Stephen Posted June 8 Report Share Posted June 8 NEWS! - Aircraft Updated : Polaris AM-FIB v4.0 by vSkyLabs This was the first dedicated X-Plane 12 aircraft (is it an aircraft or a flying boat?) from vSkyLabs, but no fear as it is X-Plane 11 compatible as well. The Polaris AM-FIB ("Amphibious Flying Inflatable Boat") is an Italian amphibious flying boat ultralight trike, that was designed and produced by Polaris Motor of Gubbio. The aircraft was introduced in 2003 and was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. At the present (as for 2024), the company who is behind the 'AM-FIB' trike is now 'New Polaris FIB'. The AM-FIB was developed from the Polaris FIB as a result of customer demand. It was designed to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category, including the category's maximum gross weight of 450 kg (992 lb). The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 406 kg (895 lb). It features a cable-braced hang glider-style high-wing, weight-shift controls, a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit, retractable tricycle landing gear mounted to its inflatable boat hull and a single engine in pusher configuration. The aircraft's single surface wing is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing and covered in Dacron sailcloth. The 11.15 m (36.6 ft) span wing is supported by a single tube-type kingpost and uses an "A" frame weight-shift control bar. The powerplant is a twin cylinder, liquid-cooled, two-stroke, dual-ignition 64 hp (48 kW) Rotax 582 engine. The main landing gear is extended and retracted with a manual crank, while the nose gear uses a catch-and-rope mechanism. This is a big overhaul for the ubiquitous trike from vSkyLabs, and the details of v4.0 covers; Flight dynamics: Completely Re-engineered to comply with the latest X-Plane 12 flight model. Graphics: Thorough PBR adjustments for latest version of X-Plane 12 Sounds: Enhanced FMOD 2.0 sound package, including improved engine and prop sounds, wind sounds and improvements in overall sounds experience. Project Main Features: VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot' Project: designed for use with X-Plane cutting edge flight model environment, features superb flight dynamics with authentic performance and flight handling characteristics. VSKYLABS development for X-Plane approved by 'New Polaris FIB' company (however, it is an independent VSKYLABS project, not affiliated with 'New Polaris FIB'). Real-Physics, incorporating weight shifting and wing simulation of a hang-glider trike. Unique trike flying aspects are being simulated: stalls, slips, spins and tumbling. Designed with the focus on control and handling characteristics, excellent for basic and advanced hang glider trike training / conversion from fixed wing aircraft. Additional passenger which can be removed, to simulate light vs heavy trike operations. Amphibian aircraft - operation in water/land and snow/ice. Built for VR: development was tailored specifically for VR, and optimized for 2D usage. 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). This project is part of the VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot' series, designed specifically for use with X-Plane cutting edge Experimental Flight Model. Images are courtesy of vSkyLabs... the Polaris AM-FIB is available for both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11, however the XP11 version does not have the effects and features that is available in X-Plane 12. ___________________________ Yes! the Polaris AM-FIB v4.0 by vSkyLabs is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : Polaris AM-FIB v4.0 Price is US$24.00 On sale: US$24.00 US$19.20 you Save:US$4.80(20%) Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Current Version: 4.0 (June 7th 2024) ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 8th June 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...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.