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Aircraft Update : North American B25J Mitchell v1.1 by Khamsin Studio


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Aircraft Update : North American B25J Mitchell v1.1 by Khamsin Studio

 

The excellent North American B25J Mitchell has been updated by Khamsin to version 1.1 (v1.1).

 

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The most notable change with the update is that there is now a new variant to compliment the original "Bomber" version that had the glass panel nose. This variant is called the "Strafer" and now the nose is fully enclosed. Here is the original "Bomber" version...

 

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And the "Strafer"...  In detail.

 

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The "Strafer" also comes with three new liveries - (top) Confederate - Devil Dog (certainly my favorite), (lower) Hot Gen - Betty’s Dream (default livery)

 

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Since the release of the original B25J Mitchell there has been an extra three liveries added to the (Bomber) package as well...   First the three liveries with the original package: (top) Martha Jean (default), (lower) VMB 611 - Briefing Time.

 

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The three new liveries are: (Top) Apache Princess, (Lower) Pacific Prowler - Miss Mitchell

 

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There has been a few aircraft modifications as well to v1.1, but nothing worth noting.

 

This B25J Mitchell is still a top rate version of this iconic aircraft, Detailing is excellent...  In the cockpit:

 

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And the excellent internal structure...

 

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Features include:

  • Highly detailed and animated
  • Crisp and easy to use panel and cockpit functions
  • WWII pilot copilot and gunners
  • Checklist on panel
  • Operational bomb bays
  • Advanced Fuel Management (the B-25 has 7 tanks)

The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades. The B-25 was named in honor of General Billy Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. By the end of its production, nearly 10,000 B-25s in numerous models had been built.

 

An improvement of the NA-40B, dubbed the NA-62, was the basis for the first actual B-25. Due to the pressing need for medium bombers by the army, no experimental or service-test versions were built. Any necessary modifications were made during production runs, or to existing aircraft at field modification centers around the world.

 

A significant change in the early days of B-25 production was a redesign of the wing. In the first nine aircraft, a constant-dihedral wing was used, in which the wing had a consistent, straight, slight upward angle from the fuselage to the wingtip. This design caused stability problems, and as a result, the dihedral angle was nullified on the outboard wing sections, giving the B-25 its slightly gull wing configuration. Less noticeable changes during this period included an increase in the size of the tail fins and a decrease in their inward cant. A total of 6,608 B-25s were built at North American's Fairfax Airport plant in Kansas City, Kansas.

 

The majority of B-25s in American service were used in the Pacific. It fought on Papua New Guinea, in Burma and in the island hopping campaign in the central Pacific. It was in the Pacific that the aircraft’s potential as a ground-attack aircraft was discovered and developed. The jungle environment reduced the usefulness of standard-level bombing, and made low-level attack the best tactic. The ever-increasing amount of forward firing guns was a response to this operational environment, making the B-25 a formidable strafing aircraft.

 

In Burma, the B-25 was often used to attack Japanese communication links, especially bridges in central Burma. It also helped supply the besieged troops at Imphal in 1944. In the Pacific, the B-25 proved itself to be a very capable anti-shipping weapon, sinking many ships. Later in the war, the distances between islands limited the usefulness of the B-25, although it was used against Guam and Tinian. It was also used against Japanese-occupied islands that had been bypassed by the main campaign, as which had happened in the Marshall Islands.

 

The B-25 was a safe and forgiving aircraft to fly. With an engine out, 60° banking turns into the dead engine were possible, and control could be easily maintained down to 145 mph (230 km/h). However, the pilot had to remember to maintain engine-out directional control at low speeds after takeoff with rudder; if this maneuver was attempted with ailerons, the aircraft would snap out of control. The tricycle landing gear made for excellent visibility while taxiing. The only significant complaint about the B-25 was the extremely high noise level produced by its engines; as a result, many pilots eventually suffered from varying degrees of hearing loss.

 

The high noise level was due to design and space restrictions in the engine cowlings which resulted in the exhaust "stacks" protruding directly from the cowling ring and partly covered by a small triangular fairing. This arrangement directed exhaust and noise directly at the pilot and crew compartments. Crew members and operators on the airshow circuit frequently comment that "the B-25 is the fastest way to turn aviation fuel directly into noise". Many B-25s now in civilian ownership have been modified with exhaust rings that direct the exhaust through the outboard bottom section of the cowling.

 

The Mitchell was an exceptionally sturdy aircraft that could withstand tremendous punishment. One well-known B-25C of the 321st Bomb Group was nicknamed "Patches" because its crew chief painted all the aircraft's flak hole patches with high-visibility zinc chromate primer. By the end of the war, this aircraft had completed over 300 missions, was belly-landed six times and sported over 400 patched holes. The airframe was so bent askew that straight-and-level flight required 8° of left aileron trim and 6° of right rudder, causing the aircraft to "crab" sideways across the sky.

 

An interesting characteristic of the B-25 was its ability to extend range by using one-quarter wing flap settings. Since the aircraft normally cruised in a slightly nose-high attitude, about 40 gal (150 l) of fuel was below the fuel pickup point and thus unavailable for use. The flaps-down setting gave the aircraft a more level flight attitude, which resulted in this fuel becoming available, thus slightly extending the aircraft's range.

 

By the time a separate United States Air Force was established in 1947, most B-25s had been consigned to long-term storage. However, a select number continued in service through the late 1940s and 1950s in a variety of training, reconnaissance and support roles. Its principal use during this period was for undergraduate training of multi-engine aircraft pilots slated for reciprocating engine or turboprop cargo, aerial refueling or reconnaissance aircraft. Still others were assigned to units of the Air National Guard in training roles in support of Northrop F-89 Scorpion and Lockheed F-94 Starfire operations. TB-25J-25-NC Mitchell, 44-30854, the last B-25 in the USAF inventory, assigned at March AFB, California as of March 1960, was flown to Eglin AFB, Florida, from Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, on 21 May 1960, it was the last flight by a USAF B-25. (wikipedia)

 

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So this is a great update to a great aircraft. Great to fly and a perfect rendition of a warrior with class...

 

The North American B25J Mitchell v1.1 update is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store

 

Price is currently US$24.95 : Get the - North American B25 Mitchell - Here. 

 

The v1.1 update is free to all users that have purchased the North American B25J Mitchell. Just go to to your X-Plane.Org Store account and login

 

Documents and Install, Download is 250.60mb, that is unzipped into your fighter folder of 311.70mb. There is one pdf manual (20 pages) 

 

Support forum for the - Khamsin - Planes and Sceneries

 

Update By Stephen Dutton

 

22nd May 2014

 

Technical Requirements:

Windows , MAC OS 10.6 (or higher) or Linux

X-Plane 10.20 (or higher) - 32 and 64 bit compatible

4GB RAM/512Mb VRAM (1Gb Recommended)- 250MB available hard disk space

Version 1.1 (last updated May 21st 2014)

 

Specifications:Computer System:    

- 2.66 Ghz Intel Core i5 iMac 27”

- 6 Gb 1067 Mhz DDR3

- ATI Radeon HD 4850 512mb

 

Software:   

- Mac OS Mavericks 10.9.2

- X-Plane 10 Global ver 10.25 (final)

Addons

- Saitek x52 Pro system Joystick and Throttle

Change Log for version 1.1:

- Added a Strafer version of B-25J Mitchell (solid nose)

- 3 new liveries for Strafer version

 

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