Douglas X-3 Stiletto FSX Native

[MrZippy]

As I said earlier, Delete Window08 from the panel.cfg. It was left in by accident.

Can you verify by tooltip values your Throttle lever percent is >82 or that your Thrust gauges are over 82% when at full throttle.
N1 must be above 82% for AB to kick in.

Also, did you install XMLTools 2.0 for your sim?

XMLTOOLS 2.0 now installed. Will check and see where the thrust gauges are at full throttle. Thanks. Milton

UPDATE: Still no AB! I took a screenshot of the VC gauges at full power, at least as far as I can tell. Which gauges indicate amount of thrust?? Also the airspeed gauge calibrated in percent of MACH is confusing as to KIAS. (maybe it's just me!)

click on it to make it bigger! (wish that was REALLY true)

 

[Dev One]

Bit more info, Like Mr Zippy (using FSX SP2) I do not see the AB effect unless I press the 'I' key - it then does not operate via the RPM% & stays on all the time. I have confirmed though that the thrust changes from about 3600 to 4800 ish at about 80% RPM - AFSD shows this.

Full aileron rolls at medium to high altitudes at high speed are simple with no adverse yaw - not as experienced in test flights - left rolls easier, Right rolls can speed up past 180°, so need anticipation. Although weather is set for zero effects I still experience turbulence at times which can throw you into a 90° bank - seems to happen about 5k feet.
Slow speed aileron use though does need very great care, but I need to explore that some more.

Loops need care due to high speed stall - don't pull too much G, but some of that can be due to FS registering over G - I think I saw +8g, maybe more.

I have tried disabling the XML effects in VC just in case my 'puter was trying too hard to cope, as I still find it difficult to get above 200 KIAS after take off & have found that CDi is very high at AoA of about +5° & will go negative as speed increases (and AoA decreases), so my last flight used a value of 0.4 for induced drag in flight tuning. Does not seem to affect high speed flight, but acceleration to 300 + knots a lot easier & flying the model more enjoyable.

Take off - lifts off at about 160 KIAS but too easy to over rotate which seems to trigger the over G response of reducing elevator trim back to zero. Landing similar if one bounces slightly. I do have crash detect off.

As an aside Milton - I was surprised to note that the trailing edge flaps were of the simple split type - I had assumed they simple hinge camber change devices like the leading edge ones. Internet search showed pictures with flaps up, one photo of the underside that showed the piano hinge & one photo in flight but not very clear that confirmed it as a split variety.

I would agree that a reduction in pitch with the last stage of flaps would be an improvement, & maybe an illegal increase in G limits?

Am still enjoying this model very much - great work to all the team.

Glad to hear Pams op seems to be a success.

Keith

 

[Milton Shupe]

XMLTOOLS 2.0 now installed. Will check and see where the thrust gauges are at full throttle. Thanks. Milton

UPDATE: Still no AB! I took a screenshot of the VC gauges at full power, at least as far as I can tell. Which gauges indicate amount of thrust?? Also the airspeed gauge calibrated in percent of MACH is confusing as to KIAS. (maybe it's just me!)

click on it to make it bigger! (wish that was REALLY true)

Do you have tooltips turned on?
Engine gauges are labeled, left center, 4th row down, show 107%.
Point mouse at them for tooltip readout.
The gauges were designed to be exactly like the originals.

Verify that you installed the effects and the effects textures.

 

[Milton Shupe]

Keith, For whatever reason, I cannot Reply with Quote.

Testing with Crash Detection off can lead to false responses regarding landings.

Do not use the "I" key. Please Verify that you installed the effects and effect textures.

I am curious what controllers you are using as your flight responses you describe seem very sensitive. Using yoke and pedals here.
You should not be doing inside/outside loops in this aircraft. You would likely experience a high speed stall. The G tolerances are not as high as you have indicated seeing.

"I have tried disabling the XML effects in VC just in case my 'puter was trying too hard to cope, as I still find it difficult to get above 200 KIAS after take off & have found that CDi is very high at AoA of about +5° & will go negative as speed increases (and AoA decreases), so my last flight used a value of 0.4 for induced drag in flight tuning. Does not seem to affect high speed flight, but acceleration to 300 + knots a lot easier & flying the model more enjoyable.

Sorry, having trouble trying to comprehend how to even respond to this.
Take off / rotation should be occurring at 250-260kias. This will require around ~7200'+ of runway. See Checklist below.
Also, keep in mind that flaps are required at all speeds less than 350kias. See Docs folder.

