Discus Glider X - AVSIM Online

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Publisher: Aerosoft 

AVSIM Commercial FSX Aircraft Review 

Discus Glider X 

Product Information 

Description: The first commercial glider add-on for Microsoft Flight Sim X. 

Download Size: 

115 MB 

Format: 

Download / CD 

Reviewed by: David Pike AVSIM Staff Reviewer - August 20, 2010 

Introduction 

Simulation Type: 

FSX - SP2 or Acceleration 

Gliding, sometimes known as soaring, could be described as the purest form of flight. It 

certainly is one of the most graceful. Glider pilots learn to use the currents of the atmosphere, 

finding areas of rising air to stay aloft. These include columns of warm air that rise to produce 

"thermals", or the flow of wind up and over ridges that allow pilots to fly parallel to them, 

almost like a surfer riding a wave. Using these forms of lift, modern glider pilots can often 

attain altitudes and speeds that would make many Cessna pilots green with envy. 

Despite this, Microsoft Flight Simulator has not always catered well for the glider pilot. The 

latest version of MSFS has at least given us the opportunity to hitch a lift behind a tow-plane, 

but the selection of aircraft has still been limited. Until now, that is. 

In Discus X, Aerosoft has created the very first commercial glider add-on for Microsoft Flight 

Simulator. The Discus is a high performance glider designed by the Schempp-Hirth company in 

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Germany in the 1980s, and was the first sailplane to feature the distinctive swept-back leading 

edge that reduces drag. During the late 80s, the Discus was a world beater, winning the World 

Championships three times. Although it might have been eclipsed more recently by newer 

machines, it remains a competitive aircraft and popular with gliding clubs around the world. 

Will this package be the answer that glider pilots have waited for? Could be... 

Installation and Documentation 

Obtaining the Discus X from the Aerosoft website was 

very simple. Once ordered, the website provides a link 

to download the installer, which weighs in at about 115 

Mb. This is then activated using the code emailed after 

purchase. 

The installer is responsible for setting up not only the 

aircraft itself, but also the WinchX! utility that is 

packaged with it. It is important during the installation 

process that you follow the instructions carefully, 

otherwise WinchX will not work properly. Having said 

that, the process is straightforward and quick, and within 

10 minutes of downloading the product I was ready to 

start FSX. 

Computer Specs 

Test System 

AMD Phenom Triple Core 2.10 GHZ 

Processor operating Vista Home 

Premium 64 Bit 

4.0 GB RAM 

NVIDIA Geforce 9500 GS Graphics 

Card 

Saitek X52 Pro Controller with Saitek 

Pro Flight Rudder Pedals 

FSX with Acceleration expansion 

Flying Time: 

17 hours 

One more word of caution: when starting FSX for the 

first time after installing the Discus, WinchX! will also try to start. FSX will ask you if you trust 

this software, to which you must click "yes" to enjoy the functions of this brilliant little tool. 

The documentation that is supplied with the software is plentiful and comprehensive. Firstly, 

Aerosoft has provided their own manual that includes a history of the aircraft, the recommended 

FSX settings, and the details of the cockpit instrumentation. I liked this manual enormously, 

and found it easy to read and very informative. 

In addition, Aerosoft have included the following (in both English and German): 

● The Pilot's Operating Manual for the real-world Discus 

● The manufacturer's guide for the C4 Competition gauge 

● The user guide for the WinchX! utility that is included with the aircraft. 

We’ll cover the features of these last two later in the review, but Aerosoft should be applauded 

for the quality of the information provided. 

External Model 

The external model captures the graceful lines of the real aircraft wonderfully. There are 

several variations provided, each of which offers a different wing layout - the span varies and 

some are fitted with drag-reducing winglets. The model is animated, with the undercarriage, 

control surfaces and spoilers recreated faithfully. The wings also flex in response to the 

environment - try watching a hard landing from the spot view and see the wingtips bounce 

alarmingly! The pilot is modelled well with very nice animation, looking every inch the aviator in 

sunglasses and a soft hat. 



The Discus B 

In addition to the conventional glider, Aerosoft has included two powered options, the Discus BT 

and BM. The BT model is fitted with a small engine that will keep you in the air between 

thermals, but is not powerful enough to take off. In contrast, the BM version is a true selflaunching 

glider with a motor big enough to take off and climb to altitude. In both cases, the 

motor is hidden inside the fuselage behind the pilot and unfolds using controls in the virtual 

cockpit. The engine animations are very smooth, and the motors (different for each model) are 

nicely detailed when extended. 

The Discus BM self-launching glider The Discus BT with sustainer engine 

Modern gliders are designed to have very smooth surfaces to reduce drag, so do not expect the 

external textures to be too detailed. The wings, fuselage and tail are all white, with a few of the 

models offering a splash of colour at the nose and wingtips. The textures show the registration 

of the glider, and the competition number on the tail. This is used to identify individual gliders 

from the ground during competitions. 

