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/images/notams/notams22/vsky0216.jpgVSKYLABS Hopper Hot Air Balloon Project for X-Plane by LaminarResearch (work-in-progress). Delayed response and anticipation arepart of the major skills in a balloon pilot "toolkit". Example:Reducing sink rate requires the use of the burner...which results inreducing the weight of the balloon, increasing its buoyancy. However...depending on various factors, such as actual sink rate,envelope temperature and effectiveness of the burner...the time fromblast-valve opening to sink-rate response may take a lot ofseconds. The delayed response of the balloon is demonstrated in theattached screen shot, where a 9 seconds of burning are just about toend. The flight path indicates the future climb of the balloon. This presents many challenges, especially when approaching forlanding in a desired spot. Stay tuned! This fascinating, educational VSKYLABS project isscheduled for release in the near future! Source VSKYLABS Making Progress On "Hopper" Balloon
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/images/notams/notams21/vsky0803/vskylabs-1.jpgThe VSKYLABS 'Hopper' Hot Air Balloon Simulation for X-Plane byLaminar Research development news: The VSL 'Hopper' simulation is already capable of complete full'hopping' flights. Several effective 'cockpit' instrumentation panelconfigurations are being evaluated. Current leading flightinstrumentation configuration includes Altimeter, VSI, Ambient-airtemperature and Envelope-air temperature, AviTab compatibility toallow a moving map and other features during the flights and aMagnetic compass. Beside these, there are the Burner and enginerequired instrumentation (pressure/remaining gas/fuel and soforth). Recommended weather setup is using real-weather. This way,meteorological information for flight planning can be obtaineddirectly from any real-world sources. The Hopper will be carried outby the wind, and the pilot can manage the flight path by climbing ordescending. By doing so, the Hopper will change its flight pathaccording to the wind direction and strength on the selected flyingaltitude. Flight path management is limited and depends on theexisting wind direction and strength. /images/notams/notams21/vsky0803/vskylabs-2.jpgIn emergency situations, or when needed, the back-pack engine maybe used to avoid obstacles or to slightly shift the flight path forshort periods of time. The pilot must plan ahead the landing. This is usually done duringthe flight plan process, and the general point-of descent (location,altitude) is determined before taking off using a map, the weatherinfo and a short navigational planning that takes into account thewind direction and speed in the landing-zone area, as well as theintended descent rate of the Balloon. The power-pack allows fine corrections prior to touchdown. Itincreases the safety aspects of the landing, as power-lines and otherobstacles may be avoided. In real-world Hot Air Balloon operations, aground-crew usually follows the Hot Air Balloon from the launchingzone and intercepts the actual landing site, waiting for the pilot andassisting him during the landing phase, which btw not always goes asplanned. Communication between the pilot and the ground crew is veryimportant throughout the flight. Although flying very slow...flights are very challenging andrewarding, especially when doing the complete cycle of flightplanning, trying to follow it, and landing like in real life. Source VSKYLABS Details Test-Pilot: Hopper Project
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/images/notams/notams21/vsky0706/vskylabs-hopper-1.jpgOK now it is official. The VSKYLABS 'Test-Pilot': Hopper Projectfor X-Plane by Laminar Research (work in progress) is listed now inthe VSKYLABS 2021 releases road-map. The project introduces a highlyrealistic hot air balloon simulation in the form of a powered 'Hopper'vehicle (a single seat hot air balloon). All hot air balloon physics,systems and elements are being simulated. Here are a few screen shots showing the evolving 'Production'prototype. Stay tuned for the *PERFECT* upcoming X-Plane educational /scientific project! /images/notams/notams21/vsky0706/vskylabs-hopper-2.jpg /images/notams/notams21/vsky0706/vskylabs-hopper-3.jpgSource