Stephen Posted March 30 Report Share Posted March 30 NEWS! - Aircraft Released : Junkers A50 Junior S-LSA by vSkyLabs The Junkers A50 already is a legend. As it was the first Sportsplane, and designed by Hermann Pohlmann in the Junkers works. The first flight of the A50 took place on 13 February 1929. It was followed by a further four prototypes, in order to test different engines, but settled on a 80-hp, 5-cylinder radial engine. The A50 was an all metal construction sports plane, conventional in layout, with low cantilever wings, stressed corrugated duralumin covered, the same material as used in the larger Junkers passenger planes.... Two-spar wings could fold rearwards or be detached. Crew of two, sit in tandem, in separate open cockpits (if it flew without a passenger, one cockpit could be closed with a cover). The A50 used a Two-blade propeller and conventional fixed split axle main-wheel landing gear, with a rear skid. Junkers expected to produce 5,000 aircraft, but stopped after manufacturing only 69, of which only 50 were sold. The high prices probably inhibited sales... but the design created a new category in aviation. The aircraft however has not been resigned to the past. In 2022, Junkers Aircraft Works began production of a modernized version of the A50 called the "Junior" for LSA approval. This new A50 features modern avionics, a 100 hp Rotax 912iS engine driving a composite MT-Propeller, and a ballistic parachute. As of May 2023, 27 of these new A50s have sold in Europe, and plans have been made for WACO Aircraft Corporation to produce aircraft for American customers. Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) category is a small 2 seat aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 600kg. The vSkyLabs ‘Test-Pilot’ Junkers A50 Junior for the X-Plane 12 Simulator is based on the modern German version, and equipped with a full-scale and fully-featured X-Plane 12 G1000 avionics in both cockpits. Display configuration consists of a single screen/dual display bundle, which allows ‘flicking’ of PFD/MFD on during flight and on the fly. There will be no X-Plane 11 version. Features Include Superb Flight dynamics: The VSKYLABS Junkers A50 Junior simulation is a highly engineered, robust tail-glider S-LSA simulation model which makes use of X-Plane 12 sophisticated flight dynamics and physics simulation, extracting it to its limits. Simulated systems: The VSKYLABS Junkers A50 Junior features X-Plane 12 latest native features, systems and physics. This assures a 'high airworthiness' in X-Plane, throughout its update process. Some systems may be restricted to X-Plane default systems algorithms. General cockpit configuration: Equipped with a full-scale and fully-featured X-Plane 12 G1000, in a single-screen / dual-display configuration, to allow maximum usability. Equipped with Alpha Systems AOA 'Eagle' indicator replica. Passenger leaning-aside feature for better takeoff and landing forward visibility (by demand via interaction/assignment). Built for VR: development was tailored specifically for VR, and optimized for 2D usage. Perfect fit for beginner and expert pilots: The aircraft is designed to be flown from the back-seat cockpit. This configuration requires higher piloting skills, and it *will* make you a better pilot!. The front-seat cockpit is fully functional as well, with the limitations which are derived from the real-world Junkers A50 Junior front-seat operations). Wonderful FMOD sound package that includes authentic Rotax 912iS engine recordings and an interactive set of dynamic sound layers that will "wrap" your open-cockpit flying experience, setting a whole new level of immersion! 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). Avionics - The new Junkers A50 Junior enjoys a high-tech cockpit interface which blends elegantly into the retro design. The back-seat (the main cockpit used for flying the aircraft) is equipped with Garmin G3X Touch 10”, while the front cockpit can host the Garmin G3X Touch 7” or GI 275 / Winter altimeter / Winter airspeed indicators. This project is part of the VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot' series, designed specifically for use with X-Plane cutting edge Experimental Flight Model. Development note... he VSKYLABS development of the Junkers A50 Junior project for X-Plane flight simulator was approved by ‘JUNKERS Aircraft GmbH’. However, it is an independent VSKYLABS project which is not affiliated with ‘JUNKERS Aircraft GmbH’. Images are courtesy of vSkyLabs... Junkers A50 Junior S-LSA by vSkyLabs is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore! ___________________________ Yes! Junkers A50 Junior S-LSA XP12 by vSkyLabs is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : VSKYLABS Junkers A50 Junior S-LSA XP12 Price is US$29.00, on sale for US$20.30, You Save:$8.70(30%) Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac and Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Current version: 1.0 (March 29th 2024) ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 30th March 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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