Hello there!
We’re hard at work on the next big feature release. X-Plane 10.50 will have multiple improvements, including a change to make airports feel more inhabited. This month’s letter also includes a beautifully modeled WW2 fighter.
Better Static and AI Aircraft at Airports
Static aircraft enhance the appearance of airports by making them look more populated even if you don’t have a ton of AI aircraft enabled. But those aircraft objects sometimes get in the way, and neither you nor X-Plane have any control over them. X-Plane 10.50 will include multiple airport changes that will improve the randomization of aircraft.
The biggest change is that airport designers will no longer need to place static parked aircraft objects. Instead, X-Plane will automatically add static aircraft to existing ramp starts. Designers will be able to provide extremely specific guidelines as to what type of aircraft equipment can use the ramp, the maximum allowable aircraft size, and even what airlines can be parked there. Have a gate ramp start that only United Airlines uses? It can be tagged with its official 3-letter airline code (UAL) and X-Plane will never place an American Airlines plane there.
X-Plane will use all of this information to place the most appropriate static and AI aircraft there. All these changes are great for adding dynamism to airport scenery–now every time you visit an airport, the parked aircraft can change in multiple ways. You’ll also have your pick of all the ramp starts, and will never have to fight static aircraft for your gate.
Tips and Tricks
There are quite a few smartphone & tablet apps you can use in conjunction with X-Plane 10 on your desktop computer. Free apps include X-Mapper Lite, Control Pad and Xavion (the latter two from the creator of X-Plane), while some paid apps include ForeFlight, FlyQ, WingX Pro, or Sky Demon.
If you’d like to get started using one of the apps, here’s how you set it up:
- Download the app of your choice to your tablet or phone.
- Start X-Plane and go to Settings -> Net Connections. On the iPhone/iPad tab, find the line for the app you downloaded and check the box.
- Enter your phone or tablet’s IP address in the white box that shows up to the left. The port number should already be filled in and should not be changed.
- Start the app on your device.
If you’re still having problems getting the app to communicate with X-Plane, try quitting & restarting the app again to refresh the connection.
Featured Freeware
The Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” is a long-range fighter aircraft that was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. It was first introduced at the beginning of World War 2, and over the years it combined maneuverability, range, and a high kill ratio (12:1) to gain a legendary dogfighter reputation. While the Zero lost its edge over the course of the war, it never stopped serving on the front lines and is also known for its use in kamikaze operations at the end of the war.
Mr. 3D has carefully crafted a high quality model of the Zero that you can snag for free here on X-Plane.org. It features a full 3D cockpit, complete custom sounds, the Nakajima Sakae engine plugin, and Japanese-style panel, radios, and comms. Take your dogfights to the next level with this high quality Zero!
Happy flying!
— The X-Plane Team
