This package contains 2 versions of the X-15-2 and two versions of the X-15-3 aircraft, all equipped with the mighty XLR-99 rocket engine.

The X-15-2 (serial number AF56-6671) became the first X-15 aircraft to test the million-horsepower XLR-99 rocket engine in flight. The X-15-2 was delivered to Edwards Air Force Base in April 1959 and completed 31 flights (9 with the interim XLR-11 engines) before it was damaged during an emergency landing in November 1962, and eventually repaired and modified to become the "advanced" X-15A-2.

The X-15-3 (serial number AF56-6672) was delivered to Edwards in the summer of 1959. The aircraft was seriously damaged in June 1960 when its ammonia and hydrogen peroxide tanks exploded while testing the new XLR-99 engine on the ground. Pilot Scott Crossfield was uninjured and the aircraft was rebuilt.

In August 1963, NASA pilot Joe Walker set an altitude record of 354,200 feet in the No. 3 aircraft, the highest flight of the X-15 research program.

The X-15-3 completed 65 flights between December 1961 and November 1967. Sadly, the airplane was lost during a tragic accident in November 1967 that took the life of Air Force pilot Michael Adams.

X-15-2/3 for Flight Simulator Key Features

• Custom X-15 flight model to simulate rocket-powered high-speed and high-altitude flight in FS2004 and FSX:
  • Supersonic flight up to Mach 4.65 in FS2004 and FSX
  • High-altitude flight up to 354,200 feet in FSX (100,000 feet in FS2004)
  • Can be launched either from a high altitude like the real X-15 or take off from an airport runway like other Flight Simulator aircraft
  • Good maneuvrability at supersonic speeds and excellent gliding capabilities
• Highly detailed 3D models with more than 300 parts, 60 animations, reflective textures and unique markings, based on archive material
• Fully functional instrument panels with 200 custom gauges and systems to simulate almost every step and procedure required in a typical X-15 mission
• Spectacular visual effects including rocket engine flames, APU exhaust and propellant jettison effects
• Uses a custom fuel management system with three different types of propellants (ammonia, liquid oxygen and hydrogen peroxide) and pressurized helium, like in the real-world X-15 rocket plane
• Includes a comprehensive 100-page user manual inspired from the original X-15 utility flight manuals, in a printable PDF format (English and French language versions are included with the software)

This package contains two versions of the X-15-2 aircraft (serial number AF56-6671) with the XLR-99 rocket engine and two versions of the X-15-3 aircraft (serial number AF56-6672) with the XLR-99 rocket engine.

This is the design-mission configuration of the No. 2 X-15 rocket plane. The second variation of the X-15-2 wears gray thermopaint on the canopy, the nose and other parts of the aircraft.

The No. 3 X-15 airplane was equipped with the new MH-96 adaptive flight control system which replaced the stability augmentation system (SAS) found in the other aircraft.

The second variation of the X-15-3 has removable wing-tip pods that contained cameras and research instruments. This aircraft has a revised blue-gray instrument panel that replaced the original black panel. The new panel contrasted better with the gauges, light indicators and flight instruments. The airplane also features a tail-cone box with additional experimentation equipment.

X-15-2/3 Advanced Instrument Panels

What makes the X-15 for Flight Simulator series exciting and unique are the advanced fully functional instrument panels with custom gauges and systems to simulate almost every step and procedure required in a typical X-15 mission:

• Aircraft servicing (all three propellants and gases);
• APUs/generators/hydraulic pump operation;
• Propellant tank pressurization;
• Engine precool and prime;
• Turbopump operation;
• Rocket ignition sequence;
• Monitoring of propellant pressure gauges;
• Propellant jettison.

Almost every X-15 internal system has been integrated into the X-15 for Flight Simulator panels:

• Engine propellant and control system;
• Engine ignition system;
• APUs and electrical power distribution systems;
• Hydraulic systems;
• Temperature control systems.

The X-15-2/3 for Flight Simulator comes with four main instrument panels and eight secondary panels, either in their original black version or the later light blue-gray version. Included with each X-15-2 or X-15-3 add-on aircraft is:

• A main panel;
• A service panel;
• A "vent, pressurize, jettison" lever panel;
• A throttle and speed brake lever panel;
• A left side panel;
• A right side panel;
• A radio panel (ADF panel on some aircraft);
• A center pedestal panel with research instrumentation and stability augmentation system (SAS, or MH-96 system on the X-15-3) panels;
• An RAS (reaction augmentation system) panel on one of the X-15-2 aircraft.

