X.A.S. Experimental Air Sampler Aircraft

He builds a mix of biz jets to military iron so you just about name it and he's built it, and they all fly great and do just what he says they will do. He is also one of the guru's in the Aircraft Designers Forum here at Flightsim.com that helps budding airplane builders (you know, the guys that build stuff for us to crash, er, fly) get it right the first time and solve their problems and in general lend a hand when needed (what a guy). Well anyway, me being a lover of flying high and scouring the net looking for something that would satisfy the craving for thin air and no view was looking for something and to this day can't remember what it was but I got into the forum and asked him something and when he answered he also gave his web site (don't panic, it will be here too) so I toddled over and took a peek through his hangar and picked up a really sweet Jetstar III and stumbled across this beauty. It was instant infatuation and I had to have it (like going into a candy store and seeing the mother of all sweets and you just can't get through the checkout line fast enough) and it seemed like hours to get everything in its place and ready for take off. I just use the light jet 2 panel for all flights as it works great and does all I need and gives a great view.

The aircraft was built to sample the atmosphere at high altitude without thermal heating from high speed. She cruises very nicely at FL740 @ .85 Mach (this is a safe speed for you stick and rudder types as it seems slow at altitude) As you can see in the above photo she is a sleek aircraft with very graceful wings (you U-2 drivers wish your birds could fly as smooth) and a smooth fuselage. You can also see one of the Bahamas Islands in the background and as you will agree, a map at this altitude is all but extra baggage, unless you are going over the Grand Canyon or the Great Wall of China and GPS reigns supreme. (This is for all those who gigged me in fun for taking my GPS in the World Cruiser.) To get her into the air is about as straight forward as it can get. After going through and making sure she is ready to fly (you know, gas, water (for you) food (for you) all the frequencies set, no leaks in the space suit etc.) and gettin' the engines started and gettin the brakes released, as you start to taxi you notice how responsive and smooth she is to control input once she starts moving. Once you are lined up on the active just gently and gradually push the throttles forward and head into the blue, the only thing you really have to watch is your airspeed and rate of climb (and she really loves to climb) Now for you uninitiated in to the realm of stratospheric cruising you want to pay attention here, in FS 98 and FS2K anything above FL630 even though you may be on autopilot has to manually stopped at by using the VSI gauge. Also, when you start to level off it has to be done very slowly and gradually. If you try to level off to quickly you will have a real problem, spelled S T A L L. Either a compressor stall or a wing stall, both of which at this altitude is a real bad thing and can lead to impactusterrafirma. If I am heading for FL740, I usually start to level off at around FL650 with the last 1000ft at around 250fpm or less. This puts me in a smooth cruise right from the start and after the usual gauge checks can take a look around and see what I can see.

Now the old adage that "whatever goes up, must come down" is still a true statement, and with this sweetheart you have to really plan in advance when you have to start down. At 1000 fpm down and heading straight into a really open field like ORD or JFK or something similarly open vs. Reno or Aspen, both of which are surrounded by immovable objects (mountains) you will need a lot of miles to get down. To give you an idea, say you are coming from San Francisco and are headed to Chicago's O'Hare field straight in (she has the legs to do it easily), at 1000fpm you will start down at around the Colorado, Nebraska border or thereabouts.

In other words, going into tight places that are surrounded by tall immovable objects straight in is not a really great idea. Although you will find out that flying her manually is a real treat in itself (even you stick and rudder guys will love her) as she responds smoothly and predictably to control input. To land her is another straightforward event.

As you settle into your downwind leg all you will need it a couple of notches of flap and drop you wheels, make your turn on final and head for the runway. You want to carry about 35% or so power over the fence with touchdown coming at around 110 kts or so poppin' the boards just as the mains hit to slow you down. She is a real sweetie to handle on the ground and just takes a little gettin used to.

She has a maximum speed of Mach .88 and you would be advised to observe this as she does not take kindly to excessive amounts of speed and she will tell you all about it in her own way. As far as ease of flying, the average Cessna pilot should find her a joy to fly as long as they stay ahead of her. She is very stable and graceful and a real nice sweetie to return to after cruising low and slow, not that I don't like low and slow, but hey, I'm a jet jockey, and as most stick and rudder guys will tell ya, there ain't nothin' funnier than a jet jockey tryin' to fly with some resemblance of class a cloth and fabric biplane by the seat of their britches without any of their high tech gizmos and toys. Well, I did, I just took some of my toys with me and got caught trying to fly by the seat of my britches with my toys showin' and took a little ribbin' from some of the stick and rudder guys which is okay cause it's all in fun, which is what its all about. For you that want to fly high and cruise in the upper heavens, head on over to Tom Goldbricks hangar and get yourself one. And if you are looking for that special biz jet or puddle jumper or something military you can find it there too, at bargain basement prices (spelled F-R-E-E) And all of them fly the way they are supposed to. And for you budding airplane builders, you can find Tom in the forum, just try not to overload him with questions. As for me, well I'm gonna finish the flight that these photos were taken on. So until the next time, clear skies and soft landings.

Curt May
Email: muttly55@hotmail.com

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Tom's address: http://home.earthlink.net/~tgoodrick