The xml effects regarding afterburner are all custom programmed, based on in-game events.
You can disable the visuals by removing the effect textures you should have installed but the programmed events still occur without the visuals.
My climbout is done at ~4000 fpm in excess of 400kias to FL220. I decrease to around 2000 fpm to FL300. Use afterburner all the way up.

Take off - lifts off at about 160 KIAS but too easy to over rotate which seems to trigger the over G response of reducing elevator trim back to zero. Landing similar if one bounces slightly. I do have crash detect off."

Use Take off procedure defined in the checklist.

Per the Check List


Take off / Climb out:
Set Speed brake lever forward to zero
degrees
Set nose up trim to 1.5 - 2 degrees
Set Flaps 3
Begin gentle Rotate at 250+ knots
Flaps 3 required to 260kias, then flaps 2
after pos climb
Flaps 1 required to 350kias, then flaps 0
Use afterburner all the way to FL300 or
desired altitude
Set climb-out rate to maintain >400kias

 

[Dev One]

Checked Effects folder against download - All present & correct. Did notice though that 3 XF92a files have fx_ as initial letters & 3 do not.
Just done a take off from Boscombe Down in UK, has a 10,500 ft length, so using AFSD in distance mode at 7585 ft IAS was only 180 knots, lifted off just before end of runway at about 200 knots. Full flap in use. Smoke & heat effects seen, including engine start puffs.
Logitech extreme 3d pro joystick. FSX SP2 set to full realism.
Have yet to try crash detect engaged.
Cannot check VSI - none fitted, & no way can I get to 400 KIAS before climbing out. Full throttle all the way.

The reason I tried with effects disabled is that I have had problems - admittedly with FS9 - where at take off there were too many events happening in quick succession so one need a minimum frame rate capability so that the xml events took place - That is my Jindivik model.

Will try video later.
Keith

 

[MrZippy]

Hi Milton, Effects and Textures installed. XMLTOOLS V2 installed and fixed the XML.DLL to make sure that the XMLTOOLS is activated when the Sim is started. The XMLTOOL gauge was accepted and in my 'Trusted Gauges" list. Still no AB after 82% thrust. Total head scratcher

Just as a test....I also copied the XMLTOOL.dll to my main Gauges folder just to see what explodes??

Time for my daily exorcism.

 

[Milton Shupe]

Checked Effects folder against download - All present & correct. Did notice though that 3 XF92a files have fx_ as initial letters & 3 do not.
Just done a take off from Boscombe Down in UK, has a 10,500 ft length, so using AFSD in distance mode at 7585 ft IAS was only 180 knots, lifted off just before end of runway at about 200 knots. Full flap in use. Smoke & heat effects seen, including engine start puffs.
Logitech extreme 3d pro joystick. FSX SP2 set to full realism.
Have yet to try crash detect engaged.
Cannot check VSI - none fitted, & no way can I get to 400 KIAS before climbing out. Full throttle all the way.

The reason I tried with effects disabled is that I have had problems - admittedly with FS9 - where at take off there were too many events happening in quick succession so one need a minimum frame rate capability so that the xml events took place - That is my Jindivik model.

Will try video later.
Keith

Keith, take off calls for Flaps 3, not full flaps 4.

 

[Milton Shupe]

Hi Milton, Effects and Textures installed. XMLTOOLS V2 installed and fixed the XML.DLL to make sure that the XMLTOOLS is activated when the Sim is started. The XMLTOOL gauge was accepted and in my 'Trusted Gauges" list. Still no AB after 82% thrust. Total head scratcher

Just as a test....I also copied the XMLTOOL.dll to my main Gauges folder just to see what explodes??

Time for my daily exorcism.

Did you check the XMLTools installation folder log file for errors?

You should have XMLTools.dll in the FSX main folder and,
the dll.xml file should be in:c:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX

 

[MrZippy]

Did you check the XMLTools installation folder log file for errors?

