Schlagwort: Cloud Gaming

Microsoft Flight Simulator pilots can now fly one of aviation’s greatest icons of innovation.

A MONUMENT OF AVIATION INGENUITY

The Dornier Do 31 is a jet-powered, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), experimental military aircraft developed by the West German aviation manufacturer and historically renowned as the only jet-powered VTOL utility / transport aircraft ever created and flown. Although Dornier only produced three experimental prototypes and never entered serial production, the Do 31 remains an enduring monument of aerospace ingenuity.

BORN OF COLD WAR IMPERATIVE

The distinctive Do 31 was born out of an ambitious Cold War initiative by the West German military to create an eminently resilient air force. An initial attack by the Soviet Bloc focused on air bases and runways throughout
West Germany, grounding their airplanes. To counter this threat, the West Germans hatched a plan in the early 1960s to create a new air force composed primarily of jet-powered VTOL aircraft. Such airplanes could operate out of traditional air bases, expeditionary airfields, or roads and highways, including Autobahns—any small stretch of concrete or asphalt would work.

The West German military’s plan included three VTOL aircraft: a fighter / interceptor: the EWR VJ 101; a surface attack platform: the VFW VAK-191B; and a large utility aircraft that could transport troops and cargo.

AN ENGINEERING MARVEL

While helicopters had proven their utility by the early 1960s, especially for military operations, they were limited in both speed and lift ability. Developing a jet-powered transport aircraft, however, presented engineers
with tremendous hurdles like generating and directing adequate thrust to vertically lift an aircraft, transitioning it to horizontal flight, and then landing it vertically.

By the early 1960s, companies interested in jet-powered VTOL aircraft operation had proven the concept could work with experimental models. The Short SC.1, developed by United Kingdom aviation company Short Brothers, took its maiden flight on May 26, 1958. The Short SC.1 was followed by the first flight of the British Hawker Siddeley P.1127, the progenitor to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the world’s first production VTOL fighter / attack jet. Both were engineering breakthroughs that took years of development. The transport aircraft the West German military envisioned would be much larger, dramatically increasing the complexity. Dornier, famed for their flying boats and airliners, undertook the ambitious challenge in February, 1962, when the company and the West German military formally launched the project, designated the Do 31.

While Dornier had never built a VTOL aircraft, the company’s engineers had gained experience with short take-off and landing (STOL) exercises with their Do 29. That airplane, which took its maiden flight in late 1958, was an experimental, twin-engine, piston-powered, high-wing monoplane that used tilting engine-propeller systems to boost lift for take-off. The jet powered Do 31, intended to carry up to 36 combat loaded troops, 7,700 pounds of cargo, or some combination thereof, proved far more complex. It required the company to develop some of the most advanced aviation technology to that point in history including novel powerplant designs, high-strength airframe componentry, and an innovative flight control computer.

Dornier built three airframes with a group designation Do 31 E (“E” for “Experimental”): the Do 31 E1, the Do 31 E2, and the Do 31 E3. The E1 and the E3 were flying prototypes, while the E2 was a ground-based testbed.

The Do 31 featured a high-mounted main wing, a cruciform empennage, a capacious fuselage with a ramp-loading cargo system, and retractable tricycle landing gear. Its primary power source: two Rolls-Royce Pegasus BE.53/2 turbofan engines, each of which could produce up to 15,500 pounds of thrust. Each Pegasus was housed in a nacelle, one under each side of the main wing, and thrust from each was directed through four rotating exhaust ports called thrust vectoring nozzles. For complementary thrust and redundancy purposes—should one of the Pegasus engines fail mid-flight—Dornier crafted wingtip-mounted secondary thrust systems. Each wingtip featured a nacelle that housed four vertically oriented Rolls-

Royce RB-162-4D turbojet engines; each engine could generate up to 4,400 pounds of thrust, for a total of 17,600 pounds of thrust per wingtip. In total, the Do 31 was powered by ten engines capable of an aggregate 66,200 pounds of thrust. Only a few other aircraft in history have comprised ten or more engines, including Dornier’s Do X, a flying boat that was powered by 12 piston engines.

