A Flight Sim Enthusiast's Notebook
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A Long-Awaited Look at Haneda Airport Terminal 3
Recently, the COVID-19 situation has improved, with the number of infections just a fraction of what it was during the peak of the fifth wave. So, while the weather is still good, I came to the airport to see the planes I haven’t seen in a while, even though most international flights haven’t resumed yet.
The most striking sight today was this Lufthansa Airbus A340-300, a rare four-engine aircraft.
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X-Plane 12 Keynote Presentation + Q&A
X-Plane 12 Keynote Presentation + Q&A
The official X-Plane.com website has released specific details about X-Plane 12. Below is an attempt to translate the Q&A.
Q: Regarding backward compatibility, what happens to the software used in X-Plane 11? Will it work in X-Plane 12?
A: We have ensured that the existing OpenGL bridge can continue to work in v12 just as the Plugins originally did. We expect most well-behaved Plugins to continue to work just as they did in v11. This includes everything from third-party Scenery and aircraft to general Plugins, including existing satellite photo scenery."
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X-Plane 12 Release
Great news: X-Plane 12 was officially announced at today’s FlightSimExpo! After watching nearly an hour of the YouTube livestream, I wrote a simple memo from memory.
- The F-14 Tomcat becomes a default aircraft <img src=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAKPnuwWUAA0mbr?format=jpg&name=4096x4096>
- Weather will not just utilize local airport METARs, but will establish a global weather system
- The cloud rendering engine has been rewritten and won’t consume too many system resources
- Rain rendering models are more realistic, and will be combined with the airflow model; for example, the changes in water flow hitting the cockpit window
- The sound engine has also been rewritten, featuring a sound system with greater immersion
- The new ATC UI has been rewritten, adding further support for VFR ATC
- Seasonal changes, which were also mentioned in About the next generation X-Plane <img src=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FAKZ1hHVEAQaAXn?format=jpg&name=large>
- The release date is not yet determined
- Users who purchase the X-Plane 12 digital beta will be able to download X-Plane 11 simultaneously
Referencing the fact that it took about half a year from X-Plane 11’s release to the beta reveal, I guess we’ll be able to use X-Plane 12 by next spring.
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About the Next-Generation X-Plane
It has been a long time since this site last wrote about X-Plane version updates.
However, seeing New Previews of the Next-Generation of X-Plane today, there is quite a bit of information about the next generation of X-Plane currently under development, so I have noted it down here.
Regarding the new version number, whether it will be X-Plane 12 and the price are not yet determined. Regarding seasons, not only will the four seasons change, but the scenery will also vary depending on the time of day and latitude. Regarding clouds, they plan to introduce features where both shape and volume change constantly. Regarding Microsoft Flight Simulator, Austin says he has only used it for 30 minutes. While the scenery is indeed excellent above 3000 feet, the image quality drops sharply once close to the ground. X-Plane does not plan to provide satellite imagery for terrain data. Regarding performance, they will maximize hardware efficiency, but won’t focus all their energy on increasing frame rates.
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Olympic Broadcast Helicopter Airbus Helicopters H125
The Tokyo Olympics concluded nearly a month ago. I went to the seaside to watch the windsurfing finals and managed to snap a few photos of the Airbus Helicopters H125 broadcast helicopter. I’m sharing them here.
Airbus Helicopters H125 (AS-350B3e) - Toho Air Service JA506E
Here is a description of this aircraft type, borrowed from the official Airbus website:
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NOTAMs and ATC Air Traffic Control in Non-Peacetime
I just finished watching the Olympics, the Americans are withdrawing from Afghanistan as planned, and the Taliban has taken over the capital, Kabul, basically peacefully and without a fight these past few days. However, the power vacuum will not be filled anytime soon, as can be seen from the NOTAMs at Kabul airport and the Flight Information Region.
Following the instructions on how to check NOTAMs previously introduced on this site, Enter OAKB and OAKX
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Watching Planes at the Airport on the Day of the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony
July 23, 2021, was the opening day of the Tokyo Olympics and also a holiday. It had been a long time since I last visited the airport for some leisure. Knowing that it would be difficult to take clear photos in the scorching heat, the opportunity was too rare to pass up, so I decided to come to Haneda Airport Terminal 3 to record this special day.
