I am probably not alone in turning to flight simulators over the years to get a little taste of flight when time or money or circumstances kept me from the real thing.  The best flight simulator I have ever “flown” is X-Plane, available for Mac and PC, which has also developed a cult following in stripped-down versions sized for Apple’s mobile devices.  There is something of a learning curve for the desktop versions but the reward is very realistic flying.  X-Plane is even used for commercial flight instruction in simulators in a professional licensed version.

One of the great things about X-Plane is that it doesn’t rely one preprogrammed flight data, rather it calculates the physics  of flight based on a physical characteristics of the aircraft.  That makes it possible for anyone to create new virtual aircraft from the achingly real to the entirely fictional.  There are many commercial vendors doing just that but there is also a a vibrant virtual community of enthusiasts who share their work at X-Plane.org.

One such virtual engineer and artist is Jacques Brault of Montreal, whose creations have often caught my eye.  He has done literally hundreds of designs, from jet fighters to microlights to detailed terrain maps of his native Québec, but my favorites are the obscure WWII creations.  Lots of flight simulators offer the chance to fly a Mustang or a Zero, but where else can you find a Supermarine Walrus, Polikarpov I-16 Rata or Blohm & Voss BV 141?  Jacques has created them all!

I asked Jacques to create a virtual FRED, he was kind enough to agree.  Appropriately enough, he chose to model Eric Clutton’s original FRED G-ASZY in its early red-and-white livery with Volkswagen power.  Typical of his work, Jacques has managed to truly capture the spirit and indefinable feel of the plane he is modeling.  I am thrilled with the result and I think you will be, too!  Download FRED for X-Plane by Jacques Brault.

Note:  You will have to join X-Plane.org in order to download the file and, of course, you will need the X-Plane software.  I haven’t tried it since I own the full version, but you should be able to fly FRED in the free demo version of X-Plane.

Photo:  The virtual G-ASZY lines up for takeoff with a photo of the real thing for comparison.  Courtesy of Jacques Brault.