To provide control of the Do 31 throughout all its flight regimes, Dornier developed an extremely critical hybrid analog-digital computer, the DO-960. The aircraft simply would be too unstable to function without an adequate flight computer that could continuously solve a series of complex equations to maintain controlled flight. Digital computer technology and integrated circuit design were still in their infancy at this point and not fast enough to perform the specific types of solutions necessary (the microprocessor had yet to be developed). Dornier engineers solved this immense challenge by devising a novel computer system that fused aspects of analog calculation with components of digital computation.

The DO-960 maintained aircraft stability by taking pilot inputs and controlling flight surfaces, power output of each of the aircraft’s ten engines, the orientation of its thrust vector nozzles, and amount of bleed air ducted to nozzles in the aircraft’s tail. The Do 31 lifted off and hovered with downward-vectored thrust from the Pegasus engines combined with thrust from its wingtip turbojets. It then transitioned to horizontal flight through the rearward rotation of the main engine’s thrust vector nozzles.

The DO-960 remains one of history’s most notable computer developments and a brilliant example of technological innovation born of necessity. Although hidden within the confines of the unique aircraft’s form, the computer was one of the Do 31’s most crucial, and notable, features.

A NEW BREED TAKES FLIGHT

After years of development and ground testing, the Do 31 took its maiden flight in early 1967. The first prototype of the airframe, the Do 31 E1, lifted off on February 10, 1967, powered by just its two main engines. In July of 1967, the Do 31 E3 took to the sky using all ten of its engines and performed a hover. The aircraft flew increasingly complex and advanced operations during successive tests in the months that followed including moving backward while hovering and rolls while in horizontal flight. The demonstrations marked not just the initial flights of a new aircraft, but the first operation of an entirely new breed of aircraft, a jet-powered VTOL transport. The Do 31 wowed spectators at airshows and set several flight records for its class—of which it was the only member.

Despite the successes and prospects for commercial adoption in addition to military roles, the Do 31 was abandoned in the early 1970s. The concept of a jet-powered VTOL Air Force proved too costly and complex to implement. It remains the first and only jet-powered VTOL transport ever to fly.

Piloted by two, the Do 31 had a range of 1,120 miles, a service ceiling of 35,100 feet above sea level, and climbed at a rate of 3,780 feet per minute. The aircraft cruised at 348 miles per hour with a top speed of 377 mph.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR PILOTS

The Microsoft Flight Simulator Dornier Do 31 has been expertly recreated for aviators to enjoy throughout the world. Experience the thrill of lifting off vertically, transitioning to high-speed forward flight, and then coming to a
hover with precision in this masterpiece of aviation technology. The sky is calling!

The Dornier Do 31 offers seven liveries: E1 Experimental, E3 Experimental, Olive Green, Green Camouflage, Marine Search & Rescue, Xbox Aviators Club, and Aviators Club. It is available today for $14.99.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter).

Website: LINK

This latest update invites Microsoft Flight Simulator aviators to experience the allure of the cities of southwest Germany’s Baden-Württemberg state.

Southwest Germany is the latest exciting enhancement to Microsoft Flight Simulator’s immersive global experience with City Update 06. This update focuses on the Southwest German state of Baden-Württemberg, the nation’s third largest state in both population and area. The Microsoft Flight Simulator team and its partners selected seven cities that best represent this diverse and vibrant region of Europe: Mannheim, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Esslingen, and Kehl in Germany, and the French city of Strasbourg, which lies just across the border from Kehl. The update also features Friedrichshafen Airport, Baden-Württemberg’s third largest airport.

Baden-Württemberg is one of Europe’s most geographically diverse regions. The state encompasses the famed Black Forest, rivers such as the Rhine, the Danube (including its source), and the Neckar, several lakes including Lake Constance, and rich farmland and vineyards. Its cities rank as some of the most prosperous and vibrant in all of Europe and include a juxtaposition of modern architectural marvels and centuries-old historic monuments.

The carefully selected cities of City Update 06 have been recreated using the latest high resolution aerial imagery and feature high fidelity TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface modeling.

In detail, from north to south:

Mannheim

Mannheim is located at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers at the far northern end of the state. The city, the second most populous in Baden-Württemberg, is an important center of culture, education, and commerce, and boasts 23 universities and 30 research institutions. The Mannheim region is the location of the development of some of the modern world’s most important inventions. These include the bicycle, the modern production automobile (Benz Patent Motor Car), and the first rocket-powered aircraft (Opel RAK.1).

