Company owner.
I’m the founder of X-Crafts, a London-based company that has been creating digital airplanes for commercial flight simulators since 2013. Creating one of these products takes 2-3 years.
What are Flight Simulators?
Commercial flight simulators are computer simulation games that recreate the real-world conditions of air traffic and allow users to pilot the aircraft and explore the virtual world, just like real pilots.
These simulators are used by real pilots, as well as casual aviation enthusiasts aged anywhere from 10 to 90 years old.
What I actually do:
3D models & Texturing
I have to recreate the entire 3D model and textures of the airplanes, inside and out. Since the users can walk anywhere around the airplane, all parts of the airplanes need to be modeled to the highest standards.
Interactivity
In addition to perfect visuals, all parts of the cockpit need to be functional and interactive, so that the users can control the airplane, just like the real pilots would.
I am also responsible for creating most of the instruments in the cockpit, and the flight model - setting up the physical and aerodynamical parameters that define how the airplane flies and behaves.
Leading our team
The X-Crafts team has grown over the years. To help me create these models, there are currently two software developers, one sound artist, and one flight simulation and aerodynamics expert responsible for fine-tuning the flight model.
In addition to that, there are dozens of real-world pilots who oversee that what we do is correct, as well as many beta testers all around the world who test all our software before we release it.
WE STRIVE TO BE GREAT, NOT BIG
We don’t want to be the fast-food chain of flight simulators.
Instead, we want X-Crafts to be like a fine-dining restaurant that only has a few items on the menu. In this way, we can dedicate all our love and energy to making fantastic products.