panels and nstruments'. 'ustom :ounds. 'ustom 4eapons and :lun" 7oads

B. 'ustom 3- 'o$kpits and odies>. 'reatin" bEe$ts for X-Plane>. istribution>. :ummar%

11. &upple,ent X-Plane &3enery esour3es...................... 1''. o#nloadin" Pre-ade :$ener%. uildin" 'ustom irports. 'onvertin" ?oo"le Barth :$ener% for 8se in X-Plane

Appen"i3esAppen"i/ A o6 X-Plane 7or2s...............................1'

. X-Plane0s lade Blement :imulation BAplained . Blement reakdo#n

. >elo$it% etermination'. 'oeffi$ient etermination. /or$e uild-8pB. a$k to 4ork

. dvanta"es of lade Blement :imulation

Appen"i/ 8 &en"ing a 8ug eport...........................1#1

Appen"i/ C 9lossary of Ter,s.................................1#4. 4orkin" #ith the Pro"ram tself . Parts of an ir$raft

. ovement of an ir$raft>. ther viation Terms

Appen"i/ : %A; an" Troubleshooting....................10. 5o# do update or install X-PlaneJ. 4h% does X-Plane not #ork on m% 4indo#s

ma$hine or $rash upon eAitin" the simJ. 5o# do $han"e the resolutionJ>. 5o# do set up a Eo%sti$k, %oke, or rudder

pedalsJ>. 5o# do install ne# s$ener%, air$raft, or plu"-

insJ>. 5o# do use the autopilotJ>. 4h% does m% P' freeFe after runnin" X-Plane

a#hileJ>. 4h% do "et an error about a missin" 77JX. 4h% does air traffi$ $ontrol spee$h not #ork on

m% 4indo#s ma$hineJX. 4h% is there no sound on m% a$JX. 5o# do make m% sim run fasterJ

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X. 4hat hard#are should bu%JX. 4h% does m% airplane flutter and $rashJX>. oes X-Plane use 6!-bit pro$essin"JX>. 4hat are the differen$es bet#een the standard

desktop version of X-Plane and the /-

$ertified versionJX>. 4h% does :7H'rossfire not speed up the simJ

Appen"i/ Ma2ing Ob<e3ts for X-Plane...................1(0

Appen"i/ % Custo, Air3raft %iles for ire...............1(

Appen"i/ 9 The =og %ile /plaine"......................... 1($

Appen"i/ X-Plane an" =inu/.................................1(. nstallation

. n 8buntu (32-bit*i. Note on 7oss of udio in 8buntu

9.1. n pen:8:B (6!-bit*'. n /edora (6!-bit*. Troubleshootin"

Appen"i/ ! Up"ating the Co,puter>s 9raphi3s :ri*ersin 7in"o6s.............................................................1$

I. Determining the Graphics Card Maker and ModelUsing DirectX Diagnostic

II. Installing Drivers for Video Cards Made by ATIIII. Installing Drivers for Video Cards Made byNVIDIA

Appen"i/ ? :efault @ey Assign,ents......................'

Appen"i/ @ Using Ol"er ersions of X-Plane..........#

Appen"i/ = 7ater *ery6hereB.................................(

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1. About X-Plane

!. O*er*ie6

X-Plane is the #orlds most $omprehensive and po#erful fli"htsimulator for personal $omputers.

X-Plane offers the most realisti$ fli"ht model available for homeuse.

X-Plane is not a "ame, but an en"ineerin" tool that $an be used topredi$t the fl%in" ualities of fiAed- and rotar%-#in" air$raft #ithin$redible a$$ura$%.

e$ause X-Plane predi$ts the performan$e and handlin" of almostan% air$raft, it is a "reat tool for pilots to keep up their $urren$% ina simulator that flies like the real plane, for en"ineers to predi$tho# a ne# airplane #ill fl%, and for aviation enthusiasts to eAplorethe #orld of air$raft fli"ht d%nami$s.

4el$ome to the #orld of props, Eets, sin"le- and multi-en"ineairplanes, as #ell as "liders, heli$opters and >T7s. X-Plane$ontains subsoni$ and supersoni$ fli"ht d%nami$s, allo#in" usersto predi$t the fli"ht $hara$teristi$s of the slo#est air$raft to thefastest. X-Plane also in$ludes 3) air$raft on its master disk,

spannin" the aviation industr% (and its histor%*, sportin" air$raftfrom the ell 26 <et;an"er and 'essna 1@2 to the :pa$e :huttleand the -2 omber. dditionall%, more than 1,! additionalair$raft models $an be do#nloaded from the nternet (X-Plane.or"1, the X-Plane.$om 7inks pa"e2, and ?oo"le3 are "oodpla$es to start*, nearl% all of #hi$h are free. f those aren0tenou"h, users $an desi"n their o#n airplanes and test fl% themL

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The full X-Plane s$ener% pa$ka"e $overs the Barth in stunnin"resolution from @!O north to 6O south latitude. :$ener% is alsoavailable for ars thanks to the ars rbitin" 7aser ltimeter,#hi$h mapped that planets elevation. n Barth, users $an land at

an% of over 33, airports or test their mettle on air$raft $arriers,oil ri"s, fri"ates (#hi$h pit$h and roll #ith the #aves*, or helipadsatop buildin"s. The% $an also realisti$all% model the fli"ht ofremote $ontrolled model air$raft, air-laun$h in an X-1) or :pa$e:hip ne from the mother ship, fl% re-entries into Barthsatmosphere in the :pa$e :huttle, fl% #ith friends over the nternetor a 7N, drop #ater on forest fires, or shoot approa$hes toair$raft $arriers at ni"ht in storm% #eather and rou"h #ater$onditions in a dama"ed /-!. The situations that $an besimulated are in$redibleL

4eather is variable in X-Plane from $lear skies and hi"h visibilit%to thunderstorms #ith $ontrollable #ind, #ind shear, turbulen$e,and mi$ro bursts. ;ain, sno#, and $louds are available for aninstrument fl%in" $hallen"e, and thermals are available for the"liders. $tual #eather $onditions $an be do#nloaded from thenternet, allo#in" users to fl% in the #eather that $urrentl% eAists atthe lo$ation of the fli"htL

X-Plane also has detailed failure modelin", #ith multitudes ofs%stems that $an either be failed manuall% at an instru$tor0s$ommand, or randoml% #hen users least eApe$t itL 8sers $an fail

instruments, en"ines, fli"ht $ontrols, $ontrol $ables, antennae,landin" "ear, or an% of doFens of other s%stems at an% moment.The% $an also have a friend or fli"ht instru$tor (lo$all% or via thenternet, #orkin" from an nstru$tors peratin" :tation* fail$omponents on the air$raft #ithout the pilot0s kno#led"e. Theinstru$tor $an alter the time of da%, #eather $onditions, and failurestatus of hundreds of air$raft s%stems and $omponents.

dditionall%, the instru$tor $an relo$ate the air$raft to a lo$ation ofhis or her $hoi$e at an% time.

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ir$raft models are also eAtremel% fleAible, allo#in" users to easil%$reate paint Eobs, sounds, and instrument panels to modif% an%airplane %ou $hoose. 'ustom airplane or heli$opter desi"ns $aneven be $reated and flo#n usin" X-Plane and the in$luded Plane-

aker soft#are.

X-Plane is used b% #orld-leadin" defense $ontra$tors, air for$es,air$raft manufa$turers, and even spa$e a"en$ies for appli$ationsran"in" from fli"ht trainin" to $on$ept desi"n and fli"ht testin".

/or eAample, X-Plane has been used in $rash investi"ations todepi$t the vie# pilots eAperien$ed moments before a mid-air$ollision, or to "raphi$all% present to Euries and Eud"es the for$esthat impa$t an air$raft in fli"ht. :$aled 'omposites used X-Planeto visualiFe :pa$e :hip ne0s fli"hts to the ed"e of the

atmosphere in their pilot trainin" simulator. Galitta has used X-Plane to train their pilots to fl% frei"ht @!@s in the middle of theni"ht. North#est and <apan irlines use X-Plane for fli"ht revie#and trainin". 'essna uses X-Plane to train ne# $ustomers in theintri$a$ies of the ?armin ?1. ave ;ose has used X-Plane tooptimiFe airplanes for his man% #ins at ;eno. N: has used X-Plane to test the re-entr% of "liders into the artian atmosphere,and the list "oes on. These $ustomers serve as perhaps the mostsi"nifi$ant endorsement of the in$redible $apabilities of thissimulator.

/urthermore, X-Plane has re$eived $ertifi$ation from the / foruse in lo""in" hours to#ards fli"ht eAperien$e and ratin"s. ThiseAperien$e $an provide $redit to#ards a private pilots li$ense,re$urren$e trainin", hours to#ards instrument trainin", and evenhours to#ards an irline Transport 'ertifi$ate&it0s that "ood.

)oteM This $ertifi$ation reuires not onl% that the user has the$ertified X-Plane soft#are, but also the $ertified hard#are ($o$kpitand fli"ht $ontrols* available throu"h $ompanies like Pre$ision

/li"ht 'ontrols! and /idelit%). This is be$ause fli"ht-trainin"s%stems $an onl% be $ertified as a $omplete pa$ka"e (a soft#areand hard#are $ombination*. The $ertified soft#are is available for ) to 1, per $op% from P/' and /idelit% and the hard#areruns from ), to ),. The retail version of X-Plane

pur$hased at X-Plane.$om6 is not $ertified for fli"ht trainin" ri"htout of the boA, sin$e $ertifi$ation reuires a soft#are andhard#are $ombination. 5o#ever, the soft#are available for about) at X-Plane.$om is almost identi$al #hat is found in the), full-motion /-$ertified platforms. The bi""estdifferen$e is that the /-$ertified versions have $ustom air$raftfiles #ith lar"er instrument panels, #hi$h are set up to #ork #ithhard#are radios like those found in the ph%si$al $o$kpits. The/-$ertified version also has some of the purel% fun stuff (likears and spa$e fli"ht* removed&even thou"h those situationsare simulated a$$uratel% in X-Plane, Eust like the /-$ertified

subsoni$ terrestrial fli"ht. 4hen the / $ertifies the first artianbusiness Eet, #e0ll be there.

!!. 7hat X-Plane !n3lu"es

4indo#s, a$, and 7inuA installers are in$luded on the dis$spur$hased from X-Plane.$om@. There are approAimatel% @! ?#orth of s$ener% ($overin" essentiall% the entire #orld* and thirt%-five air$raft, #ith thousands of planes available on the #eb. The>s $ontain ever%thin" needed to run X-Plane&there is nothin"

more that users need to bu%. =ou0ll re$eive free updates toversion 9 until version 1 is released, as #ell some of the best$ustomer servi$e and te$h support available.

4hile on its o#n X-Plane represents the #orlds most

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http://www.x-plane.com/order.html





http://www.flightmotion.com/





$omprehensive fli"ht simulator, the installation > also $omes#ith Plane-aker (allo#in" users to $reate $ustom air$raft ormodif% eAistin" desi"ns*, irfoil-aker (allo#in" users to $reateairfoil performan$e profiles*, and 4eather-riefer (to "ive users a#eather briefin" before the fli"ht #hen usin" real #eather

$onditions do#nloaded from the nternet*.

The sto$k installation in$ludes the follo#in" thirt%-five air$raftM

'irrus >ision :/) X-1) and X-3 X-Planes'essna 1@2:P G'-1 BAtender Pia""o P-1K vanti oein" @!@-!:tinson 7-) :entinel ell-oein" >-22 spre%

:G-21 "lider oein" -)2? :tratofortressell !@ >an0s ;>-3H!H6H@HKH9H1ee$h$raft Gin" ir 2 ;o$k#ell -1 7an$er

/-22 ;aptor >i""en <3@7o$kheed :;-@1 la$kbird /-! Phantomombardier 'anadair '7-!1) ars <et, ars ;o$ketoein" @@@-2 ell 26Piper P-!6 alibu oein" >-K 5arrier Northrop -2 :pirit :ikorsk% :-61;obinson ;22 eta :pa$e :huttle rbiter ?reat Planes PT-6 ;' plane Thunder Ti"er ;aptor 3 v2

;' heli$opter

f $ourse, the thousands of air$raft available on the nternet

provide even "reater variet%. The follo#in" is a (small* sample of#hat0s out thereM

ee$h$raft onanFa oein" @2@H@3@H@!@Het$oone% 2< 21 Piper P-16 'lipper de 5avil land 5-16 'omet Pitts Qountain e#R :2':ikorsk% :@6 :trato'loud ;am-ir P-)1 ustan" Piper T#in 'oman$he P3ee$h$raft Gin" ir 3) 'essna 19)'essna '1) ell 222

ou"las -! :k%ha#k l%ushin 7-@6/iat ';.!2 /al$o Paris <et ell !@ Pere"rine /222 /irenFeee$h$raft :ta""er#in" 'urtis P-6 5a#k/ord Tri-motor 'essna 12

5a#ker :ea 5arrier /;:1

!!!. istory

an% people ask us about the histor% of X-Plane, ho# #e "otstarted and #here #ere "oin". 5eres some ba$k"roundinformation about ustin e%er (the author* and the histor% of X-PlaneM

s users are probabl% a#are, the most popular fli"ht simulator on

the market is i$rosoft /li"ht :imulator. This ma% bepredominatel% due to their earl% start #ith their fli"ht simulator,#hi$h dates ba$k to about 19K2 or so. ver the %ears, there havebeen man% other upstart $ompanies that have attempted to$ompete a"ainst i$rosoft (/li"ht-8nlimited, /l% and /l%-2k are afe# eAamples*. ll have failed... eA$ept X-Plane, #hi$h hastraditionall% enEo%ed a relativel% small market of fanati$ users./rom the ver% be"innin", the lar"est advanta"e of usin" X-Plane#as in the #a% the fli"ht model is "enerated and the hi"h frame-rate at #hi$h X-Plane $an run. This has lon" "iven us anadvanta"e in bein" able to a$$uratel% $al$ulate and depi$t the

fli"ht response and feel of an air$raft in fli"ht. n the past,i$rosoft had s$ener% that #as superior to X-Planes, as #ell asman% more add-ons. i$rosoft0s advanta"e here lar"el% died #iththe release of the first set of hi"h-definition, #orld-#ide s$ener%disks on e$ember 1, 2!, about mid#a% throu"h the X-Plane>ersion K run.

ver the %ears, #eve $onsistentl% seen in$reasin" sales, #ith atotal of about @), $opies of X-Plane shipped throu"h eithernternet orders or retailers as of pril 29 (not $ountin" the

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), $opies of the ne# iPhone appsL*. /urthermore, X-Planeis the onl% sin"le $ommer$ial fli"ht simulator available for thea$intosh, 4indo#s, and 7inuA platforms. The set of dis$s soldat X-Plane.$om in$ludes $opies for all three, so there is nopossibilit% that a user #ill pi$k up the #ron" version for his or her

$omputer. (Note that some retailers have been kno#n to sto$k4indo#s-onl% or a$intosh-onl% $opies of X-Plane or sell X-Plane#ithout "lobal s$ener% to keep $osts do#n. ;ead the boA$arefull% if bu%in" from a store shelf.*

side from the improved a$$ura$% and fluidit% found in X-Plane,another bi" differen$e bet#een i$rosofts simulator and our o#nis that, #hereas i$rosoft releases updates about ever% three%ears or so, #e release updates for X-Plane about ever% ten#eeksL Thus, instead of bu%in" a dis$ and havin" the soft#areremain sta"nant for the neAt thirt%-siA months, X-Plane

en$oura"es users to "o to our #ebsite ever% three months or soand do#nload $ool ne# (and free* updates to their soft#areL

n short, #e are a fe# ver% driven and talented people that havemade the improvement and a$$ura$% of X-Plane prett% mu$h ourlifes mission.

A. Austins 8io+ =ast Up"ate" Mi"-00'

5iL am a private pilot #ith about 1,) hours in a handful of li"ht

and medium-siFe 'essna and Piper sin"les (the airplanes "re#up fl%in"* and a 'irrus :;-22 'entennial Bdition K1!1D, #hi$h pur$hased in 23. n a month or so, #ill be s#it$hin" to a7an$air 'olumbia ! for maAimum speed to hop around the$ountr% servin" $ustomers. (% $ustomer support "u%, ;and%4itt, flies a ee$h aron. m tellin" %ou this to make the pointthat the "u%s that #rite and support X-Plane are pilots, air$rafto#ners, and en"ineers. viation is a hu"e part of our lives, and#e love #hat #ere doin".*

n%#a%, ba$k in 19KK or so, after had "otten m% instrumentratin" in the $alm and friendl% skies of 'olumbia, :outh 'arolina, found m%self in :an ie"o, 'alifornia, #orkin" for uPont

erospa$e, a small aerospa$e te$h firm #orkin", on someeA$ellent but unusual desi"ns that $annot dis$uss in detail.

must di"ress here for a moment be$ause this is interestin" andalso appli$able to one of the air$raft in X-Plane. ne of theproEe$ts that uPont #as #orkin" on ba$k then #as the #ell-kno#n N:P, or National erospa$e Plane, a sin"le-sta"e-to-orbitair$raft that $an, in theor%, take off from a run#a% and fl% $lear toorbit. Ton% uPont, the president of the $ompan%, #as thefounder of this in"enious N:P $on$ept. 4hile the :pa$e :huttleand other $onventional ro$kets use ro$ket en"ines to blast up totheir orbital speed (1K, mph*, the N:P breathes air to run itsen"ines, so it must do most of its a$$eleration in the atmosphere.

This use of the oA%"en in the atmosphere, rather than $arr%in"liuid oA%"en on board, makes the vehi$le mu$h more li"ht andeffi$ient, but it also means that the air$raft must fl% at man%, man%thousands of miles per hour in the air, #hi$h $reates tremendousheat and dra". 'ir$ulatin" $ool fuel throu"h the skin of an air$raftis not a ne# idea... in fa$t the bell-shaped noFFles on most ro$keten"ines emplo% this te$hnolo"% to keep them from meltin"L /orthe N:P, this is one of the fe# options that #ill keep the skintemperatures do#n and allo# h%personi$ fli"ht (that is, fli"ht atfive times the speed of sound or "reater*. =ou mi"ht think thatusin" an insulated tile s%stem like the one the :pa$e :huttle has

#ould be a "ood option, but maintainin" and repla$in" thousandsof small tiles #ould be problemati$, bulk%, and eApensive. f$ourse, $ir$ulatin" fuel to keep the skin $ool has its dra#ba$kstooL The :;-@1 la$kbird uses its $ool fuel to keep its surfa$etemperatures do#n, and in fa$t is limited to mu$h lo#er speedsthan a$h 3 #hen lo# on fuel be$ause there is nothin" left toabsorb the heatL pen the :;-@1 in X-Plane and rather thanseein" a red line on the airspeed indi$ator (like Eust about ever%other air$raft* to indi$ate maAimum allo#able speed, there is a

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#hole red arc L That bi" red re"ion is the speed ran"e that %ou $anonl% operate in if %ou have enou"h fuel in the tanks to soak up theheat from atmospheri$ fri$tionL 5o# far into the red Fone %ou areallo#ed to fl% depends on %our remainin" fuel load&No# %oukno#.

n%#a%, enou"h about the fas$inatin" N:P $on$ept. Thatsummer in 19KK, #hile livin" in :an ie"o, took an instrument$urren$% fli"ht to keep m% /; skills sharp, and had a ver% diffi$ulttime "ettin" up to speed in the $ro#ded, fast-pa$ed, he$ti$ T's%stem of :an ie"o after the relative slo# and laid-ba$k T'operations ba$k home in :outh 'arolina. fter finally "ettin" m%/; skills up to a $omfortable level (reuirin" about three or fourfli"hts*, de$ided that #anted an instrument trainer to keep m%/; skills up to snuff. i$rosoft /li"ht :imulator #as prett% mu$hthe onl% "ame in to#n ba$k then, and #as prett% disappointed in

#hat found. i$rosoft #as runnin" on the little bab%a$intoshes ba$k then, #hi$h #as "reat, but there #ere a fe#other little thin"s #anted done differentl% as #ell, and kne#i$rosoft #ould not $han"e their sim Eust to suit me. Thus, X-Plane #as born, at the time $alled Sr$her- /;.R used thispro"ram for several %ears to keep up m% instrument $urren$%.

ba$helor0s de"ree in erospa$e Bn"ineerin" at o#a :tate8niversit% soon follo#ed, and durin" m% en"ineerin" studies there eApanded Sr$her- /;S to be able to simulate almost an%airplane ima"inable b% simpl% plu""in" in the blueprints for that

airplane, and lettin" the sim then figure out how the plane shouldfly based on those blueprints. This is $ompletel% opposite ho#most an% other simulator #orks and is b% far the lar"est and mostimportant differentiator bet#een X-Plane and its $ompetitors. started to use the simulator to test out various air$raft desi"ns had $on$eived, and ui$kl% learned that 'essna, Piper, 7an$air,and oone% build the #a% the% do for a ver% "ood reason&m%desi"ns #ere effi$ient, but too diffi$ult to fl% safel%. 7ater, renamed the pro"ram SX-PlaneR in honor of the series of air$raft

tested at Bd#ards ir /or$e ase in the 6s and $ontinuin"throu"h toda%.

ore about ustin $an be read on the ustin0s dventuresK #ebpa"e.

8. X-Plane To"ay Toda%, X-Plane is still #ritten and developed on the a$intosh (asit has been sin$e da% one* and ported to 4indo#s and 7inuAma$hines to allo# $ross-platform sales and distribution. Thus, thesin"le set of dis$s available from X-Plane.$om0s rderin" pa"e9 #ill run on nearl% an% personal $omputer available in the #orld.

Bn"ineers at >elo$it%, N:, :$aled 'omposites, and 'arter

viation have all used X-Plane to do desi"n, evaluation, andsimulated fli"ht testin". The National Test pilot s$hool uses X-Plane to train pilots in non-$onventional air$raft and fli"ht-$ontrols%stems. kno# an ei"ht-%ear-old talian "irl likes to taAi theplanes around to see the 'orvettes parked around the airportfen$e in >ersion @. ther kids tr% their o#n desi"ns in X-Plane,and $ountless %oun"sters "leefull% $rash their simulated /-22sinto the "round at a$h 2 as #ell.

ost X-Plane $ustomers are pilots, or people #ho #ant a sim thathas a level of realism that is appropriate for pilots. an% airline

pilots take X-Plane #ith them on their (real* overseas fli"hts ontheir laptop $omputers and simulate the neAt da%s fli"ht andpossible approa$hes #hile on la%over. an% airline and frei"htpilots keep their $urren$% up on X-Plane to breeFe throu"h theirbi-annual revie#s and fli"ht $urren$% $he$ks. 'ountless privatepilots use X-Plane to help maintain $urren$% #hen time andmone% $onstraints keep them from makin" it out to the airport as

K httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHadventures.html9 httpMHHA-plane.$omHorder.html

1!

http://www.x-plane.com/adventures.html

http://x-plane.com/order.html

http://www.x-plane.com/adventures.html

http://x-plane.com/order.html



often as the% #ould like. 4hile #e have re$eived a handful oforders from the , the ', and i$rosoft, the maEorit% of X-Plane $ustomers are simpl% people #ho #ant to eAperien$e the

Eo% of fli"ht. $op% of X-Plane provides a fun, eas% (and safeL*#a% to do Eust that.

an% pilots have re"ular a$$ess to old 'essnas, but #hat #ould itbe like to "et dropped from the #in" of a -)2 in an X-1) andhead to the frin"es of spa$e at !, mphJ r to fl% a full re-entr%in the :pa$e :huttleJ r take the :;-@1 to @, feet at a$h3J r fl% a ro$ket plane on arsJ X-Plane #ill sho# %ou, but even better, it #ill let %ou eAperien$e itfor %ourself.

i. ersions of X-Plane

X-Plane $an be used in a #ide arra% of situations, ran"in" fromhome use to $ommer$ial fli"ht trainin". ifferent situations reuirea different soft#are Qlevel.R :ituations that "o be%ond thestandard retail use reuire the pur$hase of a 8: Qke%R (simpl% aflash drive* that is used to unlo$k a spe$ifi$ level0s features.

a. The =e*el 1 X-Plane &i,ulator

This is the standard retail $op% of X-Plane. t reuires one X-Plane > for ea$h $op% of X-Plane on the net#ork.

7evel 1 simulator is #hat users "et #hen the% pur$hase X-Plane1 from the X-Plane.$om site and use it for #hatever the%desire. This reuires no 8: ke% to be plu""ed in. an% $opiesof X-Plane on man% $omputers $an be net#orked to a$t aseAternal visuals, eAternal $o$kpits, instru$tor stations, and the like.

1 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHorder.html

ne X-Plane is$ 1 > is reuired for ea$h $omputer net#orkedto"ether runnin" the simulator. This s%stem cannot be $ertified b%the / or an% other authorit% for lo""in" fli"ht trainin", due to thefa$t that it does not self-test for the presen$e of fli"ht $ontrols or auseable frame rate. 5o#ever, sin$e onl% one X-Plane is$ 1 >

is needed for ea$h $omputer, this setup is amaFin"l% affordableand eas% to assemble at almost no $ost, even thou"h a user $ouldnever certify the s%stem.

b. The =e*el X-Plane &i,ulator

This version of X-Plane is for $ommer$ial use, /-approvedsimulators, and the B/:-pp. t reuires one 7evel 2 8: ke% for ea$h $op% of X-Plane or B/:-pp on the net#ork.

This is similar to the 7evel 1 simulator, but it adds B/:-pp, astandalone pro"ram that runs on its o#n $omputer that "ives aver% realisti$ vid%ne primar% fli"ht displa% (P/* and modularfli"ht de$k (/*. ll that is reuired to run this is a $op% of X-Plane or B/:-pp from X-Plane.$om and a 7evel 2 ke% for ea$h$omputer that #ill be net#orked into the simulator. f $ourse, two monitors $an be hooked up to one $omputer runnin" B/:-pp sothat one onl% has to bu% one $omputer to run both the vid%neP/ and /, #hi$h #ill save some mone%.

dditionall%, this is the ke% that needs to be used for $ommer$ial

purposes and /-approved simulators for fli"ht trainin". This"ives a Q'ommer$ial 8seR startup messa"e. t $he$ks for fli"ht$ontrols and it self-tests the frame rate for / $ertifi$ation.

This is the option desi"ned to repla$e i$rosoft B:P.

Note that the 7evel 2 ke%, alon" #ith the simulator itself, $an bepur$hased from X-Plane.$om0s rderin"11 pa"e. B/:-pp $an be

11 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHorder.html

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do#nloaded here12.

3. The =e*el $ X-Plane &i,ulator

This version of X-Plane reuires one 7evel 3 8: ke% for ea$h$op% of X-Plane or B/:-pp on the net#ork.

The 7evel 3 ke% for X-Plane #ill do ever%thin" that the 7evel 2 #illdo, in addition to drivin" real ?armin ?!3 and ?1 ?P: units.t $an do $%lindri$al and spheri$al proEe$tion as #ell.

)oteM n order to interfa$e #ith a real ?!3 or ?1, users must"et a :imulator ?!3 or ?1 from ?armin, then make the#irin" harnesses to plu" them in to the serial or Bthernet $ables tothe $omputer. 8sers unsure on ho# to do this are better off

bu%in" a simulator boAed and read% to "o from Pre$ision /li"ht'ontrols13. P/' does provide read%-made units #ith real ?!3sand ?1s installed and runnin".

n$e a"ain, the 7evel 3 ke%, alon" #ith the simulator itself, $an bepur$hased from X-Plane.$om0s rderin"1! pa"e, and B/:-pp$an be do#nloaded here1).

". The =e*el 4 X-Plane &i,ulator

This version of X-Plane reuires one 7evel ! 8: ke% for ea$h$op% of X-Plane or B/:-pp on the net#ork.

7evel ! simulator does ever%thin" that the 7evel 3 sim does. tadds the abilit%, thou"h for B/:-pp to simulate the > s%stem

12 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHB/:.html13 httpMHH###.fl%pf$.$omH1! httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHorder.html1) httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHB/:.html

in the B$lipse <et. This option is $urrentl% onl% available fromBA$el viation. Bmail infoUA-plane.$om for more information onthis.

e. &u,,ary

:in$e X-Plane has been approved for fli"ht trainin" in man%$ountries to man% levels, users should be able to use it to buildtheir o#n fli"ht simulators b% simpl% pur$hasin" a $op% (or $opies*of X-Plane, pur$hasin" the appropriate 8: ke%, andpossibl% do#nloadin" B/:-pp. /rom there, all that0s left is tobuild the hard#are.

8: ke% drivers for both a$ : and 4indo#s $an bedo#nloaded here16. ;un those installers to make X-Plane

re$o"niFe the 8: ke%s.

16 httpMHHdev.A-plane.$omHupdateHusbVdrivers.Fip

16

http://www.x-plane.com/EFIS.html






mailto:[email protected]

http://dev.x-plane.com/update/usb_drivers.zip







http://dev.x-plane.com/update/usb_drivers.zip



. !nstalling an" Configuring X-Plane

!. &yste, eDuire,ents

?iven X-Plane0s in$redible $apabilities and a$$ura$%, it is notpossible to run a $urrent release of X-Plane on a reall% old$omputer. "ood rule of thumb is that an% ma$hine built in thelast 1K to 2! months #ill probabl% be able to run the simulatora$$eptabl%. 'omputers up to about 36 months old ma% be fine ifthe% #ere top-of-the-line ma$hines #hen manufa$tured. Bven ifthe% #eren0t, X-Plane ma% still be able to run, albeit #ith itsrenderin" options turned do#n.

)ote X-Plane 9 is not $ompatible #ith the a$ operatin" s%stem

1.1 =osemite.

X-Plane 9 reuires a $omputer #ith at least the follo#in"spe$ifi$ationsM

• 2 ?5F pro$essor • 1. ? ; (ph%si$al memor%*• 6! >; (video memor% on %our video $ard*• 1 ? of hard drive spa$e

To find out the spe$ifi$ations of the $omputer bein" used, a$

users $an simpl% open the pple enu and $hoose bout Thisa$. /or 4indo#s users, it is a bit more diffi$ult, but still isn0t toobad. The easiest #a% to "et all the ne$essar% information is todo#nload the free P' 4iFard appli$ation1@ (3* from 'P8.The installer is ver% user friendl%, and the pro"ram, on$e installed,#ill sho# nearl% ever%thin" about the s%stem on one pa"e.

lternativel%, for 4indo#s users that don0t #ant to do#nload the

1@ httpMHH###.$puid.$omHp$#iFard.php

appli$ation, the s%stem0s pro$essor speed and amount of memor%$an be found b% doin" the follo#in"M

1. ?o to the :tart menu and sele$t 'ontrol Panel.

2. n the #indo# that opens, $li$k on :%stem (Performan$eand aintenan$e ma% need to be $li$ked first*.

3. Near the bottom of the #indo# that opens %ou #ill see %our'P8 speed (for eAample, 2. ?5F* and the amount of memor%in the s%stem (for eAample, 1. ? of ;*.

dditionall%, >ersion 9 has been optimiFed for dual- and uad-$ore pro$essors, as #ell as multipro$essor s%stems&one 'P8$ore is used to output video, #hile the other $ore(s* handle theba$k"round pro$esses of loadin" s$ener%, takin" input, et$. This

eliminates the tenth of a se$ond stutter usuall% asso$iated #ithtransitionin" from one s$ener% file to another (#hi$h is stilleAperien$ed #hen usin" a sin"le-$ore pro$essor*.

Please note that X-Plane will run on 4indo#s >ista and 4indo#s@, both 6!- and 32-bit. 5o#ever, it #ill reuire more ; to do so(2 ? is re$ommended*.

!!. %light Control &ele3tion

4hile it is ph%si$all% possible to fl% X-Plane #ith onl% the mouseand ke%board, this is both $umbersome and unrealisti$ (forobvious reasons*. 4hile instru$tions for fl%in" like this arein$luded in the 8sin" the ouse nstead of a <o%sti$k se$tion(found in 'hapter !, :e$tion > on pa"e '4*, it is stron"l%re$ommended that users fl% #ith (at least* a Eo%sti$k for a realisti$eAperien$e.

:o #hi$h Eo%sti$k should a user pur$haseJ Bver% 8: Eo%sti$kand %oke on the market that #e have seen re$entl% #ill #ork #ith

1@

http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php





X-Plane, but, like most thin"s in life, %ou "et #hat %ou pa% for. eleer% of Eo%sti$ks advertised for 29.9) at a lo$al retailer. n oureAperien$e the $heaper hard#are t%pi$all% does not last as lon" or #ork as #ell as more moderatel% pri$ed euipment.

)ote X-Plane $an only interfa$e #ith 8: devi$es. This $oversnearl% all the $ontrollers manufa$tured in the last five or siA %ears,but if a user has a non-8: devi$e, an adapter #ill be needed to$han"e it to a 8: input.

A. ?oysti32s

<o%sti$ks t%pi$all% provide pit$h, roll, and sometimes even throttle$ontrol as #ell as a fe# buttons that $an be pro"rammed to dodifferent thin"s. /or eAample, %ou ma% pro"ram one button to

raise and lo#er the landin" "ear, and t#o additional buttons toraise the flaps and lo#er them. lso, some Eo%sti$ks $an havetheir handle t#isted left and ri"ht to $ontrol %a# movement. f the

Eo%sti$k bein" used does not offer %a# $ontrol, users #ill probabl%#ant a set of rudder pedals to provide realisti$ %a# $ontrol in theairplane. Eo%sti$k #ill be best for fl%in" fi"hter or sport airplanes,or planes like the irbus, 'irrus, or 7an$air, for the simple reasonthat those planes, in realit%, are $ontrolled #ith Eo%sti$ksL

8. Eo2es

%oke $onsists of a steerin" #heel-like $ontrol that rotates leftand ri"ht and also slides ba$k and forth. These are the bestoption for users primaril% interested in fl%in" older-st%le "eneralaviation planes, business Eets, and non-irbus airliners, sin$ethese planes are flo#n #ith %okes in realit%.

=okes are t%pi$all% $lamped to the user0s desk for stabilit%. The%ma% have a built-in throttle uadrant, #hi$h #ill allo#s forindependent $ontrol of the propeller, throttle, and miAture for a

sin"le propeller en"ine. lso, note that %okes do not $ontrol %a#movement (the% do not t#ist left and ri"ht for %a# $ontrol likesome Eo%sti$ks*, so rudder pedals are reuired for realisti$ %a#$ontrol.

C. u""er Pe"als

;udder pedals allo# users to realisti$all% $ontrol the airplanes%a# b% pushin" the left or ri"ht pedal to turn. 4hile in fli"ht, thepedals $ontrol the rudder, #hereas on the "round the%0re used tosteer. The pedals also $ontrol the brakes to help the airplane stopor turn sharpl% #hile on the "round. (Push the tops of the left orri"ht pedal to a$tivate the brakes on that side of the plane.*

$tivel% $ontrollin" the rudder is needed to realisti$all% steer the

airplane on the "round, tra$k the run#a% $enterline #hen takin"off and landin", slip the airplane, take off or land in a $ross#ind, or re$over from stalls and spins.

f neither a set of rudder pedals and the Eo%sti$k is set to $ontrol%a# (see 'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part , Ais ssi"nment on pa"e$*, then X-Plane #ill automati$all% sle# the rudder to tr% andkeep the airplane fl%in" true. This auto-rudder fun$tion, ho#ever,is not smart enou"h to take off or land properl% in a $ross#ind,slip, or do various other thin"s that rudders mi"ht be used for. /or this reason, rudder pedals (or at least a t#istin" Eo%sti$k* are

hi"hl% re$ommended.

Please note that, #hen fl%in" a heli$opter, pedals must be usedfor the anti-torue $ontrols&this $an not be assi"ned to ke%board$ommands, simpl% be$ause it is not pra$ti$al to tr% to use this tofl%.

:. Other Consi"erations

1K



/or added realism in $ertain situations, users ma% #ant anindependent throttle uadrant. '5 Produ$ts0 ulti-Bn"ine ThrottleDuadrant1K is perhaps the most popular and offers independentand variable $ontrol of siA different fun$tions. Normall%, this #ouldbe set up to $ontrol the throttle, propeller, and miAture $ontrols for

ea$h en"ine on a t#in-en"ine airplane. This $ontroller $an also beused to $ontrol throttle and $ondition (fuel $utoff* for Eet en"ines,allo#in" independent $ontrol of Eet air$raft #ith up to threeen"ines. multi-en"ine throttle uadrant is re$ommended forusers interested in realisti$all% fl%in" airplanes #ith more than oneen"ine.

To pur$hase Eo%sti$ks or other euipment, $he$k out the '5Produ$ts19, 7o"ite$h2, and :aitek21 #ebsites. Ba$h of the sitesallo#s users to bro#se the available produ$ts and find #here tobu% them. lso, feel free to $all or e-mail X-Plane $ustomer

support #ith an% additional uestions. 'onta$t information $an befound on the 'onta$t pa"e22 of X-Plane.$om.

nstru$tions on $onfi"urin" $ontrol hard#are are found in 'hapter3, :e$tion , <o%sti$k 'onfi"uration and 'alibration on pa"e $.

!!!. :isplay eDuire,ents an" &yste, Ar3hite3ture

X-Plane $an displa% on an% s$reen ran"in" from 1,2! A @6KpiAels to 9,999 A 9,999 piAels. /ifteen %ears a"o, nearl% ever%

monitor sold had a !M3 (or Qfull s$reenR* aspe$t ratio. an% of themonitors and s$reens available toda%, thou"h, have #ides$reenaspe$t ratios, su$h as 16M9 or 16M1. 4hile X-Plane $an easil% fill

1K httpMHH###.$hprodu$ts.$omHretailHtVtVuad.html19 httpMHH###.$hprodu$ts.$omHretailHindeA.html2 httpMHH###.lo"ite$h.$omHindeA.$fmH"amin"Hp$V"amin"HEo%sti$ksHI$lus,en21 httpMHH###.saitek.$omHukHprodHEo%sti$ks.htm22 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omH$onta$t.html

a s$reen #ith a #ide aspe$t ratio, most air$raft have onl% been setup #ith $o$kpits that $an be stret$hed in a !M3 ratio.

To find %our s$reen0s $urrent aspe$t ratio, divide its #idth in piAelsb% its hei"ht. /or eAample, 12! divided b% @6K (a $ommon Qfull

s$reenR resolution* euals 1.3333, or four-thirds (the !M3 Qfulls$reenR aspe$t ratio*. n the other hand, 1!! divided b% 9 (a$ommon #ides$reen resolution* euals 1.6, or siAteen-tenths (a16M1 Q#ides$reenR aspe$t ratio*.

4hen usin" a #ide aspe$t ratio in X-Plane, man% air$raft0s $o$kpitima"e #ill be flanked on ea$h side of the s$reen b% s$ener%, #itha sharp line dividin" it from the $o$kpit ima"e. To avoid this, setthe siFe of the X-Plane #indo# to a !M3 ratio b% movin" the mouseto the top of the s$reen, $li$kin" :ettin"s, and sele$tin" the;enderin" ptions #indo#. n this #indo#, $han"e the s3reen

res field. Note that the $han"e #ill o$$ur on X-Plane0s neAtlaun$h. (ore information on $han"in" the resolution $an befound in 'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part , :ubse$tion iv on pa"e 40.*

4ith one $omputer it is possible to dra# an% vie# desirable and,assumin" that the $omputer0s video $ard has t#o video outputs,an nstru$tors peratin" :tation (:*. The : (also availableon a different $omputer if via a 7N or nternet $onne$tion*provides the abilit% to alter the #eather, relo$ate the air$raft, andfail multitudes of different s%stems and $omponents. 5ere aninstru$tor $an do nearl% an%thin" ima"inable to the air$raft,

in$ludin" nearl% ever% failure simulated at /li"ht :afet% and theother simulator-based fli"ht trainin" $ompanies.

X-Plane allo#s the use of an% number of s$reens to depi$tan%thin" %ou like. ultiple $omputers $an be used to drivemultiple monitors, thereb% net#orkin" up to about 2 s$reens tosho# an% $ombination of vie#s ima"inable. f the $omputer0s"raphi$s $ard is espe$iall% po#erful, a video splitter (like the

19

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/t_tq_quad.html


http://www.chproducts.com/retail/index.html


http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/joysticks/&cl=us,en


http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/joysticks.htm

http://www.x-plane.com/contact.html






http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/joysticks.htm




atroA Triple5ead2?o23* $an be used to drive three for#ardvisuals #ith one ma$hine. n that $ase, a se$ond ma$hine $ouldbe used to drive the $o$kpit displa% andHor :.

!. 9raphi3s :ri*ers an" X-Plane

n most s%stems the reuired "raphi$s drivers #ill alread% beinstalled. 5o#ever, it ma% be ne$essar% to periodi$all% update the$omputer0s video drivers, either to fiA a problem or to "et the ver%best performan$e the s%stem $an deliver. 8sers of T video$ards $an do#nload drivers here2!, and N> users $ando#nload drivers here2).

efore updatin" the "raphi$s driver, #e re$ommend installin" andlaun$hin" X-Plane (as per :e$tion > of this $hapter on pa"e 1*

and seein" ho# it runs. f an% of the follo#in" is eAperien$ed, thes%stem0s "raphi$s drivers probabl% need to be updatedM

• a s$reen $onsistin" onl% of splashes of $olor

• a s$reen #ith horiFontal or verti$al bars runnin" throu"h it• random ima"es of various pie$es of the airplane or

instrument panel

dditionall%, if an error appears referrin" to a $orrupt or missin"Q.dllR, the drivers most likel% need to be repla$ed.

A. Up"ating 9raphi3s :ri*ers in 7in"o6s

hi"h per$enta"e of 4indo#s-based $omputers are operatin"#ith drivers that are out of date or that do not $urrentl% supportpen?7 ($aused b% usin" the default 4indo#s drivers rather thanthose of the manufa$turer*. f it is determined that the drivers

23 httpMHH###.matroA.$omH"raphi$sHenHprodu$tsH"AmHth2"oH2! httpMHHsupport.amd.$omHusH"pudo#nloadHPa"esHindeA.aspA2) httpMHH###.nvidia.$omHo#nloadHindeA.aspAJlan"en-us

need to be updated, please see ppendiA M 8pdatin" the'omputer0s ?raphi$s rivers in 4indo#s of this manual for astep-b%-step "uide (#ith s$reenshots* for both T and N>"raphi$s $ards. lternativel%, the follo#in" "eneral steps ma% beused for both manufa$turersM

1. ?o to %our video $ard manufa$turer0s driver do#nload pa"e(linked to above* and do#nload the latest drivers, bein" sureto save it to a pla$e that %ou0ll be able to find it (for eAample,the esktop*.

2. 'li$k on the :tart menu and open the 'ontrol Panel.

3. 'li$k dd or ;emove Pro"rams.

!. :$roll do#n to either the 'atal%st ispla% river (for T

video $ards* or the N> rivers (for N> $ards*.

). 'li$k the 'han"eH;emove button. (This ma% be repla$edb% a ;emove button onl%+ it does not affe$t the pro$ess.*

6. /ollo# the instru$tions provided b% the uninstaller andreboot if ne$essar%.

@. fter rebootin", find the driver file that #as do#nloaded in:tep 1 and double $li$k on it. The steps var% from heredependin" on the t%pe of "raphi$s $ard and the $ompan% its

manufa$tured b%, but #e #ill $ontinue #ith a "eneral outlinefor all $ompanies.

K. 'hoose a destination folder to eAtra$t the files to. "ain,make it somethin" eas% to find like 'MWvideo driversW and$ontinue $li$kin" NeAt or nstall.

9. f the installer (#hi$h %ou Eust eAtra$ted in :tep K* does notrun automati$all%, navi"ate to 'MWvideo drivers and double $li$k

2

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us






on setup.eAe.

1. "ree to the li$ense a"reement, $hoose the BApressinstallation, and $li$k NeAt until it finishes.

11. ;eboot %our P' and %oure read% to fl%L

. !nstalling X-Plane

n order to avoid $onfusion, be sure to delete an% installations ofthe X-Plane demo before installin" the full version from the >s.

)oteM The instru$tions that follo# are for the X-Plane 9 "ra%$olored siA-> set, available from X-Plane.$om. /or installationinstru$tions usin" the ei"ht-dis$ QetaR set of dis$s, please see

ppendiA G. /or instru$tions on usin" the %ello# $olored siA-dis$set, please email am%U"raphsim.$om or $all (21!* KK!-))@1.

A. !nstallation on a 7in"o6s PC

To install X-Plane on a 4indo#s-based $omputer, do thefollo#in"M

1. nsert the first X-Plane > into the >-; drive and#ait for it to spin up.

2. f the X-:%stem #indo# doesn0t open automati$all%, open% 'omputer and navi"ate to the drive no# labeled XP7NB9(usuall% the drive&see the s$reenshot belo#*. f the X-:%stem #indo# does appear automati$all%, skip to step !.

3. ouble-$li$k on nstallerV4indo#s.eAe to laun$h the X-Plane installation.

!. 4hen the installer #indo# appears, $li$k Continue, as

21






sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e.

)ote f the buttons at the bottom of the X-:%stem s$reenlabeled ;uit, 9o 8a32, and Continue are not visible, then thes%stem is probabl% runnin" at a minimal resolution like K A6. 8sin" this resolution #ill not allo# the $omputer to

displa% the bottom of the X-Plane s$reen and %ou #ill need tofor$e the installer to eAit (via 'trlltel* and in$rease thes$reen0s resolution in 4indo#s to at least 1,2! A @6K.

). % default, X-Plane #ill install to the esktop. Thou"h it $anbe installed else#here (b% $li$kin" the Change :estination button*, it is stron"l% re$ommended that it be pla$ed on theesktop so that the folder $an be found in the future. 4henan a$$eptable lo$ation has been sele$ted, $li$k Continue.

6. $$ept the user a"reement (as sho#n in the follo#in"s$reenshot* and $li$k Continue on$e a"ain.

22



@. :ele$t the s$ener% that should be installed. ependin" onthe installer on the dis$, either all of the #orld or none of it #illbe sele$ted b% default. n unsele$ted tile #ill appearblea$hed in $olor, #hile a sele$ted tile #ill have its full $olor./or instan$e, in the follo#in" ima"e, onl% the 8nited :tatesand eAi$o are sele$ted.

f %ou are unsure #hat areas are $urrentl% sele$ted, Eust $li$k&ele3t )one to turn ever%thin" off. /rom there, sele$t theindividual tiles to install b% $li$kin" on them. dditionall%,users ma% $li$k and dra" to sele$t lar"e areas ui$kl%.

Note that for re"ions #here no s$ener% is installed, onl%o$eans and airports #ill be visible. 4hen %ou0re finishedsele$tin" s$ener%, $li$k Continue to be"in installin".

K. The installer #ill be"in displa%in" its pro"ress. 4hen theinstaller prompts %ou to do so, remove the $urrent dis$ andinsert the neAt. Note that installation ma% take an%#here fromthirt% to siAt% minutes per dis$, and that onl% one X-Plane dis$$an be in the s%stem at on$e (the installer #on0t re$o"niFe a

dis$ pla$ed in a se$ond >-;*. nstallin" the $ompletes$ener% pa$ka"e #ill $onsume about @) ? of hard drivespa$e and #ill take bet#een five and siA and a half hours toinstall.

9. 4hen the installation $ompletes, reinsert is$ 1 and "o fl%L

dditionall%, s$ener% $an be added or removed at an% point in thefuture b% insertin" is$ 1 and re-runnin" the installer. 4hen the

23



X-:%stem installer $omes up sa%in" S=ou alread% have X-Plane 9installed on this $omputer,R $li$k the A"" or e,o*e &3enery button and pro$eed Eust like in step @ above.

i. &pe3ial Consi"erations for 7in"o6s XP Users

;unnin" X-Plane on 4indo#s reuires i$rosoft ire$tX 9.$ (orlater* to be installed. 4ithout this, X-Plane $annot interfa$e #ithaudio and Eo%sti$k hard#are. This free soft#are $an bedo#nloaded from i$rosoft here26. ost ne#er installations of4indo#s XP have this installed alread%, and all $opies of4indo#s >ista and 4indo#s @ have ire$tX 1 (#hi$h is morethan suffi$ient* installed b% default.

To find out #hi$h version of ire$tX is $urrentl% installed, do the

follo#in"M

1. pen the :tart menu and $li$k ;un.

2. T%pe SdAdia"S and $li$k G.

3. f a boA appears askin" if %ou #ant to $he$k for si"neddrivers, $li$k No.

!. The lo#er half of the #indo# that appears is labeled:%stem nformation. t the bottom of that list of stats is the

s%stem0s ire$tX >ersion.

ii. &pe3ial Consi"erations for 7in"o6s ista an" # Users

:ome of X-Planes menus ma% render stran"el% #hen usin" the

26 httpMHH###.mi$rosoft.$omHdo#nloadsHdetails.aspAJ/amil%d2!33K-@1-!'1-'6-966)2'923Idispla%lan"en

default ero themes in 4indo#s @ and 4indo#s >ista. /or thisreason, it is re$ommended that users s#it$h to the asi$ theme#hen runnin" X-Plane.

To make 4indo#s automati$all% s#it$h to the asi$ theme #hen

%ou laun$h X-PlaneM

1. 7o$ate either the X-Plane.eAe (found in the X-Plane 9installation folder* or the short$ut %ou use to laun$h X-Plane andri"ht $li$k on it.

2. 'li$k Properties from the menu that appears, as in the follo#in"ima"e.

3. ?o to the 'ompatibilit% tab and $he$k the :isable "es2top3o,position boA, as in the follo#in" ima"e.

2!

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

http://wiki.x-plane.com/File:Right_click_X-Plane_icon.gif

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en



4ith that done, X-Plane #ill laun$h #ith the asi$ theme and allmenus #ill render $orre$tl%.

8. !nstallation on a Ma3intosh

1. nsert the X-Plane > into the >-; drive and #aitfor it to spin up.

2. ouble $li$k on the X-Plane > i$on on the esktop, thendouble $li$k the nstallerVa$ app to laun$h the installer.

)ote f the buttons at the bottom of the X-:%stem s$reenlabeled ;uit, 9o 8a32, Continue are not visible, then thes%stem is probabl% runnin" at a minimal resolution like K A6. 8sin" this resolution #ill not allo# the $omputer to

displa% the bottom of the X-Plane s$reen and %ou #ill need tofor$e the installer to eAit (via the ption 'ommand Bs$apeke%s* and in$rease the s$reen0s resolution in 4indo#s to atleast 1,2! A @6K.

3. % default, X-Plane #ill install to the esktop. Thou"h it $anbe installed else#here (b% $li$kin" the Change :estination button*, it is stron"l% re$ommended that it be pla$ed on theesktop so that the folder $an be found in the future.

!. $$ept the user a"reement and $li$k Continue on$e a"ain.

). :ele$t the s$ener% that should be installed. ependin" onthe installer on the dis$, either all of the #orld or none of it #illbe sele$ted b% default. n unsele$ted tile #ill appearblea$hed in $olor, #hile a sele$ted tile #ill have its full $olor. f

%ou are unsure #hat areas are $urrentl% sele$ted, Eust $li$k&ele3t )one to turn ever%thin" off. /rom there, sele$t theindividual tiles to install b% $li$kin" on them. dditionall%,users ma% $li$k and dra" to sele$t lar"e areas ui$kl%.

Note that for re"ions #here no s$ener% is installed, onl%o$eans and airports #ill be visible. 4hen %ou0re finishedsele$tin" s$ener%, $li$k Continue to be"in installin".

6. The installer #ill be"in displa%in" its pro"ress. 4hen theinstaller prompts %ou to do so, remove the $urrent dis$ and

insert the neAt. Note that installation ma% take an%#here fromthirt% to siAt% minutes per dis$, and that onl% one X-Plane dis$$an be in the s%stem at on$e (the installer #on0t re$o"niFe adis$ pla$ed in a se$ond >-;*. nstallin" the $ompletes$ener% pa$ka"e #ill $onsume about @) ? of hard drivespa$e and #ill take bet#een five and siA and a half hours toinstall.

@. 4hen the installation $ompletes, reinsert is$ 1 and "o fl%L

2)

http://wiki.x-plane.com/File:Disable_desktop_composition.gif



dditionall%, s$ener% $an be added or removed at an% point in thefuture b% insertin" is$ 1 and re-runnin" the installer. 4hen theX-:%stem installer $omes up sa%in" S=ou alread% have X-Plane 9installed on this $omputer,R $li$k the A"" or e,o*e &3enery

button and pro$eed Eust like in step ) above.

i. &pe3ial Consi"erations for Ma3 Users

% default, a$ : X 1.) 7eopard is set to automati$all% ba$k upthe entire hard drive usin" Time a$hine. This in$ludes a user0sX-Plane dire$tor%. ost users #ould prefer not to have thisba$ked up, due to the fa$t that it demands a si"nifi$ant amount ofspa$ed (for somethin" alread% ba$ked up to >s, no less* and"enerall% also $omes #ith a performan$e hit.

/or this reason, it is re$ommended that users disable Timea$hine #hile installin" X-Plane, then re-enable it after tellin" it toeA$lude the X-Plane dire$tor% from its ba$kup. This $an be doneusin" the follo#in" instru$tionsM

1. efore installin" X-Plane, $hoose :%stem Preferen$esfrom the pple enu.

2. 'li$k the Time a$hine i$on.

3. n the #indo# that appears, turn Time a$hine off.

!. nstall X-Plane a$$ordin" to the previous instru$tions,notin" #here it #as installed to.

). 4ith X-Plane installed, open the Time a$hinepreferen$es as before and $li$k the Options button.

6. 'li$k the F button to add a folder to the Qo not ba$k upRlist and sele$t the X-Plane installation dire$tor%.

@. 'li$k the :one button and turn Time a$hine ba$k on.

dditionall%, some users have had issues #ith Time a$hine$reatin" a Qlo$kedR $op% of their X-Plane dis$s. This $an $ause

the X-Plane is$ 1 to appear in the /inder as is$ 2, thus for$in"X-Plane to run in demo mode. To $orre$t this, do the follo#in"M

1. o#nload and install n%X2@ from pple.

2. ;un n%X and sele$t the Parameters tab.

3. :ele$t /inder from the n%X menu bar and then sele$t&ho6 hi""en files an" fol"ers from the is$ ptionsse$tion.

!. pen /inder and $li$k on Sa$intosh 5.S The >olumesdire$tor%, #hi$h #as hidden before, is no# visible at thebottom.

). ?o into the >olumes dire$tor% and delete the un#antedXPlane volumes b% movin" them to Trash.

6. BEe$t the X-Plane >, empt% the Trash, and reboot.

@. fter rebootin", the s%stem should be read% to fl% asnormal usin" X-Plane0s is$ 1.

K. t this point, n%A ma% be reopened to turn off the &ho6hi""en files an" fol"ers option.

2@ httpMHH###.apple.$omHdo#nloadsHma$osAHs%stemVdiskVutilitiesHon%A.html

26

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/onyx.html





C. !nstallation in =inu/

Please see ppendiA 5M X-Plane and 7inuA for information oninstallin" X-Plane in 7inuA. There, step-b%-step instru$tions (#iths$reenshots* are "iven for three maEor distributions (open:8:B,

/edora, and 8buntu*. dditionall%, there is a "eneral pro$edurefor distributions not listed above.

!. =aun3hing X-Plane

4hen the installation of X-Plane is $omplete, the user #ill need tolo$ate the X-Plane appli$ation and laun$h it (for eAample, b%openin" the X-Plane 9 folder and double $li$kin" on X-Plane.eAe*.

Note that X-Plane does not infest the hard drive b% $reatin"

short$uts, subdire$tories, or re"istr% entries. 4e dont do thisbe$ause #e find it anno%in" #hen other appli$ations do it to us.4e see $ountless people #ith their desktop littered #ith short$uts,most of #hi$h the% have no use for. 5undreds of hours of timeare #asted in frustration #hen people

1* install soft#are and use onl% the short$ut to it,2* "et an updated version of the soft#are in a ne#

lo$ation, and3* keep usin" the short$ut to the old soft#are #hile

thinking the% are usin" the ne# soft#are.Needless to sa%, these people are unable to fi"ure out #h% thin"s

aren0t #orkin" as eApe$ted.

X-Plane does not install a short$ut that mi"ht one da% lead tonothin" (or #orse, an outdated $op% of the soft#are*. The X-Plane installer $reates a folder $alled X-Plane 9 on the hard drive(at #hatever path #as sele$ted in the installer&the esktop ist%pi$al*, and #e re$ommend runnin" X-Plane b% "oin" into thatfolder and double-$li$kin" on X-Plane.eAe.

4ith that said, if the user a$kno#led"es the potential pitfalls of

usin" a short$ut but de$ides to use one an%#a%, do the follo#in"in 4indo#sM

1. pen the installation dire$tor% (usuall% b% $li$kin" on the X-Plane 9 folder found on the esktop*.

2. ;i"ht $li$k on X-Plane.eAe and sele$t 'reate :hort$ut.

3. ra" the short$ut to #herever it is desired.

!!. Up"ating to a )e6er ersion of X-Plane

The X-Plane simulator is desi"ned for both realism and lon"evit%.aAimiFin" both of these reuires that X-Plane be updated often.Bver% fe# months, the X-Plane.$om site #ill post a ne# update to

the simulator, at #hi$h point it $an be do#nloaded and installed asper the follo#in" instru$tions. n bet#een these offi$ial (orQstableR* releases, users $an do#nload beta versions of theup$omin" update. These are treated as a kind of Qupdate inpro"ressR&ne# features and bu" fiAes are in$luded, but in thebeta sta"e, the updates have not been full% tested in a ran"e ofsituations. This means that the% ma% $reate in$ompatibilities or$reate other problems that #ould not be eAperien$ed in the stablereleases. /or more information, see Part , 8sin" X-Plane etas,belo#.

Ne#er versions of X-Plane often $ontain feature enhan$ements,bu" fiAes, stabilit% improvements, air$raft and resour$e updates,fli"ht model improvements, and even ne# feature additions.

pur$hase of X-Plane entitles the user to free updates throu"hthat full X-Plane version run. This means that if the >ersion 9dis$s #ere pur$hased, the user #ill "et the >ersion 9.1 update,the >ersion 9.2 update, et$., all the #a% throu"h >ersion 9.99 if iteAists&all free of $har"e. f $ourse, users do not have to takeadvanta"e of these updates, but it is re$ommended that the% do

2@



so.

s #ith the X-Plane version supplied on the pur$hased >, is$1 (the master dis$* must be inserted into the s%stem to use theseupdated versions&X-Plane uses this as a Qke%R to unlo$k the

soft#are. e sure to have the dis$ spinnin" in the > drive prior to startin" up the pro"ram so that X-Plane $an find itL

dditionall%, #hile previous versions of X-Plane reuired users tohave all the desired s$ener% installed before updatin" to a ne#erversion, this is no longer the case. Ne# s$ener% ma% be installedre"ardless of updates.

There are t#o #a%s to update X-Plane. The first is done #ithin X-Plane itself, #hile the se$ond is done b% "oin" to the X-Plane#ebsite. oth end up do#nloadin" the same updater appli$ation.

To update #ithin X-PlaneM

1. 7aun$h the $op% of X-Plane that %ou have been usin".

2. n$e it opens, move %our mouse to the top of the s$reenand $li$k bout (as seen belo#*, then bout X-Plane.

3. 'li$k the Up"ate X-Plane button (hi"hli"hted in thefollo#in" s$reenshot*. X-Plane #ill automati$all% do#nload thelatest version of the updater pro"ram and laun$h it.

!. 'ontinue #ith the instru$tions belo# labeled 4ithin the X-

:%stem 8pdater.

To update via the nternetM

1. ?o to the 8pdate pa"e2K on X-Plane.$om.

2. :ele$t the appropriate updater (a$, 4indo#s, or 7inuA*from the list and $li$k on it to be"in do#nloadin". e sure notto do#nload the demo installerL

3. ;un the updater.

!. 'ontinue #ith the instru$tions belo# labeled 4ithin the X-:%stem 8pdater.

4ithin the X-:%stem 8pdaterM

1. Please do not sele$t the Che32 for ne6 betas boA unless%ou are prepared to #ork out the some kinks (see the follo#in"

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http://www.x-plane.com/demo.html





subse$tion, 8sin" X-Plane etas, found on pa"e (*. 'li$kContinue (as sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e* to be"in thepro"ram0s s$annin" of %our X-Plane dire$tor%. This allo#s it todetermine #hi$h files need to be updated.

2. ake sure the pro"ram sele$ts the $orre$t $op% of X-Plane

to update. f %our X-Plane installation isn0t in the list, $li$k %in"!t to lo$ate it manuall%. Note that this onl% applies to runnin"the updater that #as manuall% do#nloaded from the #eb+laun$hin" the updater from #ithin X-Plane #ill skip this step.4ith the $orre$t $op% sele$ted, $li$k Continue.

3. ssumin" there is enou"h disk spa$e to do#nload thereuired updates, $li$k Continue (as in the follo#in" ima"e* tobe"in the installation.

!. The installation files #ill be do#nloaded and installed.

). 4hen the installation finishes, open the X-Plane 9installation dire$tor%. ?o to the utput folder, then open thePreferen$es folder. elete the files #ithin this folder (not the

folder itself* to reset X-Plane0s preferen$es. This isre$ommended in order to avoid an% bu"s arisin" from $han"esto the #a% X-Plane handles the preferen$es.

A. Using X-Plane 8etas

The X-Plane beta updates are for users #ho #ant to help test thene#est refinements to the X-Plane soft#are. The advanta"e todoin" so is that these users "et a$$ess to the latest

29



enhan$ements to the soft#are (fli"ht model refinements, ne#features, et$.*. The do#nside is that there is a "reater risk ofen$ounterin" problems #ith third-part% models or other "eneralbu"s. 4e re$ommend that most users sti$k to the stable versionreleases, as these are the ones kno#n to QEust #ork.R

:ee the X-Plane eta pa"e29 for information on the $urrent betabuilds.

!!!. Co,patibility 6ith arlier ersions of &3enery+ Mo"els+an" Plug-!ns

X-Plane is desi"ned to be ba$k#ards $ompatible #ith previousversions. This is onl% possible, thou"h, to a $ertain eAtent. Ba$hversion of X-Plane #ill al#a%s have the abilit% to use airplanes

#ritten for the previous version. That is, X-Plane 9 #ill be able touse air$raft files $reated for either >ersion K or >ersion 9, but itmi"ht not be able to use a plane $reated for >ersion @. 7ike#ise,s$ener% add-on pa$ka"es #ill be ba$k#ards $ompatible for atleast one version, but possibl% more.

Plu"-ins are small pro"rams that have been #ritten b% third partiesto modif% X-Plane in some #a%. 4ith plu"ins, users $an buildmultipla%er "amin" modifi$ations, re-pro"ram the built-in T',eAtend the $o$kpit, add s$ener%, and more.

/or eAample, X:ua#koA is a plu"-in that allo#s pla%ers to$onne$t X-Plane to the >T: or > "lobal air traffi$ $ontrolnet#ork. 4ith X:ua#koA , users $an fl% online #ith hundredsof other pilots (#ho ma% be runnin" X-Plane or i$rosoft /li"ht:imulator*, re$eive T' instru$tions from real people a$tin" asair-traffi$ $ontrollers over the nternet via voi$e-over-P, see otherair$raft ahead on the approa$h and hear T' seuen$in" the $raftin. This is reall% approa$hin" #hat real pilots eAperien$e ever%

29 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHbeta.html

da%.

Plu"-ins should not be affe$ted b% the update pro$ess, but it isimpossible for the X-Plane development team to keep tra$k of allthe different plu"-ins that have been #ritten for X-Plane. Thus, if

users suspe$t that an update has $reated a problem for a plu"-inbein" used, the% should $onta$t the plu"-in administrator or author for assistan$e.

'he$k out the X-4orldM 7inks and 7ists3 pa"e for a listin" of thirdpart% add-ons available for X-Plane. The list there links to morethan 1,) additional air$raft files that $an be do#nloaded&almost all of #hi$h are free&as #ell as $ustom s$ener% add-onpa$ka"es. Note that all of these files #ere #ritten b% X-Plane$ustomers and some are better than others. dditionall%, be$auseX-Plane a$tuall% $omputes the for$es a$tin" on an air$raft in fli"ht,

the simulator #ill fl% the air$raft the #a% it #as built b% the author,not ne$essaril% the #a% the manufa$turer built it. f a do#nloadedair$raft #as $onstru$ted #ith the #ron" airfoil, $amber, in$iden$e,s#eep, dihedral, $hord, dY$olla"e (and the list $ontinuesL*, then X-Plane #ill predi$t ho# that air$raft #ould fl% if it #ere actually builtthis way . Thus, the old ada"e applies&"arba"e in, "arba"e out.Geep this in mind #hen sear$hin" the nternet for free air$raftdo#nloads.

