XR5 Vanguard, DG-XR1, and XR2 Ravenstar in Orbit
Latest News
3.23.2009 - XR Payload Tutorial Released
Ryan S. Kingsbury has released an excellent tutorial detailing how to create XR payloads, including Spacecraft3.dll payloads. Download it in the Tutorials section on the User Downloads page.
2.1.2009 - New XR2 Skins Available
Several new third-party XR2 skins are now available in the XR2 Ravenstar Skins section on the User Downloads page.
1.3.2009 - XR2 Paint Kit 1.0 Released
The much-anticipated XR2 Paint Kit is now available! Download it on the download page.
10.17.2008 - XR1 1.5 and XR5 Vanguard 1.2 Released
The newly updated XR1 and XR5 have been released! Changes include turbopack support, an updated hull heating algorithm, and various other tweaks. Download them on the download page.
10.8.2008 - XR2 Ravenstar 1.0 Released
After seven months in development the XR2 Ravenstar has been officially released! Download it on the download page.
XR Fleet Overview
The XR5 Vanguard, DeltaGlider-XR1, and XR2 Ravenstar are cutting-edge, high-performance spacecraft for the Orbiter Space Flight Simulator.
All XR vessels are built on a common framework and share similar internal systems. Highlights include three (XR1), four (XR2), or five (XR5) 2D instrument panels that natively support 1280-, 1600-, and 1920-pixel-wide resolutions, high-performance Altea Aerospace SCRAM engines, complex damage simulation, custom sound effects, over 250 voice callouts performed by actress Sally Beaumont, and highly precise autopilots just to name a few. In addition, the XR2 and XR5 include a payload bay with full payload support via a custom panel. The XR codebase consists of over 60,000 lines of C++ code.
The XR1's 3D mesh is based on the DG-S mesh included with Orbiter, while the XR5 and XR2 use new 3D models created by Russell Hicks and Steve "Coolhand" Tyler, respectively. Check out more of Steve's 3D models at Coolhand Graphics.
XR vessels are designed to be pilot's ships, and with all the realism settings set to maximum the ships are significantly more challenging to fly efficiently (and safely) than Orbiter's default DeltaGlider; i.e., pilot workload is higher. However, each vessel is fully configurable via its configuration file, and with all the realism settings disabled each vessel is just as forgiving to fly as the default DeltaGlider. The configuration file also features a custom CHEATCODES section that allows the user to directly set certain ship's values such as maximum engine thrust, fuel capacity, ship mass, etc.
Download the XR Fleet on the download page. You may also browse the XR Flight Operations Manual.
