Press & Media Kit

Welcome to the X-Plane Press and Media Kit. Gain access to key information about Laminar Research, download logos and key visuals, and learn about our branding guidelines

About Us

Laminar Research

Laminar Research is the creator of the X-Plane franchise of flight simulators, including X-Plane 12, the latest desktop version. Established in 1995, X-Plane began life as a simulator called “Archer-II IFR” by Austin Meyer. The concept of this simulation was defined by blade-element theory, an aerodynamic method for analyzing propeller blades by breaking them down into smaller components and determining the appropriate forces upon them.

The concept of blade-element theory was applied to entire aircraft structures, and it was discovered that you could replace any of these components for (x), and you could predict how an aircraft was going to fly. And thus the beginning of the X-Plane journey!

X-Plane 12 is available in both a consumer version as well as a FAA certifiable professional version. Laminar also offers X-Plane versions for both the iPhone and iPad, as well as other mobile systems. X-Plane’s flight model, scope, versatility, customizability, and 3rd party add-ons make it the ultimate flight simulation experience for Macintosh, Windows, Linux, and mobile platforms.

X-Plane…it’s what real pilots fly!

More Information

Press Contact: [email protected]

X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12 is the world’s most comprehensive and powerful flight simulator for personal computers, and it offers the most realistic flight model available. X-Plane is not a game, but an engineering tool that can be used to predict the flying qualities of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft with incredible accuracy. X-Plane includes 20 aircraft in the default installation, spanning the aviation industry and its history. The full scenery package covers the Earth in stunning resolution from 74° north to 60° south latitude and includes over 34,000 airports.

By Pilots, For Everyone

Plane Maker

Plane Maker is a software program bundled with X-Plane that is used to design and edit aircraft to be used in the simulator. Once all the physical specifications of the airplane have been entered, the X‑Plane simulator will predict how that plane will fly in the real world. Laminar Research puts no restrictions on the distribution of aircraft created in Plane Maker.

WorldEditor

WorldEditor (often abbreviated to WED) is an open source 3D scenery and airport editor for X-Plane. It is able to create custom airports or custom scenery, customize a local airport using built-in airport elements, customize the air traffic control flow at an airport, and output scenery or airport data files that can be shared with the X-Plane community.

X-Plane Mobile

X-Plane Mobile brings the core flight simulation experience of X-Plane to phones and tablets, delivering realistic aircraft behavior, detailed cockpits, and a global flying environment in a format designed for touch devices. Built on the same aerodynamic principles that power the desktop simulator, it allows users to explore aviation anywhere—from quick training circuits to longer flights with advanced airliners—while remaining accessible to newcomers and enthusiasts alike. With regular updates, a growing fleet of aircraft, and a worldwide user base, X-Plane Mobile extends the reach of the X-Plane ecosystem to millions of pilots on iOS and Android devices.