Simulating Water In X-Plane: Adding Water To Your Scenery

X-Plane is a flight simulator that allows users to create their own scenery packages. To add water to a scenery package, users must first launch the WorldEditor (WED) and create a new scenery package. The type of texture is specified in the attributes pane using the pull-down menu for the Surface property. Typical surfaces include asphalt, grass, dirt, and water. The texture's heading can be set using the Heading field in the attributes pane.

Import orthophotos into WED as guides

To import orthophotos into WED as guides, open the View menu and select the Pick Overlay Image option. This will allow you to import orthophotos directly into WED to use as guides, rather than as output files for X-Plane. Importing an image this way will not create draped polygons or image format files when the scenery pack is exported, and is to be used for reference only.

To add a runway, select the runway tool, then click twice in the map pane to visually set the two endpoints of the runway. For consistency, click first on the northern or western end (depending on the runway’s orientation) and second on the southern or eastern end.

The type of texture is specified in the attributes pane using the pull-down menu for the Surface property. Typical surfaces are asphalt, grass, dirt, water, and so on. The texture’s heading can be set using the Heading field in the attributes pane. To adjust the texture heading graphically, select the shape using the vertex tool, then hold down the Shift key and click and drag within the shape. As you drag the mouse, the texture will update in real time and you can align the texture as you like.

To begin, create a new scenery package in WorldEditor. Launch WED and click the New Scenery Package button. Click on the new airport in the list and type a name for it. With the name entered, click the Open Scenery Package button. After a moment, the WED drafting window will appear, showing a new, empty scenery package.

Add a runway

To add a runway, select the runway tool (numbered 2 in Figure 4), then click twice in the map pane to visually set the two endpoints of the runway. For consistency, click first on the northern or western end (depending on the runway’s orientation) and click second on the southern or eastern end.

Before adding a runway, you will need to create a new scenery package in WorldEditor. Launch WED and click the 'New Scenery Package' button. Click on the new airport in the list and type a name for it. With the name entered, click the 'Open Scenery Package' button. After a moment, the WED drafting window will appear, showing a new, empty scenery package.

There are some data fields that should be filled out for all airports, such as the name, type, elevation, ATC, and ICAO. The scenery ID field relates to Gateway imports and should usually be left alone.

The type of texture is specified in the attributes pane using the pull-down menu for the Surface property. Typical surfaces are asphalt, grass, dirt, water, and so on. The texture’s heading can be set using the Heading field in the attributes pane.

Specify base mesh flattening per airport

To add water to X-Plane, you must first open the WorldEditor (WED) and create a new scenery package. You can then specify the base mesh flattening per airport with the 'Always Flatten' option. This is a new feature in WED 1.5, which also allows you to automatically fill in up to 11 metadata fields for new airports.

The type of texture is specified in the attributes pane using the pull-down menu for the Surface property. Typical surfaces are asphalt, grass, dirt, and water. The texture's heading can be set using the Heading field in the attributes pane. To adjust the texture heading graphically, select the shape using the vertex tool, then hold down the Shift key and click and drag within the shape. As you drag the mouse, the texture will update in real time and you can align the texture as you like.

To work with data from another program, you should do a one-time import of the files from that program, then work in WED only until you export your file for use in X-Plane.

Whether you are creating an airport from scratch or importing an existing one, there are some data fields that should be filled out for all airports, such as the name, type, elevation, ATC, and ICAO. The scenery ID field relates to Gateway imports and should usually be left alone.

Add metadata to airports

To add metadata to airports in X-Plane, you can use the WorldEditor (WED) tool. First, create a new scenery package by clicking the 'New Scenery Package' button in the WorldEditor launch window. Name your new airport and click 'Open Scenery Package'. This will open the WED drafting window, where you can start editing your airport.

When creating an airport from scratch or importing an existing one, there are several data fields that should be filled out, such as the name, type, elevation, ATC, and ICAO. To add metadata fields manually, choose 'Add metadata' from the Airport menu, then select the appropriate option. You can also specify base mesh flattening per airport with the 'Always Flatten' option.

Additionally, you can import orthophotos directly into WED as a reference. To do this, open the View menu and select 'Pick Overlay Image'. This will allow you to use the orthophotos as guides while designing your airport. Keep in mind that importing images this way will not create draped polygons or image format files when exporting the scenery pack.

When working with textures, use the attributes pane to specify the type of texture (e.g. asphalt, grass, dirt, water) and set the texture's heading using the Heading field. You can adjust the texture heading graphically by selecting the shape with the vertex tool, holding down the Shift key, and clicking and dragging within the shape.

Specify texture type

To specify the texture type, go to the attributes pane and use the pull-down menu for the Surface property. Typical surfaces include asphalt, grass, dirt, water, and so on. The texture’s heading can be set using the Heading field in the attributes pane. To adjust the texture heading graphically, select the shape using the vertex tool, then hold down the Shift key and click and drag within the shape. As you drag the mouse, the texture will update in real time and you can align the texture as you like.

Frequently asked questions