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Airport Review | Verticalsim KBOI

April 25, 2022 | 0 comments

Our dedicated reviewer Todd C. flew to KBOI or also known as Boise Air Terminal which is modeled with great precision by Vertical Simulations or just short Verticalsim. According to Todd “Verticalsim has a very strong reputation of being a top-notch scenery developer for X-Plane and it is evident with this scenery outing. The scenery is very much a real-life representation of the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field that has been painstakingly recreated to introduce the simmer to the unique nature of the airport.”

Hold on, there’s more “For me, the Boise Air Terminal XP scenery package very well done and is worth the 23.99 USD that is being charged for the scenery. The scenery has proven to be a great addition to my flight sim universe. I am also very appreciative of the hard work that Andrew and his team has put into the modeling of the airport which results in an outstanding recreation of the Boise Air Terminal and Gowen Field.”

And now it’s time to check out Todd’s review via this review link. Enjoy the reading and comments are as always welcome.

Hardware Review | Thrustmaster TCA Pack Boeing

April 24, 2022 | 0 comments

Your personal reporter Angelique van Campen took the time to explore all the ins and outs of the Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition. According to Angelique “this hardware can be used with many aircraft, not only Boeing and even with Boeing who have a brown interior, but never forget where I started with, the TCA Boeing is and stays a replica of the Boeing Dreamliner 787 Series. Even at the end of this review, I’m still impressed about the yoke construction and the way it looks like.”

She continues “Only looking good is not enough. It must also have the right feeling and the right spring tension although you can change the spring tension which I found not really necessary. The control wheel centerings is ok for me as well as the many switches that are mounted on it and on the back of the control horns. That the yoke base comes with a landing gear handle, two sliders at the front and even a mini-jack for your headset makes it a complete device. Although at the middle front of the control wheel several switches are placed and a look alike clip, it’s unfortunately no clip to hook up a paper. For the latter you can use the paper holder on the middle of the base. The yoke base is heavy, very heavy to be honest.”

But she explored much more then this. Find it out at her in-depth Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition review.

Aircraft Review | Rotate MD-11F

April 20, 2022 | 0 comments

When you’re familiar with X-Plained.Com reviews, you know that we not only try to write comprehensive reviews, we also want to add additional sections with in-depth information in it. What those sections are, depends on the reviewer. Whatever it is, we – Angelique van Campen and Paul Beckwith – try to do our best, and that’s the same for this Rotate McDonnell MD-11F.

There’s then always the end of a review. Not often a product is tested and written by two reviewers. Due to the complexity of the modeled Rotate MD-11F, Angelique van Campen asked Paul Beckwith if he was interested in helping her with testing and writing. That the review will be a long one, that was something she expected already, but again, it’s a massive in-depth high quality review. Yes yes, I know, only our readers and the developer can tell us if the review is of a good and honest quality. Still Angelique thinks that the overall review written by Paul and Angelique is one of passion, passion in the same way the Rotate team tried to modeled this McDonnell Douglas MD11-F.

Rotate has created sharp and clear textures where they are needed and have found healthy compromises to preserve frame rates as is a necessity on a model this large and complex.

But there’s so much more to write, and to tell about this McDonnell Douglas MD-11F. And yes, it’s officially the freighter version, but for sure later in time a passenger model will be added. For now we can only say “enjoy our review, enjoy the passion of Rotate team members with our comprehensive Rotate MD-11F review.

Scenery Review | Aerosoft Society Islands XP

March 26, 2022 | 0 comments

X-Plained.Com and reviewer Paul Beckwith are pleased to inform you that Paul visited the Society Islands XP – Bora Bora and Leeward Islands for X-Plane 11. According to Aerosoft “Welcome to Bora Bora and the Leeward Islands, the western part of the Society Islands in the South Pacific. Arrive with your regional airliners or business jets (up to ATR 72 and Bombardier Global Express) at Bora Bora Airport, and start island hopping with your smaller aircrafts and helicopters. Explore stunning atolls, sandy beaches and mountainous islands in one of the most exclusive and luxurious vacation spots in the world.”

But what has Paul to say about these islands and belonging scenery. Paul think in his final question “these islands deserve a place in your scenery collection if you are about the island lifestyle, atmosphere, coastlines, and sparkling waters. They belong in your world if you are a fan of high quality, world enhancing textures. They belong if you enjoy watching the world in which you fly take on a new ambiance with every change of the light. Ultimately, Society Islands, Bora Bora and the Leeward Islands is a brilliantly executed artistic vision of a unique area on the globe that is a “don’t miss” if you do not object to the stylistic decision to omit orthoimagery.”

Curious? I think you are. Check it out at our dedicated Society Islands review.

Scenery Review | TrueEarth Canary Islands

March 15, 2022 | 0 comments

Our dedicated reviewer Andy Clarke decided to cross the English Channel and flew to the Canary Islands. Actually, Andy visited the Orbx TrueEarth EU Canary Islands for X-Plane 11.

According to Andy “I have certainly not covered every part of the scenery but have tried to make flights and remarks that give a flavour of what is provided. The experience of using this scenery immerses the pilot in a high quality, detailed and interesting world. The attention to detail is highly impressive as is the consistency of quality of scenery.”

Andy’s conclusion is easy and straightforward …. “This is a great scenery package and its beautiful creation of the natural environment and detailed provision of the man made aspects blends exceptionally well. A great flight experience.”

On behalf of Andy I invite you to check out his comprehensive Canary Islands review. Enjoy.

Utility Review | Stairport Airport Vehicles

March 9, 2022 | 0 comments

Hi, this is your personal reporter Angelique van Campen with a second Stairport SAM Suite payware add-on review. A while ago Angelique reviewed SAM3 World Jetways and although this was reviewed with an older version of SAM Suite, the basic principle of the payware add-on stays the same. And now – March 2022 – she completed our second SAM Suite review, the AirportVehicles add-on. Most likely we will soon review their third SAM product, the Follow Me.

According to Angelique “I’m aware that this add-on only replaces airport vehicles at default X-Plane airports and not at freeware or payware airports although I have to correct myself since freeware airport developers can implement default X-Plane vehicles from the Laminar Research library. SAM Suite is free of charge as well as the global trees and seasons options and of course the base plugin is free too. At the Aerosoft store page it shows me a price of 18.25 Euro including VAT.”

“It’s not cheap, but on the other hand, I know that there are still lots of simmers who fly and use default X-Plane airports. That said, when they have this plugin, better quality vehicles are implemented and vary with the region you’re flying.”

Curious what she has to say about it? Then it’s time to check out her in depth Stairport SAM3 AirportVehicles review.