🎮 Why X-Plane is My Go-To Flight Sim (And What I Use With It)
If you’re just getting into flight sims or you’re a student pilot looking to enhance your training, here’s why I highly recommend X-Plane – especially now with version 12.
✈️ X-Plane 12 Over MSFS
I started with X-Plane 11, and since moving to XP12, I haven’t looked back. The flight physics are top tier – it just feels more like real flying compared to MSFS, especially when it comes to aircraft behaviour and weather dynamics.
Plus, the X-Plane community is unmatched. So many of the best plugins are free and community-driven, which adds tons of depth and realism without breaking the bank.
🧰 My Hardware Setup
- Honeycomb Alpha Yoke + Bravo Throttle Quadrant – a massive upgrade from my old Logitech setup. The throttle quadrant’s modular design is perfect for simulating different aircraft types.
- Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder Pedals – seriously underrated. Adding rudder pedals changes everything in terms of realism. It’s a whole new level of immersion.
If you’re still simming without pedals – I promise, you’re missing out.
🛩️ The Zibo Mod – A Must-Have
The Zibo 737-800 deserves its own section. It’s hands down the most realistic airliner available for X-Plane – and it’s completely free. The detail, systems depth, and community support around it are next level.
🎥 Highly recommend this series:
Aircrafts Dissected by FlyBy Simulations
These videos cover every nook and cranny of the 737 – perfect for learning the systems inside out.
🗺️ Tools I Use Alongside
- SimToolKitPro – brilliant for flight planning, tracking, and logging.
- Volanta – a solid alternative, really comes down to personal preference.
Whether you’re preparing for real-world flying or just getting your virtual wings, X-Plane (especially with the Zibo mod and the right hardware) is the most immersive sim setup I’ve come across. If you’re serious about sim training, I can’t recommend it enough.
🧑✈️ Got questions about gear, setup, or getting started?
👉 Contact me here
Fly High,
Reef Salter