Developer Xtreme Prototypes, also known as XTPRO, has released its first aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, a Study Level Gates Learjet 25 Classic SE.
The Gates Learjet 25 is a small business jet developed in the late 1960s as a stretched version of the Learjet 24. Performance was one of the Learjet 25’s standout features, powered by twin General Electric CJ610 turbojet engines, it could cruise at around 450–475 knots and reach a service ceiling of about 51,000 feet. Range varied between 1,500 and 2,000 nautical miles depending on the load and conditions, and it could also carry up to 10 passengers.
Xtreme Prototypes’ rendition features a highly detailed interior and exterior model, a genuine 20 Series 3D Wwise soundset with over 100 individual sounds, a retrofitted cockpit built around the GNS 530 with steam gauges modelled in 3D, hundreds of animations, realistic lighting including dimmers, custom systems covering electrics, pressurisation, hydraulics, anti-ice, fuel system (including cross-feeding, and wingtip tanks fuel jettison system), automatic flight control system (AFCS) with autopilot, flight director, dual yaw damper, and speed hold mode, avionics, radios, and classic navigation systems: COM1, COM2, NAV1, NAV2, ADF1, ADF2, transponder, DME, marker beacons and much, much more.
The full feature list can be found below.
You can purchase the Xtreme Prototypes Gates Learjet Model 25 Classic SE for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (also compatible with 2024) from their website for CAN$49.95 (Approx $36.06, £26.00).
Xtreme Prototypes Learjet Model 25 Features
14 aircraft variations inspired by actual and fictitious models and liveries*:
- (USA Demo) White, Black, Grey and Red (fictitious tail number N25XP)
- (AUS) Grey, White and Black (fictitious tail number VH-KVXP)
- (BRA) Green, Yellow and Blue (fictitious tail number PR-KBHXP)
- (CAN) White, Turquoise and Red (fictitious tail number C-KJVXP)
- (CHL) Blue, Grey and Yellow (fictitious tail number CC-KFGXP)
- (DEU) White, Grey and Turquoise (fictitious tail number D-GFXP)
- (FRA) White, Blue, Red and Grey (fictitious tail number F-QAXP)
- (GBR) White, Blue and Red (fictitious tail number G-AGXP)
- (MEX) White, Brown and Black (fictitious tail number XA-KZXP)
- (NASA Research) White and Blue (fictitious tail number N617XP)
- (USA) Black, Orange and White (fictitious tail number N384XP)
- (USA Charter) Red, White and Blue (fictitious tail number N256XP)
- (USA) Red, White, Blue and Gold (fictitious tail number N958XP)
- (US Army) Green Camo (fictitious tail number 68076XP)
*: All liveries are imaginary, though some may be inspired by actual aeroplane liveries. Any match with actual tail numbers is a pure coincidence. See Appendix 7 in the manual.
Flight Model Features
Optimised 20 Series flight dynamics to simulate the performance of a high-powered civilian jet aircraft, within the present limitations and capabilities of the available simulation platforms:
- Two General Electric CJ610-8A single-spool turbojet engines (2,950-pound static thrust at sea level)
- Service ceiling: 45,000 ft.
- Absolute ceiling: 51,000 ft.
- Maximum speed: 359 KIAS
- Maximum Mach: Mach 0.82 (at 24,000 ft.)
