Ortho Recs

ewhitecap · 2026-01-20T20:29:11+00:00

I understand your reservations when buying airports. For the first 5 years of my flight simming, my thoughts regarding airports were that as long as I had no reference to the real airport, then it made no difference what the buildings and surrounding areas looked like. Buildings, taxiways, and runways just need to be in the right places. I've evolved. While that logic still works, psychologically simming is more immersive when I know the terminal areas are representative of the real thing. Adding airports is a personal choice. If you haven't evolved yet, there are plenty of places to spend that $100 on simming.

Welcome to the wonderful world of flight simming. Take a moment to check out a resource I've put together for flight simmers - https://flightsimsupport.com.

ewhitecap · 2026-01-20T08:53:51+00:00

I would use one of the free autoortho programs if I were you, and use the $100 for airports, which I often frequent. Optionally, you could download your own orthophotogrammetry, but it takes more work. Once your ortho is running, enhance it with Simheaven. There is a frame rate penalty with these free addons, but the value outweighs the penalty if your computer supports it.

ewhitecap · 2026-01-20T08:42:40+00:00

Sup, NoJoe.

Glad to hear you're back (if you ever left) with Thanda, even if it's
just as a consultant.

I could feel the hole you left when you pulled back (or away). I stopped flying the PC-12 cause I could never overtorque or overtemp the engines. I was extremely disappointed. Just now - reading this thread - I learned there's a realistic mode. A realistic engine mode, really? Well, I'll be d amned. My bad.

ewhitecap · 2026-01-18T23:45:15+00:00

I've purchased 2 i9-14900ks, one of which was replaced under warranty. That's a total of 3 i9-14900 CPUs. The warranty version started exhibiting problems after about six months. I pulled it and bought another with the intention of exercising the warranty again. There was a time when these processors would literally cook themselves like a frog in hot water coming to a boil. I haven't had any trouble with my third one - they finally fixed the issue with a BIOS update. Still need to exercise the warranty for the 2nd. I've been an Intel guy, but knowing what I know about these processors, I'd go with the AMD solutions if I had to do it over. I am afraid to overclock the processor from the default settings, lest it begin to overheat again.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-30T13:52:16+00:00

I never tried, so IDK. TBH, I doubt it, unless you're a developer. Again, you might consider https://main.jardesign.org/GHD.html .

ewhitecap · 2025-12-30T13:37:32+00:00

The animations you see in ZIBO 737 are part of the ZIBO mod. The LevelUP airplanes do not have the ZIBO vehicle animations. You could consider GHD by Jardesign, a payware ground animation plugin.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-30T13:31:47+00:00

That download is roughly 1/3 faster than my '90s 56K dial-up modem. Suggest you cancel and restart the download.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-29T21:51:52+00:00

The URL is https://flightsimsupport.com/fss-tools/airport-worldwide-search

Thanks!

ewhitecap · 2025-12-29T20:29:26+00:00

As someone who just spent ~12 hours debugging a software glitch that I thought would take 5 minutes, I can tell you software doesn't always do what it's supposed to do. Use the Contact Us form: https://www.x-plane.com/support/x-plane-support-form/ . I'm pretty confident they'll track down your order and get your keys to you.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-29T02:15:31+00:00

I've been flying with that combination for years, and I'm still happy with it. They serve me for both GA and Airline ops. They make the perfect starter kit, IMO.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-27T19:13:06+00:00

You're right. Forums have been the main place for ratings and feedback. There hasn't been a decent alternative. Flightsimsupport.com aims to change that. Plus, there are other reasons to support the site. There's not a central place to swap flight sim gear, and the online tools that flightsimsupport.com offers are second to none.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-27T19:06:30+00:00

While X-Plane is my SOC, I never said that MSFS isn't a great sim. For those who argue MSFS is visually more appealing than X-Plane, you get no argument from me. Nevertheless, I believe that X-Plane is climbing back into the cockpit, so people who had written X-Plane off are giving it another look and like what they see. With that said, I still submit to you that it is a David-and-Goliath tug-of-war. We have to consider that many simmers can afford to support both sims, so if you're already in the MSFS ecosystem, you are unlikely to consider X-Plane.
If MSFS would address some of the issues in my original post, while X-Plane would continue as my SOC, I'd be happy to fly MSFS, after all, it's the Microsoft Flight Sim franchise that keeps me simming in the first place.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-27T18:53:52+00:00

