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Product Description
X-Plane is the world's most comprehensive and powerful flight simulator available. Welcome to the world of props, jets, single- and multi-engine airplanes, as well as gliders, helicopters and new Very Light Jets such as the Cirrus Jet. The most realistic flight model available for personal computers. It comes with subsonic and supersonic flight dynamics, simulating aircraft from the Bell 206 Jet-Ranger helicopter and Cessna 172 light plane to the supersonic Concorde and Mach-3 XB-70 Valkyrie. Includes over 40 aircraft spanning the aviation industry (and history), and several hundred more are freely downloadable from the internet. Land at any of over 18,000 airports, as well as test your mettle on aircraft carriers, helipads on building tops, frigates that pitch and roll in the waves. Weather is variable from clear skies and high visibility to thunderstorms with controllable wind, wind shear, turbulence, and microbursts. Rain, snow and clouds are available for an instrument flying challenge. Real weather data can be downloaded, allowing you to fly in the actual conditions that currently exist! Includes detailed failure modeling, with 35 systems that can be failed manually or randomly, when you least expect it! You can fail instruments, engines, flight controls, and landing. Includes Plane-Maker, which lets the player create airplanes, and World-Maker, which lets the player create scenery. Also included is Weather Briefer that makes a weather briefing based on actual weather conditions.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
118 of 122 people found the following review helpful
Fun:
I am neither a pilot nor a "gamer" but I used to enjoy MS Flight Simulator, and when I went exclusively to a Mac several years ago my only regret was that I has to leave Flt.Sim. behind. X-Plane 9, which I just discovered, is even better than I remember Flt.Sim.
I bought an inexpensive joystick (Logitech Extreme 3-D Pro, about $35 at Amazon), and then installed X-Plane 9 on my iMac. The installation took about an hour but it went flawlessly. The joystick was recognized by the program, and I was easily able to calibrate it by following the very clear instructions.
I selected the Cessna 172 as my trainer plane and a local airport as my home field (again following the clear instructions). The first flight was not a thing of beauty but I was able to take off, circle the field, and make a safe, albeit shaky, landing.
This is not a toy and some of the "gamers" who complained about the lack of instructions or the problems in controlling their aircraft were probably using jets and/or multi-engine aircraft for their initial flights, and expecting instant gratification.
I have substantial learning to do (and it's a steep curve) but even at this early stage, I can say with confidence that this is a superb and flexible program which is well worth the investment of money and time for anyone who wants to enjoy a true flight simulator on their Mac.
I bought an inexpensive joystick (Logitech Extreme 3-D Pro, about $35 at Amazon), and then installed X-Plane 9 on my iMac. The installation took about an hour but it went flawlessly. The joystick was recognized by the program, and I was easily able to calibrate it by following the very clear instructions.
I selected the Cessna 172 as my trainer plane and a local airport as my home field (again following the clear instructions). The first flight was not a thing of beauty but I was able to take off, circle the field, and make a safe, albeit shaky, landing.
This is not a toy and some of the "gamers" who complained about the lack of instructions or the problems in controlling their aircraft were probably using jets and/or multi-engine aircraft for their initial flights, and expecting instant gratification.
I have substantial learning to do (and it's a steep curve) but even at this early stage, I can say with confidence that this is a superb and flexible program which is well worth the investment of money and time for anyone who wants to enjoy a true flight simulator on their Mac.
82 of 91 people found the following review helpful
Fun:
This is a review of X-Plane 9.0 intended for the other reviewers listed here:
You will not find a finer product anywhere on the planet. This is not a GAME. This is a professional flight simulator that takes time and patience to master. If you want to fly around and shoot down other planes, don't buy this product. It is a teaching tool for those of us who are not pilots but wish, desperately, to share in the experience.
X-Plane 9.0 (as all other versions of the sim have been) is a BETA, and that is fantastic. Austin Meyer, the creator of the program, allows users to add their own input as to improvements, criticisms and more. Unlike other extremely unrealistic flight simulators on the market, you are not buying a finished product - you will be given FREE updates for the next 2 or so years. Updating is easy, and it is just like getting a brand new product with every release.
You must love to fly to love X-Plane. If you're looking for kicks, buy something else. It really shocks me how some people have an attention span of, oh, nine minutes or so. Why would you spend this much money on something that you are not willing to invest your time in? And, why are you buying flight simulators if you are looking for a cheap thrill? The very fact is that X-Plane features a genuine physics model, real weather conditions, real air traffic control systems and more. Read a book and learn how to fly. Then, start up X-Plane and you will relish in the fact that it isn't just eye-candy.