20 Series Aircraft Systems
The following Learjet 20 Series aircraft systems are simulated to conform as closely as possible to the operation of the real aeroplane, within the present limitations and capabilities of the available simulation platforms:
- Flight controls
- Stall/overspeed warning systems with stick nudger/puller and stick shaker
- Electrical system (can be connected to a GPU available in the simulator)
- Cockpit and cabin lighting systems with independent controls and dimmers, including emergency lighting
- Emergency batteries
- Hydraulic system (including an electric auxiliary hydraulic pump)
- Landing gear, anti-skid system, differential brakes
- Fuel system (including cross-feeding, wingtip tanks, fuel jettison system)
- CJ610-8A power plant
- Fire detection and suppression system
- Pneumatic (high-pressure), bleed air, pressurisation, and environmental control systems
- Air conditioning and cabin temperature (H-valve) system
- Anti-ice system (simulated within the limitations of the available simulation platforms), with ice effects on the windshield, windows, and exterior aircraft surfaces
- Automatic flight control system (AFCS) with autopilot, flight director, dual yaw damper, and speed hold mode (the Lear J.E.T. autopilot is retrofitted to be fully functional in GPS/GNS mode and compatible with the default autopilot available in the simulator)
- RVSM system, complete with digital altimeters/altitude preselectors (ADDUs) with blue VFD display, analogue standby altimeter, and control panel
- Caution and warning system (annunciator panel)
- Avionics, radios, and classic navigation systems: COM1, COM2, NAV1, NAV2, ADF1, ADF2, transponder, DME, marker beacons
- Generic GNS 530 navigation system (see “Aircraft Interior 3D Model Features”, below)
- Generic weather radar 3D model (see “Aircraft Interior 3D Model Features”, below)
- Custom ground proximity warning system (GPWS) with aural alerts
- Emergency gear extension system
- Passenger and crew oxygen system
- Main entry door (fully animated)
Aircraft Exterior Model Features
Fully animated exterior 3D model, inspired by the real Gates Learjet Model 25D aircraft (optimized for MSFS):
- 7 levels of detail (LODs) to improve performance in multiplayer and AI modes
- 4096 x 4096 high-resolution PBR textures
- High-resolution decals and markings
- Unique livery for each aircraft variation (14 liveries in total)
- Movable aerodynamic control surfaces:
- Horizontal stabiliser (moving tail)
- Elevator
- Ailerons with trim and balance tabs
- Flaps
- Vertical stabiliser/rudder with trim tab
- Spoilers
- Fully animated landing gear, complete with flexible hoses, landing and taxi lights, anti-skid system, snubbers, and more
- Fully animated main (passenger and crew) door lower and upper sections
- Detailed CJ610-8A power plant with animated (compressor and turbine) blades and inlet guide vanes
- Fully animated and highly detailed thrust reverser on both engines
- Dynamic lights with real projected light beams:
- Independent left/right 2-intensity landing and taxi lights
- Animated rotating beacon lights (belly, tail)
- Right-wing inspection light
- Recognition lights (optional on the left wingtip tank)
- Navigation lights (wing, tail)
- Strobe lights (wing, tail)
- Animated stall vanes on the nose
- Optional nose boom with animated vanes
- Three user-selectable pilots (with headset and optional sunglasses)
- “Remove before flight” (parking) items
Aircraft Interior Model Features
Fully animated interior 3D model of the classic retrofitted GNS 530 cockpit and cabin (optimized for MSFS):
- 8 levels of detail (LODs) to improve performance in multiplayer and AI modes
- High-resolution virtual cockpit with retrofitted instrument panels
- Full-3D animated “steam” gauges, switches, knobs, levers, light indicators, and flight instruments with localised tooltips in both English and French
- New radios with yellow digital VFD front displays and standby frequencies to replace the original sets with analogue displays from the 1960s: COM1, COM2, NAV1, NAV2, ADF1, ADF2, ATC/XPDR
- Fully animated 3D model of a generic GNS 530 navigation system, pre-programmed for the basic GNS 530 that comes with MSFS. Screen, light, buttons and knobs can be programmed to work with most existing and future third-party navigation systems*. Experimentation may be required.
- Fully animated 3D model of a generic weather radar. Dummy radar screen included. Screen, light, buttons and knobs can be programmed to work with most existing and future third-party radars*. Experimentation may be required.
