X-PLANE 12 vs MSFS FLIGHT MODEL: I'M SHOCKED!

Progress is a wonderful thing - Today we find out once and for all, does X Plane REALLY have the best flight model? Let's find out as we pit it against Asobo's giant, Microsoft Flight Simulator...

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Background music: Undertow – Scott Buckley (No Copyright Music)

Thanks for watching!
VRFSG

#vr #simulator #msfs2020

[VRFlightSimGuy]

I'm genuinely shocked by the results of this test. We are so blessed to have two high fidelity civilian flight sims on the market. Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!👇👇👇

[plebreton]

Great video. As a former flight instructor, I'd just add that no two C172's (or any light aircraft model for that matter) will feel the same. There will always be variations intake-off and climb performance, handling, stall characteristics etc, depending on the age of the aircraft, age of the engines, airframe warping from prior incidents and so on. I have spun C152s that wing-drop gently as in the MSFS example, and also abruptly like the X-plane example. I would say both are very accurate. Just something to think about :)

[ianhowlett]

As a real world C172 pilot, the flight models in simulators never quite “feel” right to me anyway, because in real life the control column can feel quite heavy, the control column moves around as the wind blows on the control surfaces of the aircraft, and you just feel a lot of it through your hands. A sim can’t easily do this, so they always feel a bit too light and manoeuvreable compared to the real aircraft.

[sypharorigin]

Great video! I've got a long comment... If I seem to bash on any of the sims it's not my intention since I'm using both myself.
Here's somewhat of a rough theory of why both sims feel similar in the 172. If we break both sims down to the number of controlpoints in their respective physics MSFS2020 launched with 137k controlpoints while XP11 once it reached its peak had an equivalent to ~10k controlpoints (blades broken down into points). XP12 has launched using an equivalent of ~122k controlpoints. Also we need to keep in mind it's not all up the sim, but very much the aircraft developer to decide how much of the physics to use. Even though MSFS2020 has now past 257k I think that the Cessna 172, being a sort of showcase aircraft for props in both sims, has not put the new numbers to use and is still at the same stage physics-wise as it was when released.

Before I get any "bashing" for in one way saying that MSFS has better physics; let me finish.

At one stage of home flight simulation (when the first home-sim reached 16, yes just "16" controlpoints) when it got down to the physics a professor said that somewhere around 10k controlpoints is all you'd ever need to simulate real world physics in an airplane.
XP has always been ahead of MSFS in all terms of physics (been using both sims since ~1998) and at this time I actually feel as if MSFS2020 is more alive because I feel the friction more while XP12 still has that "driving on ice" feel to it (maybe that's just but I know that in the past XP always came out the winner of realism at the same time as I'm thinking that it now more than ever depends on 3rd party aircraft for both products (or default ones being upgraded, alot).

Final thought, both sims are very good in their own strengths and weaknesses, but it's too early to say anything with XP12 being in early access.

[aflyguy]

I was an instructor on 172s for years and they always stalled to the left because of the gyro effect of the prop. It was hard to get them to spin to the right.

[JanStrojil]

I think MSFS has an unfairly bad reputation for its flight modelling, from what I heard from real life pilots, some of the planes are actually very good.

[JimmyLionheart]

Real world GA pilot here, used MSFS for the first time this week and was very disappointed in the C152 flight model. I am trying to be as objective as I can here, I wanted MSFS to be very good, but compared to the real life experience of flying it's further away for me than XP. If you never flew [regularly] for real doubtful you'd notice... So as requested, my top 2 issues are: (1) in MSFS the overall feel of the aircraft in flight feels "spongey" compared to real life, XP is not perfect, but by comparison to MSFS feels "ah, that's better" .. hard to put into words this. In crude terms MSFS is like its on rails, XP more nuanced. (2) with MSFS the interaction of crosswind on landing was poor, by that I mean there was so little effect. IRL, flying IN wind is almost a constant, the jiggles and buffeting, and especially the effect of crosswind. With MSFS a 12 kt perpendicular crosswind was un-noticable, just not right - thats 3 kts of a C152's limit! So am afraid my MSFS experience is going to be a short one; shame as the VFR ground detail is very good.

[IvanSkyFlight]

PPL that flies 172s IRL. I am huge fan of both sims. I just did a comparison, too, and feel that the left turn tendencies along with trimming are a bit more accurate in XP12. Great video! Thanks for putting in the time!

