X-Plane is the most realistic civilian flight simulator ever released for the personal computer. The flight dynamics are the same type that are used by engineers in predicting the performance of new aircraft designs. Coupled with Part-Maker and Plane-Maker (included) you have in front of you a system that is powerful enough to enter your own aircraft designs and fly them, getting a flight performance prediction that is accurate enough for engineering use.
Because X-Plane runs under Macintosh Operating System and Windows 95/98, it is also the easiest flight simulator to use. Following are some instructions to get you started if you don't want to jump right in all by yourself.... (if you have no joystick, click the mouse in the center of the windshield to use the mouse for primary flight control).
If you are running on Windows95/98, the first thing you should do is calibrate your joystick. Here's how:
• Open the "My Computer" icon. (double-click on it)
• Open the "Control Panel" folder. (double-click on it)
• Run the "Joystick" control panel. (double-click on it)
• Select the kind of joystick you have and hit the "Calibrate" button.
• Follow the instructions the computer gives you.
Now let's go flying....
• Double-click on the "X-Plane" icon, thus launching "X-Plane".
• Operate the throttle with the mouse.
• Fly the plane with the joystick.
Now you know how to start flying the simulator.
• Select "Quit" from the "File Menu".
• Double-Click on the "Plane-Maker" icon, thus launching "Plane-Maker".
• Go to the "File" menu and select "Open".
• Select an airplane that you wish to modify.
• Select "Wing 1" from the "Design" menu.
• Reduce the semi-length a bit, and/or make any other changes you want.
• Select "Save As" from the "File" menu.
• Type in a new name for your new modified airplane.
• Select "Quit" from the "File" menu.
Now you know how to start entering your own airplane designs.
• Double-click on the "X-Plane" icon, thus launching "X-Plane".
• Select "Open Aircraft" from the "File" menu.
• Choose the airplane that you just saved in "Plane-Maker".
• Fly it.
Now you know how to start flying your own airplane designs.
Keyboard use is not required. "Command key equivalents" are listed in the menus themselves in the normal way for your operating system. There are also command key equivalents for views in the view menu... they are surrounded by brackets like this "[x]". Just hit those keys without hitting the option or control keys to select those views. Some other keyboard equivalents are also provided, if you wish to use them. (Make sure you get the capitalization right!)
SPACE fail a system selected in the failure mode window
ENTER activate ATC if ATC menu not up
ENTER accept ATC selection if ATC menu is up
ENTER close open window if any window is open
arrow keys choose ATC option if an ATC menu is up
arrow keys rotate view angle if in free-view from the view menu
arrow keys rotate view location if in spot-view from the view menu
. reverse thrust
y u adjust directional gyro
i o adjust barometric pressure
h j adjust OBS 1
k l adjust radar altimeter bug
c v adjust ADF compass rose
n m adjust OBS 2
p pause
b brakes
g gear
! autopilot disconnect
$ autopilot heading
% autopilot nav course 1
^ autopilot nav course 2
& autopilot alt hld
* autopilot glide slope 2
Q W E R com 1 radio frequency
T Y U I nav 1 radio frequency
A S D F com 2 radio frequency
G H J K nav 2 radio frequency
O P L : > ? ADF frequency
Z X C V B N M < transponder setting
1 2 Flaps up or down one
3 4 Carb heat off or on
5 6 Speedbrake up or down one
7 8 Aileron Trim
9 0 Rudder Trim
[ ] Elevator trim
+ - zoom in/out
(NOTE: Go to the "Set Hardware and Flight Mode" window in the "Settings" menu if you have a French or German keyboard. You can select that to change the key layout of X-Plane to suit your keyboard. This will make some of the keys listed above different for you since this will change the key layout somewhat).
Function keys control throttle, prop, and mixture... with one exception: use the BACKSPACE key instead of the F-10 key in Windows95... the F-10 key is reserved by Microsoft for menu-operation.
If you have a Flight-Link throttle quadrant checked off in the "Flight-Mode" window, then:
SHIFT+function key increases, function key alone decreases.
otherwise:
F-1/2 increase decrease all throttles
F-5/6 increase decrease all props
F-9/backspace increase decrease all mixtures
Our web page is WWW.X-PLANE.COM. Visit it to download new airplanes, get X-Plane upgrades, and get other useful information.
The full version comes with a full instruction manual and all the free upgrades you want to download from www.x-plane.com... these upgrades come out about once a month on average. Order your copy today from Laminar Research at 803-738-0910.
Further questions? Subscribe to the X-Plane tech mailing list as explained near the bottom of www.X-Plane.com... that is the tech gossip hotline for X-Plane and is very busy with tons of info... you can get any questions answered there thatyou want.