/inall%, note that further information about installin" plu"-ins and$ustom air$raft ma% be found in 'hapter @, BApandin" X-Plane on

pa"e 114.

!X. Uninstalling X-Plane

The X-Plane installer does not infest a hard drive or $reatemultiple subdire$tories or short$uts on %our ma$hine. Therefore, itis remarkabl% simple to uninstall the pro"ram&simpl% delete the

3 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHA#orld.html

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http://www.x-plane.com/beta.html


http://www.x-plane.com/beta.html




primar% X-Plane folder, su$h as QX-Plane 9,R #here the 9 indi$atesthe version that #as in use. s the soft#are $reates no short$utsor re"istr% entries, this is all that is reuired to remove thesoft#are from a $omputer $ompletel%.

X. 9etting elp an" &upport

X-Plane is subEe$t to $ontinuous development and improvement+therefore, the version supplied on a pur$hased > ma% alread%have been superseded b% a later version. 'he$k for updates after X-Plane is installed b% follo#in" the steps des$ribed in :e$tion >,8pdatin" to a Ne#er >ersion of X-Plane, found above on pa"e #.The bu" fiAes $ontained in these updates often make further te$hsupport unne$essar%.

Appen"i/ : %A; an" Troubleshooting of this manual $an help#ith man% $ommon problems. dditionall%, help is availablethrou"h X-Plane $ustomer support. 'urrent $onta$t informationfor versions of X-Plane purchased from the website $an be foundon the 'onta$t nfo31 pa"e of the X-Plane.$om site. /or $opies ofX-Plane that #ere pur$hased on a store shelf some#here, orthrou"h an on-line store like maFon, users should $onta$t?raphsim Bntertainment (X-Plane0s retail distributor* dire$tl% attheir #ebsite32.

31 httpMHHA-plane.$omH$onta$t.html32 httpMHH###."raphsim.$omHsupport.html

31

http://x-plane.com/contact.html

http://www.graphsim.com/support.html

http://x-plane.com/contact.html

http://www.graphsim.com/support.html



$. !nitial %light &etup

!. 9eneral A33ess

X-Plane has been #ritten to operate on 4indo#s, a$intosh, and7inuA s%stems. /or $onsisten$%0s sake, the la%out andappearan$e of X-Plane is the same a$ross all three. This ma% besli"htl% different than the interfa$e that users are a$$ustomed to,but on$e the% pass the learnin" $urve, the% "enerall% find it eas%to use.

5ere are a fe# pointers to help the learnin" pro$essM• X-Planes menu is hidden #hen the simulator is first

laun$hed. To a$$ess the menu bar, Eust move the mousepointer to the top of the s$reen. 4hen the mouse is #ithina $entimeter or so of the top ed"e of the s$reen, the menubar #ill appear. There is no ke%board $ommand to a$$essthe menu bar.

• n% #indo# #ithin X-Plane $an be $losed b% $li$kin" either of the Xs found in the upper left and upper ri"ht $orners.

lternativel%, those #indo#s ma% be $losed b% hittin" theBnterH;eturn ke%.

• Ge% $ommands $an be found b% openin" the <o%sti$k IBuipment s$reen and "oin" to the Ge%s tab. Ge%$ommand assi"nments $an also be $han"ed usin" this

s$reen (see 'hapter !, :e$tion > on pa"e '$* to an%thin"desired. lso, note that man% of the ke%board short$utsare sho#n in the X-Plane menus. /or eAample, openin"the >ie# menu #ill displa% the list of available vie#s on theleft side of the drop do#n menu, #ith the list of$orrespondin" ke%board short$uts on the ri"ht.

7ike most pro"rams, the simplest #a% to navi"ate around X-Planeis usin" the mouse, thou"h there are man% short$ut ke%$ommands to help a user navi"ate ui$kl% throu"h the options

after he or she be$omes more familiar #ith the pro"ram. Theseshort$uts are parti$ularl% important #hen usin" the mouse to fl%.n that $ase, it is mu$h easier to use the 2 ke% to drop a not$h offlaps than it is to let "o of the $ontrols, rea$h do#n #ith the mouseto adEust the flaps, and then rea$h ba$k up and "rab the $ontrols

a"ain.

lso note that most instruments and $ontrols inside the $o$kpit areintera$tive, meanin" that the mouse $an be used to alter s#it$hes,set freuen$ies, manipulate the throttle(s*, $han"e the trim, et$.

efore usin" X-Plane, the user ma% need to $onfi"ure and$alibrate the Eo%sti$k (if appli$able* and set the displa% options tooptimiFe the soft#are for use #ith the s%stem.

!!. ?oysti32 Configuration an" Calibration

)oteM 4hen usin" a Eo%sti$k or other hard#are, it #ill need to beplu""ed in before startin" X-Plane. f it is not, X-Plane #ill not seethe input devi$es.

The first thin" that must be done to use a Eo%sti$k (or other inputdevi$e* #ith X-Plane is to properl% $onfi"ure it #ithin the pro"ram.Throu"hout this se$tion #e #ill refer to an% input devi$e as a

Eo%sti$k+ the instru$tions appl% to %okes, throttle uadrants, andrudders also.

A. A/is Assign,ent

n$e X-Plane is runnin", move the mouse to the top of the s$reenand $li$k :ettin"s, then sele$t <o%sti$k I Buipment, as in thefollo#in" s$reenshot.

32



This #ill brin" up the #indo# allo#in" the user to $onfi"ure and$alibrate the fli"ht $ontrols. f it isn0t alread% sele$ted, $li$k on the

Ais tab at the top of the s$reen.

To be"in, move the Eo%sti$k0s $ontrols around to see ho# the aAesare mapped in X-Plane. s this is done, one of the "reen or redbars #ill move for ea$h input that is a$tuated. Thus, #hen thesti$k is rolled left and ri"ht onl% one "reen or red bar #ill move+#hen it is pushed ba$k and forth another bar #ill move. Ba$h$ontrol0s desired fun$tion is sele$ted from the drop do#n boA tothe left of its bar.

The aAis bars are "reen #hen the% are assi"ned a fun$tion, and

the% are red #hen the% are not assi"ned a fun$tion. /or instan$e,before the throttle aAis has been $onfi"ured, movin" the throttlemi"ht move a red bar. fter assi"nin" that bar to throttle, it #illturn "reen.

The normal $onfi"uration is as follo#sM

1. ove %our Eo%sti$k or %oke for#ard and ba$k. "reen orred bar should move as %ou do so. 'li$k the drop-do#n menuneAt to it and set it to pit3h. o not $he$k the re*erse boAneAt to this $ontrol unless, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0s pit$h$ontrol is #orkin" ba$k#ard.

2. ove %our Eo%sti$kH%oke left and ri"ht. The "reen or red barthat moves should be set to roll. o not $he$k the re*erse boA neAt to this $ontrol unless, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0s roll

$ontrol is #orkin" ba$k#ard.

3. T#ist %our Eo%sti$k (if appli$able*. The bar that movesshould be set to ya6. f %ou do not assi"n a %a# aAis, X-Plane#ill attempt to stabiliFe it for %ou. n$e a"ain, do not $he$kthe re*erse boA unless, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0s %a# $ontrolis #orkin" ba$k#ard.

f usin" rudder pedals, slide them for#ard and ba$k#ard andset the "reenHred bar that moves then to ya6.

dditionall%, onl% #hen usin" rudder pedals, press the leftpedal do#n #ith %our toes. The "reen or red bar that movesshould be set to left toe bra2e. o the same for the ri"htpedal, and set that "reen bar to right toe bra2e.

!. ove %our throttle for#ard and ba$k (on a %oke, this ist%pi$all% the leftmost lever*. :et this bar to throttle.

)oteM n% "reen bar #hi$h is not a$tivel% $ontrolled b% %our

33



hard#are needs to be set to none. 4hen this is set, the bar #illturn red, indi$atin" that X-Plane is not usin" the aAis.

8. Control Calibration

'ontrol $alibration is a step of vital importan$e that often "ets leftout. t is, ho#ever, ne$essar% due to the vast arra% of hard#arethat X-Plane $an interfa$e #ith. :ome devi$es ma% send a si"nalfrom to 1, #hen a user moves a "iven $ontrol from one limitto the opposite, #hile another devi$e ma% send a si"nal ("iven thesame movement of a user0s hand or foot* from, sa%, -6, to3,992. The onl% #a% for X-Plane to kno# the ran"e of the

Eo%sti$k0s input is for the user to Qtea$hR it.

ll it takes to $alibrate the Eo%sti$k hard#are is to move all the

axes of the joystick through their full range of motion #hile on the Ais tab of the <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo#. e sure to moveea$h of the Eo%sti$k0s variable $ontrols (that is, all sliders, Eo%sti$ks,rudders, et$.* throu"h their full ran"e of motion&take them all the#a% for#ard, all the #a% ba$k, left, and ri"ht. ll of this $an bedone uite rapidl%, as X-Plane $an monitor all the different inputsat on$e.

C. 8utton Assign,ent

Ba$h of the buttons and s#it$hes on the Eo%sti$k $an be assi"neda fun$tion #ithin X-Plane (for eAample, to""lin" the brakes orlandin" "ear*. To do this, open the uttonsM asi$ tab of the<o%sti$k I Buipment #indo# (outdated versions of X-Plane haveonl% a uttons tab*. s %ou operate %our Eo%sti$k0s buttons ands#it$hes %ou #ill see the boA in the upper left $orner $han"e thenumber it displa%s. This indi$ates that X-Plane has re$eived theinput and is read% to assi"n that buttonHs#it$h a fun$tion.

The instru$tions belo# referen$e onl% buttons. The% appl%,

ho#ever, to s#it$hes too, thou"h a s#it$h $an have a fun$tionassi"ned to both its QupR and Qdo#n.R

To $han"e a button assi"nment, simpl% operate that button on%our Eo%sti$k and then sele$t the fun$tion that should be assi"ned

to it b% $li$kin" on the $ir$ular to""le neAt to it. ;epeat thisoperation for as man% buttons as need fun$tions assi"ned. 'losethe <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo# and the settin"s #ill be saved.

/or instan$e, in the follo#in" s$reenshot, a button #as pressed onthe Eo%sti$k&it happened to be button . The round button neAtto Toggle bra2es regular effort #as $li$ked, thus settin" button to to""le the brakes.

)oteM 8sers must sele$t the desired button b% pressin" andreleasin" it prior to assi"nin" it a fun$tion. f this is not done, theassi"nment of the last button pressed #ill be over#ritten.

:. Controlling ?oysti32 &ensiti*ity an" Air3raft &tability

i. &ensiti*ity

To modif% the Eo%sti$k0s sensitivit% or the stabilit% of the air$raft,open the 'enter tab at the top of the <o%sti$k I Buipments$reen. The top-left sliders (seen belo#* $ontrol the response

3!



$urves for the pit$h, roll, and %a# aAes of the Eo%sti$k.

f these sliders are set all the #a% to the left, the air$raft0sresponse to that aAis0 input #ill be $ompletel% linear. This meansthat a )Z defle$tion of the Eo%sti$k #ill defle$t the airplane0s fli"ht$ontrols )Z of their travel. s these sliders are moved to theri"ht the response be$omes $urved. n this $ase, a defle$tion ofthe Eo%sti$k from $enter to its half#a% point ma% onl% defle$t theair$rafts $ontrols b% 1Z. This #ill dampen an% air$raftmovements and desensitiFe the user0s $ontrols. Geep in mind,ho#ever, that in this $ase, the remainin" 9Z of the $ontrolsurfa$e defle$tion must take pla$e in the last )Z of Eo%sti$kmovement. Thus, the $ontrols #ill be dampened for the first half

or so of their travel and then be$ome h%per-sensitive for theremainder of their thro#. This "ives the user plent% of fine-tune$ontrol near the $enter of the fli"ht $ontrol envelope to holdaltitude and roll pre$isel%, but still allo#s for full $ontrol authorit% atthe eAtremes.

Tr% fl%in" #ith the sliders in various different positions to see #hatsettin" #orks best.

ii. &tability

n the upper ri"ht portion of the 'enter tab0s s$reen is another setof sliders, seen in the follo#in" ima"e.

These $ontrol X-Plane0s stabilit% au"mentation mode b%dampenin" the predi$ted for$es a$tin" on the air$raft fli"ht $ontrolsurfa$es. f these sliders are all the #a% to the left , then there isno stabilit% au"mentation of the air$raft. s the sliders are movedto the ri"ht, X-Plane #ill automati$all% add some stabilit%au"mentation to the air$raft, addin" some elevator input to levelthe nose, some aileron input to minimiFe the roll rate, and somerudder input to $ounter an% air$raft %a# rates. n other #ords, the

simulator #ill tr% to make the plane easier to fl% b% addin" $ontrolinputs for the user. The do#nside, of $ourse, is that as X-Planeadds stabilit%, the air$raft be$omes less responsive (and lessrealisti$*.

. &etting )ull Gones

Null Fones determine ho# mu$h the Eo%sti$k must be moved

3)



before X-Plane a$tuall% starts to take a$tion. null Fone ma% beset for ea$h Eo%sti$k aAis to fine-tune ho# responsive the $ontrolsurfa$e inputs are, but this fun$tion is t%pi$all% used to preventhard#are from Q$reepin"R in fli"ht or to i"nore the $onstantQEitterin"R that man% older $ontrollers #ill send to X-Plane.

To set a null Fone, first open the 'enter tab of the <o%sti$k IBuipment #indo#. No# dra" the nullHone slider (on the lo#erhalf of the #indo#, seen in the follo#in" ima"e* to the desiredposition+ the "reater the per$enta"e, the hi"her the Qdead ran"eRthat #ill not affe$t the airplane0s $ontrols.

'lose the dialo" and these aAis positions #ill be saved.

%. Centering the Controls

ire$tl% beneath the nullHone slider (seen in the ima"e above* is

the C)T EO@ A): P:A=& button. 8sin" this button #illallo# the user to $orre$t for fli"ht $ontrols that don0t return to the$enter of their ran"e&for instan$e, a Eo%sti$k that moves left tori"ht in a ran"e of to 1, but returns to )) #hen the user lets "oof it. 4ithout $enterin" su$h a Eo%sti$k, the $raft #ould $onstantl%roll to the ri"ht.

9. A""ing &pe3ial Duip,ent

The final tab in the <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo#, Buipment, isused to setup spe$ial euipment for use in X-Plane. This tab is"enerall% used on multi-$omputer X-Plane $onfi"urations inprofessional, /-$ertified simulators or to tie in various ?P:navi"ators (su$h as a real ?armin 96H296H396 or a !3 ?P:

radio*. fter bein" $onne$ted to the $omputer, this euipmentshould be set up per the manufa$turer0s re$ommendations, then$he$ked off on the Buipment s$reen to tell X-Plane that it is$onne$ted.

. Troubleshooting %light Controls

f the Eo%sti$k and other fli"ht $ontrols appear to be $onfi"ured$orre$tl% a$$ordin" to the above se$tions but are not "ivin" thedesired response in the simulator, it0s time to troubleshoot.

Thankfull%, X-Plane makes it eas% to find out ho# the soft#are isper$eivin" the fli"ht $ontrols0 input.

n the follo#in" eAample #e0ll assume that the plane0s pit$h, %a#,and roll are not mat$hin" the #a% the Eo%sti$k is bein" moved. similar pro$edure ma% be used for other malfun$tionin" $ontrols.

1. ove %our mouse to the top of the s$reen and open the:ettin"s menu.

2. 'li$k ata nput I utput, as seen belo#.

3. :ele$t the ri"htmost boA neAt to <oysti32 1 ailIel*Iru" (found in the fourth "roup from the top in the far left $olumn, as

36



seen in the follo#in" s$reenshot*. This boA #ill $ause X-Planeto displa% the input it is re$eivin" #hile runnin" the simulation.

!. 'lose the ata nput I utput #indo#.

). boA in the upper ri"ht should be displa%in" the ele*, ailrn,and ru""r $ommands (elevator, aileron, rudder* bein"

re$eived from the Eo%sti$k.

/or instan$e, in the follo#in" s$reenshot, the sti$k is bein"pulled ba$k and to the left #ith a neutral %a# aAis (thusdefle$tin" both the ele* and ailrn inputs from Fero, but leavin"the ru""r at about Fero*.

6. No#, $enter the sti$k and pedals. Ba$h aAis should indi$ate., or $lose to it.

@. ove the sti$k full left. The ailrn should indi$ate -1. ornear -1..

K. ove the sti$k full ri"ht. The ailrn should indi$ate 1. or near 1..

9. ove the sti$k full aft. The ele* should indi$ate 1. or

near 1..

1. ove the sti$k full for#ard. The ele* should indi$ate-1. or near -1..

11. ove the rudder full left. The ru""r should indi$ate-1. or near -1..

12. ove the rudder full ri"ht. The ru""r should indi$ate1. or near 1..

% movin" the sti$k and pedals and seein" #hat values the% aresendin" X-Plane, the user $an see if X-Plane is "ettin" propersti$k input.

f the $orre$t values (a$$ordin" to the tests above* are not bein"re$eived in X-Plane, then the issue is #ith the hard#are0s$alibration in 4indo#s (not X-Plane*. f it is indeed $alibrated$orre$tl% in 4indo#s, the hard#are itself is malfun$tionin". nthe other hand, if the $orre$t values from the above tests are

3@



bein" re$eived, then the hard#are is #orkin" fine.

!!!. en"ering Options &etup

X-Plane is a ver% advan$ed simulator that has been desi"ned foruse a$ross a broad ran"e of $omputers #ith var%in"spe$ifi$ations. s su$h, X-Plane provides the user #ith the optionto make $han"es to numerous settin"s to optimiFe performan$e#ith a parti$ular s%stem set up. /or this reason, this is one of themost $riti$al portions of this manual. The ;enderin" ptions#indo# allo#s users to mat$h X-Planes settin"s (and thus thedemands the simulator puts on the $omputer* to their $omputers0$apabilities. The ;enderin" ptions s$reen is #here all the settin"s affe$tin"

the displa% ualit% and X-Planes performan$e are set. Thesettin"s in this #indo# #ill likel% need to be eAperimented #ith to"et the best results from X-Plane on a spe$ifi$ $omputer.?enerall% speakin", the hi"her the renderin" options are set, thelo#er the performan$e and frame rate a$hieved. The renderin"options that are set #ill have a "reater effe$t on X-Plane0sperforman$e than an% other $han"es that users $an make.

The ;enderin" ptions s$reen $an be found b% movin" themouse to the top of the s$reen, openin" the :ettin"s menu, and$li$kin" ;enderin" ptions, as in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

A. %ra,e ate an" the ;uality of %light &i,ulation

5ere is #h% frame rate is so important to the realism of X-Plane0ssimulation.

The simulators performan$e is measured in frames per se$ond(/P:*. This number is referred to as frame rate. This is ho#man% times per se$ond the $omplete set of pro"rammin"($urrentl% more than @, lines of $odeL* $an be run. Ba$htime the $omputer runs throu"h the pro"ram it advan$es theair$raft and re$al$ulates the ima"es that are seen ($loudformations, s$ener%, air$raft instruments, other air$raft, et$.*.

bviousl%, X-Plane has to be tremendousl% fleAible to be able torun on a three %ear old $omputer and also take full advanta"e ofthe latest and "reatest hard#are available. There are t#o thin"s

that affe$t X-Plane0s frame rate&first, the $omputers $apabilitiesand se$ond, ho# mu$h it is bein" asked to simulate (e."., ho#mu$h visibilit% is set, ho# man% buildin"s, $louds, and otherair$raft are bein" dra#n, et$.*. t #ill be mu$h harder for the$omputer to $ompute ima"es #hen fl%in" an airplane in thirt% milevisibilit% #ith K, three-dimensional buildin"s and $loud puffsthan it #ould be if X-Plane #ere set up #ith onl% t#o or three milesof visibilit% and no $louds.

The faster a $omputer $an run X-Plane the more realisti$ andre#ardin" the simulation #ill be. Testin" has sho#n that the

human brain $an separate individual frames at frame rates of lessthan about 2 /P:, $ausin" the simulation to appear Q$hopp%.R'oin$identall%, this is also about the same pla$e that theen"ineerin" behind the simulation be"ins to fall apart. /or thisreason, X-Plane has set the minimum operatin" speed at thislevel. f a $omputer is not $apable of deliverin" a frame rate of 2/P: #hile renderin" the level of detail set up in the ;enderin"ptions pa"e, X-Plane #ill automati$all% introdu$e fo" to help thesimulation to run more smoothl%. The fo" keeps X-Plane from

3K



havin" to dra# the #orld to as "reat a distan$e, allo#in" thesimulation to run faster.

8. &etting Up the Monitor

The follo#in" options (TeAture ;esolution, :$reen ;es, nti-lias7evel, et$.* are all found on the ;enderin" ptions :$reen,a$$essed b% movin" the mouse to the top of the s$reen (thusmakin" the menu appear*, $li$kin" :ettin"s, then ;enderin"ptions, as seen belo#.

i. Te/ture esolution

The TeAture ;esolution drop-do#n boA (hi"hli"hted in the ima"ebelo#* determines the $larit% and detail of the teAtures displa%edin X-Plane.

TeAtures are the ima"e-maps that are draped over the terrain andair$raft to make them look realisti$. f the teAture resolution is setto lo#, the run#a% and terrain #ill look rather blurr% and blo$k%.

4hile this #ill not look ver% "ood, it #ill use ver% little videomemor% (>;*, so a hi"h frame rate #ill be more easil%a$hievable. The more po#erful a $omputer0s video $ard is,thou"h, the hi"her the teAture resolution $an be set in X-Plane#ithout hurtin" the frame rate. The frame rate #ill be ver% badl%

redu$ed, thou"h, if a teAture resolution is sele$ted that reuiresmore >; than the $omputer0s video $ard has.

8sers $an easil% determine ho# mu$h >; is reuired to render the "iven level of detail&the ver% bottom of the ;enderin"ptions s$reen reads QTotal siFe of all loaded teAtures at $urrentsettin"sM AA.AA me".R /or instan$e, in the ima"e belo#, X-Planehas loaded @).!! of teAtures into >;.

n most $ases, this number #ill onl% be updated after X-Plane isrestarted&that is, users $annot $han"e the teAture resolution,$lose the ;enderin" ptions #indo#, and reopen it to $he$k theamount of >; used.

f the s%stem has a 12K video $ard and the >; $urrentl%

used is onl% 32 , then a hi"her teAture resolution $an be set#ithout problems. This #ill $ause the s$ener%, run#a%, andairplane to all look sharper and $risper. s lon" as X-Plane is notreuirin" more >; than the s%stem0s video $ard has, thesimulation0s frame rate #ill not be impa$ted. Note that if a teAtureresolution is set #hi$h reuires substantiall% more >; than thevideo $ard has, the sim0s frame rate #ill be massively impa$ted asthe $omputer be"ins to use s%stem ; to store teAtures&a ver%slo# pro$ess.

39



n a perfe$t #orld, the >; used #ill be about eual to or a bitmore than the >; of the s%stem0s video $ard. This #ill "ivemaAimum teAture detail #ithout overflo#in" the video $ard0smemor% and redu$in" the frame rate.

ii. &et Color :epth an" Monitor esolution on X-Plane &tartup

f the set 3olor "epth an" ,onitor resolution on X-Planestartup boA (hi"hli"hted in the s$reenshot belo#* is $he$ked, X-Plane #ill automati$all% reset the $omputer0s monitor to theresolution that X-Plane is set to ever% time the pro"ram loads.

This for$es the sim to al#a%s run full-s$reen. Note that this doesnot set X-Plane to the $urrent resolution in 4indo#s+ to do that,read do#n to Part iv, :$reen ;es (;esolution*.

f this boA is $he$ked, the user #ill also "et to $hoose a $olordepth of 16-bit or 32-bit. 32-bit looks a little better. f this boA isnot $he$ked, then X-Plane #ill run in #hatever the $olor depth is

set to in the operatin" s%stem, #hi$h is probabl% 32-bit (orSmillions of $olorsS as des$ribed on a$s*.

)oteM f the s%stem0s monitor does not have a !M3 aspe$t ratio,ever%thin" on the s$reen #ill be distorted if X-Plane is for$ed torun in full s$reen (b% $he$kin" the set 3olor "epth an" ,onitorresolution on X-Plane startup button* #ith a s$reen resolution of 12!A@6K. This is $aused b% X-Plane tr%in" to stret$h a !M3 ima"einto a 16M9 or 16M1 spa$e. /or a detailed dis$ussion on these

aspe$t ratios, please see 'hapter 2, :e$tion , ispla%;euirements and :%stem r$hite$ture on pa"e 1(.

iii. Anti-Alias =e*el

The anti-alias option (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e* is prett%interestin".

There are onl% about a million piAels on a $omputer0s monitor.This ma% seem like a lot, but in realit%, its not for #hat X-Plane isdoin". 4hen a $omputer tries to dra# dia"onal lines a$ross there$tan"ular piAels of a monitor, SEa""iesS result&piAelated-lookin"Sstair-steppedS lines. These Ea""ies ma% be (some#hat*eliminated b% sele$tin" anti-aliasin". This #ill $ause X-Plane toa$tuall% dra# the simulated #orld several times per frame andblend those frames to"ether, resultin" in a better lookin" ima"e.This #ill $ompletel% kill the sim0s frame rate if the s%stem doesn0thave a stron" video $ard, but if the video $ard $an take it, $rankthis option up.

i*. &3reen es JesolutionK

This $ontrol (hi"hli"hted in the ima"e belo#* sets the s$reenresolution of the X-Plane #indo#.

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To $han"e the resolution, $li$k the up or do#n arro# neAt to ea$hdi"it of the settin". /or eAample, to $han"e the resolution from12! A @6K in the ima"e above to, sa%, 12K A @6K, one #ould$li$k t#i$e on the arro# above the Fero in 12!, siA times on thearro# above the t#o in 12!, and four times on the arro#below the four in 12!.

The default and re$ommended resolution settin" is 12! A @6KpiAels. ther s$reen resolutions $an be used, but the simulation0sframe rate #ill deteriorate a little as the s$reen area in$reases.

a. Ma2ing X-Plane %ull &3reen

The s3reen res $ontrol $an also be used to $ause X-Plane to fillthe entire s$reen. f the X-Plane #indo# does not fill the s$reen,determine #hat s$reen resolution the $omputer is runnin" at andenter that resolution here. This $an also be done the other #a%around, b% settin" the resolution of the $omputer to mat$h theresolution in X-Plane. 'han"es to this settin" #ill take effe$t afterX-Plane is restarted.

4indo#s XP users $an determine their $urrent resolution (and$han"e it* b% doin" the follo#in"M

1. ;i"ht $li$k on the esktop and $li$k Properties.

2. n the #indo# that opens, $li$k the :ettin"s tab.

3. ra" the :$reen ;esolution slider to the desired resolution.

n >istaM

1. ;i"ht $li$k on the esktop and $hoose PersonaliFe.

2. 'li$k ispla% :ettin"s.

3. ra" the resolution slider to the desired resolution.

n 4indo#s @M

1. ;i"ht $li$k on the esktop and $li$k :$reen ;esolution.

2. 'li$k on the ;esolution drop-do#n boA and dra" the sliderto the desired resolution.

a$ users $an do the same b% doin" the follo#in"M

1. pen the :%stem Preferen$es from either the do$k or the pple menu.

2. pen the ispla%s menu and $li$k on the ispla% tab.

3. :ele$t the desired resolution under Q;esolutions.R

'han"in" X-Planes resolution to mat$h the resolution of

a widescreen monitor #ill $ause most 2- $o$kpits to have blankbars on their left and ri"ht, throu"h #hi$h s$ener% outside theplane #ill be visible. 'ommon #ides$reen resolutions are 192 A1K, 1!! A 9, 136 A @6K, 12K A @2, et$. /or moreinformation on this problem, see 'hapter 2, :e$tion , ispla%;euirements and :%stem r$hite$ture on pa"e 1(.

*. :ra6 !O& on &e3on" Monitor on &a,e i"eo Car"

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n nstru$tor0s peratin" :tation (:* ma% be run from the same$omputer as the sim #hen usin" a dual output video $ard. Toenable this, $he$k the boA neAt to "ra6 !O& on se3on" ,onitor ,hi"hli"hted belo#.

The video $ard must first be $onfi"ured to output to both s$reensin the operatin" s%stem. 'he$kin" this boA #ill $ause a se$ond X-Plane #indo# to open on the se$ond s$reen. n this #indo#,move the mouse to the top of the s$reen and $li$k 7o$ation, then7o$al ap. There, $he$k the : boA, as sho#n in the follo#in"

ima"e.

n the left #ill appear the options to load different air$raft,

relo$ate the air$raft, fail s%stems, and alter the #eather for theQstudentR pilot. Note that this : fun$tionalit% is available not onl%on a se$ond s$reen on the same $omputer, but also from ase$ond $omputer net#orked to the student $omputer via a 7N orthe nternet. This option has no effe$t on frame rate.

/or more information on runnin" an :, see 'hapter ), :e$tion>, Part , :ubse$tion vi on pa"e 0.

C. &etting Up the X-Plane 7orl"

Ba$h of the $ontrols in this part of the $hapter (:ettin" 8p the X-Plane 4orld* is found in the PB;/;N'B ;BNB;N?PTN: se$tion of the ;enderin" ptions #indo#, hi"hli"hted in

the follo#in" ima"e.

i. %orest :ensity

This $ontrol determines ho# dense the forest and shrubber% are inX-Plane. Geep in mind that dra#in" more and more denseforestr% #ill have a moderate effe$t on the simulators abilit% tomaintain frame rate.

ii. 7orl" :etail :istan3e

This #ill set the level of detail for obEe$ts in the #orld s$ener%, andfrom ho# far a#a% this detail #ill be visible. 'han"es to thissettin" #ill take effe$t after X-Plane is restarted and have a lar"eeffe$t on frame rate. e $areful #ith this one.

iii. )u,ber of Ob<e3ts

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This #ill determine ho# man% three-dimensional obEe$ts (e.".,buildin"s* are dra#n in the #orld s$ener%. This #ill have a verystrong effe$t on the simulators performan$e&fl%in" over Ne#=ork 'it% #ith K, little 3 buildin"s is mu$h more diffi$ult for X-Plane to dra# than fl%in" over rural o#a #ith onl% 2. 'han"es to

this settin" #ill take effe$t after X-Plane is restarted.

i*. )u,ber of oa"s

This #ill set the number and $ompleAit% of roads and rivers bein"displa%ed in X-Plane. 'han"es to this settin" #ill take effe$t afterX-Plane is restarted and have a moderate to lar"e effe$t on framerate.

*. Airport :etail

This drop-do#n menu modifies the level of detail rendered atairports, addin" #indso$ks, bea$on li"hts, and teAture andmarkers to run#a%s. t has a minimal effe$t on frame rate.

*i. Traffi3 :ensity

This $ontrol modifies the amount of air traffi$, as #ell as theamount of the asso$iated T' $ommuni$ations heard over the

radio. t has a minimal effe$t on frame rate.

*ii. Anisotropi3 %ilter Te/tures

nisotropi$ filterin" is a some#hat $ompli$ated $on$ept.

ma"ine takin" a photo"raph and lookin" at it from about t#o feeta#a%, #ith %our e%es dire$tl% above the ima"e and perpendi$ularto it. Thin"s are $lear and sharp, ri"htJ No# ima"ine takin" the

same pi$ture and rotatin" it 9 de"rees a#a% from %ou so %ourelookin" at the ed"e. bviousl%, the ima"e is no lon"er visible.No# rotate it ba$k to#ards %ou ) or 1 de"rees. =ou $an Euststart to make out the ima"e, but sin$e %oure lookin" at it fromsu$h a lo# an"le, the pi$ture is fuFF% and poorl% defined.

This is analo"ous to lookin" at the X-Plane s$ener% from a lo#altitude on a $lear da%. The ima"es dire$tl% in front of the air$raft#ill be relativel% $lear, but the $loser the s$ener% "ets to thehoriFon, the fuFFier the ima"e be$omes. The anisotropi$ filterhelps to $lear this fuFFiness a#a%, makin" the ima"e $learer. Thisoption has a minimal effe$t on most ma$hines and a moderateimpa$t on some ma$hines. Tr% it out and see if %ou like it and if%ou $an live #ith the performan$e penalt%.

*iii. :ra6 8ir"s in )i3e 7eather

This is a relativel% ne# feature in X-Plane that arose from a near-miss bet#een ustin (the author of X-Plane* and a small flo$k ofbirds. 5e #as departin" from 'olumbia, :outh 'arolina one da%in his 'irrus. s he #as $limbin" out, a flo$k of birds fle# in frontof his air$raft and ustin thou"ht he #as about to in$ur multiple$ollisions. s it turned out, the birds did not $ollide #ith him, but it#as enou"h to open his e%es to realiFe that this potential haFardneeded to be modeled in X-Plane.

Ba$h bird in X-Plane is modeled independentl% and has its o#nQmission.R /or this reason, the flo$ks of birds look ver% realisti$.'ollidin" #ith the birds #ill $ause dama"e to the air$raft as #ell asen"ine failures and other thin"s, Eust like in realit%. This $ontrolhas a mar"inal effe$t on frame rate.

i/. :ra6 i-es Planet Te/tures fro, Orbit

X-Plane $an simulate orbital and sub-orbital fli"ht usin" the :pa$e

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:huttle and other spa$e$raft. f sele$ted, this option #ill displa%hi"h-resolution ima"es of the Barth #hen simulatin" spa$e fli"hts.These hi"h-resolution ima"es #ill t%pi$all% be displa%ed ataltitudes of 1, feet or hi"her. This has no effe$t on framerate eA$ept #hen fl%in" above that altitude.

/. :ra6 %orest %ires an" 8alloons in 7ar, 7eather

4hen $he$ked, this option #ill dra# randoml% "enerated forestfires for pra$ti$in" #ater bombin". X-Plane $an realisti$all%simulate su$h operations, reuirin" the user to fl% a #ater bombersu$h as the '7-!1) (found in the :eaplanes folder* and s$oop up#ater from the o$ean or a nearb% lake. This option has ane"li"ible effe$t on frame rate.

/i. :ra6 ie6 !n"i3ator

This is a hand% feature that #ill dra# a little oran"e trian"le in thetop $enter of the s$reen #hen lookin" an% dire$tion other thanfor#ards. t rotates about a depi$tion of the air$raft and points inthe dire$tion that the s$reen is vie#in". This is helpful inmaintainin" situational a#areness. This option has a ne"li"ibleeffe$t on frame rate.

/ii. :i, Un"er igh 9 =oa" or ypo/ia

4hen this boA is $he$ked, X-Plane #ill simulate the effe$ts of"ravit%, $reatin" ?-for$e bla$kouts under ti"ht maneuvers orh%poAia from hi"h altitude fl%in". These effe$ts are true to life,$ausin" the s$reen to either Qbla$k outR or Qred out,R Eust as a pilot#ould eAperien$e a loss of vision under eAtreme hi"h or lo# ?situations. dditionall%, a bla$k out #ill o$$ur #hen fl%in" at toohi"h an altitude #ithout first settin" the pressuriFation or oA%"ens%stem, Eust like in real life. This option has a ne"li"ible effe$t on

frame rate.

/iii. Use Pi/el &ha"ers for A,aHing %og an" 7ater ffe3ts

8sin" piAel shaders allo#s X-Plane to add 3 li"htin" on a per-piAel basis. ;ather than havin" the simulator tell the "raphi$s$ard ho# to li"ht an area, the "raphi$s $ard determines it in realtime, $reatin" a ver% realisti$ ima"e. ependin" on the "raphi$s$ard, this $an have a lar"e effe$t on frame rate.

a. :ra6 olu,etri3 %og

This option onl% appears #hen usin" piAel shaders. Normall%, fo"is applied to the entire s$ene #ith the same densit%. 8sin"

volumetri$ fo" $reates a number of small, lo$aliFed fo" effe$ts,$ausin" the densit% to var%. This $an have a si"nifi$ant effe$t onframe rate.

b. 7ater efle3tion =e*el

This option also appears onl% #hen usin" piAel shaders.'han"in" the refle$tion level of the #ater also $han"es ho# man%$al$ulations the $omputer must do on ea$h piAel in the #ater. tseffe$t on frame rate varies based on the amount of #ater in the

s$ene.

:. &etting up Clou"s

The follo#in" t#o settin"s are found in the 3- '78'NT;7: se$tion (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e* of the;enderin" options #indo#.

!!



X-Planes 3 $louds are "enerated from man% smaller $loudsprites, or Qpuffs.R The% "ive the appearan$e of a true, volumetri$$loud, #hi$h $an be flo#n throu"h or around. The% also developover time, Eust as in real life, dependin" on #eather $onditions.BAperiment #ith the follo#in" settin"s to obtain a balan$ebet#een performan$e and visual appeal.

i. )u,ber of Clou" Puffs

This option sets the number of $loud puffs, as a ratio to the defaultvalue of 1.. n$reasin" the number of puffs #ill have a massiveimpa$t on frame rate. e $areful #ith this one.

ii. &iHe Clou" of Clou" Puffs

This option sets the siFe of ea$h $loud puff, as a ratio to thedefault value of 1.. The lar"er the siFe of $loud puffs, theslo#er X-Plane #ill perform, althou"h this ma% not be toonoti$eable on modern video $ards.

. /pert en"ering Options

The follo#in" three $ontrols are found in the BXPB;T;BNB;N? PTN: se$tion (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e* of the ;enderin" options s$reen.

i. Co,press Te/tures to &a*e AM

'he$kin" this boA and restartin" X-Plane ma% enable thesimulator to use about t#i$e the >; as before #ithoutoverflo#in" the video $ard. 5o#ever, doin" so ma% $ause someof the $rispness and pre$ision to be lost from teAtures. Tr% it outand see #hat happens.

ii. :o Any &3enery =oa"s in the 8a32groun"

This $auses X-Plane to tr% to load as mu$h s$ener% as possible#ithout pausin". This is #here a dual- or uad-$ore pro$essorreall% shines.

iii. un6ays %ollo6 Terrain Contours

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X-Plane in$ludes a feature #hereb% run#a%s and taAi#a%s $anfollo# the elevations of the terrain upon #hi$h the% are dra#n. nsome $ases, the $han"es in elevation of the terrain ma% be ver%abrupt, #hi$h $an make airport run#a%s overl% bump%.

8n$he$kin" this boA #ill $ause X-Plane to flatten the terrain underrun#a%s to alleviate potential problems. This option has no effe$ton frame rate.

%. &pe3ial ie6ing Controls

The follo#in" $ontrols are found in the :PB'7 >B4N?'NT;7: se$tion (sho#n in the s$reenshot belo#* of the;enderin" ptions #indo#.

i. =ateral %iel" of ie6

The field of vie# settin" #ill $han"e the #a% X-Plane displa%s thevie# of the outside #orld. 5i"her settin"s #ill allo# more of theterrain to be vie#ed at an% one time, but #ill redu$e performan$e.5i"her settin"s #ill also in$rease the Qfish e%eR effe$t of thesimulator. The default value is !) de"rees, #hi$h "enerall% "ives"ood performan$e and a natural vie#.

ii. Mini,u, %ra,e ate

s dis$ussed at the be"innin" of Part of this se$tion (found onpa"e $*, the frame rate is the number of uniue pi$tures(QframesR* that the simulator displa%s per se$ond. The term

$omes from the motion pi$ture industr%, #here ea$h frame #as aseparate pi$ture taken b% a movie $amera. n X-Plane, as framerate in$reases, so does the a$$ura$% of the fli"ht model and itsvisual appeal. This $ontrol #ill set a minimum frame rate that X-Plane #ill attempt to maintain. f the s%stem has too man%renderin" options set too hi"h, X-Plane #ill automati$all% redu$ethe visibilit% in an attempt to maintain the frame rate spe$ifiedhere.

The frame rate should not "o belo# 2 frames per se$ond (fps*be$ause the fli"ht model needs at least 2 fps to do a de$ent Eob

simulatin" most airplanes. n smaller, li"hter planes, thou"h,#hi$h have less inertia and more speed and maneuverabilit%, X-Plane #ill need more than 2 fps to fl% a$$uratel%. This is due tothese planes0 abilit% to fli$ker around the sk% so ui$kl%. hi"hframe rate is needed to a$$uratel% tra$k the planes rapida$$elerations.

f the frame rate "ets too lo# for the fli"ht model to handle, thenthe plane is likel% to start os$illatin" ui$kl% ba$k and forth(referred to as Qsimulator flutter,R often o$$urrin" #ith autopilot on*as the fli"ht model tries unsu$$essfull% to predi$t #hat the plane

#ill do neAt. t this point, the $omputer is runnin" too slo#l% totake small enou"h steps in the fli"ht model to see #hat the plane#ill reall% do at ea$h moment. :maller and more maneuverableplanes #ill a$$elerate more ui$kl%, and "reater a$$elerationsreuire a hi"her frame rate to simulate.

iii. Multi-Co,puter &i,ulators

The follo#in" options in the :pe$ial >ie#in" 'ontrols are used for

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multi-monitor or multi-$omputer simulators. setup like thisallo#s X-Plane to run different vie#s on different monitors (foreAample, a left, $enter, and ri"ht vie# on three different monitors,or an instrument panel on one s$reen and the for#ard vie# on ase$ond s$reen*. Note that in a multi-$omputer setup, ea$h

$omputer reuires its o#n $op% of X-Plane.

To set up a multi-$omputer simulator, the various $omputers mustfirst be linked to"ether over a net#ork. X-Plane should then belaun$hed on ea$h $omputer. n ea$h $omputer, open the:ettin"s menu and $li$k ata nput I utput. n this s$reen "oto the net 1 or net 2 tab and enter the various P addresses ofthe different ma$hines in the appropriate lo$ation.

:ee 'hapter K, :e$tions > and > (be"innin" on pa"e 1$* formore information on multi-$omputer setups, and $all $ustomer

servi$e if %ou have diffi$ult% and #ould like some assistan$e.

8nder normal, sin"le $omputer $onfi"urations, these options $anall be left at their default values

a. =ateral+ erti3al+ an" oll Offsets

7ets sa% that %ou have three net#orked $omputers for additionalvisuals to form a #rap-around $o$kpit. Ba$h $omputer mi"ht havea ! de"ree />. =ou should enter a lateral offset of -! de"rees

for the left visual, for the front visual, and ! de"rees for theri"ht visual. f ea$h visual has a field of vie# of ! de"rees, theseima"es #ill blend to"ether seamlessl% if %ou dont $onsider the#idth of the frame around the monitor. f %ou $annot set up themonitors to run their effe$tive ima"e all the #a% to the ed"e (as%ou $an #ith some, even thou"h %ou #on0t be able to see the parttheoreti$all% under the border* then %ou mi"ht tr% a field of vie# ofma%be 3K de"rees, based on #hatever fra$tion of the monitor isvisible.

>erti$al and roll offsets are the upHdo#n and tilt euivalents of thelateral offset.

Please note that lateral, verti$al, and roll offsets are only availablein de"rees+ ratio values are no lon"er supported.

)oteM 4hile the vie# offsets do indi$ate ho# mu$h to the left orri"ht or up or do#n ea$h vie# is lookin", people still make thesame mistake over and overM the% run a $enter vie# #ith a $o$kpitin the $enter s$reen, and eAternal visuals on the left and ri"ht(#hi$h is fine* but the% noti$e that the horiFon in the $enter($o$kpit* s$reen does not line up #ith the horiFons on either side.The reason for this is that the $enter-point of the s$reen #here thehoriFon rests in a level fli"ht attitude is up near the top of thes$reen in the $o$kpit vie# (to make room for the instrument panel*and the center of the s$reen for the eAternal visuals (#hi$h do not

need room at the bottom for the instrument panel*. ften, people#ill in$orre$tl% lo#er the verti$al offset of the $enter panel (#ith the$o$kpit*.

This results in $ountless problems #ith the vie#s not linin" up. tis like takin" the #heels off the left side of one0s $ar and thenthinkin" the problem is solved b% holdin" the steerin" #heel to theri"ht to drive strai"ht. t is not the $orre$t response to theproblem. n this $ase, users should "o to the vie#point s$reen inPlane-aker and set the $o$kpit vie#point $enter to 3K! piAels(that is, half of the @6K piAel hei"ht of the s$reen* so that the

vie#point $enter in the $o$kpit #indo# is the same as thevie#point $enter in the side-vie# s$reens. nl% then #ill thehoriFon al#a%s line up a$ross all the visualsL n other #ords, theonl% time a verti$al offset should be used is if there is one monitoron top of another. f a user has to enter a verti$al offset for one oft#o monitors that sit beside ea$h other, sHhe is doin" somethin"#ron"L The problem should be solved b% makin" sure that thevie#point center is at the same piAel hei"ht on all the $omputermonitors that are side-b%-side, and that hei"ht is al#a%s 3K!

!@



piAels (half#a% up a @6K piAel s$reen* for the eAternal visuals.

i*. =o32 ie6 to %or6ar" Co32pit

4hen vie#s are $han"ed #ithin X-Plane, that $han"ed vie#propa"ates to all the eAternal visuals. 'he$kin" this boA $auses avie# to always be for#ard-#ith-$o$kpit.

9. &etting up X-Plane to A3hie*e the 8est esults

The follo#in" pro$edure #ill allo# the user to optimiFe X-Plane0sperforman$e for his or her $omputer, re"ardless of the po#er ofthat $omputer or an% limitations it ma% have.

i. :isplaying the %ra,e ate

efore #e be"in, #e #ill need to be able to tell ho# fast X-Plane isrunnin" on the $omputer. To do this, laun$h X-Plane andM

1. ove %our mouse to the top of the s$reen ($ausin" themenu to appear* and $li$k :ettin"s, then ata nput I utput,as in the follo#in" ima"e.

2. 'he$k the far ri"ht boA neAt to fra,e rate (as seen in thefollo#in" s$reenshot*. This #ill $ause X-Plane to displa% the$urrent frame rate in the upper left of the s$reen durin" fli"ht.

3. 'lose the ata nput I utput #indo# (either #ith one ofthe Xs in the $orners of the #indo# or #ith the Bnter ke% onthe ke%board*. =ou should no# see ho# fast the simulation isrunnin", in the freD I se3 output in the boA in the upper left ofthe s$reen (as seen belo#*. This is the $urrent frame rate,"iven in frames per se$ond (fps*.

Note that the frame rate #ill $han"e dependin" on #hat ishappenin" in the simulation. t is not un$ommon for a $omputer tooutput ) fps #hile sittin" on an empt% run#a%, but drop do#n to,sa%, 3) fps #hen renderin" lots of buildin"s, other air$raft, et$.

;efer to the follo#in" to determine the si"nifi$an$e of this number.• 1) fps is terrible and barel% adeuate to run the simulator.• 3 to ) fps is the ideal ran"e. 5i"her frame rates indi$ate

the $omputer isn0t renderin" #ith as mu$h detail as it

!K



$ould. :tudies have sho#n that startin" at about )frames per se$ond, users0 sub$ons$ious minds for"et thatthe% are lookin" at a simulator and be"in thinkin" the% area$tuall% fl%in".

• 1 fps is eA$essivel% hi"h and indi$ates that the s%stem

has plent% of $apa$it% to dra# more buildin"s, $louds, andother obEe$ts.

ii. Mo"ifying isibility an" Clou" en"ering

f the simulator0s frame rate isn0t as hi"h %ou #ould like, %ou $anraise it b% doin" the follo#in"M

1. rin" do#n the menu as above and $li$k Bnvironment, then4eather, as seen belo#.

2. 8sin" the upper , ,i", and lo6er drop-do#n menus (foundin the upper left of the s$reen, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e*, set the $loud t%pes to 3lear or 3u o*er3ast for maA

frame rate. /or a "ood frame rate, set them to hi 3irrus or lostratus. Cu s3attere" or 3u bro2en take a ton of $omputin"po#er to displa%.

3. :et the visibilit% (found on the left side, near the middle ofthe s$reen* to about five miles or so, as seen in the follo#in"ima"e. 5i"her visibilit% takes more $omputin" po#er be$ausethe $omputer has to $al$ulate #hat the #orld looks like for a

mu$h lar"er area.

!9



4ith that done, $lose that s$reen and $he$k the frame rate a"ain.To improve it even more, $ontinue on to modif%in" the teAtureresolution.

iii. Changing Te/ture esolution for 8est Perfor,an3e

1. ake the menu bar appear as in the above pro$esses and$li$k :ettin"s, then $li$k ;enderin" ptions, as seen belo#.

2. The te/ture resolution drop-do#n menu (hi"hli"hted in thefollo#in" s$reenshot* determines ho# mu$h video ;

(>;* the $omputer #ill use. f %our "raphi$s $ard hasplent% of >;, %ou $an set it as hi"h as %ou #ant #ith noloss in frame rate, but as soon as the teAture resolutionreuires more >; than the "raphi$s $ard has, thesimulator0s frame rate #ill plummet.

3. To determine ho# mu$h >; is bein" used at the $urrentsettin"s, look at the ver% bottom of this #indo#. The last linereads QTotal siFe of all loaded teAtures at $urrent settin"sMAA.AA me".R /or instan$e, in the follo#in" ima"e, the teAturesloaded are usin" @).!! of >;.

4hile it is possible in some $ases to load more teAtures than$an be stored in >; #ithout a performan$e hit (as not allteAtures #ill be used all the time*, the siFe of the loadedteAtures should not be si"nifi$antl% "reater than the >; onthe s%stem0s video $ard.

!. 7o#er the te/ture resolution if the $urrent settin"s reuiremu$h more >; than %our video $ard has.

)oteM fter $han"in" the teAture resolution, X-Plane must berestarted for the $han"e to take effe$t. 4e re$ommend puttin"the teAture resolution on its lo#est settin", eAitin" the sim,restartin" it, and notin" the frame rate. /rom there, raise theteAture detail up one level and repeat until the frame ratede$reases. This is the point at #hi$h all of the video $ard0s ;is bein" used. a$k the teAture resolution off to one level lo#er

)



than #here the de$rease #as noted and restart X-Plane one moretime.

i*. &etting &3reen esolution for 8est Perfor,an3e

NeAt, look at the s3reen res (resolution* settin" on the ;enderin"ptions s$reen, sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e.

5i"her resolutions use up some eAtra >;, but not mu$h. Thes$reen resolution is the siFe of the ima"e that X-Plane is dra#in",in piAel #idth b% piAel hei"ht. user mi"ht have a lar"e, #idemonitor, but that does not mean that dra#in" a lar"e, #ide s$reenmust be more diffi$ult for X-Plane. relativel% lo# number ofpiAels $an be dra#n on that s$reen b% settin" the resolution in theoperatin" s%stem a$$ordin"l%.

/or instan$e, on a monitor that tops out at a resolution of 192 A1K, one mi"ht set its resolution in the operatin" s%stem to 136A @6K. This #a%, X-Plane #ill be less demandin" of the "raphi$s

$ard #hile still fillin" the entire s$reen.

4indo#s XP users $an $han"e their resolution b% doin" thefollo#in"M

1. ;i"ht $li$k on the esktop and $li$k Properties.

2. n the #indo# that opens, $li$k the :ettin"s tab.

3. ra" the :$reen ;esolution slider to the desired resolution.

n >istaM

1. ;i"ht $li$k on the esktop and $hoose PersonaliFe.

2. 'li$k ispla% :ettin"s.

3. ra" the resolution slider to the desired resolution.

n 4indo#s @M

1. ;i"ht $li$k on the esktop and $li$k :$reen ;esolution.

2. 'li$k on the ;esolution drop-do#n boA and dra" the sliderto the desired resolution.

a$ users $an do the same b% doin" the follo#in"M

1. pen the :%stem Preferen$es from either the do$k or the pple menu.

2. pen ispla%s menu and $li$k on the ispla% tab.

3. :ele$t the desired resolution under Q;esolutions.R

Note that dra#in" a lar"e s$reen #ith fe# piAels #ill look "rainier

than dra#in" a smaller s$reen #ith more piAels&assumin" thatthe monitor is vie#ed from the same distan$e in ea$h $ase.ra#in" more detail (#ith a hi"her s$reen resolution* uses upsome of the video $ard0s pro$essin" po#er, but not too mu$h. nmost $ases the bi""est bottlene$k #hen usin" a hi"her resolutionis the pro$essor, as it must $al$ulate the vie# for a lar"er, moredetailed area.

Pla% #ith the s$reen resolution a bit and set the resolution as %ou

)1



see fit. an% $omputers #ill run best at 12! A @6K. ;ememberthat X-Plane #ill have to be shut do#n and restarted for the$han"es to take effe$t.

*. Opti,iHing Other en"ering Options

These are the reall% $riti$al options&the all-important nu,ber ofob<e3ts and nu,ber of roa"s settin"s, hi"hli"hted in the ima"ebelo#.

These have a huge impa$t on frame-rate. :et them to none forthe most speed, then restart X-Plane for the $han"es to takeeffe$t. 'he$k the frame rate, brin" both settin"s up one level, andrepeat, restartin" the sim ea$h time to see ho# performan$e isaffe$ted. :ettin" these options to hi"her levels #ill look mu$hni$er but #ill ne"ativel% impa$t the X-Plane0s frame rate.

The man% different boAes in the PB;/;N'B ;BNB;N?PTN: se$tion of this #indo# #ere revie#ed in detail in Part, :e$tion ', :ettin" 8p the X-Plane 4orld (be"innin" on pa"e

4*. ost of these do not impa$t the frame rate mu$h, #ith theeA$eption of use Pi/el &ha"ers for a,aHing fog an" 6atereffe3ts (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e*. Therefore, set theseup as desired, but make sure use Pi/el &ha"ers is unchecked for "reatest speed.

n the 3- '78 'NT;7: se$tion of the #indo#, thenu,ber of 3lou" puffs $ontrol (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e* has a huge impa$t on frame rate #hen there are s$attered,broken, or over$ast $louds, but those settin"s should alread% havebeen avoided #hen tr%in" to optimiFe frame rate.

)2



*i. Changing the )u,ber of Other Air3raft

The final settin" that reall% impa$ts the simulators frame rate is thenumber of other airplanes. $$ess this b% movin" the mouse tothe top of the s$reen, $li$kin" ir$raft, then sele$tin" ir$raft and:ituations, as seen belo#.

The nu,ber of air3raft settin" (found on the left of the s$reen,about half#a% do#n, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e* should beset to one (%ours* for maAimum speed.

:ettin" this number hi"her #ill $ause X-Plane to use artifi$ialintelli"en$e (* to fl% an% spe$ified number of other air$raft in thesk%. Note that there is no lo"i$ to determine #hat t%pe of air$raftto pla$e or #here (for eAample, a hot air balloon ma% be seenfl%in" around Ne# =ork 'it%*.

4ith the s%stem0s frame rate optimiFed, it0s time to fl%L

)3



4. %light

!. Opening an Air3raft

4hen laun$hin" X-Plane for the first time, the default airplane #illbe loaded&in >ersion 9 this is the 'irrus <et. fter that, X-Plane#ill load the air$raft that #as bein" used #hen the pro"ram last$losed.

t0s a "ood idea to take %our first fli"hts in somethin" simple, likethe 'essna 1@2 :P. To open this air$raftM

1. ove %our mouse to the top of the X-Plane #indo# to $ausethe menu to appear.

2. 'li$k ir$raft, then pen ir$raft, as in the s$reenshotbelo#.

3. t the top of the #indo# no# open is a drop-do#n menu. tis $urrentl% displa%in" the name of the folder that the $urrentair$raft is lo$ated in. 'li$k the upHdo#n s%mbol on the ri"htside of the folder name, as seen in the follo#in" ima"e.

!. No# a list of the folder hierar$h% (the or"aniFation of thefolders* opens from the drop-do#n menu. t starts #ith themain X-Plane folder and "oes do#n to the folder that the$urrent air$raft is in. /or eAample, if the 'irrus <et is open atthe moment, the hierar$h% sho#sM• X-:%stem folder • ir$raft• ?eneral viation•

'irrus TheEet

'li$k on the line that sa%s ir$raft, as in the follo#in" ima"e.

). The ir$raft folder opens. The folders here divide X-Plane0sair$raft into $lasses&for eAample, there are fi"hters, "eneralaviation $raft, "liders, heli$opters, seaplanes, et$. ouble $li$kon ?eneral viation (sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot*.

)!



6. No# the navi"ation boA in the lo#er left of the #indo#sho#s the different air$raft $lassified as "eneral aviationplanes. ouble $li$k on the 'essna 1@2:P folder, as per thefollo#in" ima"e.

@. X-Plane air$raft files&#hi$h are #hat #e need to $li$k onto open an airplane&are denoted b% an Q.a$fR eAtension.ouble $li$k on the '[email protected]$f file (as seen in thefollo#in" s$reenshot* to load the air$raft.

))



n a fe# moments the s$reen #ill "o bla$k. :hortl% thereafter the$o$kpit of a ne# 'essna 1@2 :k%ha#k #ill appear.

!!. Choosing an Airport

X-Plane0s air$raft $an be relo$ated to an%#here on Barth usin" the

:ele$t ?lobal irport #indo#. This provides a listin" of all theairports in the X-Plane database ($urrentl% more than 32,*,representin" nearl% ever% airport on the planet.

)oteM f the air$raft is relo$ated to an area that does not have an%s$ener% installed, it #ill end up on a run#a% #hi$h is hoverin"above the o$ean do#n belo#. This is referred to as S#ater #orldSand it is $overed in detail in ppendiA 7M 4ater Bver%#hereL.

To open the :ele$t ?lobal irport s$reenM

1. ove the mouse to the top of the s$reen, $ausin" the menuto appear.

2. 'li$k 7o$ation, then $li$k :ele$t ?lobal irport, as in thes$reenshot belo#.

This s$reen is divided into three parts. n the top left (sho#n in the

follo#in" ima"e* is a listin" of ever% airport name, arran"ed b%$it%. oth this format and these names are the offi$ial standard for that lo$al area (#hi$h, for 8: airports, is the /*.

)6



To the ri"ht of the list pane (sho#n in the s$reenshot belo#* is anoverhead vie# of the $urrentl% sele$ted airport0s la%out.

The bottom half of the #indo# (sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e*displa%s ro#s of Qui$k startR buttons.

The buttons in the TGB// $olumn (on the far left* #ill transportthe air$raft to the spe$ified run#a%. To the ri"ht of these buttonsare the /N7 PP;'5 buttons, #hi$h #ill transport the

air$raft to the spe$ified distan$e a#a% from the run#a% to the ri"htof it. /inall%, the ;P :T;T button #ill transport the air$raft tothe spe$ified ramp for takeoff.

To sear$h the available airports, t%pe either the $it% name or theairport into the #hite boA belo# the list pane (labeled QptMR*./or instan$e, in the ima"e belo#, the user t%ped in QG7XR to find7os n"eles nternational irport. The same results $ould beobtained b% t%pin" Q7os n"eles ntl,R or b% simpl% t%pin" Q7os

n"elesR and s$rollin" throu"h the results.

lternativel%, use the up and do#n arro#s on the ke%board tomove throu"h the full list. To travel to an airport, $li$k on it on$e inthe list pane to hi"hli"ht it ($ausin" a "re% boA to appear aroundit*, then $li$k the 9o To This Airport button, as seen in theprevious ima"e.

)@



A. Airport !:s /plaine"

Bver% airport on Barth has a uniue identifier used to refer to thefield in fli"ht plans, instrument approa$h plates, and ?P:navi"ators. n the 8nited :tates, the airport identifiers are$omprised of three $hara$ters, #hi$h $an be letters onl% or a$ombination of letters and numbers. This sounds eas%, but #ait[

>;s, a t%pe of navi"ation radio, also use the same identifi$ations%stem and, in some $ases, the ver% same identifier. >;lo$ated on a field, for eAample, #ill have the same identifier as thefield itself. To prevent $onfusion, the letter G is added before theidentifier of the airport in the 8: if that identifier contains onlyletters. ll >; identifiers are letters onl%, so an% airport identifier that has an% numbers in the sta%s as is.

5ere are some eAamplesM• 3'G sta%s as 3'G sin$e it has a number in it.• <' (<ohnson 'ount% BAe$utive irport* be$omes G<'

for the airport be$ause its identifier is letters onl%.• The >; on the field at <ohnson 'ount% is also $alled Eust

<' #ith no QGR to denote that its a >;.• 4 be$omes G4 for the airport. There is no >; on

this field so there is no other identifier for this airport.

/or an interestin" read on the histor% of the airport $ode namin"$onventions, $he$k out :k%"od0s pa"e33.

!!!. &etting 7eather

X-Plane0s #eather simulation is hi"hl% $onfi"urable andremarkabl% realisti$. To edit the #eather settin"s, $ause the menu

33 httpMHH###.sk%"od.$omHasstdHab$.html

to appear b% movin" the mouse to the top of the s$reen. 'li$kBnvironment, then $li$k 4eather (as sho#n belo#*.

'li$k the leftmost tab in this #indo# (tmosphere* to be"in editin"the #eather.

A. 8asi3 Clou" Configuration

n the upper left of the tmosphere #indo# (sho#n in the follo#in"s$reenshot*, $loud t%pes as #ell as the top and base levels forthree different $loud la%ers $an be set. The boAes desi"nated:7 (found on the left side of this se$tion of the #indo#* aremeasured in feet above avera"e sea level. The boAes desi"nated

?7 are measured in feet above avera"e "round level.

)K

http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html

http://www.skygod.com/asstd/abc.html



8. ;ui32-&et 8uttons

The pane belo# the basi$ $loud $onfi"uration has a number ofbuttons, labeled 3at-!!!, 3at-!!, 3at-!, n-pre3, and so on (seen inthe follo#in" ima"e*. These are ui$k-set buttons, and pressin"them #ill automati$all% set some "eneral #eather $onditions.

• Cat-!!! sets the #eather up for a 'ate"or%- 7: approa$h.These are eAtremel% lo# instrument $onditions, #ithbasi$all% Fero $eilin" and visibilit%.

•

• Cat-!! sets the #eather up for a 'ate"or%- 7: approa$h,

#ith terribl% poor $eilin" and visibilit%.•

• Cat-! sets the #eather up for a 'ate"or%- 7: approa$h,#ith poor $eilin" and visibilit%.

•

• )-pre3 sets the #eather for a non-pre$ision approa$h, #itha 3 mile visibilit% and a ! foot $eilin".

•

• M% sets the #eather mar"inal >/; fl%in" $onditions,#ith about four miles of visibilit% and a 1,) foot $eilin".

•

• % sets the #eather to "ood visual fli"ht rule $onditions&$lear, sunn% skies.

•

• CAO@ sets the #eather to $lear and visibilit% G.T%pi$all% pilots refer to this as S'>8R&'lear nd>isibilit% 8nlimited.

C. 7eather &li"ers

elo# the ui$k-set buttons is a set of sliders. 'li$k these anddra" them to $han"e their settin".

The *isibility slider adEusts #hat its name su""ests, measured inmiles.

The pre3ipitation slider sets the level of pre$ipitation. ependin"on the temperature around the airplane and in the $louds #here itis formed, this #ill be in the form of rain, hail, or sno#.

)9



The thun"erstor,s slider adEusts the tenden$% for $onve$tivea$tivit%. The #eather radar map in the lo#er-ri"ht of the #indo#sho#s #here the $ells are formin". /l%in" into these $ells resultsin heav% pre$ipitation and eAtreme turbulen$e. The turbulen$e is"reat enou"h that in realit%, airplanes $an fl% into thunderstorms inone pie$e and $ome out in man% smaller pie$es.

Takin" heli$opters into these i$in" and thunderstorm situations isprett% $ool be$ause their ver% hi"h #in"-loadin" on their rotor andthe fa$t that the rotor is free teeterin" $auses them to have aprett% smooth ride in turbulen$e. The% are still not indestru$tible,thou"h, and the% are subEe$t to i$in" on their blades Eust like anairplane.

The 6in" an" turbulen3e slider automati$all% sets all the slidersin the $enter of the s$reen that $ontrol the #ind and turbulen$e.ra" this slider do#n to the left and hold it there for a fe# se$ondsto set all of the #ind and turbulen$e to Fero for a smooth fli"ht.