I have learned so much about flying by using this program. Don't be intimidated by it. Instead, invest time and energy into learning how to fly terribly complicated aircraft that are modeled PRECISELY after the real-life counterparts.
Avionic systems work when the pilot actually knows how to use them. Imagine that.
X-Plane 9.0 is not to be "played" like a game. It is to be used to learn how to actually operate an airplane. If you are not willing to perform 15 minutes of pre-flight checks before actually hitting the runway, don't bother with it. Of course, that puts you square in the "cheap-thrills gamer" category, leaving the rest of us alone to explore all that the program has to offer.
The support network for X-Plane is also outstanding. Some of the best aircraft designs that I have ever seen are created by people just like you - and for free. What other piece of software allows free updates for years to come, a virtual community of enthusiasts, an immense amount of free aircraft and scenery, and the ability to email the actual creator? If you don't like the way X-Plane operates, you have the ability to change it! Why would anyone want the cookie-cutter Microsoft Flight Simulator? Do they care this much about the community that uses their product?
You will not find a finer product anywhere on the planet. This is not a GAME. This is a professional flight simulator that takes time and patience to master. If you want to fly around and shoot down other planes, don't buy this product. It is a teaching tool for those of us who are not pilots but wish, desperately, to share in the experience.
X-Plane 9.0 (as all other versions of the sim have been) is a BETA, and that is fantastic. Austin Meyer, the creator of the program, allows users to add their own input as to improvements, criticisms and more. Unlike other extremely unrealistic flight simulators on the market, you are not buying a finished product - you will be given FREE updates for the next 2 or so years. Updating is easy, and it is just like getting a brand new product with every release.
You must love to fly to love X-Plane. If you're looking for kicks, buy something else. It really shocks me how some people have an attention span of, oh, nine minutes or so. Why would you spend this much money on something that you are not willing to invest your time in? And, why are you buying flight simulators if you are looking for a cheap thrill? The very fact is that X-Plane features a genuine physics model, real weather conditions, real air traffic control systems and more. Read a book and learn how to fly. Then, start up X-Plane and you will relish in the fact that it isn't just eye-candy.
I have learned so much about flying by using this program. Don't be intimidated by it. Instead, invest time and energy into learning how to fly terribly complicated aircraft that are modeled PRECISELY after the real-life counterparts.
Avionic systems work when the pilot actually knows how to use them. Imagine that.
X-Plane 9.0 is not to be "played" like a game. It is to be used to learn how to actually operate an airplane. If you are not willing to perform 15 minutes of pre-flight checks before actually hitting the runway, don't bother with it. Of course, that puts you square in the "cheap-thrills gamer" category, leaving the rest of us alone to explore all that the program has to offer.
The support network for X-Plane is also outstanding. Some of the best aircraft designs that I have ever seen are created by people just like you - and for free. What other piece of software allows free updates for years to come, a virtual community of enthusiasts, an immense amount of free aircraft and scenery, and the ability to email the actual creator? If you don't like the way X-Plane operates, you have the ability to change it! Why would anyone want the cookie-cutter Microsoft Flight Simulator? Do they care this much about the community that uses their product?
47 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Fun:
Make no mistake, this is a real Simulation of flight.
4 hours is a long time for an install, and unneeded. The extra DVD's (disks 2 through 6) contain, as they are labeled, nothing more than the Hi-res imagery for the planet outside of the United States. Installing the first disk is all you need to do to get going, and Northern California is all you get to see if you've downloaded the Demo.
X-Plane is not a "Toy Video Game with Airplanes", it's a true Flight Physics Simulator. It doesn't have fancy looking interface designs, no happy guidance on how to fly. X-Plane is for the people who want a highly realistic simulation of actual aircraft physics. For this reason, many pilots prefer it over the competition's product. It's accurate, it feels like flying a real plane, and it doesn't fudge any numbers for the sake of simplicity.
If you take a design from X-plane, build it in real life, with the correct power engines, correct wing designs, and correct fuselage design, your plane will fly exactly the same in real life. (Cirrus' "The Jet" and the Carter Copter were actually designed using X-plane). If you know how to use autopilot systems in real life, they will all work here. If not, you've got a learning curve to tackle.
Can you load up the game and start flying immediately? Almost. You'll have to program your joystick. Tell the sim what sliders should do what, what buttons should do what. After that, yes, you can "just go". X-Plane isn't going to give you an intro on how to take off, you need to either know how, or figure it out. (Throttle + Flaps = Flight)
You can even design your own aircraft, design your own airports, and update world maps. (I don't actually know how to change the world, but I've made a few aircraft designs in my years, none all that impressive, mind you, but still)
The community website (www.x-plane.org) is full of new designs, (admittedly since V9 is only a month or so old, the pickings are fairly slim), and many v8 designs still work nicely, or so I've heard. This sim is the best value for the money, and the most serious item around. If you've got a motion control platform, you can configure it to move with the sim. You can run multiple copies on a network for multiple screens, multiple aircraft, and instructor stations, if you've got a pile of money to buy it all.
