X-Plane or Microsoft FS for instrument?

Low&Slow

Low&Slow

Ancora imparo
I haven't done any instrument flying since the day I passed the checkride about 16 years ago and am thinking about getting a flight simulator I can putz around on. I will get an instructor here shortly, but right now I am looking for an inexpensive way to get reacquainted with flying approaches, departures, holds, etc. I am also retaking the ground school now and am training for my CFI-I as self-study for now.

I know using a home PC flight simulator won't do much to help my actual flying skills, but I think it will help me get used to the procedures used so that I might reduce the amount of time it takes me in the plane to get proficient and save me some money as a result.

I looked at the Elite software too, but It's too expensive. I feel like I can accomplish what I want with one of these two programs, but not sure which one is better for what I want to do. I have CH Products rudder pedals and yoke that I am planning on using with it. Which simulator should I get? Does it make a difference?
 
I prefer X-plane for instrument stuff. For some reason, the instruments in FS tend to be kind of laggy, even on some pretty nice machines. X-Plane instruments are smooooth. That at least is what I have noticed.
 
I use Microsoft FSX!:rawk: It works great for me! I have only used X-plane a few times, and didnt really like it! But my opinion may be biased considering I've owned every Microsoft version of FS available. The only complaint I have with FSX is that it tends to be sluggish when the graphics properties are turned up! It takes a "super computer" to run it with full graphics! I've not heard anything bad about X-plane tho! I think this thread has gotten me interested in trying X-plane yet another time!
 
Good Idea! Using a PC-Based Flight Sim helped me a little, especially when I first started doing Tracking, Intercepting, DME Arcs, and Approaches. I believe it saved me a few hundred dollars at the least.

I own both FSX and X-Plane 9, and personally have found MSFS to help me out a bit more, because:

-I've found adjusting frequencies and OBS to be much easier.
-X-Plane didn't have the most up to date Navigation Data (for example, Missing ILS at my training airport and an NDB nearby)
-MSFS GPS is much more functional if you want to practice shooting RNAV/GPS Approaches. (I believe the XP GPS only does Airport to Airport Nav. on the GPS)
-The flight dynamics on the default Cessna in X-Plane are terrible! I can never trim it correctly.

Although I have had FSX much longer than XP9, maybe I haven't discovered XP's full potential yet.
 
I have used both quite a bit, and either will work. I tend to favor MSFS with one major qualifier: Add on aircraft for smooth instruments and good flight models. If it was just the included aircraft I would go with X-Plane.
 
Acadia said:
I have used both quite a bit, and either will work. I tend to favor MSFS with one major qualifier: Add on aircraft for smooth instruments and good flight models. If it was just the included aircraft I would go with X-Plane.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat: Especially with the add-on aircraft. I've used real life Jepps while shooting ILS's into major airports with the PMDG 737NG add on. It always worked like a charm!
 
ah the age old debate. which sim is better...

I personally fly Microsoft FSX Acceleration. (the expansion pack)

I've been flying on this since the day it came out and have always loved it. I tried flying in X-Plane and I just found it to not be as good as FSX. I fly (and am sponsored to fly) aerobatics in FSX but I also do a lot of IFR stuff with real world ATCers in the sessions and I've found it to be great. In X-Plane it felt more sim like to me, but in FSX, although it does have its faults, it seems to really do what you want it to do and tell it to do. If you put a full flight plan in the GPS your aircraft will fly to every one, go into holds if needed, gives you freqs, allows you to divert, etc. The only thing that I could say that would make FSX better would be the full use of the FMC. I've bought multiple aircraft that are very very well done and I use the full FMC and can do a real world flight plan in the sim, and as long as you get controllers online that know what they're doing, you can really really get good expirence from it.

Leland

P.S. any quesitons about FSX, dont hesitate to ask me. I've been working on improving it along side many computer programers and we've even sent some stuff into Microsoft.
 
modernicarus :

i have MS FS X . If you want to try it out, just let me know - I'll be more than happy to let you have the DVD for a few days. It's just the basic version and does not have the expansion package etc.

cheers

Sunny
 
I've had more issues with the CH yoke than ether of the programs. The plastic yoke tube on plastic bushings sticks to the point of making nearly impossible to trim. Mine is an older version, maybe I need to replace it. The new one looks nice but "WOW" its expensive. Has anybody the tried the Saitek Yoke or the new CH Eclipse
 
ACES Studios, the division of MS that develops FS, was shuttered this week as part of their layoff announcement. No word on where (or if) the product will get moved to another division for future development. Hard to believe that MS will let a 30 year old product die if its still in demand but these are strange times.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2339520,00.asp

In the future, X-plane may be your choice by default.
 
bartman said:
ACES Studios, the division of MS that develops FS, was shuttered this week as part of their layoff announcement. No word on where (or if) the product will get moved to another division for future development. Hard to believe that MS will let a 30 year old product die if its still in demand but these are strange times.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2339520,00.asp

In the future, X-plane may be your choice by default.
Click to expand...

Yeah, not to throw a negative turn into the conversation, but don't expect much future support or newer versions of MS Flight Sim...
 
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