[CobaltAlphaOne]

When I was a student pilot I did 2 accidental spins, recovering from power-on stalls in a C152 that was prone to spin much more than the other 152s in the fleet. In terms of wing snap, to me, it felt, at the time, as fast as X-Plane does. Having said that, personally, I prefer the MSFS flight model and I can't really put my finger on why. But, the X-Plane model is pretty good if you turn down control sensitivities. Both have improved significantly over the years. One other thing. One way I like to check realism for a flight model is to do slow flight...full flaps, gear down (if not fixed) and slow to just above stall. A single engine has a real tendency to turn left which you counter with right rudder. It's mushy on the controls and you have to counter gusts quickly. Also, the nose is pretty high despite full flaps. I've yet to find an airplane in a sim that does it well. It doesn't bother me much, though. I fly normal most of the time and that's great fun enough.

[audiomile]

I like both but I sorta like Xp better... I think it is just a better platform for its users' ideas and the community around it is a bit more interesting. The biggest MSFS issue is it tries to satisfy everyone from an Xbox user to a serious simmer, Laminar doesn't do it, and I thank them for that.

[HandyTot]

The atmospheric simulation in msfs is the most underrated component, updrafts, downdrafts, ridge lift, etc. Its absolutely the best.

[ryanw]

Thank you for conducting these tests. There is great value in getting SME feedback, keeping an open mind, and having competition - for the latter reason, I hope everyone who has the means will continue to support XPlane

[darrenberkey]

I'm a long time user of X-Plane, which I still have a fairly healthy respect for, but I have moved fully to MSFS 2020 since it was released, and I think Asobo deserves more recognition for what they've achieved up to this point, despite some of the "rough air" that they've endured through all the updates. There are still some bugs to squash and maybe a couple features I'd like to see added later, but it really is a great sim, and I especially appreciate SU11 and helicopters being added. I'm still interested to see how XP12 develops from here on, but it's unlikely I'll go back to it anytime soon, if ever.

[billschannel]

Wow, did you knock it out of the park with this video. While I'm not particularly interested in X-Plane 11 as I don't spend enough time to have 2 sims in my life and some of the integrations that Flight Simulator I can't live without. But these comparisons between both games and a real world pilot with a lot of experience on the exact aircraft is fascinating! Thanks!

[jpallmann]

I'm a real world pilot, I have time in Pipers, Cessnas, Bonanzas. Growing up, I used X-Plane. X-Plane has been a sim I've used for the past 8 years, I was a sim nerd before I was a pilot. Initially viewing Microsoft Flight Simulator as an unrealistic platform, mainly based off of what "I heard" from other sim nerds. As I've become a pilot and received my ratings in the past year, Microsoft Flight Simulator has become my main form of simulation. Some of the avionics are lacking, but the recent integration of the G1000nxi and other upgrades in the aerodynamic simulation has communicated Asobo/Microsoft's intent to not only be jaw-dropping in beauty but also be a serious simulation for all users.
The simulator has had the time needed to mature and get the bugs and quirks out. Great job asobo!
The V35B released by Carenado lacks depth, but for what you get in a two-year-old simulator? Great stuff. Microsoft's simulator needs more time to mature when it comes to the 3rd party market, that's all.

[Lungorizz]

One thing I wish msfs would improve on is ground handling physics. That's the one aspect XP is still way ahead

[shaunsprogress]

MSFS models aerodynamics? Xplane has been doing that for a decade. You can design aircraft using aerofoils in it.

[AquaStevae]

You weren't wrong about XP12. Don't let a shortsighted test sway you, as this is NOT how research is performed. I am also a real world pilot, and fly these very planes every week. XP12's flight physic's is heads and shoulders BETTER than MSFS, and although your vid didn't show a lot of difference here, there are tons of situations where I can demonstrate this easily. MSFS is very cartoonish, and not at all realistic in flights of different climate and times. The best thing it has going for itself is the ground terrain, and clouds. I also have both, but rarely find myself flying MSFS.

[dansmusicuk]

Real world GA pilot here, and I like to use both sims. FYI... X-Plane can be certified by the FAA to be used as the simulation software in certified training devices. This means that your entire simulation set up (computer, OS, hardware, etc.) must ALL be approved by the FAA to be used to log hours. Purchasing an X-Plane Professional Use License is also required.

[bootaz]

"X-Plane always breaks first by the left wing": I don't think the reason are environmental factors but more likely different flow around the wings because we have a single propellor airplane there. So I would expect that an airplane on stall in very most cases breaks in one direction. (+ point for X-Plane 12 ;-))