THE COCKPIT
Winner XPlaneReviews BEST BUSINESS JET 2022
Modeled from 100’s of pictures and informed by 1000’s of pages from flight-bag pilot manuals, AirSim3D’s C-560XL cockpit boasts superb 3D modeling, high texel density artwork for sharp instrument and labeling, smart use of 4K texturing where necessary, and PBR materials throughout.
The cockpit meets our goal to provide 95% overall replication, 99% animation, and 100% of all critical functions and systems function like the real jet. If it should move in the real cockpit, it moves in our C-560XL cockpit. The remaining 1%? … although everything that should be ANIMATED AND LIGHTED is so for our 100% goals there, approximately 1% of some features really don’t actually DO anything (saving FPS as a bonus). Examples: Cockpit voice recorder, Recirc fan speed, ELT switch, O2 masks, Making a phone call, Com panel speaker/headset volumes, TAWS test, WEMACS boost, Revision buttons, Engine data scan button.
Seated in the cockpit, its hard to miss the strong attention to detail: From the perfectly aligned pilots head position aligned to the sight-balls on the downtube tray, to the meticulously modeled dash panel screws (exact counts and placements!) , the instrument frames, switches, annunciator frames, glass and knobs and dials that glint in a turn, to the dust on the glare shield, the scuffmarks on the floor mats and control column — just the right amount of daily wear and tear, scratches and grunge, and finally to the texturing and lighting… expect PBR, high texel density and smart-use of 4K texturing for sharp details everywhere.
The jet provides what we term THXp LIGHTING. No more flat hand-painted 2d PS-created textures. Instead, we took the harder, and more technically challenging route that we believe delivered higher fidelity, more realistic lighting in the cockpit and cabin.
We designed, aimed and coded over 300 actual light bulb sources, and tuned them, and aimed their directionality and custom wattage, all over the cockpit (and more in the cabin, warning signs, reading lights, external light too) to provide THXp LIGHTING: An industry standard setting and leading, realistic, authentic, night-time flying experience. While this is now just becoming the standard in XP12, our customers get this advanced lighting in XP11!!
The cockpit literally glows at night with light precisely following physical object contours. Bulbs make objects around them glow at different dimmer settings, and instrument frames reflect their content of colors and dim amount or combinations for other light spills. As a result, lighting intensity changes with the time of day and what’s on and what’s not.
Don’t blame us if you now fly more at night, just to enjoy the cockpit glow and reflections.
Worried about FPS impact?
Don’t be. The lights were modeled correctly so as to NOT cause any FPS overload (there is a specific XPLANE method followed to achieve this result). See the FPS benchmarks.
Second: Expect this jet’s FPS to have about the same FPS footprint as other popular jets in its class, or from equivalent default Jets.
FRIENDLY GLASS: We were also sensitive to strong love/hate opinions posted in the public space about glass reflections being a distraction in the cockpit.
While we do have glass where it needs to be, our reflections design work makes reflections subtle, so that you’ll only really notice them when your head moves.
The colors are also delicately shaded, not stark 50%-opacity-white “glass” which spoils the whole experience!
You will not find an option to remove reflections — but trust us when we say that they are just so well designed and built that you won’t go looking for that option, and it won’t take away from your user experience.
We believe that our specialty glass actually adds to the immersion experience. You’ll also notice that Portal glass reflects the outside color of the XP sun at its various positions.
Now that the AirSim3D C-560XL is released for XP12, we are in the process of updating many of the pictures you see across this site
from the XP11 model — which are not bad in any way, to include ones from the XP12 model.
Please note, there are no visual/structural changes between the 11-12 models — the textures and lighting just looks different in XP12 — waaay better in our opinion!
The store page HEREhas XP12-specific pictures.
Thanks for your patience while we update our site’s many pages to include added XP12 images.
Perfectly aligned head position for that authentic front view 
As real as it gets 
Dashboard at night 
Room for standing 
First class cabin comfort 
Authentic cabin lighting and textures 
Center console glow 
Rotary preflight test on a stormy night, watch that WX radar 
Authentic checklists 
Rich attention to detail everywhere 
Augmented Autopilot instrument layout 
Realistic Autopilot instrument layout 
Hi-res objects, glass, textures make for …. 
… an immersive experience 
Ummm… who turned on the ELT? Why??? 
