Goran_M

Sure Zach. The Sundowner I have based this one on is VH-WMI. The Sundowner, when built, was built with a fixed tricycle gear configuration. It has wheel fairings that are streamlined to minimise drag and is non retractable. However, it also has "options" for advanced features. Such as electric trim, electric flaps, retractable gear, etc... When Beechcraft made the Sundowner, they allowed for these modifications to be installed by the owner/operator should they choose to do so. Otherwise, it is left in its factory configuration. Now when I say this aircraft is based on the real Whiskey Mike India, I don't mean it is loosely based. This is an extremely close replica to the real aircraft in its functions and performance. The only things that are obviously different are the repaints. Check out the photos below that I personally took of WMI. I hope that somewhat answers your questions.

I'll let Cameron help you with your situation then. He should be on in the next few hours.

When you get to your shopping cart, you can click on "checkout". After that, you can select the credit card option. However, you must have an account with x-aviation. Hope this helps

The Sundowner has a carburettor powered engine. It sucks fuel instead of fuel being squirted in by fuel injectors. Which means rough idle at high altitudes and cold temperatures. Always have the throttle pushed slightly forward either by the manipulators on the throttle or the joystick throttle. It also depends on pressure altitude. The higher you are, the more chance there is of the engine stalling unless the mixture is set accurately. It's a balancing act. The joys of carb reciprocating engines. AND, apologies to the wife for me, Simon. Tell her to blame me.

lol Simon. I thought as much. Please enjoy it, gentlemen. Both Theo and myself have enjoyed making it AND flying it. It really is a fun little aircraft to fly.

Thanks gentlemen. BTW, Simon, it's Theo. Not Robin. Although I do wish I was Batman sometimes.

First off, THANK YOU! Well, it's been a year since I started add on development and here we are...FINALLY! Please post any tech issues you may find. However, we're sure there won't be many...if any. ;D

The Sundowner is available. ENJOY!! http://www.x-aviation.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=56

We're making sure all the installers are working. There is an activation involved which literally takes about a minute. Similar to the Flight 1 wrapper (except it's just email and password for your X-Aviation account). I've tested it on my system (Windows). Linux is working and the Mac version is currently being tested. Won't be long now.

Many apologies. Certain factors during the last week have delayed the Sundowner release. Cameron was tied up with other issues that have been sorted out and the Sundowner had to be put aside for a few days. We also found a few bugs that we missed and sorted them out as well as adding something new (clickspots to hide the yokes). The Sundowner is being packaged into a new delivery system as I type this post. No Gizmo activation. Everything has been OK'd by Cameron and its definitely ready. It is compatible with Linux/Mac/Windows so it has to be packaged for each OS and should be up on the X-Aviation site within hours. For anyone who gets it, I welcome any feedback, comments, criticisms. Goran

No, I didn't get it through anyone at XPFW. While I was searching for 747 material, I came across it. I will say it was not through any developer in the X Plane world. However, as you say, it wasn't easy to get. And was given to me in confidence. Goran

Like I said, I can guarantee you Boeing didn't give him anything that isn't already publicly available. Remember, we have a B787 flight engineer on our team. Further, he does not have the FCOM which means; 1. Flightmodel is 100% guesswork 2. Systems and avionics are mostly guesswork 3. Cockpit dimensions are mostly guesswork I have nothing against Heinz or his work and respect him as a designer. I however have something against his MARKETING which gives a totally wrong picture of what documentation he has for this acf, which is close to nothing and which means the acf accuracy will be thereafter. So from a designer perspective I don't understand why he is even making it when he knows so little about it. But thats his choice. Is this the FCOM we're talking about? I'm obviously not going to post the whole thing. But this thing is 1400+ pages. And definitely not the easiest thing to get but certainly not too hard either.

I can see your point, but, you have to remember, no one (AFAIK) has criticised any of Heinz's previous work. The 787 is being criticised because many people question the value of the Boeing License. Add to the fact that it's payware, and people expect a level of quality equal to PMDG systems modelling. You also mention that Boeing has given the information to Heinz to reproduce the 787. In his own admission, Heinz has said he does not have the FCOM and other relevant documentation. I have to say, to make any heavy airliner accurately without an FCOM, AOM, etc... is near to impossible. I can understand you are wanting to help Heinz and want this 787 to be a success. I do too. There's room for all of us to make these add ons. I just think if a developer is going to endorse a product, he has to be able to back it up with accurate (systems and 3D) modelling. Saying he doesn't have some of the documentation is not really helping his case. Regardless of what Boeing has sent him. When I was researching the 747-200 I am making, I actually stumbled upon the official 787 FCOM, QRH, Systems and Performance Manual and Flight Operations Manual when asking for information about Boeing aircraft in general. Anyway, I've rambled enough. As I said, I am looking forward to seeing Heinz finish this aircraft. We need more airliners to get the MSFS crowd even remotely interested in X Plane. If Heinz contributes to that, it can only be a good thing. I guess independent reviews will take any assumptions by the general public and set the record straight anyway.

