The current state of X-Plane Add-on development MEGAPOST! Part 1 (part 2, and 3 in comments)
EDIT: Formatting!
Hello everyone, so I had this idea to write up a big post that had all the information regarding current add-on development happening in X-Plane. I think this would help people see what is coming without having to look through many forums to find basic information. If people like it I could see myself doing this every one or two months (likely every two to maintain amount of information, since development is slow). As a disclaimer not all of this information is factual, and is mostly based on as much information as i could find.
Before I begin, i will put links to a few add-ons that are no longer in development since they have been released, but they were released very recently so they deserve a mention here.
- Carenado Cirrus SR22 GTSX Turbo HD
- Richard Nunes SBGL
- Aerobask Epic Victory
- RW Designs Supermarine Spitfire MK1
- STMA Husky A1-C
So the format I will use to give this information will be in tables such as this one below:
Project Name
| Information | |
| Developer: | [WHICH DEVELOPER] |
| Main Forum: | [[WHICH FORUM](link to WIP thread)] |
| Product: | [WHAT IS IT] |
| Estimated Release: | [WHEN?] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [1-10] |
| Estimate Price: | [USD] |
| Start of Development: | [Date] |
| Feature List: | [[Available?](Link Here!)] |
| General Information | INFO GOES HERE |
| Latest Updates | INFO GOES HERE |
I hope the format is understood and acceptable! I will start below with the IXEG Boeing 737-300 Classic.
| Information | |
| Developer: | [IXEG] |
| Main Forum: | X-Aviation |
| Product: | [737-300 Classic] |
| Estimated Release: | [Mid-March, not certain] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [On release 8, after updates 9/10] |
| Estimate Price: | [$60-100 USD] |
| Start of Development: | [Project announced 5+ years ago] |
| Feature List: | We have the opposite! A list of things NOT included in V1.0, it is assumed everything not on this list will be in the aircraft as it is in real life. |
| General Information | The IXEG 733 is one of the most anticipated aircraft for X-Plane. Nearing the end of its 5th year in development hype has been building up over the past several months. IXEG and X-Aviation are suggesting that this aircraft will be a game changer for X-Plane and will bring a level of complexity that has yet to be seen in an airliner for X-Plane. |
| Latest Updates | The very latest information that has been released is an added support of .fpl flight plans that can be loaded into the FMC, as shown in this video. Information earlier in the month was that ALL of the VNAV code for V1.0 has been completed and a short beta test is underway before release. Information from earlier in the year includes this video showing an animation of flap vortices which is something I have yet to see in any other aircraft for X-Plane. There is also, from even earlier in the year this video showing some sights and sound of the upcoming B733! Hopefully the IXEG 733 V1.0 will not be included in the next X-Plane development thread! |
Up next is the Leading Edge Simulations Citation II.
| Information | |
| Developer: | [Leading Edge Simulations (LES)] |
| Main Forum: | X-Aviation |
| Product: | [Citation II] |
| Estimated Release: | [Mid-Late 2016] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [8-10] |
| Estimate Price: | [$30-60 USD] |
| Start of Development: | [Mid 2012] |
| Feature List: | [Not available] |
| General Information | LES are the same developers that brought us the wonderful Saab 340 that is one of the most highly respected aircraft in the X-Plane world, and the simulator world. They are hoping to help fill the missing hole of corporate jets that is present in X-Plane by developing a highly accurate, highly detailed Citation II. Development has been long and slow, but seems to be speeding up since the Saab, and DC-3 have been released. It should be noted that LES is also slowly progressing on a 747-400 and 747-200, but development on those projects is extremely slow and release is not expected for 1+ years. |
| Latest Updates | The latest information is that it is looking “pretty sweet”, but no recent pictures have been released. In December there were some pictures released showing the custom bleed air system that will be implemented in this plane. From much earlier in development there are a few pictures of the interior/exterior of the plane, but nothing substation. From 2013 we have picture 1, picture 2, and picture 3. From the announcement in 2012 we have basic exterior shots as well. Picture 1, and Picture 2. This is an exciting development coming from LES and I look forward to the release of this plane. |
Other, non aircraft developments on the X-Aviation forum are the Real Weather Connector for Skymaxx Pro V3. This product would not fit the template i have made so i will put some info and links right here so there is some information on this. A link to the forum is available here.
Real Weather Connector will further enhance your flying sessions when utilizing real world weather from sources like NOAA, FSGRW, X-Plane's Real WX Download option, EFASS, etc. It will parse the METAR data downloaded from these applications and grid the SkyMaxx Pro v3 clouds to their respective locations.
