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

Glossary
G.1 Working with the Program Itself
Download: To download something means to get files from some remote server on the Internet
and receive those files on your computer. Users can download lots of airplanes and scenery packages
for X-Plane from the Internet. Downloading is receiving files from the Internet; it is not the same
as installing those files.
Install: To install something is to move a copy of the software onto your computer so that it can
be run. When you get a DVD with X-Plane on it, you run the installer to install the program from
the DVD—this is not downloading the program. It is installing it. You would only be downloading
the program if the files were coming from the Internet (though once such files were downloaded,
you would install them to have them ready for use).
Update: To update a piece of software is to convert it to a newer version. This should be done
every couple months or so in order to take advantage of new features in the simulator. To update in
X-Plane, a user first downloads and then installs a newer version. The updater program (available
for free at X-Plane.com) does both of these things for you very easily.
G.2 Controls in an Aircraft
Anti-torque pedals: In a helicopter, the anti-torque pedals are the foot pedals which modify
the collective pitch of the tail rotor. Because the helicopter’s throttle governor keeps the rotors
turning at a constant RPM, changing the pitch also changes the thrust generated by the rotor, so
the tail rotor can swing the helicopter’s tail to the left or right. This is referred to as yaw motion.
Collective: In a helicopter, the collective is the lever that modifies the collective pitch of the
main rotor’s blades. It is called “collective” because the pitch of all the blades is modified at the
same time. Because the engine keeps the rotor moving at a constant RPM, increasing the rotor
blades’ pitch with this control will also increase their lift.
Cyclic: The control (a joystick in real life) which changes the pitch of the main rotor’s blades as
they go through each cycle, used to steer the craft left, right, forward, or aft.
Joystick: A control device used in aircraft. It consists of a base with a handle attached to it. The
handle can be tiled around within the base to control the pitch and roll movement of the aircraft.
Computer joysticks often have the ability to twist the handle to control yaw movement also. Real
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