CAS Cosmopolitan II

The CAS Cosmopolitan II is a wildly ambitious, entirely fictional concept aircraft imagining the VIP, transport, and military patrol aviation landscape of the year 2050. Designed by freeware creator rlawson under the fictional manufacturer "Canadian Airborne Shipyards," the Cosmopolitan II aims to answer a single question: what happens to a high-speed business jet when it no longer requires an airport?

Visually, the aircraft is a striking 127-foot windowless blended-wing body. Instead of traditional windows, the cabin features curved screen walls that project a live external view for the passengers—which can be dimmed or turned off completely. Powered by three rear-mounted 150 kN turbofans, the aircraft is capable of cruising at Mach 0.90 for 6,600 nautical miles, or pushing up to Mach 1.5 at 35,000 feet with a reduced range of 3,800 miles.

Where the Cosmopolitan II truly shines is its VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) engineering. Beneath the cabin floor sit eight electric lift fans, while the two outboard exhaust nozzles articulate downward. During transition, the center engine disconnects from its thrust nozzle and acts as a dedicated generator to drive the lift fans. Virtual pilots manage this complex transition via a dedicated VTOL MFD page, utilizing an Auto-Hover function and a unique "thrust brake" system that allows the aircraft to rapidly decelerate in mid-air at 0.84 g without altering its pitch attitude.

Perhaps the most impressive technical achievement of this freeware project is its dynamic state loading. The aircraft’s weight, internal 3D geometry, and crew complement change instantly based on the selected livery, with no reload required. The package includes seven distinct cabin configurations ranging from a luxury Owner's suite and a 31-seat Commuter layout, to a Medevac cabin with IV bags, and even an armed Maritime Patrol variant featuring tactical consoles, drop-capable Mk 54 torpedoes, and a deployable roof radar.

Because it is a fictional 2050 concept, it cannot be judged against a real-world Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or classified as Study Level. However, the Cosmopolitan II represents some of the most creative and technically complex plugin engineering available in the X-Plane 12 freeware community, offering virtual pilots a highly polished, Mach 1.5 VTOL sandbox.

Primary Missions & Operational Roles

• Point-to-Point VTOL VIP Transport: Bypass conventional airports entirely, transitioning from a Mach 1.5 cruise to a vertical touchdown at a private helipad.

• Maritime Patrol & ASW: Load the Ghost Grey or Coast Guard liveries to deploy the roof radar, operate tactical consoles, and drop Mk 54 torpedoes from the stores bay.

• Rapid Medevac / SAR: Configure the aircraft as a mass-casualty transport featuring twelve stretchers and active flight medics.

• High-Speed Cargo & Commuter Operations: Haul netted pallets via the large side cargo door or fly regional commuter routes with the 31-seat airline configuration.