X-Plane 9 flight simulator for Android

[Guest xathras]

If you're a fan of flight simulators like me this will interest you. I've been using X-Plane 9 on my desktop machine for a while and now it's my favourite flight sim. By accident I came across a mention that it had been ported to Android. I didn't think it could possibly be any good - I was wrong!

After checking out the web page (http://www.x-plane.com/pg_X-Plane_for_Android.html) I searched for it on the Market. It's a paid app (£6.34), but user's comments were pretty positive so I decided to try it out. I wasn't sure that I could evaluate it within the 15 min. refund period but after using it for only 5 min. it became a must have app.

It runs full screen and you can move it to your SDcard. Here are some photos (apologies for the camera artefacts - it doesn't actually have moire patterns). Given that it's an application that in its original form wasn't designed to run on a platform anything like Android the port is astonishingly good.

CAVEAT: I'm using firmware ver. 1.065 and custom ROM ver. r5 + performance pack and can't vouch for its performance on a different setup.

[Guest simonta]

Do you find it's actually usable? IMHO the controls suck. Could not get anywhere near straight and level - that said, I haven't tried with mouse and keyboard. What are you using for controls?

[Guest xathras]

Do you find it's actually usable? IMHO the controls suck. Could not get anywhere near straight and level - that said, I haven't tried with mouse and keyboard. What are you using for controls?

You're probably right. I'm using the standard controls but moving the tablet verrry slowly. I just assumed that I would get better with practice. Although I like flight sims I'm a p**s poor pilot; unless you want me to shoot down straggling German bombers over the Thames Estuary that is (I favour the Mk.I Hurricane). ;)