Simon No one is doubting this is a huge leap for Heinz. I can safely assume the flight model will be extremely accurate based on his past work. It's the promotion he and Nicolas are doing. When someone says "Officially Licensed by Boeing", "No guesswork involved", a vast majority of the public take that as meaning a very close to 100% flight model, systems model, FMC, programming, Accurate 3D modelling (exterior and Interior), pretty much something to represent a study sim. When I heard about it, I was very skeptical about this being an accurate object and systems model. Mainly because Heinz himself said he doesn't have the FCOM, POH, flight manual, etc... Not to mention that only a small handful of Boeing employees have access to the supercritical airfoil data and I seriously doubt they will part with that information lightly. Officially licensed or not. I don't want to accuse anyone of being a liar, however, comparing the 787 and the CRJ, I think we can safely say which product will most likely represent a study sim. In any case, I'm sure many people will buy the 787. And with the help of your videos, more people will see what he has produced via youtube. I sincerely hope they do as Heinz is a highly respected member of the payware community who, from what I have heard, makes great flight models. Maybe I'm being over-critical, but I'm far more critical of my own work. I guess time will tell. Goran

Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen. Mick, yes, I am still using Blender for all the 3D modelling and I use Yafaray for the renderring.

While Theo wraps up UV mapping and texturing of the Saab, I have finished optimizing the mesh for the Hawker 4000. As I was doing so, I saw many things I didn't like on it (objects). So while I chopped off another 80 000 quads from it, I completely re-modelled about a third of the aircraft. (Landing Gear, FMC's, overhead knobs and dials, Center Console levers, etc...) Just have to add some pilot seats and the modelling is finished on this. Then Theo will texture this one while I get all the gauges, knobs and switches working on the Saab. And a couple of screenshots. Maybe some fine tuning in various places.

We can't give a final price as that is going to be discussed between Cameron, Theo and myself once it gets the OK, but yes, it will be in that range.

Fortunately, it will be compatible with all 3 operating systems.

http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php?topic=702.msg6880#msg6880

Cameron is back, obviously. He has to give the Sundowner a once over, make sure it's ok to add to the catalogue, and then it's out. Most likely it will be added in the next day or 2 if everything is ok. Goran

Theo and I have had a small meeting over our current workload. After some logistics were sorted out, we came to a conclusion. We are actually able to organise our time to work on the remaining 3 projects simultaneously. So the Hawker 4000 project is back on. While Theo does work on the Saab UV maps and textures, I have been optimizing the mesh on the Hawker 4000. We both estimate we will finish these jobs at roughly the same time. At that point, we swap over and while I work on the Saab animations AND the 340B upgrade, Theo will UV map and texture the Hawker 4000 (again). Once that is finished, I will animate the Hawker 4000 while Theo UV maps and textures the 747-200/400. Going by this estimate, and depending on the programmer for the Hawker and 747, we are confident we can get the Hawker 4000 out earlier than the 747-200 while not hampering 747 development. I wanted to post this as I know many people are waiting for the Hawker 4000 (including me). And with the updated flight model, it flies even better. We'll update as necessary.

Then you havent seen some of the aircraft our little developer circle have seen. some look really shocking. The Sundowner is a hot babe compared to some of the more exotic aircraft out there.

Thanx Simon. Just a little more rubbing in...

The Sundowner at sunrise. 6am over Innsbruck.

It appears the wording of the 787 promotional information is gradually changing. From being "made to the exact specifications provided by Boeing" to "Accurate dimensions based on drawings supplied by the Boeing Corporation" and "Virtual cockpit based on the real 787". Taken directly from the org newsletter I just got. The word "based" leaves open a plethora of possibilities. Personally, I would love it if we all (developers) got along and shared a beer once a week. But when a developer blatantly lies to the people ready to fork out some hard earned cash for something that isn't what is claimed to be made by the developer, it kinda gets under my skin. When a developer does this, he flushes his dignity down the crapper. I'll be watching for any other "mutating" promo information.