Difference Between Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane

Flight Simulators are nowadays one of the trending software. Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-plane are the two most renowned flight simulators.

The former has high-performance graphics and realistic scenery whereas the latter has high-power aircraft and self-modification features. Both the flight simulator programs refer to Bing maps to depict a realistic representation of planet Earth, no matter where you’re flying.

The customizable factors of both the flight simulator are live traffic, weather, and electronic flight bag integration. These modern-day simulators are defining new eras which you haven’t dreamed of.

Microsoft Flight Simulator vs X-Plane

The difference between Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane is that Microsoft Flight Simulator has realistic features such as global scenery, aircraft controls, and much more. Whereas X-Plane has a great core of aircraft, self- modifications of aircraft. Microsoft Flight Simulator is compatible with only Windows software whereas X-Plane is compatible with approximately all modern-day software such as Android, Linux, iOS, Mac OS, and many more.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the modern-day flight simulators mainly renowned for its graphics and better controls. Also, as the name suggests, the Microsoft Flight Simulator is only compatible with windows software.

For example, Microsoft flight simulator is compatible with Microsoft Windows OS, MS-DOS, Classic Mac OS. X-Plane is a flight simulator program that is mostly compatible with almost all types of software.

For example, X-Plane is compatible with Android, Linux, iOS, WebOS, Mac OS, and Windows.

Also, the X-Plane flight simulator was initially launched in the year 1995. This was created by Austin Meyer and Laminar Research and launched by Laminar Research and Aerosoft.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Microsoft Flight Simulator	X-Plane
Definition	Microsoft Flight Simulator is a set of programs mainly designed for Microsoft Windows OS	X-Plane, an amateur flight simulator used mainly as a video game.
Operation Platform	Microsoft flight simulator is compatible with Microsoft Windows OS, MS-DOS, Classic Mac OS.	X-Plane is compatible with Android, Linux, iOS, WebOS, Mac OS, and Windows.
Establishment	The Microsoft Flight Simulator was developed in the year 1977.	The X-Plane was developed in the year 1995.
Developer	The credit for the development of the Microsoft Flight Simulator is given to Bruce Artwick	The credit for the development of the X-Plane is given to Austin Meyer and Laminar Research.
Feature	The Microsoft Flight Simulator has high-performance graphics and high-quality graphics.	The X-Plane has highly controlled aircraft and a variety of controlled panels.

What is Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a set of programs designed for Microsoft Windows OS. This was earlier designed for MS-DOS and MAC OS.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the best and most used flight simulators. The credit for the development of flight simulators is given to Bruce Artwick.

All this started in the year 1977. The two new versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator named “Professional” and “Standard “ editions in the years 2000 and 2002.

However, the Professional edition contains more tools, better scenery options and a variety of airplanes. Microsoft Flight Simulator gives a realistic experience of operating a flying aircraft.

The natural global scenery feature is the cherry of the cake. This feature enables one to view each detail finely and precisely.

The environmental graphics such as sunlight glare, haze, cloud gathering are realistic and seem to be true.

What is X-Plane?

X-plane, an amateur flight simulator created and published by Austin Meyer. The X Plane flight simulator was developed by Laminar Research and Austin Meyer in the year 1995.

The commercial X-Plane versions for desktop are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Whereas, the mobile version of X-Plane is sold for Android, WebOS, and iOS.

The mobile version is available since 2009. Austin Meyer is given the credit for developing and creating X-plane.

X-plane is preinstalled with many military and commercial aircraft along with natural scenery features. It also has some preinstalled architecture plugins which permit the user to create their global scenery and aircraft.

The blade element theory is the distinguishing feature of the X-plane. The atmospheric modulation is a treat to watch, as the sunlight enters through the glass of the cockpit, the glare produced is so real.

Main Differences Between Microsoft Flight Simulator and X Plane

• Microsoft flight simulator is compatible with Microsoft Windows OS, MS-DOS, Classic Mac OS. Whereas, X-plane is compatible with Android, Linux, iOS, WebOS, Mac OS, and Windows.
• The credit for the development of Microsoft Flight Simulator is given to Bruce Artwick. On the other hand, the credit for the development of the X-plane is given to Austin Meyer and Laminar Research.
• Microsoft Flight Simulator is a set of programs mainly designed for Microsoft Windows OS. Whereas X-plan, an amateur flight simulator used mainly as a video game.
• The Microsoft Flight Simulator was developed in the year 1977. Whereas the X-plane was developed in the year 1995.
• The Microsoft Flight Stimulator has a high graphic variety with global scenery. Whereas X-plane lacks high-level graphic variety and global scenery.

References

1. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-481-8764-5_20
2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6842350/
3. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RT9v6Bhl420C&oi=fnd&pg=PR3&dq=microsoft+flight+simulator&ots=X_Xu0ZsnmE&sig=mcfYszjLlMhYafCfrNpkr3Newos
4. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.1991-3314