You should have XMLTools.dll in the FSX main folder and,
the dll.xml file should be in:c:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX

Yep, that's where the XMLTOOL.dll file is...in the Main folder. The log showed "Could not find XML.dll in your FSX installation". I did check and it was sitting almost next to my FSX.cfg. I had to add:

<Launch.Addon>
<Name>XMLTools</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>XMLTools.dll</Path>
<DllStartName>module_init</DllStartName>
<DllStopName>module_deinit</DllStopName>
</Launch.Addon>

to get XMLTOOLS.dll to activate. That's when I started FSX and had to OK the new .dll to be trusted. P.S The AB never lit with the XF-92 at 82% thrust, either. I just tried it again. Must be something between FSX SP2 and Acceleration.

 

[Milton Shupe]

Yep, that's where the XMLTOOL.dll file is...in the Main folder. The log showed "Could not find XML.dll in your FSX installation". I did check and it was sitting almost next to my FSX.cfg. I had to add:

<Launch.Addon>
<Name>XMLTools</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Path>XMLTools.dll</Path>
<DllStartName>module_init</DllStartName>
<DllStopName>module_deinit</DllStopName>
</Launch.Addon>

to get XMLTOOLS.dll to activate. That's when I started FSX and had to OK the new .dll to be trusted. P.S The AB never lit with the XF-92 at 82% thrust, either. I just tried it again. Must be something between FSX SP2 and Acceleration.

My apologies; I now find some of the afterburner variables and functions were added in Acceleration. This may be the reason why the afterburner is not working for early FSX'ers.

Here's a partial list:

New Simulation Variables for Flight Simulator X: Acceleration Expansion Pack


The following variables are only available in the Flight Simulator X: Acceleration Expansion Pack SDK.
Refer to the Notes on the Accereration Expansion Pack SDK document.





Simulation Variable Description Units Settable Multiplayer
NOSEWHEEL LOCK ON True if the nosewheel lock is engaged. Bool N -
AUTOPILOT PITCH HOLD Set to True if the autopilot pitch hold has is engaged. Bool N -
STRUCT AMBIENT WIND X (latitude), Y (vertical) and Z (longitude) components of the wind. Feet_per_second N -
COLLECTIVE POSITION The position of the helicopter's collective. 0 is fully up, 100 fully depressed.
Percent_over_100 N -
FUEL DUMP SWITCH If true the aircraft is dumping fuel at the rate set in the configuration file.
Bool N -
TURB ENG AFTERBURNER STAGE ACTIVE The stage of the afterburner, or 0 if the afterburner is not active.
Number N -
TURB ENG AFTERBURNER PCT ACTIVE The percentage that the afterburner is running at.
Percent_over_100 N -
FOLDING WING HANDLE POSITION True if the folding wing handle is engaged. Bool N -

 

[Milton Shupe]

For FSX users without Acceleration, apparently the afterburner is not supported.
]
Therefore this package will not work well for you without the added power required to get this aircraft to perform. It was just barely acceptable with the AB installed per the documentation.

I will change the docs and download file marquee to high-lite this fact.

 

[MrZippy]

For FSX users without Acceleration, apparently the afterburner is not supported.
]
Therefore this package will not work well for you without the added power required to get this aircraft to perform. It was just barely acceptable with the AB installed per the documentation.

I will change the docs and download file marquee to high-lite this fact.

She still flies OK, Milton. No sweat. I sorta figured it was on us for not having Acceleration. It's still an exciting challenge.

 

[magoo]

Stilletto is a good name for the plane.

Looks like one.....FEELS like one.

There was an American made model kit (1/72) available in the 1960's (seen in a catalogue)......I was never able to track down a copy as a kid, but the intriguing visual impression remained with me all this time.

Thanks to Milton & Friends, I've finally been able to climb aboard this unique design and satisfy a curiosity that's been outstanding since at least....ummm....1965.....

So....a beta flight out of Edward's AFB was setup, real weather programed. About 66 degrees F. with a 5 knot crosswind. Even in October, Mojave deserty dry.

The manual startup regime as illustrated by the designer is obviously a great simplification from reality, but evocative enough to make you feel like you're doing something approaching prototypical activity. (Fun threshold maintained.)

Good notes, docs and illustrations, Milton!

After engines started and deemed happy, set elevator pitch (+2) and flaps (set 3), ease throttle to 80%,as RPM stabilize, release brakes. As takeoff roll is commenced, smoothly advance power to 100%. A satisfying afterburner thump is heard to aft, and a mild increase in "push" is noted.

I'm not going to quote V-speed schedule here as the numbers are so "stretched out" as to be too abstract in my mind.

....V2....? No such thing in a Stilletto. Loose an engine, there's only two simple options, either you've already got the touch down point made, or you're checking out for a sky-diving appointment.

