VSKYLABS Polaris AM-FIB Project

The VSKYLABS Polaris Motor AM-FIB Project

JetManHuss - VSKYLABS (c) 2023 All Rights Reserved

Please note that this project manual/instructions is available in an On-Line version only. Simply scroll down in this page to get to the manual section.

Separate native products for X-PLANE 12 and X-PLANE 11, for your selection.

Autoupdater based on the SkunkCrafts autoupdater (XP12 only) - all updates are being pushed smoothly without the need to re-download the entire base package (base package will be updated every once in a while to minimize the gap).

MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR X-PLANE 12

Disk Space: 25GB
CPU: Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 CPU with 4 or more cores, or AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or 9.
(Those with other CPUs should try the demo before purchasing.)
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Video Card: a Vulkan 1.3-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 2 GB VRAM
Note: Intel GPUs are not supported by X-Plane 12.

The VSKYLABS Polaris Motor AM-FIB ("Flying Inflatable Boat") development for X-Plane was approved by 'Polaris Motor' allowing a great deal of reference materials and operational practices to be included in the design, modeling, engineering and development process. During development, first-hand materials and so-many detailed photos of practically every part of the FIB were shared by Polaris Motor company, for the purpose of this project. However, the VSKYLABS Polaris Motor AM-FIB for X-Plane is an independent project, which is not endorsed and/or affiliated with/by 'Polaris Motor'.

Polaris AM-FIB: A flying boat ultralight trike

The FIB is a flying boat ultralight trike, designed and produced by 'Polaris Motor' of Italy. The aircraft was introduced in the mid-1980s and remained in production. The FIB can be used on rivers, lakes, swamps and in open sea. It is equipped with retractable landing gears, and can be operated from land or water.

What is an ultralight trike aircraft: also known as a flex-wing trike, weight-shift-control aircraft, microlight trike, deltatrike or motorized deltaplane, is a type of powered hang glider using a high-performance Rogallo wing coupled to a propeller-driven three-wheeled undercarriage. While many powered aircraft have three-wheeled landing gear, the term "trike" refers specifically to the form of aircraft described above.

Flight control in a trike is made by weight-shifting; the undercarriage structure is connected to the wing at a hinge-point, and the wing can be tilted in both X and Y axes. While on the ground (takeoff for example), pushing the wing control bar raises the angle of attack of the wing and lift is produced. As the aircraft is airborne, moving the control bar of the wing causes the undercarriage to swift both sideways or back and forth, and a weight-shifting control is achieved.

A brief explanation of the options (accessories) regarding the landing gears (wheels) available for the FIB:

1. AM-FIB ( Amphibious Flying Inflatable Boat ): Manually operated retractable landing gear that allows for the FIB to take off and land. This is the configuration that is being used in the VSKYLABS AM-FIB Project.
2. Kit of wheels / trike conversion: A simple conversion kit allows removal of the inflatable hull and turns the FIB into a land based trike. For example, if during the winter, the FIB is to be used on land only, then this conversion kit is recommended.
3. For landing on snow: skis are available on the trike version only (the trike without being attached to the inflatable boat).
4. The AM-FIB system can be removed and installed at necessity easily when not needed.

Pilot's Operating Handbook

The VSKYLABS Polaris AM-FIB is designed with simplicity and functionality in mind, resulting with a few interactive features (when flying with/without VR gear). It is an amphibious vehicle which can be operated from both land and sea, instantly.

Specifications ( FIB & AM-FIB Rotax 582):

• Type: Weight shift microlight two seater - Hydro.
• Empty weight: FIB Kg 220 – AM-FIB Kg 250.
• Max Take Off Weight ( MTOW): Kg 450.
• Allowed load: FIB Kg 230 – AM-FIB Kg 200 (pilot+passenger+fuel+luggage).
• Wing Span: 10.60m.
• Wing surface: 18.40 sqmt.
• Load Factors : +3.8 – 1.5 G ( safety factor 1.5).
• Stall Speed: 48 Km/h (~26 knots).
• Cruising speed: 65/70 Km/h (~37 knots).
• Max speed: 80 Km/h (~44 knots).
• Ceiling: 2500m above sea level.
• Climb rate: 2-4.5 m/sec.
• Fuel tank: 40 Lt (+ 55 Lt optional).
• Fuel consumption: 12-18 Lt/h.

Power plant and standard equipment:

• Motor: Rotax two stroke, two cylinder, water cooled, twin ignition, twin carburetor, 64 hp ,582 cc, reduction gear box type C, exhaust silencer.
• Propeller: 3-blade wooden propeller (with changeable pitch on the ground).

Cockpit instrument console:

• Water temperature instrument gauge.
• Engine hours counter gauge.
• Engine RPM gauge.
• EGT gauge.
• 12 V plugs on panel.
• 8 amp/h 12 Volt battery with rectifier tension regulator.

Instruments Panel:
The main instrument panel is located between the pilots legs, and like its real-life brother, holds in only very few indicators: EGT, RPM, Water temp and Fuel level indicators. Switches consists Igniters ON/OFF, Master Battery and Starter switches.

