Custom Scenery At Airports: Exploring Xp11's Best Add-Ons

X-Plane 11 (XP11) is a flight simulation game that allows users to install custom airport scenery. The custom scenery feature enables users to enhance the visual experience and accuracy of airports in the simulator. Users can download and install custom scenery packs for specific airports, improving their appearance and layout. These custom packs are placed in a custom scenery folder and are loaded based on priority, with higher-priority packs taking precedence over default scenery. Airports such as Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Homey Airport - Area 51, and Heathrow have custom scenery available. Users can also edit the scenery packs .ini file to disable or reprioritize packs, ensuring their desired custom scenery is displayed correctly.

Installing custom airport scenery

First, you will need to download the custom scenery file for your desired airport. Some custom scenery files are available for free, while others are payware. Ensure that the file is compatible with XP11 and that it has been extracted from any zip file.

Next, locate your XP11 Custom Scenery folder. The path to this folder may vary depending on your installation, but it is typically found within the X-Plane 11 folder. Place the downloaded custom scenery file into this folder.

Now, you should check the file structure of the custom scenery. Ensure that the main folder contains the necessary subfolders, such as "Earth nav data" and "objects". If the developer has placed the actual scenery folder deep within the extracted zip, you may need to move the main folder to the Custom Scenery folder manually.

Additionally, you may need to adjust the scenery_pack.ini file, found within the Custom Scenery folder. Open this file with a text editor and ensure that your custom scenery is listed at the top. If it is not, you can rename the custom scenery folder so that it appears first alphabetically. Alternatively, you can delete the .ini file, and it will be automatically regenerated when you restart XP11.

Finally, start or restart XP11. The game should now load your custom airport scenery. If issues arise, double-check the file structure and ensure that your custom scenery is placed correctly within the Custom Scenery folder.

By following these steps, you can install and enjoy custom airport scenery for your favourite airports in XP11, enhancing the visual accuracy and immersion of your flight simulation experience.

Prioritising custom scenery

X-Plane scenery packs are loaded in priority order. To ensure that your custom scenery is visible, it must be a higher priority than the global airports. The system for prioritising scenery packs changed in X-Plane 10.20.

Custom scenery packs are loaded in the order of scenery_packs.ini, a text file in the Custom Scenery folder. The packs at the top of the .ini file are loaded first and override packs below them. The scenery_packs.ini file lets users disable and reprioritise scenery packs without renaming anything. When X-Plane runs and finds a scenery pack not in the .ini, it adds it to the top of the file; therefore, when you install new scenery, it starts at the highest priority level. The airports from the X-Plane Airport Gateway are in a scenery pack called "Global Airports" in your custom scenery. This pack should be higher priority than any base meshes but lower priority than any custom airports.

To avoid conflicts between two sets of 3-D objects, the higher-priority scenery pack must include one or more exclusion zones. Users can build a scenery pack that contains only an exclusion zone over the affected area in WED. This will filter out 3-D from packs "below" it and leave your payware clean and unobstructed.

Some users like to rename their folders to alphabetical order, but this violates the renaming rule and means updates won't go well. If you have a full folder of sceneries, you may need to mess around in the .ini file to get things ordered specifically.

Default scenery and graphics

The default scenery and graphics in X-Plane 11 have been described as lacking. Many airports may not be aesthetically pleasing or have the correct layouts. However, some default airports will still have correct layouts thanks to the scenery gateway, where major airports have been reworked by the community.

There are several ways to improve the default scenery and graphics in XP11. One suggestion is to download freeware for specific airports, which will improve their appearance. For example, one user recommends downloading Airport Environment HD, which gives better textures to all airports, improving the appearance of those without freeware scenery.

Another way to improve the graphics is to download X-America from Sim Heaven, which is a free add-on. Additionally, SFD Global, a scenery add-on for XP11, is said to be more accurate for the region, although it is not a vast improvement from the default scenery.

It is also possible to install custom airport scenery. For example, one user downloaded a free KSFO scenery for their simulator, which required the Mister X library. They placed it in their Custom Scenery folder, which improved the appearance of the airport in their simulator.

Custom scenery packs

X-Plane scenery packs are loaded in priority order. To ensure that your custom scenery is displayed, it must be a higher priority than global airports or any base meshes. The custom scenery packs at the top of the .ini file are loaded first and will override any packs listed below them. The ini file allows users to disable and reprioritize scenery packs without renaming anything.

If you are having issues with your custom scenery display, it may be due to a conflict between different packs. In this case, you should ensure that only the scenery you want is in the "custom scenery" folder. The scenery_pack.ini should sort things automatically every time you start XP11. If you believe you have made an error, you can delete the .ini file, and it will be automatically regenerated when you restart XP11.

It is also important to double-check the file structure of your custom scenery packs. Some developers may put the actual scenery folder several levels deep within the extracted zip file. The actual scenery folder should contain folders such as "Earth nav data" and "objects".

Custom scenery folders

X-Plane 10 loads custom scenery in a priority order based on a configuration file. This configuration file is called "scenery_pack.ini" and is located in the Custom Scenery folder. The file dictates the load order for all custom scenery, with the first pack in the file being the highest priority. When a new scenery pack is installed, it is automatically placed at the top of the file, giving it the highest priority. If you want to change the load order of a custom scenery pack, you can simply rename the file to start with the letter "a" and it will be placed at the top of the list.

When installing a new custom airport, you typically just need to quit X-Plane, drag the airport into the Custom Scenery folder, and restart the program. The new airport will then become the highest priority. However, if you are installing a new mesh scenery, you will likely need to lower its priority. To do this, you can copy the scenery into the Custom Scenery Folder, open the "scenery_pack.ini" file, locate the new entry at the top of the file, and move the line down below all overlays. Then, restart X-Plane.

It is important to note that the "scenery_pack.ini" file should sort things automatically every time you start XP11. If you encounter any issues, you can try deleting the file and restarting XP11, as it will be automatically regenerated. Additionally, make sure that your custom scenery is at the top of the file, and double-check the file hierarchy to ensure that the actual scenery folder contains the necessary folders, such as "Earth nav data" and "objects".

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your custom scenery folders and ensure that your custom airports are installed and prioritized correctly in X-Plane.

Frequently asked questions