So take off roll is a long, gradual affair. At roughly 260 knot, gentle back pressure on the yoke render an equally gentle rotation, pilot fixing it at about 5-6 degrees. At about 300 knots (ind) the X-3 flies off smoothly, and within a few seconds, gear is retracted.

Flaps raised to notch-2 at about 330 knots, nose held low allowing maximum acceleration with flaps finally cleaned up at around 360 knots (ind). Elevator trim is constantly unloaded as speed increases, at 400 knots I let her begin to climb in earnest. An easy ascent is plotted at about 2000 fpm at 406-408 knots (ind).

A note, just after departure, while retracting gear, the plane shows a fair degree of lateral (yaw) instability, easily provoked by the day's mild (4-5 knot) cross wind. It feels sort of like the plane is sitting atop a pyramid of Jello, and your task is to keep it balanced there with minimum aid from your control surfaces....)

Once the Stilletto crosses 400 knots....the stability issue is corrected to the point that it feels "almost" like a conventional aircraft.Some experimenting with throttle settings leaves me climbing with power just below the afterburner kick, still maintaining 406-408 knots (ind) at roughly 2000 FPM.

In an easterly course across the desert, throttle is slowly increased to maintain IAS & Climb until full throttle is reached at about 25,000 feet, with the goal to achieve 30,000. Engine temperatures hold at reasonable levels.

Wishing to keep air speed above 400 knots, I beginning performing a step-climb regimen, lowering the nose to level flight and allowing the aircraft to accelerate to 420 knots (ind) and then relaxing the controls and allowing climb to resume until AS drops to 390 knots (ind), and then repeating.

At thirty thousand feet, the aircraft is trimmed for level flight, throttle reduced to just below the afterburner kick. Looking down, I'm over the town of Needles, California on the Colorado River.

Banking left, a gentle 180 degree turn is executed, noticing a little weight on the left rudder pedal needed to maintain a clean, coordinated turn. Airspeed begins to drop, throttle is eased to full, halfway through the turn. Aircraft happiness is maintained.

A westerly course is plotted to return to Edward's, I elect to lower the nose with full throttle maintained. Let's see what the Stilletto will do. Very quickly the "Mach'o'meter" is pinned. The FSX overhead display tells me it's 580 knots indicated at around 25,000 feet and dropping. The aircraft feels happily stable. ( In this case I like to imagine that the FSX overhead display might be a "telemetry" readout perhaps radio'ed back to me.)

At twenty thousand I level out, reduce power to just below the afterburner trigger. I'm not bothering with engine RPM, it'll take what it needs.....all temps and pressures seem good.

Indicated speed coming back down to to about 405 knots (ind) I opt to try some Dutch rolls, one left, one right. Aircraft seems stable, if somewhat stiff. Return to level flight in an easy and predictable manner.

Full throttle added, let's try a barrel roll. Speed builds up to a 440 knots in a slight dive, gently pull up nose to about 30 degrees vertical, around she goes with a bit of rudder and aileron. Nice. like it's on rails, until we return to level flight. Then the nose starts hunting around in a mild 360 degree gyration.

Full power is maintained and I resist to try and correct the oscillation. With full power and building airspeed, the movement gradually reduces itself until a clean trajectory is again resumed.

Very interesting.....

I'm down to 13,000 feet, and the San Bernadino Ranges now lay between me and Edward's AFB. Back to afterburner, climbing to 18,000 feet to maintain a safe bailout margin should the requirement arise.....(!!)

Once clear of that, I begin maneuvering to align my landing at home base. I'm dropping at about 500 FPM with engines at high cruise setting....just below afterburner kick. Nothing's easy here....engine life must have very......VERY....short.

Quite amused by the high volume of AI GA aircraft trundling about in the restricted airspace around the Edward's. The X-3 is already way overweight.....I guess installing an automatic weapon or two would be demanding a bit much of the engines and non-existent wings.....you know.....the Gatling Gun that broke the camel's back.....

Still....it's kind of fun to blast across the nose of an errant C.152 at 400 knots in a machine that looks like it just escaped from a Star Wars movie. I wonder if FSX would allow my vortex to flip the Cessna on his back..? Sorry, I haven't the time or courage to look back, eyes pinned on the gauges and telemetry....