The turbulen$e in X-Plane is simulated ver% realisti$all%. To seeho# in$redible the turbulen$e in X-Plane is, dra" the 6in" an"turbulen3e slider up to the ri"ht and then $lose the 4eather#indo# (#ith either the Xs in the top or the Bnter ke%*. No# sele$tan eAternal vie# like 'hase (b% default bound to the 0 ke%*.NeAt, hit the H0 ke% t#i$e to see the #ind ve$tors, then use the 0and \0 ke%s to Foom in and out. /or instan$e, in the follo#in"ima"e, a 'essna 1@2 is "ettin" tossed around the ustrian skies.

The "reen lines visible in the ima"e above are the a$tual #indve$tors a$tin" on the airplane. Ba$h of those ve$tors represents a#ind speed and dire$tion in the flo# field around the pane, andthat flo# field #ill intera$t #ith ea$h of the elements of ea$h of the#in"s (and propellersL* of the plane. dditionall%, the little "reenlines sproutin" out of the bottom surfa$e of the #in"s in the ima"eabove sho# the lift ve$tor for ea$h se"ment of the #in" (in theeAample, these ve$tors are pushin" the plane down*.

f $ourse, #hen the air$raft is fl%in" the lift ve$tors #ill be ver%prominent but even #ith the airplane Eust sittin" stationar% at theend of the run#a%, the #in" $an indeed be produ$in" somemeasurable lift. The air ma% be blo#in" up on part of the left #in"and down on part of the ri"ht #in", $ausin" the $raft to roll to theri"ht. r it mi"ht be pushin" up on the #in"s and do#n on the tail,$ausin" the $raft to pit$h up. r, as it does in real life all the time,the air mi"ht be doin" a $ombination of those at multiple points onthe air$raft.

6



4ith the visual ve$tors turned on it be$omes apparent Eust ho#mu$h math is "oin" on in the ba$k"round #ithin X-Plane. Theflo# field is $ontinuous, variable, and $overs the entire air$raft foran% s$enario that $an be simulated, and all the different parts ofea$h airfoil surfa$e see different relative dire$tions and speeds.

The bottom slider in the basi$ #eather settin"s is the rate of3hange, #hi$h modifies ho# ui$kl% the #eather $onditions are$han"in".

:. Te,perature an" Pressure

n the bottom left $orner of the 4eather #indo#, the temperatureand barometri$ pressure (air pressure* $an be set, as seen in thefollo#in" ima"e. oth $onditions #ill take effe$t at the nearestairport. Geep in mind that the Qstandard atmosphereR is )9O/(1)O'* and 29.92 in$hes mer$ur% (113 millibars*.

. 7in" =ayers

The middle $olumn of this #indo# $ontrols three #ind la%ers+ thehi"h altitude la%er is sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e.

Ba$h la%er has an altitude, #ind speed, shear speed, sheardire$tion, and turbulen$e asso$iated #ith it. X-Plane #ill use thehi"h, middle, and lo# altitude settin"s to interpolate bet#een thela%ers. The $ir$les to the ri"ht of ea$h altitude settin" $han"e thedire$tion from #hi$h the #ind is $omin". 'li$k and dra" near theed"e of the $ir$le and the #ind #ill $ome from the dire$tion that%ou let "o of the mouse button (for instan$e, for #ind movin" fromthe south to the north, $li$k the ver% bottom of the $ir$le andrelease the mouse button there*.

%. Ther,als

Bnter the ther,al tops, ther,al 3o*erage, and ther,al 3li,brate in the upper-ri"ht of this #indo#, sho#n in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

61



These $ontrols are mainl% used #hen fl%in" "liders. n addition tothermals, X-Plane also runs air up and do#n the terrain as #indblo#s into mountains, simulatin" the effe$ts that real "lider pilotshave to keep in mind and tr% to take advanta"e of. Tr% settin" the#ind at 3 knots or better at a ri"ht an"le to a mountain ran"e andrunnin" alon" the up#ind side of the mountain ran"e in a "lider&%ou should be able to sta% aloft on the $limbin" air if %ou sta%

prett% lo#. rift to the do#n#ind side of the mountain, thou"h,and an unstoppable des$ent is assuredL

9. un6ay Con"itions

The run6ay 3on"itions drop-do#n boA is found on the ri"ht sideof the 4eather s$reen, dire$tl% beneath the thermals $ontrols, assho#n in the follo#in" ima"e.

'onditions $an be set to 3lean an" "ry, "a,p, or 6et, and #etand damp $onditions $an be either pat3hy or unifor,. t lo#enou"h temperatures, as in real life, a #et run#a% #ill be$ome an

i$% one. This $ontrol is automati$all% modified #hen in$reasin"the amount of pre$ipitation.

. Using eal 7eather

elo# the run#a% $onditions $ontrols is the ;eal 4eather se$tion.4hen the Perio"i3ally "o6nloa" eal-7eather boA (seen in thefollo#in" ima"e* is $he$ked, X-Plane #ill do#nload a$tual #eather $onditions from the nternet (#hi$h are $urrent #ithin an hour* andappl% that #eather in the simulator. X-Plane #ill s$an the

thousands of airports that report #eather and appl% the #eatherfrom the nearest reportin" airport to the simulation.

62



f $ourse, nternet a$$ess is reuired to use this option, but on$e

the #eather is do#nloaded (and automati$all% saved as a file$alled etar.r#A* the same $onditions $an be used a"ain (thou"hthe% ma% be out of date* until X-Plane do#nloads an updated file.t is still ni$e to have the file, thou"h, be$ause it in$ludes a "lobalsnapshot of the #eather a$ross the planet, "ivin" #eather thatvaries as the air$raft travels.

<ust belo# the :o6nloa" eal-7eather boA is a $he$k boAlabeled Perio"i3ally s3an eal-7eather . This needs to beenabled for X-Plane to update the #eather in the sim #ith the datafrom the etar.r#A file. n other #ords, if the real #eather is

do#nloaded on$e per hour, but the user flies out of the area the$raft started in without s$annin" the #eather file, the #eathereAperien$ed at the ne# airport ma% be different than #hat the real#eather do#nload $ontained.

5eres an eAample to $larif%M pilot is about to take off from mes, o#a (G4*, and she do#nloads the real #eather. This#eather ($lear sk% and 1) mile visibilit%* is loaded onto herma$hine and she takes off. t takes ! minutes to "et to the

<ohnson 'ount% BAe$utive irport in Gansas 'it% (G<'*, and asshe approa$hes the area, she notes that X-Plane is still sho#in"$lear sk% and 1) miles of visibilit%. :he kno#s, ho#ever, from#at$hin" the ne#s that Gansas 'it% is a$tuall% eAperien$in" lo#/; $onditions, #ith thunderstorms and si"nifi$ant turbulen$e.This indi$ates that X-Plane did not $han"e the #eather as shefle# be$ause she did not have the Perio"i3ally s3an eal-7eather boA $he$ked.

/inall%, #hen usin" the real #eather do#nloads, the allo6 ,a/*isibility of $ontrol allo#s the user to (artifi$iall%* limit the visibilit%in order to keep the simulator0s frame rate at a desired level+ foreAample, if a user kno#s from eAperien$e that a visibilit% over 1miles $auses the sim to slo# to an una$$eptable frame rate (sa%,2 frames per se$ond*, he or she mi"ht allo# a maA visibilit% of Kmiles to be on the safe side.

!. Using the @eyboar"I@eyboar" &hort3uts

X-Plane has been desi"ned to be both eAtremel% fleAible andeasil% usable. /or this reason, most of the ke%s on the ke%boarddo somethin". X-Plane.or" has $reated a "uide to the default ke%assi"nments in X-Plane 9 that $an be found here3!.

To see #hi$h ke%s are tied to #hi$h fun$tions, simpl% "o to the<o%sti$k I Buipment s$reen0s Ge%s tab and look at the ke%sassi"ned to the various fun$tions. /ind this s$reen b% movin" themouse to the top of the s$reen (brin"in" do#n the menu*, $li$kin":ettin"s, then $li$kin" <o%sti$k I Buipment, as seen in thefollo#in" s$reenshot.

3! httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omib#ikiI$mdarti$leIid!1

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http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?autocom=ibwiki&cmd=article&id=41




n the #indo# that opens, $li$k the Ge%s tab at the top.

There are t#o #a%s to $han"e a ke%0s fun$tion here. The #indo#has ea$h ke% of the ke%board represented b% a re$tan"ular button(found on the far left of the s$reen*, and it has that button0sfun$tion to the ri"ht of it. ne #a% to pro"ram a ke% is to $li$k oneof the suare buttons in the left-hand pane and sele$t the fun$tion(found in the left-hand pane* that its ke% should $ontrol.

/un$tions are $lassified into a number of $ate"ories (operation,en"ines, i"nition, et$.*, found in the middle pane of this #indo#.The fun$tions themselves are found in the ri"ht pane of the#indo#. 'li$k on the radio button (that is, the small, $ir$ularbutton* beside the $ate"or% %ou0re lookin" for, then $li$k the radiobutton neAt to the fun$tion itself. /or instan$e, in the follo#in"s$reenshot, the /1 ke% has been assi"ned to the throttle "o6n fun$tion, found in the en"ines $ate"or%.

lternativel%, $li$k the A"" )e6 @ey Assign,ent button found inthe bottom $enter of the #indo# (sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e*.

This #ill add a ne# "ra% button at the bottom of the left-handpane, labeled L)O). 'li$k this button and press the ke% %ou#ould like to pro"ram. NeAt, find the fun$tion %ou0re lookin" for inthe ri"ht-hand pane of the #indo# and sele$t it.

)oteM t is not ne$essar% to tr% and remember all of the ke%boardshort$uts. nstead, man% of them are sho#n in the menus #henfl%in". /or eAample, #hile in fli"ht, move the mouse to the top ofthe s$reen and $li$k the >ie# menu to see ea$h vie# (listed on

the left* and the ke%board short$ut it0s assi"ned to (found on theri"ht #ithin a set of bra$kets*. /or instan$e, in the s$reenshotbelo#, the for#ard vie# has a Q]#^R neAt to it, so it $an be sele$ted#ith the #0 ke%.

. Using the Mouse !nstea" of a ?oysti32

s alluded to in previous $hapters, it is possible to fl% #ith onl% amouse for a fli"ht $ontrol, thou"h this is both $umbersome andunrealisti$ (sin$e real airplanes all have either a sti$k or %oke*.

6!



4hen fl%in" #ith the mouse, ke%board short$uts (found in thepre$edin" se$tion* be$ome essential for $ontrollin" the en"ine(s*,flaps, "ears, radio freuen$ies, and vie#s. 'ontrol of the planevia the mouse is available from most vie#points.

n% time that the roll and pit3h aAes have not been assi"ned b%the user in the <o%sti$k I Buipment s$reen (see 'hapter 3,:e$tion on pa"e $*, X-Plane assumes that the mouse is the$ontrol devi$e. n this $ase, a small #hite plus si"n #ill sho# upon the s$reen, t%pi$all% lo$ated near the $enter of it. Note that thisma% be diffi$ult to see at times, as parts of the air$raft ma% blendin #ith it #hen usin" an eAternal vie#.

f onl% the $ross is visible and there is no #hite boA around it, X-Plane is indi$atin" that the pilot0s QhandR is not on the sti$k. Thismeans that the mouse is free to move an%#here #ithout impa$tin"the fli"ht $ontrols. To "rab the sti$k (and thus take $ontrol of theair$raft*, $li$k the left mouse button in the vi$init% of the little #hite$ross and a #hite boA #ill appear around the $ross. The mousebutton do#n should not be held do#n, onl% $li$ked on$e to turnthe boA on (i.e., to "rab the sti$k* and a"ain to turn the boA off (torelease the sti$k*. 4hen the boA is visible, the pilot0s hand is onthe sti$k and an% movements of the mouse #ithin the boA #illposition the fli"ht $ontrols a$$ordin"l%.

"ain, it is not ne$essar% to hold do#n the mouse button do#n,onl% to move the mouse #ithin the $onfines of the #hite boA. Thelittle $ross si"nifies the $enter of the $ontrol ran"e over #hi$h the$ontrol surfa$es are defle$ted. Thus, movin" the mouse dire$tl%belo# the $ross #ill $ommand some up elevator ($ausin" theplane to $limb* and not #ill not impose an% roll $ommands (#hi$hshould keep the air$raft from $han"in" its bank*. 7ike#ise,keepin" the mouse lined up eAa$tl% #ith the $ross but defle$tin" itto the ri"ht a bit #ill $ause the plane to bank to the ri"ht #ithoutalterin" its pit$h.

5ere is a summar% of $ontrol #ith the mouseM• ?rab and let "o of the sti$k b% $li$kin" the mouse button

on or near the #hite plus si"n. This #ill turn on and turn off the #hite boA.

• ove the mouse ri"ht and left, up and do#n #ithin the$onfines of the boA to move the fli"ht $ontrols. /oreAample, movin" the mouse to the ri"ht ed"e of the boAmeans that %ou are movin" the air$raft $ontrol sti$k all the#a% to the ri"ht and the ailerons #ill be full% defle$ted atthat point, $ausin" the air$raft to bank ri"ht at its maAimumrate.

• 7et "o of the sti$k (b% $li$kin" a"ain #ithin the #hite boA*before %ou take the mouse do#n to the panel to $han"e a$ontrol on the panel or else the fli"ht $ontrols #ill bedefle$ted full%, $ausin" the plane to "%rate out of $ontrol.

!. Controlling !nstru,ents an" A*ioni3s 6ith the Mouse

4hen usin" the for#ard $o$kpit vie#, the mouse $an be used to$ontrol the instruments in the panel, Eust as the pilot0s hand #ouldbe used to manipulate the instruments, s#it$hes, and other$ontrols.

To operate a button, Eust $li$k and release. To operate a s#it$h,do the same to $han"e its position.

/or eAample, to brin" the landin" "ear do#n (on planes that areable to*, $li$k #ith the landin" "ear s#it$h, as in follo#in" ima"e.

6)



f $ourse, this $ontrol #ill look different in different air$raft. Geepin mind that the "0 ke% $ould also be used (see :e$tion >,Ge%board :hort$uts on pa"e '$* or a Eo%sti$k button $ould beassi"ned to to""le the "ear (see 'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part ',utton ssi"nment on pa"e $4*.

To turn knobs, move the mouse to the QplusR or QminusR side,#hi$hever is ne$essar%, and $li$k to QmoveR the knob. 'li$k

repeatedl% for "reater movements. /or instan$e, in the follo#in"s$reenshot, the pilot is turnin" the : knob in the 'essna 1@2.

To easil% see the $ontrols #ithin the $o$kpit that the mouse $anoperate, enable the &ho6 Mouse-Cli32 egions option found inthe ir$raft menu. This #ill dra# a thin %ello# suare around the

areas of the instrument panel that $an be manipulated #ith themouse.

A. )ote on a"io Tuning

vioni$s in most airplanes utiliFe t#in $on$entri$ knobs that allo#the pilot to tune the radio. /or eAample, there #ill t%pi$all% be alar"e knob on the surfa$e of the radio, #ith a smaller knob sti$kin"out from the lar"e one. The lar"e knob $ontrols the inte"er(Q$ountin" numberR* portion of the freuen$% and the smaller knob$ontrols the de$imal portion.

/or eAample, ima"ine that the '1 radio (the $ommuni$ationsradio number 1* needed to be tuned to 12K. 5F. n a realair$raft, the pilot #ould turn the bi", lo#er knob until 12K #asvisible in the #indo#, then turn the small, upper knob until #as

visible.

X-Plane is set up the same #a%. 4hen hoverin" the mouse in thevi$init% of one of the radio tunin" knobs, t#o $ounter-$lo$k#isearro#s #ill appear on the left of the knob and t#o $lo$k#isearro#s on the ri"ht. The arro#s $losest to the knob are ph%si$all%smaller than those on the outside&these adEust the de$imal. Theoutside arro#s are lar"er and adEust the inte"er.

/or instan$e, in the follo#in" ima"e, the inte"er portion of the N>1 radio0s freuen$% is bein" turned up usin" the outer knob.

66



'onversel%, in the follo#in" ima"e, the de$imal portion of the N>1 radio0s freuen$% is bein" turned do#n #ith the inner knob.

!!. Artifi3ial !ntelligen3e JA!K :e,o %light

X-Plane has the $apabilit% to fl% an air$raft usin" artifi$ialintelli"en$e (*. The s%stem $an both take the air$raft off andfl% it around.

To enable the 0s $ontrol of the $raft, move the mouse up to thetop of the s$reen to brin" do#n the menu bar. 'li$k bout, thensele$t A.!. %lies Eour Air3raft, as seen in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

4ith the $ontrollin" the airplane, the user is free to eAperiment#ith the different vie#s and also to pra$ti$e raisin" and lo#erin"the air$rafts landin" "ear, flaps, and so on. /urthermore, this isan eA$ellent #a% to pra$ti$e tunin" radios.

!!!. %lying Eourself

4hen first fl%in" (both in X-Plane and the real #orld*, it0s a "oodidea to use a relativel% simple air$raft. The 'essna 1@2 is aneA$ellent $hoi$e in this re"ard, a fa$t attested to b% the millions ofreal #orld pilots trained in this model. /or instru$tions on openin"

an air$raft, see :e$tion of this $hapter (found on pa"e 54*.

To take off, the airplane must first be lo$ated at the end of arun#a%. X-Plane relo$ates the $raft here #henever the pro"ramopens, an air$raft is loaded, or the lo$ation is $han"ed. To takeoff in the 'essna 1@2, slo#l% advan$e the throttle, then releasethe brakes #hen the throttle rea$hes its half#a% point. 'ontinueto advan$e the throttle and be read% to feed in some ri"ht %a#(usin" the ri"ht rudder or the t#ist on the Eo%sti$k, if appli$able* asthe airplane a$$elerates. The tenden$% to turn to the left is normalin sin"le en"ine air$raft due to the turn of the propeller.

ont #orr% if it takes a fe# tries to learn ho# to keep the air$rafton the run#a%&a 'essna $an take off in the "rass Eust fine. f theairplane turns off the run#a% as it0s a$$eleratin", Eust keep on"oin". Normall%, the pilot #ill rotate (that is, appl% some ba$kelevator b% pullin" ba$k on the %oke or sti$k* at about 6 knots inthe 'essna 1@2. n$e the air$raft leaves the "round, feed in a bitof for#ard sti$k to momentaril% level off and allo# the airplane tobuild speed. n$e the $raft rea$hes K knots or so, a"ain pullba$k "entl% on the sti$k and resume $limbin". uildin" airspeedbefore $limbin" this #a% #ill help to keep the plane from stallin".

Note that if a $rash o$$urs that dama"es the airplane too badl%, X-Plane #ill automati$all% open a ne# airplane and pla$e it at end of the nearest run#a% (#hi$h in some $ases ma% be a "rass strip*. f the impa$t is onl% hard enou"h to dama"e the airplane #ithoutne$essaril% killin" the o$$upants, the air$raft #ill Eust sit there andsmoke. f this happens, the user #ill need to move the mouse tothe top of the s$reen, $li$k /ile, then $li$k pen ir$raft to "et

6@



thin"s fiAed. f onl% it #ere so eas% in the real #orldL

6K



5. X-Plane Menus

X-Plane has perhaps the most fleAible and po#erful interfa$e ofan% fli"ht simulator. The ke% to masterin" it is learnin" to poke

around the various menus and #indo#s to dis$over all the thin"sthat the user $an $han"e. This $hapter is a sort of Q"uided tourRthrou"h those options.

!. The About Menu

The bout menu is a$$essed as in the follo#in" s$reenshotM

A. About X-Plane

'li$kin" bout X-Plane #ill open the >ersion and 8pdates

#indo#, seen in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

5ere, the teAt in #hite "ives the version of the soft#are on %our$omputer, and the teAt in "reen belo# this "ives the most re$entversion of X-Plane available. This is important be$ause X-Plane

is al#a%s bein" updated, either to fiA or improve old features or toadd ne# ones. 4hen thin"s "o #ron", it is important to let$ustomer servi$e kno# #hi$h version of X-Plane the%re #orkin"#ith.

The button in the bottom left of the #indo# #ill open X-Plane.$om,#here more information on the latest updates $an be found, andthe button in the bottom ri"ht, Up"ate X-Plane (hi"hli"hted in theprevious ima"e*, #ill do#nload and laun$h the latest updater.

n order to keep X-Plane up to date, open this #indo# from time to

time to see #hat the latest version is and to up"rade as desired.

:ee 'hapter 2, :e$tion > (found on pa"e #* for moreinformation on updatin" X-Plane.

8. !nstru3tions

The nstru$tions #indo# provides basi$ in-sim instru$tions for

69



(listed in the order of the tabs a$ross the top of the #indo#*M• 8sin" fli"ht $ontrols• 'ontrollin" obEe$ts in the $o$kpit• 8sin" ke%board short$uts• 4orkin" #ith the simulated air traffi$ $ontrol•

?ettin" te$hni$al support

C. A.!. &ele3ts Eour Air3raft

'li$kin" this $ontrol #ill $ause X-Plane to load a ne# air$raft at itsQdis$retionR&that is, randoml%. Note that even #ith this enabled,the user $an still $han"e air$raft manuall%. dditionall%, the$hoi$e of $raft isn0t espe$iall% Qintelli"entR&the #ill sometimesload a "lider and sti$k it on the nearest run#a%.

:. A.!. %lies Eour Air3raft

This $ontrol is $overed in depth in 'hapter !, :e$tion >, rtifi$ialntelli"en$e (* emo /li"ht (found on pa"e '#*. Note that even#ith this enabled, user input #ill override $ontrol of the $raft.

. A.!. Controls Eour ie6s

:ele$tin" this $ontrol #ill $ause X-Plane to periodi$all% s#it$h

vie#s, makin" for a mu$h more interestin" demo fli"ht #hen isalso fl%in". Note that even #ith this enabled, the user $an still$han"e vie#s manuall%.

!!. The %ile Menu

The /ile menu appears as sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

A. &a*eI=oa" &ituation

These buttons are used for storin" and usin" situations&snapshots of the $urrent $onditions of the atmosphere, air$raft,et$. situation stores the air$raft0s position in the air (or on the"round*, its pa%load, the amount of fuel in the tanks, ever%thin".This is espe$iall% useful for ui$kl% loadin" and pra$ti$in" aspe$ifi$ t%pe of approa$h. These situations $an even be sent toother X-Plane users b% "ivin" them the .sit file that is $reated.

The :ituations folder is found in the utput folder, #hi$h itself islo$ated in the X-Plane dire$tor% (b% default found on the esktop*./or eAample, the default path in 4indo#s #ould beM

'MWo$uments and :ettin"sW]8ser Name^WesktopWX-Plane

9WutputWsituations

To transfer situation files from one $omputer to another, $op%the .sit files lo$ated in this folder to the :ituations folder of theother $omputer.

8. &a*eI=oa" eplay

@



4hen the :ave ;epla% $ontrol is sele$ted, X-Plane saves aQmovieR of the $urrent fli"ht from the time that the air$raft ands$ener% #ere loaded up to the point at #hi$h the :ave button #as$li$ked. This QmovieR is a$tuall% Eust a lar"e $olle$tion of data onthe fli"ht #hi$h X-Plane saves as a situation movie file (.smo*.

These .smo files $an be saved, emailed, shared, or reloaded laterto evaluate or share a fli"ht. n 4indo#s, the% are stored b%default in the folderM

'MWo$uments and :ettin"sW8ser NameWesktopWX-Plane9WutputWmovies

e$ause the .smo file re$ords so mu$h information about thefli"ht, the user is able to $han"e vie#s, look at instruments, stopand re#ind, et$. #hile vie#in" the re$orded movie. The ra# datafor the fli"ht is #hat is re$orded, so the vie#in" options are

unlimited.

To save a repla% movieM

1. :ele$t :ave ;epla% from the /ile menu. dialo" #indo##ill appear.

2. T%pe a name for the movie.

3. :ele$t the lo$ation to #hi$h %ou #ould like to save themovie (b% default this is the folder X-Plane 9WutputWmovies*.

!. 5it the Bnter ke% on the ke%board to $omplete the pro$ess.

To load a repla% movieM

1. :ele$t 7oad ;epla% from the /ile menu. dialo" #indo##ill appear.

2. ro#se for and open the folder that $ontains the movies%ou have previousl% saved b% usin" the drop do#n menu atthe top of the #indo#. (% default, X-Plane #ill have saved%our situation files to the folder X-Plane 9WutputWmovies.*

3. To open the repla%, double $li$k on the movie file that %ou

#ould like to load.

C. ;ui32ti,e Mo*ie &pe3s

This #indo# allo#s the user to modif% the frame rate andresolution of a Dui$kTime movie $reated #ith X-Plane.nformation on $reatin" a Dui$kTime video $an be found in thefollo#in" se$tion.

Dui$kTime movie is not the same as a situation repla% movie.

repla% movie stores all the ra# data that defines the fli"ht, onl% tobe used in X-Plane, #hereas a Dui$kTime movie simpl% stores#hat is seen on the s$reen durin" fli"ht. These movies ma% bevie#ed b% an%one #ith Dui$kTime, #hether the% are runnin" X-Plane or not.

Dui$kTime is an pple video format that is no# supported b%almost ever% operatin" s%stem, in$ludin" i$rosoft 4indo#s.4indo#s users, ho#ever, ma% need to install a suitableDui$kTime pa$ka"e in order to use these featuresL :ee theDui$ktime o#nload pa"e3) for more information.

:. Toggle Mo*ie

The To""le ovie $ontrol be"ins re$ordin" a Dui$kTime movie.4hen it is pressed on$e, red teAt #ill appear in the bottom left$orner of the s$reen that reads QDui$kTime ovie ;e$ordin"[R.

3) httpMHH###.apple.$omHui$ktimeHdo#nloadH

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http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/



4hen it is pressed a"ain, the teAt #ill disappear and a file namedQX-Plane movie take- x .movR #ill appear in the X-Plane 9 dire$tor%,#here x is the number of the take.

To""le ovie $an also be used b% pressin" 'trl :pa$e.

. =oa" %light :ata e3or"er %ile

X-Plane is sometimes used in a$$ident investi"ation or re-$reation, and in that $ase people need to be able to take the datafrom a bla$k boA and put it in a format that X-Plane $an read.That format is the /li"ht ata ;e$order (or .fdr* format. 8nlike the: files, #hi$h are $ompressed binar%, and the > files,#hi$h are for sho#in" movies onl%, the /; file is teAt. Thismeans that users $an make their o#n /; files as easil% aspossible from #hatever data the% have and then re-$reate these

fli"hts in X-Plane. 7ook in the nstru$tions folder #ithin the X-Plane dire$tor% for the file QBAample /; file.fdr.R This is asample /; file.

:o, to summariFe the above se$tionsM

The : file is for :ituation ovies, #hi$h an%one $an use within X-Plane to repla% a fli"ht from an% vie# or an"le.

The > file is a Dui$kTime ovie, #hi$h an%one $an vie#outside of X-Plane.

The /; file is a teAt file #hi$h is made to be eas% to $reate sothat an%one $an make a file to vie# a fli"ht in X-Plane.

%. Ta2e &3reenshot

This $reates an ima"e of the entire X-Plane #indo# #hensele$ted. To "et an ima"e #ithout the menu bar in it, use the

ke%board short$ut 'trl .0 (that is, the $ontrol ke% and the periodke%*.

Ba$h s$reenshot is saved in the X-Plane 9 folder as a PN? filenamed s$reenshotV x .pn", #here x is a seuential number startin"at . The hard drive0s $apa$it% is the onl% limit to the number of

s$reenshots that $an be taken (ea$h s$reenshot at a resolution of12! A @6K is about .! *.

!!!. The Air3raft Menu

The ir$raft menu is a$$essed as in the follo#in" ima"e.

A. Open Air3raft

This menu option is $overed in depth in 'hapter !, :e$tion ,penin" an ir$raft, found on pa"e 54.

8. Open =i*ery

This $ontrol is used for sele$tin" user-$reated paint s$hemes

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$reated for the air$raft.

C. 7eight an" %uel

The 4ei"ht and /uel menu option #ill open the 4ei"ht I alan$e

I /uel #indo#.

i. The %uelIPayloa" Tab

n the first tab of the 4ei"ht I alan$e I /uel menu, the air$raft0s#ei"ht and its distribution $an be modified. n airplane $ant%pi$all% sta% in the air at ver% hi"h #ei"hts, but it #ill have a hardtime "ettin" off the "round initiall%. dditionall%, movin" the $enter of "ravit% for#ard (left on the slider* makes the plane behave morelike a dart, and movin" the $enter of "ravit% aft (ri"ht on the slider*

makes the plane un-fl%able be$ause the plane be$omes unstable./l%in" a plane #ith the $enter of "ravit% far aft is like shootin" anarro# ba$k#ards&it #ants to flip around #ith the heav% end in thefront and the fins in the ba$k.

The fuel and pa%load $an also be modified in this s$reen. :in$eX-Plane $al$ulates in real time ho# the plane is Qburnin"R fuel, andthe en"ines need fuel to run, and the #ei"ht distribution of the fuelis $onsidered in the simulation, the fuel put on board does indeedmatter.

ii. The Or"nan3e Tab

n air$raft that are euipped #ith internal or eAternal stores (su$has #eapons or drop tank hard points*, this tab allo#s varioushard#are to be euipped on the various hard points of the air$raft.Take an /-! Phantom from the /i"hters folder, for eAample. Therdnan$e tab #ill sho# a number of #eapons that $an be put on anumber of hard points, as seen in the follo#in" ima"e.

8sers $an sele$t #eapons from the 4eapons folder that is foundinside the folder $ontainin" the air$raft, or from the 4eaponsfolder dire$tl% inside the X-Plane 9 folder. The #ei"ht and massdistribution on air$raft inertia and moment of inertia, as #ell asaerod%nami$ for$es of stores are all $onsidered b% X-Planes fli"htmodel.

:. Duip,ent %ailures

X-Plane $an simulate $ountless air$raft s%stems failures. TheBuipment /ailures #indo#, found in the ir$raft menu, lets theuser eAperien$e #hat happens #hen important pie$es ofeuipment dont do #hat the%re supposed to in fli"ht.

The 4orldHT/ tab of this #indo# $ontrols thin"s outside of theairplane, su$h as bird strikes and airport euipment failures.

dditionall%, at the bottom of this #indo# is the ,ean ti,ebet6een failure settin", as seen in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

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4hen the use ,ean-ti,e-bet6een failures boA is $he$ked, thesimulator #ill use the settin" to the ri"ht to determine ho# often apie$e of euipment #ill fail. /or instan$e, if the T/ is set to1 hours, X-Plane #ill de$ide that ea$h pie$e of hard#are in theplane has about a one in a thousand $han$e of breakin" ea$hhour. :in$e the airplane has a fe# hundred pie$es of hard#are,that means a failure mi"ht o$$ur ever% ) to 2 hours or so.

The other tabs in this #indo# let the user set the freuen$% ofsu$h failures, or $ommand spe$ifi$ failures, for hundreds ofdifferent air$raft s%stems.

The "eneral failure $ate"ories areM• Buipment• Bn"ines

• /l%in" :urfa$es• ?1 (if %ou have a real ?1 atta$hed to X-Plane*• ll nstruments, and• N>s

. Air3raft N &ituations

The ir$raft I :ituations #indo#, sele$ted from the ir$raft menu,allo#s the user to $onfi"ure the air$raft used in spe$ial situationsand to load other (-$ontrolled* air$raft.

The top pane of the #indo#, labeled :ituation Presets, $ontrols#hi$h air$raft are used in the spe$ial situations (see :e$tion ,Part of this $hapter on pa"e #0 for information on loadin"

situations*. These situations are found as spe$ial buttons on theri"ht side of the 7oad :ituation #indo#.

The $enter pane of the #indo#, ther ir$raft Profiles, $ontrolsthe speed, dire$tion, and altitude of refuelers, $arriers, andformation air$raft. The lar"e $ir$ular $ontrols operate the same

#a% as the #ind la%er dire$tional $ontrols, des$ribed in 'hapter !,:e$tion , Part B, found on pa"e '1.

dditionall%, the bottom pane of the #indo# is labeled ther ir$raft :ele$tion. The most important $ontrol here is nu,ber ofair3raft, hi"hli"hted in the ima"e belo#.

The value set here #ill determine the number of air$raft that X-Plane #ill simulate at on$e. value of 1 #ill simulate onl% theuser0s o#n airplane. 5i"her values #ill simulate the user0s air$raftand a number of other air$raft in the re"ion. Note that simulatin"more $raft in fli"ht reuires more pro$essin" po#er from the$omputer. lso, as in realit%, these airplanes #ill #ander hitherand %on, maneuverin" in a #a% that makes sense to them.

%. &ho6 Mouse-Cli32 egions

ll X-Plane $o$kpit panels have $li$kable buttons, s#it$hes, ordials, #hi$h $an be operated usin" the mouse (in addition to an%ke%board ke%s or Eo%sti$k buttons that ma% be assi"ned to them*.:ele$tin" &ho6 Mouse-Cli32 egions from the ir$raft menu #ill$ause a thin %ello# suare to appear around those $ontrols in the$o$kpit #hi$h $an be manipulated #ith the mouse.

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9. &ho6 !nstru,ent :es3riptions

:ele$tin" &ho6 !nstru,ent :es3riptions from the ir$raft menu#ill make X-Plane sho# a des$ription of ea$h instrument0s

fun$tion #henever the mouse hovers motionless for a fe#moments over the instrument.

. Toggle Puff &,o2e

:ele$tin" this option (#hi$h is also a$$essible usin" the A0 ke% b%default* #ill $ause a smokeH$ondensation trail to follo# the air$raft,even if the $raft mi"ht not have this in realit%.

!. Cy3le $-: %light Path

This $ontrol is also assi"ned to the o0 ke% b% default. 'li$kin" iton$e #ill $ause three lines to Qfollo#R the $raft&a bla$k line fromthe port (left* #in"tip of the $raft, a #hite line from the starboard(ri"ht* #in"tip of the $raft, and a pink-and-bla$k line from the$enter of the $raft. These lines #ill eAtend all the #a% ba$k to therun#a% from #hi$h the $raft took off, as seen in the follo#in"ima"e.

Pressin" the Cy3le $-: %light Path button a"ain (or, of $ourse,the o0 ke%* #ill $ause verti$al pink and bla$k lines eAtendin" to the"round to appear alon" the $enter line, as seen in the follo#in"ima"e. This is useful for lookin" ba$k on the fli"ht and easil%

seein" the fli"ht path.

Pressin" it a third time #ill repla$e the verti$al lines #ith a semi-transparent, verti$al, bla$k bar, as seen in the follo#in"

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s$reenshot.

Pressin" the button on$e more #ill turn all the fli"ht path l ines off.

?. eset $-: %light Path

Pressin" the ;eset 3- /li"ht Path button #hen the fli"ht path isvisible #ill "et rid of the fli"ht path $reated previousl% and startfresh from that point. Pressin" this button #hen the fli"ht path isturned off #ill have no effe$t&that is, if the fli"ht path is laterturned on, it #ill eAtend all the #a% ba$k to the run#a%.

@. =ogboo2

Ba$h time an air$raft is flo#n in X-Plane, the pro"ram lo"s thefli"ht time in the ele$troni$ 7o"book. % default, X-Plane $reatesa teAt file $alled X-Plane Pilot.tAt in the X-Plane9WutputWlo"books folder. nside this teAt file are details ofprevious fli"hts, in$ludin"M

• ates of fli"hts• Tail numbers of air$raft• ir$raft t%pes

• irports of departure and arrival• uration of fli"hts•

Time spent fl%in" $ross-$ountr%, in /; $onditions, and atni"ht• Total time of fli"hts

The Choose Pilot =ogboo2 and )e6 Pilot =ogboo2 buttonsallo# the user to sele$t a previousl% $reated lo"book file or $reatea ne# one.

!. The =o3ation Menu

The 7o$ation menu appears as in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

A. &ele3t 9lobal Airport

The air$raft $an be relo$ated to an%#here on Barth usin" the:ele$t ?lobal irport s$reen. This provides a listin" of all theairports in the X-Plane database ($urrentl% more than 32,*,representin" nearl% ever% airport on the planet.

This s$reen is divided into three parts. n the top left (sho#n in thefollo#in" ima"e* is a listin" of ever% airport name, arran"ed b%

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$it%. oth this format and these names are the offi$ial standard for that lo$al area (#hi$h, for 8: airports, is the /*.

To the ri"ht of the list pane (sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot* isan overhead vie# of the $urrentl% sele$ted airport0s la%out.

The bottom half of the #indo# (sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e*displa%s ro#s of Qui$k startR buttons.

The buttons in the TGB// $olumn (on the far left* #ill transportthe air$raft to the spe$ified run#a%. To the ri"ht of these buttonsare the /N7 PP;'5 buttons, #hi$h #ill transport theair$raft to the spe$ified distan$e a#a% from the run#a% to the ri"htof it. /inall%, the ;P :T;T button #ill transport the air$raft tothe spe$ified ramp for takeoff.

@@



To sear$h the available airports, t%pe either the $it% name or theairport into the #hite boA belo# the list pane (labeled QptMR*./or instan$e, in the ima"e belo#, the user t%ped in QG7XR to find7os n"eles nternational irport. The same results $ould beobtained b% t%pin" Q7os n"eles ntl,R or b% simpl% t%pin" Q7os

n"elesR and s$rollin" throu"h the results.

lternativel%, use the up and do#n arro#s on the ke%board tomove throu"h the full list. To travel to an airport, $li$k on it on$e inthe list pane to hi"hli"ht it ($ausin" a "re% boA to appear aroundit*, then $li$k the 9o To This Airport button, as seen in theprevious ima"e.

dditionall%, an eAplanation of airport s $an be found in 'hapter!, :e$tion , Part , found on pa"e 5.

i. The Ta2e Off 8uttons

The buttons under the label TGB// (hi"hli"hted belo#* in the/ind irport #indo# are a ui$k #a% to $hoose a run#a% to fl%from.

ii. The %inal Approa3h 8uttons

The buttons under the /N7 PP;'5 label (hi"hli"htedbelo#* provide a ui$k #a% to pra$ti$e run#a% approa$hes.

The buttons are labeled #ith a distan$e, #hi$h is measured from

@K



the end of the run#a% #hose TGB// button the /N7 PP;'5 button is neAt to. /or instan$e, in the ima"e above,$li$kin" the top left button under /N7 PP;'5 #ill pla$e the$raft three nauti$al miles a#a% from the end of run#a% K at thennsbru$k airport.

iii. The a,p &tart 8uttons

ramp is effe$tivel% a parkin" spa$e for air$raft. To be"in a fli"htfrom the terminal and taAi the distan$e to the run#a% (as a realpilot #ould*, $hoose to be"in from a ramp (as hi"hli"hted belo#*.Note that, in man% $ases, the default ramp is #hat is loaded #henusin" the 9o To This Airport button.

8. =o3al Map

:ele$tin" the 7o$al ap menu option from the 7o$ation menuopens the 7o$al ;e"ion #indo#. This #indo# is divided into fivetabs&5i-:peed, 7o# Bnroute, 5i"h Bnroute, :e$tional, andTeAtured. Please note that the elements of these maps&the 7:,>;, and N transmitters&are des$ribed in 'hapter 6, :e$tion, Part (found on pa"e ('*.

i. The i-&pee" Tab

This map "ives maAimum speed. t is useful for s$rollin" aroundthe map ui$kl%, $han"in" N>: ui$kl%, or (if the :ra6

Co32pit on &e3on" Monitor option is $he$ked in the ;enderin"ptions s$reen* usin" the map dra#n on one monitor #hile fl%in"in the $o$kpit dra#n on the other. n this $ase, the fastest mapavailable is desirable so that the simulation is not slo#ed do#n toomu$h.

ii. The =o6 nroute Tab

The 7o# Bnroute map vie# displa%s the air$raft0s "eneral area,alon" #ith airports, airport and bea$on freuen$ies, 7: indi$ators,

and lo# level air#a%s.

iii. The igh nroute Tab

The 5i"h Bnroute map vie# is essentiall% the same as the 7o#Bnroute vie#, but it displa%s the medium and hi"h level air#a%sinstead of lo# level ones.

i*. The &e3tional Tab

The :e$tional map vie# is desi"ned as a >/; se$tional $hart. tsho#s airports, airport and bea$on freuen$ies, 7: indi$ators,roads, rivers and rail#a% lines. t also uses a terrain shader todepi$t the "round t%pes and elevations.

*. The Te/ture" Tab

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The teAtured map vie# displa%s airports, roads, rivers and rail#a%lines. n addition, the terrain shader used on this map "ives anovervie# of the lands$ape as it #ould be seen from the $o$kpit inX-Plane. This vie# uses the a$tual s$ener% installed in X-Planeas its basis.

*i. Che32 8o/es

t the top of the 7o$al ;e"ion #indo# is a ro# of $he$k boAes(sho#n belo#* #hi$h are used to put the map in different Qmodes.R

a. The !nstru3tor Operator &tation J!O&K 8o/

This $he$k boA puts the map in nstru$tor perator :tation mode,$ausin" this $op% of X-Plane to run as an instru$tors $onsole.n$e this boA is $he$ked, the left side of the ap #indo# #illsho# a number of buttons #ith #hi$h to $ontrol the fli"ht. Theinstru$tor $an enter an airport in the spa$e in the upper left.4ith an entered, the air$raft $an be pla$ed at the airport or onan approa$h to it.

The nstru$tors 'onsole $an be used either #hen dra#in" a t#o

monitors from the same video $ard or in a multi-$omputer X-Planesetup. This is a "reat feature for fli"ht trainin" be$ause theinstru$tor $an fail s%stems, set date and time, $han"e the air$raftlo$ation, et$. for maAimum trainin" benefit. The buttons alon" theleft of this #indo# allo# the instru$tor to perform all these tasksfrom one lo$ation, #hile maintainin" a #at$h on the X-Plane pilotusin" the map vie#.

b. The "it 8o/

The e"it $he$k boA opens a number of buttons on the left side ofthe s$reen #hi$h are used to edit the various N>: on themap. <ust $li$k on a N> to modif% it, or to add a ne# one.

/or a detailed des$ription of the format used in the N>s onthe 7o$al ap, please see this P/36, available from the X-Plane

irport and Navi"ation ata #ebsite.

3. The eplay 8o/

This $he$k boA brin"s up a repla% slider #ith #hi$h the fli"ht ma%be repla%ed #hile vie#in" the map.

". The &lope 8o/

Bnablin" this $he$k boA opens a verti$al profile of the fli"ht at thebottom of the map s$reen.

e. The !nst 8o/

The inst $he$k boA makes a fe# ke% fli"ht instruments appear#ithin the map s$reen in order to see #hat the plane is doin". %default, openin" the map s$reen pauses the simulation, thou"h,so in order to use the map (and thus these "au"es* #ith re$eivin"

a $ontinuousl% updated data, one of the follo#in" must be doneM

1. 8se the "ra6 !O& on se3on" ,onitor option in the;enderin" ptions s$reen if t#o monitors are available foruse.

2. 'he$k the a""ress of ,aster+ this is !O& boA in the ata

36httpMHHdata.A-plane.$omHfileVspe$sHXPZ2N>K1Z2:pe$.pdf

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utput s$reen0s net 2 tab (onl% appli$able #hen usin" ase$ond $op% of X-Plane runnin" on a different $omputer, #iththe other $omputer bein" used as the master ma$hine and thisone as the :*.

f. The $-: 8o/

To""lin" the $-: $he$k boA #ill shift the map into 3- mode.4hen in 3- vie# mode, the arro# ke%s $an be used to rotate thevie# and the 0 and -0 ke%s to Foom in and out.

*ii. Air3raft Controls

t the top ri"ht of the map #indo# are $ontrols to adEust theheadin", altitude, and speed of the airplane b% first $li$kin" on the

air$raft, then modif%in" the values b% $li$kin" on the up or do#narro#s. f X-Plane is $onfi"ured to dra# multiple planes, then theother panes $an be dra""ed around and have their speed,headin", and altitude set as #ell.

dditionall%, belo# the air$raft $ontrols, $arrier and fri"ateheadin"s $an be modified.

*iii. ie6ing Controls

/inall%, in the bottom ri"ht $orner of the map #indo# are vie#in"$ontrols. The $he$kboAes $ontrol #hat is displa%ed on the map,su$h as navi"ational aids or the $ompass rose.

elo# these $he$kboAes is a round button (as seen belo#* usedto move the map vie# up, do#n, left, or ri"ht, dependin" on #herealon" its ed"e the button is $li$ked.

The buttons belo# this ea$h have t#o small trian"les (seenbelo#*.

n the left is the QFoom outR button, and neAt to it (labeled #ith t#olar"er trian"les* is the QFoom inR button.

elo# the Foom buttons is the 3enter on a3ft button, #hi$h, #hen$li$ked to QonR (turnin" the button "reen*, keeps the map vie#$entered on the air$raft.

C. Planet Map

The Planet ap, sele$ted from the 7o$ation menu, is used tovisuall% $hoose a lo$ation to fl% from b% displa%in" the Barth in 3-. The $ontrols in the bottom ri"ht $orner #ork Eust like in the7o$al ap #indo# (see Part , :ubse$tion viii, >ie#in" 'ontrolsabove*. 'li$kin" a lo$ation on the map #ill transport the air$raft tothe airport nearest #here the map #as $li$ked. To $lose the#indo# #ithout relo$atin" the $raft, $li$k one of the Xs in the top$orners or press the Bnter ke%.

:. &et Planet to arth or Mars

These t#o options, obviousl% mutuall% eA$lusive, sele$t #hi$hplanet the air$raft is on. 4hile the la#s of ph%si$s are the sameon ars as on Barth, the atmosphere there is thinner and there is

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$onsiderabl% less "ravit%. These varian$es are modeled in X-Plane, so fl%in" on ars is Eust as realisti$ as fl%in" on Barth.'hapter K, :e$tion X, found on pa"e 14, eAplains ho# to fl% onars (and #hat to fl% thereL* in more detail.

. 9et Me =ost

:ele$tin" this option #ill $ause X-Plane to teleport the air$raft to arandom lo$ation an%#here in the area, allo#in" users to test theirnavi"ation skills.

. The n*iron,ent Menu

A. 7eather

The 4eather #indo# is $overed in depth in 'hapter !, :e$tion ,:ettin" 4eather, found on pa"e 5.

8. :ate N Ti,e

:ele$tin" this menu option #ill brin" up a s$reen #ith t#oprominent sliders, seen in the follo#in" ima"e.

ra""in" the first $han"es the time, "iven as both lo$al and Culutime (that is, ?reen#i$h ean Time or 8T' *. 'han"in" the date,the se$ond slider, #ill a$$uratel% tra$k $han"es in the len"th ofda%s and ni"hts #ithin X-Plane&that is, there are fe#er da%li"ht

hours in e$ember than in <une in North meri$a, as in the real#orld.

The real-ti,e offset fro, 9MT $ontrol is used in pla$es #herethe lo$al time is not #hat X-Plane eApe$ts.

dditionall%, the al6ays tra32 syste, "ate an" ti,e $he$k boAdoes as its name su""ests.

!. The &ettings Menu

The settin"s menu, seen in the follo#in" ima"e, is the lar"estmenu in X-Plane and is used to "et Qunder the hoodR of thepro"ram.

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A. :ata !nput N Output

The ata nput I utput s$reen is used to vie# or save dataabout #hat X-Plane is doin", as #ell as to interfa$e different$opies of X-Plane runnin" on different $omputers to"ether.

This #indo# $an be used to output the simulator0s frame rate (aver% $ommon $hoi$e* or an% of hundreds of other parameters as#ell.

This is b% far one of the most po#erful tools in X-Plane. t $an beused to dia"nose a variet% of problems be$ause it allo#s the userto see #hat X-Plane is Qthinkin"R and determine #h% it ma% bedoin" somethin" uneApe$ted. This s$reen $an also output a hostof en"ineerin" $onditions.

i. The :ata &et Tab

ver one hundred different data sets (#hi$h $an all be output* are

visible in the ata :et tab. NeAt to ea$h of the lines is a series offour $he$kboAes. The last line, number 12K, has a ke% sho#in"#hat ea$h of the boAes do, as seen belo#.

The first $he$kboA (movin" from left to ri"ht* outputs the sele$teddata to the nternet. The se$ond boA outputs it to a file on thehard disk&be $areful #ith this one, as it $an ui$kl% fill up thehard drive. The third boA outputs the data to a "raphin" fun$tion#ithin X-Plane, and the fourth outputs it to the fli"ht s$reen. Ba$hof these $he$kboAes is $overed in depth on the follo#in" pa"e.

dditionall%, there are four spe$ial data sets (sho#n in thefollo#in" ima"e*, found in the lo#er ri"ht $orner, labeled "etail,#hi$h $an onl% be output to the s$reen #hile in fli"ht.

These $he$kboAes provide a host of en"ineerin" data for thefl%in" surfa$es of the air$raft.

To understand #h% the ata nput I utput s$reen is so po#erful,ima"ine for a moment that %our Q;GBR l i"ht is illuminated on theinstrument panel, but %ou dont kno# #h%. =ouve tried to turn itoff b% $li$kin" on it #ith the mouse and %ouve also tried to use theb ke% (for 2H3 brakin" for$e* and the v ke% (for maAimum brakin"

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effort*, but it is still illuminated. =ou have previousl% set up a setof rudder pedals to $ontrol the rudder and brakes but $annot findan%thin" #ron" #ith the #a% the% #ere set up, and %ou are notpressin" the brake pedals.

To find out #hat is $ausin" X-Plane to en"a"e the brakes, %ou

$ould tr% $he$kin" the ri"htmost boA on line 1! (labeledgearIbra2es* in the ata :et tab. fter $losin" the ata nput Iutput #indo#, note that a line of "reen teAt appears in the upperleft $orner of the s$reen. There are four data fields in it, sho#in" avalue of bet#een and 1 forM

• the landin" "ear status (1 is "ear do#n, is "ear up*• the #heel brakes (on both main "ear evenl%*, and• the left and ri"ht brakes (if %oure usin" a set of pedals or

have pro"rammed the brakes to be a$tivated b% someother $ontrol*

/or this eAample, suppose that the ri"ht brake #as sho#in" avalue of 1.. This indi$ates that that brake is lo$ked. =ouremember that %ou had mapped individual brake $ontrols to %ourrudder pedals. Perhaps the problem is there. pparentl%, X-Plane thinks that %ou are $ommandin" the ri"ht brake to be on.There ma% be a problem #ith the $alibration of %our euipment, so%ou "o to the :ettin"s menu and open the <o%sti$k I Buipmentpa"e. There, in order to $alibrate the Eo%sti$k hard#are, %ou moveall of %our $ontrol inputs throu"h their full ran"e of motion. Thistea$hes X-Plane #hat kind of data the rudder pedals are sendin"out for the full ran"e of brake appli$ations. /or the purposes of

the eAample, %ou "o ba$k to the sim and the problem is solved.

The prior eAample sho#s the importan$e of the ata nput Iutput s$reen in dia"nosin" problems that ma% o$$ur&the <oysti32 ailIel*Iru" option (line K* for Eo%sti$k problems, thefra,e rate option for QEumpiness,R and et$.

a. The %our Che32bo/es in :epth

road des$riptions of the $he$kboAes0 fun$tions #ere "ivenabove+ here #e #ill "o into "reater detail on #here eAa$tl% theoutput is bein" sent to.

aa. !nternet *ia U:P J%irst Che32bo/K

8sin" this option, the sele$ted data is sent via the 8P net#orkproto$ol to the address assi"ned in the net 2 tab of the Net'onne$tions #indo# (see Part , Net 'onne$tions belo#*. This isuseful if another $op% of X-Plane is runnin" on a $omputer #iththat P address, and the data needs to be sent from one $op% ofX-Plane to another (for eAample, if one $op% of X-Plane is a pilotsma$hine and the other is a $opilots*. 8sers ma% also #rite theiro#n pro"rams to read X-Plane 8P data. The format is ver%

eas%, and is eAplained in the Q8P referen$e.htmlR file in thenstru$tions folder of X-Plane.

bb. :is2 %ile :ata.t/t J&e3on" Che32bo/K

8sin" this option, the sele$ted data "oes to a file lo$ated in themain X-Plane folder $alled data.tAt. n$e there, it $an be opened#ith a #ord pro$essor or spreadsheet appli$ation&the data issaved as simple $olumns of teAt.

33. 9raphi3al :isplay in :ata-&ee Tab JThir" Che32bo/K

This option $auses the sele$ted data to be displa%ed in the ata:ee tab of the ata nput I utput #indo# as a "raphi$al displa%.Note that simulation is paused #hile in the ata nput I utput#indo#, so it must be $losed and reopened before an% data #illbe displa%ed in the ata :ee tab.

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"". Co32pit :uring %light J%ourth Che32bo/K

:ele$tin" this option $auses the sele$ted data to be displa%ed onthe simulator s$reen #hile fl%in".

ii. The :ata &ee Tab

This tab displa%s a "raphi$al representation of an% data sets that#ere sele$ted in the ata :et tab. This is useful primaril% forseein" trends in fli"ht $hara$teristi$s or the $omputer0sperforman$e.

8. )et Conne3tions

The Net 'onne$tions #indo#, sele$ted from the :ettin"s menu, is

used to $onfi"ure multipla%er simulations as #ell as multi-$omputer, sin"le user simulations.

)oteM 4henever problems are en$ountered #hen usin" the Net'onne$tions #indo#, the first thin" to $he$k is the $omputer0sfire#all. f it is blo$kin" X-Plane from $onne$tin" to the outside#orld, there is nothin" the pro"ram $an do. lue :ide 8p ob has#ritten an eA$ellent tutorial on $onfi"urin" both the fire#all and X-Plane for multipla%er. 'overin" both a$ : and 4indo#s XP,that tutorial $an be found here3@.

i. !net 1

This tab is used to setup a multipla%er session. 8p to t#ent% X-Plane s%stems $an be $onne$ted to"ether in this #a% simpl% b%assi"nin" ea$h s%stem a uniue nternet Proto$ol (P* address.These addresses $an be either on a 7o$al rea Net#ork (7N* or

3@httpMHHro"erthat.$aHT8T;7:.html

true nternet P addresses. Note that P addresses need to be onthe same subnet. This makes it eas% to set up a multipla%er"amin" session on a 7N.

'he$kin" the auto-set ,ultiplayer !P a""resses boA (seen inthe ima"e belo#* #ill $ause X-Plane to s$an all 2)) possible P

addresses on the subnet to tr% to find other $opies of X-Plane.

4hen the s$an of the P addresses finds another $op% of X-Plane,%ello# teAt #ill appear near the top of the #indo# #ith the$omputer0s P address, as seen belo#.

NeAt, $he$k one of the !P of other player boAes and enter the Paddress that the s$an found there.

4hen both $opies of X-Plane have Qa"reedR to $onne$t to oneanother, ea$h s$reen #ill momentaril% "o bla$k as one $omputerloads the other0s air$raft.

dditionall%, the lo#er third of the net 1 s$reen is used to $onne$tto other $omputers #hen settin" up a multi-$omputer simulation.

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nl% $onfi"ure this in net 1 on the master ma$hine #hen usin"other $omputers for visuals&that is, use the net 2 tab to$onfi"ure the $opies of X-Plane runnin" on the eAtra displa%s%stems, as #ell as to $onfi"ure ever%thin" involvin" :s, mapdispla% s%stems, et$.

8pon enterin" the P address of another $op% of X-Plane in the Pof BAternal >isual se$tion of the #indo# (as seen in the follo#in"s$reenshot*, the $op% runnin" on that $omputer #ill automati$all%"o into the eAternal visual mode.

penin" up the Net 'onne$tions #indo# on that se$ond $omputer #ill displa% %ello# teAt at the top that reads Q?ot a transmissionfrom someone talkin" to an eAternal monitor from P addressAAA.AAA.AAA.AAA . se$onds a"o, sendin" :NP.R This #ill alsoautomati$all% $onfi"ure the net 2 tab on the eAternal visualma$hine to point to the master ma$hine.

;emember #hen usin" an eAternal visual to also set a lateral,verti$al, andHor roll offset (all found in the ;enderin" ptions#indo#, des$ribed in 'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part /, found on pa"e4'* on the se$ondar% displa%s.

ore on advan$ed net#orks $an be found in 'hapter K, :e$tion>, found on pa"e 1$.

ii. !net

This tab is used to $onfi"ure $omputers in a multi-$omputer X-

Plane s%stem. 4hen usin" multiple $omputers, the user $an usethis tab to tell X-Plane #hi$h nternet Proto$ol (P* addresses ea$h$omputer is assi"ned to in the net#ork. The user mi"ht, foreAample, have a master ma$hine (the plane #ith the Eo%sti$ks$onne$ted to it, #hi$h is al#a%s the one that runs the fli"ht modeland has the most detail on the instrument panel*, a fe# eAternal

visuals (the ma$hines that sho# the s$ener% out the #indo#*, a$opilots ma$hine (more instruments, possibl% on different pitot-stati$ and ele$tri$al s%stems*, and ma%be an : (nstru$torperator0s :tation, #here an instru$tor $an set #eather orlo$ations, fail s%stems, et$.*.

Ba$h of these stations #ould be $omposed of one $omputer, onemonitor, and one $op% of X-Plane, and ea$h #ould have its o#nP address. Geep in mind, thou"h, that the% should all have Paddresses that are the same for the first three numbers. nl% thelast number should be different bet#een $omputers. /or eAample,

a setup #ith siA $omputers and siA $opies of X-Plane $ould #isel%be set up like as in the follo#in" $hartM

!P A""ress :es3ription

192.16K.1.1 aster ma$hine&Eo%sti$ks plu""ed in here192.16K.1.2 'opilots ma$hine (.a$f file #ith $opilots

instrument panel used here*192.16K.1.3 : (instru$tor0s station for initiatin" failures,

settin" #eather, movin" the plane, et$...*192.16K.1.! BAternal visual, left vie#192.16K.1.) BAternal visual, $enter vie#

192.16K.1.6 BAternal visual, ri"ht vie#

4hen settin" up an : usin" this tab, $he$k the appropriate boAat the bottom of the s$reen (as in the follo#in" s$reenshot* on themaster ma$hine&that is, the one that the QstudentR pilot #ill befl%in".

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T%pin" in the P of the : ma$hine here #ill $ause the :ma$hine to automati$all% $onfi"ure itself, openin" up the 7o$alap #indo#. :ee :e$tion >, Part , :ubse$tion vi of this $hapter (found on pa"e 0* for more on usin" the : options in the 7o$alap #indo#.

'hapter K, :e$tion >, :ettin" up dvan$ed Net#orks (found onpa"e 1$* has more information on this tab, as #ell as a step-b%-step "uide to settin" up a $opilots ma$hine.

iii. !net $

The net 3 tab is used primaril% to set the P to #hi$h data feeds(set in the ata nput I utput #indo#* are sent. t $an also beused to interfa$e #ith $omputers runnin" the B/:-app (availableat X-Plane.$om3K* and #ith $amera displa%s.

C. ?oysti32 N Duip,ent

nformation on the Ais, 'enter, uttons, and Buipment tabs ofthe <o%sti$k I Buipment menu $an be found in 'hapter 3,:e$tion , <o%sti$k 'onfi"uration and 'alibration (found on pa"e$*. nformation on the Ge%s tab of this #indo# $an be found in'hapter !, :e$tion >, 8sin" the Ge%boardHGe%board :hort$uts onpa"e '$.

3K httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHB/:.html

:. en"ering Options

nformation on the ;enderin" ptions s$reen $an be found in'hapter 3, :e$tion , ;enderin" ptions :etup on pa"e $.

. &oun"

The :ound #indo# allo#s the user to $onfi"ure the relativevolumes of all sounds in X-Plane usin" the sliders on the ri"ht sideof the #indo#. n the left side, sounds $an be turned off b%$ate"or%. % default, all sounds are enabled, #ith volumes set at1Z (sliders full% to the ri"ht*.

The bottom of this #indo# #ill also $he$k the status of spee$hs%nthesis soft#are. f the soft#are is not installed, "o here39 todo#nload it.

%. ;ui32-%light &etup

The Dui$k /li"ht :etup dialo" offers one $onvenient lo$ation in#hi$h to $han"e a number of basi$ fli"ht options.

'louds are set in the upper left $orner, #ith other basi$ #eathersettin"s belo# that. These are $onfi"ured Eust as in the 4eather#indo# (see 'hapter !, :e$tion , :ettin" 4eather on pa"e 5*.

n the upper $enter of the #indo#, X-Plane0s airport database $anbe sear$hed like in the :ele$t ?lobal irport #indo# (see 'hapter!, :e$tion , 'hoosin" an irport, found on pa"e 5'*.

elo# and to the left of the airport des$ription is a sin"le OpenAir3raft button, used like the pen ir$raft 4indo# ('hapter !,

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:e$tion , penin" an ir$raft on pa"e 54*.

/inall%, at the bottom of the s$reen, the time $an be set, as in:e$tion >, Part of this $hapter (found on pa"e *.

n$e a ui$k fli"ht has been $onfi"ured, $li$k the 9o To This

Airport button to be"in the fli"ht. This fli"ht setup $an then besaved usin" the :ave :ituation menu option (see :e$tion , Part

of this $hapter, found on pa"e #0*, makin" it available for futureuse.

9. Operations N 7arnings

The perations I 4arnin"s #indo# lets the user spe$if% a fe#little odds and ends about #here the plane starts, ho# the fli"htmodel #orks #ith the air$raft, #hether the sim breaks the airplane

if it "ets overstressed, #hat #arnin"s the simulator "ives if thin"sare "oin" #ron", and other little thin"s like that.

i. %light Mo"el

The flight ,o"els per fra,e $ontrol (seen in the follo#in" ima"e*is used to double sample the simulator0s $al$ulations on theair$raft0s fli"ht.

This is onl% needed #hen fl%in" ui$k, li"ht, small air$raft, #hi$hma% a$$elerate be%ond the rate at #hi$h X-Plane $an keep up

#hen runnin" at a lo# frame rate.

ii. &tartup

4hen X-Plane is started or #hen a ne# air$raft is loaded, the

&tart ea3h flight 6ith engines running option (seen in thefollo#in" ima"e* #ill ensure that all en"ines and asso$iatedbatter% and $ontrol s%stems are runnin" and read% to "o.

f this option is not sele$ted, the user #ill need to perform manuals%stem and en"ine starts usin" the $orre$t pro$edures for that

parti$ular air$raft before he or she $an be"in to taAi or take off.

iii. 7arnings

4ith the 6arn of in3o,plete s3enery installations boA (seen inthe follo#in" ima"e* $he$ked, X-Plane #ill open a ui$k dialo"boA for the user #hen a se$tion of s$ener% is reuired that isn0tinstalled. This ma% be a useful reminder of #h% the #orld outsideis onl% #ater.

4ith the 6arn of lo6 fra,e-rate option (seen above* enabled, X-Plane #ill brin" up a dialo" boA if the simulator0s frame rate drops

KK



belo# the value spe$ified in the ;enderin" ptions s$reen.'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part ?, :ettin" 8p X-Plane to $hieve theest ;esults (on pa"e 4* has instru$tions on $onfi"urin" thesimulator for maAimum speed.

4ith the gi*e *arious in-3o32pit te/t 6arnings option (seen in

the previous ima"e* enabled, X-Plane #ill sho# teAt #arnin"ssu$h as those for airframe i$e, $arburetor i$e, and blo#n landin""ear tires on s$reen.

i*. :a,age

The re,o*e flying surfa3es in o*er-spee" and re,o*e flyingsurfa3es in o*er-9 (seen in the follo#in" ima"e* $ause X-Planeto remove fl%in" surfa$es (e.". the #in"s* #hen too mu$h stressis pla$ed on the $raft. s in real life, this is likel% to have

disastrous results.

'he$kin" the re,o*e flaps in o*er-fe boA (seen above* #ill$ause X-Plane to rip off flaps if the >fe (>elo$it% flap eAtended*value is eA$eeded #hile the% are do#n. 'he$kin" the re,o*egear "oors in o*er-le boA (seen above* #ill do the same for"ear doors if the >le (>elo$it% landin" "ear eAtended* value iseA$eeded #hile the% are open.

4hen the reset on har" 3rash boA (seen in the previouss$reenshot* is $he$ked, X-Plane #ill reposition the air$raft at the

nearest airport if it is $rashed too hard.