A Smart-Phone showing basic flight data are also installed, although airspeed indicator on the FIB (and also on other trikes) is practically a none-used instrument. Trike/flex wing pilots are usually not using an airspeed indicator, as they feel the speed in the control bar and other factors. This applies also to "stall warning", which is very clear on the control bar.

Since flying a trike in a simulator is different in so many aspect that in real life, and doesn't include the real "feel" of the control bar and its interaction with the airspeed, the airspeed indicator shown on the Smart-Phone application might become handy on the first two or three flights, right until you will learn to "feel" the speed without looking at it.

Manual Throttle:

The VSKYLABS Polaris AM-FIB is equipped with manual throttle lever, located on-top and in-front the pilot's head. Although this configuration is not existing in real life, it may be very useful for flying in VR, using the VR touch controllers.

Speed figures for Flying the VSKYLABS Polaris AM-FIB safely:

• Stall Speed: 48 Km/h (~26 knots).
• Cruising speed: 65/70 Km/h (~37 knots).
• Max speed: 80 Km/h (~44 knots).
• Take off - allow the aircraft to develop enough airspeed (above 26 knots). You can monitor the airspeed in the Smart-Phone, but quite fast, you will learn how to "feel" it as the ground/water will pass you by, and the wind-sound will get familiar to your ears. Push the control bar gently, and as lift off occurs, let it go a bit, and control the rate of climb, allowing the aircraft to gain airspeed (above 30 knots is fine).
• Cruising along - Reduce engine power for comfortably 35-40 knots cruising speed. Once again, you will learn to evaluate this speed simply by learning the needed power and wind blowing sounds.
• Loosing altitude - While descending, monitor airspeed, as gravity will "help" the aircraft to accelerate. Vne of the FIB is about 43 knots, but the virtual model is design to withstand higher airspeed, simply because the lack of spatial and sensual sensation while flying in a PC based simulator. So the aircraft will tolerate a bit of higher airspeed before braking apart.
• Landing and stalling - The FIB is "full of drag". The good thing is that it allows steep and tight finals. The bad thing is that you must pay attention to engine power in relation to nose attitude (or sink rate), Don't let the speed come less than 28 knots, unless you are flaring. Keep your power up and don't worry - killing excessive potential with the FIB is VERY easy.

Land or Water Configuration:

The VSKYLABS Polaris AM-FIB is allowing you to change its configuration between water and land operations very easily:

To change the Landing Gears configurations simply click on the RIGHT side of the boat (while sitting in the cockpit). The landing gears will animate to the up/down position, along with the rope which is holding it when retracted.

Pilot and Passenger Configuration:

To make the pilot object visible/hidden, simply click on the pilot's seat (while sitting in the cockpit). By hiding the pilot object you will be able to operate the FIB with a clear 360 degrees all-around view.

To load/unload passenger, simply click on the passenger seat (while sitting in the cockpit). The passenger will be added to the AM-FIB, along with her weight, with each click. Alternatively, you can set the payload using X-Plane's weight and balance/payload menu to exceed the passenger weight. When the passenger weight will exceed approximately 60kg (~132 pounds), the passenger will turn visible.

Brakes/Anchor Operations:

Brakes: Originally, the AM-FIB is not equipped with wheel brakes. However, and for the purpose of adding comfortable conditions in the simulator, the VSKYLABS AM-FIB main landing gears are equipped with brakes, which may be very useful when operating over inclined surface in X-Plane. To apply or release the brakes, simply click on the LEFT side of the boat. Alternatively, you can click on the 'Brakes' icon located on the Smartphone screen.

Update Log 

VSKYLABS Polaris Motor AM-FIB Project
JetManHuss - VSKYLABS (c) 2022 All Rights Reserved
 

XP12 - v3.2 (4th December 2022):

• Interior lighting system reset and retuned to comply with the modified X-Plane 12.00r1+ lighting engine.

XP12 - v3.1 (23th November 2022):

• Updater software replaced - from STMA to SkunkCrafts. 

XP12 - v3.0 (September 2022):

• X-Plane 12 initial version released.

XP11 - v2.0 (20th May 2020):

• General:
  • STMA Autoupdater plugin was added to the project.
• Flight dynamics:
  • re-designed and tuned for X-Plane 11 Experimental flight model environment.
  • Ground and water handing tuneup.
• Internal Engineering:
  • Project internal architecture was updated to allow future updates within the project's development road-map.
• 3D modeling:
  • Improved PBR textures all around.
• Systems, Interactivity and VR:
  • Pilot figure conversion for VR operations (no-head operations).
  • Passenger was added (visuals + physical weight), including on-the-fly loading/unloading of the passenger (by clicking on her seat in VR/3D cockpit mode).
  • Parking brakes added to allow comfortable operation on inclined surfaces. Parking brakes interaction zones are the left portion of the boat, and/or the Brakes icon on the Smartphone.
  • Manual throttle was added, located in-front and on-top of the pilot's head, allowing manual throttle operation with VR touch controllers.
  • Control bar control using VR touch controllers was added.
  • GNS 530 was removed.

XP11 - v1.0 (12th December 2017): Initial version released.