Some X-Plane 12 news is coming out over the last few days. Laminar Research was at the Oshkosh Airshow this past week and had a complete presentation with Q&A. Then, coming out today, we have a new X-Plane 12 trailer focused on the Citation X. Let’s have a look!
30 days?
During the X-Plane presentation at Oshkosh, Austin Meyers (X-Plane founder) was asked by the audience when the release date was and his answer was a direct one saying “about 30 days.” Someone has created a short clip from the exchange and it can be seen here.
This of course is for the early access release of X-Plane 12 which you can also consider a beta test. Additional development is still underway and the product will no doubt change quite a bit still between early access and the full release. But the exciting moment where we all get to try the latest and greatest is coming.
As a reminder, Laminar have already revealed that the price is a standard $59.99 USD, early access X-Plane 12 keys will come with X-Plane 11 access to, and early access will be available on Steam.
Citation X time
The Cessna Citation X business jet is the focus of the next X-Plane 12 trailer. Done in a similar style to the previously released SR22, A320, and F-14 trailers. This one focuses in on operations with the jet in cinematic style. X-Plane 11 had previously had a bit of a blind spot when it came to business jets in the early days (an area that has now been well served by third party developers) so it’s great to see 12 coming out of the gate with what looks like a solid entry.
Have a look at the trailer!
Stormbirds 
I’m sure it will be good, but I would think only the people who are already big X-Plane fans will buy it. MSFS is already well established as the giant and people have already spent solid cash on it and the extras. (I’m at about $400 total, which is minor league I’m sure.) I can’t see why I would get X-Plane and have two huge, and potentially expensive, civilian sims on my SSD unless it offered something very special.
I’m not trying to be negative, but it seems to be an uphill battle to be sure. Then again, X-plane does have a cult following.
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I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on with it but everything that I see of X-Plane 12 suggests to me that it will be a better X-Plane 11. While that sounds like a good thing, the marketplace is definitely a different place and so will that help move the needle forward sufficiently? I don’t know.
For the hardcore X-Plane fan, it will be, but for anyone else I’m not sure. I like to see the competition and for both sims to push forward as hard as possible. If 12 proves to be a financial success and it keeps the lights on I guess that’s good enough?
For a lot of folks, room for one civil sim on your computer is probably it, you’re right. It’ll be interesting to see what we get!
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X-Plane is FAA recognised for official training time, that’s the main attraction for real world pilots and trainers. It also has better radio units by default (they work like the real thing) and a more realistic flight model than MSFS. MSFS wins in not having to install additional scenery for a full experiece though – at least for the time being.
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I’m aware of the recognition by the FAA and its use by multiple flight schools. That’s a good thing to be sure but I feel like X-Plane rests a little too much on being those things IF, and this is a big IF, they want to engage a wider audience. As a flight sim blogger I can’t help but compare it to everything else out there… MSFS yes but also what’s going on in the world’s of IL-2 and DCS World.
X-Plane’s flight model is useful at an engineering level certainly but when it comes to feeling of flight its not really functionally different from the kinds of experiences I can get with the FMs from DCS and IL-2. Albeit those are more bespoke.
This highlights the fundamental tension between flight simulator as a pure training tool (FAA certification) and flight simulator as both training and entertainment. We’ll see where XP12 lands on this one.
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Totally agree. MSFS study level addons like Fenix or PMDG that lately appeared were a game changer for me. Some say that xplane’s flight model is superior, well I don’t really see this change when flying airliners addons and…I guess some addons might have custom build flight model?
Additionaly I like:
– Fotorealistic scenery everywhere. I dont want to spend time installing ortho sceneries etc. The level of detail is more than enough for me.
– VR support. Well just after the release it was far from good, but I have to say, that it is getting better and better e.g. DLSS and other performance improvements
– Clouds…I guess XP12 will have similar looking clouds as MSFS. However we all know that the best lloking clouds are in DCS world 🙂
– I started my sim experience with FS2000. I think current support/updates is much better than in FS2000-2004/FSX
– I think it is the first time where novice arcade/xbox level users have opportunity to start in MSFS and later progress to more realistic sim flying like vatsim
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Love your comment about the DCS clouds. I agree completely. When the new dynamic weather and effects kick in with DCS, it’s going to be great.
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Dynamic weather will really propel DCS World’s new cloud technology quite a bit further along. It’s visually spectacular right now but obviously missing the other features.
Excited to see that!
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Maybe a good question to ask is WHY does XP have a cult following? 😉
MSFS is far better than it’s predecessors, and still improving. But it’s aerodynamics engine leaves a LOT to be desired.
It’s got High Fidelity aircraft finally, and they are GREAT! But hand flying them still isn’t much fun.
And don’t get me started on the GA aircraft (or helicopter!) flight models…
It’s to the point where if I want to practice airmanship, I go straight to X-Plane or DCS World. And if I want an accurate cockpit & world simulator, MSFS gets the nod.
When v12 gets here, it’ll address my two big nitpicks: weather/clouds, water, and lighting (which wasn’t so bad when P3D was it’s only competitor).
When v12 is available, download the demo and compare a live weather, side by side flight with the Cessna 172’s or Cirrus, etc. You’ll be shocked at how numb MSFS actually is.
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IMHO, I don’t personally think the difference in flight modeling is that big of a gap anymore. When MSFS default aircraft and third party aircraft all start to use the upgraded modeling I think the gap will be close enough for most people.