*. :ata

4hen the "u,p net "ata to log.t/t boA (seen in the follo#in"

ima"e* is $he$ked, X-Plane #ill save the data that it re$eives overthe net#ork in the 8P format to the lo".tAt file (found in the X-Plane 9 folder*.

t #ill also save the data that it sends to the same file. This isuseful for monitorin" $ommuni$ation bet#een $omputers in a

multi-$omputer setup. f the $omputer is sendin" data to the X-Plane soft#are on other $omputers, but the other $omputers arenot respondin" $orre$tl%, then outputtin" this dia"nosti$ data $anhelp the user determine #h% the messa"es bet#een $omputersare bein" reEe$ted.

4hen the "u,p ti,er "ata to log.t/t $ontrol (seen in theprevious ima"e* is enabled, X-Plane #ill save data to the lo".tAtfile detailin" ho# lon" X-Plane is spendin" on ea$h of its $riti$alpro$esses. t allo#s the user to see #hi$h pro$esses #ithin X-Plane are $onsumin" the most 'P8 time and ma% be useful in

determinin" #hi$h settin"s should be turned do#n to "et betterperforman$e.

!!. The ie6 Menu

The >ie# menu (seen in the follo#in" s$reenshot* $han"es theuser0s vie# of the air$raft. These options are mu$h more easil%

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seen than des$ribed, so for the purposes of this manual, it issu""ested that the user simpl% eAperiment #ith the possiblesettin"s.

Note that the $hara$ters in bra$kets to the ri"ht side of ea$h menuoption are the ke%board short$uts for ea$h vie#. /or eAample, tosele$t the for#ard vie#, one #ould press the 4 ke%, and to sele$tthe left !) de"ree vie#, one #ould press the D ke%.

!!!. The &pe3ial Menu

The :pe$ial menu (sho#n belo#* lets the user $onfi"ure a number of odd-ball thin"s in the sim.

A. &ho6 %light Mo"el

X-Plane models fli"ht b% breakin" the plane do#n into a numberof little pie$es and findin" the for$es a$tin" on ea$h pie$e. %$hoosin" the :ho# /li"ht odel option one or t#o times (or b%hittin" the H ke% a $ouple times* and movin" to an outside vie#(e."., b% usin" the _ ke%*, the user $an a$tuall% see all thosefor$es. 4ith some #ind and turbulen$e turned on in the 4eathers$reen, the user $an even see the pseudo-random velo$it% ve$torflo# field around the airplane. The velo$it% ve$tors seen are thea$tual ve$tors intera$tin" #ith the plane, and the for$e ve$tors (the"reen lines $omin" off the plane* are the a$tual for$es on theplane&nothin" is Eust for sho# here. This is the a$tual #ork thatX-Plane is doin".

/or eAample, in the follo#in" ima"e, the :ho# /li"ht odel buttonhas been pressed on$e, and the air$raft has been pullin" into anup#ard $limb.

9



The "reen bars eAtendin" from the #in"s indi$ate ho# mu$h liftea$h se$tion of the #in" is "eneratin"+ lon"er bars represent"reater for$e.

n the neAt ima"e, the :ho# /li"ht odel has been pressed ase$ond time, makin" the flo# field around the air$raft also visible.

i. %un 6ith the %light Mo"el

To reall% see the fli"ht model shine, tr% turnin" off all the #ind andturbulen$e and fl%in" up $lose behind another airplane (use the

ir$raft and :ituations #indo# from the ir$raft menu and the7o$al ap #indo# from the 7o$ation menu as needed to helphere*. 4at$h the flo# field around the airplane be$ome $haoti$ asit enters the #ake of the plane in front of itL

To take this to the eAtreme, sele$t about ten other planes in the ir$raft and :ituations #indo#, all #ith eual performan$e (allairliners or all li"ht planes*. :et them all to be on the re" team,and put %our airplane on the blue team, for eAample. Then, put%our plane on autopilot in fli"ht and #alk a#a% from X-Plane for 3minutes or so. 'ome ba$k in half an hour and all the other planesshould be on %our tail, ea$h one in the #ake turbulen$e of all theplanes in front itL This is the t%pe of fli"ht model math that X-Planedoes.

8. Output %light Mo"el

This menu option #ill save the neAt $%$le of $al$ulations of thefli"ht model dire$tl% to the file Q'%$le ump.tAtR in the X-Plane 9folder. /rom there, it $an be vie#ed #ith an% teAt editor.

C. OpenIToggle Te/t %ile for ie6ing

This option allo#s the user to open and displa% a teAt file that #as

previousl% $reated and saved #ithin the X-Plane 9 folder. This isuseful for notes and information about air$raft, airports, orpro$edures&a sort of in-fli"ht notepad. fter the file has beenopened, it $an be to""led on or off usin" the to""le optionsele$ted from the menu.

n open teAt file is sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

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:. OpenIToggle Che32list for Use

This option allo#s %ou to open a previousl% $reated teAt file savedin the X-Plane folder. t #ill displa% ea$h line in the teAt file one b%one, allo#in" the user to s$roll for#ard and ba$k#ards usin" thebuttons on the top left of the popup #indo#. This is useful for"oin" throu"h user-$reated $he$klists in X-Plane. n$e opened,the $he$klist $an be to""led on or off usin" the menu.

n open $he$klist is sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot. Note that,unlike #hen this file #as opened as a teAt file above, it no#displa%s one line at a time.

. %in" Pit3hIEa6 &tability :eri*ati*e

8se this settin" to displa$e the air$raft nose b% one de"ree inpit$h or %a# for X-Plane to measure the a$$eleration ba$k to levelfli"ht. This information $an then be used to $al$ulate the Pit$hand =a# :tabilit% erivatives. The results are pla$ed in the teAtfile '%$le ump.tAt0 in the X-Plane folder on the hard disk. Theui$ker the nose pops ba$k to level fli"ht, the "reater the stati$stabilit% of the airplane. The ui$ker the resultin" os$illationsdampen out, the "reater the d%nami$ stabilit% of the airplane.

%. &et n*iron,ent Properties

This settin" allo#s the user to $han"e the virtual #orldsenvironmental, atmospheri$, and "ravitational properties. This

$an be used to eAperiment #ith some of the environmental fa$torsthat affe$t an air$raft in fli"ht, in$ludin" temperature, pressure,densit%, vis$osit% and "ravit%. /li"ht on other planets $an also besimulated this #a%.

9. &et Artifi3ial &tability+ Autopilot+ an" %A:C 3onstants

These $onstants are normall% set in Plane-aker, and their#orkin"s are eAplained in depth in the Plane-aker manual.

dEustin" these values $han"es the #a% the $raft handles, thou"h

these $han"es cannot be saved #ithin X-Plane. nstead, #ritedo#n the settin"s and enter them into Plane-aker to save them.f somethin" "ets $han"ed too drasti$all% and the airplanebe$omes unfl%able, Eust reload the air$raft #ith the pen ir$raft#indo#.

. &ho6 Control :efle3tions

This option #as developed for the National Test Pilot :$hool. tlets the user see a runnin" "raph of the $ontrol defle$tions in the

bottom left $orner of the s$reen as the $raft is flo#n.

/or instan$e, in the follo#in" ima"e, the pilot is "entl% pullin" upand to the left.

92



!. &ho6 7eapon 9ui"an3e

eveloped for a ilitar% :imulation 'ontra$t, this option lets theuser see ho# the "uided missile fli"ht $ontrols are bein"defle$ted. t should be used to tune missile "uidan$e al"orithms.(The missile "uidan$e al"orithms are set in the 4eapons s$reenin Plane-aker.*

?. &ho6 &2y Colors

eveloped for 'hief rtist :er"io :anta"ada, this option sho#sthe user #hat ima"es X-Plane is $urrentl% usin" to "enerate itssk% $olors.

@. &ho6 Pro<e3tor Test

The :ho# ProEe$tor Test option (enabled in the ima"e belo#* #illoverla% the s$reen #ith a horiFontal and verti$al line "rid, as in thefollo#in" ima"e. This is useful for findin" #rinkles in the vie#in"s$reen #hen usin" X-Plane #ith a proEe$tor.

!X. The Plugins Menu

The Plu"ins menu appears as in the s$reenshot belo#.

A. Plug-in A",in

The X-Plane Plu"-n :oft#are evelopers Git is a $ombination of$ode, 77s, and do$umentation that allo#s pro"rammers to #riteadditions that #ork inside X-Plane, #ithout modif%in" X-Plane or

93



havin" a $op% of X-Planes sour$e $ode. The Plu"-in dmin menuoption provides a set of features to administer an% installed plu"-insoft#are. % default, there are no plu"-ins installed, but a number of them are available on the nternet. This menu $an be used toenable or disable plu"-ins, vie# information about installed plu"-ins, and assi"n Qhotke%sR so that the enableHdisable a$tions $an

be easil% performed from #ithin the simulator.

9!



'. )a*igation+ Autopilots+ an" %lying on!nstru,ents

People often $all $ustomer support askin" about some of the more

advan$ed thin"s that pilots do in the real #orld&ho# to navi"ate,use an autopilot, or fl% on instruments. This $hapter #ill $overthese areas in a fair amount detail, but it is re$ommended that ifusers are reall% serious about masterin" these fa$ets of aviationthe% do#n to a lo$al "eneral aviation airport and hire a '/('ertified /li"ht nstru$tor* for an hour or t#o. 8sers #ith a laptop$an b% all means brin" it alon" and have the instru$tor detail man%of these thin"s in pra$ti$e. There is mu$h more to revie# herethan this manual $ould ever $over, so a ui$k sear$h forinformation on the nternet #ill also be of assistan$e.

!. )a*igation

Navi"atin" over the Barths surfa$e is as eas% as kno#in" #here%our air$raft is and ho# to "et to #here %ou #ant to "o. This isn0tuite as eas% as it sounds. ma"ine that %oure fl%in" '$onditions (nstrument eteorolo"i$al 'onditions&that is, in the$louds*. =ou have no referen$e to the "round and are fl%in" over:t. 7ouis in the middle of an over$ast la%er. s %ou mi"ht "uess,this looks prett% mu$h identi$al to the vie# %ou #ould have fl%in"over os$o# on instruments. The onl% #a% to kno# that %ou0re

over :t. 7ouis and not over os$o# is to be able to navi"ate.Navi"ation is the art of bein" able to tell #here %our air$raft is andho# to make it "o #here %oud like.

A. istory

i. :ea" e32oning

/or the first 3 %ears or so the best pilots $ould do #as to fl%around usin" #hat is kno#n as dead reckoning &that is, b%$onfirmin" their position on a map as the% fle#, then lookin"ahead on the map to see #hen the% should be $rossin" somekno#n landmark, like a road, railroad, to#n, or lake. Then, the

pilots periodi$all% $ompared their pro"ress over the real "round#ith the anti$ipated pro"ress over the map to see ho# thin"s #ere"oin". This reall% is as simple as it sounds. The bi""est tri$k is toal#a%s kno# #here %ou are and #hat to be lookin" for neAt.

ead re$konin" isn0t too diffi$ult to "et do#n. :hortl% after$olle"e, ustin e%er (the author of X-Plane* and , ;and% 4hitt,on$e piloted a 'essna 1@2 from Gansas 'it% to 'hi$a"o after ourse$ond (of t#o* navi"ation radios "ave up and died in mid-fli"ht.No, this is not a t%pi$al eAperien$e in the aviation #orld, but itdemonstrates that a pilot al#a%s needs to be thinkin" ahead and

be prepared for $ontin"en$ies. That parti$ular air$raft #as a #ell-used rental and Nav 1 #as dead from the time #e si"ned it out.4hen Nav 2 died, #e had no operable navi"ation radios at all andused dead re$konin" to fl% the last 3 or so miles of our trip,#hi$h #as most of the Eourne%. 4e #ould never have allo#edourselves to "et into that position had the #eather been poor orhad #e been fl%in" on instruments&#e #ould have refused totake off into su$h $onditions "iven the failure in the first radio. utsin$e the #eather #as ni$e, #e took off #ith onl% one navi"ationradio and #ere soon fl%in" alon" on none. X-Plane allo#s %ou topra$ti$e this all %ou like.

urin" the he%da% of dead re$konin", the 8: ail pilots that #erefl%in" on overni"ht mail routes a$tuall% fle# from bonfire to bonfirethat had been set up alon" their route, usin" the li"ht to "uide their pro"ress. <ust ima"ine #hat this must have been like&fl%in" inthe mid 192s in an open $o$kpit biplane (a 'urtis <enn%,perhaps* tr%in" to keep %our "o""les $lean (the en"ines of the da%routinel% spra%ed oil* and to sta% out of the $louds on a $old #inter

9)



ni"ht, fl%in" alon" a $hain of bon-fires to %our neAt destination.Geep in mind these #ere not $losed-$o$kpit air$raft and the pilot$ontinuall% had the outside air blo#in" all around. 4o#L hope%ou dressed #arm and that %ou are "ood at foldin" maps in KP5 slipstreams of belo#-freeFin" air.

ii. Aural )a*igation

n the mid 193s or so a s%stem #as devised #here pilots #ouldfl% usin" aural navigation&that is, the% #ould tune into a ne#radio s%stem su$h that if the% #ere to the left of their $ourse the%#ould hear a series of dashes (lon" radio tones, as in orse$ode*, and if the% #ere to the ri"ht of their $ourse the% #ould heara series of dots (short tones*. f on $ourse, the% #ould hearnothin" as the si"nals $ontainin" the dashes and dots $an$eledea$h other out. The $loser the pilot #as to the transmitter the

smaller the S'one of :ilen$e,S as it #as kno#n, #as and the moredefined the boundaries bet#een the dashes, dots, and silen$e.

s the air$rafts ran"e from the station in$reased, the $entraltar"et (#here no si"nals #ere heard* #as mu$h #ider and#eaker. ma"ine sittin" in a $old, dark $o$kpit listenin" intentl% totr% and hear over the drone of the en"ine and #histle of the #indon %our #ires to see #hi$h side of the $one %ou #ere on. irlinepilots used this s%stem for %ears to su$$essfull% $arr% passen"ersall around the #orld. This t%pe of navi"ation is not modeled #ithinX-Plane.

8. Mo"ern )a*igation

4e no# $ome into the area of QmodernR navi"ation based on"round-based transmitters. =oull need a "ood set of $harts if%oud like to a$tuall% fl% in X-Plane usin" an% of these methods,but the soft#are does $ontain a full set of (mostl%* $urrent $hartsas #ell. To see them "o to the 7o$ation menu, $li$k 7o$al ap,and sele$t one of the five map t%pes that are available in the tabs

on top of the #indo#. The% areM

• 5i"h-:peed&used as hi"h altitude $harts b% Eet and turbo-prop pilots.

•

• 7o# Bnroute&used as lo# altitude /; navi"ation $harts

b% piston (propeller* air$raft pilots. ne of the mostimportant aspe$ts of this $hart is the addition of >e$tor

ir#a%s that are virtual hi"h#a%s in the sk% that $onne$tdifferent >; transmitters. These ve$tor air#a%s are"iven names (for eAample, >)3* and are used b% airtraffi$ $ontrols to assi"n $learan$es.

•

• 5i"h Bnroute&ver% similar to 7o# Bnroute but onl%sho#in" the information of interest to pilots fl%in" above1K, feet and makin" use of ve$tor air#a%s that aremu$h lon"er, based on lar"er >;s #ith lon"er ran"es.

•

• :e$tional&the standard $hart that >/; pilots are familiar#ith. This map has "round elevation data superimposedvia a shaded ba$k"round and information about theairports that are lo$al to that area.

•

• TeAtured&a ni$e map that is not used in pilot $ir$les. Thisoverla%s the X-Plane terrain ima"es on top of thenavi"ation $harts to "ive the user a "ood birds e%e vie# of the area he or she is fl%in" over.

Note that more information on the 7o$al ap s$reen $an be foundin 'hapter ), :e$tion >, Part (found on pa"e #(*.

i. ):8 )a*igation

Non-dire$tional bea$ons #ere invented in the late 19!s and$onsisted of a "round-based transmitter that broad$ast a homin"

96



si"nal. re$eiver in the air$raft $ould be tuned to one of about3 dis$rete freuen$ies in order to tune to a parti$ulartransmitter. 4ith that done, an instrument in the panel, $alled theN (or, inter$han"eabl%, the /, or utomati$ ire$tion/inder*, #ould point to the station. This s%stem #as a lar"ete$hnolo"i$al leap for#ard over the older aural-based s%stem and

#as a$tuall% uite eas% to use, provided that the #ind #asperfe$tl% $alm or blo#in" in a dire$tion that #as eAa$tl% parallel tothe dire$tion of fli"ht. f $ourse, that prett% mu$h neverhappened, resultin" in the air$raft al#a%s bein" blo#n off $ourse.

s a result, the pilots had to #at$h the trend of movement in theneedle over a relativel% lon" period of time (e."., five to ei"htminutes* to see if the an"le to the station that #as depi$ted sta%ed$onstant or #as $han"in". f it #as $han"in", it indi$ated that theair$raft #as bein" blo#n off $ourse and the pilot had to turn in theopposite dire$tion b% half of the deviation. fter holdin" thatheadin" for another five minutes or so the pilot #ould a"ain

observe the relative trend of the needle and $orre$t a"ain.

The tri$k #as to fl% as strai"ht as possible from one station toanother. lthou"h nearl% abandoned in the 8nited :tates, Nsare still used in man% $ountries around the #orld. t is for thisreason that the% are modeled in X-Plane. The% appear as in thefollo#in" ima"e.

/or eAample, in the ima"e above, the nnsbru$k N (#hoseidentifier is NN* transmits at a freuen$% of !2 k5F.

n / is lo$ated in the instrument panel for the 'essna 1@2:that $omes #ith X-Plane. t is lo$ated above the miAture knoband trim #heel, belo# the dual >; 's, and is sho#n in the

follo#in" ima"e.

ii. O )a*igation

>er% 5i"h /reuen$% mni-;an"e navi"ation (or >;* #asintrodu$ed in the mid-19)s and represented a lar"e improvementin navi"ation a$$ura$%. nstead of an N that a pilot $ould homein on, the >; sends a series of 36 dis$rete little $arrier tones ona main freuen$%. Ba$h of these $arriers is oriented alon" adifferent radial from the station, one of 36 Eust like a $ompassrose. Thus, #hen %ou are fl%in" alon" and tune in the main >;freuen$%, %ou then fine tune %our navi"ation displa% to tell %ou#hi$h of the 36 radials %ou are fl%in" and also #hether thetransmitter station is in front of or behind %ou. mpressiveL Thisfinall% "ave pilots a means of tellin" eAa$tl% #here the% #ere inrelation to a fiAed spot on earth, and this s%stem Qautomati$all%RadEusted for an% #inds aloft as the s%stem #ould ui$kl% displa%an% error in tra$k that the plane #as makin". This error $ould onl%be due to t#o fa$tors&either the pilot #as not fl%in" alon" theradial or the #ind ble# the airplane sli"htl% off of $ourse. >;sare modeled in X-Plane.

>; stations appear in the X-Plane maps as relativel% lar"e$ir$les #ith not$hes around the ed"es, similar to a $lo$k fa$e. n

9@



the hi-speed and enroute maps, the% are bla$k, #hile in these$tional map, the% are blue, as seen in the ima"e belo#.

The% are ta""ed #ith boAes that have their name and identifier onthe left side and their >; freuen$% on the ri"ht. /or instan$e, inthe ima"e above, the Gempton >;, #hose identifier is GPT,transmits at a freuen$% of 19.6 5F.

A specific type of VOR, a VOR-DME, combines the lateralguidance (that is, guidance left and right) of a VOR with thedistance guidance of a DME (distance measuring equipment). In

X-Plane, this is labeled as in the image on the following page.

Another type of VOR beacon, a VORTAC, is also foundthroughout the X-Plane maps. This is a transmitter that combinesboth VOR and TACAN features. TACAN (or tactical airnavigation) provides special information to military pilots similar toa civilian VOR. However, for our purposes, this is functionallyidentical to a VOR-DME. A VORTAC in X-Plane is labeled as inthe following image.

To use a >;, first look on either the se$tional or lo# enroutemap to find a >; station that is fairl% $lose the lo$ation of theair$raft. Tune this station0s freuen$% into %our >; radio (in the'essna 1@2:P, the N> 1 radio is found on the far ri"ht of the$o$kpit, beneath the ?P:*. The little red nav1 or nav2 fla"s on%our ' ('ourse eviation ndi$ator* should disappear (keep inmind that %ou ma% have to hit the flip-flop s#it$h to brin" thefreuen$% %ou Eust tuned into the a$tive #indo#*. No# rotate the

: (mni earin" :ele$tor* knob so that the verti$al #hiteindi$ator is perfe$tl% $entered in the little #hite $ir$le in the middleof the instrument. t this point the verti$al #hite line should betrul% verti$al and %our air$raft is either on the radial from thestation indi$ated b% the arro# at the top or at the bottom of theinstrument, labeled T or /;. No# fl% that eAa$t headin" and %ou#ill be fl%in" dire$tl% to#ards or a#a% from the station, as sho#nb% the little #hite up or do#n (to or from, respe$tivel%* arro# that#ill be on the ri"ht side of the ', either above or belo# the #hitehoriFontal "lide slope indi$ator.

Note that the verti$al referen$e line indi$ates ho# far %ou are from%our desired radial. To the left and ri"ht of the $enter tar"et (thelittle #hite $ir$le* the instrument displa%s five dots or short lines onea$h side. Ba$h of these dots indi$ates that %ou are t#o de"reesoff of $ourse. Thus, a full s$ale left defle$tion of the verti$alreferen$e indi$ates that the air$raft is 1 de"rees ri"ht of thedesired radial if the station is in front of %ou. f $ourse, if thestation is behind %ou then the instrument is reverse sensin" andthat means that a left defle$tion indi$ates that the plane is to the

9K

l ft f d i d di l it b bit f i < t il h t b i d ith lid l (th ki th



left of %our desired radial&%es, it $an be a bit $onfusin". <ustremember that as long as you are flying towards the VOR, the lineon the CD indicates the location of the desired course. f thereferen$e line is on %our left that means that %our tar"et radial ison %our left.

4ith onl% one >; %ou reall% dont kno# #here %ou are alon" a"iven radial, onl% that %ou are in front of or behind a station and#hat radial %oure on. =ou have no #a% of tellin" if %ou are 1)miles from the station or !) miles a#a%. The solution is to use t#o>; radios so that %ou $an plot %our lo$ation from t#o different>;s. f %ou $an determine that %oure on the 6@th radial from the<' >; and on the 11@th radial from the G' >; then %ou$an pinpoint %our lo$ation on a se$tional $hart. ont for"et that%oull have to #ork fast as %our position #ill be $ontinuall%$han"in".

iii. !=& )a*igation

n 7: (or instrument landing system) differs from a VOR in that itprovides both lateral guidance (left and right, as given by a VOR)and vertical guidance (up and down). An ILS is therefore made upof two transmitters, a localizer and a glideslope—one for eachcomponent of the navigation. Both these components of the ILSare tuned together; tuning an ILS is just like tuning in to a VOR.

A localizer (LOC) transmitter provides lateral guidance to thecenterline of a runway. It works by sending out two signals on the

same channel, one of which modulates at 90 Hz and the other ofwhich modulates at 150 Hz. One of these signals is sent outslightly to the left of the runway, while the other sent out slightly tothe right of it. If an aircraft is picking up more of the tonemodulated at 150 Hz, it is off to the left. If it is picking up more ofthe tone modulated at 90 Hz, it is off to the right. The coursedeviation indicator (or CDI) in the instrument panel then indicatesthis so that the pilot can correct it. When both tones are beingreceived in equal amounts, the craft is lined up with the physicalcenterline of the runway. These LOC transmitters do not

necessarily have to be paired with a glideslope (thus making theman ILS). In X-Plane, a standalone LOC transmitter is marked as inthe following image.

In the example above, the LOWI runway 26 localizer transmits ata frequency of 111.10.

An ILS combines the functionality of a localizer, which provideslateral guidance, with a glideslope transmitter, which providesvertical guidance to the runway. The glideslope beacon functionssimilarly to the localizer, sending out two tones that have the samefrequency, but different modulations. The difference is that the

glideslope tells the plane that it is either too high or too low for itsdistance from the runway. The pilot uses this information to pushthe craft's nose up or down as needed. The ILS will allow a pilotto fly on instruments only to a point that is a half mile from the endof the runway at 200 feet (depending on the category of the ILS)above the ground. If the runway cannot be clearly seen at thatpoint the pilot is prevented from executing a normal landing. If thishappens, the pilot in real life is required to fly a "missed approach"and climb back to altitude in order to try again or go somewhereelse.

In X-Plane, an ILS transmitter is marked as in the followingscreenshot.

99

th Qi t T R k th ?P: di ( ti h



i*. 9P& )a*igation

?lobal Positionin" :%stems #ere first invented for the 8: militar%and introdu$ed to the publi$ in the earl% 199s. This s%stem$onsists of a series of satellites orbitin" the Barth #hi$h$ontinuousl% send out si"nals tellin" their orbital lo$ation and thetime the si"nal #as sent. ?P: re$eiver $an tune into thesi"nals the% send out and note the time it took for the si"nal totravel from the satellite to the re$eiver for several differentsatellites at on$e. :in$e the speed at #hi$h the si"nals travel iskno#n, it is a simple matter of arithmeti$ to determine ho# farfrom ea$h satellite the re$eiver is. Trian"ulation (or, rather,uadran"ulation* is than used to determine eAa$tl% #here there$eiver is #ith respe$t to the surfa$e of the Barth. n an air$raft,this information is $ompared #ith the onboard database todetermine ho# far it is to the neAt airport, navi"ational aid(N>*, #a%point, or #hatever. The $on$ept is simple, but themath is not. ?P: s%stems have turned the #orld of aviation on itshead, allo#in" ever%da% pilots to navi"ate around #ith levels ofa$$ura$% that #ere unima"inable 2 %ears a"o.

There are several t%pes of ?P: radios available, and about 11 ofthese have been modeled in X-Plane. 4hile the intri$ate #orkin"sof the various ?P: radios are $ompleA, the basi$ prin$ipals areprett% $onsistent. f %ou #ant to navi"ate from one lo$ation toanother Eust laun$h X-Plane, open the air$raft of %our $hoi$e, then

press the Qire$t ToR ke% on the ?P: radio (sometimes sho#n asa #ith an arro# throu"h it, from left to ri"ht* and enter theairport %oud like to navi"ate to. n the ?armin !3, entr% isperformed usin" the $ontrol knob on the bottom ri"ht of the unit.8se the outer knob to sele$t #hi$h $hara$ter of the identifier tomodif%, the use the inner knob to s$roll throu"h the $hara$ters

(see 'hapter !, :e$tion >, Part on pa"e '' for more info onusin" the knobs*. lso, keep in mind the $onventionsdis$ussed in 'hapter !, :e$tion , Part (on pa"e 5* and enterthe be"innin" G as appropriate.

The databases in these radios are not limited simpl% to theidentifiers of the airports %ou ma% #ish to fl% to. =ou $an enter thes for an% >; or N station %oud like, or the name of an%#a%point or fiA %oud like to "o to.

!!. Autopilots

ne of the most freuentl% asked uestions from X-Plane users isthe same as one of the most freuentl% asked uestions from real-#orld pilots&ho# do #ork the autopilotJ an% pilots have never taken the time to learn&;and% 4itt has even been on airliner #here the plane #as Eerkin" left and ri"ht for five minutes or so asthe fli"ht $re# tried to fi"ure out ho# to pro"ram and en"a"e theirautopilot.

The follo#in" autopilot fun$tions are available in X-Plane. Ba$h of

these $an be $hosen for an air$raft0s panel in the Panel-Bditor ofPlane-aker. The% are lo$ated in the SautopilotS instrument folder.Ba$h of these is a mode that the air$raft $an be put into simpl% b%$li$kin" that button on the panel #ith the mouse.

A. :es3riptions of Autopilot %un3tions

i. 7=

1



The 6ing le*eler button. This #ill simpl% hold the #in"s level#hile the pilot fi"ures out #hat to do neAt.

ii. :9

The hea"ing hol" button. This #ill simpl% follo# the headin" bu"on the 5: or dire$tion "%ro.

iii. =OC

The lo3aliHer button. This #ill fl% a >; or 7: radial, or to a ?P:destination. Note that the !"# may be programmed by the $%# (eAplained in the follo#in" se$tions*.

i*. O=:

The hol" button. This #ill hold the $urrent or pre-sele$ted altitude b% pit$hin" the nose up or do#n.

*. I&

The *erti3al spee" button. This #ill hold a $onstant verticalspeed b% pit$hin" the air$raft nose up or do#n.

*i. &P:

The spee" button. This #ill hold the pre-sele$ted airspeed b%pit$hin" the nose up or do#n, leavin" the throttle alone.

*ii. %=C

The flight-le*el 3hange button. This #ill hold the pre-sele$tedairspeed b% pit$hin" the nose up or do#n, addin" or takin" a#a%po#er automati$all%. This is $ommonl% used to $han"e altitude inairliners b% simpl% lettin" the pilot add or take a#a% po#er, #hilethe airplane pit$hes the nose to hold the most effi$ient airspeed . f

the pilot adds po#er, the plane $limbs. f sHhe takes it a#a%, theplane des$ends. &P: and %=C are $urrentl% almost identi$alfun$tions in X-Plane&the% both pit$h the nose up or do#n tomaintain a desired air$raft speed, so addin" or takin" a#a% po#erresults in $limbs or des$ents. The differen$e is, if %ou have auto-throttle on the airplane, %=C #ill automati$all% add or take a#a%po#er for %ou to start the $limb or des$ent. &P:, on the otherhand, #ill not .

*iii. PTC

The pit3h syn3 button. 8se this to hold the planes nose at a$onstant pit$h attitude. This is $ommonl% used to Eust hold thenose some#here until the pilot de$ides #hat to do neAt.

i/. 9I&

The gli"eslope button. This #ill fl% the "lideslope portion of the7:.

/. )A

The *erti3al na*igation button. This #ill automati$all% loadaltitudes from the /: (/li"ht ana"ement :%stem* into theautopilot for %ou in order to follo# route altitudes (eAplained infollo#in" se$tions*.

11

/i 8C ; t has // N and 8T modes



/i. 8C

The ba32 3ourse button. Bver% 7: on the planet has a little-kno#n second locali&er that "oes in the opposite dire$tion as theinbound lo$aliFer. This is used for the missed approa$h, allo#in"%ou to $ontinue fl%in" alon" the eAtended $enterline of the run#a%,

even after passing over and beyond the runway . To save mone%,some airports #ill not bother to install a ne# 7: at the airport toland on the same run#a% "oin" the other dire$tion, but instead let%ou fl% this se$ond lo$aliFer backwards to $ome into the run#a%from the opposite dire$tion of the re"ular 7:L This is $alled a back course '#.

8sin" the same 7: in both dire$tions has its advanta"es (e."., it0s$heaper*, but there0s a dra#ba$kM the needle defle$tion on %ourinstruments is backwards #hen "oin" the wrong way on the 7:.

5it the 8C (ba$k $ourse* autopilot button if %ou are doin" this. t$auses the autopilot to realiFe that the needle defle$tion isbackwards and still fl% the approa$h.

)oteM 5:s do not reverse the visible needle defle$tion in theba$k-$ourse be$ause %ou turn the housin" that the defle$tionneedle is mounted on around 1K de"rees to fl% the oppositedire$tion (it #ould be reversin" the reversal*.

)oteM The "lideslope is not available on the ba$k $ourse, so %ou

have to use the lo$aliFer part of the pro$edure onl%

8. Using the Autopilot

i. Turning !t On

efore usin" the autopilot, it needs to be turned on. The autopilotpo#er s#it$h is labeled Q/li"ht ire$tor ode,R or simpl% /7?5T

;. t has //, N, and 8T modes.

f the fli"ht dire$tor is //, nothin" #ill happen #hen %ou tr% touse the autopilot. f it is N, then the autopilot #ill not ph%si$all%move the airplane $ontrols, but #ill rather move little tar"et #in"son %our artifi$ial horiFon that %ou $an tr% to mimi$ as %ou fl%. f %ou

do this, %ou #ill be follo#in" the "uidan$e that the autopilot is"ivin" %ou, even thou"h %ou are the one a$tuall% fl%in". The fli"htdire$tor is, at that point, follo#in" #hatever autopilot modes aresele$ted, and %ou, in turn, are follo#in" the fli"ht dire$tor as %oufl% the plane. f the fli"ht dire$tor is set to 8T, then theautopilot servos #ill a$tuall% fl% the airplane a$$ordin" to theautopilot mode %ou have sele$ted.

n other #ords, turnin" the fli"ht dire$tor N turns on the brains ofthe autopilot, displa%in" the $ommands from the modes above onthe horiFon as little ma"enta #in"s %ou $an follo#. Turnin" the

/li"ht ire$tor to 8T (as sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e* turns onthe servos of the autopilot, so the plane follo#s the little ma"enta#in"s for %ou #ithout %ou tou$hin" the sti$k.

Therefore, if %ou have a fli"ht dire$tor s#it$h, make sure it is in the

ri"ht mode for the t%pe of autopilot "uidan$e %ou #ant&none,fli"ht dire$tor onl%, or servo-driven $ontrols.

4hen %ou first turn the fli"ht dire$tor to N or 8T, it #illautomati$all% en"a"e in the pit3h syn3 and 6ing le*eler modes,#hi$h #ill simpl% hold the $raft0s $urrent pit$h and roll until someother mode is sele$ted.

)oteM f the s%stem is turned on #ith less than @ de"rees of bank,

12

then the s%stem #ill assume %ou #ant the #in"s level thus $ausin" the autopilot to store %our current altitude of ) feet



then the s%stem #ill assume %ou #ant the #in"s level , thuslevelin" the #in"s for %ou.

No# that %ou have set the fli"ht dire$tor to the ri"ht mode, letslook at the various modes %ou $an use to $ommand the fli"htdire$tor and autopilot servos.

ii. Using the Controls

a. 7ing =e*eler an" Pit3h &yn3

5it either of these and the% hold #in"s at the $urrent bank (or levelthe #in"s if %ou en"a"e it #ith less than @ de"rees of bank* andpit$h-attitude at the $urrent pit$h.

b. ea"ing+ Altitu"e+ erti3al &pee"+ &pee" ol"+ %light =e*elChange+ Auto-Throttle

5it these buttons and the% #ill hold #hatever values are enteredinto the sele$tors, #ith most values auto-set to %our $urrent speedor altitude at the moment the% are hit for smooth transitions. No#,this makes perfe$t sense at firstM :impl% hit the >> (verti$alvelo$it% indi$ator* button and the autopilot #ill "rab and hold %our$urrent >>. The same "oes for airspeed and altitude.

f %ou #ant the autopilot to "uide the air$raft to a ne# altitude that

has not yet been reached , %ou have to ask %ourselfM o %ou #antthe airplane to hold a $onstant vertical speed to rea$h that ne#altitude, or a $onstant airspeed to rea$h itJ :in$e airplanes aremost effi$ient at some $onstant indi$ate airspeed, $limbin" b%holdin" a $onstant airspeed is usuall% most effi$ient.

;e"ardless, #e0ll start #ith the verti$al speed $ase.

ma"ine %ou are fl%in" alon" at ), feet and %ou hit 7T,

$ausin" the autopilot to store %our current altitude of ), feet.ma"ine, thou"h, that %ou #ant to $limb to 9, feet. =ou #ouldfirst dial 9, into the altitude #indo#. The plane, thou"h, doesnot "o there %et. The neAt step reuires %ou to $hoose how %ou#ant to "et to 9, feet.

f %ou de$ide to "et there via a verti$al velo$it%, hit the >H: buttonand the plane #ill $apture %our $urrent verti$al velo$it% (possibl%*. Then, simpl% dial the >> (verti$al velo$it% indi$ator* up ordo#n to "et to 9, feet more or less ui$kl%. 4hen %ou "et to9, feet, the autopilot #ill automati$all% disengage the verti$alspeed mode and drop ri"ht ba$k into altitude mode at %our ne#altitude.

No#, to "et there via a "iven airspeed (as airliners do*, afterdialin" in 9, feet in the altitude #indo#, %ou #ould hit the/7'5 or :P buttons. This make the plane pit$h the nose up or

do#n to maintain %our $urrent indi$ated airspeed. No#, simpl%add a dose of po#er (if needed*, $ausin" the nose of the plane torise to keep the speed from in$reasin". 4hen %ou rea$h 9,feet, the autopilot #ill leave spee"-hol" mode and "o intoaltitu"e-hol" mode, holdin" 9, feet until further noti$e.

s %ou $an see, both the airspeed and verti$al speed modes #illbe maintained until they reach the specified altitude, at #hi$h pointthe% #ill abandon that mode and "o into altitu"e-hol" mode. Thesame thin" #ill happen #ith the gli"eslope $ontrol. f thegli"eslope is armed (that is, lit up after %ou pushed the button*,

then the autopilot #ill abandon %our verti$al mode #hen the"lideslope en"a"es. This #ill also happen #ith the lo3aliHer $ontrol. f the lo3aliHer is armed, the autopilot #ill abandon %ourhea"ing mode #hen the lo3aliHer en"a"esL

This is referred to as Q$apturin"R the lo$aliFer or "lideslope.

The ke% thin" to realiFe is that the verti$al speed, fli"ht level

13

$han"e and headin" modes are all modes that $ommand the airspeed and the plane flies at that airspeed or verti$al



$han"e, and headin" modes are all modes that $ommand theplane the moment the% are en"a"ed.

ltitude, "lideslope, and lo$aliFer are all armed , and sit there instandb% (armed* until one of the modes above inter$epts thealtitude, "lideslope, lo$aliFer, or ?P: $ourse.

n eA$eption to the above rule is altitu"e. f %ou hit the altitu"ebutton, the autopilot #ill be set to the current altitude. This is not the #a% a smart pilot flies, thou"h. smart pilot #ith a "oodairplane, a "ood autopilot, and "ood plannin" #ill dial in theassigned altitude lon" before sHhe "ets there (in$ludin" the initialaltitude before sHhe takes off* and then use verti$al speed, fli"htlevel $han"e, or even pit$h s%n$ to reach that altitudeL

5ere is ho# the s%stem in a real plane #ould be used (and thusho# the s%stem in X-Plane is best used*M

1. 4hile on the "round, short of the run#a%, the pilot is told tomaintain 3, feet. :Hhe is "ive a run#a% headin" and is$leared for takeoff.

2. The pilot enters 3, feet into the 7TT8B #indo# and arun#a% headin" (for instan$e, 29* into the 5BN? #indo#.

3. The pilot takes off.

!. n the initial $limb, around ma%be ) feet, the pilot sets the

fli"ht dire$tor to 8T. The autopilot notes the plane0s $urrentpit$h and roll and holds the plane stead%.

). The pilot hits the :9 button, and the plane follo#s theinitial run#a% headin".

6. The pilot hits either the I&, %=C, or &P: buttons. Theautopilot automati$all% notes the $urrent verti$al velo$it% or

airspeed, and the plane flies at that airspeed or verti$alvelo$it% until it "ets to 3, feet, #here it levels off.

@. The pilot is "iven a ne# headin" and altitude b% T'.

K. The pilot dials the ne# headin" into the #indo#, dials the

ne# altitude into its #indo#, and then hits I&, %=C, or &P: to let the plane Foom to the ne# altitude.

9. The pilot is $leared to the plane0s destination or some otherfiA. Those $oordinates are entered into the ?P: and the 5:sour$e is set to ?P: (as the autopilot follo#s the 5:*. Thepilot hits the =OC button. The autopilot #ill then follo# the 5:needle defle$tion laterall% as it $limbs to the ne# altitude.

o this, and %ou $an "et #here %ou are "oin".

3. Pit3h &yn3 6ith the Pit3h &yn3 ?oysti32 8utton

=ou $an assi"n a Eo%sti$k button to the pit3h syn3 $ontrol. 4henpressed, this button #ill make the autopilot mat$h its settin"s to#hatever %ou are doin" as %ou fl% the plane. Then, #hen %ourelease the pit3h-syn3 Eo%sti$k button, the autopilot servos #illtake hold of the %oke and maintain the verti$al speed, altitude,airspeed, or pit$h that %ou #ere Eust fl%in".

To assi"n a button to pit3h syn3, do the follo#in"M

1. ove the mouse to the top of the s$reen, $ausin" the menuto appear.

2. 'li$k :ettin"s, then $li$k <o%sti$k I Buipment, as seen inthe follo#in" ima"e.

1!



3. 'li$k the uttonsM dv tab, as seen in the follo#in" ima"e.f the uttonsM dv tab does not eAist and there is onl% auttons tab, X-Plane has not been updated to the latestversion (see 'hapter 2, :e$tion > on pa"e # for informationon fiAin" this*.

!. Press the button on the Eo%sti$k that %ou #ould like to assi"nto pit3h syn3.

). 'li$k the round button neAt to autopilot, found near the$enter of the s$reen.

6. Press the round button neAt to pit3hsyn3 (seen in thefollo#in" s$reenshot*, found about half#a% do#n the first$olumn of the options that appeared in :tep ).

@. BAit the <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo#.

5ere0s ho# the pit$h s%n$ #orks. ma"ine %ou are at 3, feet.The fli"ht dire$tor is in altitu"e mode, so the autopilot is holdin"3, feet for %ou. =ou hit the pit3h syn3 Eo%sti$k button. 4hen%ou do this, the autopilot servos release $ontrol of the %oke and let%ou fl%. =ou fl% to 3,) feet (#ith the autopilot still in altitu"e mode* and let "o of the pit3h syn3 Eo%sti$k button. t that point,the autopilot #ill hold 3,) feet, sin$e %ou #ere in altitu"e modeat 3,) feet at the moment %ou let "o of the pit3h syn3 button.

f %ou are in *erti3al spee" mode, the autopilot #ill tr% to maintain

1)

the verti$al speed that %ou had at the moment %ou released the labeled :8;'B as seen belo#



the verti$al speed that %ou had at the moment %ou released thepit3h syn3 button.

f %ou are in spee" or le*el 3hange mode, the autopilot #ill tr% tomaintain the airspeed (b% pit$hin" nose up or do#n* that %ou hadat the moment %ou released the pit3h syn3 button.

:o, #hen %ou press the pit3h syn3 Eo%sti$k button, the autopilotturns the servos off and lets %ou fl%, but #hen %ou release thebutton, the servos take hold and tr% to maintain the speed,altitude, or verti$al speed that %ou had at the moment #hen %oureleased the pit3h syn3 Eo%sti$k button. The same applies to bankan"le. f %ou are in 6ing le*el or hea"ing mode #hen %ou hitpit3h syn3, then the plane #ill tr% to maintain the bank an"le %ouhad at the moment %ou released the button.

)oteM f the bank an"le is less than @ de"rees, the autopilot #ill

Eust level the #in"s, as it assumes that %ou #ant nose level.

". =OC an" 9I&

These are the options that nobod% $an fi"ure out, partiall%be$ause the ri"ht freuen$ies and 5: mode must be sele$ted touse them, and partiall% be$ause they will do nothing until the%capture the approa$h path the% are lookin" for. /or that tohappen, some other mode (an% of the ones dis$ussed above*must be en"a"ed to do that.

These modes $apture an 7:, >;, or ?P: $ourse, so the% mustobviousl% be able to fl% either N> 1, N> 2, or ?P:. Theautopilot only knows #hi$h of these three to use #hen %ou tell it#hi$h one. This is done #ith the button labeled SN>-1 N>-2/'H'8S (#ith filename SbutV5:V12?P:S in the 5: folder*,#hi$h is the 5: sour$e sele$tor.

)oteM n some air$raft, this is instead a three-position s#it$h

labeled :8;'B, as seen belo#.

The autopilot #ill fl% #hatever $ourse the (# is showing (if %ouhave one*, so %ou need to de$ide #hat %ou #ant the 5: to sho#MN> 1, N> 2, or ?P: (labeled /'H'8, for /li"htana"ement 'omputer, #hi$h "ets its si"nal from the ?P:*.n$e %ou de$ide, use this button to tell the 5: #hat to displa%.The autopilot #ill then fl% to that $ourse.

f %ou set this button to N> 1, the 5: #ill sho# defle$tions fromthe N> 1 radio, and the autopilot #ill fl% >; or 7: si"nals fromthe N> 1 radio #hen %ou hit the =OC or 9I& buttons.

:imilarl%, if %ou set this to N> 2, then the 5: #ill sho#defle$tions from the N> 2 radio, and the autopilot #ill fl% >; or7: si"nals from the N> 2 radio #hen %ou hit the =OC or 9I& buttons.

f %ou set this s#it$h to /'H'8, then the 5: #ill sho#defle$tions from the ?P:, #hi$h $an be set manuall% or b% the/:, and the autopilot #ill fl% to the ?P: destination #hen %ou hitthe =OC button. ;emember that if %ou enter destinations into the/:, the% #ill automati$all% feed into the ?P:, so the autopilot

#ill follo# them if %ou sele$t =OC.

To repeatM be sure to send the ri"ht si"nal (N> 1, N> 2, or?P:* to the autopilot #hen usin" the =OC and 9I& (lateral andverti$al navi"ation* buttons.

No# let0s dis$uss ho# to a$tuall% use the =OC and 9I& buttons.

16

aa. =OC an%thin" until the "lideslope needle "oes all the way through the



aa. =OC

The =OC button #ill immediatel% be"in lateral navi"ation(navi"atin" to a ?P: destination* on$e en"a"ed. t #ill, ho#ever,onl% tra$k a >; radial or 7: lo$aliFer after the needle has comeoff of full)scale deflection. This means that if %ou have a full-s$ale

7: needle defle$tion (simpl% be$ause %ou have not %et "otten tothe lo$aliFer* the 7' mode #ill simpl% "o into armed (%ello#*mode, and will not do anything yet to the plane. =our $urrenthea"ing or 6ing le*el mode (if en"a"ed* #ill remain in for$e (or%ou $an fl% b% hand* until the locali&er needle starts to move intowards the center . n$e that happens, the =OC #ill suddenl% "ofrom armed mode (%ello#* to a$tive mode. This $auses theautopilot to start fl%in" the plane for %ou, disen"a"in" an% previousmodes.

The reason that =OC mode disen"a"es previous modes is that

%ou #ill t%pi$all% fl% hea"ing mode until %ou get to the locali&er ,and as soon as the lo$aliFer needle $omes in, %ou #ant theautopilot to for"et about headin" and start fl%in" the lo$aliFer do#nto the run#a%. lternativel%, %ou ma% simpl% fl% the plane b% handto the lo$aliFer (#ith no autopilot mode on at all* and have theautopilot take over on$e the 7: needle starts to $ome in,indi$atin" %ou are enterin" the lo$aliFer. nterestin"l%, this is mu$hthe same as the altitude modes. <ust as the lo$aliFer is armed b%hittin" the =OC button, and %ou $an do an%thin" until the lo$aliFerarms take over lateral $ontrol, the altitude is also armed (al#a%sand automati$all%* and %ou $an fl% an% verti$al speed, airspeed, or

pit$h (manuall% or on autopilot* until the altitude is rea$hed, at#hi$h point the autopilot #ill "o into altitu"e hol" mode.

bb. 9I&

<ust like the lateral nav (that is, =OC mode*, the verti$al nav (9I& mode* will not do anything until the glideslope needle starts tomove. 8nlike #ith the lo$aliFer, thou"h, the 9I& mode #ont do

an%thin" until the "lideslope needle "oes all the way through thecenter position. t does this be$ause %ou t%pi$all% have theairplane on altitu"e hol" until %ou inter$ept the "lideslope, at#hi$h point the plane should stop holdin" altitude and startdes$endin" do#n to the run#a%. n other #ords, the 9I& mode#ill automati$all% "o from armed to a$tive on$e the plane hits the

center of the "lideslope.

7et0s no# put the =OC and 9I& settin"s into use to fl% an 7:.

33. %lying an !=& Using =OC an" 9I&

To fl% an 7:, do the follo#in" #hile still far a#a% from the 7: andbelow "lideslopeM

1. 5it the altitu"e button to hold the $urrent altitude.

2. Bnter a headin" in the hea"ing #indo# to be follo#ed until%ou inter$ept the 7:.

3. 5it the hea"ing button to hold that headin".

!. 5it the =OC button. t #ill "o to QarmedR (%ello#*.

). 5it the 9I& button. t #ill also "o to QarmedR (%ello#*.

6. s soon as %ou inter$ept the lo$aliFer, the =OC button #ill

"o from %ello# to "reen, abandonin" the hea"ing mode toinstead fl% the lo$aliFer.

@. s soon as %ou inter$ept the center of the "lideslope, the9I& button #ill "o from %ello# to "reen, abandonin" thealtitu"e hol" mode to instead fl% the "lideslope.

K. The autopilot #ill tra$k %ou ri"ht do#n to the run#a%, andeven flare at the end, $uttin" po#er if auto-throttle is en"a"ed.

1@

pro$edure in a t%pi$al air$raft (a oein" @@@*. The steps #ill be



<ust as in a real airplane, these thin"s onl% #ork #ell if %ouM• inter$ept the lo$aliFer far a#a% (outside of the outer marker*

and below the "lideslope,• inter$ept the lo$aliFer at less than a 3° an"le, and• hold altitude #hen %ou inter$ept the "lideslope.

f %ou $ome in above the "lideslope, $ross the lo$aliFer at a #idean"le, or inter$ept the lo$aliFer too $lose to the airport, theautopilot #ill not be able to maneuver the airplane for landin"(a"ain, Eust as in a real plane*.

No# that #e0ve detailed fl%in" #ith the autopilot, lets talk aboutfl%in" an /: (fli"ht mana"ement s%stem* plan.

iii. %lying an %M& Plan

To fl% a fli"ht mana"ement s%stem plan, a fe# thin"s musthappenM

a* =ou must enter %our entire fli"ht plan into the /:.b* =ou have to have the 5: set to ?P:, not N> 1 or N> 2

(be$ause the autopilot #ill fl% #hatever it sees on the 5:*.$* =ou must have the =OC button sele$ted N sin$e that

button $auses the autopilot to follo# the lo$aliFer (or#hatever is on the 5:*.

d* =ou must have the /7?5T ; s#it$h set to 8T, so thatthe servos are runnin".

e* =ou must hit the )A button if %ou #ant the /: to alsoload altitudes into the altitude #indo#.

o all these thin"s and the plane #ill follo# an% /: plan,assumin", of $ourse, that the plane %ou are fl%in" has all thiseuipment (#hi$h of $ourse some do not*.

To demonstrate the use of an /:, #e0ll "o throu"h the

pro$edure in a t%pi$al air$raft (a oein" @@@*. The steps #ill besimilar in an% air$raft.

1. pen up the oein" @@@ usin" the pen ir$raft dialo" boA(see 'hapter !, :e$tion on pa"e 54*. t is found in the 5eav%etal air$raft folder.

2. The /: is found on the ri"ht half of the s$reen, near themiddle of the panel (it should be displa%in" the teAt QP7N:B?BNT 1R*. 5it the !)!T button (as sho#n in the follo#in"ima"e* on the /:. This "ets the /: read% to re$eive afli"ht plan.

3. No# hit the A!P button (sho#n in the follo#in"s$reenshot*, tellin" the /: that %ou are about to "o to anairport.

1K

usin" the ke%pad.



!. No# enter the of the destination airport b% hittin" theke%pad ke%s #ith the mouse. /or instan$e, in the s$reenshotbelo#, #e0re startin" at :an ie"o nternational irport(G:N* and #e0re fl%in" to :an ernardino nternational(G:*.

;emember that more information on airport s $an be foundin 'hapter !, :e$tion , Part on pa"e 5.

). f %ou like, hit the line-sele$t button on the left side of the/: neAt to the teAt S/7= T VVVVVV /TS (seen in thefollo#in" s$reenshot* and enter the altitude %ou #ant to fl% at

us " e e%pad

6. No#, if %ou #ant to do more than Eust fl% to an airport, hit the)XT button on the /: and repeat the steps above for theneAt #a%point.

There is a ba$k arro# to erase mistakes, as #ell as O,):8, %!X, and =ATI=O) buttons to enter those t%pes ofdestinations. The P and )XT buttons #ill $%$le throu"hthe various #a%points in %our plan, and the =: and &A buttons#ill load or save fli"ht plans if %ou #ould like to use thema"ain.

@. n$e %ou have entered the plan into the /:, take off andset the &OUC s#it$h for the 5: (found near the left ed"eof the panel* to ?P: so that the 5: is "ettin" data from the

?P: (rather than the N> 1 or N> 2 radios*.

K. ove the %=!9T :! s#it$h to 8T so the autopilot

19

servos are a$tuall% runnin", and hit the =OC autopilot button in the 192s. efore then, nearl% ever%one that attempted this



% ", p(at the top of the panel, sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot* tofollo# the 5: lateral "uidan$e (#hi$h #as Eust set to "et datafrom the ?P:*, #ith the servos a$tivel% fl%in" the plane.

f %ou entered an altitude into the /:, %ou0ll also need to hitthe )A autopilot button to tra$k the entered altitude.

9. :it ba$k and let the autopilot take %ou to %our destination.

i*. Turning the Autopilot Off

No#, to turn off an autopilot mode, simpl% hit the $urrentl%sele$ted mode button on$e a"ain. 4hen that mode is turned off,the autopilot #ill revert to the default mode that #as sele$ted#hen the autopilot is first turned on&pit$h and roll hold modes.

To turn the autopilot off alto"ether, simpl% turn the %=!9T :! s#it$h to //. lternativel%, hit the L0 ke% on the ke%board orassi"n a Eo%sti$k button to turn it off in the <o%sti$k I Buipments$reen of X-Plane.

!!!. %lying on !nstru,ents

A. istory

Thou"h for a lon" time $onsidered impossible in aviation $ir$les,the abilit% to fl% an air$raft throu"h a lar"e $loud or fo" bankrel%in" $ompletel% on the air$raft0s instruments #as made possible

, % % phad be$ome Eust another part of the #re$ka"e, smolderin" in afield. No# it is $ommonpla$e for even relativel% ineAperien$edpilots to fl% lon" distan$es in $louds. n instrument ratin" onl%reuires 12) hours total fli"ht time&althou"h it #ould $ertainl% notbe #ise for a 13- or 1!-hour pilot to attempt an instrument

approa$h in a 2 ft over$ast #ith 1H2 mile visibilit% or to take offon a fo""% da%. odern "%ros$ope-based instrumentation and$ontinual trainin" make it possible to safel% fl% #ith referen$e toonl% the instrument panel.

8. The !nner ar an" Eour &ense of 8alan3e

To be"in a dis$ussion on instrument fli"ht, #e must first dis$uss#h% it is so diffi$ult. t isn0t that the prin$iples behind fl%in" oninstruments are so diffi$ult or that interpretin" #hat the

instruments are tellin" %ou is that diffi$ult. ;ather, the diffi$ult%lies in believin" #hat the instruments are sa%in". =our bod% haddeveloped a s%stem of balan$e and euilibrium that has evolvedin humans over millions of %ears, and for$in" %our brain to i"norethese si"nals and to believe #hat the instruments are tellin" %ou isver% diffi$ult. To put it bluntl%, in a real air$raft, %our life dependson i"norin" %our feelin"s and senses and fl%in" based solel% onthe information in front of %ou.

This is #h% it0s so diffi$ult. =our sense of balan$e $omes fromthree sour$es #ithin %our bod%. These are, in order of

prero"ative, %our inner ear, %our e%es, and %our sense of tou$hand even hearin". =ou should remember from hi"h s$hool that%our inner ear is a series of semi-$ir$ular $anals that are filled #ithfluid. The% are positioned in %our head in different planes andea$h is lined #ith thousands of small hairs. The root of ea$h hairis $onne$ted to %our nervous s%stem. s %our bod% $han"esposition in spa$e, the fluid is moved due to momentum. Theresultin" bendin" of these hairs feeds %our brain si"nals thatindi$ate the orientation of %our head in spa$e. This information is

11

$ontinuall% updated and $orre$ted b% #hat %our e%es are sendin" $loud in a left bank of, sa%, 2 de"rees. Then, after enterin" the



% p % % % "%our brain as #ell as b% %our sense of tou$h. 4hile standin"stationar% on the "round, %our ears tell %ou that %our head ispositioned verti$all% and not movin", %our e%es tell %ou that the"round is stationar% beneath %our feet, and the skin on the bottomof %our feet tells %ou that it is standin" on the "round. ll of these

inputs ali"n to sa% the same thin"&that %oure standin" on the"round.

ne limitation to %our sense of balan$e is seen #hen %ou area$$eleratin" ver% slo#l%, or #hen %ou a$$elerated briefl% and haveno# stopped. Think of a post on a pla%"round that standsverti$all% in the sand #ith a seat affiAed to it a $ouple feet from the"round. t $an be eAtremel% disorientin" to sit on the seat, $lose%our e%es, and then have someone spin %ou at a $onstant rate. tdoesnt matter if %oure bein" spun to the left or the ri"ht&#hat is$riti$al is that %ou are ui$kl% a$$elerated and then kept at a

$onstant an"ular velo$it%. 4hen %ou first be"in to spin, %our inner ear #ill dete$t that %ou are a$$eleratin" and spinnin". eforelon", ho#ever, the fluid in %our ears #ill stop movin", sin$e %ouare no lon"er a$$eleratin" but rather Eust spinnin". :ta% like thisfor a fe# se$onds and it #ill fell like %oure Eust sittin" stationar%.=ou ma% still feel a breeFe on %our fa$e or hear sounds Qspinnin"Rabout %ou, but %our inner ear #ill be tellin" %our brain that %ouresittin" stationar% and %our brain #ill believe it. No# if %ou0resuddenl% stopped, %ou #ill instantl% feel an in$redible sense ofan"ular a$$eleration in the opposite dire$tion, like %ou are bein"spun #ildl% the other #a%. pen %our e%es and the% #ill tell %our

brain that %ou are stationar%, but the feelin" #ithin %our head (aprimal, drivin" sensation* is that %ou have Eust started to spin. ns$ientifi$ $ir$les, this is $alled Qverti"o,R but the sensation is$ommonl% referred to as bein" diFF%.

The same thin" $an happen in a $o$kpit prett% ui$kl%. ma"inefor a moment that there is a lar"e bank of $louds in front of %ou ona $alm da%. 4ith a fe# passen"ers on board %ou $an enter the

% " "$loud ver% slo#l% and ver% smoothl%, %ou start to bank the air$raftto the ri"ht. f %ou do this slo#l% and smoothl% enou"h, no one onboard #ill noti$e. efore %ou $ome out of the $loud, %ou "et to asubstantiall% different attitude (perhaps banked 3 de"rees ri"ht*.The unsuspe$tin" passen"ers ma% feel the ver% be"innin" of the

$han"e in bank, but the% #ill probabl% suspe$t %oure banked tothe left. 4hen %ou suddenl% fl% throu"h the other end of the$loud, L The%re in a ri"ht hand turn. 4hile this #as fun andharmless to do to unsuspe$tin" friends in $olle"e, it underlines thediffi$ult% that unsuspe$tin" pilots $an find themselves in if the% arenot $areful.

C. 9yros3opes an" Their Appli3ation to %light

The "%ros$ope #as invented man% de$ades before air$raft, but its

tremendous impli$ations for fl%in" #ere not realiFed until the mid-to late 192s. The basi$ prin$ipal that the% #ork on is that if %outake a relativel% heav% obEe$t and rotate it at a hi"h rotationalvelo$it% it #ill hold its position in spa$e. =ou $an then mount thisstable, ri"id "%ros$ope in an instrument that is fiAed to %our air$raftand measure the relative motion of the instrument $ase (and thusthe airplane* about the fiAed "%ro. The "%ros$ope is ph%si$all%atta$hed to an indi$ator of some sort, and these indi$ators thenrela% $riti$al information to the pilot $on$ernin" the air$raft0sattitude (that is, its orientation relative to the horiFon*. There arethree primar% "%ros$opi$ instruments in the panel. The% areM

•

the attitude indi$ator (or &normall% driven b% a va$uumpump on the en"ine*,• the turn $oordinator (or T'&t%pi$all% ele$troni$all% driven*,

and• the dire$tional "%ro (or ?&t%pi$all% va$uum po#ered,

thou"h possibl% ele$tri$*.

The indi$ates #hat attitude the air$raft is fl%in" at&ho# far the

111

nose is above or belo# the horiFon and simultaneousl% ho# far



the #in"s are banked and in #hi$h dire$tion. The T' indi$atesthe rate of turn&that is, ho# steep or shallo# %our bank is inrelation to a standard 2 minute turn rate, and the ? is nothin"more than a "%ros$opi$all% driven $ompass that is more stableand a$$urate than the old standb%, the ma"neti$ (or Q#hisk%R*

$ompass.

:. The &i/ Pri,ary %light !nstru,ents

There are siA primar% instruments that have be$ome standard inan% instrument panel. :in$e the earl% 19@s, these have beenarran"ed in a standard la%out referred to as Qthe siA pa$k.R The%are laid out in t#o ro#s of three instruments ea$h. The top ro#,from left to ri"ht, $ontains the airspeed indi$ator (:*, the attitudeindi$ator (* and the altimeter (7T*. The bottom ro# $ontains

the turn $oordinator (T'* the dire$tional "%ro (?* and the verti$alspeed indi$ator (>:*. summar% of these instruments follo#s.

The Qstandard siAR are sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e, taken fromthe 'essna 1@2 $o$kpit.

i. The Airspee" !n"i3ator JA&!K

The airspeed indi$ator (labeled 1 in the ima"e above* sho#s thespeed at #hi$h the air$raft is travelin" throu"h the air. n itssimplest form, it is nothin" more than a sprin" #hi$h opposes thefor$e of the air blo#in" in the front of a tube atta$hed under the#in" or to the nose of the air$raft. The faster the airplane ismovin" the stron"er the air pressure is that a$ts to oppose thesprin" and the lar"er the defle$tion of the needle from #hi$h the

pilot reads the $raft0s speed. bviousl%, its uite a bit more$ompli$ated than this, as the pressure eAerted b% the stream of air varies #ith the lo$al air densit% (#hi$h $ontinuall% $han"es as theairplane $limbs or des$ends*, and the : must a$$ount for this.

ii. The Attitu"e !n"i3ator JA!K

The attitude indi$ator (labeled 2 in the previous ima"e* informs the

112

pilot of his or her position in spa$e relative to the horiFon. This is The dire$tional "%ro (labeled ) in the s$reenshot on the previous



a$$omplished b% fiAin" the $ase of the instrument to the air$raftand measurin" the displa$ement of the $ase #ith referen$e to afiAed "%ros$ope inside.

iii. The Alti,eter JA=TK

The altimeter (labeled 3 in the previous s$reenshot* lookssome#hat like the fa$e of a $lo$k and serves to displa% altitude.This is measured b% the eApansion or $ontra$tion of a fiAedamount of air a$tin" on a set of sprin"s. s the airplane $limbs ordes$ends, the relative air pressure outside the air$raft $han"esand the altimeter reports the differen$e bet#een the outside airpressure and a referen$e, $ontained in a set of airti"ht bello#s.

i*. The Turn Coor"inator JTCK

The turn $oordinator (labeled ! in the previous s$reenshot*measures the rate of turn for the air$raft. The instrument is onl%a$$urate #hen the turn is $oordinated&that is, #hen the airplaneis not skiddin" or slippin" throu"h the turn. skid is theaeronauti$al euivalent to a $ar that is understeerin", #here thefront #heels do not have enou"h tra$tion to over$ome the $arsmomentum and the front of the $ar is thus plo#in" throu"h theturn. n a $ar, this results in a turn radius that is lar"er than that$ommanded b% the driver. slip is a bit more diffi$ult to ima"ine

unless %oure a pilot alread%. t results from an air$raft that isbanked too steepl% for the rate of turn sele$ted. To $orre$t theslip, all the pilot has to do is in$rease ba$k pressure on the %oke,pullin" the airplane up into a ti"hter turn, su$h that the turn rate isin euilibrium #ith the bank an"le.

*. The :ire3tional 9yro J:9K

pa"e* is a simple instrument that points north and thus allo#s thepilot to tell #hi$h #a% she or he is fl%in".