It would have been nice to see a few more nationalities represented. The schemes mainly have 

German registrations with a single British example, but this is a small criticism. The texturing of 

the details - the cockpit, pilot and the engines of the powered version - are all very good. 

Compared to the frame rate of the MS default glider, I saw no dip in performance in the external 

views, and the textures load with no delay. All round, a very solid performance. 

The Cockpit 

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The Discus is not supplied with a 2D panel, so all of 

your time will be spent in the virtual cockpit. Aerosoft 

has done an excellent job with the panel which is well 

laid out with some surprisingly sophisticated 

instruments. Each model is equipped with an airspeed 

indicator, an altimeter and at least one vario. A vario 

(or variometer) is a highly sensitive vertical speed 

indicator with some special features. 

Unpowered gliders are subject to gravity and can only


guide carefully. 

The virtual cockpit 

gain altitude when the air around them is rising faster 

than the glider's rate of descent. The vario is designed 

to take the sink rate of the glider into account, and 

shows when the external air mass is rising or sinking - 

vital information for the long-distance glider pilot. 

Also included is an instrument called the C4 

Competition. This device combines the functions of a 

vario, flight computer and altimeter, and Aerosoft has 

worked hard to replicate the exact functions of the real 

world instrument. In fact, rather than create a user 

manual, Aerosoft has simply supplied the real-world 

documentation from the manufacturer. A detailed 

description of all functions of the C4 would take too 

long, and I heartily recommend that you read the user 

Briefly, the C4 is designed to maximise the glider's speed over the ground during a cross 

country flight. It takes into account the strength of the thermals that the pilot can use, and 

recommends the speed that the pilot should fly to reach the next thermal. If you think gliders 

are basic, this may change your mind! 

The GPS is mounted to the right of the main 

instruments and is designed to replicate the PDA-type 

device that is popular with glider pilots. When in use, 

it works in a similar way to the default GPS showing 

course, speed and altitude. I noticed a slight drop in 

the frame rate from 35 fps to around 32 fps while the 

GPS was activated, and the display stutters slightly. 

The overall effect of the cockpit is very pleasing. The 

textures of the instruments are crisp, even when 

viewed closely, and the gauges are very smooth. The 

body of the pilot is visible when using the virtual 

cockpit - you can see his feet on the rudder pedals and 

his hand on the control column. If this is not to your 

taste, a simple click of the mouse removes him. A 

nice touch. 

A close up of the panel showing the 

C4 Competition Gauge 

One final feature deserves comment. Gliders are not equipped with turn and slip gauges – they 

use a piece of string! The yaw string is affixed to the outside of the canopy, directly in the 

pilot’s line of sight, and shows whether the aircraft is yawing left or right. To keep the aircraft 

coordinated, just keep the string horizontal against the canopy. The Discus is equipped with a 

yaw string which works exactly as in the real world glider. 

Sounds 

Flight without power doesn’t mean flight without sound, and the Discus demonstrates this well. 

The package comes with over 100 custom-made sounds, controlled by a special gauge which 

responds to the FSX environment. From the whistle of the air flowing around the cockpit to the 

rumble of the wheel over a rough field, the sounds are handled exceptionally well. You can 

even hear the creaking of the wings as you fly through turbulence. 

The one exception to the subtlety of the sounds can be experienced when the engines of the BT 

and BM models are started. The manual warns that both engines are extremely noisy, and in 

use they do sound like a buzz-saw just inches behind the pilot’s head. It definitely makes you 

appreciate the quiet once they are turned off! 

Getting Into The Air 



Gliders in MSFS have always struggled with the task of getting off the ground. As mentioned in 

the introduction, FSX now provides a tow-plane to solve this problem. However, Aerosoft has 

provided an alternative by partnering with Peter Lürkens, a German developer who has created 

a wonderful little piece of software called WinchX. This is designed to simulate the standard 

winch launching of gliders, and allows the user to select the height and speed of the tow. 

A winch launch 

To use WinchX, create a flight and press Shift-Y when 

you are sitting at the end of the runway. The 

programme will run through a short procedure, all 

narrated by a virtual pilot with a distinguished German 

accent. The tow cable will appear just to the left of 

your aircraft. At the command "Take up slack", the 

cable will be pulled tight, and your glider will move 

forward a little in response. The next command will 

be "All out", and you are off! At the correct airspeed, 

pull back on the stick and fly the correct attitude for 

your climb. Once you have reached your selected 

altitude, release the cable. When the cable is 

released, you will see a small parachute descend 

slowly to the ground - that is the end of the tow 

cable. It even works with the default DG-808S glider. 

I cannot describe how much the addition of WinchX has enhanced this package! I have found 

myself flying a whole series of 10-minute flights just to try the launch again. Aerosoft 

recommends another piece of software produced by Peter Lürkens called CumulusX which 

creates thermals randomly, each with its own cumulus cloud. This add-on is not provided with 

the Discus, but can be downloaded for free from Peter's website. Details are in the Discus 

manual, and for real soaring I thoroughly recommend it. 

