NEWS! - X-Plane 12 : Revolution Mini-500 by vSkyLabs

[Stephen]

NEWS! - X-Plane 12 : Revolution Mini-500 by vSkyLabs

 

 

Oddity aircraft are part of X-Plane's DNA. And vSkyLabs love producing project style aircraft. This one is the Revolution Mini-500, outwardly it looks like a small Hughes 500, but it isn't, but an American single seat light helicopter, designed and built in the 90's by Dennis Fetters, as a home-built kit.

 

The X-Plane version of the Mini-500 was released back in January 2019. This is the fully upgraded X-Plane 12 version, is not just an adjustment to configure to fly the helicopter in X-Plane 12, but a full redesign of the original project, details include...

 

• light dynamics latest tuneup to fall in line with the latest X-Plane 12 related helicopter simulation physics.
• Sounds - new sounds (FMOD 2.0).
• 3-d external - skids flex animation was added.
• 3-d external - tail-vibration animation was added.
• 3-d external - (experimental) damage due mast-bumping visualization was added.
• 3-d external - rotor-blades flex animation was added.
• 3-d external - rotor-disc visualization refinements.
• 3-d int - new PBR textures for most cockpit elements.
• 3-d int - new higher resolution airspeed indicator plate.
• 3-d int - new higher resolution VSI indicator plate.
• 3-d int - new Altimeter with dual pressure system.
• 3-d int - improved VSL autopilot LED system.
• 3-d int - new built-in avitab support.
• 3-d int - new ignition switch.
• 3-d int - fixes to yaw-string.
• 3-d int - new hour-meter.
• 3-d int - added better animation to fuel-tank selector.
• 3-d int - new high resolution mapping for canopy pieces (in and out).
• Avionics - new GNS 430.
• Avionics - new Transponder.
• Avionics - autopilot, gps, radios are wired via 'avionics' switch.
• VR interaction - new/improved VR interaction for the entire cockpit.
• Manual/POH - new manual (please read before flight).
• All-around refinements and optimizations.

 

Aircraft features include;

• VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot' Project - Professional-grade physics, handling and performance characteristics.
• Highly defined and engineered flight dynamics model of the Revolution Mini-500, built around the powerful X-Plane flight model. The Mini-500 performance was analyzed by experts.
• Fully functional VR (Virtual Reality).
• Multi-Layer FMOD sound pack, composed with actual recordings of the Mini-500 helicopter engine and rotor sounds.
• Unique aspects of the Mini-500 helicopter are simulated and are part of the flying experience by definition: Manual engine/rotor RPM management, low rotor-inertia aspects, in-flight nose tuck during engine-stop, rotor RPM management, retreating blade stall condition (Vne), typical Mast bumping, typical autorotation capability and more.
• The VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot': Revolution Mini-500 is designed as if it was a real kit-built helicopter, awaiting for it's first test-flight. Was it built exactly as instructed? Will it fly as expected? wow there is only one way to find out! You will have to get familiar with it step by step...or you might get yourself into serious trouble when mistreating it. Mastering the Mini-500 will sure make you a better helicopter pilot!
• The original pilot's manual and other 1st hand references contributed by the Mini-500 real-world  designer were one of the core-materials during development of this project, and the VSKYLABS Mini- 500 pilot's manual includes the actual data and information of the actual Mini-500 manual.
• Autoupdater based on the SkunkCrafts autoupdater (XP12 only) - all updates are being pushed smoothly without the need to re-download the entire base package (base package will be updated every  once in a while to minimize the gap).
• The project is under constant development.
• Highly responsive VSKYLABS support forums.

 

 

The vSkylab philosophy is that you are purchasing an ongoing project, so any aircraft you purchase is not fully completed or is completed to 100%, that is the deal you sign up for to get access to the aircraft and all the development is free and ongoing throughout the X-Plane 12 version. These projects are under constant development: the development road-map is including flight model refinements, enhanced systems depth, additional liveries and other improvements.

 

This aircraft is also available for X-Plane 11 (obviously with out the dynamics and effects of X-Plane 12)

 

Images are courtesy of vSkyLabs...

 

The Revolution Mini-500 by vSkyLabs is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore

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Yes! - the Revolution Mini-500 Project by vSkyLabs is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :

 

Revolution Mini-500

Price is US$26.50 (Currently on sale for only US13.20!)

 

Requirements

X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11

Windows, Mac or Linux

4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended

Current version: 3.0  (March 9th 2023)

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News by Stephen Dutton

11th February 2023

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