*i. The erti3al &pee" !n"i3ator J&!K

The verti$al speed indi$ator (labeled 6 in the previous ima"e*reports the $raft0s $limb or des$ent rate in feet per minute.T%pi$all%, non-pressuriFed airplanes #ill $limb $omfortabl% atabout @ fpm (if the plane is $apable* and des$end at about )fpm. es$ent rates faster than this $ause dis$omfort on theo$$upants #hi$h is felt in passen"ers0 ears. PressuriFed airplanes$an $limb and des$end mu$h more rapidl% and still maintain the$abin rate of $han"e at about these levels, sin$e the $abin altitudeis not related to the ambient altitude unless the pressuriFations%stem fails.

113

Plane-aker&see the :upplement be"innin" on pa"e 1'0* #ith



#. /pan"ing X-Plane

!. A""ing Thir"-Party Air3raft

Perhaps the easiest pla$e to find ne# air$raft is the X-Plane.or"

So#nload ana"erS pa"e!. s of this #ritin", all the planes inthat subse$tion of the site are free, thou"h X-Plane.or" does haveplane models (some of them ver%, ver% "ood* for sale.

4hen do#nloadin" a $ustom plane, it #ill t%pi$all% be in a$ompressed folder (usuall% #ith a .Fip eAtension* that $ontains theairplane and all its various paint Eobs, airfoils, $ustom sounds, andinstrument panels. n$e the $ompressed folder is do#nloaded,users should be able to double-$li$k on it to open or eApand it ona$intosh, 4indo#s, or 7inuA boAes.

/rom here, the folder $an be eApanded out into the ir$raft folder#ithin X-Plane 9 dire$tor%, or the files #ithin $an be dra""ed anddropped into the ir$raft folder. e sure to pla$e the ne# air$raftfiles in a folder #ith the name of the air$raft&for instan$e, for ane#l% do#nloaded Piper <-3 'ub, the folder path in 4indo#smi"ht look likeM

'MWo$uments and :ettin"sW8serWesktopW X-Plane 9W ir$raftWPiper 'ubW

4ith the ne# air$raft in the proper dire$tor%, open up X-Plane.ove the mouse to the top of the #indo# ($ausin" the menu to

appear*. 'li$k ir$raft, then $li$k pen ir$raft. /ind the file thereand double $li$k on it to load (see 'hapter !, :e$tion on pa"e 54for more information on openin" an air$raft*.

f $ourse, users $an also upload their o#n planes to X-Plane.or"and similar sites. To do so, first $reate a $ustom airplane (usin"

! httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloads

airfoils, panels, sounds, et$. ll the files makin" up the plane thenneed to be $ompressed into a CP folder to be uploaded to thenternet.

To $ompress a folder in 4indo#s, ri"ht $li$k on the file $ontainin"

all the files needed for the plane, move the mouse do#n to :endTo, then $li$k Q'ompressed (Fipped* /older.R ne# .Fip file #illappear in the dire$tor%.

n the a$, $ontrol-$li$k (that is, press the 'trl ke% on theke%board #hile $li$kin" #ith the mouse* on the air$raft folder inthe /inder, and $hoose S'reate r$hiveS from the resultin" popupmenu to make a $ompressed CP ar$hive of that plane.

These $ustom air$raft ma% be uploaded and shared at #ill. Thereare no $op%ri"ht restri$tions of an% sort on planes made b% users

#ith Plane-aker.

!!. A""ing Thir"-Party &3enery

'ustom s$ener% pa$ka"es, too, $an be found on the So#nloadana"erS pa"e!1 of X-Plane.or", amon" other pla$es.These ma% be do#nloaded and installed at #ill. T%pi$all%, $ustoms$ener% pa$ka"es #ill need to be unFipped into the X-Plane9W;esour$esW'ustom :$ener% folder. dditionall%, theXddonana"er !2 utilit% ma% be helpful for mana"in" a lar"e

amount of $ustom s$ener% or do#nloaded obEe$ts.

To $reate ne# $ustom s$ener%, use the 4orld Bditor tool (4B*,do#nloadable from s$ener%.A-plane.$om!3. "ood tutorial for the

!1 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloads!2 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#file!KK6!3 httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omHtools.php

11!

tool $an be found here!!.




http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=4886

http://scenery.x-plane.com/tools.php






http://data.x-plane.com/designers.html





!!!. !nstalling Plug-!ns

Plu"-ins are little pro"rams that let the user modif% X-Plane.

People #rite plu"-ins to do all sorts of interestin" thin"s like han"#ei"hts on the dashboard that move around a$$uratel%, run littletu"s around to push %our airplane on the "round, or dra#interestin" terrain visualiFation s%stems, amon" other thin"s.n$e a"ain, X-Plane.or" (and spe$ifi$all% the o#nloads ̀8tilities pa"e!)* is a "ood pla$e to "o to find various plu"-ins andother thin"s to t#eak %our $op% of X-Plane.

/or information on $reatin" $ustom plu"-ins, see the X:ua#koAsite!6.

!! httpMHHdata.A-plane.$omHdesi"ners.html!) httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#$at9!6 httpMHH###.Asua#kboA.netHApsdkHmedia#ikiHainVPa"e

11)

t Thi ill X Pl t di l th fli ht th il

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?autocom=downloads&showcat=9


http://www.xsquawkbox.net/xpsdk/mediawiki/Main_Page








. /pert ssays

!. Tuning the an"ling in X-Plane

f X-Plane is set up and fl%in", but air$raft seem to be too sensitive

in pit$h or pull to one side, the simulator ma% need to be tuned.

efore performin" the follo#in", make sure the Eo%sti$k andHorother $ontrol devi$es are $alibrated. :ee 'hapter 3, :e$tion (found on pa"e $* for instru$tions on this.

To easil% see #hether the $ontrols are properl% $alibrated, "o tothe :ettin"s menu and $li$k ata nput I utput. There, sele$tthe ri"htmost $he$kboA neAt to <oysti32 ailIel*Iru", as seen in thefollo#in" ima"e.

This #ill $ause X-Plane to displa% on the fli"ht s$reen the aileron,elevator, and rudder inputs from the fli"ht $ontrols (su$h as a

Eo%sti$k, rudders, %oke, et$.*. 4ith this done, $lose the ata nputI utput s$reen. The inputs for the various sti$k defle$tionsshould no# be visible the top left $orner of the s$reen, as seen in

the ima"e belo#.

4ith properl% $onfi"ured $ontrols, #hen the sti$kH%okeHpedals are$entered, the aileron, elevator, and rudder Eo%sti$k inputs all readaround .. 4hen the $ontrols are pushed full left and for#ard,

the% should read around -1.. 4hen the $ontrols are pulled full aftand ri"ht, the% should read around 1.. f these are the resultsobtained, then the Eo%sti$k is $alibrated. f not, the Eo%sti$k is not$alibrated&no #onder the plane is not fl%in" $orre$tl%L :ee'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part on pa"e $4 for information on$alibration.

f the $ontrols are indeed properl% $alibrated as per the above test,but the plane still is not fl%in" $orre$tl%, it0s time to look at the firstlevel of $ontrol response tunin". ?o to the :ettin"s menu and$li$k <o%sti$k I Buipment. n that #indo#, $li$k the 'enter tab.

ove the sti$k or %oke around. oin" so should move littlere$tan"les around in a boA on the lo#er half of the s$reen, and#hen the sti$k is $entered, the re$tan"les should (ideall%* "o toFero siFe. :in$e no hard#are is perfe$t, thou"h, simpl% $enter the$ontrols and hit the button labeled C)T T EO@ A):P:A=& A): !T T!& 8UTTO), as hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

116



This #ill tell X-Plane that the hard#are is indeed $entered. 4henusin" P/' hard#are, there #ill be little buttons a$ross the bottomof the #indo# that #ill set the $enter position of ea$h aAis.

4ith that done, $lose the <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo# and movethe fli"ht $ontrols to the $entered position. 'he$k to see if thedata output (#hi$h should still be on the s$reen from the pre-test

in the above para"raphs* is around . #hen the $ontrols are$entered. f it is, then the hard#are #orks fine and the $enter point#as set su$$essfull%. f the data output does not read near , thehard#are is either of poor ualit% (or failin"* or the $enter point#as not properl% set.

4ith the $enter point set $orre$tl%, tr% fl%in" the plane on$e a"ain.f it still does not handle $orre$tl%, read on to tune the neAt level of$ontrol response.

pen the <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo# and sele$t the 'enter tab

on$e a"ain. 7ook at the three sliders labeled 3ontrol-response(one labeled pit3h, one roll, and one ya6* at the top left of thes$reen, as seen in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

f these three sliders are full% left, then the $ontrol response islinear+ that is, a )Z sti$k defle$tion in the hard#are #ill "ive )Z$ontrol defle$tion in the air$raft. 7ike#ise, 1Z sti$k defle$tion in

the hard#are #ill "ive 1Z $ontrol defle$tion in the air$raft.

f the problem bein" eAperien$ed is that the plane feels tooresponsive in the simulator, tr% dra""in" the sliders all the #a% tothe ri"ht. This #ill "ive a non-linear response. :et this #a%, Zhard#are defle$tion #ill still "ive Z $ontrol defle$tion in the sim,and 1Z hard#are defle$tion #ill still "ive 1Z $ontroldefle$tion. The differen$e lies in bet#een&)Z sti$k defle$tion inthe hard#are mi"ht onl% "ive 1)Z $ontrol defle$tion in the sim. nother #ords, #hile the hard)over roll rate in the sim #ill remainunchanged no matter #hat these sliders are set to, fine $ontrol #ill

be in$reased for smaller, partial defle$tions, sin$e the fli"ht$ontrols #ill move less for a small-to-moderate sti$k defle$tion inthe hard#are Eo%sti$k or %oke. This #ill "ive a ni$e fine-pit$h$ontrol and slo#, detailed roll $ontrol.

f, after $han"in" the $ontrol response, the air$raft still does not fl%as it should, read on.

11@

The neAt level of $ontrol tunin" is stabilit% au"mentation. f theplane still feels suirrell% or overl% sensitive "o ba$k to the 'enter

$ountera$ts an% imperfe$tions in the shape of the airplane ord%nami$s of the prop#ash or mass distribution inside the plane



plane still feels suirrell% or overl% sensitive, "o ba$k to the 'enter tab of the <o%sti$k I Buipment #indo# and tr% dra""in" the threesliders on the ri"ht side of the s$reen (labeled stability-aug,entation&sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e* all the #a% to theri"ht.

This #ill $ause X-Plane to automati$all% $ountera$t an% sti$k inputto some de"ree, resistin" rapid or lar"e defle$tions in pit$h,headin", and roll. asi$all%, it is like al#a%s havin" an autopilot onthat smooths thin"s out. This is obviousl% ver% fake, but in theabsen$e of a perfe$t fli"ht $ontrol s%stem and "-load andperipheral-vision feedba$k, this $an help smooth out the airplane0sfli"ht $hara$teristi$s. Tr% fl%in" #ith those sliders at various

pla$es, bearin" in mind that full left should be most realisti$ (#ithno artifi$ial stabilit% added*.

f, after doin" all of the above, the air$raft still does not fl% as itshould, nothin" more $an be done #ithin the simulator. t is no#time to t#eak the airplane. n the real #orld, if a plane is pullin" toone side or the other, a pilot #ill bend the little trim tab on theaileron one #a% or another. This bendin" of the aileron trim tab

d%nami$s of the prop#ash or mass distribution inside the plane.The same thin" $an be done in X-Plane&one $an bend a trim taba bit one #a% or the other to make the plane fl% true.

To do this, first eAit X-Plane and open Plane-aker (found in the

X-Plane 9 installation folder*. ?o to the /ile menu and open theplane that is pullin" left or ri"ht, as sho#n in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

?o to the :tandard menu and $li$k 'ontrol ?eometr%, sho#n inthe follo#in" ima"e.

11K

n this #indo#, $li$k the Trim I :peed tab, as sho#n in thefollo#in" s$reenshot

#hether it is pit$h, %a#, or roll. Thus, if the plane needs to rollright a bit more (or needs to stop rollin" left* then enter a positive



follo#in" s$reenshot.

7ook at the far ri"ht-hand $olumn of $ontrols in the top half of thes$reen, labeled tri, tab a"<ust, hi"hli"hted belo#.

This is a measure of ho# mu$h the trim tabs are bent on ea$haAis. The top $ontrol is the elevator, the middle is the aileron, and

the bottom is the rudder (as per on the far left side of the s$reen*. value of . means that the trim tab is not bent at all. valueof 1. means the tab is bent so far that the $ontrol is fullydeflected b% the trim tab&this is #a% too far. Tr% bendin" the trimtab just a little bit &ma%be set the value at .) or at most .1.This #ould $orrespond to bein" enou"h for$e to defle$t the$ontrols )Z or 1Z due to the trim tab. positive value$orresponds to bendin" the trim tab up or ri"ht, dependin" on

right a bit more (or needs to stop rollin" left*, then enter a positivenumber for the aileron $ontrol. The same "oes for the rudder ifthe plane needs to pull right a bit more, or for the elevator if theplane needs to pull up a bit more. T#eak the trim tabs as needed,save the plane, and eAit Plane-aker. Then, open up X-Plane

and tr% fl%in" the plane a"ain. The plane should noti$eabl% pullone #a% or another based on ho# the trim tabs #ere bent. Thetrim tab $ontrols ma% need to be tuned a"ain to "et the plane to fl%as strai"ht as is desired.

!!. %a3tors Affe3ting X-Planes Perfor,an3e

X-Plane users tend to noti$e either that the simulator runseAtremel% fast, "ivin" them 1 frames per se$ond (fps*, or that itis dismall% slo#, toppin" out at 2 fps. t identi$al renderin"

settin"s, this is due almost entirel% to the hard#are in the$omputer.

:ome people toda% have $omputers #ith a ) 5F Pentium pro$essor, 12K of ;, and K of >; (perhaps an K%ear old s%stem*, #hile others have uad-$ore 3 5Fpro$essors, !96 of ;, and )12 of >; (perhapsonl% one %ear old*. There is more than a 6A differen$e in speedbet#een those t#o setups, sin$e the ; speed, bus speed,video $ard speed, and man% other thin"s also influen$e the$omputer0s performan$e.

an% people do not understand #hat determines a $omputer0sperforman$e. The three bi""est fa$tors are the amount of ; inthe s%stem, the speed of the 'P8, and the speed of the "raphi$s$ard. fourth fa$tor, #hi$h determines a s%stem0s abilit% todispla% hi"h ualit% video teAtures, is the amount of ; on thevideo $ard ($alled >;*.

'omin" up short in an% of the above $ate"ories #ill $reate a

119

Qbottlene$kR in s%stem performan$e, limitin" the abilit% of the restof the $omponents



of the $omponents.

/or instan$e, usin" hi"her ualit% teAtures than $an be stored in>; #ill slo# X-Plane si"nifi$antl% (see 'hapter 3, :e$tion ,Part , :ubse$tion i on pa"e $( for more information on >;

and teAtures*, re"ardless of an% other fa$tors.

'onversel%, even if the s%stem0s video $ard has 2 ? (that is,2!K * of >; and X-Plane is runnin" at a lo# s$reen andteAture resolution (eliminatin" an% ; problems*, if the$omputer0s 'P8 or video $ard are too slo#, then X-Plane0sperforman$e #ill be poor.

/or information on optimiFin" X-Plane0s frame rate, see 'hapter 3,:e$tion , Part ? on pa"e 4.

!!!. Tuning the Autopilot

$$asionall%, the autopilot in X-Plane mi"ht a$t up. t ma% sort of#ander do#n the lo$aliFer or #ander around in pit$h #hen itshould be holdin" altitude. t mi"ht #ander around in headin", orperhaps fli$ker its #in"s madl% left and ri"ht as it tries too hard tohold a headin". 4hatever the problem, the autopilot $onstants $anbe adEusted b% the user in order to make the plane hold its desiredpath more ti"htl%.

These autopilot $onstants $an be adEusted in Plane-aker b%doin" the follo#in"M

1. pen Plane-aker b% openin" the X-Plane 9 folder anddouble $li$kin" on Plane-aker.eAe.

2. 7oad the airplane that needs adEustin" b% $li$kin" the /ilemenu and sele$tin" pen, as sho#n belo#.

3. /ind the .a$f file Eust as %ou #ould #hen sele$tin" a $raft#ithin the X-Plane sim (see 'hapter !, :e$tion , penin"an ir$raft, found on pa"e 54*.

!. ?o to the BApert menu and $li$k on rtifi$ial :tabilit%, asbelo#.

). ?o to the utopilot tab and $he$k the use 3usto,autopilot 3onstants boA, as seen in the follo#in" ima"e.

6. number of $ontrols #ill appear that spe$if% the autopilot$onstants for %our airplane.

12

7et0s eAamine #hat ea$h of these autopilot 3onstant $ontrols do

3 de"rees of roll. =ou onl% need one more degree of roll, so %ou#ouldn0t put in full aileron to "et to 3 de"rees&that #ould



7et s eAamine #hat ea$h of these autopilot 3onstant $ontrols do./irst, lets talk about $orre$tin" headin".

A. Tuning Autopilot oll

i. oll rror for %ull Aileron

This $ontrol is found in the middle boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, in the ri"ht $olumn, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

4hen fl%in" a real plane, a pilot de$ides on a roll an"le to make a

turn. 5e or she then de$ides to defle$t the ailerons a $ertainamount to a$hieve the desired bank an"le.

ma"ine that %ou want !) de"rees of bank, and the plane is$urrentl% at de"rees of bank. =ou #ouldn0t appl% Eust a tou$h ofaileron to "et there, but rather a stron" dose of it. fter all, %ouare a #hole !) de"rees a#a% from the desired roll an"le.'onversel%, ima"ine %ou are at 29 de"rees of roll, and %ou want

#ouldn t put in full aileron to "et to 3 de"rees&that #ouldovershoot it for sure. nstead, %ou #ould look at the $ontrols andnoti$e that %ou are onl% a little off of from the desired bank an"le,so the plane #ould need onl% a little bit of aileron.

No#, ho# man% de"rees off of a desired bank an"le #ould a pilothave to be to put in full aileronJ ne de"reeJ TenJ nehundredJ The roll error for full aileron $ontrol spe$ifies to theautopilot ho# man% de"rees off the air$raft must be from thedesired roll an"le before it puts in full aileron. f this is set to aver% small number, the autopilot #ill put in full aileron for even thetiniest of roll errors&not "oodL This #ill $ause the plane to over-$ontrol and flutter madl% left and ri"ht like an over-$affeinatedpilotL n the other hand, if this $ontrol is set to a ver% lar"enumber, like 1 de"rees, then the autopilot #ill hardl% put in an%aileron input at all. n that $ase, the plane #ill al#a%s #ander off

$ourse a bit, be$ause it #ill never move ui$kl% enou"h to getback on course.

No#, a smart pilot mi"ht sa%, S #ould never input full aileron,ever.S /air enou"h. ut realiFe that the autopilot will be limited toabout )Z travel or so, and it #ill automatically ba$k off of the$ontrols as the airplane speeds up, Eust as a "ood pilot #ould.Thus, #hat this $ontrol reall% determines is ho# a""ressivel% theailerons are applied. f the plane tends to steer toounaggressively to the $ommand bars, a smaller number isprobabl% reuired here. This #ill tell the autopilot to reuire a

smaller defle$tion to reall% $rank in the ailerons. 'onversel%, if theplane flutters left and ri"ht like a plasti$ ba" in a )-knot #ind,then the autopilot needs to be told not $rank in so mu$h aileron.To do that, enter a larger number here, so that the autopilot #aitsfor a larger error to develop before respondin" #ith so mu$h for$e.

"ood startin" point for this $ontrol is 3 de"rees. This meansthat if the roll an"le is off b% 1 de"rees, the plane #ill appl% one-

121

third aileron to $orre$t #hen at lo# speed&not a bad idea. ne se$ond is a "ood startin" point for this $ontrol&after all,#hen real pilots fl% it0s a "ood bet that the% enter $ontrols based



ii. oll Pre"i3tion

This $ontrol is found in the middle boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%s$reen, at the top of the left $olumn, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e.

4hen a pilot flies, he or she tends to look into the future to de$ide#hen to add to or ba$k off from the fli"ht $ontrols. This is simpleanti$ipation. The roll pre"i3tion $ontrol tells the autopilot ho# far into the future it should look. f the plane tends to #ander slo#l%left and ri"ht, al#a%s behind its mark, or it overshoots and then#anders slo#l% off in the #ron" dire$tion like a tired drunk driver,then it $learl% is not anti$ipatin" enou"h. n that $ase, an increaseis reuired in the roll pre"i3tion to make the autopilot anti$ipatemore. f, ho#ever, the airplane starts floppin" ba$k and forthh%steri$all% ever% frame, the autopilot is $learl% anti$ipatin" toomuch+ a smaller roll pre"i3tion is needed.

#hen real pilots fl%, it s a "ood bet that the% enter $ontrols basedon where the plane will be in one se$ond, rather than #here it is atthe moment.

iii. oll Tune Ti,e

This $ontrol is found in the middle boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, in the middle of the left-hand $olumn, seen in thefollo#in" s$reenshot.

n the real plane, a pilot #ill trim out an% loads #ith trim if it isavailable. The roll tune ti,e determines ho# lon" the autopilottakes to run the trim. real pilot probabl% takes more than Eust afe# se$onds to do this. 5o#ever, if the autopilot #aits too lon" totrim out the loads, it ma% be slo# and late in "ettin" to the $orre$tan"le.

"ood startin" point for this $ontrol is ) se$onds.

122

i*. =o3aliHer C:! 9ain *. =o3aliHer C:! Pre"i3tion



This $ontrol is found in the middle boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, at the bottom of the ri"ht-hand $olumn, hi"hli"hted in thefollo#in" ima"e.

f a pilot is one de"ree off the lo$aliFer #hen fl%in" an 7:, he orshe needs to de$ide ho# man% de"rees of heading correction are$alled for to $orre$t that. f sHhe $orre$ts onl% one de"ree, the$raft #ill be fl%in" ri"ht to#ards the airport, never inter$eptin" thelo$aliFer until it "ets to the transmitter on the "round. 8suall%, if apilot sees a one de"ree error in the lo$aliFer (one dot on the '*,sHhe #ould enter about 1 de"rees of headin" $orre$tion, thusfor$in" the plane to nail that 5: now . The lo3aliHer C:! gain $ontrol sets the number of de"rees of headin" $han"e that theautopilot #ill pull for ea$h de"ree of error on the lo$aliFer (#hi$h isthe same as sa%in" for ea$h dot of ' defle$tion*.

"ood startin" point for this $ontrol is 1 de"rees.

This $ontrol is found in the middle boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, at the bottom of the left $olumn, as seen in thes$reenshot belo#.

"ood pilot does not fl% an 7: based on #here the ' is at themoment. pilot that flies like that #anders around in :-turns allthe #a% do#n the lo$aliFerL "ood pilot flies the plane based on#here the 5: ' will be in the near future. The lo3aliHer C:!pre"i3tion $ontrol tells the autopilot ho# far into the future itshould be lookin" #hen follo#in" the '. t should be lookin" atleast a fe# se$onds into the future. The higher this number is, themore the autopilot #ill anti$ipate. f the plane is #anderin" ba$kand forth slo#l% a$ross the lo$aliFer, al#a%s :-turnin", it probabl%needs a bi""er number here. ore anti$ipation #ill prevent thoseendless :-turns. 5o#ever, if too big a number is entered here,then the plane mi"ht never Eoin the lo$aliFer. This is $aused b%the autopilot anti$ipatin" so far ahead that it turns a#a% from thelo$aliFer as soon as the needle comes alive, sh%in" a#a% to avoidan over-shoot. bviousl%, that is too mu$h anti$ipationL

123

reasonable number for this $ontrol is bet#een 2 and ! se$onds.This $ontrol is found in the bottom boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, at the top of the ri"ht $olumn, as seen in the follo#in"



reasonable number for this $ontrol is bet#een 2 and ! se$onds.

8. &u,,ary of oll &ettings

n summar%, enter the number of de"rees of bank error thatshould "ive a ver% stron" aileron response in the roll error for fullaileron $ontrol. Bnter the number of se$onds the s%stem shouldanti$ipate in the roll pre"i3tion $ontrol, the number of se$ondsreuired to trim out the load in the roll tune ti,e, the number ofde"rees of headin" $han"e per de"ree lo$aliFer error in thelo3aliHer C:! gain, and the number of se$onds of anti$ipation in5: ' defle$tion in the lo3aliHer C:! pre"i3tion.

To tune these $ontrols, it is a "ood idea to first forget about the'# and simpl% tr% to get the aircraft to perfectly hold a heading .T#eak the roll error for full aileron to "ive as stron" a responseas desired, and t#eak the roll pre"i3tion to "ive the desiredanti$ipation. /l% the plane around in heading mode, snappin" theheadin" bu" left and ri"ht and t#eakin" those $onstants until theplane follo#s the headin" bu" perfe$tl%. Then, after the headin"mode is perfe$t, adEust the lo$aliFer values #hile fl%in" 7:s totune the lo$aliFer. f the plane flies :-turns a$ross the lo$aliFer,the lo3aliHer pre"i3tion needs to be "reater. f the autopilotnever even lat$hes on to the lo$aliFer, $ontinuall% turnin" a#a%from it, then the lo3aliHer pre"i3tion needs to be de$reased&the$raft is $learl% over-anti$ipatin". NeAt #e #ill dis$uss $orre$tin" pit$h+ the dis$ussion #ill be almosteAa$tl% the same as roll, reall%.

C. Tuning Autopilot Pit3h

i. Pit3h rror for %ull le*ator

#indo#, at the top of the ri"ht $olumn, as seen in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

This $ontrol is to pit$h as the roll error for full aileron (from Part above* $ontrol is to roll. t determines ho# mu$h error bet#eendesired and a$tual pit$h is reuired for full elevator defle$tion.;emember that the autopilot #ill automati$all% redu$e the $ontroldefle$tions as the plane speeds up, limitin" to ma%be )Z $ontroldefle$tion, so it isn0t ne$essar% to #orr% about the s%stem reall%"oin" to full defle$tion.

To $onfi"ure this $ontrol, forget about the '# for a minute and Eustfl% *erti3al spee" or pit3h syn3 mode. f the plane is slopp%about "ettin" the nose up to tra$k a ne# verti$al speed and Eusttakes too lon" to "et there, then a smaller pit3h error for fullele*ator value is needed. This #ill $ause the plane to be morea""ressive #ith the elevator. f $ourse, if the plane startsflappin" about madl%, a larger value is needed, tellin" the plane tostop defle$tin" the elevator so mu$h unless it has a lar"er errorbet#een the a$tual and desired pit$h. Put the autopilot in pit3hsyn3 mode, then hold the '4: button do#n and ui$kl% pit$h thenose, lettin" "o of the '4: button. f the autopilot is slo# andslopp% in holdin" that ne# pit$h, then a smaller number needs tobe entered here to make the thin" more a""ressive.

12!

ii. Pit3h Pre"i3tion



This $ontrol is found in the bottom boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, at the top of the left $olumn, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

"ood pilot #ill input fli"ht $ontrols b% predi$tin" #here the plane#ill soon be. The pit3h pre"i3tion $ontrol determines ho# farinto the future the autopilot #ill look. f the plane is al#a%s#anderin" up and do#n #hen tr%in" to hold a "iven verti$alspeed, al#a%s a fe# steps behind #here it needs to be, then moreanti$ipation is $learl% $alled for&the pit3h pre"i3tion $ontrolneeds to be set to a lar"er number. 'onversel%, if the plane isal#a%s afraid to "et #here it needs to be, resistin" motion to#ardsthe desired pit$h, then it is probabl% anti$ipatin" too mu$h, and asmaller number is $alled for. n$e a"ain, these numbers need tobe tuned in pit$h and roll modes, or ma%be hea"ing and *erti3alspee" modes, to "et them set perfe$tl%, #ith ni$e, snapp%, pre$iseautopilot response, before the autopilot is tested on an 7:.

"ood startin" point for this $ontrol is one se$ond.

iii. Pit3h Tune Ti,e

This $ontrol is found in the bottom boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, in the left-hand $olumn, as seen in the follo#in" ima"e.

t sets the time reuire to trim, similar to the roll tune ti,e $ontroldes$ribed above in Part '. f this is set to too small a number, theplane #ill $onstantl% be #anderin" up and do#n as it pla%s #iththe trim, as it #ill al#a%s be too *uick to modif% the trim. realpilot #ould #ait until sHhe is sure that the trim needs modif%in".

This $ontrol should probabl% be set bet#een ) and 1 se$onds.

i*. 9li"eslope C:! 9ain

This $ontrol is found in the bottom boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, at the bottom of the ri"ht $olumn, as seen in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

t tells the autopilot ho# mu$h it should $han"e the pit$h for ea$h

12)

de"ree of "lideslope error. /or eAample, if it is set to ) de"rees (areasonable value*, the autopilot #ill pit$h up ) de"rees for ea$h

ima"e.



*, p p p "de"ree it is belo# the "lideslope. The "reater the number enteredhere, the more the $ommand bars #ill move to meet the"lideslope.

*. 9li"eslope C:! Pre"i3tion

This $ontrol is found in the bottom boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, in the left-hand $olumn, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e.

"ood pilot #ill anti$ipate #here the "lideslope #ill be in the nearfuture as he or she $ontrols the pit$h. f the pit$h is not anti$ipatedenou"h, the air$raft #ill be $orre$tin" up and do#n all the #a%do#n the "lideslope. f the pit$h is anti$ipated too mu$h, the $raft#ill never get to the "lideslope, as it #ill al#a%s be sh%in" a#a%from it as soon as the needle starts to $lose in.

"ood startin" point for this $ontrol is K se$onds.

*i. Pit3h :egrees per @not

This $ontrol is found in the bottom boA of the rtifi$ial :tabilit%#indo#, at the bottom of the left $olumn, seen in the follo#in"

t determines ho# man% de"rees the autopilot #ill pit$h the $raftup or do#n in order to $orre$t for a one-knot differen$e bet#eenthe a$tual speed and the one set in flight le*el 3hange mode. "ood startin" point is .2 de"rees.

:. &u,,ary of 8oth Pit3h an" oll Controls

To summariFe, remember that there are t#o thin"s happenin"#ith these $ontrolsM the amount the autopilot moves the command bars, and the amount it moves the controls to $apture those$ommand bars (see the table on the follo#in" pa"e*. Therefore, if the $ommand bars are not behavin" as the% should, one of thecommand bar variables needs to be set. n the other hand, if the$ommand bars are fine, but the airplane isn+t tracking those barscorrectly , one of the flight control tracking variables needs to beset so that the autopilot #ill Q"rabR the bars.

;emember there are t#o steps to tunin" these autopilot $ontrolsM

1. e$ide ho# to move the bars (C:! gain and C:!pre"i3tion*, then

2. e$ide ho# to move the $ontrols (pit3h and roll error ,pit3h and roll pre"i3tion*.

126

/inall%, remember that there is one number that $ontrols ho# hard



%,#e tr% to get to our tar"et (C:! gain, roll and pit3h error &think of this as a Qsprin" $onstantR* and one number that $ontrols ouranticipation (C:! pre"i3tion, roll and pit3h pre"i3tion&think ofthis as a dampin" $onstant*.

A,ount to Mo*e theCo,,an" 8ars on the !=&

A,ount to Mo*e the Controls toTra32 the 8ars

lo$aliFer ' "ain roll error for full aileron

"lideslope ' "ain pit$h error for full aileron

A,ount to Anti3ipate theCo,,an" 8ars on the !=&

A,ount to Anti3ipate theAttitu"e to Tra32 the 8ars

lo$aliFer ' predi$tion roll predi$tion

"lideslope ' predi$tion pit$h predi$tion

Ti,e to Tri, the %or3es

pit$h tune time

roll tune time

. &etting Autopilot Constants ;ui32ly

No# that #e0ve dis$ussed #hat ea$h $ontrol does, lets look atho# to set these thin"s up ui$kl%. /irst, laun$h X-Plane andopen the air$raft that needs modif%in". ?o to the :pe$ial menuand $li$k the :et utopilot 'onstants menu item. #indo#(sho#n in the ima"e belo#* #ill appear that looks identi$al to the

rtifi$ial :tabilit% #indo# dis$ussed above.

The settin"s here $an be $han"ed while flying in order todetermine #hat the autopilot $onstants need to be for the plane.e a#are, thou"h, that these settin"s #ill be lost the se$ond X-Plane is $losed or another air$raft is opened. This in-simulationversion of the rtifi$ial :tabilit% #indo# from Plane-aker is forexperimentation only . n$e desired settin"s have beendetermined, be sure to #rite them do#n on a pie$e of paper orenter them into a teAt do$ument so that the% $an later be enteredinto Plane-aker, #here the settin"s $an a$tuall% be saved .

ne final noteM :ome users tr% to $onfi"ure a reall% a""ressiveautopilot s%stem that has huge anti$ipation, huge "ains, and tiny maAimum pit$h and roll errors for full defle$tions. That #ould be aver% stron", ver% a""ressive autopilot that ma% seem to #orkperfe$tl%. problem arises, thou"h, as soon as the $raft is flo#nat a lo# frame rate. 4hen this happens, the plane #ill startshakin" violentl% on autopilot be$ause that autopilot is not bein"

12@

run fast enough to see the ver% rapid results of its overl% stron"inputs. f su$h settin"s are to be used, be sure to $onfi"ure the



p " "s$ener% or #eather so that the% #ill reall% slo# the simulator do#n(ideall% to its minimum frame rate* #hile tunin" the autopilot. nl%then $an it be $ertain that the $onstants entered that #ill always#ork, be$ause a higher frame rate #ill never hurt. The easiest#a% to slo# the sim do#n for this is to set three broken la%ers of$louds and plent% of buildin"s to be rendered (see 'hapter 3,:e$tion , found on pa"e $, for more on settin" renderin"options*.

!. :esigning an Artifi3ial &tability &yste,

/or users $reatin" a >T7 (a verti$al take-off and landin" air$raft*or a fi"hter, it ma% be ne$essar% to desi"n an artifi$ial stabilit%s%stem in order to make the $raft feel stable, even thou"h, inrealit%, it isn0t. This is espe$iall% $ommon in fi"hter Eets andheli$opters&fi"hters are most maneuverable if unstable, andheli$opters simpl% have nothin" to naturall% make them stable.'ontrol s%stems are desi"ned to make these $raft seem stable.These t%pi$all% #ork b% addin" some input in addition to the

Eo%sti$kH%oke input in order to make the $raft do #hat the pilot#ants.

$ommon eAample of this kind of stabilit% s%stem in the $ivilian#orld is the %a# damper. pilot0s feet still move the rudders, butthe %a# damper s%stem adds some additional rudder defle$tionfor the pilot to damp out the rotation rates of the plane. Theamount of rudder defle$tion added depends on #hat the $ontrols%stem en"ineer de$ides is ne$essar%&in the $ase of desi"nin"$ustom air$raft for X-Plane, that Qen"ineerR is the user.

To $reate a s%stem to add stabilit% in Plane-aker, first load theair$raft to be modified. pen the BApert menu and sele$t the

rtifi$ial :tabilit% menu option (as sho#n in the ima"e belo#*.

n the #indo# that opens, sele$t the rt :tab tab.

A. :esigning a Ea6 :a,per

% #a% of eAample, $onsider a %a# damper a"ain. ts purpose isto add some rudder defle$tion to #hatever the pilot inputs #ith hisor her feet, stoppin" the air$raft0s rotation. This is seen in hi"h-end oone%s and most Eets. The %a# damper0s desi"ner must$onsider ho# mu$h rudder is desired to stop the rotation&fullrudderJ 5alfJ Perhaps Eust 1H1 of the maA rudder defle$tion isneeded. bviousl%, if the plane is onl% #a""in" its tail a little bit ,onl% a little rudder is needed to stop it. 5o#ever, if the planes#in"s around ui$kl%, then the damper s%stem needs to put in a

lot of rudder to stop the rotation ui$kl%.

To de$ide ho# mu$h eAtra rudder input is ne$essar%, the desi"ner first needs to kno# ho# mu$h Q#a"R the s%stem needs to$ompensate for. n X-Plane, desi"ners enter a fra$tion of therudder input per degree per second of rotation rate.

/or instan$e, ima"ine the plane0s tail is s#in"in" (from turbulen$e,

12K

var%in" $ross#ind, the pilot steppin" on the rudder, et$.* at 9de"rees per se$ond&that is, the tail moves in one se$ond from /or the fra3tion "efle3tion per "egree "ifferen3e $ontrol



bein" strai"ht in line to pointin" full left or full ri"ht. n a realairplane, 9 de"rees per se$ond of tail-#a""in" #ill feel like a lot .Gi$kin" the rudders a bit in a 'essna 1@2, for eAample, #ill shakeits tail at about 3) de"rees per se$ond. :o, let0s ima"ine that 9de"rees per se$ond is su$h a hi"h rotation rate that the $ontrols%stem needs to put in full rudder to oppose it. That means that ifthe plane is rotatin" at 9 de"rees per se$ond, the %a# damper#ill put in full rudder to oppose that motion, and at !) de"rees perse$ond it #ill put in half rudder to oppose that motion. t a measl%9 de"rees per se$ond, the %a# damper #ill put in onl% 1H1 rudder to oppose that motion. t the 3) de"ree per se$ond tail-#a" of a'essna 1@2, the $ontrol s%stem #ould put in as mu$h as about3)Z rudder defle$tion to stabiliFe the plane0s %a# motion. Thisdoes not sound like an unreasonable $onstant.

To enter those settin"s in X-Plane, on$e a"ain open Plane-aker0s rtifi$ial :tabilit% #indo# from the BApert menu. :ele$tthe rt :tab (that is, artifi$ial stabilit%* tab. The above eAampledeals first #ith the hea"ing target "eg si"eslip $ontrol, found inthe se$ond $olumn from the left in the bottom boA of this #indo#,hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e. value of #ould be enteredhere, meanin" the plane al#a%s tries to stabiliFe at sideslip.

immediately to the right of the heading: target deg sideslip control , simpl% enter , meanin" the s%stem is not tr%in" toa$hieve a desired sideslip, onl% to damp out the tail #a""in" b%opposin" rotation.

/or the fra3tion "efle3tion per "egree per se3on" $ontrol to theri"ht of that (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e*, enter a value.111.

This number $omes from dividin" 1. (that is, full rudder* b% 9(the rotation rate in de"rees per se$ond that full rudder should beapplied at*. 1 H 9 ., #hi$h is rounded to .111 in Plane-aker. Put another #a%, that euation is 1 H rate for maA %a#. value of .1111 is prett% reasonable. Tr% enterin" this for the1@2, savin" the plane in Plane-aker, and loadin" it a"ain in X-Plane. Pop the rudders left and ri"ht and noti$e ho# the plane

damps out faster, as #ould a real plane if su$h a %a# damper#ere installed.

No#, if even more stabiliFation is needed, tr% enterin" .1 in thefra3tion "efle3tion per "egree per se3on" $ontrol. This meansthat if the plane is rotatin" at 1 de"rees per se$ond, the rudder#ill defle$t full% to oppose it. (1 de"rees per se$ond times .1$ontrol per de"ree per se$ond 1., or full deflection.* rotation

129

rate of 1 de"rees per se$ond means that it #ill take 9 se$ondsfor the plane0s tail to move 9 de"rees&a ver% slo# rotation rate.



4ith a $onstant of .1, even this rate #ill be opposed b% fullrudder. =ikesL f su$h a plane #ere taken into turbulen$e, the air#ould $ertainl% be ki$kin" the plane around at over 1 de"reesper se$ond, so the $raft #ould "ive full rudder deflection first one#a%, then the other. The plane #ould over rea$t to ever% an"ularrotation indu$ed b% the turbulen$e b% ki$kin" the rudder to full inorder to oppose that rotation.

bviousl%, this $onstant of .1 is hi"h. 'ustomer support had a$all, thou"h, #ith someone #ho had entered a $onstant of 3.&thirty times higher than the h%potheti$al $ase above. This meansthat for a rotation rate of 1H3 de"ree per se$ond (at #hi$h rate it#ould take a #hole four and a half minutes to move thru 9de"rees of headin"*, the s%stem #ould put in full opposing rudder .Bven the tiniest hint of rotation in a "iven dire$tion #ould make therudder slam hard over to $ounter it. Needless to sa%, an% time thisplane met even a tou$h of #ind, the rudder #ould slam from onestop to the other in a #ildl% eAa""erated effort to $ounter theturbulen$e. f one must kill a fl% buFFin" around in a $hina shop,dont do it #ith a sled"ehammer&the results #on0t be prett%. Thisparti$ular plane handled alri"ht if there #as no turbulen$e&sin$enothin" #as rotatin" the plane, the fli"ht $ontrols didn0t have tomove to oppose that rotation. s soon as the sli"htestimperfe$tion $ame alon" to move the plane, thou"h, su$h asturbulen$e, movement from the pilot hittin" a fli"ht $ontrol, a bird-strike, an en"ine-failure, a bump% landin", or fl%in" into $han"in"#inds, the $ontrols #ent $raF%.

ne thin" that $an onl% be learned b% a$tuall% "ettin" a pilot0sli$ense and "ettin" up in the sk% is that it is a very imperfect worldup there. The plane is $onstantl% barra"ed b% all manner ofimperfe$tions, perturbations, and eAternal #inds and for$es, and,mu$h like #ith a boat, these imperfe$tions must be anticipated inthe desi"n.

8. &tabiliHing Pit3h

No# that #e0ve dis$ussed headin" stabilit%, let0s move on to pit$h.f a plane is not ver% stable in pit$h, users ma% #ant to Qlo$k itdo#nR a bit. Plane-aker0s rtifi$ial :tabilit% #indo# is used asabove if users #ant to avoid artifi$ial stabilit% $ontrols found in X-Plane (these are applied to all air$raft in the sim and thus aren0tappli$able an% parti$ular $raft&see 'hapter 3, :e$tion , Part on pa"e $4*, but rather #ant to desi"n their o#n to mimi$ one thatmi"ht be installed in a real plane.

/or our eAample airplane, #e #ill a"ain open Plane-aker, $li$kthe BApert menu, and open the rtifi$ial :tabilit% 4indo#. n$emore, sele$t the rt :tab tab. This time, enter ma%be 2 de"reesin the pit3h target "eg angle of atta32 (hi"hli"hted in thefollo#in" ima"e*&this should be enou"h to stall the plane.

Bnter .1 for the fra3tion "efle3tion per "egree "ifferen3e(hi"hli"hted in the ima"e follo#in"*, so that i f the an"le of atta$k is1 de"rees off, the plane applies full elevator to $apture thedesired an"le of atta$k.

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"reater than in %a#, #here onl% the verti$al stabiliFer is offset,simpl% be$ause the #in" is so mu$h bi""er. plane sees a mu$h



/inall%, enter .) for the fra3tion "efle3tion per "egree perse3on" (hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e* so that if the nose is$omin" up at a rate of 2 de"rees per se$ond, the s%stem #illappl% full elevator to stop it.

These are all prett% a""ressive $onstants (meanin" a lot ofelevator is brou"ht in to $ountera$t a small amount of motion*, butthe% aren0t eAtreme.

There are t#o reasons for usin" these a""ressive $onstants./irst, the plane needs to have lo#er rates in pit$h than in %a#.This is be$ause if the plane is moved left and ri"ht a bit, not thatmu$h #ill $han"e in terms of fli"ht $ontrol&the verti$al stabiliFer,#hi$h is bein" broad$ast to the air, is small. ut, if the plane istilted up or do#n a bit, then the entirety of both the wing andhori&ontal stabili&er is eAposed to the air. The effe$t #ill be mu$h

"reater effe$t for ea$h de"ree of $han"e in the an"le of atta$kthan in sideslip, so it needs lo#er rates of pit$h than %a# to keep#ithin $omfortable (safe* ?-loads. /or this reason, #e enterhigher $onstants in pit$h than in %a# to reall% #ork hard to $ounter those pit$h rates.

The se$ond reason for enterin" hi"her $onstants in pit$h thanmi"ht seem advisable is that, uite simpl%, X-Plane $heats. Thesimulator #ill automati$all% reduce these settings as the planespeeds up, be$ause it kno#s that at hi"h speeds it is better toenter smaller $ontrol defle$tions to keep from breakin" thin"sLThis means that the $onstants entered here are onl% full% appliednear stall speeds #here $ontrol authorit% is mush%. The artifi$ialstabilit% $ontrols relaA and phase out as the indi$ated airspeed (air pressure on the $ontrols* builds up.

To see this s$heme in pra$ti$e, open up Qustin0s Personal >T7Rin Plane-aker. ?o to the /ile menu, $li$k pen ir$raft, openthe ustins esi"ns folder, and sele$t ustins Personal >T7.No# open the rtifi$ial :tabilit% s$reen a"ain from the BApertmenu. Noti$e that onl% lo#-speed $onstants (in the top boA of thes$reen rather than the bottom, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e*are set here, desi"ned to phase out rotation rates to make the$raft eas% to fl%.

131

separate $omputer for an out-the-#indo# vie# ($alled an eAternalvisual*, or to set up a multipla%er session to fl% formation #ithf i d



7ook at the rotations that are tar"eted #ith full-s$ale sti$kdefle$tions in hover&a maA of 3 de"rees pit$h, !) de"rees roll,and !) de"rees per se$ond rotation rate in %a# (no# %ou kno##hat the .2 and .1 do as #ell*.

NeAt, open up X-Plane and load up this air$raft (notin" that it

starts off #ith its thrust ve$tor at 9 de"rees, strai"ht up*. ddpo#er to rise up off the "round and #ork on hoverin". :lide leftand ri"ht, then fore and aft, up and do#n, all usin" small $ontroldefle$tions. Then, $li$k on the little s#it$h on the panel labeled

;T :T. This #ill turn the stabilit% au"mentation off in order tofl% without it. >iva la differen$eL /or an even more eAtreme $ase,tr% turnin" off the artifi$ial stabilit% in ustin0s eath Trap at 3knots.

. &etting Up A"*an3e" )et6or2s

:uppose a user #ants to have t#o $omputers runnin" X-Plane,one #ith the instrument panel on the pilots side, and one #ith apanel on the $opilot0s side. This is $alled havin" a masterma$hine and a $opilots ma$hine. r, suppose a user #ants t#opanels, and ma%be a $enter radio panel as #ell. a%be she or he#ants an nstru$tor perators :tation ($alled an :* to $ontrol#eather, time of da%, and air$raft failures. r ma%be sHhe #ants a

friends.

a%be the user #ants all of the above, all at on$eL

4hat all of these setups have in $ommon is the use of multiple$omputers. Ba$h of these $omputers needs X-Plane installed(s$ener% and all*. The% also need to be on the same net#ork,#ith P addresses that are the same for the first three numbers(e."., 1.2.2. or 192.16K.1.* and subnet masks of2)).2)).2))..

n$e ea$h of the $omputers has an P address that meets thisreuirement, the% ma% be set up somethin" like this, for eAampleM

!P A""ress :es3ription

192.16K.1.1 aster ma$hine&Eo%sti$ks plu""ed in here192.16K.1.2 'opilots ma$hine (.a$f file #ith $opilots

instrument panel used here*192.16K.1.3 : (instru$tor0s station for initiatin" failures,

settin" #eather, movin" the plane, et$...*192.16K.1.! BAternal visual, left vie#192.16K.1.) BAternal visual, $enter vie#192.16K.1.6 BAternal visual, ri"ht vie#

f $ourse, the 7N must be set up so that the $omputers $an talkto ea$h other, and the net#ork must be read% for an X-Plane

multi-$omputer setup.

4ith the net#ork $onfi"ured, open the Net 'onne$tions #indo#from X-Plane0s :ettin"s menu on ea$h of the $omputers. :ele$tthe middle tab, net 2, as seen belo#.

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instrument panel . f the user is $ontent #ith the default panella%out, an% of the sto$k planes $ould be used.



This tab allo#s the user to $onfi"ure a multi-$omputer X-Planes%stem. n ea$h $omputer, simpl% $he$k the boA des$ribin" the

Eob of ea$h $omputer and enter the P address of #hatever other $omputers are $alled for b% the teAt des$ription. 4ith that done,the sim should be read% to fl%L

7et0s "o throu"h the spe$ifi$ eAample of settin" up a $opilot0sinstrument panel usin" a se$ond $omputer. This is reuestedoften b% people #ho are reall% pushin" for a thorou"h simulation.

A. &etting Up a )et6or2e" Copilot>s &tation

e a#are that there is more than one #a% to set up a $opilotsstation. The method des$ribed here uses t#o $omputers Eoinedover a net#ork. The other method, #hi$h uses t#o monitorsatta$hed to one $omputer, is less eApensive, but the results ma%not be as "ood as #hen usin" t#o $omputers (in #hi$h $ase ea$h$omputer onl% has to dra# half as mu$h*. nstru$tions on usin"t#o monitors #ith one $omputer to set up a $opilots station arefound be"innin" on pa"e 136.

To set up a net#orked $opilots station, #e #ill need t#o$omputers, ea$h runnin" their o#n $op% of X-Plane. These need

to be Eoined to"ether #ith either a sin"le $rossover Bthernet $ableor a pair of Bthernet $ables hooked to an Bthernet hub. The$omputers should form a simple 7N, $onfi"ured as normal #ithinthe a$ : or 4indo#s, #hatever the $ase ma% be.

The airplane file to be used #ill need t#o $opies, both either$reated or modified usin" Plane-aker. The first $op% (forinstan$e, named Qoein" @[email protected]$fR* should have the pilot)side

4ith the first version of the plane read% (the pilot-side version*,simpl% make a $op% of the airplane file and add SV$opilotS to theend of the name&for instan$e, if the file Qoein" @[email protected]$fR #asused for the pilot-side version, the $opilot-side version #ould benamed Qoein" @!@V$opilot.a$fR. The $opilots-side airplaneshould be saved in the same folder as the pilot-side plane.

NeAt, open the $opilot-side $op% in Plane-aker and t#eak theinstrument panel as desired for the $o-pilot0s side of the $raft.:ave it #hen finished and $lose Plane-aker.

There should no# be t#o $opies of the same plane, ea$h #ith itso#n instrument panel, #ith names in the format of Snsert planename.a$fS and Snsert plane name V$opilot.a$fS. oth files shouldbe in the same folder.

:impl% $op% that #hole air$raft folder from one of the $omputersover to the other, puttin" the air$raft folder in the same dire$tor%on the se$ond $omputer. /or eAample, if, on the first $omputer,the folder #as lo$ated inM

'MWo$uments and :ettin"sWPilotWesktopWX-Plane9Wir$raftWoein" @!@W

then, on the se$ond $omputer, it #ould be lo$ated inM'MWo$uments and :ettin"sW'opilotWesktopWX-Plane

9Wir$raftWoein" @!@W

4ith that done, open X-Plane on ea$h $omputer, move the mouseto the top of the s$reen, $li$k on the :ettin"s menu, then sele$tNet 'onne$tions, as sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e.

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the name of the plane that it needs to open.

N th il t0 hi th Snsert plane name fS fil



n the pilot0s ma$hine, "o to the net 1 tab of the Net 'onne$tions#indo#. 'he$k the first $he$k boA labeled !P of e/tra*isualI3o32pit Jthis is ,aster ,a3hineK and enter the Paddress of the $opilots ma$hine. /or instan$e, in the ima"ebelo#, the $opilot0s ma$hine has an P address of 192.16K.1.).

n the $opilot0s $omputer, "o to the net 2 tab of the Net'onne$tions #indo#. 'he$k the boA labeled !P of ,aster,a3hine Jthis is e/tra 3o32pitK and enter the P address of thefirst ma$hine (the pilot0s, $onfi"ured in the para"raph above*. /orinstan$e, in the follo#in" ima"e, the pilot0s ma$hine has an Paddress of 192.16K.1.3.

No#, on the lo#er left, $li$k on the air$raft name readin" suffiAand enter SV$opilotS. This means that no matter what plane isopened on the pilot+s machine, this $omputer #ill add SV$opilotS to

No#, on the pilot0s ma$hine, open the Snsert plane name.a$fS file.f ever%thin" is set up $orre$tl%, the pilot0s ma$hine #ill send all theappropriate data to the $opilots ma$hine (be$ause the !P of e/tra*isualI3o32pit boA is $he$ked*, the $opilot0s ma$hine #ill "et themessa"e (be$ause the !P of ,aster ,a3hine boA is $he$ked*,and the $opilots ma$hine #ill appl% the name SV$opilotS to theair$raft name (be$ause of the name suffiA that #as entered*, and it#ill open the $opilot0s plane on the $opilot0s ma$hine.

!. &etting Up Multiple Monitors

ver% $ommonl% asked uestion deals #ith ho# to set up amultiple-monitor simulator. ften, this is in referen$e to usin"three monitors in parti$ular. There are t#o #a%s to do this. Thefirst is to use one $omputer #ith multiple monitors (either hookeddire$tl% to the video $ard or to a video splitter, like the atroATriple5ead2?o!@*, and the se$ond is to use multiple $omputers#ith one monitor atta$hed to ea$h.

bviousl%, #ith all other thin"s bein" eual (e."., hard#are,renderin" options*, havin" one monitor per $omputer #ith multiple$omputers #ill "ive the hi"hest frame rate, simpl% be$ause thereis more $omputin" po#er behind ea$h bit of displa%. 5o#ever,usin" a po#erful video $ard #ith a hi"h fill rate, it should bepossible to use one video $ard or $omputer to drive man%monitors.

4e #ill first eAamine the better of the t#o options (in terms ofperforman$e rather than $ost effi$ien$%*&usin" one $omputer permonitor, #ith the $omputers net#orked as spe$ified in thepre$edin" se$tion, :ettin" 8p dvan$ed Net#orks (be"innin" onpa"e 1$*.

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A Multiple Co,puters Multiple Monitors

does not line up, so they enter vertical offsets on some of thedisplay machines only in order to get the hori&ons to line up. The%ui$kl% be$ome $onfused #hen ever%thin" breaks do#n as the%







A. Multiple Co,puters+ Multiple Monitors

7et0s assume #e are to use four $omputers and four monitorsM one$o$kpit and three eAternal visuals (a $ommon setup*. ?o to the;enderin" ptions s$reen on ea$h of the three eAternal-vie#$omputers in X-Plane. Bnter a field of vie# of !) de"rees for ea$hof them. Bnter a lateral offset of -!) de"rees for the left s$reen, for the $enter s$reen, and !) de"rees for the offset, #ith verti$aloffset on all s$reens. This #ill simpl% %ield a !)!)!) de"reefield of vie#. f this is dra#n out on a pie$e of paper, it be$omesapparent that the !)-de"ree offsets on the left and ri"ht s$reens#ill $ause them to perfe$tl% s%n$ up #ith the $enter s$reen.

/rom there, the monitors need to ph%si$all% be moved around theQ$o$kpitR (that is, #here a user #ill sit #hen fl%in" the sim* in asemi-$ir$le des$ribin" a 13)-de"ree field of vie#. f this is notdone, then the horiFon #ill seem to not be strai"ht as the $raftpit$hes and rolls, $aused b% the Qfishe%e lensR effe$t. f a 13)de"ree field of vie# is des$ribed in a flat plane or in an ar$ ofmonitors that des$ribe less than 13) de"rees of ar$, fishe%edistortion #ill result, apparent as a horiFon that seems to bend anddistort bet#een monitors.

n some $ases it is not desirable for the monitors to #rap aroundthe Q$o$kpit,R but instead to simpl% be lined up beside one anotherin a flat plane (as #hen the monitors are sta$ked a"ainst a flat#all*. n that $ase, an offset in degrees should not be used, butrather an offset ratio. n the $ase of usin" offset ratio, a ratio of1. #ill $ause the lateral offset for that $op% of X-Plane (in lineardistan$e* to be an amount eual to the distan$e bet#een the userand the monitor. :o, if the user is siA feet from the monitor, andan offset ratio of 1. is used, then the $enter of that monitor shouldbe 6 feet off to the ri"ht to line up.

No#, sometimes people sit on the "round and see the horiFon

ui$kl% be$ome $onfused #hen ever%thin" breaks do#n as the%pit$h and espe$iall% roll. >erti$al offsets should not be set onsome ma$hines but not others. s soon as this is done, thin"sstart "ettin" messed up. 4hat often happens is that a user #ill fl%#ith a $o$kpit in the $enter s$reen, #here the $enter of the s$reenas far as s$ener% is $on$erned is probabl% about 3H! of the #a% upthe monitor (in order to leave room for the instruments*, #hileusin" eAternal visuals on the lateral displa%s, #hose s$reen$enters as far as s$ener% is $on$erned is ri"ht in the $enter of themonitor. n that $ase, the vie#point $enter needs to be set inPlane-aker for #hatever airplane is bein" flo#n. This should beset to the $enter of the monitor&3K! piAels as of this #ritin", orhalf#a% up the @6K piAel hei"ht.

8. One Co,puter+ Multiple Monitors

f the $ost of a multi-$omputer setup is prohibitive, a sin"le$omputer $an be used to drive multiple monitors. :in$e the virtualdemise of the atroA Parhelia video $ard, a video splitter like theatroA Triple5ead2?o!K is most often used. These video splitterstri$k the operatin" s%stem (4indo#s or a$ :* into seein" thethree monitors to"ether as a sin"le super-#ide displa%. To$onfi"ure this in X-Plane, simpl% spe$if% the Qsin"leR displa%0sresolution in the ;enderin" ptions s$reen, bein" sure to also seta #ide field of vie#. The video splitter #ill distribute X-Plane0soutput automati$all% a$ross all three monitors. f $ourse, to dothis #ith a de$ent frame rate, the $omputer #ill need a ver%po#erful video $ard.

There are plent% of other #a%s to have multiple monitors on botha$ and 4indo#s $omputers, but the rule of usin" them in X-Plane is simpleM f the monitors appear to be one bi" desktop in

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the operatin" s%stem, then the% $an form one bi" #indo# in X-Plane (usin" the #ide resolution and #ide field of vie# thatresults* <ust set the piAel resolution and field of vie# in the

panel is in fa$t 2!K piAels #ideL /rom here, thin"s are eas%M <ustdra" in instruments so that the pilot side instruments are on theleft and the $opilot side instruments are on the ri"ht /or the





results*. <ust set the piAel resolution and field of vie# in the;enderin" ptions s$reen in X-Plane to mat$h #hatever monitorreal-estate is available. This #ill allo# #rap-around visuals fromone $omputer.

C. &etting Up a Copilots &tation Using T6o Monitors 6ithOne Co,puter

s mentioned in the pre$edin" pa"es, there are t#o #a%s ofsettin" up a $opilots station. ne method (#hi$h is des$ribed onpa"e 133* involves t#o $omputers, ea$h runnin" their o#n $opiesof X-Plane. The other (des$ribed here* involves one $omputeroutputtin" to t#o monitors.

4ith this method, #e #ill $reate a sin"le, double-#idth instrumentpanel, #ith one side belon"in" to the pilot and one to the $opilot.To be"in, $reate a $ustom panel in Photoshop that is 2!K A @6KpiAels (double the #idth of the standard panel*, to allo# room forboth sides of the panel. :ee the follo#in" dire$tor% for eAamplesof these panel ima"esM

X-Plane 9Wnstru$tionsWBAample Plane-asi$W$o$kpitW-PNB7:-

The .pn" files in that dire$tor% are eAamples (thou"h the% areobviousl% onl% half the #idth that is needed for the panel #e needhere*.

n$e the 2!K A @6K instrument panel ima"e (#hi$h is bi" enou"hfor both sides of the panel* has been $reated, load the airplane%ou #ish to use in Plane-aker.

4ith this open, $li$k the :tandard menu and sele$t QPanelR (either 2- or 3-*. This brin"s up the panel editin" s$reen #here, if the$o$kpit ima"e #as named and siFed properl%, %ou #ill see that the

left, and the $opilot side instruments are on the ri"ht. /or the$opilot instruments, be sure to do the follo#in"M

• 'he$k the Copilot button in the bottom $enter of the#indo#. This indi$ates #hat pitot-stati$-va$uum s%stemea$h instrument runs on.

• 'he$k ea$h instrument as bein" on a different ele$tri$albus than the pilots-side instruments, if desired, in thelo#er-left.

This #ill put the $opilots instruments on different ele$tri$al andpitot-stati$ s%stems, preparin" the $raft for the ver% fun failure-modes of onl% failin" one s%stem or another #hen in fli"htL

No#, to fl% #ith this air$raft, t#o monitors must be used on the$omputer sho#in" the instrument panels. oth monitors mustappear as one extended desktop in 4indo#s. To do this in4indo#s XP, ri"ht $li$k on the desktop, sele$t Properties, and "oto the :ettin"s tab. 'li$k on the representation of the se$ondar%monitor there and make sure the QBAtend m% 4indo#s desktoponto this monitorR boA is $he$ked. f this is not done, the simulator #ill run ver% slo#l%.

n$e both monitors are setup as one eAtended desktop (#ith aresolution of, sa%, 2!K A @6K*, laun$h X-Plane on the $omputerand set its resolution to 2!K A @6K. 7oad the air$raft #hosepanel #as Eust modified (or $reated* and its read% to fl%L

!!. %lying eli3opters

The follo#in" is a des$ription of ho# heli$opters are flo#n in thereal #orld, alon" #ith the appli$ation of this in X-Plane.

ll manner of different heli$opter la%outs $an be found in realit%,but #e #ill dis$uss the standard $onfi"uration here&a sin"le

136

overhead rotor #ith a tail rotor in the ba$k. 5eres ho# this #orksM/irst, the main rotor provides the for$e needed to lift the $raft b%continually maintaining the same rotor R"% for the entire fli"ht

! ;P in the eAample above. n the "round, #ith the$olle$tive pit$h flat, there is little dra" on the blades, so thepo#er reuired to hold this speed is prett% lo#



continually maintaining the same rotor R"% for the entire fli"ht.The amount of lift "enerated b% the main rotor is onl% varied b%adjusting the blade pitch of the main rotor blades.

:o, ima"ine the one-and-onl% operational ;P of a heli$opter is! ;P. 4hen the $raft is sittin" on the "round, the rotor isturnin" ! ;P, and the pit$h of the rotor0s blades is about &ero.This means that the rotor is "ivin" about &ero liftL e$ause theblades have Fero pit$h, the% have ver% l ittle dra", so it is ver% eas%to move them throu"h the air. n other #ords, the po#er reuiredto turn the rotor at its operational ;P is prett% minimal. No#,#hen the pilot is read% to "o fl%in", he or she be"ins b% pullin" upon a handle in the $o$kpit $alled the S$olle$tive.S 4hen thishappens, the blades on the rotor "o up to a positive pit$h. ll theblades on the main rotor do this to"ether at one time&S$olle$tivel%.S f $ourse, the% are then puttin" out a lot of lift,sin$e the% have a positive pit$h. Buall% apparent is the fa$t thatthe% are harder to dra" throu"h the air no#, sin$e the% are doin" alot more #ork. f $ourse, sin$e it is a lot harder to turn theblades, the% start to slo# do#n&if this #ere allo#ed to happen, it#ould be catastrophic , sin$e the $raft $an0t fl% #hen its rotor isn0tturnin"L To $ompensate, at that point an% modern heli$opter #illautomatically in$rease the throttle as mu$h it needs to in order tomaintain the desired ! ;P in the rotor.

To summariFe, this is the seuen$e for "ettin" a heli$opter in theair in X-PlaneM

1. 4hile on the "round, the $olle$tive handle is flat on theground . This means the rotor pit$h is flat, #ith minimum dra"and Fero lift. n X-Plane, a flat collective corresponds to thethrottle being full forward, or farthest from the user . Theautomati$ throttle in the heli$opter is obsessivel% #at$hin" therotor0s ;P, adEustin" the throttle as needed to hold eAa$tl%

po#er reuired to hold this speed is prett% lo#.

2. 4hen the user de$ides to take off, sHhe does so b% raisingthe collective up b% pullin" it up from the floor of the heli$opter.n X-Plane, this is done by easing the throttle on a joystickback down toward you. This in$reases the blade pit$h on themain rotor and therefore in$reases its lift, but it also in$reasesthe drag on the rotor a lot. The rotor ;P be"ins to fall belo#! ;P, but the auto-throttle senses this and loads inho#ever mu$h en"ine po#er it has to in order to keep the rotor movin" at eAa$tl% ! ;P.

3. %ore $olle$tive is pulled in until the blades are $reatin"enou"h lift to raise the $raft from the "round. The auto-throttle$ontinues addin" po#er to keep the rotor turnin" at ! ;Pno matter ho# mu$h the $olle$tive is raised or lo#ered.

n$e the $raft is in the air, the first-time heli$opter pilot0s first$rash is no doubt be"innin". This inevitabilit% $an be dela%ed fora fe# moments usin" the anti)tor*ue pedals.

