xplane
X-Plane is a commercial flight simulator developed by Laminar Research. It is used by aviation enthusiasts, pilots in training, and researchers for a realistic cockpit and flight behavior experience. The software runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with X-Plane 12 serving as the current major release as of 2024.
Its core is a physics-based flight model that uses blade-element theory to calculate lift, drag, thrust, and
X-Plane includes global scenery, airports with multiple levels of detail, weather, and lighting that responds to
It is distributed as a paid product with periodic updates; a strong community maintains a large library
History: X-Plane originated in the 1990s under Laminar Research, evolving through major version updates that expanded