Download the X-Plane 10 Manual - X-Plane.com

2 CHAPTER 1. ABOUT X-PLANE
instruments, engines, flight controls, control cables, antennae, landing gear, or any of dozens of
other systems at any moment. They can also have a friend or flight instructor (locally or via the
Internet, working from an Instructor’s Operating Station) fail components on the aircraft without
the pilot’s knowledge. The instructor can alter the time of day, weather conditions, and failure
status of hundreds of aircraft systems and components. Additionally, the instructor can relocate
the aircraft to a location of his or her choice at any time.
Aircraft models are also extremely flexible, allowing users to easily create paint jobs, sounds,
and instrument panels to modify any airplane you choose. Custom airplane or helicopter designs
can even be created and flown using X-Plane and the included Plane Maker software.
X-Plane is used by world-leading defense contractors, air forces, aircraft manufacturers, and even
space agencies for applications ranging from flight training to concept design and flight testing.
For example, X-Plane has been used in crash investigations to depict the view pilots experienced
moments before a mid-air collision, or to graphically present to juries and judges the forces that
impact an aircraft in flight. Scaled Composites used X-Plane to visualize Space Ship One’s flights
to the edge of the atmosphere in their pilot training simulator. Kalitta has used X-Plane to train
their pilots to fly freight 747s in the middle of the night. Northwest and Japan Airlines use X-
Plane for flight review and training. Cessna uses X-Plane to train new customers in the intricacies
of the Garmin G1000. Dave Rose has used X-Plane to optimize airplanes for his many wins at
Reno. NASA has used X-Plane to test the re-entry of gliders into the Martian atmosphere, and the
list goes on. These customers serve as perhaps the most significant endorsement of the incredible
capabilities of this simulator.
Furthermore, X-Plane has received certification from the FAA for use in logging hours towards
flight experience and ratings. This experience can provide credit towards a private pilot’s license, recurrence
training, hours towards instrument training, and even hours towards an Airline Transport
Certificate—it’s that good.
1.2 What X-Plane Includes
Windows, Mac, and Linux installers are included with X-Plane 10 Global (the version of X-Plane
available from X-Plane.com). It includes over 70 GB-worth of scenery (covering essentially the
entire world) and over thirty aircraft, with thousands of planes available on the web. The DVDs
contain everything needed to run X-Plane—there is nothing more that you need to buy. You’ll
receive free updates to X-Plane 10 until Version 11 is released, as well some of the best customer
service and tech support available.
While on its own X-Plane represents the world’s most comprehensive flight simulator, the installation
DVD also comes with Plane Maker, allowing users to create custom aircraft or modify
existing designs, and Airfoil Maker, allowing users to create airfoil performance profiles.
The stock installation includes the following aircraft: