It is the year 1909, only six years after the brothers Wright performed the first motorized flight, when Louis Blériot achieved a breakthrough with his 11th attempt of designing a functional flying machine. The Blériot XI was a marvel of technology and the first succesfful monoplane design, featuring many elements that are still in use to today. The Blériot XI won awards, set records and was flown all around the world by the first aviators.
With this addon, Wing42 brings this iconic aircraft to life for Microsoft Flight Simulator, so you can relive the great moments and dangers of aviation in the 1910s. The Wing42 Blériot XI features two variants depicting prominent contemporary specimen of this aircraft. The high fidelity model features high resolution PBR textures, unique and jarring soundpacks - utilising the new WWise sound engine, as well as a ultra-realistic flight model that makes you tighten your grip around the controller until your knuckles turn white.
Flying a Blériot XI means flying with very small margins of error. With the cruise speed being a meager 7 knots higher than your stall speeds, it's a challenge to even keep this aircraft airborne! The light-weight construction, combined with inefficient wing-warping, means that there's very little lateral control and you need to plan every turn carefully, to ensure you don't end up in a spin.
On the other hand, this aircraft set numerous world records for speed, altitude and endurance. Louis Blériot performed the prize-winning flight across the English Channel in his 'Onze' - coincidentally completing the first international flight with this feat. A few years later, Peruvian Jorge Chávez chose the Blériot XI for his flight across the Alps. Swiss aviator Oskar Bider bought a Blériot XI to be the first to fly across the Pyrenees in a record flight of over 500 km from the French town Pau to the Spanish Guadalajara, close to Madrid.
Dive into the Wing42 Blériot XI and recreate these amazing accomplishments for yourself! If you do, you will re-learn how to fly and become a better pilot for it!
Listed here are some of the features you can experience in the current build of the Aircraft.
3D model
High fidelity 3d models with state-of-the-art high resolution PBR textures throughout the aircraft.
Animations
Custom animations for all moving parts, including cables, wing-warping, down to the opening and closing of the exhaust valve of the cylinders of your engine.
Flight model
Super-realistic flight model created by aerodynamics expert Pamela Brooker. The model was meticulously compiled with the help of real-world data analysis and the study of numerous pilot reports. The included "R.I.P. Edition" of the Anzani-powered Blériot XI embodies the most realistic simulation experience.
Choice
Included are two variants of the Blériot XI: the Anzani-(under)powered one that Blériot flew across the English Channel, as well as the more common Gnome-powered variant.
Sound
Two custom sound effects, using the latest WWise technology for an immersive experience
Documentation
Documentation consists of a 20-page manual, also available here. As a bonus: a 39-page e-booklet about the history of this great flying machine, written by aviator Tom Harnish.
Great performance
Liveries
The Wing42 Blériot XI comes in many different liveries and variations:
This aircraft is an amazing bit of history so felt I needed it in my hanger. It hasn't disappointed, I can't say this plane is my go to for slow flying or sight seeing but sometimes you can't beat just going to your local airfield in this beautiful Bleriot XI and just taking off. The learning of how to fly this aircraft also provides so much fun and the manuals are great. I especially love the fact has flight ideas and that this comes with 3 versions so you can be totally realistic or enjoy a slightly easier flight depending on your mood, accessibility needs and skill. Thank you Wing42
This plane is so satisfying to fly, absolutely loving it, can't believe I waited this long to pick this up as this one is going to end up in my list of favourite planes to fly, very unique, nothing quite like it! if you decide to pick this one up, you won't be disappointed!!
I bought this straight from Wing42, but would love to encourage others to get this. Unbelievably fun, lots of attention to detail from the developer. Great documentation, great modeling, and just a joy to experience historic aircraft. Can't go wrong with this!
Amazing module! The model details and the amount of textures (it also has a Swiss texture) are superior. The flightmodel feels nice but tricky due to the low power of the Engines. Speaking of engines: The module comes in 3 versions: The easiest to handle Gnome-Omega engine, the more difficult Anzani engine (both with different cockpit models as well) and the ultra realistic Anzani engine R.I.P. edition. When you want to fly like in the 1910s then this module is a must-buy.
This airplane is utterly brilliant. Don't be intimidated - even its "RIP edition" (one of the three variants, with the most difficult controls) is not as impossible to fly as it sounds, and the more practical Gnome-engined version is even somewhat pleasant to operate for cross-country hops!
However flying it is still a whole different ball game from what you might be used to - and it truly feels nothing like any of the stock airplanes in MSFS, or indeed any of the add-ons so far. This plane is a handful, and has virtually no safety margins built into it - or instruments for that matter. It's just you and the unkind forces of nature...
Visually it's pretty nice. There are some glitches I've noticed when using external camera (wing warping controls cause the wings to do something they shouldn't be able to!) which I'm sure will be quickly fixed up and doesn't detract from the experience. Flying it from the cockpit is extremely enjoyable - surprisingly, this actually actually offers a near-unobstructed view in most directions, since there's very little airplane to speak of between you and the sim world (just a sparse wooden frame and a pair of warping canvas wings). Doing anything in this airplane feels like an accomplishment unto itself, so even short flights are very rewarding. Yes, you will be fighting seemingly unstoppable oscillations during flight with near-inadequate controls - but that is exactly the correct behaviour. Flying a straight line for even a few seconds is a real feat for this one.
In short - if you love early aviation, or just want something really different in your sim - I think this Bleriot is a must-have!
nice but a small display bug in exterior view (we see a small green bar and the bottom of a text)
Jolie mais on voit un petit bug d'affichage en vue exterieur (on voit une petite barre verte et le bas d'un texte)
The first Oldtimer for me and i feel like Quax der Bruchpilot. Wonderful and challanging. It is so primitive like 1909(Heya BVB) and looks fantastic. Chapeau and arreaviauuuuu or so ;). The only thing that io missing was the adventure flights?! Ärmelkanal und Alpenpassage. Great Add On.
Bought it on the Wings42 Website:
Awesome Aircraft that gives you insight to the early days if flying. The Model and Textures are superior with lots of Details. The Flightmodel feels really nice to handle and quite tricky due to the low power this aircraft has. I really like that it comes with 3 Versions and loads of Liveries. I can definitely recommend it to people that love old airplanes