In Flight 

Once aloft, the controls are very responsive and will 

reward a delicate touch. It is important to coordinate 

aileron and rudder inputs - possibly more than in a 

powered aircraft - but once you get the hang of it, 

flying the Discus is easy. Circling within a thermal 

requires quite a steep bank angle to remain within the 

rising air, and attention must be paid to the airspeed. 

The stall speed of a fully laden Discus B is 37 knots, 

but this increases remarkably at high bank angles. 

Stalling can lead to a noticeable drop of the wing, but 

recovery is quite straightforward, and the real-world 

manual gives clear instructions on the best procedure 

to use. 

Circling in a thermal 

At the other end of the flight envelope, high speed flight is very stable. I found that when flying 

in good ridge lift, it is actually easy to over-speed the aircraft while still climbing, so care is 

needed. With the addition of the CumulusX software it is possible to conduct long cross-country 

flights, and this is where the C4 Competition gauge comes into play as it gives clear guidance on 

the speed to fly between thermals. Several times I found my heart start to beat a little quicker 

as I struggled to find the next thermal before reaching the ground. This is a very addictive 

experience! 


Using the payload system, it is possible to add ballast 

to the Discus to optimise performance for the


weather. A heavier glider will fly faster over the 

ground, but will require stronger thermals to gain 

altitude. In contrast, a lighter glider can take 

advantage of weaker thermals but will fly more slowly 

between them. Therefore, competition glider pilots 

add water ballast to suit the conditions of the day. 

The Aerosoft Discus is no exception and the ballast has 

a real effect on performance. 

Landing will require you to get to grips with the 

spoilers. These are very powerful airbrakes that 

Turning finals with spoilers deployed 

extend from the upper surface of the wing which both 

slow the aircraft and reduce the amount of lift that the 

wing generates. In contrast with some other aircraft, the spoilers on the Discus are variable. 

If you have one, it is recommended that you assign control of the spoilers to a throttle 

quadrant. This will allow very fine control of the airspeed on the approach and with practice you 

will find that you can place the Discus very precisely on the runway. 

The engines of the BT and BM models take a little 

more getting used to. To extend the engine and get it 

running is quite simple, and the manual includes 

checklists for you to use. All of the controls and 

instruments are found in the virtual cockpit, making 

the panel a little bit more complex. The key point to 

remember is that the engine sits high above the 

fuselage, and it has a marked effect on the aircraft. 

This is especially true of the BM model when you are 

trying to take off. Add power too quickly and the nose 

will pitch down. Delicate use of the throttle is the 

order of the day, and don't expect a short take off. 

Landing is easier than it looks 

Getting it right is very satisfying, and once aloft with 

the engine stowed away, the BM becomes a glider once again. 

Summary 

The Discus is the first commercial glider add-on ever produced in the history of Microsoft Flight 

Simulator, and I believe that it has set a very high standard for those that hopefully will follow. 

A superbly created aircraft, the addition of the WinchX and CumulusX add-ons make this a 

complete package that will transform the way FSX handles gliding. 

The accuracy of the flight model combined with the vast amount of documentation provided 

means that soaring enthusiasts can finally use FSX as a serious gliding simulator, and maybe 

even as a trainer. The Discus is certainly good enough to teach pilots competition tactics and 

how to make speed-to-fly calculations. Pilots who enjoy high-tech systems will find the C4 

Competition gauge is complex enough to keep them entertained for hours. At the same time, 

the more casual simmer should not be scared of the complexity of the systems or information 

provided with the Discus. The aircraft itself is wonderfully rewarding to fly, whether using the 

winch, tow-plane or getting to grips with the self launching BM model. 

I find it hard to say anything negative about the Discus. It would have been nice to see more 

variation in the nationalities represented by the textures, and the stuttering of the display when 

using the GPS can be distracting. However, all other aspects of the aircraft are so good that 

these minor complaints are quickly put into perspective. 

I have been thoroughly impressed with the Discus. With the different models, extensive 

documentation and the WinchX utility, this package represents superb value for money. I will 

be sending my wish list to Aerosoft in the hope that they will be making more gliders... 



● Very impressive flight model 

● Great virtual cockpit 

What I Like About Discus X 

● Complete set of documentation covering the aircraft, avionics and 

controls 

● Winch launching with the Winch X utility – enormous fun 

● The subtle sounds 

What I Don't Like About Discus X 

● I can’t find anything to dislike in this great package! 

Printing 

If you wish to print this review or read it offline at your leisure, right click 

on the link below, and select "save as" 

Discus X 

(adobe acrobat required) 

Comments? 

Standard Disclaimer 

The review above is a subjective assessment of the product by the author. There is 

no connection between the producer and the reviewer, and we feel this review is 

unbiased and truly reflects the performance of the product in the simming 

environment. This disclaimer is posted here in order to provide you with background 

information on the reviewer and any connections that may exist between him/her 

and the contributing party. 

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