Due to the pandemic, most flights are still dormant.
Coming to the rooftop observation deck on the 5th floor, you can see the volunteer staff waiting to welcome the athletes gazing at the arriving aircraft.
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Issue with Mac.xpl Plugin Not Launching on MacOS
I hadn’t used these external devices for a long time. Occasionally, I took them out for a test flight to see if they still worked.
I reinstalled the Xsaitekpanels (lin+win+mac+32/64) Plugin mentioned before.
After launching X-Plane, I got an error saying the Plugin’s Mac.xpl had a security issue.So, I checked online articles and found this one – Mac.xpl Not Starting
It turns out that you just need to allow Mac.xpl in the system security settings.
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Old Photos of Transair Boeing 737-200 N810TA that Ditched at Sea
Based on a reader’s comment, I just learned that the Boeing 737-200 freighter N810TA, which I photographed before, performed a ditching near Hawaii last night. Fortunately, the pilots have been rescued!
This aircraft had its maiden flight on July 23, 1975, and was delivered to Pacific Western Airlines in Canada on October 10 of the same year. It is nearly 46 years old this year.
The airframe has presumably sunk to the bottom of the sea… So I am sharing some previous photos. -
Precious Flight Video from 26 Years Ago
It is somewhat miraculous to have found a flight video taken 26 years ago. The time was the afternoon of May 1, 1995, taking a China Eastern Airlines flight from Jinan to Beijing. Departure time was 15:38, landing time was 16:18. The aircraft type was an MD-82, with registration number B-2123. This airframe was assembled and produced in Shanghai by the Shanghai Aviation Industrial Corporation and the American McDonnell Douglas company, rolling out in 1989.
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'Airport Department of CAAC Solicits Opinions on "Guide to Planning and Construction of Aviation Viewing Facilities at Civil Airports'
Two years ago, this site introduced the idea of building airport observation platforms, mentioning that
Currently, the Civil Aviation Administration is working on learning from the successful experiences of airport observation platforms in developed countries abroad, striving to take the lead in planning, designing, and building a batch of observation facilities at major hub airports nationwide. On one hand, this can reasonably satisfy the demands of the vast number of tourists, allowing them to visit easily and pleasantly at major hub airports; on the other hand, it must also ensure the safe and efficient travel of passengers, balancing both aspects so that each gets what they need.
Recently, I saw the news item below; it looks like the airport observation facility project is about to kick off! Civil Aviation Administration Airport Division solicits opinions on the “Guidelines for Planning and Construction of Civil Airport Aviation Observation Facilities”
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A Relaxing Trip to Tokyo International Airport in March
Work hasn’t been going well lately, so I came out this weekend to take some photos and change the mood.
Started today at Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 2. The mainstay fleet of the past—the 787/777 large passenger jets—is hard to spot now; the 767/321/320/737 have become the absolute main force.
However, with the sunlight behind me, let’s capture a moment for the hard-working maintenance crew.
When it comes to plane photos, takeoff is naturally the most charming part.
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First Visit to the Airport to Watch Planes in 2021
After entering 2021, due to the worsening pandemic situation, the Japanese government once again declared a state of emergency. Although there was no strict lockdown, economic activities like tourism and business travel came to a standstill again.
I have been working from home for nearly a year, and my camera has basically been sitting idle. I really don’t know how long this situation will last. To change my mood, I occasionally come to Haneda Airport for a walk; otherwise, I might even forget how to take photos.
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Posting Old Photos during the COVID-19 Pandemic 25: The Afterburner Plume of a Fighter Jet
Since the onset of winter, due to the rapid surge in infections, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency again this week, urging people to stay home as much as possible.
It’s a good chance to keep sorting through old photos at home.