Approaching Edward's (the longest runway please!!) there is no plan to enter pattern. I'm coming in, and I'm comin' down NOW! Everybody out of my way. It's interesting to imagine the flight priority these test pilots would have received in the day.

As speed reduces, high power settings are still maintained.

Runway in sight, maintain about 360 knots, slowing below that, 1rst notch flaps selected, re-trim, one eye on airspeed, other eye on engine readouts, third eye maintaining visual with runway.

At 320 knots, second notch flaps, add throttle, re-trim, maintain gentle descent. Angle of attack is growing, visibility diminishing. A curving F4U Corsair type approach might work better, but I'm not the guy to dare. Crash recognition setting is ON.

Coming in low and fast, less than a mile from the threshold, we're going "gear down and full flaps", engines screaming and the "sound pack's turbulent wake departure file" in full and constant roar.

Five knot cross wind is keeping me busy, every rubbery yaw make me feel as if the plane is going to drop a wing. We're back atop the mountain of Jello!!

Touchdown at 240 knots, air brakes kicked out, Stilletto seems to think this is all normal. Slowdown takes forever, but not to worry....pavement runs for over 13,000 feet, plus a lot of really nicely graded and compacted desert floor after that.

Come to an eventual stop, pull off the runway, shut it all down, and realize in the deafening silence that my palms are sweaty.....as is my forehead. Stilletto looks at me, raise one eyebrow, and says with great emphasis, simply, "....WHAT..?!!!"

Huh....that was intense.

Even though I'm a non-smoker.....I step outside and have a cigarette. It seems necessary.

It's a beta release, so let's make the post flight report while I puff away....:

Graphic model.....looks good inside and out. Apologizing for my "Magoo " vision.....despite which I could find no visual anomalies. MDL and texture render clean and slick. It's a vicious looking plane, and the artistry therein is provocatively so. Perfectly done, Milton.

Controls, animations and effects (sound and visual) all worked perfectly, my setup being a really stable old copy of Windows Vista with FSX Acceleration installed. I read that the sound-pack is the default F-18, however, there is a "slip-stream departure" rumble that really communicates well, goes a long way to tell you what the aircraft is doing. Good selection.

The flight model is a nasty piece of composition, my compliments to Pam & Paul....I can't imagine the time versus blood, sweat, and tears that went into working out that piece of code. Having read this thread since it's inception, and having read up a bit about the original Stilletto test aircraft, I was not disappointed at all with the physics programmed here.

In fact, delivery made as advertised.

Massively well done, this thing keeps you on your toes while balanced on a razor blade. That a desktop flightsim could create a performance scenario that would build a towering respect for the test pilots of the original real-world aircraft, I'd say....job done to perfection.

The flight model isn't finished development yet? Okay....but whatever subtleties are in the refinement stage, this version, at this stage, is beyond perfect in my estimation.

Magnificent project you guys. Very evocative, and a great experience. To Milton and all the crew of technicians, craftspeople, and artisans, a big thank-you for sharing this great piece of work.

Now that the nicotine is beginning to flow in my veins, I think I'll go fly a biplane for a little bit and calm down, before I try to look the Stilletto in the eyes again.

Cheers!!

 

[spokes2112]

Milton,

Been watching this thread..
Did you get my email thru your hotmail account? ( something different, but slightly related )
Re: SP2 AB - Steve & I had this same problem with our SHRS F-111 release.

Aircraft.cfg -
[TurbineEngineData]
afterburner_available =3 // FOR SP2 THIS SHOULD BE 1, NO STAGES AVAILABLE
afterburner_throttle_threshold=0.81000 // FOR SP2 THIS DOES NOT GET READ AT ALL, THEREFORE AN EXTERNAL GAUGE IS NECESSARY TO TRIGGER AB

Here's one, untested but should be good..

<Gauge Name="X-3 Stilleto AB Control For SP2" Version="1.0">
	<Update>
		(A:GENERAL ENG1 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION, percent) 81 > (A:GENERAL ENG1 COMBUSTION, bool) (A:TURB ENG1 AFTERBURNER,bool) ! and and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER1) } 
		(A:GENERAL ENG1 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION, percent) 81 > ! (A:GENERAL ENG1 COMBUSTION, bool) ! || (A:TURB ENG1 AFTERBURNER,bool) and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER1) } 
		
		(A:GENERAL ENG2 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION, percent) 81 > (A:GENERAL ENG2 COMBUSTION, bool) (A:TURB ENG2 AFTERBURNER,bool) ! and and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER2) } 
		(A:GENERAL ENG2 THROTTLE LEVER POSITION, percent) 81 > ! (A:GENERAL ENG2 COMBUSTION, bool) ! || (A:TURB ENG2 AFTERBURNER,bool) and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER2) } 
	</Update>
</Gauge>

Thanks for the release!
Roman

 

[MrZippy]

Milton,

Been watching this thread..
Did you get my email thru your hotmail account? ( something different, but slightly related )
Re: SP2 AB - Steve & I had this same problem with our SHRS F-111 release.

Aircraft.cfg -
[TurbineEngineData]
afterburner_available =3 // FOR SP2 THIS SHOULD BE 1, NO STAGES AVAILABLE
afterburner_throttle_threshold=0.81000 // FOR SP2 THIS DOES NOT GET READ AT ALL, THEREFORE AN EXTERNAL GAUGE IS NECESSARY TO TRIGGER AB

Here's one, untested but should be good..

<Gauge Name="X-3 Stilleto AB Control For SP2" Version="1.0">
    <Update>
        (A:TURB ENG CORRECTED N1:1, Percent) 82 > (A:TURB ENG1 AFTERBURNER,bool) != if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER1) } 
        (A:TURB ENG CORRECTED N1:2, Percent) 82 > (A:TURB ENG2 AFTERBURNER,bool) != if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER2) } 
    </Update>
</Gauge>

Thanks for the release!
Roman

Will give it a try! Where does the code go for the gauge? Sorry, this is over my head!

 

[spokes2112]

OK.. Figured it out.
When the aircraft.cfg entry of afterburner_throttle_threshold is commented out in acceleration it defaults to something ( 80% ?? ) and fights with the controller gauge. As long as the entry is 0.00000 then they will not fight. Whew
Also updated the code above & in the kit for better behaviour.

Milton, Optional - If you want to make this an "all in one" for all sims, just incorporate this kit then there's no futzing around with different sim versions.. Of course, up to you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/haj1nytt8rqv1u5/X-3 AB for SP2.zip?dl=0

 

[Milton Shupe]

Stilletto is a good name for the plane.

Looks like one.....FEELS like one.

There was an American made model kit (1/72) available in the 1960's (seen in a catalogue)......I was never able to track down a copy as a kid, but the intriguing visual impression remained with me all this time.

Thanks to Milton & Friends, I've finally been able to climb aboard this unique design and satisfy a curiosity that's been outstanding since at least....ummm....1965.....

So....a beta flight out of Edward's AFB was setup, real weather programed. About 66 degrees F. with a 5 knot crosswind. Even in October, Mojave deserty dry.

The manual startup regime as illustrated by the designer is obviously a great simplification from reality, but evocative enough to make you feel like you're doing something approaching prototypical activity. (Fun threshold maintained.)

Good notes, docs and illustrations, Milton!

After engines started and deemed happy, set elevator pitch (+2) and flaps (set 3), ease throttle to 80%,as RPM stabilize, release brakes. As takeoff roll is commenced, smoothly advance power to 100%. A satisfying afterburner thump is heard to aft, and a mild increase in "push" is noted.

I'm not going to quote V-speed schedule here as the numbers are so "stretched out" as to be too abstract in my mind.

....V2....? No such thing in a Stilletto. Loose an engine, there's only two simple options, either you've already got the touch down point made, or you're checking out for a sky-diving appointment.

So take off roll is a long, gradual affair. At roughly 260 knot, gentle back pressure on the yoke render an equally gentle rotation, pilot fixing it at about 5-6 degrees. At about 300 knots (ind) the X-3 flies off smoothly, and within a few seconds, gear is retracted.

Flaps raised to notch-2 at about 300 knots, nose held low allowing maximum acceleration with flaps finally cleaned up at around 360 knots (ind). Elevator trim is constantly unloaded as speed increases, at 400 knots I let her begin to climb in earnest. An easy ascent is plotted at about 2000 fpm at 406-408 knots (ind).

A note, just after departure, while retracting gear, the plane shows a fair degree of lateral (yaw) instability, easily provoked by the day's mild (4-5 knot) cross wind. It feels sort of like the plane is balance atop a pyramid of Jello, and your task is to keep it balanced there with minimum aid from your control surfaces....)