The new high-res graphics are killer nice, and flying over NYC brings my computer to it's knees, but NYC isn't exactly a village now, is it?
If you want a video game, look elsewhere. If you want to know how to fly, you've got but one choice. X-Plane.
-CameronB
Gayla's Husband
4 hours is a long time for an install, and unneeded. The extra DVD's (disks 2 through 6) contain, as they are labeled, nothing more than the Hi-res imagery for the planet outside of the United States. Installing the first disk is all you need to do to get going, and Northern California is all you get to see if you've downloaded the Demo.
X-Plane is not a "Toy Video Game with Airplanes", it's a true Flight Physics Simulator. It doesn't have fancy looking interface designs, no happy guidance on how to fly. X-Plane is for the people who want a highly realistic simulation of actual aircraft physics. For this reason, many pilots prefer it over the competition's product. It's accurate, it feels like flying a real plane, and it doesn't fudge any numbers for the sake of simplicity.
If you take a design from X-plane, build it in real life, with the correct power engines, correct wing designs, and correct fuselage design, your plane will fly exactly the same in real life. (Cirrus' "The Jet" and the Carter Copter were actually designed using X-plane). If you know how to use autopilot systems in real life, they will all work here. If not, you've got a learning curve to tackle.
Can you load up the game and start flying immediately? Almost. You'll have to program your joystick. Tell the sim what sliders should do what, what buttons should do what. After that, yes, you can "just go". X-Plane isn't going to give you an intro on how to take off, you need to either know how, or figure it out. (Throttle + Flaps = Flight)
You can even design your own aircraft, design your own airports, and update world maps. (I don't actually know how to change the world, but I've made a few aircraft designs in my years, none all that impressive, mind you, but still)
The community website (www.x-plane.org) is full of new designs, (admittedly since V9 is only a month or so old, the pickings are fairly slim), and many v8 designs still work nicely, or so I've heard. This sim is the best value for the money, and the most serious item around. If you've got a motion control platform, you can configure it to move with the sim. You can run multiple copies on a network for multiple screens, multiple aircraft, and instructor stations, if you've got a pile of money to buy it all.
The new high-res graphics are killer nice, and flying over NYC brings my computer to it's knees, but NYC isn't exactly a village now, is it?
If you want a video game, look elsewhere. If you want to know how to fly, you've got but one choice. X-Plane.
-CameronB
Gayla's Husband
Most Recent Customer Reviews
X-Plane 9 Review
I am enjoying this simulator. I find the graphics a little wanting but am enjoying. Have decided to stay with this instead of upgrading to 10 until I get better at it.
Published 4 months ago by Arctic Owl
This version is out of date = X-Plane v10 is current
This version is out of date = X-Plane v10 is current. Don't waste your time with this item.
Go to [...] for the most recent version.
Go to [...] for the most recent version.
Published 4 months ago by RM
pilots
this game sucks it dose not bet fsx by anything. dont buy this game get the fsx if you want a good airplane game
Published 7 months ago by Eliezer Ortiz
amazing game
i love this game, it is fun, fantastic graphic. but it is missing a real instruction how to fly and use the sophisticated panel on the plane. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rotana
Quickly became bored
Don't expect to start playing this game immediately out of the box. It takes hours to load on my MAC book pro. It does what its suppose to do but it is so boring. Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. Safara
Great Flight Sim
I bought this game for my iMac. I had no problem installing it or getting it to run. Installation from the 6 discs takes 5-6 hours. Read more
Published 12 months ago by chrisc
Great game and graphics...although MS Flight Sim is better.
I have an iMAC and I missed the Microsoft Flight Simulator. So I bought this game. Although it is pretty realisti c,it lacks some of the fun factor and realism of the Microsoft... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Kurt A. Jaeger
Intense
I have flown quite a bit as a passenger in many different types of aircraft over the years, but never had the controls. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ron
very kool
Really kool game but i would still prefer a more realistic flight sim game where u can actually fly passengers to their destinations like a real Pilot n not just fly around... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Pilot
Great Flight Simulator, ok Game
As a student Pilot I find X-Plane to be a great training tool. The breadth of locations and ability to add additional aircraft makes this simulator far superior to MS Flight... Read more
Published 17 months ago by JD123
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