Sights abound from the air over Mannheim, including the Mannheim Water Tower, the Mannheim Baroque Palace, and Fernmeldeturm Mannheim, a telecommunications tower.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is located eleven miles southeast of Mannheim along the banks of the Neckar River. It lies at the southwestern edge of the Odenwald mountain range on the eastern edge of the Upper Rhine Plain. The city is internationally recognized as a center of education and is home to Heidelberg University, Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386, and one of the world’s most celebrated. The city is also home to several research facilities, including four Max Planck Institutes. Heidelberg is also famous for the arts, notably literature.

Heidelberg features several stunning architectural feats like Heidelberg Castle, Church of the Holy Spirit, and Old Bridge Heidelberg.

Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe is located along the Rhine on the northern edge of the Black Forest near the French border. It is the seat of the German Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice. The city, the third most populous in Baden-Württemberg, has a unique layout comprising 32 streets radiating from a central palace tower that resembles a fan from above.

Set amid the stunning surroundings of the Black Forest and the Rhine, Karlsruhe is also home to some unforgettable architectural creations. These include the Karlsruhe Palace, Karlsruhe Botanical Gardens, and the State Museum of Baden.

Stuttgart

Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg and the most populous city is located near the middle of Baden-Württemberg along the Neckar River amid expansive plains, low hills, and swaths of forest. The city is a renowned center for the automotive industry and is home to the headquarters of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and several other industry giants. The city is also a global center of science and academic research and boasts eleven universities.

Stuttgart offers incredible vistas from the air like the New Palace, MHPArena, and the Stuttgart TV Tower.

Esslingen

Esslingen is located seven miles to the south of Stuttgart along the Neckar River. Rich in history, the city dates to at least the Roman Empire. Esslingen began to flourish in the early Middle Ages and witnessed extensive expansion.

Surrounded by forested hills and vineyards, Esslingen is one of the most picturesque cities in Germany. It is home to hundreds of historic buildings including Esslinger Castle, the Inner Bridge, and Church of Our Lady.

Kehl and Strasbourg, France

Kehl, the small town in western Baden-Württemberg on the Rhine River, lies on the Germany-France border and neighbors the larger French city of Strasbourg. With the Black Forest to its east and patchworks of agricultural fields to its north and south, the sights abound from above Kehl. Strasbourg and Kehl have strong historic ties. Strasbourg incorporated Kehl in 1678 and transformed it into a fortress. The ties endured the subsequent centuries and the two remain intimately related.

Strasbourg is a major international city and the seat of several important European institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Ombudsman of the European Union, and Eurocorps. Incredible sights throughout Strasbourg including the Strasbourg Cathedral, Place Kléber, and the Strasbourg Opera House.

Friedrichshafen Airport (EDNY)

Friedrichshafen Airport (EDNY), also called Bodensee Airport Friedrichshafen, is an international facility located on the northeastern periphery of the German city of Friedrichshafen that lies less than two miles inland of the north shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee), one of Europe’s largest lakes.

Friedrichshafen is world renowned as one of the most important cities in the history of aviation. German airship pioneer Ferdinand von Zeppelin’s LZ 1, the world’s first successful rigid airship, took to the sky from a floating hangar on nearby Lake Constance in July of 1900. In 1908, von Zeppelin founded Luftschiffbau Zeppelin (Zeppelin Airship Company) in Friedrichshafen. The company manufactured a long line of well-known Zeppelin airships, including LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin. In addition, several other companies with aviation roots based their operations in Friedrichshafen, including ZF Friedrichshafen, Maybach, and Dornier, known for iconic flying boats
including the Dornier Do J Wal and the Dornier Do X. In 1915, an airfield was established in Friedrichshafen as a base for airships and one of Germany’s first airplane runways was constructed in 1918.

Friedrichshafen Airport is adjacent to the location of the annual AERO Friedrichshafen, one of Europe’s key general aviation conventions. The airport was hand reproduced for Microsoft Flight Simulator by iniBuilds to celebrate the launch of this update.

City Update 06: Southwest Germany is available FREE to all Microsoft Flight Simulator simmers. Ensure that your simulator is running version 1.36.2.0 (or a more recent version), download City Update 06, and explore the incredible sights of Baden-Württemberg’s cities!

Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter).

Website: LINK