In addition, the default Flight Simulator Garmin GPS and magnetic compass panels are available from the main panel. Note that one variation of the X-15-3 has a revised light blue-gray instrument panel that replaced the original black panel. The new panel contrasted better with the gauges, light indicators and flight instruments.

X-15A-2 Utility Flight Manual

Included with the software are the 100-page English and French versions of the X-15-2/3 Utility Flight Manual, available in a printable PDF format (Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 5.0 or later required).

The manual has been specifically conceived for the X-15-2/3 for Flight Simulator and is based on the original real-world X-15 utility flight manuals.

The flight manual contains the necessary information for the installation and operation of the X-15-2 and X-15-3 virtual aircraft and associated instrument panels. It contains instructions and procedures for XLR-99 rocket engine operation, on the X-15-2/3 for Flight Simulator.

The end-user is encouraged to print a copy of the manual for his/her own use, in conjunction with the add-on simulation software. The best way to keep the manual handy for easy reference during flight is to organize it in a durable presentation binder.

Product Specifications (X-15-2/3 for Flight Simulator)

GENERAL FEATURES 2 versions of the X-15-2 aircraft (s/n AF56-6671) with the XLR-99 rocket engine:

• "Dirty" version with the (interim) NACA vane-type boom nose and the original (XLR-99) black panel;
• "Dirty" version with the NACA/Nortronics ball nose, gray thermopaint on nose and canopy, and an alternate (XLR-99) black panel.

2 versions of the X-15-3 aircraft (s/n AF56-6672) with the XLR-99 rocket engine:

• "Dirty" version with the NACA/Nortronics ball nose and the original (XLR-99) black panel;
• "Dirty" version with the NACA/Nortronics ball nose, wing-tip pods, tail-cone box and the (XLR-99) light blue-gray panel.

FLIGHT MODEL FEATURES

• Custom X-15 flight model to simulate rocket-powered high-speed and high-altitude flight in FS2004 and FSX
• One Reaction Motors XLR-99, "throttable" 60,000-pound liquid-fuel turbo-rocket engine
• Supersonic flight up to Mach 4.65 in FS2004 and FSX
• High-altitude flight up to 354,200 feet in FSX (100,000 feet in FS2004)
• Ground takeoff or high-altitude launch
• Good maneuvrability at supersonic speeds
• Excellent gliding capabilities

AIRCRAFT 3D MODEL FEATURES

• Highly detailed models based on archive material, with more than 300 parts and 60 animations
• Reflective textures
• Unique markings and liveries (on each aircraft)
• Dynamic frost texture on fuselage (around the liquid oxygen tank when filled)
• Movable aerodynamic control surfaces:
  • Differential horizontal stabilizer
  • Vertical stabilizers with movable and fixed sections and a jettisonable ventral rudder
  • Flaps
• Extendable upper and lower split-flap speed brakes
• Landing skids and front gear ("steerable")
• Movable canopy
• Cockpit details with astronaut/pilot and animated sticks and levers
• Experimental equipment on some airplanes (wing-tip pods, tail-cone box, etc.)

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

• Over 10 X-15-specific animated visual effects
• Engine flame and contrail effects
• Engine first and/or second stage igniter effects
• Propellant jettison effects
• APU and turbopump exhaust effects
• Engine precool and prime effects
• Condensation effect near the cold propellant tanks when filled

CUSTOM AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FEATURES

• Fictional service panel system for external power and aircraft refueling (ammonia, liquid oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, helium, liquid nitrogen)
• Custom X-15 fuel management system for the three different types of propellants and gases, like in the real-world X-15 rocket plane
• Engine propellant pressurization and control system
• Engine turbopump system
• Engine ignition control system
• Electrical distribution and control system with APUs, generators, emergency battery and an external power source
• Hydraulic systems
• Temperature control systems

ADVANCED 2D PANEL FEATURES

• Advanced X-15 black (2D) main instrument panels (XLR-99 engine)
• Advanced X-15 light blue-gray (2D) main instrument panel (XLR-99 engine)
• Service panel
• Left white console panel with "vent, pressurize, jettison" lever and flaps switch
• Throttle and speed brake panel
• Left side panel
• Right side panel
• Radio panel (ADF panel on some aircraft)
• RAS panel (on some aircraft)
• Center pedestal with research instrumentation and stability augmentation system panels (or MH-96 system panel on the X-15-3)
• 200 fully functional custom integrated systems and gauges with "tooltips"
• X-15-2 and X-15-3 aircraft kneeboard reference tabs and check lists
• 100-page English and French language utility flight manuals with step-by-step procedures (PDF formal, requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader)