About This File
318 WhiteKnightOne
Version 2 for X-Plane 9 and 10
The Story:
In the middle of the Mojave desert, Burt Rutan and his team at scaled composites wheeled out the model 318 WhiteKnightOne from its hangar to begin a day that would go down in history.
Later that day, September the 29th 2004, WhiteKnight climbed to 53,000 FT with SpaceShipOne under its belly. Inside SpaceShipOne was pilot Mike Melvill, and on the ground below was mission control working to get the space craft up to its target altitude. Time came for the drop, so WhiteKnight released SS1. And after 10 seconds of silence SpaceShipOne fired its rocket to begin its voyage into space. It climbed to 102.9 km (above 300,000 ft) from the earth's surface, and Became the first privately funded spacecraft ever to cross the Karmen line.
Days later pilot Brian Binnie flew SpaceShipOne up to 112 Km from the earth's surface, breaking Mike Melvill's record and sealing the future of space travel.
The great sir Richard Branson is now creating the new Virgin Galactic space-line, using Burt Rutans experience to create a new pair of vehicles that shall be called 'WhiteKnightTwo (VSS Eve)' & 'SpaceShipTwo (VSS Enterprise)'.* Sir Richard Branson has now set up a new spaceport in New Mexico where you can take off and travel safely for a cheap fee of $ 200,000 USD.
*WhiteKnight2 and SpaceShipTwo are for download on the org, made by Voidhwak9.
about:
After the initial post of this aircraft in late november last year, I have received many wonderful comments about this aircraft, but also a lot of suggestions to improve. So, I have worked long and hard to bring the community an improved WhiteKnightOne, which now has the accompanying SpaceShipOne to complete the historic duo in X-Plane.
This aircraft journey started for me around 2 years ago, when I decided to create the most detailed aircraft I could make. I have put 60 + hrs into the cockpit alone, to get it to function as good as the real thing, and the outer model has undergone countless hours of tweaking to get it up to the standard I set. Now, I believe that it is time to give 2 years of development back to the X-Plane community to enjoy.
Thanks to everybody in the community for their support!
Changes:
• New 3D outer glass effect, and transparent glass
• Improved outer bodies, with refined shape and new paint
• Jet engines changed from 'High bypass' to 'low bypass'
• SFC is changed
• Improved engine nacelles
• Changed CG
• Integrated to carry aircraft
• Edited fuselage
• Easier cockpit
• Edited user manuals etc...
• New gear configuration
• Frequently noted is the massive amount of afterburner thrust, in which I have kept. This is simply because the specifications define this amount, not me.
Things in this aircraft package include:
• Spinning 3D fan blades
• Fully customized cockpit
• sounds - off the real engine
• Detailed exterior, i.e. Gear, Fuselage... Practically up to 3D standard
• User manual, cockpit manual, and flight poster...
• ...and a whole lot more!
Tips:
Use the trim, it is very handy for keeping the aircraft easy to fly, and remember to throttle off if you feel too overpowered...
Resources:
For a detailed step by step look at the flight in 2004: http://joeschwartz.net/extras/SpaceShipOne/index.htm
Scaled Composites: http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/
With thanks:
Everybody below deserves my highest compliments.
Andrew Gorman (Gjalp) : For modeling the rotating fan.
Brent123: For animating the rotating fan
Bargbill: For being there right at the start of this project
Fudge Graphics: For their paper texture in the flight poster
________________
Enjoy flying V2 of the highly acclaimed space flight phenomenon, and if you like it, rate it!
-Hampster
What's New in Version 2.0
Released
- Initial post of Version 2
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.