The main rotor is of $ourse puttin" a lot of torue on the $raft,$ausin" it to spin in the opposite dire$tion (be$ause of $ourse forever% a$tion there is an eual and opposite rea$tion&the rotor ist#isted one #a%, the heli$opter t#ists the other #a%*. This is#here the anti-torue pedals $ome in. The rotational torue onthe heli$opter is $ountered #ith thrust from the tail rotor. <ustpush the left or ri"ht rudder pedal (su$h as the '5 Produ$ts ProPedals!9* to "et more or less thrust from the tail rotor. f rudderpedals aren0t available, the t#ist on a Eo%sti$k $an be used for anti-torue $ontrol. f the Eo%sti$k used does not t#ist for %a# $ontrol,then X-Plane #ill do its best to adEust the tail rotor0s lift to $ounterthe main rotor0s torue in fli"ht.

!9 httpMHH###.$hprodu$ts.$omHretailHpedals.html

13@

n$identall%, the tail rotor is "eared to the main rotor so that theyalways turn in unison f the main rotor loses 1Z ;P the tail

#ill of $ourse dra" the $raft off to the ri"ht as lon" as it isprodu$in" lift.

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/pedals.html






always turn in unison. f the main rotor loses 1Z ;P, the tailrotor loses 1Z ;P. The tail rotor, like the main rotor, $annot$han"e its speed to adEust its thrust. 7ike the main rotor, it mustadEust its pit$h, and it is the tail rotor0s pit$h that is bein" $ontrolled#ith rudder pedals or a t#istin" Eo%sti$k.

n$e the $raft is in the air and the collective pitch of the main rotor is bein" adEusted (in X-Plane, usin" the Eo%sti$k throttle*, tr%holdin" the $raft 1 feet in the air and adEustin" the tail-rotor pit$h#ith the anti-torue pedals (e."., rudder pedals or a t#istin" sti$k*to keep the nose pointed ri"ht do#n the run#a%. /rom here, the

Eo%sti$k should be #i""led left, ri"ht, fore, and aft to steer theheli$opter around.

5ere is ho# this #orksM f the sti$k is moved to the right , then therotor blade #ill increase its pit$h #hen it is in the front of the $raft,and decrease its pit$h #hen it is behind the $raft. n other #ords,the rotor blade #ill $han"e its pit$h throu"h a full $%$le ever% timeit runs around the heli$opter on$e. This means that it $han"es itspit$h from one eAtreme to the other ! times per minute (@ timesper se$ond* if the rotor is turnin" at ! ;P. Prett% impressive,espe$iall% $onsiderin" that the $raft mana"es to sta% to"etherunder those $onditionsL No#, #hile it seems that the ri"ht namefor this mi"ht be the Sheli$opter destro%er,S the fa$t that movin"the sti$k sends the blade pit$h throu"h one cycle ever% rotation ofthe rotor blades means #e $all the $ontrol sti$k the cyclic sti$k.:o, #e have the $olle$tive, $%$li$, and anti-torue $ontrols.

7ets talk more about the $%$li$. 4hen the sti$k is moved to theri"ht, the rotor in$reases pit$h #hen it is in the part of its travel thatis in front of the heli$opter. This #ill in$rease the lift on the front of the rotor dis$, $ausin" it to tilt to the right &remember that the"%ros$opi$ for$es are applied 9 de"rees alon" the dire$tion ofrotation of the "%ros$ope. No# that the rotor is tilted to the right , it

The fas$inatin" thin" is that the rotor on man% heli$opters is totall%free-teeterin"+ it has a $ompletel% Sloose and flopp%S $onne$tion tothe $raft. t $an $ondu$t &ero tor*ue (left, ri"ht, fore, and aft* tothe bod% of the heli$opter. aneuverin" is onl% a$hieved b% therotor tiltin" left, ri"ht, fore, and aft, dra""in" the top of the $raftunderneath it in that dire$tion. The heli$opter bod% is dra""edalon" under the rotor like livesto$k b% a nose-rin", blindl% follo#in"#herever the rotor leads.

8se the above information to hover perfe$tl%. n$e that ismastered, push the nose do#n to tilt the rotor for#ards. The liftfrom the rotor a$tin" above the $enter of "ravit% of the air$raft #illlo#er the nose of the heli$opter, and the for#ard $omponent of liftfrom the rotor #ill dra" the $raft for#ard as it flies alon".

!!!. %lying the &pa3e &huttle

;ead this se$tion before attemptin" :pa$e :huttle landin"s in X-Plane if %ou #ant %our virtual pilot to liveL

The first rule of fl%in" a "lider&uite unlike fl%in" a po#ered plane&is thisM Never $ome up short. 4hen brin"in" a po#ered plane infor landin", if the pilot thinks the $raft #ill not uite make it to therun#a%, it is no bi" deal. :he or he Eust adds a bit more po#er to$over the eAtra distan$e. f a little more speed is needed, it is

a"ain no problem&Eust add po#er.

?liders pla% b% a different set of rules, thou"h. There is no en"ineto provide po#er, so #hen settin" up a landin", a pilot must besure to have enou"h altitude and speed to be able to $oast to theairport, be$ause if sHhe "uesses lo# b% even one foot, the $raft #illhit the "round short of the run#a%, $rashin". ?liders must neverbe lo# on speed or altitude, be$ause if the% ever are, there is no

13K

way of "ettin" it ba$k&a $rash is assured. (Thermals, or risin"$urrents of air, provide the eA$eption to this rule. These $an "iveeffi$ient "liders enou"h boost to "et the Eob done but thermals #ill

ut there is one problem. t #ould appear that if the rbiter fliesits entire approa$h too hi"h it #ill "lide ri"ht past Bd#ards n



effi$ient "liders enou"h boost to "et the Eob done, but thermals #illt%pi$all% provide less than ) feet per minute of verti$al speed&not enou"h to keep even a li"ht#ei"ht 'essna in the airL*

No#, #ith the :pa$e :huttle, it is $ertainl% true that the air$raft hasen"ines&three liuid-fuel ro$kets puttin" out 3@), pounds ofthrust each, to be eAa$t. (To put this in perspe$tive, a full%-loadedoein" @3@ tips that s$ales around 13, pounds, so eachengine of the orbiter $ould pun$h the oein" strai"ht up at 3 ?sindefinitel%. That is not even $onsiderin" the solid ro$ket boostersatta$hed to the :huttles fuel tank that provide millions of poundsof thrustL*

:o, the :pa$e :huttle has en"ines+ the problem is fuel . Theorbiter eAhausts ever%thin" it0s $arr%in" "ettin" up into orbit, sothere is nothin" left for the trip do#n. Thus, the ship is a "lider allthe #a% from orbit to its tou$h-do#n on Barth. 4ith the final bit offuel that is left after the mission, the orbiter fires its smaller de-orbit en"ines to slo# it do#n to a bit over 1), miles per hour(that0s ri"ht&it slows down to a bit over -,... miles per hour/ *and be"ins its des$ent into the atmosphere.

:o, if a user #ants to fl% the :pa$e :huttle, and the :pa$e :huttleis a "lider from the time it leaves orbit to the time it tou$hes do#non Barth, that user must bear in mind the $ardinal rule of "lidin"M 0lways aim long (past the landin" point* not short, because if ever you aim short, you are dead, because you cannot make up lost

speed or altitude without engines. im long sin$e the eAtra speedand altitude $an al#a%s be dissipated #ith turns or speedbrakes ifthe $raft #inds up bein" too high, but nothin" $an be done if it$omes up short .

n observan$e of this rule, the rbiter intentionall% flies its "lidefrom orbit extra high to be on the safe side.

its entire approa$h too hi"h, it #ill "lide ri"ht past Bd#ards. nrealit%, this doesn0t happen for the follo#in" reason.

/or most of the re-entr%, the shuttle flies #ith the nose way up forextra dra", and it makes steep turns to intentionall% dissipate theeAtra ener"%. The nose-up attitude and steep turns are ver%ineffi$ient, $ausin" the shuttle to slo# do#n and $ome do#n toBarth at a steeper "lide an"le. f it ever looks like the orbiter mi"htnot uite be able to make it to the landin" Fone, the $re# simpl%lo#ers the nose to be more effi$ient and level it out in roll to uitfl%in" the steep turns. This makes the orbiter then "lide moreeffi$ientl%, so the $re# $an stret$h the "lide to Bd#ards for sure.The eAtra speed and altitude is the a$e up their sleeve, but thedra#ba$k is the% have to $onstantl% bleed the ener"% off throu"hsteep turns (up to @ de"rees bank an"leL* and dra" the nose up(up to ! de"reesL* to keep from overshootin" the field.

4e #ill no# #alk throu"h the re-entr% pro$ess from the be"innin"as it is done both in the real :huttle and in X-Plane.

fter de-orbit burn, the shuttle heads for the atmosphere at!, feet hi"h #ith a speed of 1@, miles per hour and adistan$e of ),3 miles from Bd#ards (euivalent to landin" in theoEave esert after startin" a landin" approa$h #est of 5a#aii&not a bad pattern entr%L*. n realit%, the autopilot flies the entire3-minute re-entr%, and the astronauts do not take over the$ontrols of the shuttle until the final 2 minutes of the "lide. Theastronauts could fl% the entire re-entr% b% hand, but it is offi$iall%dis$oura"ed b% N:, for obvious reasons. These speeds andaltitudes are #a% outside of normal human $on$eption, so ourabilit% to Shand-fl%S these approa$hes is neAt to nil.

urin" the first one hundred N: :huttle missions, the $raft #ashand-flo#n for the entire re-entr% onl% once, b% a former arine

139

pilot #ho #as read% for the ultimate risk and $hallen"e.

n $ontrast users fl%in" the :huttle in X-Plane #ill have to

be put out b% the #in"s.

)oteM f the airspeed indi$ator reads more than about 2) knots



n $ontrast, users fl%in" the :huttle in X Plane #ill have to$omplete the entire mission b% fl%in" b% hand. There is not %et anautopilot for the :pa$e :huttle in X-Plane %et.

A. 7al2through

?o to the /ile menu and sele$t 7oad :ituation, then $li$k the&pa3e &huttle %ull e-entry button. X-Plane #ill load the $raftat around !), feet, in spa$e, $omin" do#n at a speed ofa$h 2. 'ontrol #ill be limited in spa$e (the $raft is operatin" off of small rea$tion Eets on the rbiter, set up as SPuffersS in Plane-aker*, but on$e the shuttle hits atmosphere, there #ill be someair for the fli"ht $ontrols to "et a "rip on and the $raft #ill a$tuall%be able to be $ontrolled. The ship #ill first hit air at about !,feet, but it #ill be so thin that it #ill have almost no effe$t.

The airspeed indi$ator at this point #ill read around &ero1interestin", sin$e the $raft is a$tuall% movin" at over 1@, mph.The reason for this is that the airspeed indi$ator #orks based onho# mu$h air is hittin" it, Eust like the #in"s of the orbiter do. nspa$e, of $ourse, that0s ver% little. The indi$ated airspeed #illbuild "raduall% as the $raft des$ends. 8nder these $onditions,even thou"h the :huttle is a$tuall% slowing down, the airspeedindi$ator #ill rise as it des$ends into thi$ker air that puts morepressure on the airspeed indi$ator. This oddit% of the airspeedindi$ator, thou"h, is useful, sin$e the air is also puttin" more

pressure on the wings. This means the airspeed indi$ator is reall%measurin" ho# mu$h for$e the wings $an put out, #hi$h is reall%#hat a pilot is interested in here.

;estated, the airspeed indi$ator indi$ates the $raft0s true airspeedtimes the suare root of the air densit%. t indi$ates lo#er speedsin thin air, but the #in"s put out less lift in thin air as #ell, so theairspeed indi$ator #orks ver% #ell to tell the pilot ho# mu$h lift $an

)oteM f the airspeed indi$ator reads more than about 2) knots,the #in"s have enou"h air to "enerate the lift to $arr% the air$raft.f the airspeed indi$ator is sho#in" less than about 2) knots,then the #in"s do not have enou"h air hittin" them to lift the:huttle, so it is still more or less $oastin" in the thin upper

atmosphere, #here the air is too thin to do mu$h for $ontrollin"fli"ht.

s the airspeed indi$ator on the 58 "raduall% starts to indi$ate avalue (as the air$raft des$ends into thi$ker air*, it means the $raftis startin" to ease do#n into the atmosphere at 1), mph like asunburned bab% tr%in" to ease into a boilin"-hot <a$uFFi&very$arefull% and very slo#l%. ;emember, if the $raft #as "oin"1), mph in the thi$k air of sea level, it #ould break up into amillion pie$es in a mi$rose$ond. The onl% reason it survives at1), mph up here is the air is so thin that it has almost no

impa$t on the ship. "ain, the airspeed indi$ator tells ho# mu$hthe air is reall% impa$tin" the $raft+ 2) knots is a S$omfortableSamount. The tri$k is to "et the $raft movin" mu$h slo#er than1), mph b% the time it "ets do#n to the thi$k air of sea level&and to have it doin" so at Bd#ards ir /or$e ase. This is #hatthe re-entr% is for, to dissipate speed #hile des$endin" so that therbiter is never "oin" too fast for the thi$kness of the air that it isin. t should onl% des$end into the thi$ker air on$e it has lost somespeed in the thinner air up hi"her. The #hole thin" should be asmooth pro$ess #herein the ship doesn0t "et rammed into thi$k,heav% air at too hi"h a speed.

No#, as the rbiter be"ins to tou$h the outer mole$ules of theBarths atmosphere, users #ill noti$e a sli"ht abilit% to fl% the shipas some air be"ins to pass over the #in"s. t the same time, the58 should be"in sho#in" speed. Noti$e the pi$ture of therbiter on the ri"ht-hand B/: displa%. The tlantis alread% hasthis displa% retrofitted over its old steam "au"es (the B/:s from

1!

the tlantis are modeled ver% a$$uratel% in X-Plane&astronauts$ould use it for familiariFation for sure*. oth the rbiter and thepath do#n to Bd#ards should be visible. The "oal is to sta% on

sta% on the $enter "reen line. Pilots should follo# the $omputersre$ommendation or their o#n intuition for ho# mu$h bank to fl%,but the% must $ertainl% keep the nose up (in order to sta% in the



path do#n to Bd#ards should be visible. The "oal is to sta% onthe $enter path. f the $raft "ets above it, it is either too fast or toohi"h and mi"ht overshoot the landin". f it "ets belo# it, it is either too slo# or too lo# and mi"ht not make it.

;emember that the line is dra#n #ith a lar"e mar"in for error, so if a pilot sta%s on the line, he or she #ill have plent% of eAtra ener"%.?ettin" below the line a little #ill onl% tap into the speedHaltitudereserve. ?ettin" belo# the line a lot #ill keep the $raft fromrea$hin" Bd#ards.

The rbiter must sta% near the $enter "reen line. This "reen linerepresents the desired speed for the earl% part of the re-entr%, thedesired total energy for the middle part of the re-entr%, and thedesired altitude for the final phase of the re-entr%. This is the #a%N: set up the B/:. f the $raft is too fast or too high (meanin"

it is above the $enter line* then it is time to dissipate some ener"%.Put the :huttle in a steep bank, pull the nose up, and han" onL

The real rbiter #ill have it nose up about ! de"rees and be in a@ de"ree bank to tr% to lose ener"% #hile movin" at 1!, mph,"lo#in" red hot, hurtlin" throu"h the upper atmosphere onautopilot, and leavin" a ten mile-lon" trail of ioniFed "as behind it#hile the astronauts Eust #at$h.

?o into some steep turns to dissipate ener"% as needed to keepthe ship from "oin" above the $enter "reen line. 7ook at the little

blue pointer on the far left-hand side of the far ri"ht displa%. Thatindi$ates ho# hi"h the nose is supposed to be. The "reen pointer is #here the nose is no#&the% need to mat$h. The pointers Eustto the ri"ht indi$ate the desired and $urrent de$eleration. Theseindi$ators, thou"h, #ill not be used to fl% b%. 7ook at the littlepointer up top on the horiFontal s$ale. That is the $omputersestimation of ho# mu$h bank an"le the $raft probabl% needs to

but the% must $ertainl% keep the nose up (in order to sta% in theupper atmosphere* and fl% steep banks to dissipate the eAtraspeed and altitude. t mi"ht be temptin" to Eust push the nosedo#n if the $raft is hi"h, but dont. The air$raft #ould drop do#ninto the thi$k air and $ome to an abrupt stop from the tremendous

dra", keepin" it from ever makin" it to Bd#ards. t #ould #ind ups#immin" in the Pa$ifi$ some#here around 5a#aii.

No#, as the pilot makes those steep turns, the air$raft #ill"raduall% be pulled off $ourse. /or this reason, the turn dire$tionshould be s#it$hed from time to time to sta% on $ourse. Turn lefta#hile, then ri"ht, then ba$k to the left a"ain. This is #hat the realrbiter does&it slalom-skis throu"h the upper atmosphere ata$h 2. 4at$h Bd#ards on the $enter B/: displa%. This is thedestination. 5it the U0 ke% to see the rbiter on a fl%b%. 4at$h$arefull%&it0s "oin" fast. 5it the #0 ke% to "et ba$k in the $o$kpit

(bein" sure that the $aps lo$k is off*.

s the ship approa$hes Bd#ards, ri"ht on the $enter "reen line onthe ri"ht-hand displa%, there should be a sort of a $ir$le out pastBd#ards. This is the 5eadin" li"nment '%linder, or 5..'. Theair$raft #ill fl% past Bd#ards at about K, feet, then fl% aroundthe outside of the (202C2 like it0s runnin" around a dinin" roomtable. fter $omin" around, it #ill be pointed ri"ht at Bd#ards. fthe $raft is still on the "reen line, its altitude #ill be Eust ri"ht forlandin" as #ell. n the real :huttle, this is usuall% #here the pilot#ill turn off the autopilot and hand-fl% in.

The $raft should no# be doin" about 2) or 3 knots, $omin"do#n at about 1), feet per minute or so (about 12) miles perhour of des$ent rate*. Needless to sa%, pilots do not #ant to hitthe "round #ith that 12) miles per hour des$ent rate. o not aimfor the run#a% #ithout eApe$tin" to be$ome a smear on it.nstead, aim for the flashin" "lideslope li"hts 2 miles short of the

1!1

run#a% that N: has thou"htfull% provided. f the% are all red,the $raft is too lo#. f the% are all #hite, it is too hi"h, so the speedbrakes need to be hit usin" the 60 ke% or the mouse. f the li"hts

X-Plane $an simulate fli"ht on ars.



" % "are half red and half #hite, the rbiter is ri"ht on its "lideslope(about 2 de"rees*. irliners fl% their approa$h at 12) knots #itha 3 de"ree an"le of des$ent, #hile the :pa$e :huttle uses 2)knots and a 2 de"ree des$ent an"le&not too unusual

$onsiderin" pattern-entr% started #est of 5a#aii, a$tuall%.

To re$apM the $raft should be at 2) knots, on the "reen line, linedup #ith the run#a%. t should be fa$in" half red, half #hite"lideslope li"hts #ith the flashin" strobes b% them. This approa$h$onfi"uration should be held until the $raft is prett% $lose to the"round (3 de"ree "lideslope to the run#a%*, then the des$entshould be leveled and the "ear put do#n (usin" the "0 ke% or themouse*. Pull the nose up for a flare as the run#a% approa$hes,$ausin" the rbiter to tou$h do#n smoothl%. 7o#er the nose thenand hit the para$hute and even the brakes if the $raft #ill be

allo#ed to roll out.

No#, if a user $an Eust repeat that pro$ess another hundred timesin a ro# #ithout a sin"le hit$h, sHhe #ill be as "ood as N:.

#pecial thanks to #andy "adilla for most of the #huttle re)entryinformation/

!X. %lying on Mars

N: has ver% eAa$t data on the atmospheri$ pressure, densit%,and temperature on ars. The% also have ver% eAa$t data on the"ravit% of ars, as #ell as rou"h topo"raphi$ maps for the entireplanet and ver% detailed maps for some areas. /urthermore, thela#s of ph%si$s, #hi$h are pro"rammed into X-Plane, are eAa$tl%the same on Barth as on ars. X-Plane needs atmospheri$pressure, densit%, temperature, "ravit%, and topo"raphi$ maps todeliver an en"ineerin"-a$$urate fli"ht simulation.

A. !ntro"u3tory =etter

The follo#in" is an email sent b% ustin e%er, author of X-Plane,

to the X-Plane $ommunit%, at !M3) on /ebruar% 2!, 2. t isreprinted here in its ori"inal, $offee-fueled form.

P::7= T5B :T BX'TN? T5N? 5>B B>B;NB TN?5T. (G, te$hni$all% finished it T5: ;NN?*.

s some of %ou ma% kno#, have been "atherin" data on artianatmosphere, "ravit%, surfa$e SteAtureS, and topo"raph% for X-Planefrom various N: sites(httpMHHltp###."sf$.nasa."ovHtharsisHmola.html), for eAample* do NT %et have the TP?;P5= for ars, but haveever%thin" else, and have "otten it all entered into X-Plane and

desi"ned t#o planes to fl% on ars as #ell, and have beeneAperimentin" #ith dei"n and fli"ht on ars for the last 6 hours orso. ('ould be the first human to fl% a real-time fli"ht simulation ofarsJ have seen man% SmoviesS of Sfl%in"S over ars terrain, butNNB have been hooked to an a$tual realisti$ /7?5T B7...has N: done a ;B7-TB simulation of ars fli"ht in aP7TB air$raftJ 5as N=NBJ* 4ell, have for the last 6hours, N T : /;??N /:'NTN?./irst of all, the atmosphere is NB PB;'BNT as thi$k on ars asit is on earth... N'TB airspeed is proportional the suareroot of the air densit%, so the N'TB airspeed is NB

TBNT5 the true airspeed.The resultJ f %ou take off #ith 6 knots on the airspeed indi$ator,%our ;B7 speed is :X 58N;B GNT:L (about a$h 1*Take it from me, a$h-1 takeoffs are uite a thin" to behold, #henthe plane #ill barel% leave the run#a% at that speed.4hile there is almost no ; for %ou, %ou do have the (sort of*

) httpMHHltp###."sf$.nasa."ovHtharsisHmola.html

1!2

advanta"e of onl% about NB T5; the ?;>T=, so it is threetime easier to "et airborneL;esultJ take-off in a #ell-desi"ned airplane $an o$$ur at a

the tumblin" planes do#n, and little "ravit% to dra" them to a stopa"ainst the "roundL 'rashes look like Sthe "on% of efeatS fromthe l%mpi$s #here the "u% on the do#nhill ski-Eump bites it near

http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/tharsis/mola.html

http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/tharsis/mola.html



" pSmereS ! knots or so, indi$atin" all of ! knots on the airspeedindi$atorL:ound eas%J T :NT, B'8:B 457B =8; ?;>T=(4B?5T* : N7= NB-T5; / B;T5:, =8;

`NB;T : :T77 T5B;B N /877 /;'BL :o %ou arefl%in" #ith onl% 1H3 the total lift of #hat %ou are used to havin" tosta% in the air, #hi$h seems fine 8NT7 T 'B: TB T T;=T T8;N ; /7;BLLLLL T5BN %ou see that #hile the lift for:T=N? airborne is onl% 1H3 of Barths, the NB;T, and thusthe lift needed to '5N?B ;B'TN (this in$ludes the landin"flareL* : :T77 T5B;B N /877 /;'BL The problem is, %ouNT 5>B T5T GN / 7/T, :N'B T5B ; : : T5NLottom lineM ll airplanes on ars are ;;NB TTN':M;ippin" blissfull% alon", una#are of their impendin" doom due totheir inabilit% to T8;N a"ainst their tremendous inertia.

7andin"s are impossible #ithout arrestin" "ear. f %ou $an #orkthe flare out ri"ht (it : possible #ith advan$e plannin"* then %ou#ill tou$h do#n doin" about ! mph. No# ho# do %ou stopJ-`P;'58TBJ NPBLLLL ! mph is onl% ! mph #orth of dra"due to the thin air. =ou #ill run off the end of the run#a% "oin" 1mph #ith the $hute onl% Sseein"S 1 mphM 8:B7B:: for slo#in"do#n-`;GB:J NPBLLL =ou onl% have one-third "ravit%, so onl% 1H3of %our #ei"ht on the #heels. N T;'TNL-`;everse thrustJ NPBLLLL 4ith onl% 1Z atmosphere, Eet or propen"ines $an put out basi$all% no thrust... Eust barel% enou"h to

keep the airplane in fli"ht at ma$h-.K).. the Eet plane needs a<T to take offL:o ho# do %ou stopJ finall% #ent #ith ;;B:TN? ?B;. kno# of no other #a% to avoid blastin" off the end of the run#a% at2 knots #ith the $hute uselessl% deplo%ed and brakes uselessl%lo$ked.:peakin" of #hi$h, ';:5B: are interestin". No air dra" to slo#

% p " % E pthe top of the ramp and tumbles on and on and on, po#erless tostop an a$$ident that started hundreds of %ards earlierL (thou"h onmars, at ! mph, %our plane #ill tumble a$ross the plains for7B:L*

';8:N? 7N? >B; ;: is :PB'T'87;, #ith thes$ar% red-oran"e artian sk%, ne# artian ro$k%-red terrainteAtures, >:7= thinner air(L* (due to modified li"htin" inpen?7, modified fo" in pen?7, and visibilit% of stars*.. %oureall% $an tell %ou are half#a% bet#een air and spa$eL ;eturnin"to Barth, %ou feel like %ou are fl%in" in soup% #aterL =ukL:o #hat sort of planes $an fl% on arsJ Not an%thin" from Barth,thats for sure. Not enou"h lift or thrust. 'essna or oein" #ill

Eust sit there on the "round #ithout even movin". Put them in theair and the% drop like beveled bri$ks #ith no #in"s. oth of m%ars-plane $on$epts are mu$h like the 8-2 :p% plane (desi"ned

to operate at around 1, ft, in similar densit% air* one #ith a58?B hi"h-b%pass Eet en"ine built ;8N T5B /8:B7?B,and another #ith a smaller ro$ket en"ine in the tail, like the X-1).The ro$ket plane has a lo#er-thrust en"ine, #ith plent% of fuel, forabout 3 minutes of fli"ht or so... the <BT plane $an fl% for hoursL% desi"ns are realisti$ (a"ain, based on the 8-2, #ith redu$ed#ei"ht for the lo#er stru$tural needs (lo#er "ravit%* and modern($omposite* materials*. The ro$ket-plane is prett% mu$h"uaranteed feasible (kno#n te$hnolo"% a$ross the board* but the

Eet-po#ered one am not sure about sin$e ars has so littleX=?BN in the atmosphere it ma% be impossible to keep a

turbofan en"ine runnin". (% ars Eet-plane has t#i$e the avera"efuel-$onsumption, thou"h, to simulate inEe$tion of liuid oA%"en ornitrous oAide*. ottom line, no# kno# it : possible to build andfl% a piloted plane on ars and no# kno# #hat it #ould be like.(thou"h used a 1, ft run#a% #ith arrestin" #ires... none ofthose on ars no# admit*.

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8. Tips

4ith the latest versions of X-Plane, the artian terrain is finall% X. %or3e %ee"ba32 in X-Plane



%available. 4e0ll no# dis$uss tourin" that terrain.

X-Plane has planet)wide ars elevation data thanks to N:sars rbitin" 7aser ltimeter (or 7, a satellite orbitin" ars

that "athered terrain elevation data on the entire planet*. ll ofthis s$ener% has been "ridded for X-Plane. 'ontrar% to $ommonassumption, ars is not flat, #ith a fe# meteor impa$ts here andthere&not even $loseL

/or eAample, even thou"h ars is one half the radius of Barth(#ith one uarter the surfa$e area*, it has $an%ons that make our?rand 'an%on look like a fish pond (3, feet deepL*. t has avol$ano 6), feet tall. The atmosphere is "one to essentiall%pure va$uum at 1)), feet, so if one $limbs the vol$ano, he orshe is about half#a% to spaceL ars has far more topo"raphi$

variet% than Barth, on a planet #ith onl% a uarter of the surfa$earea, so the si"ht-seein" b% air is intense. The maA allo#ablevisibilit% in X-Plane has been raised to 6 miles #hen on ars sothat the "rand vistas $an be taken in.

ir$raft desi"ned for Barth #ill simpl% not fl% on ars. t isre$ommended that one of the air$raft found in the ars Planesfolder (#ithin the ir$raft folder* be used.

Takin" off and landin" is interestin". pilot is tempted to pi$k ani$e, hi"h spot to make an airport so that there are no obstru$tions

to a landin" approa$h. 5o#ever, the air is so thin up there thatair$raft $an hardl% fl%L n that $ase, ma%be a pilot #ants an airportat the bottom of a $an%on or meteor $rater #here the air is thi$ker.That $ould #ork, but #at$h out for the $an%on or $rater #all #henapproa$hin" and departin", or fa$e impa$tin" the $rater #all at thespeed of soundL f $ourse, the speed of sound is around theminimum speed needed to fl% on ars.

ne interestin" addition to X-Plane 9.31 and later is the option todrive for$e-feedba$k $ontrols.

This unlocks the potential to build some amazing simulators withX-Plane that could achieve very high levels of certification.

To the force feedback options, first open up Plane-Maker (found inthe X-Plane 9 installation directory). Load the aircraft for whichthe force feedback controls will be modified (by clicking on the Filemenu and selecting Open). With the aircraft open, open theStandard menu and click Control Geometry, as shown below.

n the #indo# that opens, "o to the 'ontrol /or$es tab, as sho#nin the follo#in" ima"e.

1!!

took 10 pounds of force to move the elevator 50%, one wouldenter 20 pounds for the force for full up-elevator; because it took10 pounds to go halfway, it must take 20 pounds to go all the wayto the stops assuming that the control force is linear with



Let's go through each variable that can be set here.

A. eferen3e &pee" for Pit3h %or3e

ma"ine %ou take the airplane up, fl% it at 9 knots indi$atedairspeed (kias*, and it takes 1 pounds of for$e to move theelevator aft )Z of its travel.

In this case, your reference speed for pitch force is 90 knots.This is the speed for which you recorded the elevator force in thereal plane.

8. %or3e for %ull Up-le*ator

To the right of the reference speed for pitch force is the forcefor full up-elevator control. Using the previous example, where it

to the stops, assuming that the control force is linear withdisplacement. Of course, in reality, the control force might not beperfectly linear with displacement, but this is probably a decentapproximation.

C. Pit3h :a,ping

Start by entering 0 here, and then increasing the force a bit ifneeded.

This simply is the number of pounds that will resist the SPEED ofthe control deflection to damp out oscillations.

Depending on your hardware, it may be that none is required. Ofyou may need to enter some value damp out rapid motions of theyoke.

:. oll+ Ea6+ an" 8ra2e eferen3e &pee"s an" %or3es

Same as for pitch, of course. Just enter the speeds at which youdeflected the controls in the real plane, and the force required tofully-deflect those controls. For safety, it makes sense to onlyPARTIALLY deflect the controls in flight (WARNING! FULL-DOWNELEVATOR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE REAL-PLANE.. IT CAN OVER-STRESS THE AIRPLANE EVEN>BELOW< MANEUVERING SPEED!!!) and then multiply the forcethat you enter into Plane-Maker to be the force that would be

required to get full-scale deflection, using linear extrapolation.

. Turbulen3e an" 9roun"

I think you should probably enter 0 here, but if you want the stickto thrash around a bit in turbulence or on the ground, then tryentering values here to get a nice response.

1!)

%. &tall an" &ha2er



For the aerodynamic stall, enter the number of oscillations persecond that are desired to flop the stick back and forth, and thenumber of pounds of force that result. Ditto that for the arti ficialstick-shaker.

9. y"rauli3 %or3e !n3rease

If you are simulating a plane that operates with hydraulic boostthat can be lost, then enter how much stiffer the controls get herewhen hydraulic pressure is lost.

. %or3e Ma/i,u,s

/or safet%, #e $an limit all for$es to pre-determined values... enter those maAimums hereL

1!6

(. &upple,ent Airfoil-Ma2er iii. &a*e

8se this to save an airfoil that #as $reated or modified.



No# lets talk about the irfoil-aker appli$ation, found in the X-Plane 9 installation dire$tor%.

!. Menus

The menus of irfoil-aker are ver% simpleM

A. About

The bout menu0s onl% option, >ersion, #ill displa% the version ofthe pro"ram and $he$k for updates from the A-plane.$om #ebsite.

8. %ile Menu

The file menu #orks Eust like the file menu of an% #ord pro$essoror spreadsheet appli$ation. /iles are $reated, loaded, and savedhere+ the onl% differen$e is that, instead of teAt do$uments, irfoil-aker is openin" and savin" files that represent airfoils.

i. )e6

8se this to "enerate a ne# airfoil.

ii. Open

8se this to open an eAistin" airfoil for vie#in" or modifi$ation.

i*. &a*e As

8se this to save an airfoil that #as $reated or modified under adifferent name.

*. /it

BAit irfoil-aker.

!!. :esigning an Airfoil

Bver% airfoil ever desi"ned has its o#n spe$ifi$ $hara$teristi$s,#hi$h are its $oeffi$ients of

• lift (ho# mu$h the airfoil #ants to lift up*,• drag (ho# mu$h the airfoil #ants to pull ba$k*, and• moment (ho# mu$h the airfoil #ants to pit$h up*.

A. The Coeffi3ient 9raph

ominatin" the desi"n s$reen is a lar"e bla$k "raph #ith "reen,red, and %ello# lines on it, like the follo#in" ima"e.

1!@

This is the $oeffi$ient displa% boA, and it displa%s, for #hateveran"le of atta$k the mouse it pointin" at, the $oeffi$ients of theairfoil at that an"le of atta$k. <ust point the mouse at the part ofth i t t d i d l k t th t ffi i t



ovin" the mouse around in the "raph #ill $ause the numbersdispla%ed in the bla$k boA in the bottom left of the s$reen (seen in

the follo#in" ima"e* to $han"e in real time.

the $urve %ou are interested in, and look at the eAa$t $oeffi$ientsin the $oeffi$ient displa% boA.

The left ed"e of the "raph $orresponds to an an"le of atta$k of -2

de"rees, and the ri"ht ed"e $orresponds to an an"le of atta$k of2 de"rees. Therefore, movin" the mouse to the left ed"e of the$hart #ill $ause the alpha readin" in the bla$k boA to "o to -2,$orrespondin" to the -2 de"ree an"le of atta$k. The same "oesfor the ri"ht ed"e #ith its 2 de"ree an"le of atta$k.

The $enter of the $hart represents an an"le of atta$k of Ferode"rees. (;emember that the an"le of atta$k is the an"le of the#in" to the air. t is the an"le at #hi$h the #in" hits&Satta$ksS&the air*.

The "reen line in the "raph is the $oeffi$ient of lift , $alled 3l in the$oeffi$ient displa% boA in the bottom left. The red line is the$oeffi$ient of drag , $alled 3" in the $oeffi$ient displa% boA. The%ello# line is the $oeffi$ient of moment , $alled 3, in the$oeffi$ient displa% boA. 4ell look at the behavior of ea$h of theselines belo#.

8. eynol"s )u,ber

n the upper left of the s$reen is a number labeled e, for

;e%nolds number, as hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

1!K

C. Coeffi3ients



The ;e%nolds number is simpl% the air densit% times the speed ofthe airplane times the $hord of the #in" divided b% the vis$osit% ofair (4o#L*. BAperiments have sho#n that a #in"0s $oeffi$ients oflift, dra" and moment var% some#hat #ith ;e%nolds number. /orre$reational purposes, #e $an probabl% ne"le$t an% $han"e inperforman$e #ith ;e%nolds number, thus i"norin" this settin"alto"ether. The number entered in the ;e%nolds number boA ma%have some impa$t, ho#ever, on the simulation. /or hi"hestrealism, users $an "enerate t#o different airfoil files for the sameairfoil in irfoil-aker, ea$h file at a different ;e%nolds number,and assi"n them both to a #in" in Plane-akerL X-Plane #illfi"ure out the ;e%nolds number on ea$h pie$e of the plane atleast 1 times per se$ond and interpolate bet#een the t#o airfoilfiles to "ive the most realisti$ $oeffi$ients for that fli"ht ;e%noldsnumber.

Pilots should realiFe that ver% "ood a$$ura$% $an be obtained#ithout tou$hin" the ;e%nolds number at all, and #ithout"eneratin" t#o airfoil files for ea$h airfoil. ost users $an i"norethe above para"raph and the S;e%nolds numberS slot in the airfoil"eneration s$reen #ithout sa$rifi$in" a "ood simulation.

i. Coeffi3ient of =ift

The "reen line in the "raph above is the $oeffi$ient of lift.

Noti$e that at Fero de"rees an"le of atta$k (the $enter of the"raph* the $oeffi$ient of lift is fairl% lo#+ it is $lose to the thin #hiteline that represents Fero. s the an"le of atta$k in$reases, the

1!9

$oeffi$ient of lift in$reases ri"ht alon" #ith it, until it rea$hesaround 16 de"rees an"le of atta$k, at #hi$h point the $oeffi$ient of lift falls abruptl%. That is representin" the stallL 7ookin" at the

ti l f tt k th t th ffi i t f lift

of moment.

The $oeffi$ient of moment is the tenden$% of the #in" to pit$h upb t it i t t d b t th t i



ne"ative an"les of atta$k, one sees that the $oeffi$ient of lifta$tuall% "ets ne"ative. f %ou "o to a lar"e enou"h ne"ative an"leof atta$k, the airfoil stalls then, too. t is possible to stall upsidedo#nL "ood #in" #ill have a de$ent $oeffi$ient of lift (ma%be

.!* at an"les of atta$k $lose to Fero, and a ni$e hi"h $oeffi$ient of lift (ma%be 1.6* at the maAimum an"le of atta$k. safe airfoil #illalso have a stall that is not too abrupt. n other #ords, the$oeffi$ient of lift #ill fall off "raduall% at the stall, rather thansharpl%.

ii. Coeffi3ient of :rag

The red line on the "raph on the previous pa"e is the $oeffi$ient of dra".

Noti$e that the $oeffi$ient of dra" is lo#est $lose to Fero de"reesan"le of atta$k. The dra" "ets hi"her and hi"her as the #in" "oesto lar"er and lar"er an"les of atta$k. That is not surprisin", is itJThe hi"her the an"le the #in" is offset from the airflo#, the "reater the dra"L

t doesnt matter mu$h #hether the #in" moves to positive orne"ative an"les of atta$k (that is, #hether the #in" is aimed up ordo#n*+ movin" the #in" a#a% from its most streamlined positionin$reases its dra". "ood airfoil #ill obviousl% have the lo#est

dra" possible. (Noti$e that this dra" $oeffi$ient does not in$ludethe dra" due to the produ$tion of lift. X-Plane #ill fi"ure this dra"out automati$all%*.

iii. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent

The %ello# line in the "raph on the previous pa"e is the $oeffi$ient

about its aAis, or rotate up#ards about the spar. ost #in"sa$tuall% #ant to pit$h do#n, so the $oeffi$ient of moment is usuall%ne"ative. The moment varies a bit #ith an"le of atta$k, often in#a%s that are a little bit surprisin". T%pi$all% the moment #ill be

ne"ative for all normall% en$ountered an"les of atta$k, de$reasin"(that is, be$omin" more ne"ative* espe$iall% as the an"le of atta$kis in$reased. This $ontinues until the stall, at #hi$h point themoment heads ba$k to Fero. desirable $hara$teristi$ of anairfoil is usuall% to have a lo# $oeffi$ient of moment.

:. 9eneral !nfo

i. %in"ing Coeffi3ients

an% users #onder ho# to find #hat the $oeffi$ients are for theairfoils of their o#n airplane. To do this, the user must first find#hat airfoil the air$raft uses, probabl% from the manufa$turer.Then, $he$k to see if that airfoil is in$luded #ith X-Plane. f a user is fl%in" a 'essna 1K2, for eAample, that air$raft uses the N'2!12 airfoil, #hi$h is in$luded. 'essna 1K2 o#ners, then, do notneed to "enerate their o#n airfoil for that #in". 8sers #ho do notkno# #hat airfoil to use should leave them as the defaults ofPlane-aker.

ii. e3o,,en"e" 8a32groun" ea"ing

irfoil sele$tion is a fun and interestin" pro$ess, be$ause onelooks for the best possible $ombination of lift, dra", and moment$hara$teristi$s for a parti$ular airplane. /or users that #ill beeAperimentin" #ith their o#n airplane desi"ns and are ne# to thematters dis$ussed in this $hapter, #e hi"hl% re$ommend thefollo#in" book to "et startedM

1)

R3C %odel 0irplane Design 02!2 'ennon%otorbooks nternational "ublishers and 4holesalers, nc2

amount of dra" as the penalt% for providin" a lar"e amount of lift.

:o-$alled Snormal "eneral aviation airfoilsS, like the N' 2!12(seen in the follo#in" ima"e* are $ompromises bet#een the t#o



The book is intended for radio $ontrol desi"ns, but is ver%strai"htfor#ard, eas% to understand, and all of the prin$iples appl%to full-s$ale air$raft.

n$e users understand the basi$s of airfoil theor% andnomen$lature, #e re$ommendM

5heory of 4ing #ections 0bbot and Von Doenhoff %c!raw)(ill, 6ew 7ork 89:9;

n oldie but "oodieL This book has the lift, dra", and momentplots of man% airfoils in it, so the reader $an $hoose their favoriteairfoil for a desi"n and then enter it into the $omputer usin" thete$hniue des$ribed belo#.

iii. Types of Airfoils

n the follo#in" dis$ussion, thin and s%mmetri$al, thi$k and hi"hl%$ambered, and Qnormal "eneral aviationR airfoils #ill be dis$ussed.These t%pes of airfoils serve as a "ood introdu$tion be$ause the%are so different from one another.

Thin, s%mmetri$al airfoils are thin and have the same shape onboth the top and bottom surfa$es. The% do not produ$e ver% mu$h

lift or dra". The% t%pi$all% are used for verti$al stabiliFers and oftenhoriFontal stabiliFers as #ell be$ause the% are not $alled upon toprodu$e a lot of lift, and are not eApe$ted to produ$e mu$h dra",either.

8se thi$k, hi"h-$ambered airfoils in the foreplanes of $anards, orother appli$ations #here %ou #ant a 7;?B amount of lift from a:77 #in" area. These foils are kno#n for providin" a lar"e

(seen in the follo#in" ima"e*, are $ompromises bet#een the t#o,and are "ood $andidates for the #in" of a "eneral aviation air$raft.

:uper$riti$al, laminar-flo#, and other possible "roupin"s of airfoilseAist, but for the purposes of our dis$ussion #e #ill $on$entrate onthe thin and s%mmetri$al, thi$k and hi"hl% $ambered, and Snormal"eneral aviationS airfoils Eust outlined.

. 9enerating Airfoils

i. Coeffi3ient of =ift !nter3ept

No# lets a$tuall% "enerate an airfoil. The $ontrol to modif% first isthe $oeffi$ient of lift inter3ept $ontrol, found in the upper left, ashi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

1)1

ii. Coeffi3ient of =ift &lope

This is the in$rease in $oeffi$ient of lift per de"ree in$rease inan"le of atta$k thin airfoil has a value of about 1 reall% fat



To in$rease this number, Eust $li$k ri"ht above the di"its that %ou

#ant to in$rease, and belo# the ones that %ou #ant to de$rease./or eAample, if the lift inter$ept on the s$reen is .2) (as in theprevious ima"e*, and %ou #ant to $han"e it to .33 to model %ourairfoil, Eust $li$k above the S2S in S.2)S and t#i$e belo# the S)Sin S.2).S This is ho# all of the data for the entire desi"n andsimulation s%stem is $han"ed.

The $oeffi$ient of lift inter$ept is the $oeffi$ient of lift at an an"le of atta$k of de"rees. /or a s%mmetri$al airfoil, this #ill al#a%s beFero, sin$e, in su$h an airfoil, the air is doin" eAa$tl% the samethin" on the top and bottom of the #in" at Fero de"rees an"le of

atta$k. :%mmetri$al airfoils are sometimes used for horiFontalstabiliFers, and are almost al#a%s used for verti$al stabiliFers.:leek, skinn% #in"s #ith lo# $amber mi"ht have a lift inter$ept of.1. /at, hi"hl% $ambered foils have a value around .6. t%pi$alairfoil like the N' 2!12 ($ommonl% used in "eneral aviation*has a value of about .2.

an"le of atta$k. thin airfoil has a value of about .1. reall% fatairfoil has a value of about .K. /atter airfoils have sli"htl% lo#erlift slopes. (=ou #ill find, ho#ever, that lift slopes are almostal#a%s ver% $lose to .1*.

The $oeffi$ient of lift slope is modified usin" the slope $ontrolhi"hli"hted belo#.

iii. Coeffi3ient of =ift Cur*ature )ear the &tall

s the an"le of atta$k "ets $lose to stall, the lift slope is no lon"erlinear. nstead, it "raduall% levels off as it approa$hes themaAimum, or stallin", $oeffi$ient of lift.

This value is modified b% the first po6er $ontrol, hi"hli"hted in thes$reenshot belo#.

1)2



<ust pla% #ith this $ontrol until %ou find a po#er $urve that

$onne$ts the linear and stallin" re"ions smoothl%. 'han$es are apo#er of around 1.) #ill #ork prett% #ell. <ust pla% #ith it until thelift $omes up smoothl%, then "raduall% levels off to the stall, sin$ethat is #hat happens #ith a real airfoil.

i*. Coeffi3ient of =ift Ma/i,u,

This is the maAimum $oeffi$ient of lift, or the $oeffi$ient of lift ri"htbefore the stall. ver% thin, s%mmetri$al airfoil has a value ofaround 1.. thi$k, hi"hl% $ambered airfoil has a value of around

1.K. t%pi$al "eneral aviation foil mi"ht have a value of around1.6.

This value is modified usin" the ,a/i,u, $ontrol, hi"hli"hted inthe follo#in" ima"e.

*. Coeffi3ient of =ift !,,e"iate :rop at &tall

This is the drop in lift that immediatel% follo#s the stall. /or thinairfoils, #hi$h tend to stall sharpl%, this value mi"ht be .2. /orman% airfoils, ho#ever, there is no immediate drop, but instead amore "radual one as the an"le of atta$k is further in$reased. nmost $ases, this number #ill be Fero or ver% $lose to Fero.

This is modified usin" the "rop $ontrol hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e.

1)3



*i. Coeffi3ient of =ift Cur*ature After the &tall

ifferent airfoils have different lift slopes after the stall. /or skinn%airfoils that stall sharpl%, the po#er should be fairl% lo#, perhapsaround 1.!. /or fat airfoils (#hi$h usuall% have more "entlestallin" $hara$teristi$s* this number ma% be $loser to 2..

This settin" is $ontrolled via the boA hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e.

<ust pla% #ith the po6er $ontrol until the "raph looks like the data%ou are tr%in" to model from the airfoil $hart in #hatever book %ouare "ettin" %our airfoil data from.

*ii. Coeffi3ient of =ift :rop fro, &tall to 0 :egrees

This is the de$rease in $oeffi$ient of lift from the stall to an an"leof 2 de"rees. This number, modified usin" the "rop $ontrolhi"hli"hted in the follo#in" s$reenshot, mi"ht be in the .! ran"efor a thi$ker airfoil, .6 for a thinner one.

1)!

This minimum $oeffi$ient of dra" also should not in$lude the Qlo#-dra" bu$ketR of a laminar flo# #in". thi$k or hi"hl% $amberedairfoil has a value of about .1. t%pi$al older "eneral-aviationairfoil su$h as the N' 2!12 has a value of about 6 and a



The N' 2!12 has a value of about .!. (The $oeffi$ient of lift

"oes from around 1.6 to 1.2 as the an"le of atta$k "oes fromaround 16 to 2 de"rees*.

*iii. Coeffi3ient of :rag Mini,u,

The $oeffi$ient of dra" minimum, labeled 3"-,in in the ima"ebelo#, is the minimum $oeffi$ient of dra" of the airfoil. n$ea"ain, this does not in$lude induced dra", #hi$h is determinedautomati$all% b% the X-Plane simulator.

airfoil su$h as the N' 2!12 has a value of about .6, and areall% thin, s%mmetri$al airfoil has about a .) value. 7aminarflo# airfoils $an approa$h values of .!, but that number shouldnot be entered here, be$ause it #ill be addressed in the laminar

dra" bu$ket $ontrols dis$ussed belo#.

i/. Coeffi3ient of =ift at 7hi3h Mini,u, :rag O33urs

Bnter the $oeffi$ient of lift at #hi$h the minimum dra" o$$urs in the,in-" 3l $ontrol, hi"hli"hted belo#.

This value is probabl% ver% $lose to the $oeffi$ient of lift at Ferode"rees an"le of atta$k, $alled the lift inter$ept&the ver% firstnumber #e entered. f an%thin", the minimum $oeffi$ient of dra"o$$urs at a $oeffi$ient of lift a little lo#er than the lift inter$ept$oeffi$ient of lift. This is be$ause an airfoil usuall% has the leastdra" at an an"le of atta$k of about Fero de"rees or Eust a hair

lo#er.

/. Coeffi3ient of :rag at Angle of Atta32 of 10 :egrees

This value is modified usin" the " alpha10 $ontrol hi"hli"hted inthe follo#in" ima"e.

1))

perfe$tl% smooth airflo# a$ross a lar"e part of the #in". This flo#pattern is $alled Slaminar flo#S (hen$e the $ompan% nameS7aminar ;esear$hS*. This super smooth, lo#-dra" flo# $an onl%happen at fairl% small an"les of atta$k thou"h so there is a Slo#-



/or a thin, s%mmetri$al airfoil, this value mi"ht be around .1).The N' 2!12 $omes in #ith a surprisin"l% "ood .12. reall%hi"hl% $ambered airfoil mi"ht be around .2), thou"h.

/i. Coeffi3ient of :rag Cur*ature

This value is set b% the first po6er $ontrol in the dra" se$tion,hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

The po#er $urve is simpl% the $urvature of the dra" $urve as it$han"es #ith an"le of atta$k. =ou #ill have to fiddle #ith the

$urvature until the $urve looks like the eAperimental data, buttheoreti$all% this number #ill be around 2.

/ii. =a,inar :rag 8u32et =o3ation

:ome airfoils, $alled Qnatural laminar flo#R or SN7/S airfoils, have

happen at fairl% small an"les of atta$k, thou"h, so there is a lo#dra" bu$ketS, or area in a small an"le of atta$k ran"e, that haslo#er-than-normal dra". The dra" bu$ket lo$ation is usuall%thou"ht of in terms of the $oeffi$ient of lift. n other #ords, the

$enter of the dra" bu$ket o$$urs at some $oeffi$ient of lift of theairfoil. This mi"ht happen at a $oeffi$ient of lift of around .6.

The laminar dra" bu$ket lo$ation is set usin" the 3l lo3ation $ontrol hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" s$reenshot.

/iii. =a,inar :rag 8u32et 7i"th

The laminar dra" bu$ket #idth, set usin" the 6i"th $ontrolhi"hli"hted in the follo#in" s$reenshot, refers to ho# Q#ideR thebu$ket is, or #hat ran"e of $oeffi$ient of lift the dra" bu$ket$overs. de$ent "uess #ould be .!.

1)6

/i*. =a,inar :rag 8u32et :epth

3 to ).

/*i. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent =o6-Alpha Change Point



This is the all-important variable. The "epth $ontrol, hi"hli"hted inthe ima"e belo#, determines ho# mu$h the airfoils dra" isredu$ed b% "oin" to laminar flo#. deall%, this #ill be around

.2. That is a$tuall% uite a bit, thou"h+ it mi"ht turn a$oeffi$ient of dra" of .6 to .!&uite a lar"e per$enta"edifferen$e.

/*. =a,inar :rag 8u32et Cur*ature

This is set usin" the se$ond po6er $ontrol in the dra" se$tion ofthe #indo#, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

The po#er $urve is simpl% the $urvature of the lo# dra" bu$ket.=ou #ill have to fiddle #ith the $urvature until the $urve looks l ikethe eAperimental data, but $han$es are this number #ill be around

/*i. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent =o6 Alpha Change Point

The $oeffi$ient of moment is usuall% linear a$ross the non-stalledan"le of atta$k ran"e. n other #ords, if the airfoil is not stalled,

the moment $urve is usuall% a strai"ht line. fter the stall,ho#ever, the moment $oeffi$ient tends to $han"e dire$tion. /orthe N' 2!12, the moment $oeffi$ient has its lo# an"le of atta$kmoment $han"e at 1 de"rees, a point $orrespondin" to rou"hl%! de"rees before the stall.

This point of $han"e is set usin" the alpha 1 $ontrol hi"hli"htedbelo#.

/*ii. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent igh-Alpha Change Point

This $hara$teristi$, set usin" the alpha $ontrol (hi"hli"htedbelo#*, determines #here the moment $oeffi$ient $han"esdire$tion #ith a positive an"le of atta$k.

1)@

/i/. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent at =o6-Alpha Change Point

This is set usin" the 3, $ontrol, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e.



The N' 2!12 airfoil has its hi"h an"le of atta$k moment-$han"e ri"ht at the positive stallin" an"le of 16 de"rees.

/*iii. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent at 0 :egrees

This is set usin" the 3, 1 $ontrol, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"s$reenshot.

/or the N' 2!12, this number is about .@). Noti$e that thisis a positive number. This means that if the airfoil is at a $learne"ative an"le of atta$k, it #ill stall and tr% to pit$h ba$k up to anan"le of atta$k $loser to Fero. This is a ni$e effe$t, be$ause theairfoil tends to tr% and re$over from the stall automati$all%.

"

/or the N' 2!12, this number is about -.), #hi$h is a li"htpit$h-do#n. #in" #ith a hi"her $amber #ill have a value ofaround -.1, perhaps even -.13. s%mmetri$al airfoil #ill haveno pit$h tenden$% at all here, so . should be entered for thatt%pe of airfoil.

//. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent at igh-Alpha Change Point

This is set usin" the 3, $ $ontrol, hi"hli"hted in the follo#in"ima"e.

1)K

/or the N' 2!12, this number is about .2), #hi$h is a ver%li"ht pit$h-do#n. #in" #ith a hi"her $amber #ill have a value ofaround .1, perhaps even .13. s%mmetri$al airfoil #ill have no

used onl% b% that airplane*.



, p p %pit$h tenden$% at all here, so . should be entered for that t%pe of airfoil.

//i. Coeffi3ient of Mo,ent at 0 :egrees

This is the $oeffi$ient of moment #ell into the stall, set usin" the3, 4 $ontrol hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

/or the N' 2!12, it is about -.1. This is a moderate pit$h-do#n, #hi$h is desirable be$ause this pit$h-do#n #ill help re$over from the stall.

%. %inishing Up

'han"e all of the parameters around a bit as dis$ussed above,then sele$t :ave s from the /ile menu. T%pe in an airfoil nameand hit Bnter. 'on"ratulationsL =ou have Eust "enerated %ouro#n airfoilL rop it in the irfoils folder in %our X-Plane 9 folder(so that it #ill be usable b% all planes* or a folder that %ou make$alled SirfoilsS in the same folder as %our airplane desi"ns (to be

1)9

10. &upple,ent Plane-Ma2er

! Pl M 2 : i ti

for others to fl%L Bven better, if a $ompan% has an eA$itin"airplane, it $an be built in Plane-aker, test flo#n in X-Plane, andthen put on the $ompan%0s #eb-site for $ustomers or potential$ustomers to do#nloadL n%one that has X-Plane #ill be able to



!. Plane-Ma2er :es3ription

Plane-aker is a pro"ram bundled #ith X-Plane that lets users

desi"n their o#n air$raft&nearl% an% ima"inable air$raft $an bebuiltL n$e all the ph%si$al spe$ifi$ations of the airplane havebeen entered (#ei"ht, #in" span, $ontrol defle$tions, en"inepo#er, airfoil se$tions, et$.*, the X-Plane simulator #ill predi$t ho#that plane #ill fl%. irplanes are saved in Plane-aker Eust as one#ould save a #ord pro$essin" file. These files are then opened inX-Plane and flo#n. 8sers $an $reate a .Fip file of all the$omponents of the airplane and distribute that CP on the nternetfor others to fl%. Planes $reated b% others $an also bedo#nloaded and used in the simulator. X-Plane.or"0s So#nloadana"erS pa"e)1 is $urrentl% a "ood pla$e to upload and

do#nload these planes.

Note that information on ho# to add air$raft to X-Plane is found in'hapter @, :e$tion , ddin" Third-Part% ir$raft on pa"e 114.

This $hapter #ill $over the basi$s of both the $reation anddistribution (likel% over the nternet* of air$raft usin" Plane-aker.

!!. =i3ensing of Planes Create" in Plane-Ma2er

8sers are free to do whatever they like #ith planes the% have$reated.

The end-user li$ense a"reement (B87* of X-Plane is prett%simple. t be"ins, S=ou $an use X-Plane for an%thin" %ou #antLSne eA$ellent use for Plane-aker is to $reate the airplane ofone0s dreams, fl% it in X-Plane, and then upload it to the nternet

)1 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloads

%do#nload the virtual version of the airplane and fl% it in X-Plane.This is "reat be$ause it #ill first tea$h more people to fl% theairplane ($reatin" potential $ustomers* and then improve the

$urren$% of those that alread% fl% it ($reatin" safer $ustomers*. f$ourse, Plane-aker $an also be used to enter an air$raft that auser alread% has and flies ever% da%, simpl% for the purpose ofkeepin" up the pilot0s sti$k-and-rudder and instrument skills.

!!!. Using Plane-Ma2er to Ma2e a Plane

4e ma%, at some point, #rite the 2-pa"e book needed toeAplain ever% detail of enterin" a user0s o#n desi"n in Plane-aker, but the follo#in" are the basi$s, #hi$h are enou"h to "et

users started and #orkin" on their o#n.

/irst, open the X-Plane 9 folder and double $li$k on Plane-aker.eAe to "et Plane-aker runnin". n$e it opens, "o to the/ile menu and sele$t pen. :ele$t the nstru$tions folder andthen sele$t one of the BAample Plane airplanes. ne of theeAample planes has a 2- instrument panel #hi$h is easiest to$ustomiFe, and one of them has a 3- $o$kpit #hi$h is harder to$ustomiFe but provides an eAample of a 3- virtual $o$kpit if theuser de$ides to make one.

n$e an airplane has been opened in Plane-aker, the ke% tomasterin" the soft#are is to simpl% "o to ever% menu item inPlane-aker, notin" the hundreds of parameters of the airplanethat $an be $han"ed. (4ant to tr% fl%in" #ith t#i$e the po#erJT#i$e the #ei"htJ 5alf the #in"-areaJ Tr% itL*

n$e a fe# parameters have been $han"ed, it is time to save theplane and fl% it. To do this, "o to the /ile menu and sele$t :ave

16

ir$raft.

No#, laun$h X-Plane and sele$t /ile ` pen ir$raft. :ele$t theairplane that #as Eust saved in Plane-aker and voilaL The ne#l%-

n the #indo# that opens, tab over to the area $ontainin" thevarious different #in"s that the airplane has. 7ets take the 4in"stab, for eAample. =ou #ill noti$e that there are ! airfoils listed forthe S4in" 1S boA. 5o# $ould one #in" have four airfoilsJ Bas%L







modified airplane loads, read% to fl%. This is the pro$ess for$reatin" air$raft and fl%in" them in X-Plane.

!. A""ing Airfoils to a Plane in Plane-Ma2er

t should be prett% self-eAplanator% ho# to enter all the data intoPlane-aker (all the buttons are $learl% labeled*, but one uestionthat $omes up a lot is, Q5o# do atta$h various airfoils to m%air$raft, parti$ularl% at different ;e%nolds numbersJR.

7ike ever%thin" in X-Plane, this is prett% eas% on$e the basi$s aremastered.

/irst, note that X-Plane does not look at the shape of the #in" andthen de$ide ho# mu$h lift, dra", et$. the foil #ill put out. X-Planeis not a $omputational fluid d%nami$s pro"ram. nstead, X-Planeuses pre-defined airfoils that list the performance of an% airfoil (lift,dra", moment* to predi$t ho# the plane #ill fl% #ith that foil. Tolearn ho# to enter that performan$e, read 'hapter 9 (the irfoil-aker supplement, found on pa"e 14#* of this manual, as itdetails ho# to enter the lift, dra", and moment of an% "iven airfoilat an% "iven ;e%nolds numbers.

No#, lets ima"ine that %ou have Eust $reated two foils in irfoil-

aker, one for a N'-2!12 at ;e 3 million, and one at ;e 9million. =ou mi"ht save the foils #ith names like SN' 2!12-;e3.aflS and SN' 2!12-;e9.aflS. The irfoil-aker manualeAplains ho# to do this.

4ith this done, laun$h Plane-aker and open the airplane. Then"o to the BApert menu and sele$t the irfoils menu item.

There $ould be one t%pe of #in" at the tip, another at the root, #ithlinear interpolation in bet#eenL There $ould be one airfoil file forlow ;e%nolds numbers, and another for high ;e%nolds numbers,

#ith X-Plane interpolatin" in bet#een. That $omes to four airfoilfiles&t#o ;e%nolds numbers at the root (on the left* and t#o;e%nolds numbers at the tip (at the ri"ht*. The lo#er ;e%noldsnumbers "o at the top of the boA, the hi"her ;e%nolds numbers "oat the bottom. <ust hold the mouse over the "ra% boA to the left ofea$h airfoil name to "et a reminder of this if needed.

No#, for the eAample of the h%potheti$al plane above, %ou #ouldsele$t (b% $li$kin" on the little "ra% boA to the left of the airfoilnames* SN' 2!12-;e3.aflS for the upper left, and SN'2!12-;e9.aflS for the lo#er left, assumin" the #in" uses a N'

2!12 at its root and X-Plane needs to "ive a$$urate performan$eat ;e%nolds numbers of 3 and 9 million, #ith linear interpolation inbet#een.

The same "oes, of $ourse, for the #in" tip, and all the other foilson the plane.

. %inishing the Plane 6ith Custo, Co32pits+ Paint+ an"&oun"s

4e0ve $overed ho# to $reate, modif%, upload, and do#nloadairplanes for X-Plane, but an air$raft has been $reated in Plane-aker, the dis$ernin" user #ill noti$e that the instruments are allX-Plane standard, the sounds are all X-Plane standard, and theairplane is simpl% "re%.

To take the air$raft to the neAt level of $ustomiFation, #ith $ustompaint, instruments, and sounds, let0s look at some eAamples.

161

n the operatin" s%stem, open the X-Plane 9 folder. ?o into thenstru$tions folder and find the QBAample Plane-asi$R folder. Thisis the eAample $raft #ith a 2- $o$kpit onl%. 4e #ill use this to

airplane. Ba$h of the instruments seen there ma% be $opied to anair$raft folder and $ustomiFed Eust like the fe# sample $ases seenin the BAample Plane folder.



see #hat sorts of thin"s $an be $ustomiFed on the airplane.

The BAample.a$f file in this dire$tor% is the a$tual air$raft file that

$ontains all the data that defines the airplane. This is #hat issaved in Plane-aker.

A. Custo, Paint

pen the various BAampleVpaint.pn" files. These are thepaintEobs for the plane. The% $an be painted an% #a% a user likesin Photoshop (or even : Paint* to make them perfe$t for aparti$ular desi"n. The files ma% be saved as either .bmp or .pn".Noti$e the BAampleVprop.pn" file. ts name is self-eAplanator%.

f $ourse, the prop ima"es $an be modified as #ell.

/or an% plane, simpl% follo# the namin" $onvention seen in thisfolderM name paintEobs as Qaircraft name Vpaint.bmpR and Qaircraftname Vpaint2.bmp.R Ba$h bitmap ma% $urrentl% be up to12!A12! in siFe. ll bitmaps must be po#ers of 2 in siFe (thatis, 2, !, K, 16, 32, 6!, 12K, 2)6, )12, or 12! piAels in #idth andhei"ht*. To $ontrol #hat part of the plane lives in #hat bitmap(sin$e %ou have up to t#o bitmaps*, "o to the BApert menu inPlane-aker, and sele$t the TeAture ;e"ion :ele$tor #indo#.

