It is with great pleasure that I announce the sponsor of the December 2006 screenshot contest. This month we're being sponsored by an established company that specializes in both realism and their rendering. The sponsor for our December 2006 un-edited screenshot contest is Aeroworx. The prize will be their Beechcraft B200 title.





Overview

The King Air B200

We started gathering source material on the Beechcraft Super King Air B200 during January 2003. The owner of N109GE was kind enough to give us access to the aircraft. We took many reference photographs (3,100 in total), and went for a number of flights during which we did audio and video recordings.

This aircraft took 18 months to develop, and has an amazing level of detail built into it. From accurate panel images, through working EFIS-84 and pressurization systems, to a very detailed POH, this is, we believe, one of the most accurate turboprops ever built for FS. With a 100% clickable VC and a VCabin, this plane is sure to satisfy all tastes (a 2D only version is also included).

Great attention was given to all the gauges and systems, which operate as they do on the real plane (with the help of several real B200 pilots throughout the beta period).

N109GE is based at Lanseria International Airport (FALA) in South Africa, which falls inside the Johannesburg TMA. We spent hours photographing the plane from all angles, including hanging from the ceiling of the hangar to get top views of the aircraft. When the outside photography was complete, we went to work inside taking photos of the interior to aid in the design of the 2D cockpit, VC as well as the cabin of this beautiful aircraft.

When compared to its jet competitors, the B200 offers unmatched utility. It carries more in a more comfortable cabin, operates from shorter fields, and costs less to operate. Considered by many as the workhorse of the skies, it can operate with a maximum payload of 2,440 pounds, and can get in and out of runways many jets are unable to use. The combination of performance and reliability makes the Super King Air B200 the most versatile corporate aircraft in the sky.

Two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 turboprop engines power the B200, delivering 850 shaft horsepower each; the most reliable and efficient Pratt & Whitney engines ever built. The dynamically balanced four blade propellers are three feet in front of the cockpit and turn at a slow 1700 RPM at cruise power, making the Super King Air B200 the most quiet and vibration free cabin of all turboprop aircraft.

The Super King Air B200 is one of the most, if not the most, successful turbine powered aircraft in operation today. Since its introduction, the "200" has outsold every other single line of business aircraft, jet, or turboprop.

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Flight Dynamics

The B200 has extremely accurate flight dynamics, tested by two real world B200 pilots. Speeds are very close to those of it's real world equivalent, and the POH contains an entire section with performance charts for 1700, 1800 and 1900 rpm's under various atmospheric conditions.

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Added Realism

To add to the realism, the B200 has realistically animated wipers, control surfaces, and an aircraft maintenance module that monitors engine hours, airframe hours, oil usage, tire wear, engine wear, and prop wear.

The pilot can replace/repair engines (when damaged by hot-start), props, engine oil, tires, gear and flaps (gear and flaps are damaged if extension/retraction speeds are exceeded) via the maintenance module.

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Feature List

EFIS Version:
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• Collins EFIS-84 Electronic Flight Information System
• CAS-66 Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System
• Custom GDI+, C++ and XML gauges
• Backlit gauges in 2D and VC for improved night flying visibility
• Accurately modeled Cabin Pressurization System
• Aircraft Maintenance Module
• Enhanced sound effects, flap and gear call-out's etc.
• Model built using 3D Studio Max and Gmax
• 1024x1024 DXT-3e Exterior textures with reflections
• Model includes variable dynamic shine
• Virtual cockpit with animated, interactive controls
• Animated pilot, landing gear and control surfaces
• Animated windscreen wipers controllable from overhead
• Animated passenger door
• External extra's such as pitot covers, wheel chocks and cones
• Comprehensive Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)

Analogue Version:
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• Sperry Analogue ADI, HSI and Flight Information System
• BFG Skywatch TCAS
• Custom C++ and XML gauges
• Backlit gauges in 2D and VC for improved night flying visibility
• Accurately modeled Cabin Pressurization System
• Aircraft Maintenance Module
• Enhanced sound effects, flap and gear call-out's etc.
• Model built using 3D Studio Max and Gmax
• 1024x1024 DXT-3e Exterior textures with reflections
• Model includes variable dynamic shine
• Virtual cockpit with animated, interactive controls
• Animated pilot, landing gear and control surfaces
• Animated windscreen wipers controllable from overhead
• Animated passenger door
• External extra's such as pitot covers and wheel chocks
• Comprehensive Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)

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3D Model

The 3D model was designed with technical accuracy in mind, using the latest modeling techniques in 3D Studio Max and G-Max.

The B200 medical and executive versions are exact replicas of their specific real world counterparts and include all the essential equipment and fittings found in the real aircraft.

We are very excited about the quality and accuracy that was achieved with this masterpiece.

The B200 includes three different paint schemes and four different configurations. In addition, the package includes several model variants giving the user the option to use a model with just the 2D panel, a model with the 2D panel and VC, and a model with a 2D panel, VC, and a Virtual Cabin. The VC features high-resolution gauges and VC panels with clickable gauges and levers. The B200 can be flown from the VC only if the pilot chooses to do so, without having to switch back to the 2D panel.

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2D Instrument Panel, Virtual Cockpit and Cabin

The 2D instrument panels and gauges were designed using hundreds of digital photos.

Accuracy, aesthetics and functionality were the main goals, and as you can see from the screenshots, we have succeeded.

The virtual cockpit was designed using the latest techniques and follows the Microsoft SDK in terms of functionality. The aircraft can be flown from the VC exclusively. All knobs and switches are functional as per the 2D panel.

The yokes can be hidden/shown with a mouse-click. This is so the pilot can gain access to the required switches, and instruments, that are positioned behind them.

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Again I'd like to thank Aeroworx for their kind donation. We would appreciate it if you would drop them a line of thanks and continue to support their company.



For more info on the Beechcraft B200 King Air please visit Aeroworx's website here

PS: The winner will initially receive the FS9 version of the B200. However the FSX version, which is a rebuild, will be given to the winner for free once it's released.