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A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Aircraft and configuration
VSKYLABS' XR-71 is a simulator testbed inspired by the SR-71. It has twin jets, retractable gear and flight-model-dependent inlet and centre-of-gravity behaviour. A D-21 payload changes the simulated weight and balance. The front cockpit is available, while rear-seat systems work remains incomplete.
XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed
VSKYLABS · Read more ↗Meet XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed
VSKYLABS' XR-71 is a simulator testbed inspired by the SR-71. It has twin jets, retractable gear and flight-model-dependent inlet and centre-of-gravity behaviour. A D-21 payload changes the simulated weight and balance. The front cockpit is available, while rear-seat systems work remains incomplete.
History & design
A test-bed interpretation of the SR-71
VSKYLABS develops XR-71-TB as an evolving simulation project. Version 2.0 added a launchable D-21 drone and configuration-dependent weight and balance; the developer distinguishes the SR-71A mode from the M-21-inspired carrying configuration. The combined package is a simulator interpretation, not one historical airframe.
VSKYLABS · XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed — simulator documentation ↗Simulation scope, v2.0 development
The v3 model and its limits
Version 3.0 replaced the earlier interior and exterior model. The published scope identifies a front cockpit, with the rear reconnaissance-systems cockpit still future work. It also records simplified electrical and hydraulic systems and a deliberately added aural angle-of-attack aid that was absent from the original aircraft.
VSKYLABS · XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed — simulator documentation ↗Simulation scope, v3.0 and later
Systems & details
Controls and equipment
Electrical, hydraulic and engine-unstart behaviour is simplified.
Surface limiter
The simulated surface-limiter system changes roll and rudder authority with Mach number.
In your simulator
No released simulator product is listed for this aircraft in the developers reviewed. Announced products are excluded.
Manuals & resources
Find your next read
Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.
Simulator documentation
Controls and equipmentXR-71 Mach 3 Testbed
Electrical, hydraulic and engine-unstart behaviour is simplified.
XR-71 technical centre · simulation scope
VSKYLABS · Read the source ↗Surface limiterXR-71 Mach 3 Testbed
The simulated surface-limiter system changes roll and rudder authority with Mach number.
XR-71 technical centre · surface-limiter system
VSKYLABS · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Simulator documentation
XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed — simulator documentationVSKYLABS · XR-71 technical centre · simulation scope XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed — simulator documentationVSKYLABS · XR-71 technical centre · surface-limiter systemBuilt-in force-feedback profiles
Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.
Catalogue programme-20261011-v3 · 1 profile choice
VSKYLABS XR-71 Mach 3 Testbed
VSKYLABS · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
An SR-71-inspired Mach 3 simulator testbed.
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