[NEW] Velocity XL Performance Planner v1.0

[alanfernandes]

Plan more. Tune better. Fly the Velocity XL with confidence.

Meet the Velocity XL Performance Planner, an advanced calculator created exclusively for the Black Square Velocity XL in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Import your SimBrief OFP and turn route, weather, payload, fuel, and aircraft configuration into a complete flight plan. The calculator compares levels, identifies limitations, and helps you find the most efficient setup for each mission whether your goal is saving fuel, balancing performance, or getting there faster.

Smart planning connected to SimBrief

Just enter your Pilot ID or Navigraph Alias to import your latest OFP.

The calculator uses:

• Full OFP route.
• All flight plan waypoints.
• TOC and TOD points.
• Planned distance and altitude.
• Winds by level and waypoint.
• Temperature and ISA deviation.
• METAR, TAF, and available weather information.
• Alternate airport and its coordinates.

Performance calculations are handled by the Velocity XL's own model. Generic performance data for the aircraft type selected in SimBrief is not used.

Three performance profiles

Choose the behavior you want for the flight:

• ECON: prioritizes economy, range, and lower consumption.
• NORMAL: seeks the best balance between consumption, time, and performance.
• FAST: prioritizes speed and reduced flight time.

Power can be set automatically by the profile or adjusted manually via MAP and RPM.

Every change instantly recalculates:

• