This MSFS package for the Jonker JS3 high-performance glider includes both the 15m and 18m version of the aircraft.
READ THIS: this single ZIP contains TWO packages, for the 15m and 18m respectively. So open the Zip in Windows and drag the TWO folders into your Community folder. Have I made it clear there are TWO packages? One called JS3-15... and the other called JS3-18...
You'll see the 15m and 18m JS-3's separately selectable from your World Map - Aircraft Selection screen.
The 15m is sharing a lot of files from the 18m, so even if you only fly the 15m, keep the 18m installed.
This addon for MSFS has accurately modelled flight performance including flaps and ballast, and a full competition panel.
The nav instruments and variometers will be largely familiar to those that has flown the MSFS AS33, i.e. the variometers have full support for Total Energy, Netto and Speed-to-Fly, and the Nav Panel will load and display the current MSFS flightplan which can be annotated via B21 Task Planner to include the details of a proper competition soaring task, showing appropriate task completion info on a panel built into the nav instrument that can be screenshot to compare with others flying the same task.
A basic comparison of the 15m and 18m:
The best glide ratio of the JS3-18 is ~56:1, and the JS3-15 is ~50:1. This mostly makes a difference while thermalling in weak to medium thermals or on a final glide in weak conditions. Let's be honest you're unikely to be in either of those situations in MSFS.
At high speed, the margin between the two gliders begins to shrink, and at 140 knots the glide ratio of the JS3-18 (~26:1) is only a little higher than the JS3-15 (~25:1).
Back in the day before 18m (or 20m) gliders were popular, the competition classes jumped from 15m flapped to Open Class (with planes ~25/26m wingspan). Counter-intuitively the 15m gliders could be faster than the open class on a really strong day as the Open class ~60:1 floaty glide capability kicks ass in weak conditions but becomes a liability at high speed.
The handling of the JS3 15m and 18m in MSFS is similar, the performance differs slightly ass reported above, the 15m carries less ballast and is permitted a lower max total weight (525Kg vs 600Kg) and the net effect of all that is the 15m has a lower max wing-loading but the performance is still awesome. The roll-rate of the 15m is slightly better in the sim but you might not notice.
The instruments in the 15m and 18m are exactly the same, with the idea being you've attached different wing tips for the two wingspans (as RL). You'll see a piece of sticky tape on the 15m panel reminding you that you've attached those tips. The two packages in MSFS are necessary as there are a bunch of files that need to be swapped in/out between the 15m and 18m such as the flight model, and that's not something MSFS can do in a single package.
2.0.3 Update
* on-panel Watch updated to show HH:MM:SS
* add AGL Alt to Altimeter
* Waldo livery added
* Chas livery added
* add Chris Bullas livery from 18m to 15m
* update Nav Map Stamen Terrain to tile server
* shadows improved in cockpit
* b21_nav_lx updated from JS3
* flaps external view indicator updated (cockpit.cfg)
* update B21 Soaring Engine
* update MSFS display of flap settings angles
* added scrolling line from plane to current WP.
* Nav panel do not display radius/max/min for wp's if task completed.
* Nav Panel not reset task on power off
* extend WASM fcheck reset to 20 seconds
* make 'happy beep' for good WP confirm, 'sad beep' for bad WP
* suppress hide of Nav Panel wind arrow at low wind speed
2.0.2 update
* 15m variant added (note this Zip now includes TWO packages to go in the Community folder, make sure to extract both of those from the ZIP).
* 'secondary' adjustments applied to the flight model (the glide performance is already the most accurate in MSFS), these are mainly the pitch behaviour on flap changes and extending the spoilers. Also the trim center point and range has been adjusted.
* other small bugfixes and quality of life improvements
1.0.1 update:
* bugfix for Nav Panel 8-box display
* Significantly improved shadows on the panel and in the cockpit (thanks to sal1800 for the method)
3 months ago
basboss
4 months ago
glider1001
If possible advice - thanks a lot
7 months ago
ldbfsxbelgium
10 months ago
Edd70
Best MSFS sailplanes yet, imho.
11 months ago
WaldoP3pper
Wow...thanks you for so many joyful flighthours.
11 months ago
ReBeL1o1
Great one! Thank you.
11 months ago
fStopper
Can you also create an Schleicher ASK21?
11 months ago
There are multiple devs workign on one (f7 simulations for example)
11 months ago
LeNinjaHD
Bruchpilot9x
Lovely glider, now my 'go to' 😊
I had a small problem with the water dump - the lever constantly cycles between the three positions in flight and water comes out the wings (even though there is none in the tanks anyway) - I had nothing mapped to the water-dump-toggle but I do have two mice and I think it's picking up a mouse even though the pointer is nowhere near.
I 'fixed' it by commented-out the whole water-dump section of the js3-int.xml file as I don't use water anyway...
Whilst in the XML file I noticed you had 'fixed' an Asobo bug regarding the trim axis being reversed - as most MSFS aircraft seem to trim in the opposite sense than the JS3 I removed that bit too. Is it definitely a bug? Will they ever fix it?
12 months ago
At a guess your custom controller settings are trying to force settings for external lights (e.g. landing lights), this will interfere with the JS3 trying to control its own external lights and that impacts the ballast. Setting a button to 'toggle' almost anything is absolutely fine, because if you don't hit that button then the button does nothing, but it's likely your controller is effectively fighting with the aircraft.
11 months ago
B21
keithb77
Great glider, although it seems to me that it needs more input on the elevator than the AS33 at low speeds (one may get tired even with the plane fully trimmed back). I'm still learning how to properly fly it, but got 8.9 m/s climb average with Floyd's epic clouds glider (harder) preset! Could you please tell us the best settings (flaps and ballast) for different tasks and flight speeds?
12 months ago
re the trim I've had other feedback the 'center point' would be preferred to be slower (it's funny in the early days of the AS33 people complained about not being able to trim at Vne - maybe MSFS weather has improved enough that people are actually thermalling). I'm currently working on the next update for this JS3, the main thing being to add a 15m variant, and I'll adjust the trim and tune a few other details in the flight model for the 18m also.
Re the flap settings the simple guide is 90 knots+ in flap 1, 80 in 2, 70 in 3, and use 4/5 when you're thermalling. I put a LOT of work into the flight model for the JS3, just that took a couple of months, so the 'published polar' outer envelope is super accurate (e.g. ballasted best glide ~56:1, high speed glide at 140 knots is ~27:1) but the main thing I'm proud of is the plane climbs really well. The SECONDARY effects of the flaps, particularly the pitch changes between flaps 1-2-3 aren't quite right in the current 1.0.1 version , but I've already tuned that in the version on my desk so that'll be fine in the next release (which will be 2.0.2 because that will include both gliders, 15m and 18m).
11 months ago
B21
fswt
can you please make a ka6, astir cs or ask21?
12 months ago
marcel09
Wonderful Glider and thanks for all your hard work.
12 months ago
Wilem35
Can it please get a sustainer, it is a RAPTURE, with jet
12 months ago
Rather have the RES version........
12 months ago
soaruk
Mathias92E
Thanks a lot very nice job.
12 months ago
ADCKillerman
Initial impression after flight test: 😊)
More detail: Flies nicely, similar performance to AS33, instruments slightly different but that magnificent Nav MFD is the same except for one nice touch: time to next waypoint. Aerodynamics nice, it drops a wing on stall but self-recovers rather than going into a spin. Plenty of warning, it will not snap you in but you still lose a lot of height so heed it's warnings. Aerobatics nice, loops easily like most gliders, aileron roll possible but slow (Cm'on, it's 18m), wing over (hammerhead) the nicest of any glider in the sim. A really nice job, I love it!
12 months ago
THE JS3 and AS33ME have essentially identical wing area, aspect ratio, and max wing loading being 9.95m2 and 10m2 respectively with the same max AUW of 600 kg in 18m - so one wonder's about the above statement and the accuracy of your modelling.......... there should be minimal difference at 600kg as in R/L............. The empty weights of each are vastly different as one is a pure glider weighing approx. 285-295kg, and the other an electric self launcher weighing415-425kg in R/L............. To say the JS3 has an 'exceptionally high aspect ratio' is just balderdash....
12 months ago
soaruk
Maverick333rd