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I make no secret of the fact that I’m a great fan of X-Plane, both the iPhone and desktop versions, so I was delighted to see Austin Meyer release X-Plane Remote for the iPhone, which enables you to use both together!
What is it?
X-Plane Remote serves two main purposes:
- Use the iPhone to display gauges, which receive their updates from the desktop (or laptop etc) sim and/or
- Use your iPhone as a flight controller for the desktop sim!
Gauges
X-Plane Remote can display one of 5 different setups on the iPhone:
A standard GA (General Aviation) panel which displays the standard 6 primary flight instruments
A standard “Heavy” panel
An EFIS panel
An “Orbiter” panel
An External Map display
Each of these displays, when connected to your desktop X-Plane over wireless, updates in real-time, giving you a neat little set of external gauges on your iPhone.
Setting up
To use X-Plane Remote, you simply tell the desktop X-Plane that you’re using the iPhone Remote and enter the IP address of your iPhone, which you can retrieve from your Wireless settings. It takes no time at all to set up. If you’re not using a wireless network, you can, if using a MacBook/MacBook Pro, create a new network and connect via that, so this really is a truly portable solution.
Using the iPhone as a flight controller
This is the real fun part 
One of the things I really like about the iPhone variants of X-Plane is the control system, which use the accelerometers in the iPhone to control the aircraft and on-screen controls to control throttle, autopilot, flaps, gear etc. Well, now you can use your iPhone to control your desktop sim using the same method!
I found that the sensitivity whilst flying in this way is spot on. It’s quite easy to hold the iPhone in one hand and maintain level flight, or hold a turn, whilst you reach for your coffee etc.
It’s a quite surreal but very enjoyable experience using the iPhone to control your aircraft in this way. You can just sit back and relax and gracefully make your way around the sky without having to be anywhere near the keyboard.
Conclusion
A lot of people may ask “why bother”, when you most likely have access to a joystick or flight controller in any case. Well, I can think of a few reasons:
- You’re getting a terrific set of gauges. You can set up X-Plane to only display the external view and happily use the iPhone as your only panel.
- I travel a great deal, and carrying a joystick around is not really an option most of the time, but my iPhone goes wherever I go, so the app is fantastic for when I’m out and about and want a quick flight.
- It’s awesome for geeks like me – what better way to show off to your friends!
I can thoroughly recommend X-Plane Remote. At only $4.99, you can’t really go wrong.
If you’ve got X-Plane on your home computer and you’ve got an iPhone or iPod Touch, go get this now!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks a lot for revieing this app. I am downloading it now for my iPhone. Great find!
No problem – it’s great fun
Dear FlightSimX,
I have recently become a bid fan of X-Plane on my iphone having now nearly all apps.
I have just received X-Plane for my Macbook and I also have X-Plane remote.
I have tried all of the above not to mention X-Planes advise as well but cannot make the iphone work as a remote.
Please can you tell me when in int-3 and you select iphone …then what .
there is nothing to say you are connected.
I have upgraded my X=Plane as well.
Please your help will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks.
regards.
Spencer.
Is it setting up X-Plane Remote you’re having problems with?
Hi again,
The last time i tried to connect this message appeared.
x-plane.com/servermessage.txt
Any help
thanks
It's a cool app, but they're going to have to make some changes before I can really consider it useful. Most of my sim-flying is completely IFR, and I need quick and accurate control over my radios and OBS. Unfortunately the remote app takes priority over the actual on-screen controls, so I cannot override the remote app's radio/OBS settings directly from X-Plane. This is no good for IFR flying, since sliding the remote app's screen own, setting radios, and twisting the OBS, cannot be done smoothly while hand-flying in IFR from the remote app.
I'd love to see switchable priority between the computer and the app for radio/nav/flap/throttle settings.
I agree it's more of a novelty, but it is handy when you're away from
home a lot, as I am, and you don't want to lug a joystick around with
you.