So, how do you GET the FAA-Certified X-Plane, and what you can you do with it? Read on!

BUILD YOUR OWN X-PLANE SIM FOR FLIGHT TRAINING

To do this, simply buy:
X-Plane DVD's from this site (one per computer to install)
USB keys from this site (one per computer to unlock the FAA-required features in each copy of X-Plane).

In other words, the X-Plane that you can download right here has all the FAA-certified features built in: You just have to buy USB keys (one per computer) to UNLOCK them all! What are the features and USB keys required? Read on!

You can build what we call a 'level-1' sim, 'level-2' sim, 'level-3' sim, or 'level-4' sim. Here are the descriptions:

Level-1 X-Plane sim: Standard Retail (requires one X-Plane DVD for each copy of X-Plane on the network)

A level-1 sim is what you get when you download X-Plane from this site and use it for whatever you want, with no USB keys plugged in. You can network many copies of X-Plane to act as external visuals, external cockpits, instructor stations, and the like. Just get one X-Plane DVD for each computer in your X-Plane network. This system could never be certified by the FAA or any other authority for loggable flight-training, because it does not self-test for presence of flight controls or useable frame-rate. But, since you only need one X-Plane DVD for each computer, this setup is amazingly affordable and easy to assemble at almost no cost, even though you could never CERTIFY the system.

Level-2 X-Plane sim: Commercial-Use, FAA-Approved, EFIS-App (requires one level-2 USB key for each copy of X-Plane or EFIS-App on the network)

As above, plus EFIS-App, a nifty little standalone program that runs on it's own computer that gives a very realistic Avidyne PFD and MFD. Just get a copy of X-Plane or EFIS-App from this web site for each computer that will be networked into your sim. You can hook TWO monitors up to ONE computer running EFIS-App so that you only have to buy ONE computer to run both the Avidyne PFD and MFD, which will save you some money.

As well, THIS is the key that you want for Commercial-Use and FAA Approval for Flight-Training. This gives a 'Commercial-Use' startup message, AND checks for flight controls AND self-tests frame-rate for FAA certification. To install, simply buy one copy of X-Plane for each computer in your networked cockpit, download EFIS-App for any computer running a simulated Avidyne display, and buy one level-2 USB key for each copy of X-Plane or EFIS-App in the network.

This is the option designed to replace Microsoft ESP.

Level-3 X-Plane sim: (requires one level-3 USB key for each copy of X-Plane or EFIS-App on the network)

The Level-3 key for X-Plane will do everything above, PLUS drive a REAL G-430 and REAL G-1000, and do cylindrical and spherical projection as well.
NOTE: If you want to drive a real G430 or G1000, then you must GET a Simulator-G430 or G1000 from Garmin, and make the wiring harnesses to plug them in to the serial or ethernet cables... if you don't know how to do this, then you are better off buying your simulators boxed and ready from PFC! PFC DOES provide ready-made units with real G430s and G1000s installed and running! www.FlyPFC.com

Level-4 X-Plane sim (requires one level-4 USB key for each copy of X-Plane or EFIS-App on the network)

A level-4 sim does all of the above, plus EFIS-App will simulate the AVIO system in the Eclipse Jet. This option is currently only available from Excel Aviation. (email info@X-Plane.com for more info)

Summary:

So, since X-Plane has been approved for flight-training in many countries to many levels,  you should be able to use it to build your own flight simulator by simply getting X-Plane from this site, getting level-2 or -3 USB-keys from this site, and possibly getting EFIS-App from this site, and then building your own hardware!

Click here for USB key drivers for both Macintosh and Windows...
you will run these installers to make X-Plane listen to these USB keys!

Here are a few pix of nice sims built with X-Plane and unlocked by the keys listed above.

Want your own? www.FlyPFC.com for the KingAir sim, info@x-plane.com for the Eclipse sim.