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 the realism of X-Plane 12 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 in simulating extreme wind and terrain interactions at Innsbruck Airport (LOWI).
Both simulators effectively model complex wind phenomena such as shear, updrafts, and turbulence over mountainous terrain, providing challenging and realistic flight experiences.
Testing various aircraft (CRJ 550, Citation X, 737-700 BBJ) revealed nuanced handling characteristics and realistic responses to severe conditions, suggesting the simulated skills could transfer to real-world piloting.
Key distinctions included MSFS 2020's more dramatic scenery versus XP12's useful replay mode, with external add-ons enhancing the realism of both platforms.

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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.