Does anyone know a way to make the PAPI lights more visible

[John W]

I find the PAPI lights in X Plane 11 useless, mainly because they are too dim to see until you are right on top of them. They virtually blend in with the ground scenery. I know it's been a while since I've flown but I renember the approach lights being very visible even during the day. Does anyone know of a way to make them a bit brighter, easier to see, or a replacement for them that is easier to see?

[Agge]

I don't know how to solve this but here's a discussion about it.
https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/forums/topic/61150-runway-lights-far-too-dim/&page=3&tab=comments#comment-816788

[John W]

Thanks but I had already read through that one. I was looking for a simpler solution. After reading through a lot of discussions I decided to check out the X-Plane.org store and found something.

http://store.x-plane.org/Global-Library-Enhancement-Replacements_p_555.html

Only thing is it costs $10. But I decided to take a chance. It replaces some of the standard Navaid objects, in particular the glideslope lighting.

After installing it in the Custom Scenery folder I took X-Plane 11 for a spin. The replacement lights are a bit brighter and can be see a little farther out. Seems to be just what I was looking for. Guess I got lucky.

[John W]

Just got done doing a comparison between the default glideslope lights and the new ones. I may still be imagining that the replacements are brighter. Will do some more testing. Guess I need to take screenshots and compare. By the way, why are the light colors orange and white for the glideslope lights instead of red and white like they should be?

[John W]

Update, just finished flying two approaches using autopilot, one with the new lights and another with the original. Took screen shots at 2nm, 1nm and 1500ft. Compared the screenshots and the new lights are definitely more prominent. Not a lot but definitely an improvement, at least for me.

[Stringbean]

Can you post those screenshots here? Maybe you've convinced yourself they're brighter because you paid for it.
Posting pictures would generate some more feedback and if there is a remarkable difference then I may consider getting it myself too.

[🐉 Ðŗąçø 🐉]

I think you can change the brightness in a specific file. Will take a look later.

[🐉 Ðŗąçø 🐉]

X-Plane 11\Resources\bitmaps\world\lites\lights.txt, line 368:

BILLBOARD_SW		VASI					100	-99 	0.0	0.0	0.7	1 4 0	0	0	0	1					sim/graphics/animation/lights/vasi_papi

Change the value of 4. IIRC, you make the number smaller to make the billboard larger.

[John W]

Originally posted by stringbean6:

Can you post those screenshots here? Maybe you've convinced yourself they're brighter because you paid for it.
Posting pictures would generate some more feedback and if there is a remarkable difference then I may consider getting it myself too.

I was thinking the same thing so here are two videos. The first shows the default lights and the second shows the replacements. The difference isn't drastic but I believe the replacements are "a little" more prominent and easier to read. Not much but "a little".

Default lights
https://jfwharton.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/i-8X9rT4M

Replacement lights
https://jfwharton.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/i-pxcSFcZ

Let me know what you think, but I already spend the money.

[John W]

Originally posted by 🐉 Ðŗąçø 🐉:

X-Plane 11\Resources\bitmaps\world\lites\lights.txt, line 368:

BILLBOARD_SW		VASI					100	-99 	0.0	0.0	0.7	1 4 0	0	0	0	1					sim/graphics/animation/lights/vasi_papi

Change the value of 4. IIRC, you make the number smaller to make the billboard larger.

Thanks for the suggestion but then I would have to redo this with every update to X Plane 11.

[John W]

Again what bugs me the most is that the lights are orange and white not red and white, which would be easier to see.

[Stringbean]

Thanks for sharing the uploads John. The difference is indeed quite subtle. Of course, it was a bright clear sunny day so maybe they look better in the darker hours and another good test is to see how well the lights fare in foggy approaches.

Draco,..

I looked inside that file you suggested and I must say that my eyes were almost bleeding from staring through all that data.

Guess I'll just have to continue useing the cheat mode by zooming in with the mouse wheel if I need to.

[John W]

I'll post updates when I get them but they will be screen shots. Those videos were almost 100 meg each.

[John W]

Here are two screenshots. Weather set as foggy using default XP11 weather. Broke out at 6,600' took screenshots at 6.400'.

Default Glideslope Lights
https://photos.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/i-XtXQjrH/0/1d0a140d/X2/Milviz%20Cessna%20310R_14-X2.png

Replacement Glideslope Lights
https://photos.smugmug.com/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous/i-NL2QKLm/0/3a37d99d/X2/Milviz%20Cessna%20310R_12-X2.png

[Stringbean]

I can definitley see a difference between them. Subtle but better than being overly done.

[harryorlsen]

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/39141-arcal-aircraft-radio-control-of-aerodrome-lighting/