Starting your Flight Simulation Platform

Starting Prepar3D® v4 ("locked spot" outside view). X-15A-2 SE before takeoff at Edwards AFB.

The X-15A-2 Special Edition v2.0 is an add-on software package which requires Microsoft ® Flight Simulator X with Acceleration Expansion Pack (or Flight Simulator Gold fully installed) or Lockheed Martin ® Prepar3D ® to be installed on your computer. The software is not a stand-alone product and cannot be used without the underlying simulation platform.

Refer to "Minimum System Requirements" for more information.

Starting your Flight Simulation Platform

Make sure that your simulation platform and the X-15A-2 SE addon are properly installed on your computer before you proceed (refer to "Software Installation").

Make sure your joystick and pedals are properly connected to your computer and have been previously tested with your simulation platform. A joystick is essential to fly the X-15A-2 SE addon. Rudder pedals are optional.

Make sure your mouse has a center wheel. A "wheelmouse" is essential to actuate some controls in the virtual cockpit, such as 3-position switches.

Start your simulation platform (Microsoft® Flight Simulator X or Lockheed Martin® Prepar3D®).

Do not load, create or start a new flight until you are instructed to do so.

Note: The user interface may vary between Microsoft® Flight Simulator X and Lockheed Martin® Prepar3D®. However the commands and settings are essentially the same.

Important

Do not use "CTRL+E" to start the engine — The simulator's autostart command ("CTRL+E") should not be used to start the X-15A-2 SE engine. For a quick start, use the automatic ignition sequence start button [76, fig. 5-1], located on the main instrument panel instead. This is similar to pressing "CTRL+E" with conventional aircraft. However, the red button initiates all X-15A-2 rocket aircraft systems, including the special three-propellant fuel management system.

All systems are reset when a new X-15A-2 aircraft is loaded — Correct ignition sequence procedures (including clicking the autostart button) must be performed each time a new X-15A-2 aircraft is loaded in the simulator. This is because the X-15A-2 SE addon uses its own proprietary internal variables in addition the simulator's variables. Unfortunately, due to software limitations, these custom variables are not memorized by the simulator between flights. If the panels appear "frozen" after a new aircraft was loaded while in flight, simply end the current flight and start a new flight with the new X-15A-2 aircraft.