Just Flight has released the Avro Vulcan for X-Plane 11. As we originally said, the Avro Vulcan was a high-altitude, long-range strategic bomber which was an integral part of the Bomber Command’s V-Force for the Royal Air Force during the 1950s and 1960s as a nuclear deterrent. Vulcan saw military service up until 1982 and was retired from service completely in 1991. The Vulcan to the Sky campaign managed to get XH558’s return to flight approved in 2008 for a further five years until the aircraft was finally grounded on 28th October 2015.
Despite Vulcan being stood ready to scramble with a single, live nuclear hydrogen bomb within two minutes, 24 hours a day during the Cold War’s most crucial time, Vulcan only saw hostile action in the 1980s during the Falklands conflict. Operation Black Buck was the most famous sortie for the Vulcan, which saw the aircraft drop conventional bombs on the Falkland Islands during a 16-hour, 8,000-mile return journey from RAF Ascension Island.
Just Flight’s representation of the aircraft includes an accurately modelled version of the Avro Vulcan B Mk2, K.2 and MRR built using real-world aircraft plans and comprehensive photography of the real aircraft (XM655). Featuring many animations such as crew doors, bomb bay doors, deployable ram-air-turbines and animated pilots. The cockpit is modelled in full 3D with highly detailed textures, animations and more – all with performance in mind. Various systems such as the fuel and electrical systems are completely custom modelled all providing a lifelike experience.
A total of 17 paint schemes are included. You can read the manual here.
You can buy it now from Just Flight for £39.99 / €49.95 / $49.99.
Feature List
MODEL
- Accurately modelled Avro Vulcan B Mk2, K.2 and MRR built using real-world aircraft plans and comprehensive photography of the real aircraft (XM655)
- K.2 air-to-air refuelling variant with Hose Drum Unit (HDU) and animated hose
- Maritime Radar Reconnaissance (MRR) variant with air sampling pods and nose blade aerials
- Many detailed animations, including:
– Crew door
– Bomb bay doors (with realistic deployment speed)
– Multi-position airbrakes (accurately linked to landing gear position)
– Drogue and main brake-chutes
– Deployable ram-air-turbine (RAT)
– Variable-speed wipers
– Tilting main landing gear
– Flying controls (including elevons)
– Animated pilots
– Retractable taxi/landing lights (with realistic ‘blowback’ above 180 knots) - A range of payload options, selectable via a custom 2D panel:
– Blue Steel nuclear stand-off missile
– 1,000lb bombs
– WE.177 nuclear bomb
– Saddle bomb bay tanks
– Cylindrical bomb bay tanks - Ability to configure external model options for each livery – refuelling probe, 201/301 engines, TFR dome, modern aerials and tail fin ECM, HDU, air sampling pods and aerials
- Olympus 201 and 301 engine nozzle types
- Ground equipment, including Houchin GPU and Palouste compressor for engine start, and engine covers and chocks
- 4096×4096 textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity
- PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism
- Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features
COCKPIT
- A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled ejection seats and screw heads – every instrument is constructed fully in high polygon 3D with smooth animations
- Cockpit textures feature wear and tear, with PBR effects, based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment
- Interactive engine start checklist
- Checklists for every stage of flight
- Panel state system which will automatically save the panel state whenever a flight is saved and reload the panel state whenever that flight is loaded
- Aircraft configuration system that will allow you to choose between ‘cold & dark’ or ‘ready for take-off’
- Realistic V/UHF radio unit – save and recall commonly used frequencies
- Fully functioning magnetic indicators, warning lights and push-to-test buttons
- Numerous interactive animated blinds and visors
- Realistic flight instruments, including direction horizon, beam compass, control surface and CG indicators
- Option to activate flashlight from within pop-up window, to aid in those pitch-black cold and dark starts at night
- Option to remove window and instrument reflection effects
- All knob, switch and button animations routed through plugin logic, for optimum movement fidelity and sound synchronisation
- No detail is too small – even the option to switch between day and night modes on the landing gear indicator is included!
AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
- Numerous custom-coded systems:
– Fuel system – fuel tank groups, transfer and cross-feed
– Electrical system – alternators, Airbourne Auxiliary Power Plant (AAPP), Ram Air Turbine (RAT), synchroniser busbar and 2D AEO panels for controlling the AAPP, RAT and secondary supplies
– Flying controls system – Powered Flying Controls (PFCs), Mach trimmer and auto-stabilisers
– Engine start system – Rapid or normal engine starting, cross-bleed and Palouste external air supplies
– Hydraulic system, including the electrically-operated hydraulic power pack unit (EHPP)
– Oxygen system, including oxygen regulator system with realistic consumption based on altitude – watch the oxygen quantity drop with usage
– Air conditioning system – cabin pressurisation and air conditioning, emergency depressurisation controls
– Thermal anti-icing system, including airframe and engine anti-icing
– Autopilot, including pitch and bank hold - Airbrakes, bomb doors and brake-chute can be operated using standard control assignments for ease of use
LIVERIES
The Vulcan B Mk2 is supplied with eleven paint schemes covering its life in RAF service:
- XM655 (XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society)
- XL426 (Vulcan Restoration Trust)
- XH562 (Kiwi roundels)
- XL361 (anti-flash white)
- XH538 (white belly)
- XM607 (Red Flag)
- XH534 (No.230 OCU, RAF Coltishall)
- XM600 (No.9 Squadron, RAF Cottesmore)
- XM607 (Black Buck)
- XL426 (anti-flash white)
- XH558
The Vulcan K.2 is supplied with four paint schemes:
- XM571 (50 Squadron)
- XL445 (50 Squadron)
- XJ825 (50 Squadron)
- XH558 (50 Squadron)
The Vulcan MRR is supplied with two paint schemes:
- XH560 (27 Squadron)
- XH534 (27 Squadron)
OTHER FEATURES
- Realistic and accurate flight dynamics based on real world performance and handling data
- Authentic sound set, generated using X-Plane’s state-of-the-art FMOD sound system, including the distinctive Olympus 301 howl!
- Custom sounds for bomb doors, airbrakes, entrance door, switches, wipers and more, featuring accurate location placement of sounds in the stereo spectrum, 3D audio effects, atmospheric and distance effects, adaptive Doppler, exterior sounds spill in when the crew door is open, different sound characteristics depending on viewing angle etc.
- Dedicated pop-up window for sound mixing, allowing for individual adjustment of the volume of exterior sounds, in-cockpit sounds and various effects
- Comprehensive manual with panel guide and performance data
- PSD Paint Kit included so you can create your own paint schemes
- Interactive logbook panel for logging your flight details (X-Plane native)
- Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism
