Simulated Austria Is Wild, Wonderful

Innsbruck Airport in 'X-Plane 12' with the terrain can be treacherous—and nauseating.

Peter James

Friday, April 26, 2024 at 10:49 AM ET

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[Image courtesy of Peter James]

Key Takeaways:

The article compares X-Plane 12 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, focusing on their realism in simulating extreme, terrain-induced wind conditions at Innsbruck (LOWI) with various aircraft.
Both simulators demonstrate significant advancements in realistically modeling wind flow over mountainous terrain, including shear and turbulence, providing challenging and skill-building flight experiences.
While both offer high realism in adverse weather, MSFS 2020 impresses with scenic detail, while X-Plane 12 provides a "more violent" and realistic turbulence feel and includes a valuable instant replay feature.

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Lately I am caught up in a self-induced battle between the realism of X-Plane 12 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS 2020). No better place to showcase this than in and out of one of the most famous airports in all of the sim kingdom, Innsbruck, Austria (LOWI).

Innsbruck is one of the most beautiful and spectacular places on earth with an airport that can support a variety of airline equipment up to a small widebody such as the Boeing 767-300ER. I have traveled to LOWI for my entire “sim life” but sadly haven’t been able to see it in person yet.