Chapter 10: Features and Flight in X-Plane Airshow

X-Plane Airshow is unique among the X-Plane apps in that it allows users to define a “flight routine,” then fly in formation with a recording of that routine. This sounds simple enough, but airshow flying is some of the most difficult in the world—both in X-Plane and in real life. When you finish flying the routine, the simulator will score you based on how tightly you held the formation.

X-Plane Airshow includes all the standard X-Plane Mobile features, including time of day, weight and balance, and weather controls.

X-Plane Airshow is extremely challenging. How high can you score?

Aircraft
The following aircraft are included in X-Plane Airshow:
 * F4U Corsair
 * P-51 Mustang
 * F-86 Sabre
 * F-4 Phantom II
 * F-15 Eagle
 * F/A-18F Super Hornet

The F4U Corsair is a World War II-era high-speed fighter. Because of its taildragger landing gear configuration, it is very tricky to land. The pilot must land in a full-stall, nose-high attitude. Be sure to hold the stick at full aft (meaning the device is tilted all the way back) on the takeoff roll in this plane in order to hold the tail wheel down for steering authority. The P-51 Mustang was the premier fighter of the Second World War. It must be taken off and landed with the same technique as the Corsair due to the taildragger landing gear.

Note also that both of these World War II-era, propeller-driven fighters have very powerful engines and very large propellers. As a result, the torque delivered by the engine and propeller will try to roll the plane to the left. This is most noticeable at very low airspeeds (when taking off, for example), when the aerodynamic forces created by the ailerons to counteract this are at a minimum. Thus, be prepared to roll hard towards the right (by rolling your iPhone/iPod right) as the plane lifts off and the wheels are no longer supporting the weight of the airplane on the ground. As the craft’s airspeed builds you will be able to use less and less right aileron to counteract the torque from the propeller and engine.

The F-4 Phantom, the king of the “Jet Age,” held fifteen world records during the 1960s (listed near the bottom of this page), among which were a number of fastest times to altitude, the fastest time across the continental US, and the highest zoom climb. It makes for an incredible ride through the canyons at Mach 1.25.

The F-15 Eagle is a tactical fighter designed to maintain air superiority for the United States in the years following the Vietnam War. With a maximum speed over Mach 2.5 at altitude, it has proven a very successful design.

The F-86 Sabre saw a great deal of action during the Korean War, where it battled the Soviet MiG-15s. In the late 1940s, the Sabre was the fastest jet aircraft in the world, reaching a speed of 570 mph in 1948. It eventually saw speeds as high as 680 mph.

The F/A-18F Super Hornet is a larger redesign of the original F/A-18, built originally to replace the Navy’s F-14 Tomcats. It is a versatile fighter still in production.

The table below lists the approximate takeoff speeds for the X-Plane Airshow aircraft.


 * {| width="300" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"


 * + Approximate Takeoff Speeds
 * Aircraft
 * Approx. Takeoff Speed (knots)
 * F4U
 * 85
 * P-51
 * 85
 * F-4
 * 175
 * F-15
 * 150
 * F-86
 * 185
 * F/A-18F
 * 200
 * }
 * F-86
 * 185
 * F/A-18F
 * 200
 * }
 * 200
 * }

Flight Regions
X-Plane Airshow comes with six flight regions.

The Southern California region spans the coast of California from Imperial Beach in the south to Barstow in the northeast to Edwards Air Force Base in the northwest. It includes San Bernardino International (KSBD), San Diego International (KSAN), and Ontario International (KONT) airports.

The Juneau region centers on Juneau International Airport (PAJN). With lots of frigid water and snowy mountains, it makes for a beautiful flight.

Santa Catalina Island forms the center of the Catalina region, with Long Beach and Los Angeles in the north. Prominent airports include Catalina Airport (KAVX) and Los Angeles International Airport, as well as an aircraft carrier located just north of Catalina Island.

The detailed Innsbruck, Austria region includes Innsbruck Airport (LOWI). The city of Innsbruck, nestled as it is in the valley of the Inn River and surrounded by mountains, is an ideal spot to take off from.

The Provo region is bordered by Salt Lake City International Airport in the northwest, with the Strawberry Reservoir and Uinta National Forest in its southeastern corner.

The fictitious Canyons region is filled with five airports and lots and lots of canyons.

Flying an Airshow
To fly an airshow routine, first pick an aircraft and fly a routine, starting at the airport of your choosing. This routine can be as simply as taking off, turning around, and coming in for a landing. (Note that the ADF in the bottom center of your screen will always point the way to the nearest airport.)

After flying the routine, open the Settings menu (per Chapter 2) and tap the Save This Flight button, seen below. When you do so, the button will change to read “Your flight is saved.”


 * [[Image:Airshow_Save_flight.jpg]]

With the flight saved, take off from the same airport using the same aircraft. For instance, if you just finished a flight from Southern California’s default airport, tap the KONT 08R takeoff button. The simulator will put you on the runway you indicated, with a copy of your aircraft just ahead of you. This plane will fly the exact path at the exact same speeds that you flew just a moment ago. This time, though, your goal is to hold formation with this aircraft.

Your goal is to stay within 10 meters of your recorded flight, with only a small angular error.