What's better than a Gazelle? Well, two Gazelles, of course.
JRX has released their new product, which brings both the SA341B and the SA342J to X-Plane. The project has been under production for about a year and it has been extensively tested by real pilots.
Here's the official description and feature list:
This product incorporates two versions in one and both are separate stand-alone models, tested over six months with the aid of IRL pilots as part of the JRX Test Team.
The SA341B:
Is based on the military variant and uses “old school” avionics in use from the late 1970s onwards, including VHF and UHF military radios with “chatter” added for immersion.
It has a functional PBDI (position bearing distance indicator) similar to the NADIR on the French variant, which can be programmed with X-Plane FMS flight plans. This version has 17 military / service style liveries included as standard.
The SA342J:
Is a civilian variant with a more “modern” avionics suite, an up-rated engine and a different body kit, along with custom made avionics based on the Garmin and Avidyne real world family. There is a fully functional autopilot module and a “pop out tablet” showing either the GNS530, AviTab or a Services page showing critical flight data. This version comes with 19 liveries of various aircraft from around the world.
Both versions include:
Model and Textures:
- Detailed animated 3D model both internal and external
- High quality pilot, co-pilot and passengers
- Animated rotor head and tail rotor
- All textures are PBR
- 4k external textures including all liveries
- 4k instrument panels
- All custom-made instruments with no legacy stock X-Plane instrumentation
- All doors and windows fully functional with sound attenuation
- Animated rotor tie downs and engine / pitot covers
- Animated yaw string
- Custom engine vibrations
- Animated friction locks for the cyclic and collective
- AH cage functions
- Custom animated instrument gauges and needles
- Dynamic aircraft ID plate based on livery
- Dynamic seat colours and pilot helmet / flight suit based on livery
- Custom external lighting (NAV / STROBE / LANDING / FLASH / DIM) with light spill
- Rotor blur and ground shadow
- All panel switches / buttons / controls are animated with sound
- Custom and fully functional warning and annunciator lights with test where applicable
- Much more …
Fuel, Equipment and PAX loading:
- Fuel and passenger loading are done within the cockpit
- Fuel weights are dynamically changed
- Pilot, co-pilot and passengers modelled – with dynamic weight
- Door removal – with dynamic weight
- Munitions (for the SA341 (INERT)) – with dynamic weight
- Sling loads are invoked in cockpit with no third-party plugin required – with dynamic weight / CG
- Detailed flight reference cards (FRCs) are included in-cockpit with all procedures
Sound:
Full FMOD sound is included in both version’s with over 50 sampled sounds from a real Gazelle helicopter mixed live with FMOD studio.
- 3D external sounds with doppler effect
- Custom radio chatter both civil and military. Tuneable on the com radios
- Headset attenuation (helmet simulation)
- Custom blade slap
- Custom warnings and alerts
- All switches / buttons have sound assigned
Flight Model:
- Realistic flight characteristics
- Start-up to shutdown realistically modelled on the flight reference cards
- The new X-Plane experimental flight model recommended
- Fully working under the 11.50 beta programme and compatible with Vulkan
- Longer shelf life for future X-Plane updates and will not “break” like many others
- VR and manipulator ready
Customized Failures:
- Hydraulics (WIP)
- Over-Torque
- Hard landings > 425 f/min
- Crash detection
- Engine fire
- Flame-out / Compressor stall
- With custom fire / sounds / smoke
