ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30 is a comprehensive scenery update released in October 2015 that replaces the default vector data for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) with highly accurate real-world data. It is a partnership project between Orbx and PILOT’S, designed to transform the simulator's geography on a global scale. Key Features and Improvements
Topographical Accuracy: Replaces default coastlines, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies with precise GIS data.
Infrastructure Detail: Adds accurate motorways, freeways, arterial roads, and roundabouts, complete with moving vehicle traffic.
Land Use Mapping: Includes golf courses, city parks, and forests that are missing or inaccurate in the default sim.
Transport Networks: Provides realistic railway lines, yards, and tram lines where applicable.
Structural Details: Features extrusion bridges, tunnel entrances, and power lines using default models.
Airport Elevation Correction: Corrects elevations for all default airports to resolve issues with "plateau" or "trench" runways caused by inaccurate terrain mesh. Compatibility and Requirements
Supported Simulators: Fully compatible with FSX, FSX: Steam Edition, and early versions of Prepar3D (v1 through v5). Operating Systems: Designed for Windows environments.
Orbx Ecosystem: While it can function independently, it is specifically designed to work seamlessly with FTX Global BASE (textures) and FTX Global openLC (landclass) for a total simulator overhaul.
Installation Tool: Requires the Orbx Central (formerly FTX Central) application for downloading, installing, and configuring the software. Recommended Settings for FSX
To achieve the intended visual fidelity, Orbx recommends specific simulator settings: Mesh Resolution: 5 meters. Mesh Complexity: 100. Texture Resolution: 7 cm (for sharpest roads). Scenery Complexity: Extremely Dense. Level of Detail Radius: Large (to reduce texture blurring). Global VECTOR - Orbx
FTX Global Vector v1.30 a major update to the global vector data expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) Prepar3D (P3D) , developed by in partnership with PILOT’S . It is part of the larger FTX Global
series, designed to replace the default simulator data with more accurate, real-world geographic features on a global scale. Core Functionality While other Orbx products like the FTX Global Base Pack focus on ground textures,
handles the underlying geographic "skeleton" of the world. It corrects and enhances the placement of nearly all terrestrial features that are not textures or terrain mesh: Water Bodies : Provides accurate coastlines, rivers, and lakes globally. Transportation Networks
: Adds motorways, freeways, arterial roads, and even roundabouts, complete with moving vehicle traffic. Railway Systems : Includes detailed railway lines and yards. Urban Features : Landscapes golf courses, city parks, and forests. Infrastructure FSX ORBX FTX Global Vector V1 30
: Implements power lines, extrusion bridges, and tunnel entrances. Airport Elevation Corrections (AEC)
: Corrects the elevation for thousands of default airports to prevent "plateau" or "trench" effects often caused by third-party terrain mesh. Version 1.30 Context
release was a significant milestone in the product's development cycle, predating later major updates like . Key aspects of these iterative updates typically include: Enhanced GIS Data
: Continuous refinement of Geographic Information System (GIS) data to fix incorrectly placed coastlines or missing islands. Compatibility Fixes
: Improving how the vector data interacts with other add-ons like Ultimate Terrain X (UTX) or various terrain mesh products. Performance Optimization
: Tweaking the density of features to balance visual detail with simulator frame rates. orbx-user-guides.storage.googleapis.com System & Software Requirements Supported Simulators : FSX, FSX: Steam Edition, and Prepar3D (v1 through v6). Installation : Requires Orbx Central for downloading and management. : The download size is approximately , requiring roughly of disk space once installed. Dependencies
: While it can run standalone, it is highly recommended to use it alongside the FTX Global Base Pack to ensure textures match the new vector placements. Fly Away Simulation Vector Configuration Tool to fix specific airport elevation issues? Does The FTX Global Vector Need Any Other ORBX Products?
Here’s a positive, detailed review for FSX with ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30:
Review: ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30 for FSX – A Game-Changer for Realism
If you’re serious about flight simulation in FSX, ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30 is an essential upgrade. Building on FTX Global Base, Vector doesn’t just retexture the world—it reshapes it. This version brings accurate roads, rivers, lakes, coastlines, railways, and even seasonal vegetation alignment to a level default FSX could only dream of.
What’s Improved in V1.30?
The update refines performance and compatibility. Stuttering is noticeably reduced compared to earlier Vector releases. The configuration tool now makes it easy to disable features (like secondary roads or frozen water polygons) if you need a performance boost on older systems—without breaking the overall immersion.
Visual Impact
Flying low over the French countryside, you’ll see roads that actually follow real-world maps. Coastlines no longer have jagged, blocky edges. Rivers wind naturally through valleys. Even small details, like power lines and golf courses, appear where they should. At night, road traffic glows with headlights—a subtle but stunning touch.