This product looks promising for Skymaxx users. Some preview screenshots are available here
Now we will move on to some more aircraft! Up next is the PMDG Douglas DC-6B.
| Information | |
| Developer: | [PMDG] |
| Main Forum: | [AVISM/Facebook] |
| Product: | [DC-6B] |
| Estimated Release: | [Early/Mid 2016] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [9-10] |
| Estimate Price: | [$40-80 USD] |
| Start of Development: | [Early 2012] |
| Feature List: | Not available, but promised to have everything that is in the real aircraft. |
| General Information | PMDG coming to X-Plane has been one of the most anticipated actions in X-Planes history. PMDG is one of the most highly respected developers in all of simulation, and people are very excited that they are coming to X-Plane. When they announced their DC-6 their was some mixed feelings regarding their choice of aircraft, but PMDG has defended their stance saying that they have a passion for classic airliners, and that this is a learning project for them. For people that enjoy older planes, VOR to VOR navigation, and complexity this will be the plane for them. |
| Latest Updates | Information has been slow to be released, but as it has been learned by the X-Plane community that PMDG is not the most vocal of developers. The DC-6 is currently in beta and should be releasing relatively soon. The latest information that has been given is this picture of the DC-6 cockpit. We also have this write up from one of the developers about a flight that they executed. That same post included this video that showed of some the real sounds that are going to be included in the planes release. From earlier in development we have some more pictures of the interior and exterior of the plane. From 2015, picture 1, picture 2, picture 3, picture 4, picture 5,. This will be a great addition to the X-Plane community, and hopefully a valuable step towards getting some of PMDG’s most renowned products for X-Plane. |
Avism does not have an extremely active X-Plane user group, so we will be moving on to the x-plane.org forums. We will start with developments in the closest to release stage.
First up is the EADT freeware 737-800!
| Information | |
| Developer: | [EADT] |
| Main Forum: | eadt.eu / x-plane.org |
| Product: | [737-800NG V5.0] |
| Estimated Release: | [Early/Mid 2016] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [5-7] |
| Estimate Price: | [Freeware] |
| Start of Development: | Constant development for 5+ years with 4 released version preceding this one. First announcement of 3d cockpit was in 2012. |
| Feature List: | [Not available] |
| General Information | The x737 is one of the most favored aircraft in the X-Plane community, even though it currently does not have a 3d cockpit. The major V5.0 update that is nearing release is likely the single most anticipated development within X-Plane, mainly due to the fact that it is freeware. |
| Latest Updates | No official information from the development group, on the EADT website, has come since December 2014. That being said, the developers do comment occasionally in the initial announcement thread. there has also been pictures and videos released from beta testers that seem to indicate release is extremely close, and that the product is excellent. We have a video of a flight from KBOS-KLGA here. We also have an excellent run down of this aircraft given here by X-Plane Dedicated. This update will be an excellent edition to the X-Plane community and will finally give X-Plane an, at least close to proper, 737-800. |
Up next is another freeware project! KBOS Boston Logan Intl from MisterX.
| Information | |
| Developer: | [MisterX] |
| Main Forum: | x-plane.org |
| Product: | [KBOS Boston Logan Intl] |
| Estimated Release: | [Early/Mid 2016] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [9/10] |
| Estimate Price: | [Freeware] |
| Start of Development: | [Mid/Late 2015] |
| Feature List: | Features are as usual - Accurate models for all buildings, AutoGate, GroundTraffic, the usual stuff. |
| General Information | MisterX is probably the most renowned developer for X-Plane, and most certainly the most renowned scenery developer. The decision to create KBOS was based off of a voting poll and work has been very quiet since until a few hours ago. |
| Latest Updates | Just a few hours ago we receive the first preview shots of KBOS. With MisterX’s history that means release will likely be within a month, possibly two, and the progress speaks for itself. I have reposted the images in imgur here, but i encourage you to visit the original forum if you have questions or comments for MisterX. I for one, greatly look forward to this airport! |
Back to aircraft we have a few fighter jets! First up is the F/A-18F Super Hornet from Colimata.
| Information | |
| Developer: | [Colimata] |
| Main Forum: | x-plane.org |
| Product: | [F/A-18F Super Hornet] |
| Estimated Release: | [March 21st +/- some days] |
| Est. Level of Complexity/Accuracy: | [6-8] |
| Estimate Price: | [$25-40 USD] |
| Start of Development: | [Mid 2014] |
| Feature List: | [Not Available] |
| General Information | Colimata is a relatively new developer, but the quality is high from this developer. They released their MiG-29(which i should remind people, if they buy, receive a beta release of the F/A-18F) last year and soon stated work on the F/A-18 after. This will be a great addition to X-Plane and will certainly be the most complete and accurate F/A-18 for X-Plane. |
| Latest Updates | Colimata also is not the most vocal of developers, but there is a decent amount of information scattered around their thread. The latest information is this picture, and this video. People that enjoy military crafts and going fast will most certainly want to check the X-Plane.org store at the end of march to pick this plane up. |
Ok, so this is the maximum amount of words reddit will allow me to place in a single post, so part two will continue in the comments below here!
Posted Feb 25, 2016, 12:51 AM UTC · edited