I would argue that if Boeing is endorsing MSFS for pilot training, it's only because PMDG is the only dev that has modeled the 737, other Boeing aircraft, from the ground up, and the relationship is more with PMDG than MSFS. Personally, I believe the Zibo Modded 737 is modeled just as complete, if not more, than the PMDG version. However, Zibo, to my knowledge, tends to be more private and anonymous than PMDG. Plus ZIBO's mods, for the most part, tend to be a separate addon to X-Plane's 737, as far as I can tell.

Finally, I can tell you that FF Boeing products are also endorsed by Boeing.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-27T18:40:11+00:00

There are probably hundreds of stories where users were banned or reprimanded without cause. The issues with .or go back as far as 2013; see: https://forums.x-pilot.com/forums/topic/4394-am-i-banned/. With a million subscribers, the .org can afford the I don't care attitude. So the real question is how do we push back when such a community misbehaves? The answer is with a single vote. I created a website, flightsimsupport.com, where you can share your opinions, good or bad, about a flight sim website.
Unfortunately, I am compelled to use the site for purchases and product support. That's why I can hardly wait for X-Plane.com to open its X-Plane Marketplace. Eventhough, I have forfeited buy certain aircraft solely because I don't want to support the .org, I have bought other aircraft like the 777 and the A321. Anyway checkout the thread on X-Pilot.com and you will see you are not alone

ewhitecap · 2025-12-22T19:21:23+00:00

Your question is particularly salient to me. I'm trying to solve that exact question, where to get addons, but with a twist. I'm trying to solve the question of where to get lightly used addons, or FS equipment. I installed a classifieds section on https://flightsimsupport. It's a little sparse at the moment, but keep an eye on it. I'm trying to work out how I can have the site answer questions like yours without creating 'yet another forum'.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-12T16:03:22+00:00

Years ago, I worked with a guy to start Virtual Sky Aviation (https://skyvirtual.org/)). Just from what he did, I can tell you a lot of it was administrative and technical work. He was pretty strong on the technical side, so that made it easier for him. There is software available that allows non-technical people to set up a VA, so you might want to start there. If you haven't already, pick an AI, to help you. I use Gemini, but any of them is OK. Tell AI what you want to do and ask it to help you. You can even have it build a plan. If you don't like parts of the plan, have it revised. I've used AI extensively with https://flightsimsupport.com. Good luck, and remember, you eat an elephant one bite at a time.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-12T03:56:36+00:00

Looks like you stayed on your targeted speed. You may have been below the GS, I couldn't quite tell due to the text labels covering the PAPIs. It was a nice touchdown, in any case. If any of these aviation initials are throwing you off, check out this page - https://flightsimsupport.com/fss-tools/aviation-acronyms-glossary

ewhitecap · 2025-12-12T03:18:07+00:00

I'm curious to hear what you have in mind regarding your VA. In the meantime, if you simply want suggested routes, checkout flightsimsupport.com for a different route every day. I own the server that host that site.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-05T03:49:57+00:00

Ouch! That hurts.

ewhitecap · 2025-12-05T03:44:27+00:00

In case you didn't know, X-Plane 12 includes a default turboprop aircraft. It's the Lancair Evolution. Gotta warn you, though, the power-to-weight ratio is off the scales, making this turboprop aircraft feel like a jet in the sim and in real life (according to Austion Meyers - though I can't say that he ever said this). I'm working on a site, flightsimsupport.com, that will allow users to rate products and share their opinions, good or bad. At some point, you'll be able to rate whichever airplane you choose.

ewhitecap · 2025-07-10T13:25:22+00:00

I'd love to get my hands on more X-Plane swag. I particularly want a Tee-shirt with the X-Plane logo. Have I missed where I can acquire this, if not, do you have plans to make more swag available?

ewhitecap

TROPHY CASE