Glass reflections; Subtle 
Glass reflections: Just enough 
Glass reflections: now you see ’em 
Glass reflections: now you don’t … Magic! 
Evening shadows 
Mustang heritage 
Actual Light bulbs for that realistic glow 
Day/Night lights ON 
Floods on
COCKPIT SUMMARY
- 100% animation, 99% of things do some form of system work
- Industry-leading THXp LIGHTING
- PBR, hi res textures, grunge as an art form — all for that added touch of realism
- Authentic dashboard layout with Custom. on-demand Real/Augmented AP/AT panels
- Authentic instruments stack, all major systems modeled, real procedures, and functionality:
- Real Startup procedures
- 23 real Checklists for all flight phases
- All annunciators, Rotary dial tests, deep MC/MWarn systems integration
- Pop up PFD: with AP mode/status integration
- Pop up MFD: 2 Mode/6 sub mode controller, Checklists, Terrain and Weather radar
- AP, YD, FD, Bank angle, VVI, FPV, dual Flight Director, FPV (why not)
- Dual Primus II inspired 2 channel COM/NAV/ADF RMU’s
- Auto throttle (in Augmented mode)
- AOA instruments
- Amps and Volts instruments/selectors with drain/charge integration
- Authentic Pressurization flight integrated profiles (Auto, Manual, FL modes)
- Authentic Hydraulic failures including emergency procedures for Gear blow-down
- Full Electric panel, Battery modes, Gens, APU, GPU
- Main and Emergency battery instrumentation
- Lights panel (Day/Night, EL, Flood, Map, Panel, Instrument dimmers)
- Outside battery compartment with Disconnect animation and functions
- Functioning Interior Lights and Battery disconnect master switches
- Passenger safety signs and lights, including shark lights (Cockpit, Cabin, External)
- Authentic Doors design, animation and operations (Main and Lav.)
- Individual Standard and Pulse Landing lights (Flight and Collision integration)
- Individual Taxi, Strobe, Nav., with Tail Recognition, Wing Inspection lights
- Standby HSI, VOR RCU
- 2X Custom DME (Distance, Time, Closure, Station ID — for VOR and GPS)
- 2x Custom Clocks (GMT. Local, Stop/RST, Automatic WOW flight time, Stopwatch)
- Icing/De Ice procedures (Windshield, Engine, Tail)
- Rudder bias
- Toe brakes, Park brake, control Lock, gear blowdown
- Stab misalignment config and animation
- Hydraulics, Fuel, Fuel Boost, cross-feed
- Wet compass
- Moveable seats and arm rests, floods and map lights, vents
- Realistic Gear lever animation, lights, antiskid, speed brake (its not a spoiler)
- Pressure source selector
- TCAS alerts with auto Pulse landing light integration
- Engine Reverser/stow, full instrument stack, N1 bug, TOGA and Fire suppression
- No-look throttle position/ident management panel
- Cockpit/Cabin ambient temp management
- VR ready Yoke with working AP disc, TCS
- Headsets
- Pilot objects in external views
COCKPIT/CABIN IMMERSION
- Scratches, wear-n-tear and custom design work throughout
- Hi-fi 3D modeling, labeling, artwork, texturing
- Hi-res lettering, instrument faces, placards, light reflections
- 99% cockpit animation, easy to use, large, manipulators
- THXp LIGHTING cockpit glow
- FPS? Comparable with popular jets and default aircraft. See the FPS benchmarks
- Custom friendly Glass/reflections: Very subtle, is not a distraction
- 2 custom AP-AT modes (Augmented with AT, or Realistic)
- Custom Engine-rev blade blur
- Custom Wizards-inspired Baggage load/unload
- Perfectly aligned Pilot head position
- Authentic Reverser movement
- Authentic Stab/Flap sync animation, misalignment annunciators
- Authentic Rudder bias
- Authentic outside Battery connect routine and animation, labeling
- Authentic T46 GPU outside unit; random refuel needed
- Authentic Electric, Fuses, Amps/DC panels and gauges
- Authentic APU-GPU-Battery-Gens integration, procedures, dependencies
- Authentic Anti Ice/Deice for engines, tail, windshield, wings
