Full-3D Virtual Cockpits

Top view of the virtual cockpit (X-15A-2 SE).

Xtreme Prototypes next-gen addons no longer include 2D panels found in older products. They are replaced by full-3D virtual cockpits.

Full-3D virtual cockpits no longer have low-resolution, flat 2D gauges; they contain fully modeled high-resolution 3D gauges.

You must be in the virtual cockpit view to operate this addon. If your addon appears to have no virtual cockpit, make sure you have selected the VIRTUAL COCKPIT view in the simulator, not the (2D) cockpit view. The virtual cockpit is available from the "Views" menu item on your simulation platform's top menu bar or by pressing the "F9" key. You can cycle forward or backward the different views with both the "S" key and the "A" key. You can also select the virtual cockpit as the default cockpit view when configuring your simulation platform.

Note: By default, the addon will switch automatically to the virtual cockpit view when the X-15A-2 SE aircraft is loaded at the beginning of a new flight.

Fully Functional 3D Virtual Cockpits

The X-15A-2 Special Edition v2.0 addon contains three fully functional 3D virtual cockpits, one for each aircraft model. Virtual cockpits allow for a total 3D immersion into the X-15 flying environment.

Each virtual cockpit contains over 1500 parts and 300 custom systems, animated gauges, switches, levers, light indicators and flight instruments with integrated tooltips (small yellow rectangles with text that appear under the mouse pointer that contain the description of the underlying device).

Each cockpit was meticulously built to conform as closely as possible to the cabin of the real X-15A-2 rocket plane. All levers, sticks, knobs and switches in the cockpit are clickable, including the fully functional circuit breakers on the right console, and can be used to simulate nearly every step and procedure required in a typical X-15 mission. For example:

• Aircraft servicing (all three propellants and gases)
• APU/generator/hydraulic pump operation
• Propellant tank pressurization
• Engine precool and prime
• Turbopump operation
• Rocket ignition sequence
• Monitoring of pressure gauges
• Propellant jettison

Each cockpit contains many instrument panels:

• Main panel with two wing panels (engine and flight instruments and control, electrical and hydraulic instruments and controls, light indicators, cockpit instruments, engine timer, landing gear handle, emergency canopy handle, SAS panel, retractable pitot handle)

• Left console (VPJ control box and lever, flap switch, RAS lights, BCS control stick, engine throttle, speed brake handle, drop tank controls, radio panel, pressure suit controls, left side control box)

• Right console (breaker panel, cooling lever and switches, right control stick, canopy handle)

• Center pedestal (instrumentation control panel, ram-air levers, DC voltmeter)

Cockpit spotlights are attached to the inside of canopy.

Another interesting feature is the possibility to make the canopy "invisible", creating the impression that the aircraft is equipped with a bubble glass canopy. Though not realistic in the case of the X-15, the invisible canopy mode gives the pilot a better outside view, especially during landing. To make the canopy invisible, simply pull (drag with the mouse) the yellow canopy internal emergency jettison handle [32, fig. 5-1] on the instrument panel right wing. Note that the canopy internal emergency jettison handle does not open the canopy. It simply makes it invisible while the simulator thinks it's still on. Try it while in space for a spectacular view of the Earth, the Moon and the stars.

In addition of making the canopy invisible, the engine timer [11, fig. 5-1] (on the middle top section of the main instrument panel) and the seat headrest [1, fig. 4-2] can also be made invisible. To make the engine timer invisible, click the white label [75, figure 5-1] located to the right side of the timer, on the main instrument panel. To make the headrest invisible, click the pilot's chute container [2, fig. 4-2] located in the upper section of the seat.

For more information about how to make the canopy and other parts invisible in the virtual cockpit, refer to "How to Switch Window Types and Configure the VC".

Other 3D virtual cockpit features include:

• Three fully animated control sticks (user-selectable by clicking the handle)
• Fully animated rudder pedals
• Elliptical canopy windows on all models (default)
• Animated eyelid on the left canopy window (with internal lever, on some aircraft)
• Dynamic ablator spills on selected windows (on pink and white models only)
• Optional trapezoidal windows (user-selectable by clicking the fuse on the main panel) for a better outside view from the cockpit
• Detailed canopy cover with floodlights, electrical and antifogging systems, animated valves, electrical wires and nitrogen pipes, animated head restraint and movie camera

• Fully animated 3D attitude indicator (pitch, roll, azimuth)

• Functional windshield heating (antifogging) system, complete with animated valve handles and dynamic frost/fog textures on the windshield
• Detailed ejection seat with animated handles, buttons, armrests, foot restraints, deflectors and oxygen gauge and selector switch (simply click the handles and buttons)
• Modified X-15 radio for use in the simulator (VHF COM1, COM2, ADF, VOR)
• Optional radio-magnetic indicator (user-selectable by clicking the glass on the dynamic pressure gauge [10, fig. 5-1] on the main panel)
• Access to the default (simulator) Garmin 500 GPS unit

In this section:

Cockpit Configuration

How to Activate the Switches, Buttons, Knobs and Levers

How to Move the Pilot's Viewpoint in the Virtual Cockpit

How to Switch Window Types and Configure the VC

See also:

Instrument Panels