X-Plane is a more than just a flight sim. Included on the CD are several other programs to enhance the sim, and allow people the freedom to customize, build and fly the plane of their dreams.
Plane Maker is an aircraft building program, capable of building just about anything that flies. The interface is somewhat intimidating at first, but after flipping through the various options, if you have any knowledge of aircraft at all, you’ll be able to build your first plane in no time. Construction is accomplished by creating cross-sections of the aircraft fuselage (the “body” of the plane), that define the shape of the plane, input wing and tail dimensions, place the engines, and you’re pretty much ready for the test flight. The Plane Maker is actually quite complicated, but the interface takes much of the confusion out of the process. As your skills and knowledge increase, the more advanced options will help create very realistic plane models, or something totally sci-fi like my ill-fated Star Wars X-Wing. Here’s a couple of shots of the Plane Maker in action, the first is a shot of the B-52H in wire frame, the second is the fully textured airplane.
And here is one of the many menus in the plane maker, this one being the wing creation options:
Part Maker is for the guy that wants to build his own plane, down to the shape and characteristics of the wings and control surfaces. This is some pretty complex stuff, and I am not even going to pretend to know anything about it. If aeronautical engineering is your thing, this program should keep you pretty happy. For the rest of us that just want to make airplanes, Plane Maker has several wings and surfaces pre-built, so there is no need to worry. Have a look at this screenshot. If this stuff interests you, by all means, tear into it. X-Plane has something for everyone.
World Maker adds the final tool to the sim. Using a point and click system, the terrain can be manipulated, elevations changed, coastlines defined, and new textures applied. Airports can be built and modified, down to the lighting and taxiways.
So, X-Plane is not only an excellent simulator, but a complete aircraft and world creation software package. I’ve had as much fun trying to build an airplane, as I have had flying this sim, and with the powerful Plane Maker tools, the replay value of this sim is endless.
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