- Authentic Pressurization (3 modes as in the real jet)
- Authentic 2x COM Panel with Ident/OIM marker settings
- Authentic 42 Annunciator panel; integrated custom MW/MC procedures
- Authentic 11 station pre-flight Rotary test with MC-MW integration
- Authentic Throttle, Reverser, TOGA, Fire suppression
- Authentic Dashboard, instruments, and panels design
- Authentic Checklists for all flight phases
- Authentic Start/Ignition buttons, panel and procedures
- Authentic Park brake, Controls lock and emergency gear blow down
- Authentic Day/Night/EL/Flood/Map/Panel segment dimmers
- Authentic Tail Recog./Wing inspect/Emergency /Entry/Cabin Lights
- Authentic Main door, Lav, Entry way design and function
- Authentic Cabin layout and lighting:
— Animated Window shades
— Individual Read/Table lights (switch-on glows/reflections at night from real light bulbs)
— Retract and extend the Tables and storage as in the real jet
— all safety lights, warning and alert placards posted to match the real jet
INSTRUMENT DETAILS
Custom Auto Pilot
* HDG, LNAV, APR, BC, VNAV, ALT, VS, FLC
* YD, VVI, Bank limiter
* On demand Realistic and Augmented modes
* Auto Throttle in Augmented mode
Authentic Lights panel
* Day/night Switch
* Dimmable EL lighting
* Dimmable Flood, Map, Panel lighting
* Independent L, C, R instruments dimming
Authentic 47 Annunciator panel
* >90 custom and lighted faults
* 24 track L and R faults/sys status independently
Custom MFD (pop up)
* Weather radar
* Terrain radar
* Range selector (1-360 miles)
* HSI: Rose/Arc: ARPT, WPT, VOR, NDB, TCAS
6 MFD sub modes
* APP, VOR, MAP, NAV, PLN
Custom checklists (MFD pop up)
* 14 Authentic all-flight phase checklists
* 23 checklist sub modes
Custom Collins-inspired PFD (pop up)
* Custom AP status annunciators
* Mach, ASI, VVI, HDG, CRS, WIND, TAS, GSPD, FPV, BARO. OIM
* Authentic SPEED, ALT tapes
* Custom APR/DPRT ASI flags
* 2x FD, PFD 1, 2 source
* ILS-tested HSI
* Custom art Artificial Horizon
Authentic Electrical system
* Outside Battery disc (animated, functioning, lighted outside Panel)
* Amp/Volt gauges, source select, Gens/APU/GPU integration
* Interior Battery Disc, Interior Lights Master power switches
* Emergency Battery powered Instrument cluster
* Battery Drain/Recharging
* GPU (realistic startup and out-of-fuel failures)
Authentic Passenger Safety and Emergency Lighting
* Outside emergency egress “shark” lights
* Pass Safety/Seat belt, Emer-Egress cabin/aisle Lighting
INSTRUMENT DETAILS CONTINUED
- 2x Custom Primus II RMU NAV/COM/ADF/XPNDR
- Custom T46 GPU unit, out-of-fuel mode, Battery charge
- Custom APU; annunciators, with electrical system integration, faults, tests, time-used meter
- Custom cumulative airframe time-used meter
- 2x Custom DMEs: Station ID, Distance-To, Time-To, Closure Speed, Mi/KM
- Authentic Throttle Ident Indicator
- Authentic thrust reverser animation, timing, annunciation, stow switches
- Authentic AOA, FPV, BARO, Lighted wet compass
- 2 Custom Clocks for independent Pilot and CP use (GMT, Local, reset Stopwatch, Auto-Flight Time)
- Authentic yoke/AP buttons/TCS/scuffed column, pedals, and floor mats
- Custom glass gauges for Engine/Fuel/Oil/Temps and flow
- Custom Engine N1 target bug and setting
- No-look throttle position/ident management panel
- Custom FPV (Flight path vector in the PFD)
- Custom Standby dual channel COM/NAV radio
- Standby HSI
- Standby VOR
- 8 Authentic System-status/setting annunciators
- 2x Custom COM Panels
- G1000 (Pop up)
- Custom Anti Ice/Deice: Tail, Engines, Wings, Windshield
- Custom Pressurization with Source select and Emer Press/De Press
- Authentic Pressurization modes: Auto, Manual, Flight Level
- Authentic, animated, detailed Main/Front gear/levers/annunciators
- Custom Pulse Landing Lights
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