I can see X-Plane’s system as still being more useful for engineering projects for sure. I just hope X-Plane doesn’t rest on just being the sim that does the flight model a bit better. I’d like to see it be great at everything!
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If you fly real airplanes X-Plane any day . Flight dynamics and accuracy of systems are key concern vs eye candy . I really don’t care if runway water spots look real if I need to practise an IFR approach . IMHO one is a video game and the other a flight simulator.
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I’m not a fan of the way that some simmers sometimes try and describe MSFS as a “game” and X-Plane as a “simulator.” It tends to use the game as a derogatory rather than being a useful distinction.
X-Plane 11 has definitely done well over its history offering continually better flight modeling and system modeling at times too. It isn’t perfect and neither is MSFS.
We’re at the point where the differences are getting smaller. Can people tell the difference between the fidelity of Fenix’s A320 versus the ToLiss A319 or A321? From what I’ve read… there’s not much on the flight model and the systems are top notch.
I want to see X-Plane 12 of course continue the excellent systems and FM but I want it to look good too. It might be able to do that in its own way and if so I’ll be overjoyed. Waiting to see what the results are!
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Was X-Plane 12 the one where they made an F-4 phantom to test the entire flight model envelope? Will that be in the early access I wonder… I know I know, I sound like a broken record but I really want to fly a Phantom around in VR and start building my pit hahaha
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X-Plane has had an F-4 for a long time. But yes Austin, the creator and flight model guy, tested a lot of his flight modeling versus the F-4. He wrote a long piece about it on their dev blog.
Not sure what state their F-4 will be in with X-Plane 12 but the flight model is likely to be very well developed.
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The marquee military jet in v12 is the F-14. The refinements made to the flight model using the old Phantom (and an old Phantom instructor pilot!) apply just as well there due to XP’s aero engine.
If Phantom is truly your thing, probably best to go P3D + MilViz, or wait for DCS World’s version sometime late this year.
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Wow, that could be really soon then. I haven’t followed the development closely, is there a place where one can find the main improvements vs X-Plane 11?
My main concern about X-Plane 11 are
1) The scenery. I’ve tried to use it to train in VFR but it’s not looking good or even similar to what I see from the sky. I know there are attempts like Ortho but it’s never worked for me, they’re not looking very good, there are artefacts and issues like trees in the middle of roads, buildings and so on. I’m afraid it will end up like before by having to buy expensive Orbx scenery (which is only available for some regions).
2) The weather and yes, the clouds. We’ve been so spoiled in other sims. 😀
3) The lack of mission-oriented add-ons. If one could get training add-ons in X-Plane, for example, it would be awesome, but I suppose Austin Meyer is still entirely opposed to that. I don’t know how it works in MSFS though. I don’t mind making my own objectives for a little while but it’s not as motivating.
On the other hand, the feeling is much better than P3D, and from what I saw, MSFS.
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No there unfortunately isn’t a great comparison list that someone has put together. Partially because its a bit of a moving target as X-Plane 12 keeps changing as it gets closer to launch – and I suspect it will continue to do so after too.
The scenery is a significant concern of mine. There are clear moves forward (better trees, better water, better coastlines and roads, GPU rendering rather than CPU rendering, etc.) but I’m waiting to see what they deliver either during early access or after.
Weather should be a big step up. X-Plane 11’s clouds were dated when it launched and now they are laughable. Their weather system also makes big jumps forwards with more layers to the model and a whole lot of smoothing so that the weather state doesn’t suddenly change from one thing to another while you’re flying along.
Missions are something most civil sims are not great at. There are plugins like FSEconomy and FSCharter that seek to add that experience in multiple sims. I’ve been mostly frustrated by my limited experiences with both of those but I’m still exploring options.
Until it arrives, I’m very much trying to withhold any judgment until we see what the full vision is. We’ve heard, about terrain for example, that there are things in the works there. If its revealed before early access that could be a big thing… if its good.
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Thanks for your input!
That’s true, those extensions are never entirely satisfying. I have tried FSFlyingSchool but it wasn’t convincing. The base idea was good since it plugged into P3D to get all the information on the plane and the weather but the instructor was constantly repeating the same things, and there were no actual lessons, he was just accompanying. Dovetail’s first attempt seemed promising but we know how it ended… I’d rather have something close to a PPL course with progressive goals.
FsPassengers was fun for casual flights, but limited, and I thought FSEconomy would be interesting but from what you said, it’s not. So I’m still exploring too, or doing campaigns in DCS & IL-2 by default of a civilian aviation alternative. Maybe there’s not enough demand for such things.
If only Deadstick had become a reality, but I fear they won’t make it.
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I’m still holding out hope for Deadstick!
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Great timimg. My birthday is in very early September.
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Excellent timing!
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The biggest problem with simulators is that they need to be simulators AND games.
DCS is ok, you have ai to shoot in the air, on the ground, on the sea. Could be better (dynamic campaign, better ai etc).
MSFS and XP, just like any previous simulator, suffer from the lack of actual mission, good default ai traffic, career / campaigns. This is where XP12 should have gone, because it’s never going to fight the strengths of MSFS (muh shiny graphics !).
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I am starting to wonder whether Xplane 12 will feature any DRY runways…
He loves him his new water effects huh XD
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LOL no every runway will be rain covered or frozen 😊
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I have no interest answer heard about VR. It’s a most importent thing of a FS and not so good handelt in XP. I wish that it is easier to switch on VR. Best example is FS2 that come in VR with one click.
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