Page 11 - August2020

Before we being discussing the ins and outs of X-Plane's
plethora of add-ons, we first need to locate our main X-Plane
directory. Some people choose to install it on their desktop,
but others will install it to a more suitable location, such as
their main C: drive and then create a shortcut on their
desktop. The thing about X-Plane, is that you can install it

pretty much wherever you like. When you have located it
A Beginners Guide to Installing X-Plane
(usually named 'X-Plane'), we are good to proceed.
Add-ons
by Paul Mort Add-on Types
We will now look at the different types of add-ons you'll find
in the file library and how to use them.
Repaints

Additional repaints/liveries are a great way of making your
existing fleet of aircraft more varied, so this is a good place to
start.
To match the repaint with your aircraft, you'll have to look at
This is a tutorial concerned with the installation of third the title or main description of the download (this will tell you
party X-Plane files and add-ons from the FlightSim.Com which aircraft it is for).
file library. We all have to start somewhere, and so this
Download the appropriate repaint which will be a zip file as
tutorial is aimed at new users, and will tackle the
previously covered and unzip it. Now we need to know where
installation from the ground up. When I first began
taking an interest in flight simulation, I met many to place the repaint.
patient individuals who were willing to help a Compared to MSFS, the folder structure in X-Plane is very easy
'frustrated me', get on track; so in a way, this is a 'not to use and so ALL items associated with a particular aircraft
so frustrated me', giving something back! are kept in their own unique folder.

Common Ground The Liveries folder for an aircraft can be found in the following
manner:
When you download add-ons from FlightSim.Com,
you'll notice that they are all zip files. Main X-Plane Folder > Aircraft Folder > Type Of Aircraft >
Aircraft > Liveries
So what exactly does this file do? Well, the zip file is a
way of combining all the files in a particular add-on and If you don't know where your main X-Plane folder is, right click
then compressing them down into a smaller size, on the X-Plane shortcut on your desktop and view properties.
therefore saving you both download time and You should be able to see the path there.
bandwidth. We would never carry a bundle of clothes
Note: On some earlier aircraft, a Liveries folder might not be
(files) around with us, so we compress them into our
present. If this is the case, simply create a new folder and
suitcase (zip file). By doing this, we are ready to go, and name it 'Liveries'. You'll encounter this situation with mostly X-
have a convenient holder for all of our items.
Plane 8 and earlier converted aircraft.
Depending on which zip program you use, things may
look slightly different, but the basic principle is still the Tip: Making a desktop shortcut to a particular aircraft liveries
same. When we have downloaded the required zip file, folder saves navigating your way through multiple folders each
we do the opposite of compressing it - we uncompress time you install a new livery.
it (unzip). This creates a newly unzipped folder which Once the Liveries folder is opened, you will see all the existing
we can then use. The original downloaded zip file can
paint schemes for that aircraft. Simply drop your newly
then be deleted at this point if no longer required.
unzipped folder into the Liveries folder and you are good to
go!