*: Optional third-party GPS/GNS navigation systems and radars are not included and must be purchased separately. - Highly detailed instrument panels:
- Captain’s panel
- Center panel
- Copilot’s panel
- Annunciator panel
- Thrust reverser control panel
- Center pedestal
- 4096 x 4096 high-resolution PBR textures
- Advanced cockpit lighting system:
- Dimmable cockpit/cabin ceiling lights (0-100 % brightness)
- Dimmable map lights (captain’s, copilot’s, controlled independently, 0-100 % brightness)
- Dimmable glareshield yellow flood lights (captain’s side, copilot’s side, controlled independently, 0-100 % brightness)
- Dimmable backlit panels (0-100 % brightness)
- Dimmable annunciators and other panel lights (0-100 % brightness)
- Dimmable landing gear status lights (0-100 % brightness)
- Dimmable instrument lights and post lights with independent controls for captain/centre/copilot instrument panels (0-100 % brightness)
- Cockpit/cabin emergency lighting
- Cabin lighting system (ceiling lights, signs, entry lights, refrigerator blue light, passenger reading lights with individual switches)
Note: Cockpit and cabin environment lights, panel instrument lights, panel post lights and flood lights are true dynamic lights, like in the real world.
- Animated control columns and yokes (hidable, user-selectable), with functional autopilot remote buttons
- Stick nudger/puller and stick shaker with animation and sound
- Animated rudder pedals with differential brakes
- RVSM system, complete with digital altimeters/altitude preselectors (ADDUs) with blue VFD display, analogue standby altimeter, and control panel
- Automatic flight control system (AFCS) with autopilot, flight director, yaw damper and speed hold mode
- NAV1 or GPS/GNS navigation modes
- DME head
- Custom ground proximity warning system (GPWS) with aural alerts
- Lear engine sync spinner
- Analogue and digital clocks with a stopwatch
- Lear Jet Stereo “Jetstar 8” 8-track tape player that plays selected music tracks (a tribute to the inventive genius of Bill Lear)
- Oxygen valves and fan control knob
- Pilot seats with adjustable/retractable armrests
- Optional sheepskin pilot seat covers
- Animated sun visors (foldable, slidable)
- Hidable throttle quadrant
- Thrust reverser subthrottles
- Black leather interior with dark honey beech wood cabinets
- Fully modelled passenger seats, cabin tables with props, cabin toilet, front and rear cabin curtains
- Cabin refrigerator with light, animated door and props
- Cabin TV
Dynamic Lights and Visual Effects
- Cockpit/cabin lights*: panel yellow flood lights, ceiling lights, map lights, instrument lights, panel post lights, passenger reading lights, entry lights, refrigerator light, bounce and ambient lights
*: Cockpit instruments and all interior objects are illuminated with real dynamic lights, like in the real world. - Aircraft lights, some animated: landing, taxi, recognition, navigation, strobes, rotating beacon, wing inspection
- Engine smoke effect
- Engine exhaust heat effect
- Engine contrail effect
- Fuel jettison effect
- Wing vortices and vapour trails
- Windshield and windows rain effect
- Windshield, windows and structural ice effects
Sound Effects
- Genuine interactive sound package entirely authored in Audiokinetic Wwise (soundbank)
- 20 Series 3D sound set, including starter and engine sounds recorded from the real aircraft and positioned in the 3D space
- Over 80 additional cockpit stereo sound effects, many from the real aircraft: switches, knobs and levers, pneumatic valves, blower fan, alerts and horns, Learjet unique brake sounds, nose wheel steering sound, cabin door, music for the tape player
- More than 100 sounds in total
Miscellaneous
- Easy MSFS method of installation (“Community Folder”)
- 8 basic cockpit presets (*.flt) for the different phases of the flight, including “Cold and Dark” (hangar and parking/apron) and “Auto Start” (taxi, runway, climb, cruise, approach, final)
- 24 interior camera views
- 14 exterior camera views
- A 300-page flight manual available in English or French (printable PDF format, requires Adobe Reader)
- Advanced MSFS localised instrument tooltips in English or French
- Customisation Kit, including a Paintkit for creating your own aircraft liveries