Once the Stilletto crosses 400 knots....the stability issue is corrected to the point that it feels "almost" like a conventional aircraft.Some experimenting with throttle settings leaves me climbing with power just below the afterburner kick, still maintaining 406-408 knots (ind) at roughly 2000 FPM.

In an easterly course across the desert, throttle is slowly increased to maintain IAS & Climb until full throttle is reached at about 25,000 feet, with the goal to achieve 30,000. Engine temperatures hold at reasonable levels.

Wishing to keep air speed above 400 knots, I beginning performing a step-climb regimen, lowering the nose to level flight and allowing the aircraft to accelerate to 420 knots (ind) and then relaxing the controls and allowing climb to resume until AS drops to 390 knots (ind), and then repeating.

At thirty thousand feet, the aircraft is trimmed for level flight, throttle reduced to just below the afterburner kick. Looking down, I'm over the town of Needles, California on the Colorado River.

Banking left, a gentle 180 degree turn is executed, noticing a little weight on the left rudder pedal needed to maintain a clean, coordinated turn. Airspeed begins to drop, throttle is eased to full, halfway through the turn. Aircraft happiness is maintained.

A westerly course is plotted to return to Edward's, I elect to lower the nose with full throttle maintained. Let's see what the Stilletto will do. Very quickly the "Mach'o'meter" is pinned. The FSX overhead display tells me it's 580 knots indicated at around 25,000 feet and dropping. The aircraft feels happily stable. ( In this case I like to imagine that the FSX overhead display might be a "telemetry" readout perhaps radio'ed back to me.)

At twenty thousand I level out, reduce power to just below the afterburner trigger. I'm not bothering with engine RPM, it'll take what it needs.....all temps and pressures seem good.

Indicated speed coming back down to to about 405 knots (ind) I opt to try some Dutch rolls, one left, one right. Aircraft seems stable, if somewhat stiff. Return to level flight in an easy and predictable manner.

Full throttle added, let's try a barrel roll. Speed builds up to a 440 knots in a slight dive, gently pull up nose to about 30 degrees vertical, around she goes with a bit of rudder and aileron. Nice. like it's on rails, until we return to level flight. Then the nose starts hunting around in a mild 360 degree gyration.

Full power is maintained and I resist to try and correct the oscillation. With full power and building airspeed, the movement gradually reduces itself until a clean trajectory is again resumed.

Very interesting.....

I'm down to 13,000 feet, and the San Bernadino Ranges now lay between me and Edward's AFB. Back to afterburner, climbing to 18,000 feet to maintain a safe bailout margin should the requirement arise.....(!!)

Once clear of that, I begin maneuvering to align my landing at home base. I'm dropping at about 500 FPM with engines at high cruise setting....just below afterburner kick. Nothing's easy here....engine life must have very......VERY....short.

Quite amused by the high volume of AI GA aircraft trundling about in the restricted airspace around the Edward's. The X-3 is already way overweight.....I guess installing an automatic weapon or two would be demanding a bit much of the engines and non-existent wings.....you know.....the Gatling Gun that broke the camel's back.....

Still....it's kind of fun to blast across the nose of an errant C.152 at 400 knots in a machine that looks like it just escaped from a Star Wars movie. I wonder if FSX would allow my vortex to flip the Cessna on his back..? Sorry, I haven't the time or courage to look back, eyes pinned on the gauges and telemetry....

Approaching Edward's (the longest runway please!!) there is no plan to enter pattern. I'm coming in, and I'm comin' down NOW! Everybody out of my way. It's interesting to imagine the flight priority these test pilots would have received in the day.

As speed reduces, high power settings are still maintained.

Runway in sight, maintain about 360 knots, slowing below that, 1rst notch flaps selected, re-trim, one eye on airspeed, other eye on engine readouts, third eye maintaining visual with runway.

At 320 knots, second notch flaps, add throttle, re-trim, maintain gentle descent. Angle of attack is growing, visibility diminishing. A curving F4U Corsair type approach might work better, but I'm not the guy to dare. Crash recognition setting is ON.

Coming in low and fast, less than a mile from the threshold, we're going "gear down and full flaps", engines screaming and the "sound pack's turbulent wake departure file" in full and constant roar.

Five knot cross wind is keeping me busy, every rubbery yaw make me feel as if the plane is going to drop a wing. We're back atop the mountain of Jello!!

Touchdown at 240 knots, air brakes kicked out, Stilletto seems to think this is all normal. Slowdown takes forever, but not to worry....pavement runs for over 13,000 feet, plus a lot of really nicely graded and compacted desert floor after that.

Come to an eventual stop, pull off the runway, shut it all down, and realize in the deafening silence that my palms are sweaty.....as is my forehead. Stilletto looks at me, raise one eyebrow, and says with great emphasis, simply, "....WHAT..?!!!"

Huh....that was intense.

Even though I'm a non-smoker.....I step outside and have a cigarette. It seems necessary.

It's a beta release, so let's make the post flight report while I puff away....:

Graphic model.....looks good inside and out. Apologizing for my "Magoo " vision.....despite which I could find no visual anomalies. MDL and texture render clean and slick. It's a vicious looking plane, and the artistry therein is provocatively so. Perfectly done, Milton.

Controls, animations and effects (sound and visual) all worked perfectly, my setup being a really stable old copy of Windows Vista with FSX Acceleration installed. I read that the sound-pack is the default F-18, however, there is a "slip-stream departure" rumble that really communicates well, goes a long way to tell you what the aircraft is doing. Good selection.

The flight model is a nasty piece of composition, my compliments to Pam & Paul....I can't imagine the time versus blood, sweat, and tears that went into working out that piece of code. Having read this thread since it's inception, and having read up a bit about the original Stilletto test aircraft, I was not disappointed at all with the physics programmed here.

In fact, delivery made as advertised.

Massively well done, this thing keeps you on your toes while balanced on a razor blade. That a desktop flightsim could create a performance scenario that would build a towering respect for the test pilots of the original real-world aircraft, I'd say....job done to perfection.

The flight model isn't finished development yet? Okay....but whatever subtleties are in the refinement stage, this version, at this stage, is beyond perfect in my estimation.

Magnificent project you guys. Very evocative, and a great experience. To Milton and all the crew of technicians, craftspeople, and artisans, a big thank-you for sharing this great piece of work.

Now that the nicotine is beginning to flow in my veins, I think I'll go fly a biplane for a little bit and calm down, before I try to look the Stilletto in the eyes again.

Cheers!!

Magoo,

Wow! Excellent explanation of your experiences. Flight phases well executed Sir.

Thanks for the insights and comments.

Pam and Paul have done some extraordinary work on this one, for sure.
Wellis nailed the paint schemes through months of sweating the details.
Scott Thomas pulled off some great results with the 2D panels, gauges, VC, gauges, and interior paints.
Jan Visser's pilot figure worked out perfectly.

 

[MrZippy]

DISREGARD!! JUST TESTED AND THERE'S A BOO BOO - Will return shortly

OK, no problem! Just wondering....do I use what you are writing and copy to notepad and "save as" an XML document and then paste into the AB folder?
Or add your gauge to the xf92aeffectscntrl.xml in the AB folder?

 

[Dev One]

Keith, take off calls for Flaps 3, not full flaps 4.

Just realised that there is one more stage! So I have flown with Flaps 3, but still not able to get to 250 Knots in 7500 ft, although climb out better, I still have problems achieving 400 knots when it will start to climb again without losing speed.
Off now to read subsequent stuff here!
Keith

EDIT: Having read the above posts I must try in FSX A on my laptop. Will report back later.

EDIT2: Just had a flight in FSX A - still took 10,000 ft to get airborne at less than 250 KIAS, but the rest of the flight & effects worked OK - multiple AB effects triggered by throttle lever position, not RPM% - in fact she seems to be quite a pussycat as long as I assume one doesn't stroke it the wrong way. So looks as if FSX SP2 users are out of luck - I'm lucky to have both versions.

 

[Milton Shupe]

OK.. Figured it out.
When the aircraft.cfg entry of afterburner_throttle_threshold is commented out in acceleration it defaults to something ( 80% ?? ) and fights with the controller gauge. As long as the entry is 0.00000 then they will not fight. Whew
Also updated the code above & in the kit for better behaviour.

Milton, Optional - If you want to make this an "all in one" for all sims, just incorporate this kit then there's no futzing around with different sim versions.. Of course, up to you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/haj1nytt8rqv1u5/X-3 AB for SP2.zip?dl=0

Thank you Roman, just tested, seems to work the same.

I have not checked the other goodie you sent earlier; will do that now.

EDIT: Just checked the revised effects controls; look good. Thanks again.