This model was my entry for the 2nd Digital-Flight's X-Plane Design Contest, done on July 2002 in the fashion of the actual X-Prize competition. It is a sub-orbital craft planned for tourism.

The objective was to create an aircraft using X-Plane software that meets the basic requirements of the official X-Prize contest as is applicable within the limitations of the simulation software.

To quote the contest rules:

"The design must be capable of consistently reaching a maximum altitude of 62 miles (100 Km). Maximum speed required, none. The vehicle must have the capacity to carry three adults who are 6' 2" tall and weigh a minimum of 198 lbs., each. Air launches are allowed however, the mother vehicle must be capable of taking off and climbing to launch altitude with the specified load and configuration.

Power Plant: 2x High-bypass jets (12,000 lb each) for atmospheric flight and 1x Solid rocket (JATO with 40,000 lb) for space launch
Jet Fuel capacity: 1,400 lb
Rocket Fuel load: 13,580 lb
Payload: 1,000 lb
Passenger capacity: 3
Weight empty: 12,000 lb
Weight full: 28,000 lb
Wingspan: 91 ft
Length: 40 ft
Height: 13 ft
Maximum ceiling: 360,000 ft

Runway landings are not required however, the vehicle must be able to return in a fashion that would not limit it's reuse within 14 days. No more then 10% of the vehicle's non-propellant mass may be replaced between flights.

Staged configurations are allowed as long as the stages are recoverable and do not violate the 10% rule.

(*) All flight tests were performed with all settings put to realistic and all limiting switches in the warning pane turned on. The above flight profile can be easily and consistently repeated without tearing-off any wing or flaps. (It is strongly recommended that the user read the attached POH file where the above flight profile is detailed step by step).

Versions History

Almost everything here done by me: Marcelo M. Marques - codename 31 M.M.M
mmarques@frontier.com.br