Started with X-Plane 9 and all in between to X- Plane 12, thanks Austin for all you have done for the flight sim community. Now 80 and think flying a simulator helps keep my brain working and it is fun too.
In around 2000, my mom bought me a copy of X-Plane for my birthday, something I’d begged for. The version that came was older than the one advertised on the website. We got in touch with Austin to let him know it wasn’t the current version, and not just incrementally old, either. He said to download the update. Well, having had dial-up at the time, it just wasn’t possible to download 40 megabytes in one go. When we requested a return/refund, Austin accused me of pirating the game and trying to scam him. I’ll never forget how that made me feel as a young, enthusiastic kid who just wanted to fly in a good flight sim. As an adult, I can somewhat forgive the jadedness and paranoia of a dev who put a lot into his work. But accusing a child of piracy on his birthday gift? Austin came across as a pretty mean guy. All these years later I’m an instrument rated pilot with turbine time. Never once have I spent another penny on X-Plane to get there, though.
I bought my first copy of X-Plane in May 2004. It was very realistic even back then. I spent many hours designing planes in it and then flying them. I had flown radio-controlled models since 1963 and got my PPL in 1975.
Awesome interview! Austin is only the second SFL guest I've met in person, the other was Rod Machado. Both great, great guys. I met Austin at the 2019 FlightSimExpo, the day before Microsoft announced MSFS 2020. At the time X-Plane was the most visually appealing sim out there (DCS and Infinite Flight were good too), so I was both happy and a little heartbroken when MSFS re-emerged. But, Austin is right that X-Plane and MSFS can co-exist. X-Plane is the better simulator; MSFS is the better game at the moment. Competitive success depends on many other factors, however, and the user experience I've had with the actual MSFS 2020 software has been markedly worse than X-Plane, which boots quicker and feels more stable. It'll be great to see how both these platforms and their accompanying ecosystems evolve.
i kinda feel bad for the guy i know there is still a decaded xplane base but the new ms flight sim 2024 is just gonna totally crush xplane :-( sad to say. but it still has its userbase!
Wow. Austin Meyer has - let's say (in a positive way) - a huge disc area and a lot of smarts. Regarding eVTOL and what will finally shake out: I think the old adage "KISS" will win the day. My money (figuratively speaking) is on Tier 1 Engineering for a start. They're working on an STC electric powertrain retrofit for the R44. Influencing my thinking are the years I spent running a weather station at a military helicopter airfield in Europe (supporting UH-1 and OH-58 training). From my perspective, it's not the sound of helicopter blades that is distasteful, it's the turbine whine and high-velocity engine exhaust. Those things would go away with electric propulsion.
The three dimensions are not equal. Moving horizontally costs very little and makes nearly all the transportation. Movеment in the "third" dimension, solely on air reaction is very costly and is needed just for separation. Recently, I saw a study about helicopter (low disk loading) wake turbulence.. The heavier and the slower it moves, the worse. Taking this and other airspace limitations into account renders the third dimension capability a huuuge waste. As NDT said probably making the inverted version of your hand gesture, 3d transport systems are as old as the subway/metro/underground. 🙂
Reminds of a lecture I attended at NASA, about 50 years ago, by a couple of guys talking about trying to start a STOL port in one of the New York City. It's was to move money people from NYC to one of the airports. HaHaHaHaHa. There is no way to convince a New Yorker that your proposal is not a scam and is of some benefit to them. HaHaHaHaHa!!! Never happen. Pan Am used to operate a helicopter from La G to the Pan Am building. Crashed one on top of the building. I think ground resonance. A blade killed a pedestrian.
"There is no way to convince a New Yorker that your proposal is not a scam and is of some benefit to them. HaHaHaHaHa!!! Never happen." I see more diverse businesses per square foot in New York than any other city on Earth.
Just updated X-Plane 12 to the latest version 06 and what a disappointment. I was under the impression 06 was to take care of lighting issues, The instrument panel is so dark on the Cessna 172 it's unusable. Talk about flying in the dark on a VFR day. Ever try changing the comm frequency from standby to active, it doesn't work. I've been waiting for the past 7 months for these issues to be corrected. A BIG disappointment Mr Myer.
Terible at flying? That's bullshit. I bet you could fly with your eyes closed. Say the truth dude, flying was too expensive, you couldn't afford it, and that's about it. You can never be terrible for something you wanna do so badly especially at those early ages. Maybe you couldn't fly enough, or maybe not at all, at those costs. And being an above average person in terms of intelligence and capabilities, you wrote your own sim. That's why you were reading about aerodynamics and all. Anyway, I think this is amazing, the times were on your side too, as these were the times single one person team game devs was not unheard of. Without taking away your achievement, and competing with the likes of MS is certainly not easy.
Started with X-Plane 9 and all in between to X- Plane 12, thanks Austin for all you have done for the flight sim community. Now 80 and think flying a simulator helps keep my brain working and it is fun too.
Great interview! I loved his explanation of why more propellers. Makes sense.
Love your books! Together with the timeless “Stick and Rudder,” my flying skills have matured significantly.
Austin Meyer is such a guy of a kind! 😊
His comment on M$ resonated. My boss at NASA said he would only buy IBM personal computers for the division.
