I just picked up X-Plane and it is SWEET!!!! I was wondering if anyone knows of any good sites that have aircraft that you can download. I know they're out there, but I'll be darned if I can find them.

I don't know what it is, but it certainly has a grab you by the seat of your pants and won't let go feeling! No, as far I know, you can't add weapons, and there aren't any in the retail version. I guess it's the little things, like:

1) Realistic radio chatter (ATC, copilot)

2) Night textures are amazing. The sky is truely black. And lights on the ground light up in stages, as it gets darker and darker.

3) Rain and snow on the runway are realistically blown behind you when you take off. Even in front of you when you engage thrust reversers! Way cool!

4) Frame rate frame rate frame rate!!!!! Smooth as a baby's butt. And I have a PII 450. Not exactly cutting edge technology!!! LOL

If you like flying airplanes, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Period. There's even a couple of programs included that let you create your own aircraft designs. I haven't tinkered with them yet, but I plan on it. There are many aftermarked planes already available and X-Plane has only been out in the masses for a couple of months. Go to www.x-plane.org and check out the downloads. There is a SWEET Gripen that someone made.

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"Go ahead and hate me because I'm beautiful...but I get a lot of action."

Avsim: http://www.avsim.com/library/035_X_Plane/

has planes 'n stuff for download as well.

Finally, you might try: ftp.x-plane.com.
UserID: XPLANE
Password: XPLANE

... yes, CAPS DO MATTER here.

I'm not sure if Austin would add weapons to his sim, but you never know! I bought version 5.32 and since then there have been upgrades about every 3 weeks! As of the last upgrade we got the ability to play head to head over the net. Austin also changed his weather integration so that it handles the METAR format (a world wide standard). This means I can finally get weather for Canada.

If you purchase any of the 5.xx release versions (I think the retail one may be 5.42), you are good up to 5.99. After that, you will need to (want to, desire to) shell out for version 6.xx.

Between all the new planes, new scenery from around the world and fairly constant program enhancements, I feel like I paid to ride the ferris wheel and instead have been offered a no holds barred pass to Disney World for the year!

I have 6 aircraft on my website, but the Tornado needs airfoils that are not supplied

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