Request More planes

I know Orbiter is space simulator, but it's fun to fly planes in it. I think there should be more planes compatible with Orbiter 2016/2024.
I would like to see SAAB J-35 Draken for example.
My Cessna seems to work fine, exept the Sounds (set for Orbitersound, not yet for XRSound)

So, you can install Orbitersound 5.1 and Try.
Else, you will have few wrong sounds (like motor engine is like a rocket) and may be few mute sounds
 
My Cessna seems to work fine, exept the Sounds (set for Orbitersound, not yet for XRSound)

So, you can install Orbitersound 5.1 and Try.
Else, you will have few wrong sounds (like motor engine is like a rocket) and may be few mute sounds
Wow that's very good plane! I tried it in Orbiter2016. (I am just forgetting 2024 exists)
 
Agreed 100% with OP! I have a blast flying airplanes like the T-38 in this sim. Hell, even the Delta Glider in atmosphere across the entire planet.

More planes the better!

In fact, it would be incredible if someone made a compatible SR-71 for Orbiter 2016 / 2024 with a decent virtual cockpit.
 
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in fact, it would be incredible if someone made a compatible SR-71 for 2016 / 2024 with a decent virtual cockpit.

That would be a project that I would really like (since it happens on the edge of space), but I won't do myself this year. Everything more complex than a cheap one weekend fun project doesn't agree with my plans for 2025.
 
That would be a project that I would really like (since it happens on the edge of space), but I won't do myself this year. Everything more complex than a cheap one weekend fun project doesn't agree with my plans for 2025.
You're going to want a proper air breathing jet engine model for this too. I happen to know a guy 😎
 
You're going to want a proper air breathing jet engine model for this too. I happen to know a guy 😎

I think I also know that one guy.:whistle:

But trust me, I wanted to focus my limited freetime on doing the North American Rockwell / General Electrics proposal for the Space Shuttle before the STS budget was slain.... which have H2-fueled GE CF6-50 turbofans (which in turn have a German contribution by MTU). And that just because it greatly applies the "rule of cool" to before Musk started presenting marital hygiene articles as solution for everything....
 
There's a free model of the SR-71 here. It has one cabin whereas I saw SR-71 with two cabins, but I think that's not a problem

I opened it with Blender. Textures are presented. It has virtual cockpit with instruments. It seems there're separeted meshes that need to be animated:

Без імені.pngБез імені2.pngБез імені3.png

I suppose it could be easy to use in Orbiter, so if anyone wants then it could be a good add-on for Orbiter. ReadMe file in the original archive says that the plane was for using in FlightGear.

It looks the author has many plane models.

ADDED: One more model of the author, arrows of instrumens are separated meshes, so everything seems to be simple for animation and using in Orbiter:

Без імені.pngБез імені2.pngБез імені3.png
 
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How does the the rear seat position look like? Anything there for the RSO? I constly forget that the SR-71 does not much without aerial refueling or a refueling cheat....
 
There's a free model of the SR-71 here. It has one cabin whereas I saw SR-71 with two cabins, but I think that's not a problem

I opened it with Blender. Textures are presented. It has virtual cockpit with instruments. It seems there're separeted meshes that need to be animated:

View attachment 41868View attachment 41870View attachment 41871

I suppose it could be easy to use in Orbiter, so if anyone wants then it could be a good add-on for Orbiter. ReadMe file in the original archive says that the plane was for using in FlightGear.

It looks the author has many plane models.

ADDED: One more model of the author, arrows of instrumens are separated meshes, so everything seems to be simple for animation and using in Orbiter:

View attachment 41872View attachment 41873View attachment 41874
Oh wow, nice find! This looks incredible.

What would it take to get this SR-71 airborne in Orbiter?
 
What would it take to get this SR-71 airborne in Orbiter?

Minimal a config file. And then you have choices.... it can be implemented in Lua, get its own C++ module, etc.

Personally, I would use C++. In that case, a MVP could be done on a single weekend, if a useful aerodynamics model could be researched and does not need to be refined by repeated test flights. If its about getting the cockpit and subsystems working... that could be done in increments from that point on, but should take about two-three years if done on the weekends. If more developers take part and the work could be distributed, things could be done faster.

Many people easily underestimate, that 80% of the work of making an add-on is not programming or making the meshes, but actually researching the data and developing the math...
 
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This would be a nice model for my propeller and engine code. Hmm...

It might require some more supersonic fixes likely to match the performance, its really an extreme case of an jet engine, since it is both turbojet and ramjet at the same time....
 
Minimal a config file. And then you have choices.... it can be implemented in Lua, get its own C++ module, etc.

Personally, I would use C++. In that case, a MVP could be done on a single weekend, if a useful aerodynamics model could be researched and does not need to be refined by repeated test flights. If its about getting the cockpit and subsystems working... that could be done in increments from that point on, but should take about two-three years if done on the weekends. If more developers take part and the work could be distributed, things could be done faster.

Many people easily underestimate, that 80% of the work of making an add-on is not programming or making the meshes, but actually researching the data and developing the math...

With all this SR-71 talk I got reminded that theres a company called Blackbird Simulations which creates addons for MSFS and they are working on an SR-71, full NASSP levels of detail, looks amazing. Its gotta be the most realistic digital form of that airplane to date:


With that being said, I don’t believe for Orbiter it would require that level of detail or realism for this type of addon to be highly enjoyable. Basic ram jet implementation, altitude limit, engine sounds, etc, few buttons to flip in the cockpit and its enough for a v1.0 IMO.
 
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