X-Plane have just taken to their blog to detail the beta release of X-Plane 12.3.0. This update features a major update to the X-Plane weather system by introducing a fully functional weather radar, along with some other general improvements to the sim, and it’s default aircraft such as the A330-300.
Weather
One of the most requested features in X-Plane has finally been added by Laminar Research – The weather radar. They’ve introduced the radar into several of the default aircraft within the simulator, and they’ve gone a notch above the default Microsoft Flight Simulator implementation, as they’ve added realistic storm reflections, attenuation, and beam tilt where applicable. This includes updates to the B737-800 and A330-300 default aircraft to add in the weather radar functionality, which has been designed by Laminar to reflect its real-world counterpart.
In addition to the A330 and B737, the X1000 has also been updated to feature a weather radar on the aircraft, along with realistic reflections, attenuation, and range sensitivity.
To help aircraft developers, a Benedix RDR2000 WXR has been included on the default Beechcraft Baron 58. The radar has been released on GitHub under the MIT licence to help developers integrate the system it into their own aircraft.
Lastly, in the weather category, X-Plane now has historic weather, allowing you to go back up to one year in the past.
Ground Proximity Warning System
Beta 12.3.0 also brings an updated ground proximity warning system that integrates directly with X-Plane’s global terrain system.
A330-300
The simulators default A330-300 has also received some large and significant updates. Firstly, the aircraft exterior has been updated and upgraded to feature weathering and dirt effects.
The aircraft’s engines have also received an update with regard to vibrations. The engines now vibrate as they would on its real life counter-part.
Elsewhere on the 3D model side of updates, the cabin and cockpit have received a lighting by the X-Plane team. The lighting is now far more realistic, with the cabin featuring dynamic lights, and the cockpit has been updated to feature improved materials and corrected colours.
The X-Plane team also note the A330 has received updates to its system, which we’ve listed below.
- Full support for a secondary flight plan (SEC F-PLN).
- Enhanced VNAV logic with smoother deceleration, path capture from above, and step climb support.
- Accurate roll rate and alpha protection under FBW.
- Improved autopilot disengagement handling, auto-trim reset, and deceleration logic post-touchdown.
- More precise climb, cruise, and descent predictions considering winds, fuel use, and constraints.
- Updated V-speed suggestions, fuel prediction logic, baro/STD handling, and ECAM messages.
The update also features an updated Aircraft Operations Computer and Air Traffic Services Unit, which now support ATIS, METAR, and PDC messages realistically.
X1000
With 12.3.0, the X-Plane team has introduced Synthetic Vision to the X1000. If you aren’t familiar with what this is, it allows pilots to safely navigate complex terrain, and maintain better orientation in poor visibility, along with a few other features.
Engine Health
Now onto something for developers, with 12.3.0, developers can now enable engine ages at load of the aircraft. This allows aircraft developers to define an engine’s age to introduce natural variation in the performance.
The X-Plane team notes that this effect is subtle, but is still noticeable and will lead to small differences in spool-up times, fuel flow, and engine efficiency.
OMDB – Dubai
Now onto some scenery updates, the X-Plane team has now added Dubai to the simulators custom airport collection. The airport features custom created terminal models and detailed surroundings.
Vegetation Annotation for OBjs
Continuing with scenery, X-Plane 12.3.0 now allows custom OBJ models to include vegetation annotations. This means developers can now place trees and plants directly on rooftops, terraces, and other custom structures. This will allow scenery developers to create more realistic environments.
Last but not least…
Lastly, there have been a few smaller improvements elsewhere.
For home cockpit builders, external visuals are now smoother and more consistent, and they’ve also improved synchronisation across multi-PC setups. Avionics such as the G1000, G530 or PFD can now also be assigned directly to a dedicated hardware screen, without relying on popup windows.
Cockpit Lighting has had a general improvement to make it look more realistic and smoother. The X-Plane team notes a key update is the reduction of specular aliasing, which eliminates distracting shimmering on glossy surfaces.
The G-Loaded Camera now has controls for its intensity, and the ability to temporarily suspend it. These settings can be found in the accessibility settings of X-Plane.
New Hardware is now supported, which adds native support for the MOZA MFY Yoke, as well as the CLS-60 / CLS-120 Force Feedback Yoke and Rudder Pedals.
WED Artists now have new assets, as well as existing airport kit updates. These include custom water polygons and edge markings, low-profile airport barricades, updated detail textures and weather effects.
Across the X-Plane fleet, there have been FMS, VNAV, Autopilot and trim behaviour updates.
And lastly, night vision has rendering has been improved.
Conclusion
And that about wraps up this extensive post regarding 12.3.0! This update is out now, and can be downloaded by following the steps here.
If you don’t yet own X-Plane, you can purchase it from X-Plane.org, Aerosoft.com, or Steam.
Full Changelog
General
- Fixed an issue where the time was displayed incorrectly (e.g. 12:60 instead of 12:00).
- Updated Global Airports from the X-Plane Airport Gateway, including OMDB Dubai International with custom buildings.
- Improved the “Resume Last Flight” function, especially when the previous flight ended at smaller airports or helipads (XPD-17164).
- Added the ability to call and dismiss the Ground Power Unit via the Ground Handling Window, similar to chocks. The GPU will remain connected until dismissed (XPD-16371).
- Fixed the weapon preview screen in the Flight Configuration screen.
- Pushback will remove chocks automatically now.
Aircraft
McDonnell Douglas MD-82
- VNAV descent now auto-initiates when reaching the top of descent (XPD-14985).
ATC
- Fixed the “Send to FMS” button on the flight planning screen.
Graphics
- Improved performance of wheel-smoke particles.
- Fixed an issue where Exposure Fusion didn’t work correctly when using an AMD GPU (XPD-17267).
- Fixed an issue where interior lights would switch off about 65,000 feet (XPD-17117).
- Fixed nightvision goggles.
Scenery
- Added missing drivers to airport vehicles.
- Service vehicles now correctly respect stop point settings (XPD-17175).
- Added new library objects and improved some existing ones:
- Water polygons and shores
- Low-profile airport barricades
- European-style ambulances
- Updated compass roses
- Improved colored surfaces for a closer match to draped ground signage
Systems
- Added warnings when ground tiles cannot be loaded in time for Synthetic Vision due to limited CPU resources (XPD-17215).
- Fixed an issue where the artificial horizon was not displayed correctly (XPD-17025).
Weather
- Improved stability of the METAR parser, especially when handling unexpected text or characters.
- Added display of real weather download age, as well as the age of the source data.
- Improved visibility of rain on the weather radar.
- Improved synchronization of manual weather between master and external machines (XPD-16607).
SDK
- Fixed an issue where new cursors were not displayed correctly on screens (XPD-17176).