8. Custo, Panels an" !nstru,ents

No# look in the 'o$kpit folder #ithin the BAample Plane dire$tor%.n this folder are Eust a fe# $ustom panel and altimeter files.Needless to sa%, these parti$ular $ustom files are Eust the tip of thei$eber". 7ook in the X-Plane 9W;esour$esWbitmapsW$o$kpitW folderto see the approAimatel% @) instruments that $an be added to an

4hen openin" the eAample $raft in X-Plane, the instrument paneland altimeter #ill be stunnin"l% u"l%. This is simpl% to make itobvious at a "lan$e that the% are $ustom, non-standard

instruments.

n $on$lusion, simpl% follo# the model seen here, usin" theinstrument names and folders as in the;esour$esWbitmapsW$o$kpitW folder, and $ustomiFe all of X-Planesinstruments for an airplane.

C. Custo, &oun"s

7ook in the eAample plane0s :ounds folder to see some $ustom

sounds asso$iated #ith this plane. ll it takes to add a $ustomsound is to make a 4> file and name it as S 0ircraft name en"n x .#avS, #here the x is the en"ine number (1 for left, 2 forri"ht*. rop that file into the :oundsWen"ineW folder and it0s read%to "o. /or a $omplete list of all the sounds that $an be$ustomiFed, look in the X-Plane 9W;esour$esWsoundsW folder. <ustlike the ;esour$esWbitmapsW$o$kpitW folder is a list of all theinstruments that $an be $ustomiFed, the ;esour$esWsoundsW folder $ontains a list of all the sounds that are $ustomiFable b% pla$in"them in an air$raft0s folderL /ollo# these simple $onventions andadd #hatever $ustom sounds are needed.

:. Custo, 7eapons an" &lung =oa"s

Plane-aker $an also be used to $reate missiles and bombs foran air$raft. n Plane-aker, "o the BApert menu and sele$t uild4eapons. There, users $an make and save a #eapon. =ou #illbe savin" a .#pn file that should "o in the air$raft0s 4eapons

162

folder. /or eAample, look in the eAample plane0s 4eapons folder.This is #here the users #ould save #eapons. TheBAampleV#eapon.bmp file is simpl% the paint that "oes on the#eapon. Note, of $ourse, that one $an have a "ood handful of

and save them in the < format. '3 (do#nloadable here)2* isone su$h editor.

/ull do$umentation on $reatin" obEe$t files is found at s$ener%.A-)3

http://www.inivis.com/downloads.html

http://scenery.x-plane.com/

http://www.inivis.com/downloads.html





#eapons on a "iven plane.

The 4eapons #indo# $an also #ork #ith slun" loads (a <eep

$arried b% a la$k 5a#k heli$opter, for eAample*. These obEe$ts$an be sele$ted as a slun" pa%load in the 4ei"ht and /uel#indo#, sele$ted from the ir$raft menu in X-Plane. TheseobEe$ts $an be saved in the 3- editor '3. $ustom teAturefor the slun" load $an be $reated b% spe$if%in" an ima"e to use inthe < file.

. Custo, $-: Co32pits an" 8o"ies

No# #e $ome to the pinna$le of air$raft desi"nin"&makin"

$ustom 3- $o$kpit and bodies for an airplane #ith a 3- editor.This "oes be%ond the basi$ 2- $o$kpits and the simple shapes of the standard airplanes and up into the level of total $ustomiFationand a$$ura$%.

7ook at the eAample plane0s BAampleV$o$kpit.obE. This is the 3-virtual $o$kpit, if %ou #ant %our plane to have one. % default,pressin" 'trl (that is, the $ontrol ke% and the o0 ke%* in X-Plane #ill send the $o$kpit into 3- mode. /rom there, use the a,s, d, #, r, and f arro# ke%s and the mouse to move around in the3- $o$kpit. 7ook at the eAample plane0s

BAampleV$o$kpitVteAture.pn". This is the teAture that #ill be usedin the (totall% optional* 3- virtual $o$kpit, if one eAists.

The 3- panels are $reated as obEe$t files #ith a .obE eAtension.These < files are simpl% 3- obEe$ts that X-Plane $an dra#. To$reate them, users #ill need an editor that $an $reate 3- obEe$ts

plane.$om)3, but a brief des$ription follo#s.

!. Creating Ob<e3ts for X-Plane

Users sometimes mean different things when asking how tocreate objects to be used with X-Plane—some may mean theaircraft themselves, some the scenery objects, and some the 3-Dcockpits. The answer as to how to create them varies dependingon what is being discussed.

First of all, for the aircraft itself, there is only one answer—the X-Plane .acf file, as saved by Plane-Maker (bundled with thesimulator and located in the X-Plane 9 directory). X-Plane looksat this file to determine flight physics, mass properties, enginepower and limits… the works. As such, it is highly customized toX-Plane and could never be any sort of “all-purpose" format. Thismeans that you can only use Plane-Maker, and nothing but Plane-Maker, to make the aircraft.

While Plane-Maker is perfectly adequate for entering the design ofthe plane (it is bug-free, easy to use, not too fancy, and reliable)Plane-Maker is not a 3-D model editor. Instead, it is used to layout the basic aerodynamic shapes and properties which result inan airplane that looks okay, but would certainly not knockanyone’s socks off. As such, it can not make the complex 3-Dmodel that is needed to make a cool 3-D cockpit, or to make ahighly detailed aircraft model that might overlay the basic Plane-

Maker model from which flight physics are calculated.

These 3-D models can also be used to create buildings and othercustom objects—not just plane overlays and cockpits .

So, to repeat:

)2 httpMHH###.inivis.$omHdo#nloads.html)3 httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omH

163

1. Plane-Maker can be used on its own to make a model for X-Plane. It will look okay and will fly fine. It will be pretty good.

2. In addition to this Plane-Maker model, you can make a 3-D

in the Scenery Tools pack, downloadable here55.

Alternatively, direct export to an X-Plane OBJ file is available inthe two free 3-D editors by Jonathan Harris—both GoogleSketchup56 and Blender57.




http://sketchup.google.com/


http://www.blender.org/







add t o to t s a e a e ode , you ca a e a 3cockpit to sit inside the plane, or a highly detailed aircraftmodel to overly the basic X-Plane model, which could actuallybe made with transparent textures to be invisible, if you desire.

Clearly, users can use Plane-Maker, which comes with X-Plane,to do part 1 above, but not part 2.

See the "Example Aircraft" in the "Instructions" folder for a verysimple example.

So, what editor does one use for part 2?

To do part 2 of the above, you will need a 3-D editor capable ofsaving an object in the X-Plane OBJ format. Note: This is not thesame as the Alias OBJ format.

The following file formats can be used to create X-Plane OBJ files:• 3DS (Autodesk 3D Studio)

• DXF (Autocad)

• OBJ (Alias Wavefront)

• AC (AC3D)

• MD2 (Quake model)

• WRL (VRML)

• LWO (LightWave)

• TXT (Milkshape)

With each of these file extensions, users need to convert theobjects to ones usable by X-Plane. This is often done by openingthe file in AC3D, then using the X-Plane plugin downloadablehere54 to export the file as an X-Plane OBJ.

Alternatively, after an object has been created in 3DS or Autocad,ObjConverter may to be used to convert it. ObjConverter comes

)! httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omHtools.php

S etc up a d e de

Note: All of these exports are limited by file format issues:• 3DS doesn't feature lines, only meshes.

• DXF/Autocad has no texturing info.• Lightwave's texturing model doesn't correspond to ours

very well.• VRML conversion between programs doesn't usually work

well.

There may be other issues, too, in converting between formats.

In all cases, though, the file needs one texture per object.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of ways to get objects into X-Plane from just about any 3-D editor imaginable. If it isn't on this

list, and the 3-D editor is decent, it can probably export to one ofthese formats such as 3DS, Alias Waverfront OBJ, or similar.

For pure "meshes" made with one texture, no tricks, 3DS seemsto be the most reliable conversion format for simple work.

!!. :istribution

n$e an air$raft is $omplete, its time to "et it out thereL ?o to X-Plane.or")K and $reate a free a$$ount. Then, make a sin"le folderthat holds %our airplane, and a folder #ithin that folder that holdsan% $ustom airfoils %ou ma% have made (if %ou have not alread%*.People often upload airplanes but forget to upload their airfoils.That doesn0t #orkL

)) httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omHtools.php)6 httpMHHsket$hup."oo"le.$omH)@ httpMHH###.blender.or"H)K httpMHH###.A-plane.or"H

16!

e sure to "ive the .a$f file inside the folder a re$o"niFable name.Put an% $ustom airfoils %ou made inside a folder $alled Qairfoils,R#hi$h lives inside the main folder for the airplane, and put the

h l thi i t i fil 4i d i ht li k




http://www.x-plane.org/









#hole thin" into a .Fip file. 4indo#s users $an use ri"ht $li$k onthe folder, move the mouse do#n to Q:end to,R and sele$tQ'ompressed (Fipped* folder.R a$ users $an option-$li$k on the

folder and $hose S'reate r$hive.S ll that0s left is to upload theplane.

This is a "reat #a% to let others see %our desi"n, espe$iall% for$ommer$ial purposes, like lettin" the #orld test-fl% %our $ompan%0splane virtuall%... at Fero $ost to %ouL

!!!. &u,,ary

4e have no# dis$ussed ho# to make, modif%, and upload $ustom

airplanes to fl% in X-Plane. s #ell, #e0ve talked about$ustomiFin" the paint, instruments, sounds, #eapons, slun" loads,and even 3- $o$kpits.

No# it0s time to "et to #orkL

16)

11. &upple,ent X-Plane &3eneryesour3es

easiest thin" to do is to install the pen:$ener%X tool62. This is ahu"e librar% of buildin"s, stati$ air$raft, and other obEe$ts. neneed onl% drop them in pla$e #ith verla% Bditor 63. embership(free* at X-Plane.or" is reuired to do#nload.








The main resour$e for users interested in $reatin" s$ener% for X-Plane is the X-Plane :$ener% homepa"e)9.

efore doin" an%thin" that $ould affe$t X-Plane on %our s%stem,make sure %ou take steps to save important models, plu"-ins, et$.4ork #ith an X-Plane installation that is easil% repla$eable shouldit be $orrupted or dama"ed in an% #a%&to easil% do this(assumin" there is enou"h room on the hard drive*, simpl% $reatea ne# folder and $op% the $ontents of the X-Plane 9 folder alread%on the $omputer to it. This folder $ould be named QX-PlaneTestin"R or somethin" similar. This #a%, if an%thin" "oes$atastrophi$all% #ron", all it takes to restore it the pro"ram to a#orkin" state is to delete the $ontents of the se$ondar% folder and

re-$op% the simulator.

!. :o6nloa"ing Pre-Ma"e &3enery

number of #ebsites offer free, read%-made s$ener% fordo#nload. mon" them are the X-Plane.or" :$ener% pa"e6 (a"ood resour$e for a #ide variet% of s$ener%* and Ted0s X-Plane:$ener% pa"e61 (#hi$h has lots of ver% detailed airports*.

!!. 8uil"ing Custo, Airports

/or users #ho Eust #ant to make an airport look lived in, the

)9 httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omH6 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#$at661 httpMHH#eb.me.$omHtheosdavisHApfilesHs$ener%.html

nother "reat sour$e of stati$ air$raft are the libraries of ':7 kits6!

do#nloadable at X-Plane.or". These are meant for use to displa%

other air$raft #hen fl%in" online #ith X:ua#koA, but the%resimpl% air$raft obEe$t files. s su$h, the% $an be in$orporated ins$ener%.

Please note that, #hen buildin" s$ener% like this for personal use,no $op%ri"ht restri$tions appl%. 5o#ever, the ':7 kits are $op%ri"hted b% their various authors, so one #ould need theirpermission before sellin" s$ener% usin" these kits.pen:$ener%X, on the other hand, is free to use in s$ener%pa$ka"es. The developer0s one reuirement is that usersin$orporate b% referen$e, meanin" that their s$ener% makes

referen$es to the pen:$ener%X obEe$ts but does not in$lude$opies of them. (Note that an%one #ho installs a pa$ka"e $reatedthis #a% #ould have to install pen:$ener%X as #ell.*

!!!. Con*erting 9oogle arth &3enery for Use in X-Plane

?2XP76) is a (4indo#s-onl%* utilit% that $onverts ?oo"le satellite photosinto X-Plane terrain teAtures. $ouple of prett% impressive videos arelinked to on the do#nload pa"e sho#in" #hat the tool is $apable of.

62 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#file222663 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#file@266! httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#$at126) httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#file!@K3

166

'hris Gern has #ritten a tool $alled Xpla"e66 that drives a ?oo"le Barthmovin" map displa%.

?maps for X-Plane6@ is a a$ utilit% that $reates X-Plane s$ener% from?oo"le aps ima"es




http://web.me.com/theosdavis/xpfiles/scenery.html








http://www.chriskern.net/code/xplaneToGoogleEarth.html


http://www.chriskern.net/code/xplaneToGoogleEarth.html




?oo"le aps ima"es.

)oteM Test ea$h of these utilities $arefull%, as thin"s $an $han"e from

version to version of X-Plane.

66 httpMHH###.$hriskern.netH$odeHAplaneTo?oo"leBarth.html6@ httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omdo#nloadsIsho#file69K3

16@

Appen"i/ A o6 X-Plane 7or2s

!. X-Plane>s 8la"e le,ent &i,ulation /plaine"

lift au"mentation devi$es are all $onsidered #hen findin" thevelo$it% ve$tor of ea$h element. Prop#ash is found b% lookin" atthe area of ea$h propeller disk, and the thrust of ea$h propeller.8sin" lo$al air densit%, X-Plane determines the prop#ash reuiredfor momentum to be $onserved o#n#ash is found b% lookin" at



p

X-Plane assimilates the "eometri$ shape of an% air$raft and thenfi"ures out ho# that air$raft #ill fl%. t does this b% an en"ineerin"pro$ess $alled Sblade element theor%+Q #hi$h involves breakin"the air$raft do#n into man% small elements and then findin" thefor$es a$tin" on ea$h little element man% times per se$ond.These for$es are then $onverted into a$$elerations #hi$h are theninte"rated to velo$ities and positions. f $ourse, all of thiste$hni$al theor% is $ompletel% transparent to the end users&the%

Eust fl%L X-Plane "oes throu"h the follo#in" steps to propa"ate the fli"htM

A. le,ent 8rea2"o6n

one onl% on$e (durin" initialiFation*, X-Plane breaks the #in"(s*,horiFontal stabiliFer(s*, verti$al stabiliFer(s*, and propeller(s* (ifeuipped* do#n into a finite number of elements. The number ofelements is de$ided b% the user in Plane-aker. Ten elementsper side per #in" or stabiliFer is the maAimum, and studies havesho#n that this provides roll rates and a$$elerations that are ver%$lose to the values that #ould be found #ith a mu$h lar"er number of elements.

8. elo3ity :eter,ination

This is done t#i$e per $%$le. The air$raft0s linear and an"ularvelo$ities, alon" #ith the lon"itudinal, lateral, and verti$al arms ofea$h element are $onsidered to find the velo$it% ve$tor of ea$helement. o#n#ash, prop#ash, and indu$ed an"le of atta$k from

for momentum to be $onserved. o#n#ash is found b% lookin" atthe aspe$t ratio, taper ratio, and s#eep of the #in", as #ell as thehoriFontal and verti$al distan$e of the S#ashed surfa$eS (normall%

the horiFontal stabiliFer* from the S#ashin" surfa$eS (normall% the#in"*, and then "oin" to an empiri$al look-up table to "et thede"rees of do#n#ash "enerated per $oeffi$ient of lift.

C. Coeffi3ient :eter,ination

The airfoil data entered in Part-aker is t#o dimensional, so X-

Plane applies finite #in" lift-slope redu$tion, finite-#in" '7maA redu$tion, finite-#in" indu$ed dra", and finite-#in" momentredu$tion appropriate to the aspe$t ratio, taper ratio, and s#eep of

the #in", horiFontal stabiliFer, verti$al stabiliFer, or propeller bladein uestion. 'ompressible flo# effe$ts are $onsidered usin"Prandtl-?lauert, but transoni$ effe$ts are not simulated other thanan empiri$al ma$h-diver"ent dra" in$rease. n supersoni$ fli"ht,the airfoil is $onsidered to be a diamond shape #ith theappropriate thi$kness ratio+ pressures behind the sho$k #aves arefound on ea$h of the plates in the diamond-shaped airfoil andsummed to "ive the total pressures on the foil element.

:. %or3e 8uil"-Up

8sin" the $oeffi$ients Eust determined in step three, as #ell as theareas determined durin" the first step and d%nami$ pressures(determined separatel% for ea$h element based on air$raft speed,altitude, temperature, prop#ash and #in" s#eep*, the for$es arefound and summed for the entire air$raft. /or$es are then dividedb% the air$raft mass for linear a$$elerations, and moments of

16K

inertia for an"ular a$$elerations.

. 8a32 to 7or2

is in a ) de"ree ri"ht side-slip, so the effe$tive s#eep on the left#in" is onl% ! de"rees, but the effe$tive s#eep on the ri"ht #in"is ) de"rees, and the plane is rotatin" at 1 de"rees per se$ondto the ri"ht, so the advan$in" #in" has an eAtra 1 knots of speedat the #in"tip due to this rotation but the retreatin" #in"tip has 1



The pro$ess is repeated from step t#o, and the #hole thin" is runover a"ain at least 1) times per se$ond. rent $omputers "reatJ

!!. A"*antages of 8la"e le,ent &i,ulation

This method of $omputin" the for$es on the airplane is mu$h moredetailed, fleAible, and advan$ed than the fli"ht model that is usedb% most other fli"ht simulators. ost other simulators usesomethin" $alled Sstabilit% derivativesS to $ompute ho# an airplaneflies. This te$hniue involves simpl% for$in" the nose to return toa $entered position alon" the fli"ht path #ith a $ertain a$$elerationfor ea$h de"ree of offset from strai"ht-ahead fli"ht of the airplane

&for ever% de"ree of an"le of atta$k the nose is raised, the noseshould return to $enter #ith a $ertain a$$eleration. This is aperfe$tl% ni$e rule of thumb, but is far too simplisti$ to use a$rossthe fli"ht envelope of the airplane.

:tabilit% derivatives #ill not normall% take into proper a$$ount theas%mmetri$ affe$ts of en"ine failures, the $haoti$ effe$ts ofturbulen$e, stalls, and spins, and the m%riad of d%nami$ effe$tsthat are "enerated b% the props of planes and the rotors ofheli$opters, su$h as spiralin" slipstream, P-fa$tor, andtranslational lift. s #ell, these simplifi$ations $an not easil%

$onsider su$h effe$ts as transoni$ dra" rise and $ompressibilit%#hi$h effe$t different parts of the airplane in different #a%s atdifferent speeds, an"les of atta$k, sideslips, and rotation rates.

:tabilit% derivatives #ill t%pi$all% sa%, Ska%, #e are fl%in" at a$h.K, so #e add )Z to our dra" due to $ompressibilit%,Q in asituation #here blade element theor% #ill sa%, Ska%, #e are fl%in"at a$h .K, but the #in"s are s#ept at !) de"rees, and the plane

at the #in"tip due to this rotation, but the retreatin" #in"tip has 1knots less speed due to this rotation, and the roll rate is 3de"rees per se$ond to the ri"ht, #hi$h in$reases the an"le of

atta$k from nothin" at the $enter of the plane to 2 de"rees at theri"ht #in"tip and ne"ative 2 de"rees at the left #in"tip, and theplane is pit$hin" up at 1 de"rees per se$ond, #hi$h adds 1.)de"rees of an"le of atta$k to the tail and takes a#a% .1 de"reesan"le of atta$k on the main #in" be$ause it is in front of the $enter of "ravit%, and the $han"es in an"le of atta$k $ause in$rease inindu$ed dra" on the horiFontal stab redu$tion in indu$ed dra" onthe for#ard #in".R

/urthermore, the above is onl% a "ross approAimation&thesimulator does this for ea$h piece of the #in", horiFontal stabiliFer,

verti$al stabiliFer, and propeller blade to reall% build a model of#hat the airplane is doin".

n other #ords, the $ommonl%-used Sstabilit% derivativesS are "rossover-simplifi$ations of ho# an airplane flies, and blade elementtheor% fi"ures out the for$es on ea$h little bit of the airplane.lade element theor% is mu$h more robust, and it $an "ive "reater a$$ura$% in a mu$h #ider variet% of fli"ht $onditions. s #ell,stabilit% derivatives cannot predict how an airplane will fly . Theair$raft model0s $reator has to fi"ure out ho# the plane #ill fl% andthen use the stabilit% derivative to mindlessl% spit that performan$e

ba$k out. Only blade element theor% $an a$$uratel% predict #hatan airplane of a "iven "eometr% #ill do. i$rosoft /li"ht :imulator cannot predi$t ho# an airplane #ill fl% for the user. 4hoeverdesi"ned the airplane has to tell the simulator ho# the airplaneshould fl%, and the simulator then spits that information ba$k to theuser&nobod% a$tuall% learns an%thin". 4ith blade elementtheor%, thou"h, used in X-Plane, a user $an enter the shape of an

169

airplane and then fl% that plane in the simulator. X-Plane #illfigure out ho# a plane of that shape and #ei"ht and po#er shouldfl%L



1@

Appen"i/ 8 &en"ing a 8ug eport

When sending a bug report, please include as much informationibl hi h h X Pl d l i h

To file a bug report, please use this page68.

Please note that, if the report was filed correctly, you will notreceive any feedback on it. The report will be saved and lookedinto, and, depending on its priority, fixed in a future update.

http://dev.x-plane.com/support/bugreport.html

http://dev.x-plane.com/support/bugreport.html



as possible—anything that the X-Plane development crew mightneed to know in order to reproduce the malfunction. This includes(but is not limited to) the following information:

• The software in question (X-Plane, EFIS-App, Plane-Maker, etc.)

• The operating system being used

• The version of X-Plane in question

• The hardware in use (if the issue only occurs when usingcertain hardware)

• The exact steps (as specific and step-by-step as possible)required to reproduce the problem

dditionall%, before filin" a bu" report, pleaseM• e sure %ou are usin" the latest version of X-Plane (this

in$ludes makin" sure %ou aren0t usin" an outdatedshort$ut*.

• elete (or $han"e the name of* %our preferen$es file inorder to rule that out.

• isable an% plu"-ins or third-part% add-ons. (Please reportbu"s in third-part% soft#are to the soft#are0s developer,not the X-Plane team.*

• e sure %ou understand the feature %ou are reportin" abu" on.

• 'onta$t X-Plane $ustomer support at infoUA-plane.$om if%ou are not sure #hether %ou have a bu" or a te$h supportproblem.

• tta$h a lo".tAt file from X-Plane (or the installer or other X- ppli$ation* #hen filin" the report, as #ell as PN?s$reenshots for an% visual problems. The lo".tAt file #illtell us a lot of information about %our s%stem that #ill speedup bu" anal%sis.

Below is an email that gets sent often when users send a bugreport without enough information to diagnose the problem:

Very often, people will report a bug like, "My speed indicator doesnot work.” Well, I might crash my Corvette into a tree, pick up mycell phone as the airbag deflates in my lap, call General Motors,and say, "My speed thing indicates zero!"

In a case like that, how good a job can GM do in deciphering that report?

Filing a report with X-Plane saying “My speed indicator does notwork" can be almost that incomplete for two reasons. The first isthat with about 20 or 30 instruments available in the X-Plane world(accessible via Plane-Maker) that indicate speed, saying "speed

Indicator" does not really isolate what instrument is beingdiscussed. The second reason is that you have not really given achecklist of steps that you took to find yourself with the apparentbug. For example, it may take certain conditions for the airspeedindicator to not work, conditions you may cause without thinkingabout based on your airplane selection, weather, etc.

In my Corvette analogy, the proper report to GM would be:

1. I got in my car.

2. I hit the starter button, the engine started, and I put thetransmission in first gear.

3. I hit the gas and turned the wheel and drove until I hit a tree,which stopped me.

4. The speedometer in the instrument panel indicated zero.

6K httpMHHdev.A-plane.$omHsupportHbu"report.html

1@1

5. I included a picture I took on my digital camera here,showing both the speedometer indicating zero and the caractually stopped.

In the X-Plane world, a proper checklist for the report would looklike:

problem with this is that it doesn’t tell what the issue actually is.What do you think the indicator should go to? And, above all,prove it .

In almost all filed bug reports, the report lacks any sort of proofthat the value being cited as wrong is actually wrong Since I






like:

1. I deleted my preferences so I did not have any odd settings

that may cause this that we might not know about.

2. I fired up X-Plane on computer running [insert operatingsystem here].

3. I went to the File menu and opened the “Austin’s PersonalTransport” aircraft.

4. I noticed the EFIS airspeed indicator stayed at zero, nomatter how fast I flew.

5. I included a screenshot of X-Plane showing the panel here,with the actual speed of the plane shown using the Data

Output screen to show my real speed.

The difference between the five-lined report above and the one-liner at the top is that you have actually told me what you arereally doing. You are starting by deleting the preferences so that Ican do the same as you (a first step toward solving the problem!),you are telling me what plane you are opening (so I can do thesame), you are choosing one of the planes that come with X- Plane (so I can do the same as you) and you are listing which ofX-Plane's dozens of speed indicators you are referring to, so I cansee what the problem really is.

To summarize the above, be sure to give a complete checklist toduplicate the issue, starting with deleting the preferences andchoosing an airplane that comes with X-Plane so that I can gothrough the same steps as you. I must be able to mirror youractions, step by step, to duplicate the bug on my computer, as thisis the first step to solving the problem.

Another very common mistake is to say something like, "I flip aswitch and hit a button and an indicator goes to 56%." The

that the value being cited as wrong is actually wrong. Since Isometimes get reports from people that think a Cessna cannotroll, an airliner cannot take off without flaps, or a helicopter cannot

turn without pulling collective (all incorrect assumptions on the partof the “bug” reporter), I do require proof that a characteristic that isclaimed to be wrong actually is . Segments of pilot's operatinghandbooks are typically just fine.

So, be sure to include proof that a characteristic of the simulator iswrong if you believe it to be so.

Another very common error is for people to install plug-ins thatmodify data in the sim, third-party scenery packages that don'tquite follow the standards, or third-party airplanes that may haveproblems, and then report it as a “bug” when something does notwork correctly.

I won’t be able to duplicate the problem if it is due to third-partymodifications. So, be sure that starting from a freshly installedcopy of X-Plane with the preferences (and any plug-ins ) removedis the first item in your step-by-step walkthrough for recreating theproblem. Build up from there as needed, including each step inthe checklist so that I can go through it and see the same thingyou see. Use only scenery and planes that come with X-Plane ifpossible, so that I can duplicate the bug.

Once again, be sure to:

1. Use a checklist to explain what you are doing, starting withdeleting the preferences.

2. Include every step in the checklist that you send in your bugreport.

3. Use proper terminology. If you do not know the name of aninstrument, then go into Plane-Maker and click on it with themouse. The X-Plane instrument name will be displayed at

1@2

right. Or turn on the “Show Instrument Descriptions” option inthe Special menu of X-Plane to get the real name of theinstrument that you think is wrong.

4. Explain why you think the result you are seeing is wrong.Provide proof if you think the sim is not doing what the real



Provide proof if you think the sim is not doing what the realplane would do.

Remember, a bad report would say, "The pressure gauge doesnot work." (What pressure gauge? Why do you think it does notwork? What do you expect it to show? What plane are you evenflying?)

A good report would say, "On a Mac running OS X, I deleted thepreferences and opened the following plane with the File menu,then I set the controls as follows, then I observed the manifoldpressure gauge to indicate manifold pressure of zero as Iadvanced the power, though in the real plane I would get 25" ofmanifold pressure in this plane, as I know from the followingexcerpt from that plane's pilot’s operating handbook."

That report indicates what type of computer you are using, whatyou do to get the problem (in a way that lets me perfectly mirror it),what you think the problem is, and it gives proof that what youbelieve about the plane is in fact true. That is enough info for meto work with!

Also, send the log.txt file ! This lists what type of computer youhave. Hardly anyone even thinks to mention whether they are onMac, Windows, or Linux!

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Appen"i/ C 9lossary of Ter,s

5ere is some basi$ terminolo"% that people misuse ever% da%.

Anti-torque pedals: In a helicopter, the foot pedals which modifythe collective pitch of the tail rotor. Because the helicopter'sthrottle governor keeps the rotors turning at a constant RPM,changing the pitch also changes the thrust generated by the rotor,so the tail rotor can swing the helicopter's tail to the left or right.This is referred to as yaw motion



Gno#led"e of these terms is $ru$ial to #orkin" #ith X-Plane.These are the same terms that #ill be used b% $ustomer support if or #hen a user $alls.

!. 7or2ing 6ith the Progra, !tself

:o6nloa"M To do#nload somethin" means to "et files from someremote server on the nternet and re$eive those files on %our$omputer. 8sers $an do#nload lots of airplanes and s$ener%pa$ka"es for X-Plane from the internet. o#nloadin" is re$eivin"files from the nternet+ it is not the same as installin" those files.

!nstallM To install somethin" means to move a $op% of somethin"onto %our $omputer so that it $an be run. 4hen a user "ets a> #ith X-Plane on it, he or she runs the installer to install thepro"ram from the >&this is not do#nloadin" the pro"ram. t isinstalling it. ne #ould onl% be downloading it if the files #ere$omin" from the nternet (thou"h on$e su$h files #eredo#nloaded, one #ould install them to have them read% for use*.

Update: To update a piece of software is to convert it to a newerversion. This should be done every couple months or so in orderto take advantage of new features in the simulator. To update inX-Plane, the user first do#nloads and then installs a ne#er

version. The updater pro"ram (available for free at X-Plane.$om69*does both of these thin"s for %ou ver% easil%.

!!. Parts of an Air3raft

69 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omHdemo.html

This is referred to as yaw motion.

Collective: In a helicopter, the lever that modifies the collective

pitch of the main rotor's blades; called collective because the pitchof all the blades is modified at the same time. Because the enginekeeps the rotor moving at a constant RPM, increasing the rotorblades' pitch with this control will also increase their lift.

Cyclic: The control (a joystick in real life) which changes the pitchof the main rotor's blades as they go through each cycle, used tosteer the craft left, right, forward, or aft.

?oysti32M $ontrol devi$e used in air$raft. t $onsists of a base#ith a handle atta$hed to it. The handle $an be tiled around #ithinthe base to $ontrol the pit$h and roll movement of the air$raft.

'omputer Eo%sti$ks often have the abilit% to t#ist the handle to$ontrol %a# movement also. ;eal airplanes have either a Eo%sti$kor a %oke to $ontrol them, #hile heli$opters are $ontrolled #ith

Eo%sti$ks onl%.

Rotor: The rotating part of a helicopter that generates the craft'slift; similar in appearance to an oversized airplane propeller,though different in its operation.

u""er pe"alsM Foot pedals in an airplane used to steer theplane down the runway and to control its yaw motion in flight (thatis, the wagging of its tail left or right). This be$omes ver% useful#hen startin" turns and $ounter-a$tin" $ross#inds. Note thatthese are not spelled Qpetals,R as the% are not named after thefra"ile leaves of a flo#er.

Eo2eM The %oke, named after a #ooden devi$e draped a$rossoAen to to# thin"s, is the Qsteerin" #heelR of the airplane. t isused to steer the plane in fli"ht b% dippin" the #in"s up or do#n

1@!

and b% pullin" the nose up and pushin" it do#n. Note that this isnot spelled Q%olk,R as it is not named after the $enter of an e"".

!!!. Mo*e,ent of an Air3raft

above under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unportedlicense.

!. Other A*iation Ter,s





Pitch: Movement of the aircraft's nose up or down (see the imageabove).

Roll: Movement of the aircraft's body along the line formed by itsbody; in an airplane, this is easily seen as the dip or rise of thewings (see the image above).

Yaw: Movement of the aircraft's body left or right, most easilypictured as a wagging of the aircraft's tail (see the image above).

Thanks to Wikipedia contributor ZeroOne for releasing the image

A:%M utomati$ ire$tion-/inder. This is the old-st%le navi"ationdevi$e that Eust points a needle at a transmitter on the "round.These are not used too often an% more be$ause modernnavi"ation involves sta%in" on a pre-defined course (a line*, not

Eust takin" an% random routin" to "et to a pre-defined point, like an / t%pi$all% provides. dditionall%, #ith ?P: navi"ation, the#hole idea of "oin" to pre-defined points (like pi$kin" up bread-$rumbs to find one0s #a% home* is thankfull% disappearin". The?P: #ill take pilots all the #a% to #here the% #ant to "o in astrai"ht line, not a Fi"-Fa""% one like #ould be a$hieved in fl%in"from one navi"ation transmitter to another, #astin" fuel #ith anindire$t routin" simpl% be$ause of the lo$ations people $hose toplant navi"ation transmitters fift% %ears a"o.

A9=M bove ?round 7evel. 4hen holdin" an altitude reuestedb% air traffi$ $ontrol, a pilot #ill hold an altitude :7 (above meansea level*. This lets the pilot sta% at a $onstant level #hile fl%in".n order to avoid a horrifi$ and instant death, ho#ever, pilotsshould be a#are of their altitude ?7 (above "round level* as#ellL The altimeter in the air$raft #orks on air pressure, so itmeasures the altitude above sea level (:7*, so a#areness ofminimum allo#able altitudes in one0s re"ion is always needed inorder to sta% at least that hi"h. The radio altimeter measures thehei"ht above the "round (?7*. ost planes, ho#ever, do nothave these installed. This is in$reasin"l% oka%, thou"h, be$ausein theor% a pilot $an follo# the en route and approa$h $harts,#hi$h list safe :7 altitudes, and more and more planes havemovin" maps that $learl% sho# the terrain elevation, so pilots $anbe sure that their elevation is safe.

Airspee" in"i3ator JA&!KM The : is driven b% the pressure of

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the air impa$tin" a little tube on the nose or #in" of the plane.ore pressure means the $raft is movin" faster. :ee thedis$ussion in Qndi$ated airspeed (:*R belo#.

Altitude: An aircraft's altitude is its height above sea level. This is

than the mechanical gauges of a standard panel.

9AM This $an stand for either "eneral aviation (li"ht planes* or ?o round, an autopilot mode that raises the nose in a #in"s-levelattitude and $alls for lots of po#er in order to "et ba$k to altitude

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ZeroOne

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ZeroOne



gt%pi$all% displa%ed on the air$raft0s altimeter, #hi$h is driven b% airpressure.

ATCM ir Traffi$ 'ontrol.

8CM a$k 'ourse. This is the part of the 7: that "oes beyond thetou$h-do#n Fone. ;ead all about it in 'hapter 6, Navi"ation and

utopilots, be"innin" on pa"e (5.

CDI: Course Deviation Indicator. This instrument (part of the OBIor HSI) displays which direction the aircraft needs to turn in orderto intercept the VOR course. This is discussed in Chapter 6,Navigation and Autopilots, beginning on page (5.

:ensity altitu"eM s the temperature of the air in$reases, itsdensit% de$reases. The barometri$ pressure $an var% based on anumber of other fa$tors, too, so at sea level on a hot, lo#-pressureda%, the densit% of the air ma% be the same as standard airdensit% at 1, feet up in the airL This is a 1, foot densit%altitude. This means there is less air for the en"ines, less air forthe propeller, and less air for the #in"s. ll of this adds up to sa%that it #ill take the air$raft lon"er to "et off the "round.

DME: Distance Measuring Equipment. An instrument used innavigation which measures distance using the delay between the

sending and receiving of a radio signal. Aircraft use this todetermine their distance from a fixed NAVAID.

Drag: The aerodynamic force (created by a fluid such as airflowing around an object) that slows the object's motion.

EFIS: Electronic Flight Instrument System. A flight instrumentsystem (found in an aircraft's panel) with electronic displays rather

after a bot$hed landin" approa$h*.

Glideslope (G/S): The angle at which an aircraft approaches (orneeds to approach) a runway; often used when discussingnavigation by instruments. :ee 'hapter 6 of the manual,be"innin" on pa"e (5.

9P&M ?lobal Positionin" :%stem. form of navi"ation usin" datafrom satellites.

Heading (HDG): An aircraft's heading is the direction that its noseis pointing. This is also a mode in the autopilot that lets the pilothold a pre-defined headin", t%pi$all% magnetic . ma"neti$headin" is headin" to the ma"neti$ north pole, somethin" a hair

different than true north, #hi$h is a "eo"raphi$ headin" that #illtake one to the true "eo"raphi$ North Pole. ;emember, sin$e thema"neti$ north pole is separated from the "eo"raphi$ north poleb% a bit, true and ma"neti$ headin" are not t%pi$all% the sameLThe% ma% be off b% ) or 1 de"rees in the medium latitudes. Thedifferen$e bet#een the true and ma"neti$ north poles is $alled thema"neti$ variation.

=:M 5old. Pressin" this button #ill en"a"e the autopilot inaltitude hold mode. :ee 'hapter 6, :e$tion (be"innin" on pa"e100* for more information.

HSI: Horizontal Situation Indicator. This instrument is found in thepanel of many aircraft in X-Plane. It serves the same function asan OBI—that is, it indicates course deviation. :ee 'hapter 6(be"innin" on pa"e (5* for more information.

IFR: Instrument Flight Rules. The procedure for flying an aircraftbased solely on the craft's instrument panel. Environmental

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conditions requiring such flight (such as the poor visibility on arainy day) are referred to as IFR conditions. This is contrastedwith VFR conditions (those operating under visual flight rules). nbad #eather or above 1K, feet, pilots need to fl% b% nstrument/li"ht ;ules, follo#in" their instruments and air traffi$ $ontroli t ti f ll t id hitti th d th l

Lift: The aerodynamic force (created by a fluid such as air flowingaround an object) that pushes an object upward.

Localizer (LOC): A localizer is part of an instrument landingsystem (ILS) It serves as a lateral (left and right) guide to the



instru$tions $arefull% to avoid hittin" the "round or other planes, or "oin" off $ourse and messin" up the $arefull% laid plans of the airtraffi$ $ontroller. 4hen fl%in" /;, it reall% makes no differen$e#hether the pilot $an see out the front of the plane or not, sin$e heor is on a $arefull% mapped pro$edure to sta% on a safe $ourse.:eein" out the #indo# in this $ase is an unneeded luAur%.

ILS: Instrument Landing System. A ground-based system forguiding approaching aircraft into the runway via radio signals.:ee 'hapter 6, Navi"ation and utopilots (be"innin" on pa"e (5*for more information.

!MCM nstrument eteorolo"i$al 'onditions. 4hen pilots are in$louds or rain and $annot see out the #indo#, the% are reuired to

fl% b% ' rules. n su$h $onditions, the% need to be on aninstrument fli"ht plan.

Indicated airspeed (IAS): The presumed airspeed of a craft asdetermined by measuring the pressure acting on a little tubeattached to the craft which points into the wind. This differs fromtrue airspeed in situations where the air has very little density (forexample, at 80,000 feet in an SR-71 Blackbird or in orbit in theSpace Shuttle). This error, though, can be useful, be$ause ifthere is less pressure pushin" on the airspeed indi$ator, thenthere is also less pressure pushin" on the #in"s of the air$raft.

Therefore, the airspeed indi$ator tells ho# mu$h air pressure isavailable for the props and #in"s (#hi$h is #hat a pilot reall%$ares about, as more pressure "ives more lift and dra"*. :o, if apilot is "oin" 12 mph in thin air, but the pressure is onl% stron"enou"h to measure 1 mph on the airspeed indi$ator, then thatmeans the aerod%nami$ pressure on the wings is onl% 1 mph-#orth of pressureL t is this pressure that determines ho# mu$h liftand dra" the #in"s $an put out.

system (ILS). It serves as a lateral (left and right) guide to thecenterline of the runway.

Mach speed: The speed of sound through the air. Mach'snumber actually describes the speed of sound through any fluid(that is, liquid or gas). In application to aeronautics, though, it isimplied that the fluid is air. Note that this number is dependent ona number of factors, such as temperature, humidity, and pressure.Generally, "Mach 1" is cited as 768 miles per hour (the speed ofsound at sea level in dry air at 68 Fahrenheit).

)AM :hort for Qnavi"ate.R This is an autopilot mode that follo#san 7:, lo$aliFer, >;, or ?P: path. :ee 'hapter 6 (be"innin"on pa"e (5* for more information.

NAVAID: A navigation aid transmitter (typically a VOR, NDB, orILS) which is used as a reference when flying. These are oftenfound on or near an airport, but they can also be scatteredbetween airports to use a node points in an airway. Pilots often flyfrom NAVAID to NAVAID on long flights, as a VOR is only useablefrom about 50 miles away. :ee 'hapter 6 (be"innin" on pa"e (5*for more information.

):8M Non ire$tional ea$on. :ee the / note above.

OBI: Omni-Bearing Indicator. This instrument, used fornavigation, is found in most general aviation aircraft. It consists ofa moving arrow (called the course deviation indicator, or CDI)which points the way to whatever VOR frequency is tuned in thenavigation radio. The instrument is set using the Omni-BearingSelector (or OBS), the knob in its lower left corner. A moreexpensive version of this is an HSI. :ee 'hapter 6 (be"innin" onpa"e (5* for more information.

RPM: Rotations per minute; a way of measuring the speed of a

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rotor or propeller. In a helicopter, the RPM of both the main rotorand the tail rotor are held constant.

Speed: The change in the position of an object over time; unlikevelocity, speed does not take into account the direction of theobject's movement.

conditions. It is assumed in such conditions that pilots are al#a%sable to see out the #indo# #ell enou"h to avoid $ollisions #ithterrain and other air$raft. To use visual fli"ht rules, one t%pi$all%needs about 3 miles visibilit% and to sta% about 1 feet from the$louds.



object s o e e t

Thrust vector: The direction in which the engine or rotor’s thrust

is going; for a helicopter sitting on a helipad with its controls atneutral, this is straight down.

Thrust vectoring: The ability of helicopters and some otheraircraft (such as the Harrier or the F-22) to change the direction ofthe thrust from its engines/rotors.

e3tor air6aysM >e$tor air#a%s are the pre-$harted air#a%s thatare defined b% a series of >;s. Pilots fl% from >; to >; untilthe% rea$h their destination, thereb% sta%in" on a ve$tor air#a%.Ba$h se"ment of the ve$tor air#a% thou"htfull% lists the minimumaltitude that pilots $an fl% that air#a% se"ment #ith to avoid

$rashin".

Velocity: The combination of an object's speed and the directionof its movement; for example, an aircraft might have a verticalvelocity of 500 feet per minute (meaning it moves upward at a rateof 500 feet per minute) or a vertical velocity of -500 feet perminute (meaning it moves downward at 500 feet per minute).

Vertical speed/vertical velocity: The rate at which the aircraft isgaining or losing altitude, typically given in feet per minute.

fe

M >elo$it% /lap BAtension. This is the maAimum speed at #hi$hthe air$raft $an deplo% its flaps #ithout dama"in" or breakin"them.

VFR: Visual Flight Rules. This is flying done using a combinationof the pilot's view of the outside world and the aircraft'sinstruments. Environmental conditions permitting such flight (suchas a sunny day with 10 mile visibility) are referred to as VFR

MCM >isual eteorolo"i$al 'onditions. These are environmental

$onditions suitable for fl%in" b% si"ht (>/;*.

OM Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range. This is a t%peof N> that sends out si"nals that pilots $an follo# to "et to orfrom the transmitter. 4hile an N simpl% lets the air$raft0s /needle point ri"ht to it, the >; a$tuall% lets pilots fl% to the stationalong a programmed radial . :o, for eAample, rather than EustQfl%in" to the >;,R a pilot $an be sure to fl% to the >; along the.9. radial (from the east*, "uaranteein" his or her lo$ation to bealon" an air#a% for the entire trip to the >;. This is ni$ebe$ause on$e the air#a% is $harted, the air$raft #ill be over

mapped terrain hei"ht for the entire trip, and if the #ind starts toblo# it off $ourse, then the pilot #ill see it ui$kl% due to adefle$ted needle, at #hi$h point he or she $an turn the nose intothe #ind to sta% on the desired radial. Light airplanes often trackthese VOR signals using an Omni-Bearing Indicator, or OBI, whilemore expensive craft often use a Horizontal Situation Indicator, orHSI. See Chapter 6 (beginning on page (5) for more information.

neM >elo$it% Never BA$eed. This is the maAimum speed that a"iven airplane $an "o. ?oin" faster than >ne $an result inQstru$tural dama"e.R Please be a#are that Sstru$tural dama"eS is

ver% $onservative lan"ua"e for Srippin" %our #in"s off so %ouplun"e to a horrible death.S

noM >elo$it% Normal peratin". This velo$it% should not beeA$eeded unless the air is ver% smooth. Bven then, it should beeA$eeded Q#ith eAtreme $aution,R as the operatin" handbooks

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sa%.

&!I!M >erti$al :peedH>elo$it% ndi$ator. % lookin" at ho# fastthe air pressure is $han"in", the >: dedu$es ho# ui$kl% theair$raft must be $limbin" or des$endin".



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Appen"i/ : %A; an" Troubleshooting

This appendiA #ill attempt to ans#er some of the most $ommonuestions sent to $ustomer support as #ell as to assist in

t least 1 ? of ; is reuired to run X-Plane, as #ell as avideo $ard #ith at least 32 or so of >;.

>irtuall% an% modern T or N> video $ard ma% be used(an%thin" that supports pen?7*, but an inte"rated ntel "raphi$s



uestions sent to $ustomer support, as #ell as to assist introubleshootin" some $ommon problems. :ometimes, userssimpl% $annot "et X-Plane to #ork properl% on their $omputers. n

Eust about ever% $ase, thou"h, this is not the fault of the X-Planesimulator itself.

!. o6 "o ! up"ate or install X-PlaneR

Please see 'hapter 2 of this manual, be"innin" on pa"e 1#.

!!. 7hy "oes X-Plane not 6or2 on ,y 7in"o6s ,a3hine or3rash upon e/iting the si,R

This is a driver problem, assumin" %ou have a useable operatin"s%stem, video $ard, and ;. This is ver% likel% an issue on4indo#s >ista, #here i$rosoft does not install pen?7 driversb% default.

7et0s start b% makin" sure the operatin" s%stem and hard#are areuseable.

/irst, the operatin" s%stem (:*. 4indo#s XP or >ista (both 32-

and 6!-bit* $an be used, as #ell as a$ :X.! or later. There aresimpl% too man% distributions of 7inuA to keep tra$k of them all,but X-Plane has users from virtuall% ever% maEor distribution(8buntu, /edora, open:8:B, et$.*.

4indo#s NT $an not be used due to problems #ith i$rosofts Eo%sti$k manipulation in that :.

$hip #ill not #ork #ith the simulator. s of this #ritin", these $hipsare too slo# to run X-Plane.

:o, in 4indo#s, assumin" %ou have 4indo#s XP or better and avideo $ard $apable of runnin" pen?7, and %ou "et some sort of$rash #hen tr%in" to run or eAit X-Plane, %ou probabl% need toupdate to the latest drivers for %our video $ard. To do this, follo#these stepsM

1. ?o to %our video $ard manufa$turer0s driver do#nload pa"e(su$h as the T do#nload pa"e@ or the N> do#nloadpa"e@1* and do#nload the latest drivers, bein" sure to save it

to a pla$e that %ou0ll be able to find it (for eAample, theesktop*.

2. 'li$k on the :tart menu and open the 'ontrol Panel.

3. 'li$k dd or ;emove Pro"rams.

!. :$roll do#n to either the 'atal%st ispla% river (for Tvideo $ards* or the N> rivers (for N> $ards*.

). 'li$k the 'han"eH;emove button. (This ma% be repla$ed

b% a ;emove button onl%+ it does not affe$t the pro$ess.*

6. /ollo# the instru$tions provided b% the uninstaller andreboot if ne$essar%.

@ httpMHHsupport.amd.$omHusH"pudo#nloadHPa"esHindeA.aspA@1 httpMHH###.nvidia.$omHo#nloadHindeA.aspAJlan"en-us

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@. fter rebootin", find the driver file that #as do#nloaded in:tep 1 and double $li$k on it. The steps var% from heredependin" on the t%pe of "raphi$s $ard and the $ompan% itsmanufa$tured b%, but #e #ill $ontinue #ith a "eneral outlinefor all $ompanies.

:ettin"s, then $li$k ;enderin" ptions. The s$reen resolutionsettin" is found in the upper left of the ;enderin" ptions #indo#(hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e*.









K. 'hoose a destination folder to eAtra$t the files to. "ain,

make it somethin" eas% to find like 'MWvideo driversW and$ontinue $li$kin" NeAt or nstall.

9. f the installer (#hi$h %ou Eust eAtra$ted in :tep K* does notrun automati$all%, navi"ate to 'MWvideo drivers and double $li$kon setup.eAe.

1. "ree to the li$ense a"reement, $hoose the BApressinstallation, and $li$k NeAt until it finishes.

11. ;eboot %our P' and %oure read% to fl%L

f %our $ard does not support pen?7, it is re$ommended that an%N> ?e/or$e $ard.

No#, if %our video $ard0s manufa$turer "ives %ou instru$tions thatare different than those above, then Eust follo# their instru$tions.

f the old drivers are not removed before installin" ne# ones, X-Plane is likel% to $rash #hen eAitin".

!!!. o6 "o ! 3hange the resolutionR

5ere #e #ill #alk throu"h onl% the steps ne$essar% to $han"e themonitor resolution. /ull detail on this (in$ludin" ho# to $hoose#hi$h resolution to use* $an be found in 'hapter 3, :e$tion ,Part (on pa"e $(*.

n X-Plane, move the mouse to the top of the s$reen. 'li$k

To $han"e it, $li$k the up or do#n arro# neAt to ea$h di"it of thesettin". /or eAample, to $han"e the resolution from 12! A @6K inthe ima"e above to, sa%, 12K A @6K, one #ould $li$k t#i$e on thearro# above the Fero in 12!, siA times on the arro# above thet#o in 12!, and four times on the arro# below the four in 12!.

!. o6 "o ! set up a <oysti32+ yo2e+ or ru""er pe"alsR

7et0s "o throu"h the basi$s of settin" up fli"ht $ontrols. /ull detailon this pro$ess (in$ludin" troubleshootin"* $an be found in'hapter 3, :e$tion (be"innin" on pa"e $*. 4e #ill first set theaAes (the for#ardHba$k and leftHri"ht movement of the $ontrols*,then #e0ll dis$uss settin" up the buttons on the $ontrols.

)oteM 4hen usin" a Eo%sti$k or other hard#are, it #ill need to beplu""ed in before startin" X-Plane. f it is not, X-Plane #ill not seethe input devi$es.

1. pen X-Plane and move %our mouse to the top of the s$reen,$ausin" the menu to appear.

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2. 'li$k on :ettin"s (as per the ima"e at the top of the neAt pa"e*,then <o%sti$k I Buipment.

ba$k#ard.

). T#ist %our Eo%sti$k (if appli$able*. The "reen bar that movesshould be set to %a#. f %ou don0t assi"n a %a# aAis, X-Plane #illattempt to stabiliFe it for %ou. n$e a"ain, do not $he$k the

b l h fl i th i ft0 t l



3. ove %our Eo%sti$k or %oke for#ard and ba$k. "reen barshould move as %ou do so (see the s$reenshot belo#*. 'li$k thedrop-do#n menu neAt to it and set it to pit$h. o not $he$k thereverse boA neAt to this $ontrol unless, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0spit$h $ontrol (movement of the nose up and do#n* is #orkin"ba$k#ard.

!. ove %our Eo%sti$kH%oke left and ri"ht. The "reen bar thatmoves as %ou do so should be set to roll. o not $he$k thereverse boA neAt to this $ontrol unless, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0sroll $ontrol (movement of the #in"s up and do#n* is #orkin"

reverse boA unless, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0s %a# $ontrol(movement of the nose side to side, like the rea$tion of a boat to

rudder $ontrol* is #orkin" ba$k#ard.

f usin" rudder pedals instead of a t#istin" Eo%sti$k, slide themfor#ard and ba$k#ard and set the "reen bar that moves then to%a#.

dditionall%, onl% #hen usin" rudder pedals, press the left pedaldo#n #ith %our toes. The bar that moves should be set to left toebrake. o the same for the ri"ht pedal, and set that bar to ri"ht toebrake. f this is done, %ou ma% also skip steps K throu"h 11 belo#.

ove %our throttle for#ard and ba$k. n a %oke, this is t%pi$all%the leftmost lever. :et this bar to throttle. 'he$k the reverse boAonl% if, #hen fl%in", the air$raft0s throttle $ontrol #orks ba$k#ard.

@. ove all the $ontrol aAes (that is, pit$h, %a#, roll, and throttle*throu"h their full ran"e of motion to $alibrate the $ontrols.

K. To assi"n a button to the brakes, $li$k the uttonsM asi$ tab atthe top of the s$reen (as seen in the s$reenshot at the top of theneAt pa"e*. f onl% a sin"le uttons tab is available, the soft#arehas not been updated to the most $urrent release. nstru$tions on

updatin" $an be found in 'hapter 2, Part > on pa"e # (thou"h,in the mean time, the instru$tions ma% be follo#ed usin" theoutdated uttons tab*.

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pro$essor "et ver% hot be$ause the% are runnin" at 1ZutiliFation. This $auses the temperature to rise inside the $ase.To eliminate heat as an issue, remove the $omputer0s $over andaim a fan into the $ase. ;un X-Plane for a #hile and see if theproblem "oes a#a%. f it does, then %ou need to add someadditional $oolin"



9. Press the button on %our Eo%sti$k that %ou #ould like to assi"nto brakes, then release it.

1. 8sin" the mouse, $li$k the round button to the left of To""lebrakes re"ular effort (found at the top of the third $olumn of the#indo#, sele$ted in the previous s$reenshot*.

11. 'lose the <o%sti$k I Buipment menu #ith either of the X

buttons at the top of the s$reen, or b% pressin" the Bnter ke% on%our ke%board.

. o6 "o ! install ne6 s3enery+ air3raft+ or plug-insR

Please see 'hapter @ of this manual, be"innin" on pa"e 114.

!. o6 "o ! use the autopilotR

Please see 'hapter 6, :e$tion of this manual, be"innin" onpa"e 100.

!!. 7hy "oes ,y PC freeHe after running X-Plane a6hileR

This is almost al#a%s heat related. have seen this man% times inthe past. 4hen the s%stem is runnin" X-Plane, the video $ard and

additional $oolin".

)oteM This assumes that the s%stem has enou"h ;. ;unnin"out of ; #ill $ause $rashes as #ell. t least 1 ? of ;should be used for $urrent versions of X-Plane. This alsoassumes that the $omputer is not over$lo$ked.

!!!. 7hy "o ! get an error about a ,issing :==R

This indi$ates that ire$tX 9.$ (or later* is not installed. This $anbe do#nloaded from i$rosofts ire$tX pa"e@2.

!X. 7hy "oes air traffi3 3ontrol spee3h not 6or2 on ,y7in"o6s ,a3hineR

The first thin" to $he$k #hen dia"nosin" an T' spee$h problemis the $omputer0s spee$h s%nthesis soft#are. 8sers $ando#nload the :pee$h :%nthesis :G v).1@3 if the% are not $ertainthat spee$h s%nthesis soft#are is $urrentl% installed. o#nloadthe file :pee$h:G)1.eAe (found near the bottom of the pa"e*.This is a self-eAtra$tin" ar$hive. 4hen it is run, it eAtra$ts all ofthe files to the hard drive that are needed to install i$rosoft

spee$h. e sure to $hoose a lo$ation to eAtra$t the files to that$an be found later. 4hen all of the files are eAtra$ted, theinstallation is not $omplete. To $omplete it, the user must bro#seto the lo$ation of the eAtra$ted files and run :etup.eAe. n$e the

@2 httpMHH###.mi$rosoft.$omHdire$tA@3 httpMHH###.mi$rosoft.$omHdo#nloadsHdetails.aspAJ/amil%)eK6e$9@-!a@-!)3f-bee-6)K31@1b!)3Idispla%lan"en

1K3

setup is $omplete, users ma% delete the eAtra$ted files so the% donot $ontinue to take up hard drive spa$e.

n$e :pee$h ) is installed, "o into X-Plane, open the :ettin"smenu, and $li$k :ound. n the boA at the bottom, %ou should seethe messa"e S:pee$h s%nthesis for air traffi$ $ontrol voi$e output

:ome audio appli$ations ma% $han"e %our $omputers audiosettin"s to a sample rate that is too hi"h for other appli$ations touse. n this situation, s%stem alert sounds still #ork, as doesiTunes, but other appli$ations ma% have no sound (audio output*.This do$ument applies to a$ : X 1.3 or later and appli$ationsthat use Dui$kTime 6 or later for audio su$h as :afari and

http://www.microsoft.com/directx



http://www.microsoft.com/directx




the messa"e :pee$h s%nthesis for air traffi$ $ontrol voi$e outputis installed on this ma$hine.S f %ou do not see this, then the

installation has not been $ompleted. To hear the spee$h, hit theBnter ke% #hile fl%in". =ou #ill see various thin"s appear on the#indshield for %ou to $hoose.

f %ou do that and %ou still "et no audio T' in X-Plane, then it islikel% a $ompatibilit% problem bet#een multiple te$hnolo"ies. 4ehave been #orkin" eAtensivel% #ith i$rosoft on this. 4e havedetermined that X-Plane is not the $ulprit. The problem is that thesound $ard $annot pla% a 4> file (sound effe$t* at the same timethat it pla%s spee$h. 4e tested this b% $ompilin" X-Plane #ith thesound effe$ts disabled and the spee$h started #orkin".

X. 7hy is there no soun" on ,y Ma3R

/or versions of : X prior to 1.!, users needed to do#nload thepen7 drivers for : X, available here@!. 5o#ever, usin" X-Plane 9 reuires at least version 1.!, so users runnin" an%thin"prior to that need to run the pple soft#are update before runnin"X-Plane&this also serves to ensure that the pen7 drivers arealread% installed.

ssumin" version 1.! or later is bein" used and the $omputerstill puts out no sound, here is #hat pple has to sa%M

SMa3 O& X )o au"io fro, 3ertain ,ulti,e"ia 3ontent

@! httpMHH$onne$t.$reativelabs.$omHopenalHo#nloadsH/ormsHlltems.aspA

that use Dui$kTime 6 or later for audio, su$h as :afari andDui$kTime Pla%er.

This $an happen on a$s that support hi"h sample rates (hi"herthan !K 5F*M

• ia$ ?)

• a$ mini (all models*• Po#er a$ ?) models that support sample rates hi"her

than !K 5F• Po#erook ?! that support sample rates hi"her than

!K 5F• a$ook• a$ook Pro• ia$ (Barl% 26* and later • a$ Pro

/or eAample, if %ou pla% an nternet movie in :afari, it #ill make nosound+ if %ou open a Dui$kTime movie on %our $omputer,Dui$kTime Pla%er reports the follo#in" error (and the movie #illhave no audio*M

S=ou ma% eAperien$e problems pla%in" a sound tra$k in ]ovieName^.mov be$ause a soft#are $omponent needed b% the movie$ould not be opened.S

&olution

1. pen udio :etup (Hppli$ationsH8tilitiesH*, then $he$kthe udio utput settin".

2. 'han"e the udio utput settin" to !!1. 5F.

1K!

3. Duit udio :etup.

4h% does this happenJ:ome third-part% audio appli$ations ma% $han"e %our $omputersaudio output settin" n fa$t if %ou use the third part% appli$ation

Plane #ill use that se$ond $ore to load s$ener% #hile fl%in". Thiseliminates the tenth of a se$ond stutter usuall% asso$iated #ithtransitionin" from one s$ener% file to another (#hi$h is stilleAperien$ed #hen usin" a sin"le-$ore pro$essor*.

No# a fe# notes on hard#areM

http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/Downloads/Forms/AllItems.aspx

http://connect.creativelabs.com/openal/Downloads/Forms/AllItems.aspx



audio output settin". n fa$t, if %ou use the third-part% appli$ationa"ain after appl%in" the above solution, the issue mi"ht o$$ur

a"ain. bserve $han"es b% #at$hin" the settin"s in udio :etup before and after runnin" a third-part% appli$ation %oususpe$t mi"ht be $ausin" the issue. 'onta$t the manufa$turer ofthe appli$ation for more information.R

X!. o6 "o ! ,a2e ,y si, run fasterR

Please see 'hapter 3, Part , :e$tion ?, :ettin" 8p X-Plane to $hieve the est ;esults, be"innin" on pa"e 4.

X!!. 7hat har"6are shoul" ! buyR

X-Plane 9 reuires a $omputer #ith at least the follo#in"spe$ifi$ationsM

• 2 ?5F pro$essor • 1. ? ; (ph%si$al memor%*

• 6! >; (video memor% on %our video $ard*• 1 ? of hard drive spa$e

The simulator #ill run on a$ : X version 1.! or later, 4indo#s

XP or >ista (both 32- and 6!-bit*, and 7inuA. Note, ho#ever, that#hen usin" 4indo#s >ista, it is re$ommended that at least 2 ?of ; be used.

f $ourse, a $omputer #ith ! ? of ;, a uad-$ore pro$essor,and 2 ? of >; $an be used and X-Plane #ill take fulladvanta"e of it. 'P8s #ith multiple $ores are useful be$ause X-

No#, a fe# notes on hard#areM

5%perthreaded 'P8s are little more than marketin" Qh%pe.R Theold Pentium ! 5%perthreadin" $hips are reall% Eust one 'P8 pretending to be t#o. This does not provide an%thin" near theperforman$e boost of usin" t#o dis$reet 'P8s or a dual-$ore'P8.

;e"ardin" video ; (>;, present on the video $ard*, some$heaper video $ards advertise havin" more memor% than the%a$tuall% do. N> $alls this Turbo'a$he, #hile T $alls it5%peremor%. The video $ard itself ma% have onl% 6! ofmemor%, #hile advertisin" that it QsupportsR 2)6 of ;. t

does this b% Qstealin"R the other 192 from the s%stem ;.4hile this mi"ht "ive some performan$e in$rease, it is no#herenear as desirable as havin" a true 2)6 of ; on the video$ard. This is espe$iall% important for s%stems that barely meet thes%stem reuirements for ; as it is&for instan$e, if the s%stemhas 1 ? of ;, but 192 of that is bein" reserved for thevideo $ard, X-Plane onl% has K32 of s%stem ; to #ork #ith.

lso, #hile ntel makes a fine 'P8, their inte"rated video $ardsare, at the moment, awful for X-Plane. The% are the onl% $ards atthe moment that the soft#are doesn0t support outri"ht, thou"h

their mu$h-h%ped Q7arrabeeR $hip $ould $han"e this.

No#, about >; speed&the Smemor% bus #idthS of a "raphi$s$ard (su$h as 6!-, 12K-, or 2)6-bit* indi$ates ho# man% bits ofdata it reads at on$e ea$h time it reads data. asi$all%, the #iderthis is, the faster the "raphi$s $ard $an dra# thin"s. Toda%s mostpo#erful hi"h end $ards have a )12-bit bus+ most mid-ran"e $ards

1K)

are 2)6-bit, and the $heapest $ards are 12K-bit.

X!!!. 7hy "oes ,y airplane flutter an" 3rashR

This is a known limitation <ust as a $ar $an onl% "o a $ertain

pressure. #idel% spa$ed landin" "ear "ives hi"h a$$elerationbe$ause it has a hu"e lever arm on the $enter of "ravit%.

'an X-Plane handle these high accelerationsJ

Of courseL ut it needs a hi"h frame rate to do it



This is a known limitation. <ust as a $ar $an onl% "o a $ertainspeed #ith a "iven horsepo#er, the X-Plane simulator $an onl%

a$$uratel% model fli"ht at a $ertain speed #ith a "iven frame rate.

f the frame rate "ets too lo# for the fli"ht model to handle, thenthe plane is likel% to start os$illatin" ui$kl% ba$k and forth(referred to as Qsimulator flutter,R often o$$urrin" #ith autopilot on*as the fli"ht model tries unsu$$essfull% to predi$t #hat the plane#ill do neAt. t this point, the $omputer is runnin" too slo#l% totake small enou"h steps in the fli"ht model to see #hat the plane#ill reall% do at ea$h moment. :maller and more maneuverableplanes #ill a$$elerate more ui$kl%, and "reater a$$elerationsreuire a hi"her frame rate to simulate.

