iPod/iPhone App Review: X-Plane 9 Airliner
     The continuation of the great app X-Plane 9 has begun. Now there is an X-Plane Airliner! This flight simulator app is great and performs well. In this app, you can practice flying, taking off, and landing. This app is just like the original X-Plane for the iPod Touch and iPhone except now you can fly planes such as the Boeing 747, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, and the Airbus A-380.
     There are many things that I like about X-Plane 9 Airliner. One of the good things about this application is that it feels like a real flight simulator. I’ve played around with some of the actual computer flight simulators and I think that this comes pretty darn close to being like the real deal. While you are flying, you can control the trim, speed brake, throttle, and flap. You use the accelerometer in the iPhone to control your plane. You tilt the device left to fly left, tilt it right to fly right, tilt it up to climb, and tilt down to head towards the ground. The controls in this app are very simple and easy to use. The graphics in X-Plane 9 Airliner are also very good. There have been some updates to make it more realistic and I think that they did a pretty good job at making it as realistic as possible. You can also view the full glass EFIS system which shows you airspeed, heading, altitiude and mush more. The ability to chose the time of day, how strong the wind is and how heavy the plane is makes this app pretty cool. These features make this app more life-like and gives you the opportunity to play around with the settings a bit. This app is made to be a true flight simulator, not an air combat game. So if you’re looking for a true flight simulator, X-Plane 9 Airliner is for you.
     This app has come so far, but it still lacks some features that could make this app more fun and realistic. One thing that this app lacks is true airports. Even though there are “airports†in this game, they aren’t true airports; they’re just runways in the middle of nowhere. Also, there aren’t any other planes in the sky flying around with you. I know this isn’t usually a big deal, but it would be cool to see other planes in the sky while you’re flying. Another thing that makes X-Plane 9 Airliner less desirable is the fact that the only place you can fly is in the mountains. This app doesn’t let you fly over cities or over oceans. There is only a 60 by 60 mile area in which you can fly in. With the limited area, this app can become tedious and unexciting.
     Overall, X-plane 9 Airliner is a pretty good app. Again, this is not a air combat application, it’s just a flight simulator. This app is good for introducing what flying is like to people who might want to become a pilot. Â
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