Performance in FSX
Let’s be honest: FSX is old, and Vector adds thousands of new vector objects. On a mid-range system (e.g., i5-3570K, GTX 1060, 16GB RAM), I saw a 5–10 FPS drop in dense urban areas like New York or London. But using the Vector Configurator to disable “secondary roads” and “railways” brought most of those frames back while keeping major roads and water features intact. For high-end systems, it runs smoothly with everything enabled.
Compatibility
Works perfectly with FTX Global Base, OpenLC Europe/NA, and most third-party airports. No conflicts with Active Sky, REX, or PMDG aircraft. ORBX FTX Global Vector V1
Minor Drawbacks
Final Verdict
9/10 – FTX Global Vector V1.30 transforms FSX into a believable world. If you already own FTX Global Base, don’t hesitate. If you’re new to ORBX, start with Base + Vector—you’ll wonder how you ever flew without it.
“After installing Vector, I actually started enjoying low-altitude VFR flying in FSX again. The world feels alive.”
FTX Global Vector V1.30 is a critical enhancement layer for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and Prepar3D. It replaces the default vector data with high-resolution global geometry. 🗺️ Primary Improvements
Coastlines: Replaces jagged, inaccurate shores with high-definition, realistic boundaries.
Water Bodies: Accurate placement of lakes, rivers, and streams using updated GIS data.
Transport Networks: Precise mapping of motorways, primary roads, and local streets worldwide.
Bridges and Tunnels: Includes accurately placed structural points for road and rail networks.
Landmarks: Improved golf courses, parks, and large cemetery boundaries for better VFR (Visual Flight Rules) navigation. 🛠️ Technical V1.30 Enhancements
Vector Configuration Tool: Includes an interface to enable/disable specific features (e.g., secondary roads) to save performance.
AEC (Airport Elevation Corrections): Automatically fixes "sunken" or "plateau" airports caused by terrain mismatches.
Performance Optimization: Reduced memory footprint compared to earlier versions for smoother frame rates.
Regional Accuracy: Significant data updates for parts of Russia, South America, and Asia. 💡 Why It Matters
Standard FSX data is over 15 years old. Vector V1.30 ensures that the "lines" on your map (roads and water) match the real world. This is essential for pilots who fly using real-world charts or Google Maps for navigation. If you are setting this up now, I can help you with: Review: ORBX FTX Global Vector V1
The installation order for ORBX products (Global vs. Vector vs. OpenLC)
Fixing Airport Elevation (AEC) issues if your runways look like canyons
Performance tweaks to prevent "Out of Memory" (OOM) errors in FSX
Here’s a detailed content overview of FSX ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30, a popular add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and compatible with FSX: Steam Edition (FSX:SE).
Before discussing the solution (Vector V1.30), we must understand the disease. When you install FSX out of the box, the terrain mesh (mountains and valleys) is decent for its age. However, the vector data—the lines that tell the simulator where roads, rivers, coastlines, lakes, and railways exist—is archaic.
In default FSX:
ORBX solved the textures with FTX Global Base Pack. But textures are just paint. Vector V1.30 is the blueprint.
ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30 is a widely regarded expansion package designed to correct one of the most glaring issues in default Flight Simulator X (FSX) and Prepar3D: inaccurate geographical data.
While "FTX Global" replaces the textures (the way the ground looks), Vector changes the geometry (where the ground features are located). It serves as a "shoreline, water, and terrain features" enhancer that aligns the simulator's outdated default geography with real-world data.
Note on Version: V1.30 represents a mature, stable build of the software. It includes the ORBX Central migration tools and updated elevation data that fixed many glitches found in earlier versions (such as sinking airports or floating bridges).
Vector-Based Scenery: Unlike traditional raster-based scenery which uses pre-rendered images, the ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30 utilizes vector graphics. This approach allows for scenery that seamlessly scales with the user’s in-game zoom level, providing crisp and clear details regardless of the altitude or zoom level.
Global Coverage: As suggested by its name, this package offers worldwide coverage. This means that every region of the globe, from the dense jungles of South America to the vast deserts of North Africa and the sprawling metropolises of Asia, is enhanced with detailed and accurate vector data.
Custom Roads and Railways: One of the standout features of the ORBX FTX Global Vector is its ability to custom render roads and railways. This results in more accurately represented transportation networks across the globe, enhancing both the visual appeal and the navigational realism for pilots.
Enhanced Points of Interest (POIs): The package also includes detailed and accurately placed points of interest. These could range from famous landmarks and airports to significant geographical features, all represented with precise vector data.
Improved Performance: Despite the significant visual enhancements, the ORBX FTX Global Vector V1.30 is designed to be performance-friendly. The vector-based approach not only offers better visual fidelity at all zoom levels but also aims to minimize the impact on frame rates, ensuring a smooth flight experience.