5ere is #h%M

X-Plane $al$ulates the a$$eleration of the $raft for ea$h frame. tthen adds up the a$$eleration bet#een frames to move the plane.This #orks fine if the frame rate is reasonabl% hi"h and thea$$elerations are reasonable lo#. n fa$t, for an% reasonabl%normal air$raft that has reasonabl% normal a$$elerations, a framerate of 2 fps or more is fine.

Problems o$$ur, thou"h, #hen %ou have ver% li"ht air$raft #ith

ver% lar"e #in"s "oin" ver% fast, or sittin" on the "round #ithlandin" "ear spread ver% far out from the $enter of "ravit%.

ll of these thin"s add up to the same result&high acceleration. li"ht air$raft "ives hi"h a$$eleration be$ause there is little mass,and therefore little inertia. i" #in"s "ive hi"h a$$elerationbe$ause the% put out lots of for$e. 5i"h speeds "ive hi"ha$$eleration be$ause there are hi"h for$es under all that air

Of courseL ut it needs a hi"h frame rate to do it.

/or the fli"ht model to #ork, there $an onl% be a $ertain amount ofvelo$it% $han"e per frame of the simulation. f the a$$elerationsare hi"h, then the frame rate better be hi"h so that there is areasonable velo$it% $han"e (i.e., a$$eleration* per frame.

To determine ho# hi"h a frame rate is enou"h to handle a "ivena$$eleration, Eust find the frame rate at #hi$h there is no flutter.

/or eAample, ima"ine a oein" @!@ at approa$h speed. t slo#l%lumbers alon", hardl% a$$eleratin" at all. One frame per second $ould tra$k that fli"ht a$$uratel%. No# ima"ine holdin" a paper

airplane out the #indo# of a $ar at K miles per hour and lettin""o. The plane doesn0t smoothl%, "raduall%, a$$elerate up tospeed, it disinte"rates in a thousandth of a se$ondL To simulatethat ma% reuire a simulator to run at one thousand frames persecond L

:o, #hile a simple 2 frames per se$ond #orks fine for most an%air$raft, #hen small, li"ht, bi"-#in"ed $raft #ith #idel% spa$edlandin" "ear desi"ns start fl%in" fast, the a$$elerations $ome upenou"h that in eAtreme $ases, 1 fps mi"ht be needed to modela$$uratel%.

This is more of a problem #ith planes thatM• are small be$ause the% maneuver mu$h more ui$kl% than

bi" planes• are li"ht be$ause the% have less inertia and rea$t faster • have lon" #in"s be$ause the% have more levera"e on the

$enter of "ravit%, thus rea$tin" faster

1K6

• have bi" #in"s be$ause the% "et more lift, thus rea$tin"faster

• have #idel% spa$ed landin" "ear be$ause the "ear hasmore levera"e on the $raft, $ausin" it to torue the planefaster

4e #ent throu"h this %ears a"o #ith X. Bver%one #ould askS4hen do "et XJ 4hen do "et XJS. 4hen X #asfinall% enabled, thou"h, the frame rate "ain #as so tin% that it #asnot even #orth havin". This is be$ause X did not a$tuall%address the stuff in X-Plane that a$tuall% took the most time&



4hen usin" an airplane that rea$ts extremely *uickly to the

environment, the $omputer needs to rea$t Eust as ui$kl% tosimulate it. This $an be a$hieved b% redu$in" the renderin"options and visibilit% in X-Plane enou"h to raise the frame rate to anon-flutterin" level. ore info on this $an be found in 'hapter 3,:e$tion , Part ?, :ettin" 8p X-Plane to $hieve the est;esults, found on pa"e 4.

X!. :oes X-Plane use '4-bit pro3essingR

$ommon uestion is, S4hen #ill X-Plane be $ompiled as 6!-bit,

to nativel% support 6!-bit s%stemsJS

The ans#er is not uite #hat one mi"ht think, be$ause 6!-bitpro$essin" does not reall% "ive more speed. 5ere is #hat 6!-bit itdoesM

1. t allo#s a$$ess to more than 2 ? of ;. :in$e X-Planeonl% uses half this mu$h ;, thou"h, this fun$tion is notuseful to X-Plane. 4h% have a$$ess to ; the simulator #illnot useJ

2. t allo#s Sbi""er numbersS to be used nativel% in some$ases, thus allo#in" the pro"ram to #ork #ith 6!-bit numbers. "ain, thou"h, #hen does X-Plane need or even want a 6!-bitnumberJ NeverL K-bit numbers are fine for 99.9Z of $ases,and 16-bit numbers are needed for the other .1Z of the time#hen #e need reall% hi"h pre$ision. There is no a need for asin"le 6!-bit number in the entiret% of X-PlaneL

address the stuff in X-Plane that a$tuall% took the most time&movin" pol%s a$ross the bus to the video $ard. No# #e are "oin"

throu"h this a"ain #ith 6!-bit operatin" s%stems. t soundsinterestin", but, for no#, there is no reason to have it in <)"lane be$ause it is not useful for the kinds of thin"s the simulator does.

:ome da%, this #ill $han"e, of $ourse, like #hen X-Plane usesmore than 2 "i" of ;, or #hen it uses the sun, rather than theBarth, as its $oordinate referen$e to allo# real-time, en"ineerin"-a$$urate fli"hts to ars. t #ill be useful #hen X-Plane uses thegalactic center , rather than the :un, as its $oordinate referen$e toallo# en"ineerin"-a$$urate fli"hts to other star s%stems. 4ellneed some bi", bi" numbers then, and 6!-bit operatin" s%stems

#ill be needed to "et the Eob done.

/or no#, for most home users, 6!-bit :s are all h%pe. 4hen X-Plane $an take advanta"e of native 6!-bit $ompilin", it #ill.

Note, of $ourse, that X-Plane will run on a 6!-bit operatin" s%stem&it #ill do so as a 32-bit appli$ation onl%, thou"h.

X. 7hat are the "ifferen3es bet6een the stan"ar" "es2top*ersion of X-Plane an" the %AA-3ertifie" *ersionR

The /-$ertified version has a different set of air$raft than thestandard desktop version. The $ertified version has onl% "eneralaviation air$raft, rather than the hu"e variet% of planes that $ome#ith the retail X-Plane. dditionall%, these planes have $ustominstrument panels, fuel s%stems, and autopilot s%stems desi"nedto #ork spe$ifi$all% #ith the hard#are the% are sold #ith (for

1K@

eAample, the simulators sold b% Pre$ision /li"ht 'ontrols@)*.

/urthermore, these panels are often used as in full-s$reendispla%s in multi-$omputer setups (#ith more $omputers providin"eAternal visuals*. These allo# the user to fl% usin" full-s$reen$o$kpits #ith separate eAternal visuals #hile enEo%in" full-s$reen

version has no dupli$ations of the $ontrols and displa%s availableon the hard#are.

X!. 7hy "oes &=!ICrossfire not spee" up the si,R

http://www.flypfc.com/index.html

http://www.flypfc.com/index.html



$o$kpits, #ith separate eAternal visuals, #hile enEo%in" full s$reenpanels that do not dupli$ate an%thin" that eAists in the P/'

hard#are, usin" s%stems that inte"rate perfe$tl% #ith P/' fuel andautopilot s%stems.

The /-$ertified version does not have the :pe$ial menu in X-Plane, or the various S:pe$ialS take-offs, in-fli"hts, andapproa$hes found in the 7o$ation menu. These allo# the user totake off from $arriers, relo$ate to ars, and do other unusualthin"s. f $ourse, these thin"s $an $onfuse trainin", so the% areremoved.

s #ell, the $ertified version does not in$lude helipads and super-

short private airstrips. This too is desi"ned to keep trainin"fo$used. /or the same reason, the $ertified version does not haveni"ht vision or sun "lare effe$ts.

1)-minute demo is in$luded #ith the $ertified version rather thanthe desktop0s 1-minute demo to allo# more time to evaluate thepro"ram before pur$hasin".

/inall%, the /-$ertified version $he$ks the simulator0s frame rateand hard#are to make sure that both are oka% before allo#in"fli"ht, somethin" that is not done in the desktop version.

To summariFe, the $ertified version of X-Plane Eust has a lot of theQeAtrasR removed to fo$us the user0s trainin", and it has a lar"esuite of "eneral aviation planes to allo# trainin" on appropriateair$raft, #ith instrument panels on those $raft that are optimiFed to#ork #ith hard#are the%0re bundled #ith. /inall%, the $ertified

@) httpMHH###.fl%pf$.$omHindeA.html

:ome appli$ations benefit from :7 (the N> version of usin"

dual video $ards* and 'rossfire (T0s version of the same*, andsome do not.

X-Plane, t%pi$all%, does not benefit.

This is be$ause performan$e boosts usin" these te$hnolo"iesdepend on #hether or not the $omputer is limited b% the fill rate.

/or X-Plane, at a resolution of 12! A @6K, the simulator0s speedis limited b% the "eometr% "oin" a$ross the bus, not the fill rate.:o, in that $ase, :7 and 'rossfire are useless&one $ard $an fill

12! A @6K at 6 fps.

/urthermore, in :7, the t#o $ards must communicate with oneanother , sendin" teAtures ba$k and forth bet#een them. This $anbe slower than one $ard doin" all the #orkL This is be$ausesendin" these teAtures from one $ard to another $an be slowerthan doin" a #hole frame, if the #hole frame $an be done on one$ard.

:o, #here the $omputer is not l imited b% the "raphi$s $ard0s fillrate, :7 $an a$tuall% slo# the simulator do#n, not speed it up.

There are performan$e testin" pro"rams (ben$hmarks* that $antest :7H'rossfire setups and sho# a higher performan$e #iththem enabled. This is be$ause the test pro"ram does not have todra# the #orld from the sk% #hen it tests (as X-Plane does*, so#hen it tests fill rate, it does nothing else. Thus, %ou see only fillrate performan$e. This has nothin" to do #ith X-Plane be$auseX-Plane is t%pi$all% not fill rate-limited. s #ell, the test pro"ram

1KK

mi"ht not $op% teAtures ba$k and forth bet#een the $ards. "ain,the performan$e %ou see in the pro"ram has nothin" to do #ith X-Plane, #hi$h must $op% $loud shado#s, refle$tions, and the likearound bet#een video $ards.

:o the bottom line is that these te$hnolo"ies $an make the



:o, the bottom line is that these te$hnolo"ies $an make thesimulator slower , not faster, in man% $asesL

To learn more, read enEamin :upnik0s blo" here@6.

@6 httpMHHAplanes$ener%.blo"spot.$omH2@H!Him-not-fan-of-sli$rossfire.html

1K9

Appen"i/ Ma2ing Ob<e3ts for X-Plane

$ommon uestion for $ustomer support is, S #ant to modelobEe$ts for X-Plane&#hat formats do %ou useJR.

$o$kpit to sit inside the plane, or a hi"hl% detailed air$raftmodel to overl% the basi$ X-Plane model, #hi$h $ould a$tuall%be made #ith transparent teAtures to be invisible, if %ou desire.

'learl%, %ou $an use Plane-aker, #hi$h $omes #ith X-Plane, todo part 1 above, but not part 2.

http://xplanescenery.blogspot.com/2007/04/im-not-fan-of-slicrossfire.html

http://xplanescenery.blogspot.com/2007/04/im-not-fan-of-slicrossfire.html



There are a fe# parts to that ans#er.

/irst of all, for the air$raft itself, there is onl% one ans#er&the X-Plane .a$f file, as saved b% Plane-aker (bundled #ith thesimulator and lo$ated in the X-Plane 9 dire$tor%*. X-Plane looksat this file to determine fli"ht ph%si$s, mass properties, en"inepo#er and limits[ the #orks. s su$h, it is hi"hl% $ustomiFed toX-Plane and $ould never be an% sort of Qall-purposeS format. Thismeans that %ou $an onl% use Plane-aker, and nothing bu Plane-aker, to make the air$raft.

4hile Plane-aker is perfe$tl% adeuate for enterin" the desi"n of

the plane (it is bu"-free, eas% to use, not too fan$%, and reliable*Plane-aker is NT a 3- model editor. nstead, it is used to la%out the basi$ aerod%nami$ shapes and properties #hi$h result inan airplane that looks oka%, but #ould $ertainl% not kno$kan%one0s so$ks off. s su$h, it $an not make the $ompleA 3-model that is needed to make a $ool 3- $o$kpit, or to make ahi"hl% detailed air$raft model that mi"ht overla% the basi$ Plane-aker model from #hi$h fli"ht ph%si$s are $al$ulated.

These 3- models can also be used to $reate buildin"s and other$ustom obEe$ts&not just plane overlays and cockpits.

:o, to repeatM

1. Plane-aker $an be used on its o#n to make a model for X-Plane. t #ill look oka% and #ill fl% fine. t #ill be prett% "ood.

2. n addition to this Plane-aker model, %ou $an make a 3-

do part 1 above, but not part 2.

:ee the SBAample ir$raftS in the Snstru$tionsS folder for a ver%simple eAample.

:o, #hat editor do %ou use for part 2J

To do part 2 of the above, %ou #ill need a 3- editor $apable ofsavin" an obEe$t in the X-Plane < format. )ote This is not thesame as the lias < format.

The follo#in" file formats $an be used to $reate X-Plane < filesM• 3: (utodesk 3 :tudio*•

X/ (uto$ad*• < (lias 4avefront*• ' ('3*• 2 (Duake model*• 4;7 (>;7*

• 74 (7i"ht4ave*• TXT (ilkshape*

4ith ea$h of these file eAtensions, users need to $onvert theobEe$ts to ones usable b% X-Plane. This is often done b% openin"the file in '3, then usin" the X-Plane plu"in do#nloadable

here@@ to eAport the file as an X-Plane <.

lternativel%, after an obEe$t has been $reated in 3: or uto$ad,bE'onverter ma% to be used to $onvert it. bE'onverter $omesin the :$ener% Tools pa$k, do#nloadable here@K.

@@ httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omHtools.php@K httpMHHs$ener%.A-plane.$omHtools.php

19

lternativel%, dire$t eAport to an X-Plane < file is available inthe t#o free 3- editors b% <onathan 5arris&both ?oo"le:ket$hup@9 and lender K.

)oteM ll of these eAports are limited b% file format issuesM













p %• 3: doesnt feature lines, onl% meshes.•

X/Huto$ad has no teAturin" info.• 7i"ht#aves teAturin" model doesnt $orrespond to ours

ver% #ell.• >;7 $onversion bet#een pro"rams doesnt usuall% #ork

#ell.

There ma% be other issues, too, in $onvertin" bet#een formats.

n all $ases, thou"h, the file needs one teAture per obEe$t.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of #a%s to "et obEe$ts into X-

Plane from Eust about an% 3- editor ima"inable. f it isnt on thislist, and the 3- editor is de$ent, it $an probabl% eAport to one ofthese formats su$h as 3:, lias 4averfront <, or similar.

/or pure SmeshesS made #ith one teAture, no tri$ks, 3: seemsto be the most reliable $onversion format for simple #ork.

@9 httpMHHsket$hup."oo"le.$omHK httpMHH###.blender.or"H

191

Appen"i/ % Custo, Air3raft %iles for ire

7aminar ;esear$h no# offers the $apabilit% to $ustom-$reate realair$raft for X-Plane on a $ontra$t basis. This #ork $an dupli$ate an

i l d t th i t t il b i i d



o#ners airplane, do#n to the paint, tail number, avioni$s andinstrument panel, in$ludin" the proper pla$ement of $ontrols and

s#it$hes. This pro$ess in$ludes $ustom one-off en"ineerin" anddesi"n "raphi$s #ork. 5istori$all%, #e have even $ertified a fe# of these air$raft for use #ith the /-$ertified version of X-Plane. s%ou $an ima"ine, this #ork is pri$ed a$$ordin"l% and is notineApensive, t%pi$all% about 3,) per file.

Please $onta$t X-Plane 'ustomer :ervi$e at 913-269-9@6 oremail at infoUA-plane.$om for more information. f either of thesehas be$ome outdated, $urrent $onta$t information $an be found atX-Plane.$omK1.

K1 httpMHH###.A-plane.$omH$onta$t.html

192

Appen"i/ 9 The =og %ile /plaine"

lo".tAt for X-Plane K.6 eta-1 X-Plane build K6 $ompiled onNov 29 26 11M23M!Thi l fil i t d t ti ll b 7 i ; h

?7V;BV:CB MK ?7V?;BBNV:CB MK ?7V78BV:CB MK ?7V7P5V:CB MK ?7VBPT5V:CB M32








This lo" file is "enerated automati$all% b% 7aminar ;esear$happli$ations and $ontains dia"nosti$s about %our "raphi$s

hard#are, installation, and an% error $onditions. f %ou need to$onta$t te$h support or file a bu", please send us this file. NTBMthis file is re#ritten ever% time %ou start N= of %our X-:%stemappli$ations.

This preamble is written by all the apps. Among other things,it gives you the exact app name and the date it was built, soyou can be SURE the user is using the same build you are.

a$ : X 1.!.K'P8 t%peM 1@6)9)!@K (Pentium* 'P8 speed (mhF*M 216us

speed (mhF*M 66!; (*M 2!K

System ino ! varies by machine. "ere we have the #Sversion. This is a $%entium$ &ac so we 'now it(s a new )ntel&ac. *%U is +.- "/. 0us speed is --1 &"/ ! that(s notusually important. ) have + 0 o RA&.

X-:%stem folderH$odeHdesi"nH $ase sensitive

)nstall location o my x!system older...also my ile system is2#T case sensitive.

'P8 $ount 2

This is a dual!processor machine.

?7V;? M1 ?7V87B8//B; M1

&ac speciic ! this tells us their screen resolution ! 3+!bit

color. This is usually not important.

pen?7 :ituation Mpen?7 >endor MT Te$hnolo"ies n$.pen?7 ;ender MT ;adeon X16 pen?7 Bn"inepen?7 >ersion M2. T-1.!.!

This is the most important stu: the #pen4 vendor,renderer, and version. The renderer will give you a hint about what card they have, but doesn(t tell you exactly. 5orexample, a -677T and -677 will both be listed as a $-677.$

0ut this ino will tell you E2ERA448 what 'ind o card theyhave, which is what matters, because cards come in amilies9

The #pen4 version is not uite the same as the driverversion, but old drivers have old #pen4 versions, so romthis we can tell i they have old drivers.

pen?7 BAtensionsM?7V;VtransposeVmatriA?7V;VverteAVpro"ram ?7V;VverteAVblend?7V;V#indo#Vpos ?7V;VshaderVobEe$ts?7V;VverteAVshader ?7VBXTVmultiVdra#Varra%s

?7VBXTV$lipVvolumeVhint ?7VBXTVres$aleVnormal?7VBXTVdra#Vran"eVelements ?7VBXTVfo"V$oord?7VPP7BV$lientVstora"e ?7VPP7BVspe$ularVve$tor?7VPP7BVtransformVhint ?7VPP7BVpa$kedVpiAels?7VPP7BVfen$e ?7VPP7BVverteAVarra%VobEe$t?7VPP7BVverteAVpro"ramVevaluators?7VPP7BVelementVarra% ?7VPP7BVflushVrender

193

?7VN>VteA"enVrefle$tion ?7VN>Vli"htVmaAVeAponent?7VVrasterposV$lip ?7V:?:V"enerateVmipmap?7V;Vshadin"Vlan"ua"eV1 ?7V;Vima"in"?7V;VpointVparameters ?7V;VteAtureVenvV$rossbar?7V;VteAtureVborderV$lamp ?7V;VmultiteAture?7V;VteAtureVenvVadd ?7V;VteAtureV$ubeVmap

?7VTVblendV#ei"htedVminmaA?7VTVteAtureVenvV$ombine3 ?7VTVseparateVsten$il?7VTVteAtureV$ompressionV3d$?7V:?:VteAtureVed"eV$lamp ?7V:?:VteAtureVlod?7V:?V$olorVmatriA



?7V;VteAtureVenvVdot3 ?7V;Vmultisample

?7V;VteAtureVenvV$ombine ?7V;VteAtureV$ompression?7V;VteAtureVmirroredVrepeat ?7V;Vshado#?7V;VdepthVteAture ?7V;Vshado#Vambient?7V;Vfra"mentVpro"ram?7V;Vfra"mentVpro"ramVshado# ?7V;Vfra"mentVshader?7V;Vo$$lusionVuer% ?7V;VpointVsprite?7V;VteAtureVnonVpo#erVofVt#o?7V;VverteAVbufferVobEe$t ?7V;VpiAelVbufferVobEe$t?7V;Vdra#Vbuffers ?7V;VshaderVteAtureVlod?7VBXTV$ompiledVverteAVarra% ?7VBXTVframebufferVobEe$t?7VBXTVteAtureVre$tan"le ?7V;VteAtureVre$tan"le

?7VBXTVteAtureVenvVadd ?7VBXTVblendV$olor?7VBXTVblendVminmaA ?7VBXTVblendVsubtra$t?7VBXTVteAtureVlodVbias ?7VBXTVab"r ?7VBXTVb"ra?7VBXTVsten$ilV#rap ?7VBXTVteAtureVfilterVanisotropi$?7VBXTVseparateVspe$ularV$olor ?7VBXTVse$ondar%V$olor?7VBXTVblendVfun$Vseparate ?7VBXTVshado#Vfun$s?7VBXTVsten$ilVt#oVside ?7VBXTVteAtureV$ompressionVs3t$?7VBXTVteAtureV$ompressionVdAt1?7VBXTVblendVeuationVseparate?7VBXTVteAtureVmirrorV$lamp ?7VBXTVpa$kedVdepthVsten$il?7VBXTV"puVpro"ramVparameters

?7VPP7BVflushVbufferVran"e ?7VPP7BV%$b$rV!22?7VPP7BVverteAVarra%Vran"e ?7VPP7BVteAtureVran"e?7VPP7BVfloatVpiAels ?7VTVteAtureVfloat?7V;VteAtureVfloat ?7VPP7BVpiAelVbuffer?7VN>VblendVsuare ?7VN>Vfo"Vdistan$e?7VTVteAtureVmirrorVon$e ?7VTVteAtVfra"mentVshader?7VTVblendVeuationVseparate

This huge list is all the $opengl tric's$ the card supports !

Austin and ) print this so that we can see what the card doesor debugging ! you guys won(t need this.

teAV$lampVavail1addVenvVavail 1$ombineVavail 1disVfo"Vavail 1teAV$ompVavail 1vboVavail 1vpro"Vavail 1 (2)6*fpro"Vavail 1 (12!H)12H)12H!*

autominiVavail 1anisoVavail 1fsaaVavail 1spritesVavail 1depthVteAVavail1o$$ludeVavail 1shadVobEsVavail1vshaderVavail 1 (16H!96H32H16HH!96*fshaderVavail 1 (!96*"lslVavail 1 (1.1*framebufVavail 1

maA teA units MK (16HK*maA iso filterin"M16.maA teAture siFe M!96maA point siFe M6!.

&ore #pen4 diagnostics...generally only needed by Austinand me, but sometimes we can tell you how to detect bugs.

19!

Each o these $lags$ will be 7 i we don(t ind the driver has atric', or i it does. 5or example, my card ;#ES support4S4 <4S4=avail > ?. That means ) have pixel shadersboth on my card and drivers that understand them. So youcan tell i a user is getting pixel shaders this way.

failed '/ - fra" load failed.

This means that old #S B plugin can(t load. This happens onany )ntel &ac, which can(t support &ac #S!B style plugins.

/et$hin" for a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"ins



Also, i we detect a card with a bug, you may see somewarning messages li'e $not using @@@ or )ntel graphicscard$ or something.

lo#est free teAt indeAK2

Austin noting to himsel the next $slot$ or internationali/edstrings ! ignore it9

4;NN?M $ommand simHautopilotHairspeed in ke%s file unkno#n.4;NN?M the bindin" TH:5/T'T;7 is bound to t#o$ommandsM simHoperationH"roundVspeedV$han"e and

simHen"inesHi"nitionVdo#nV)

arning rom the 'eyboard shortcuts ile !! on this machine, ) have a 'ey bound to an un'nown command and twomappings or shit!ctrl!T. #oops9

pen7 version M 1.1pen7 hard#are Mpen7 eAtensionsM 7'VBXTV'PT8;B

7'VBN8B;TNVBXT 7'VBXTV'V:X 7'VBXTV:

&ac and 4inux: sound ino...usually this can be ignored9 edon(t seem to have a lot o sound bugs on &ac, and on 4inuxi sound drivers are bad, the sim won(t launch.

Tr%in" to find '/ atM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMXP7.shlb

7oadedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMPlu"indmina$.Apl.7oadedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMata;efBditora$.Apl.dlerrorMdlopen(H$odeHdesi"nH;esour$esHplu"insHPlu"indmin7in.Apl, 9*M no suitable ima"efound. id findM

H$odeHdesi"nH;esour$esHplu"insHPlu"indmin7in.AplMunkno#n file t%pe, first ei"ht b%tesM A@/ A!) A!' A!6 A1A1 A1 A/ailedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMPlu"indmin7in.Apl. (This file is missin", not

a 77 or $ould not be loaded due to another missin" 77.*dlerrorMdlopen(H$odeHdesi"nH;esour$esHplu"insHPlu"indmin4in.Apl, 9*M no suitable ima"efound. id findM

H$odeHdesi"nH;esour$esHplu"insHPlu"indmin4in.AplMunkno#n file t%pe, first ei"ht b%tesM A! A) A9 A A3A A A/ailedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMPlu"indmin4in.Apl. (This file is missin",not a 77 or $ould not be loaded due to another missin" 77.*dlerrorMdls%m(A91f9a, XPlu"in;e$eiveessa"e*M s%mbol not

found7oadedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMPosition.Apl.7oadedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMPrivate'ommands.Apl.7oadedM a$intosh 5M$odeMdesi"nM;esour$esMplu"insMXPusha$k.Apl.

19)

/ound stats plu"inM 2/ound remote plu"inM !

%lugin discovery ! each plugin is loaded...i it ails, the errormessage is here. ) it does load, plugins may insert their ownmessage and warnings . 5rom this section you can igure out

21 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 roadsH 22 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 us obEe$tsH 23 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 us obEe$ts pla$eholderH 2! ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 #orld obEe$tsH 2) ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 #orld obEe$ts pla$eholderH 26 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 #orld terrainH



<? what plugins the user has and <+? are they wor'ingC

5or example in this case, %luginAdmin4in.xpl didn(t launch !it(s not a real &ac plugin. <That(s because it(s or 4inux?

) a user has problems and a lot o plugins, as' them to tryagain without the plugins...perhaps it(s not our bug9

found the follo#in" s$ener% pa$ka"es (prioritiFed in this order*M 'ustom :$ener%Ha ksbd "round overla%H 1 'ustom :$ener%HaVfa$VtestH 2 'ustom :$ener%Hbea$hesH 3 'ustom :$ener%HBT li"htH ! 'ustom :$ener%HBT'H ) 'ustom :$ener%HforestsH 6 'ustom :$ener%HG7 Pursuit /ieldH @ 'ustom :$ener%HG: emo reaH K 'ustom :$ener%H7oireI7/DV/:2XPH 9 'ustom :$ener%H7:H 1 'ustom :$ener%Haket:oH 11 'ustom :$ener%HP;:VaseH 12 'ustom :$ener%HroadsH 13 'ustom :$ener%HTest1mH 1! 'ustom :$ener%HtoulousH 1) 'ustom :$ener%Hus pat$hH 16 'ustom :$ener%H#ha$koV"ermanVaptH 1@ ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H@ roadsH 1K ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK obEe$tsH 19 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK roadsH 2 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HK2 bea$hesH

2@ ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H'>:.sandboAinfoH 2K ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/ K2 Barth BuropeH 29 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/ K2 Barth 8:H 3 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%Hsim obEe$tsH 31 ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%HA-plane terrainH

Scenery pac'age list9 This is all o the scenery we ound,irst ones listed are highest priority. i a user has a crash and custom scenery, as' them to remove it.

0UT i the custom scenery causes the crash A2; the customscenery USE; to wor', please ma'e sure to get a bug reportto &E9999999999

4;NN?M ;un#a% must have a 3-letter name, but #e have CA at'olle"e Park4;NN?M ;un#a% has a bad number strin" CA at 'olle"e Park4e found a dupli$ate run#a% 36H1K vs. 1KH36 at airport 3/4e found a dupli$ate run#a% 36H1K vs. 1KH36 at airport 3/4;NN?M ;un#a% has a bad suffiA )u at 7el%stad4e found a dupli$ate run#a% )uH23 vs. )H23 at airport B57B4e found a dupli$ate run#a% 1!H32 vs. 32H1! at airport !24e found a dupli$ate run#a% 1!H32 vs. 32H1! at airport !24e found a dupli$ate run#a% 1KH36 vs. 36H1K at airport 6794e found a dupli$ate run#a% 1KH36 vs. 36H1K at airport 679

arnings about apt.dat ile...with +7,777 entries there are stillsome screwed up ones. :!< Robin tries to ix these things.

:tartin" s$ener% shift at

196

:/ rotate timeM @ for :/s.:/ load timeM 36)!2K for file ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/K2 Barth 8:HBarth nav dataM3-12H32-119.dsf :/ load timeM @!1K@! for file ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/K2 Barth 8:HBarth nav dataM3-12H32-11K.dsf :/ load timeM 9!9@!1 for file ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/K2 B th 8:HB th d t 3 12H 32 11@ d f



K2 Barth 8:HBarth nav [email protected] :/ load timeM @!1!96 for file ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/K2 Barth 8:HBarth nav dataM3-12H33-119.dsf :/ load timeM 1@662)! for file ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/K2 Barth 8:HBarth nav dataM3-12H33-11K.dsf :/ load timeM 1!!1@93 for file ;esour$esHdefault s$ener%H:/K2 Barth 8:HBarth nav [email protected] Preload timeM 1213!629.Preload timeM @193!6.Preload timeM 2@)16.Preload timeM 1262@2.

henever we load scenery, some logging ino goes out. )nthis way we can see what scenery they were last viewing andwhere they were lying.

'lean eAit from threads.

) they exit the sim, this message is printed at the log. ) youdon(t see this, it means one o two things:

<? the user crashed.<+? the user emailed you the log ile beore uitting99

19@

Appen"i/ X-Plane an" =inu/

The X-Plane dis$s sold from X-Plane.$om are $ompatible #ith4indo#s, a$ :, and 7inuA. nstallin" the soft#are on eithera$ : or 4indo#s is prett% strai"htfor#ard+ in most $ases so

differen$es in the user interfa$e and ho# pa$ka"es are installed*make a step-b%-step "uide for ea$h parti$ular 7inuA distributionimpossible.

4e #ill dis$uss the installation of X-Plane on three of the mostpopular distributionsM /edora, open:use, and 8buntu. helpful(th h bE ti * i f th th di t ib ti b



a$ : or 4indo#s is prett% strai"htfor#ard+ in most $ases, solon" as one has the proper drivers, the steps to install #ill be

nearl% identi$al bet#een $omputers. There are multiple versionsof these operatin" s%stems (for instan$e, a$ : 1.! versus1.), or 4indo#s XP versus 4indo#s >ista*, but for the purposeof installin" X-Plane, ea$h version fun$tions about the same.

n the other hand, Q7inuAR is a ver% broad $ate"or% of operatin"s%stems. Ba$h distribution (or QflavorR* of 7inuA is uniue.

n some $ases, the onl% thin" that differentiates one distributionfrom another is the pro"rams (also $alled soft#are pa$ka"es* thatare in$luded b% default&for eAample, 8buntu :tudio simpl% adds

tools for #orkin" #ith multimedia to the standard 8buntudistribution.

n other $ases, distributions ma% be differentiated b% their userinterfa$e&for eAample, Xubuntu $han"es the desktopenvironment from ?nome (as in the standard 8buntu distribution*to X/'B.

n %et other $ases, distributions ma% var% in man% more #a%s&for eAample, users of ?entoo (a hi"hl% $onfi"urable, hi"hl% involveddistribution* $hoose to use it over somethin" like 8buntu lar"el%

due to the fa$t that the kernel (the QbonesR of the operatin"s%stem* is tailored to ea$h s%stem individuall%. n the other hand,8buntu users $hoose to use it lar"el% for the fa$t that the% don+t have to $ustom-tailor an%thin".

None of these differen$es prevent X-Plane from bein" installed.5o#ever, the #ide variations in soft#are pa$ka"es (as #ell as

(thou"h subEe$tive* $omparison of these three distributions $an befound hereK2. ;eadin" throu"h the installation "uide belo# #ill behelpful to users of other distributions, too, as the pro$ess is lar"el%the same&$op% the installer to the hard drive, "ather the reuiredlibraries, and run the installer.

/or users ne# to 7inuA, this installation ma% seem dauntin". on0t"ive up, thou"hL The installation will #ork, and the eAperien$e"ained in installin" X-Plane #ill be helpful #hen installin" othersoft#are later. X-Plane $ustomer support is top not$h, and the X-Plane $ommunit%&espe$iall% the 7inuA side of the $ommunit%&iseA$eptionall% helpful.

Please note that this "uide is #ritten for users ne# to 7inuA.:ome information ma% seem anno%in"l% basi$ to 7inuA veterans,but it is ne$essar% in order to make 7inuA a viable option for all our users.

/or users tr%in" to de$ide bet#een the 32-bit version of theirdistribution of $hoi$e and the 6!-bit version, kno# that X-Plane #illrun on both. The 32-bit version has the benefit of reuirin" fe#erne# soft#are libraries $ompared to the 6!-bit version. Thedo#nside to usin" a 32-bit operatin" s%stem is that the s%stem$an onl% address ! ? of memor%+ ho#ever, sin$e X-Plane fits$omfortabl% #ithin 2 ? of memor%, a s%stem built stri$tl% for X-Plane #ill be fine #ith a 32-bit operatin" s%stem.

This "uide assumes that the $omputer X-Plane is bein" installed

K2 httpMHHne#s.helpero.$omHarti$leH88NT8-vs-:8:B-vs-/B;V2.html

19K

on is $apable of runnin" the simulator #ith its default renderin"options. Note that the minimum s%stem reuirements to run X-Plane are a 1 ?5F pro$essor, 1 ? of ;, and 12K >;on an independent (non-inte"rated* video $ard. 5o#ever, there$ommended spe$ifi$ations are a 2 ?5F pro$essor, 2 ? of;, and 2)6 of >;. f $ourse, X-Plane $an taked t f f t t t

X-Plane 4ikiK).

fter "ettin" the installer on the desktop, #e #ill do#nload an%soft#are libraries needed b% X-Plane but not present on thes%stem. n a 6!-bit s%stem, this usuall% means do#nloadin" the=>)bit versions of esa (a free implementation of the pen?7

hi lib * d 7 ( di lib * : 32 bit

http://news.helpero.com/article/UBUNTU-vs-SUSE-vs-FEDORA_20.html



http://wiki.x-plane.com/DVD_Installers

http://wiki.x-plane.com/DVD_Installers



advanta"e of even faster s%stems, too.

/or help, please email $ustomer support at infoUA-plane.$om, or"et $ommunit% support from the X-Plane.or" 7inuA forumsK3.

!. !nstallation

efore #e be"in, let0s dis$uss the "eneral steps that #e0ll befollo#in" in ea$h distribution0s spe$ifi$ installation instru$tions.

/irst, #e0ll $op% the X-Plane 7inuA installer to the desktop. This isne$essar% be$ause #e #ill need to remove is$ 1 in the $ourse of installin" the s$ener%. 7inuA doesn0t like havin" the installerpresent onl% in memor% (as #ould be the $ase in a 4indo#s ora$ installation*, so #e0ll pa$if% it b% movin" it to the hard drive.

n the past, there #ere issues #ith the mountin" of the 7inuAdis$s+ in the distributions des$ribed here, this is no lon"er the$ase. The installation dis$s mount $orre$tl% and are usable#ithout an% eAtra input. ore information $an be found at the X-Plane 4ikiK!.

Please note that the installation steps presented here are for the9. set of "ra%-$olored dis$s. 4hen usin" a different set of dis$s(su$h as the older beta dis$s or the dis$s pur$hased in a retailstore* it ma% be ne$essar% to do#nload the 7inuA installer from the

K3 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJsho#forum!9K! httpMHH#iki.A-plane.$omH7inuAV>VProblems

"raphi$s librar%* and pen7 (an audio librar%*. :ome 32-bits%stems #ill alread% have these installed.

To find out #hat libraries the installer #ill need, open the terminal(also $alled the $ommand line* and navi"ate to #here the installer#as saved. ssumin" that the installer is on the desktop, and thatthe terminal opens in the ]user name^ folder, this is done b%t%pin"M

cd Desktop

and pressin" Bnter. The QcdR stands for Q$han"e dire$tor%,R after#hi$h #e tell the terminal #here to "o.

n$e in the esktop folder, #e $an $he$k the dependen$ies of the7inuA installer b% t%pin"M

ldd ./“Linux Installer”

and pressin" Bnter. The libraries listed there $an be sear$hed foreither in the distribution0s pa$ka"e installer or on ?oo"le. /or the7inuA distributions in this "uide, #e #on0t "o throu"h this stepbe$ause #e alread% kno# #hi$h pa$ka"es are needed.

n$e the proper libraries are installed, runnin" the installer is assimple as openin" a terminal, navi"atin" to the desktop (via QcdDesktopR in most $ases*, and eAe$utin" the file b% t%pin"M

./“Linux Installer”

and pressin" Bnter.

/rom there, the installer itself $an #alk the user throu"h the setup.% default, the installation #ill default to the dire$tor% HhomeH]username^HX-Plane 9.

K) httpMHH#iki.A-plane.$omH>Vnstallers

199

A. !n Ubuntu J$-bitK

The 32-bit version (that is, the i3K6 installation dis$* of 8buntu9.! Q<aunt% <a$kalopeR #ill be used in the follo#in" instru$tions.dditionall% the X Plane 4iki has "uides for installin" on versions


http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?showforum=49

http://wiki.x-plane.com/Linux_DVD_Problems








dditionall%, the X-Plane 4iki has "uides for installin" on versionsK.!K6 and K.1K@, and further dis$ussion of the libraries ne$essar%for the 6!-bit version of K.1 $an be found on the X-Plane.or"forumsKK.

:ome 8buntu users report havin" issues #ith the file permissionsof the installer found on the X-Plane >s. n order to avoid thisentirel%, #e #ill simpl% do#nload the latest installer from the #ebb% $li$kin" hereK9. 4hen /irefoA prompts, sele$t to open the file#ith the r$hive ana"er, notin" that ma% take a fe# minutes forthe do#nload to $omplete. 4hen it does, dra" the X-Plane >nstaller 7inuA file to the desktop.

4ith the installer do#nloaded, #e need to "ather the reuiredpa$ka"e libraries. pen the :%napti$ Pa$ka"e ana"er b%$li$kin" the :%stem menu (in the upper left of the s$reen*, "oin" to

dministration, and $li$kin" :%napti$ Pa$ka"e ana"er, as sho#nin the follo#in" ima"e.

K6 httpMHH#iki.A-plane.$omHK.!V5ard%V5eronK@ httpMHH#iki.A-plane.$omHK.1VntrepidVbeAKK httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJsho#topi$3!K2!K9 httpMHHdev.A-plane.$omHupdateHinstallers9HX-Plane>nstaller7inuA.Fip

4hen :%napti$ opens, sear$h (in the top $enter of the #indo#* for pen7. /ind the line that reads Qlibopenal1R and $li$k it (assho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot*, then $li$k ark for nstallation.

2

http://wiki.x-plane.com/8.04_Hardy_Heron

http://wiki.x-plane.com/8.10_Intrepid_Ibex

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?showtopic=34824


http://dev.x-plane.com/update/installers9/X-PlaneDVDInstallerLinux.zip

http://wiki.x-plane.com/8.04_Hardy_Heron

http://wiki.x-plane.com/8.10_Intrepid_Ibex



http://dev.x-plane.com/update/installers9/X-PlaneDVDInstallerLinux.zip



4ith libopenal1 marked, press Apply (found at the top of the#indo#, to the left of the sear$h bar*. 'li$k Apply on$e a"ain inthe :ummar% #indo# that appears to install the pa$ka"e.

ue to an idios%n$ras% in 8buntu 9.!, #e #ill no# need to linkanother librar% file (libopenal* to the file #e Eust do#nloaded(libopenal1*. To do this, first open the terminal b% $li$kin" the

ppli$ations menu (found at the top left of the s$reen*, "oin" to $$essories, then $li$kin" Terminal, as sho#n at the top of theneAt pa"e.

n the terminal #indo# that opens, t%pe the follo#in" $ommandMsudo ln \s HusrHlibHlibopenal.so.1 HusrHlibHlibopenal.so.

Press Bnter and enter the root pass#ord to $reate the link.

Note that, in the 6!-bit version of 8buntu, users #ill need torepla$e the SlibS portion of the t#o dire$tories above #ith Slib32S.

n the previous $ommand, the QsudoR told the terminal to QdoR #hat#e told it as a super user (su*. The QlnR told it that #e #anted to$reate a link, and the Q\sR modifier told it to make it a s%mboli$ linkrather than a hard link. NeAt, #e told it #hi$h ori"inal file to use,then #here to pla$e the link.

4ith the link $reated, it0s time to run the installer. n a terminal#indo#, t%pe Q$d esktopR to move to the desktop, then t%pe .HRX-Plane > nstaller 7inuAR0 to laun$h the installer.

n the installer #indo# that appears, $li$k Continue.

21



% default, X-Plane #ill install to the HhomeH]user name^H dire$tor%.f this is a$$eptable, $li$k Continue, as in the follo#in" ima"e.

$$ept the li$ense a"reement, the $li$k Continue.

22

:ele$t the area of the #orld for #hi$h s$ener% should be installed.4ith the ne#est installer, none of the #orld #ill be sele$ted b%default. reas #hi$h are not sele$ted #ill be "ra% and #hite, #hileareas #hi$h are sele$ted #ill have their full $olor. /or eAample, inthe ima"e belo#, onl% North meri$a is sele$ted.

7ar"e areas $an easil% be sele$ted b% $li$kin" and dra""in" the

$omplete s$ener% pa$ka"e #ill $onsume about @) ? of harddrive spa$e and #ill take bet#een five and siA and a half hours toinstall.

4hen the installer prompts, remove is$ 1 from the drive andinsert is$ 2. Note that this must be pla$ed in the same >-; as the first dis$ for X-Plane to re$o"niFe it 4ait for the



7ar"e areas $an easil% be sele$ted b% $li$kin" and dra""in" themouse $ursor. lso, note that for areas #ith no s$ener% installed,airports #ill appear to be Qfloatin"R above an o$ean. nstallin" thatarea0s s$ener% later (done usin" this same installer* #ill $orre$tthis issue.

4hen the desired s$ener% has been sele$ted, $li$k Continue, assho#n in the ima"e belo#.

nstallation #ill no# be"in. Note that installation ma% takean%#here from thirt% to siAt% minutes per dis$. nstallin" the

; as the first dis$ for X-Plane to re$o"niFe it. 4ait for these$ond dis$0s i$on to appear on the desktop (indi$atin" that it ismounted and read% to use*, then $li$k Continue. ;epeat this forall the reuired dis$s.

4hen the installer finishes, the simulator is read% to "o.

:$ener% $an be added or removed at an% point in the future b%insertin" is$ 1 and re-runnin" the installer. 4hen the X-:%steminstaller $omes up sa%in" S=ou alread% have X-Plane 9 installedon this $omputer,R $li$k the A"" or e,o*e &3enery button andpro$eed as before.

i. )ote on =oss of Au"io in Ubuntu (.10

:ome users of 8buntu 9.1 have reported that, after fl%in" in X-Plane for an%#here from a fe# minutes to a fe# hours, the sim #illsuddenl% stop puttin" out sound, althou"h it #ill still take inputfrom the Eo%sti$k, the menus #ill still #ork, et$. fter this happens,the sim #ill lo$k up #hen the user tries to $lose it.

This is $aused b% a $onfli$t bet#een X-Plane and Pulseudio#hi$h, $uriousl%, seems to be limited to 8buntu 9.1. This $an befiAed either b% removin" Pulseudio entirel% (as des$ribed here inthe 8buntu forums* or b% up"radin" to 8buntu 1.!.

oth the problem and the solution are des$ribed further here onthe X-Plane.or" forums.

23

8. !n Open&U& J'4-bitK

This "uide #ill use the open:8:B 11.1 AK6-6! ?NBdistribution. The soft#are pa$ka"es in$luded #ith other versionsma% differ sli"htl% but the steps to install should be similar

need to be do#nloaded #hen runnin" the 6!-bit version ofopen:8:B&the 32-bit version #ill likel% have esa installedalread%.

'li$k on the 'omputer button in the bottom left of the s$reen. nthe menu that appears, $li$k !nstall &oft6are. T%pe the rootpass#ord #hen prompted

http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8284273










ma% differ sli"htl%, but the steps to install should be similar.

7ets "et started.

/irst, insert X-Plane 9 is$ 1 into the $omputers > drive. f the/ile ro#ser does not appear automati$all%, double $li$k on theXP7NB9 i$on on the desktop. n that #indo#, $li$k the nstaller7inuA i$on (as hi"hli"hted in the follo#in" s$reenshot* and dra" itto the desktop. This is ne$essar% so that #e $an s#it$h dis$sdurin" the installation.

4ith that done, #e need to "ather the ne$essar% soft#arelibraries. ;emember that these some of these libraries #ill onl%

pass#ord #hen prompted.

2!

4hen the =a:T :oft#are ana"er appears, t%pe QopenalR in thesear$h bar in the upper ri"ht, as hi"hli"hted in the ima"e belo#.'li$k on SopenalS in the pa$ka"e list, then $li$k !nstall (ashi"hli"hted belo#*. o the same for Sopenal-32bit.S The pen7pa$ka"es #ill be ne$essar% for audio output in X-Plane.

X-Plane.



NeAt, sear$h for Qfreealut.R :ele$t it and $li$k !nstall Eust like #iththe previous pa$ka"e. This too #ill be responsible for audiooutput in X-Plane.

/inall%, sear$h for esa. 'li$k on Sesa-32bitS and $li$k !nstall,as sho#n in the ima"e at the top of the neAt $olumn. esa is afree implementation of pen?7 that #ill handle the video output in

'li$k the Apply button to install all of the sele$ted pa$ka"es, ashi"hli"hted in the follo#in" ima"e.

2)

The terminal #indo# that appears #ill be lo$ated (b% default* inthe HhomeH]user name^H dire$tor%. To "et to the X-Plane installerfrom here, #e need to dire$t it to the desktop. o this #ith the$ommand Scd DesktopS as sho#n in the ima"e belo#. n$ethere, laun$h in the installer b% t%pin" ./"Installer Linux"and pressin" enter, as in the ima"e belo#.



ll the reuired soft#are libraries are no# installed. To laun$h theinstaller, #ell need to open a terminal #indo#. 'li$k Co,puter (found in the bottom left of the s$reen*, then $li$k MoreAppli3ations. There, double $li$k on the Terminal i$on. s anaside, ne# users mi"ht #ant to dra" this i$on and pla$e it on thetask bar, as it #ill likel% be used often.

26

The X-Plane nstaller #ill appear. 'li$k Continue. $$ept the a"reement, then $li$k Continue.



% default, X-Plane #ill install to the HhomeH]user name^H dire$tor%.f this is a$$eptable, $li$k Continue.

:ele$t the area of the #orld for #hi$h s$ener% should be installed.ependin" on the version of the dis$s, either all or none of the#orld #ill be sele$ted. reas #hi$h are not sele$ted #ill look#ashed out, #hile areas #hi$h are sele$ted #ill have their full$olor. /or eAample, in the ima"e at the top of the neAt $olumn,onl% North meri$a is sele$ted.

7ar"e areas $an easil% be sele$ted b% $li$kin" and dra""in" themouse $ursor. lso, note that for areas #ith no s$ener% installed,airports #ill appear to be Qfloatin"R above an o$ean. nstallin" that

area0s s$ener% later (done usin" this same installer* #ill $orre$tthis issue.

4hen the desired s$ener% has been sele$ted, $li$k Continue, assho#n in the follo#in" ima"e.

2@

To be"in, insert the first of the X-Plane installation dis$s into the>-; drive. 4hen it spins up, double $li$k on the XP7NB9i$on on the desktop, as sho#n in the ima"e belo#.



The installation #ill be"in. 4hen prompted to do so, remove is$

1 and insert is$ 2. Note that this must be pla$ed in the same >-; drive as the first dis$+ if it is pla$ed in another drive, theinstaller ma% not re$o"niFe it. 4ait for the dis$ to spin up, or forits /ile ro#ser #indo# to appear, then $li$k Continue.

4hen the installation finishes, the $omputer is read% to fl%.

Note that s$ener% $an be added or removed at an% point in thefuture b% insertin" is$ 1 and re-runnin" the installer. 4hen theX-:%stem installer $omes up sa%in" S=ou alread% have X-Plane 9installed on this $omputer,R $li$k the A"" or e,o*e &3enery

button and pro$eed as before.

C. !n %e"ora J'4-bitK

This "uide #ill use the AK6-6! distribution of /edora 'ore 1. The32-bit distribution #ill likel% not need the esa pa$ka"e.

'li$k on the nstaller 7inuA i$on and dra" it to the desktop. This isne$essar% so that #e $an s#it$h dis$s durin" the installation.

NeAt, #e need to "ather the soft#are libraries that X-Plane #illreuire. 'li$k on :%stem (found in the upper left of the s$reen*,"o to dministration, then $li$k dd or ;emove :oft#are.

n the #indo# that appears, sear$h for pen7, then $li$k on thepen udio 7ibrar% that notes on the se$ond line that it is the i=?@ version (that is, the 32-bit version, as sho#n in the follo#in"ima"e*, as opposed to the one #hi$h notes that it is the AK6V6!version (the 6!-bit version*.

2K



fter sele$tin" the $orre$t version of pen7, $li$k Apply.

NeAt, sear$h for esa. 'li$k on the version of the Qesa lib?7runtime libraries and ; driversR that notes on the se$ond linethat it is the i3K6 version (as sho#n in the follo#in" s$reenshot*,not the AK6V6! version. Then, $li$k Apply.

fter $li$kin" Apply, a dialo" boA #ill appear (sho#n in thefollo#in" ima"e* sa%in" that a number of other pa$ka"es must beinstalled in order to install esa. 'li$k !nstall.

29



NeAt, #hile still havin" sear$hed for esa, s$roll do#n and $li$kon the i3K6 version of Qesa lib?78 runtime librar%R (as sho#n inthe follo#in" ima"e*, then $li$k Apply.

4ith all the reuired soft#are pa$ka"es installed, it0s time to runthe installer. pen the ppli$ations menu, "o to :%stem Tools,and $li$k on the Terminal i$on (as sho#n in the follo#in" ima"e*.

21



The terminal #indo# that opens #ill, b% default, be set in theHhomeH]user name^H dire$tor%. /irst, move to the desktop b% t%pin"Qcd DesktopR and pressin" Bnter. NeAt, laun$h the installer b%t%pin" ./ “Installer Linux”0 and pressin" Bnter.

/rom there, usin" the X-Plane installer is identi$al to the stepsdetailed in the open:8:B "uide in the pre$edin" pa"es.

:. Troubleshooting

f, #hen tr%in" to run the installer from the $ommand line, an errorabout a missin" librar% (for instan$e, libopenal* appears, tr%sear$hin" the operatin" s%stem0s pa$ka"e mana"er for themissin" file. f that fails, sear$h ?oo"le #ith the librar% name andthe name of the 7inuA distribution.

To ui$kl% determine #hat libraries #ill be needed to run theinstaller, use the Qlld .H]installer name^R $ommand in a terminal(after movin" to that dire$tor% #ith the $d $ommand*.

211

/or further help, please email $ustomer support at infoUA-plane.$om, or "et $ommunit% support from the X-Plane.or" 7inuAforums9.

dditionall%, the follo#in" X-Plane 7inuA users have "enerousl%volunteered to provide support for fello# usersM












• <eff :offerin& EeffUEls#orld.$om• <oe ?iles& E"ilesU$%bermesa.$om• ave 5a"ert%&daveUsurfin"pen"uin.$om• artin 7eek&mleekUmllen"ineerin".$om• Peter :mith&peterValbertVsmithU%ahoo.$om

9 httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJsho#forum!9

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Appen"i/ ! Up"ating the Co,puter>s9raphi3s :ri*ers in 7in"o6s

Many systems will have the necessary graphics drivers alreadyinstalled. However, it may be necessary to periodically update thecomputer’s video drivers either to fix a problem or to get the very

Note also that ATI has provided a series of four videos, found onthis web page, detailing the step-by-step uninstallation, download,and installation of the new drivers. For users of ATI graphicscards, this may be the fastest way to get through the updateprocess.

!. :eter,ining the 9raphi3s Car" Ma2er an" Mo"el Using















computer s video drivers, either to fix a problem or to get the very

best performance the system can deliver. Users of ATI videocards can download drivers here91, and NVIDIA users candownload drivers here92.

Before updating the graphics drivers, we recommend installingand launching X-Plane (as per Chapter 2, beginning on page 1#)and seeing how it runs. If any of the following is experienced, thesystem’s graphics drivers probably need to be updated:

• a screen consisting only of splashes of color

• a screen with horizontal or vertical bars running through it

• random images of various pieces of the airplane orinstrument panel

• a system crash upon loading or exiting X-Plane

Additionally, if an error appears referring to a corrupt or missing.dll file, the graphics drivers most likely need to be replaced.

A high percentage of Windows-based computers are operatingwith drivers that are out of date or that do not currently supportOpenGL (caused by using the default Windows drivers rather thanthose of the manufacturer). If it is determined that the driversneed to be updated, users should first determine what graphicscard they have. The easiest way to do this is to use the DirectXDiagnostic tool included with Windows.

Before we begin, note that, while most of the screenshots aretaken in Windows 7, the steps should be almost identical inWindows Vista, and will be very similar in Windows XP. Wherethey are not similar, the differences are noted.

91 httpMHHsupport.amd.$omHusH"pudo#nloadHPa"esHindeA.aspA92 httpMHH###.nvidia.$omHo#nloadHindeA.aspAJlan"en-us

:ire3tX :iagnosti3

1. To open the DirectX Diagnostic, with which we'll determine whatgraphics card is in the system, open the Start menu and type“dxdiag.exe”, as seen in the following image, then press Enter.

213







Windows XP does not have this integrated search in the Startmenu. Instead, open the Start menu and click Run, as seen in thefollowing image, or press the Windows + R keys.

In the box that appears, type “dxdiag”, then press OK.

2. If a box appears asking whether the program should check forWHQL-signed drivers, click no—this is not important to what we’relooking for.

3. When the DirectX Diagnostic Tool appears, click the Display tabat the top of the window, as shown in the following screenshot.

4. The information we’re looking for (name and manufacturer ofthe graphics card) is highlighted in the following screenshot. Forinstance, in this screenshot, the video card is a Radeon 4670,made by ATI.

21!

T ;adeon 5 )K). 4ith the "raphi$s $ard and operatin"s%stem sele$ted, $li$k Display Results (as shown in the followingimage) to open the download page.



Additionally, it may be helpful to make a note of the “Approx. TotalMemory” line in this screen. This is the amount of VRAM presenton the video card. It is important to know this number whenoptimizing the rendering options in X-Plane (specifically, itdetermines the quality of textures that can be loaded).

Using the information we just found, either continue on to readhow to install drivers for ATI video cards, or skip down to Part III toinstall drivers for NVIDIA cards.

II. Installing Drivers for Video Cards Made by ATI

1. Go to the ATI download page93 and select the computer’soperating system, the video card series, and the video cardmodel. Note once again that ATI has provided a series of fourvideos, found on the download page linked to above, detailing the

step-by-step uninstallation, download, and installation of the newdrivers. For users of ATI graphics cards, this may be the fastestway to get through the update process.

n the s$reenshot belo#, the $omputer that #ere do#nloadin"drivers for is runnin" 4indo#s @ 6!-bit and the "raphi$s $ard is an

93 httpMHHsupport.amd.$omHusH"pudo#nloadHPa"esHindeA.aspA

2. Scroll down to the Catalyst Software Suite and click theDownload button, as shown in the following image.

21)

http://http//support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx





3. In the download dialog box that appears, navigate to theDesktop and click Save to begin downloading the file, as seen inthe following image.

4. Before installing the drivers that were just downloaded, we needto get rid of the old graphics drivers. To do this, open the Startmenu and click on the Control Panel, as in the following image.

216



5. In the window that appears, click Uninstall a Program (labeledAdd or Remove Programs in Windows XP), shown in the followingscreenshot.

6. Select the previous video display driver (in the image below,“ATI Display Driver”) and click the Change button (in WindowsXP, this is labeled Change/Remove), as in the image below.

21@

7. Click Next through the uninstall process (actual steps varydepending on which old driver is installed), and restart thecomputer if the uninstaller prompts to.

8. If, when Windows reboots, it asks to install drivers for a generic“Video Controller,” click Cancel, as shown in the image below,because we do not want to use Windows’ default drivers.



9. Double click on the driver file that was saved to the Desktop in

Step 3 above.

10. In the window that opens, click the Install button, as seen inthe following image. The installer will extract the files to the defaulttemporary directory of C:\ATI\Support\[Driver version].

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11. After extracting, the installer should launch automatically. Inthe window that opens, click the Next button, as seen in thefollowing image.

12. Click the Install button, as seen in the following image.

219



13. Select the Express radio button then click the Next button, asin the image below, to begin the installation.

14. After a couple minutes, the installation will finish. Reboot if theinstaller requires it. After the computer reboots, you’re ready to fly!

22

III. Installing Drivers for Video Cards Made by NVIDIA

1. Go to NVIDIA’s driver download94 page. Select the video cardthat was found in Part A of this guide. For example, in thescreenshot below, the card in use was an NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX, so the product series selected was the GeForce 8 series.Next, select the operating system to be used.

2. With that selected, click Search to find the required drivers.





9! httpMHH###.nvidia.$omHo#nloadHindeA.aspAJlan"en-us

3. When the web page loads, click the Download button, as seenin the following image. On the following page, click the Agree &Download button.

4. If Internet Explorer displays a security warning, right click on theinformation bar and select Download File, as shown in the

following screenshot.

221

5. Click Save in the dialog box that appears, as in the followingimage.



6. Select the Desktop from the left pane, then click Save to savethe file to the Desktop.

222

7. Unlike in the installation process for ATI drivers, NVIDIArecommends not uninstalling the previous drivers, per their FAQpage.

12. After rebooting, double click on the drivers that weredownloaded in Step 6.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/drivers_faq.html






13. Click Run in the dialog box that appears.

223

14. Click Next when the file extractor appears. 15. The installer should run automatically. If it does not, open MyComputer and navigate to C:\NVIDIA\ operating systemname \ driver version \English and double click on the setup.exe file.

When the installer appears, click Next.



22!

16. Click Yes to accept the license agreement. 17. The drivers will install automatically. When they are through,click Finish.



18. Restart the computer and you’re ready to fly!

22)

Appen"i/ ? :efault @ey Assign,ents

X-Plane.or" has $reated a detailed (and $olorful* Q$heat sheetR forke% assi"nments in X-Plane 9. t $an be do#nloaded from theirsite here9).





9) httpMHHforums.A-plane.or"HindeA.phpJauto$omib#ikiI$mdarti$leIid!1

226

Appen"i/ @ Using Ol"er ersions of X-Plane

The X-Plane 9 installation dis$s be"an shippin" on 3 November2@. T#o different sets of dis$s have been shipped out from theX-Plane.$om site so far. The first dis$s #ere the so-$alled QetaR

1. nsert the master > (?lider on "re% label* into the$omputer0s > drive. This is the dis$ #ith a "lider on the"ra% label. f the installer #indo# does not appearautomati$all%, open up % 'omputer (or the a$ /inder,as the $ase ma% be* and navi"ate to the dis$. n$e there,double $li$k on the appropriate installer to open it.

2. :ele$t #here X-Plane is to be installed. 7ook at the



dis$s. These $ame as a set of ei"ht >s. n the other hand,the dis$s $urrentl% bein" sold are the version 9. to version 9.22dis$s, #hi$h $ome as a set of siA >s. The installationpro$edure is uite different bet#een these t#o. nstru$tions forinstallin" the siA-dis$ set are found in 'hapter 2 of this manual(be"innin" on pa"e 1#*+ instru$tions for the ei"ht-dis$ set follo#.

dditionall%, ?raphsim Bntertainment, X-Plane0s retail distributor,sells the X-Plane version 9 siA-dis$ set. 8nlike the dis$s availableon X-Plane.$om (#hi$h have "ra% labels*, the ?raphsim dis$shave %ello# labels. These dis$s use a proprietar% installer from

?raphsim and are for 4indo#s and a$ : onl%. /or $ustomersupport re"ardin" these dis$s, please email am%U"raphsim.$om, or $all (21!* KK!-))@1.

Note that the end result of installin" and updatin" from any ofthese X-Plane distributions is the same+ installin" from the etadis$s, then updatin" to version 9.22 is eAa$tl% the same asinstallin" from, sa%, the v9.1 dis$s, then updatin" to version 9.22.

!. !nstalling X-Plane ( fro, the ight :is3 8eta :istribution

The set of ei"ht QetaR installation dis$s #ere shipped before thefinal release of the X-Plane v9. set of siA dis$s. nstallation isuite different from v9. and later (des$ribed in 'hapter 2, onpa"e 1#*, but the end result, after updatin", is the same.

estination boA to see #here the installer #ill automati$all%tr% to install the X-Plane. 'li$k on the estination label to$ause a bro#ser #indo# appear for sele$tin" the desireddestination. ouble $li$k on this lo$ation to $ause it to bepla$ed in the estination #indo#.

3. e sure to install X-Plane to an eas%-to-find lo$ation, asthe simulator, as #ell as Plane-aker, irfoil-aker, andet$. #ill all be laun$hed from here. The esktop is al#a%sa "ood $hoi$e. t ma% be best to #rite this lo$ation do#n.n a a$, avoid the 'MWppli$ations folder.

!. 'li$k the !nstall button, to be"in installation of thesimulator frame#ork and s$ener% $ontrol files. (This #illuse about 2.) ?.*

). fter the X-Plane $ode is installed and verified to be#orkin", install :$ener% from disks for areas %ou #ish to fl%over. Ba$h s$ener% > (seven total* has the maphi"hli"hted on it hi"hli"hted #ith the s$ener% $ontained onthat dis$. t is not ne$essar% to install all the s$ener%>s, and s$ener% not needed $an be easil% deleted later

from the X-Plane ;esour$es folder to re$over disk stora"e.

/or referen$e, the version 9 frame#ork plus 8nited :tatess$ener% #ill take up about 1 ?. f $ourse, theses$ener% areas are not divided politi$all%, so one #ill haveto also install some 'anada s$ener% in order to "et all of

22@

the 8:.

6. 4hen the installation finishes, put the X-Plane master dis$into the > drive. Plu" in an% fli"ht $ontrols, then "o tothe main X-Plane folder and $li$k on the X-PlaneeAe$utable file. The simulator #ill load over the $ourse ofa fe# minutes. 4hen it finishes, $onfi"ure an% fli"ht$ontrols, set the desired renderin" options, $hoose an






airplane and lo$ation, et$.&all per the rest of this manual.

t this point, users ma% also #ant to $reate a short$ut to X-Plane on the esktop. dditionall%, be sure to update tothe latest version as per 'hapter 2, :e$tion > on pa"e#.

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Appen"i/ = 7ater *ery6hereB

4hen s$ener% is not installed for a "iven lo$ation, all that #ill bevisible are airports and #ater. This is referred to as Q#ater #orld,Rand is a $ommon problem, espe$iall% #hen usin" the ei"ht-dis$set of QetaR installation dis$s.



To avoid #ater #orld, either install the s$ener% for the lo$ation inuestion, or $hoose to fl% some#here else. To install s$ener%,insert the first X-Plane installation dis$ (the same dis$ used to runthe simulator* and run the installer as before. nstead of installin"a ne# $op% of the pro"ram, thou"h, #hen the installer #indo#appears, press the A"" or e,o*e &3enery button.

f s$ener% for the lo$ation is in fa$t installed, be sure that the $op%of X-Plane for #hi$h it is installed is the one bein" used&forinstan$e, if a user has t#o $opies of X-Plane installed (sa%, one

runnin" version 9.22 and one runnin" 9.3 eta*, the% ma% havedifferent amounts of s$ener% installed.

x-plane desktop manual

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