The nozzle flames of fighter jets in afterburner always make for some of the best shutter opportunities—today, I’ve picked out a few such shots to share. -
COVID-19 Pandemic Old Photo Post 24: Boeing 737 MAX
Continuing the series of old photos from the COVID-19 pandemic era. Recently, I saw that the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX grounding incident, which lasted for nearly two years, has finally seen progress. To commemorate this, here are a few old photos from the 2018 Farnborough Airshow.
The above are photos of the air display; below are a few shots from the ground.
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Throwback to the Old Days: HondaJet HA-420
Continuing with the series of old photos from the COVID-19 pandemic era, today we are featuring the HondaJet HA-420. All photos were taken at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow.
The HondaJet HA-420 is the first aircraft developed by Honda Aircraft Company.
The HondaJet is an unconventional low-wing monoplane, featuring a composite fuselage and an aluminum wing. The aircraft is equipped with two GE Honda Aero Engines HF120 turbofan engines mounted on the wings. It features retractable landing gear, with both main landing gear and the nose gear being of the single-wheel type.
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Throwback to Embraer E190-E2 Passenger Aircraft
Continuing the series of throwback photos from the COVID-19 pandemic, today I am posting the Embraer E190-E2 in the “Shark” livery. All photos were taken at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow.
Exterior
The E190-E2 is the first model of the Embraer E-Jets E2 jet series. Compared to the current generation E190 aircraft, the E190-E2 features 75% new systems; fuel consumption is improved by 17.3% over the E190, and is 10% better than direct competitors, making it the most efficient single-aisle series aircraft globally.
The E-Jets E2 series utilizes new Pratt & Whitney PurePower Geared TurbofanTM high-performance engines, reducing fuel consumption by 11% compared to the previous generation CF34; Meanwhile, the E-Jets E2’s new wing creatively adopts a raked wingtip design co-planar with the main wing, increasing the wing span length.
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A Relaxing Trip to the Airport
As the weather turns colder, the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has recently peaked in Japan, with no sign of letting up. Working from home every day and rarely going out was stifling, so I came to the airport to watch the airplanes and relax.
I love capturing planes pulling up nose-high from the front in this kind of backlit condition,
Especially since this is a JAL special livery aircraft featuring “Nippon Festival”. -
Posting old photos during the COVID-19 pandemic 21 The last production Boeing 727
Continuing my series of posting old photos during the COVID-19 pandemic, today I’m posting the Boeing 727. All photos were taken at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow.
Takeoff
The introduction on wikipedia is as follows:
The Boeing 727 is a medium-range, three-engine, narrow-body passenger aircraft produced and developed by the American Boeing Company. It has a seating capacity of 149 to 189 people and a range of 2,400 to 2,700 nautical miles. The Boeing 727 uses Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines, a T-tail, and places the engines at the rear of the fuselage. The No. 2 engine is located above the fuselage and below the tail, connected to the intake by an S-duct.
The Boeing 727 inherited the success of the Boeing 707, using the same cockpit design and fuselage cross-section. The first Boeing 727-100 flew in 1963 and was delivered to Eastern Air Lines the following year to enter service. The Boeing 727-200 is a stretched fuselage version, which flew for the first time in 1967 and was delivered to Northeast Airlines for service. During its production run, the Boeing 727 was the main aircraft type for US domestic routes as well as medium and short-range international routes. The Boeing 727 also has a freighter version and a passenger-freighter convertible version.
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Posting Old Photos 20 under the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mitsubishi Regional Jet MRJ
Continuing with the series of old photos posted during the COVID-19 pandemic, today I am posting the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ). All photos were taken at the Farnborough Airshow in 2018.
Detailed News: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Virtually Freeze Development of Domestic Regional Jet
[Kyodo News, October 22] Interviews with multiple related parties on the 22nd revealed that Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is making final coordination to drastically cut the R&D costs and personnel for its first domestic jet regional airliner, the "SpaceJet" (formerly MRJ), and to effectively freeze the project. The company believes that due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, demand from ordering airlines is currently hopeless to recover. Japan invested huge amounts of public and private funds in a bid to launch its first domestic passenger jet in about half a century, but missed delivery deadlines 6 times due to lack of experience and technology. The national industrial policy may also suffer a huge blow.
