Happy New Year!
It was an exciting end to 2014 here at X-Plane since we released the X-Plane 10 Mobile app a few short weeks ago. It’s hard to believe it’s already a brand new year, but we’ve made it our goal to stay in touch more frequently this year. There’s always something going on with X-Plane and we want to make sure you have the inside scoop.
So you’ll be seeing more of us in your inbox in 2015. Once a month we’ll be bringing you X-Plane news, tips, and featured freeware for the desktop simulator. Let us know what you think or if there’s something else you want to see in these emails. Otherwise, let’s get started with our inaugural edition!
X-Plane Mobile Takes Off in the App Store
After years of development, X-Plane 10 Mobile was released in the App Store on Dec. 17. The app featured radical changes from the previous version, including in-game tutorials, challenges, and multiplayer. The app took off like the X-Plane team had only barely hoped for, and was favorably reviewed on such online sites as Touch Arcade and The Unofficial Apple Weblog. It even spent some time on the iTunes Best New Games list.
“The team put in a ton of hard work and I’m happy to see people enjoying it…but the release was only the beginning. There are a lot of things planned on the mobile roadmap,” claims Chris Serio, lead programmer on the app.
But true to his word, the team is hard at work on the next developments of the app. Work has already begun on an in-app map and the Android version of X-Plane 10 Mobile, as well as new aircraft, tutorials and challenges – some of which will include instrument approaches and navigation. Download the free app if you haven’t already or check out the app’s features on the Mobile page of X-Plane.com.
Tips and Tricks
Do you find yourself having to adjust your view over and over again when you’re flying your favorite plane in the desktop simulator? If so, X-Plane 10 Global includes a handy feature called “Quick Look” that you can use to create your own automatic views. The only catch is that your keyboard has to have a number pad (also called a ten key pad). Then all you need to do is:
- Get your view situated exactly how you like it.
- Hold “ctrl” and press the num pad key (0-9) you’d like to assign it to. (Don’t forget to have Num Lock on!)
- Use your custom view whenever you want by hitting the key you assigned.
Pretty simple, wasn’t it? If you’d like more details on setting it up, check out this section in the desktop manual.
Featured Freeware
Heavy aircraft enthusiasts will love this Fokker F27-600 available on X-Plane.org for use in their desktop sim. It has a lovingly detailed 3-D cockpit and passenger cabin, as well as four complete liveries and a PDF checklist. Check out a fan video from user QuepTube TV below, or download the file now.
Happy flying!