In around 2000, my mom bought me a copy of X-Plane for my birthday, something I’d begged for. The version that came was older than the one advertised on the website. We got in touch with Austin to let him know it wasn’t the current version, and not just incrementally old, either. He said to download the update. Well, having had dial-up at the time, it just wasn’t possible to download 40 megabytes in one go. When we requested a return/refund, Austin accused me of pirating the game and trying to scam him. I’ll never forget how that made me feel as a young, enthusiastic kid who just wanted to fly in a good flight sim. As an adult, I can somewhat forgive the jadedness and paranoia of a dev who put a lot into his work. But accusing a child of piracy on his birthday gift? Austin came across as a pretty mean guy.
All these years later I’m an instrument rated pilot with turbine time. Never once have I spent another penny on X-Plane to get there, though.
I bought my first copy of X-Plane in May 2004. It was very realistic even back then. I spent many hours designing planes in it and then flying them. I had flown radio-controlled models since 1963 and got my PPL in 1975.
I wish I had the know how to use plane maker!
@@Pat_11131 I wish I could play the drums or guitar.. 😎
@txk... you wish you could piss, shit and breath without your mother touching you... But not in a good way have you had any pineapple lately?
Awesome interview! Austin is only the second SFL guest I've met in person, the other was Rod Machado. Both great, great guys. I met Austin at the 2019 FlightSimExpo, the day before Microsoft announced MSFS 2020. At the time X-Plane was the most visually appealing sim out there (DCS and Infinite Flight were good too), so I was both happy and a little heartbroken when MSFS re-emerged.
But, Austin is right that X-Plane and MSFS can co-exist. X-Plane is the better simulator; MSFS is the better game at the moment. Competitive success depends on many other factors, however, and the user experience I've had with the actual MSFS 2020 software has been markedly worse than X-Plane, which boots quicker and feels more stable. It'll be great to see how both these platforms and their accompanying ecosystems evolve.
Xplane flys like a real airplane. It’s an the closest I’ve seen to an actual simulator on the market.
How about the 300 Baud modem on the Commodore 64
3 hours yes. love x-plane
I retired from NASA in 2001. Back then NASA was spending FAA money to put ATC in the cockpit. I don't know where that went.
i kinda feel bad for the guy i know there is still a decaded xplane base but the new ms flight sim 2024 is just gonna totally crush xplane :-( sad to say. but it still has its userbase!
Wow. Austin Meyer has - let's say (in a positive way) - a huge disc area and a lot of smarts. Regarding eVTOL and what will finally shake out: I think the old adage "KISS" will win the day. My money (figuratively speaking) is on Tier 1 Engineering for a start. They're working on an STC electric powertrain retrofit for the R44. Influencing my thinking are the years I spent running a weather station at a military helicopter airfield in Europe (supporting UH-1 and OH-58 training). From my perspective, it's not the sound of helicopter blades that is distasteful, it's the turbine whine and high-velocity engine exhaust. Those things would go away with electric propulsion.
Did he use NASA'a Panair to define the aero? There is Tranair for faster aeria.
The three dimensions are not equal. Moving horizontally costs very little and makes nearly all the transportation. Movеment in the "third" dimension, solely on air reaction is very costly and is needed just for separation. Recently, I saw a study about helicopter (low disk loading) wake turbulence.. The heavier and the slower it moves, the worse. Taking this and other airspace limitations into account renders the third dimension capability a huuuge waste. As NDT said probably making the inverted version of your hand gesture, 3d transport systems are as old as the subway/metro/underground. 🙂
Reminds of a lecture I attended at NASA, about 50 years ago, by a couple of guys talking about trying to start a STOL port in one of the New York City. It's was to move money people from NYC to one of the airports. HaHaHaHaHa. There is no way to convince a New Yorker that your proposal is not a scam and is of some benefit to them. HaHaHaHaHa!!! Never happen. Pan Am used to operate a helicopter from La G to the Pan Am building. Crashed one on top of the building. I think ground resonance. A blade killed a pedestrian.
"There is no way to convince a New Yorker that your proposal is not a scam and is of some benefit to them. HaHaHaHaHa!!! Never happen."
I see more diverse businesses per square foot in New York than any other city on Earth.
Elon bought into an electric car. He added access to credit which allowed growth.
Just updated X-Plane 12 to the latest version 06 and what a disappointment. I was under the impression 06 was to take care of lighting issues, The instrument panel is so dark on the Cessna 172 it's unusable. Talk about flying in the dark on a VFR day. Ever try changing the comm frequency from standby to active, it doesn't work. I've been waiting for the past 7 months for these issues to be corrected. A BIG disappointment Mr Myer.
Give me more
I was really into this until you decided to get political in your electric bus rant. Keep politics out of this.
Terible at flying? That's bullshit. I bet you could fly with your eyes closed. Say the truth dude, flying was too expensive, you couldn't afford it, and that's about it. You can never be terrible for something you wanna do so badly especially at those early ages. Maybe you couldn't fly enough, or maybe not at all, at those costs. And being an above average person in terms of intelligence and capabilities, you wrote your own sim. That's why you were reading about aerodynamics and all. Anyway, I think this is amazing, the times were on your side too, as these were the times single one person team game devs was not unheard of. Without taking away your achievement, and competing with the likes of MS is certainly not easy.