Customizing X-Plane 11: Adding Default Terminal Buildings

X-Plane 11 allows users to build airports using the World Editor, or WED for short. Users can build airports using a library of default objects, including terminal buildings. Once they have built an airport, they can upload their work to the scenery gateway website. If their work is approved by a moderator, it will appear in the next update to WED airports in X-Plane 11. Users can also customise airports by setting up tool defaults and resizing the WED window.

Users can build airports using the World Editor (WED) and a library of default objects

To build a simple building quickly and easily, users can specify the shape of the building at its base, its height, and the .fac file to use. The facade tool can be selected from the toolbar or by selecting a .fac file from the library pane, which will automatically select the correct tool. After outlining the building, users can give it a name and change its height as needed.

The WED window can be resized by mousing over the bars separating each segment and dragging it to the desired size. Alternatively, users can right-click within the three outer panes and drag the cursor to resize that pane.

It's important to note that not all airports have been created by the community yet, so some may still be just open tarmac without terminals.

Airports are built by the community, not Laminar Research

Airports in X-Plane 11 are built by the community, not Laminar Research. The community uses a library of default objects to build airports using the World Editor, or WED for short. They can use a facade in WED to build a simple building quickly and easily. This is done by specifying the shape of the building at its base, its height, and the .fac file to use. Users can also check that they are using the 11.20 beta, as new additions are not always in X-Plane 11.11. Once the community has built an airport, they upload their work to the scenery gateway website. If it is approved and recommended by a moderator, the airport will appear in the next update to WED airports in X-Plane 11. As of 2017, the community had built around 6,000 airports, out of the 34,000 or so airports around the world.

The community uploads their work to the scenery gateway website

The community uses a library of default objects to build up airports using the World Editor, or WED for short. They then upload their work to the scenery gateway website, and if approved and recommended by a moderator, that airport will appear in the next update to WED airports in X-Plane 11.

The community can use a facade in WED to build a simple building quickly and easily. Users specify only the shape of the building at its base, its height, and the .fac file to use. To draw a building facade, select the facade tool from the toolbar or select a .fac file from the library pane, which will automatically select the correct tool. Use the facade tool to trace the outline of the buildings you’d like to add. After it is outlined, give the facade a name and change its height (in the attribute pane) as needed.

The community can also use the Terminal Kit to build terminal buildings. However, it is important to check that you are using the correct version of X-Plane. For example, the term_building_Ground_02 kit was not available in X-Plane 11.11.

The community can also set up tool defaults in WED so that they won't have to edit later. The attributes available to set vary by tool but will be remembered the next time you use it.

If approved by a moderator, the airport will appear in the next WED update

The community uses a library of default objects to build up airports using the World Editor, or WED for short. They then upload their work to the scenery gateway website, and if approved and recommended by a moderator, that airport will appear in the next update to WED airports in X-Plane 11.

Users can specify the shape of the building at its base, its height, and the .fac file to use. To draw a building facade, select the facade tool from the toolbar or select a .fac file from the library pane, which will automatically select the correct tool. Use the facade tool to trace the outline of the buildings you’d like to add. After it is outlined, give the facade a name and change its height (in the attribute pane) as needed.

The new additions are not in X-Plane 11.11. To access them, check that you are using 11.20 beta.

When the WED window opens for the first time, the size of the window’s panes may not be to your liking. To fix this, mouse over the bars separating each segment and drag it to the size you would like. Alternatively, you can right-click within the three outer panes and drag your cursor to resize that pane (doing this in the centre pane will just move the view).

Users can set up tool defaults to avoid editing later

The community uses a library of default objects to build up airports using the World Editor, or WED for short. They then upload their work to the scenery gateway website, and if approved and recommended by a moderator, that airport will appear in the next update to WED airports in X-Plane 11.

A facade in WED is essentially an image wrapped around a polygon at a specified height. This is used to build a simple building quickly and easily. Users specify only the shape of the building at its base, its height, and the .fac file to use. To draw a building facade, select the facade tool from the toolbar or select a .fac file from the library pane, which will automatically select the correct tool. Use the facade tool to trace the outline of the buildings you’d like to add. After it is outlined, give the facade a name and change its height (in the attribute pane) as needed.

Frequently asked questions