X-Plane^® Scenery Tools

X-Plane plugin for SketchUp

This SketchUp plugin imports and exports models in X-Plane v8/v9/v10 .obj format.

Runs on Windows XP or later and Mac OS 10.5 or later. Requires SketchUp 7 or later. To install:

• In SketchUp on Mac: choose SketchUp → Preferences → Extensions → Install Extension
• In SketchUp on Windows: choose Windows → Preferences → Extensions → Install Extension
• Navigate to and open the file you just downloaded.
• Answer Yes to the prompt(s).
• Re-start SketchUp if upgrading from an earlier version of this plugin.

Please refer to the documentation, which is available after installation by choosing Help → X-Plane.

A German language tutorial can be found on Dieter Rosenkranz's site.

Example files can be found on the Tutorials page.

FS2004/FSX Add-on Scenery converter

This application converts MS Flight Simulator 2004 and FSX add-on scenery packages to X-Plane DSF overlay scenery packages. The resulting X-Plane scenery packages work under X-Plane 8.64 and later on Windows, Mac OS and Linux. Standard global scenery for the relevant areas must also have been installed.

Runs on Windows XP or later, Mac OS 10.5 or later, and Linux.

Users of MacOS 10.7 and later must download, open and install wxPython Cocoa. Users of MacOS 10.8 and later will need to (temporarily) allow applications downloaded from “Anywhere” under  → System Preferences → Security & Privacy before installing it.

A tutorial is available here.

DSF overlay scenery editor

This application edits X-Plane DSF overlay scenery packages for X-Plane 8.30 or later.

Runs on Windows XP or later, Mac OS 10.7 or later, and Linux.

X-Plane package publisher

This tool packages up an X-Plane aircraft or scenery package folder into a cross-platform .zip archive for publication.

The tool archives only the required files (skipping source files e.g. Photoshop or Blender files) and produces a report listing which files it has included and warning about any missing files.

Runs on Windows XP or later, Mac OS 10.5 or later, and Linux.

Animated jetway and docking guidance system kit

This kit allows X-Plane scenery designers to add animated jetways and docking guidance systems (DGS) to scenery packages. Two types of jetway and three types of DGS are included.

The jetway animates to “dock” with the plane's main door when the pilot shuts down the plane's engines with the plane within ½m of the correct stopping position. The DGS guides the pilot to the correct stopping position.

An example scenery package that uses these boarding bridges and DGSs can be found on the Tutorials page.

Animated ground vehicle traffic kit

This kit allows X-Plane scenery designers to add animated ground vehicle traffic to airport scenery packages.

Requires X-Plane 10.0 or later. Runs on Windows XP or later, Mac OS 10.6 or later, and Linux distros with glibc/libc6 ≥ 2.15.

An example scenery package constructed using this kit can be found on the Tutorials page.

OpenStreetMap importer for X-Plane v9

These scripts create X-Plane scenery packages with accurate roads, railways, powerlines and parks, using source data from the OpenStreetMap project.

Requires X-Plane version 9.00 or later (9.30 recommended) and version 9 Global Scenery installed for your area of interest.

Runs on Windows XP or later, Mac OS 10.3 or later, and Linux.

OBJ syntax highlighting mode for Emacs & XEmacs