X-Plane Airliner – $4.99 [iTunes Link]
If you are familiar with the original X-Plane for iPhone app (click for review), then this will feel VERY similar. The biggest change in this version is the aircraft choices. This version is all about Airliners, meaning they are jumbo jets. X-Plane Airliner includes a Boeing 777, Boeing 747, Airbus A-380 and the Boeing 787.
Upon opening X-Plane airliner, the first thing you will notice is 2 new controls. The original only had Throttle and Flaps adjustments. Airliner (I’m going to call X-Plane airliner simply “Airliner” for the rest of this review) takes those controls and adds two more: speedbrakes and trim. The cockpit view is also different from the original. It is a “Glass Cockpit” meaning that all the information you need is on a glass display.
One of the biggest additions to this version is the airports. The original has 3 airports. This version contains 98, with 42 NAVAIDS and roughly 60 by 180 miles of airspace.
By now you may be wondering if I’ll ever get to how the actual flying feels. Well….it doesn’t feel too much different from the original. The planes take a bit longer to respond to accelerometer movements because of how big they are. You also can’t do some of the loops that were possible in the original. Overall though, it feels pretty similar.
With that said, I was a bit disappointed at first because of the fact that these Airliners weren’t thrown into the original version, as was implied by the developer. He later explained that because of the iPhones memory, he couldn’t do that. (He has said he will try adding another small plane or two to the original version). I would also like to have seen bigger airports added with planes moving around on the runway and air traffic as well.
If you still haven’t bought either of the X-Plane for iPhone titles (Original, Helicopter, and Airliner), I would suggest you consider purchasing the Airliner version ONLY. I say this for a couple of reasons.
a) Its cheaper than the Original Version
b) I haven’t noticed much of a difference between the two (original and airliner) versions besides the planes. The planes do handle a bit differently and there are more airports, but other than that they seem very similar.
To sum that paragraph up, you get more for less when you purchase the Airliner Version. In fact, i have deleted the Original Version from my iPod Touch because I feel it isn’t necessary with the new Airliner Version.
I give this 4 stars out of 5.
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Your Choices
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More Airports
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Glass Cockpit
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Outside View of Airplane
Photos from the X-Plane for iPhone website.
Check out this link for my thoughts on the best ways to land and control your plane in X-Plane airliner. (In simpler words, its a tutorial)
macbookairman
Posted in 4, iPhone/iPod Touch App
Tags: X-Plane
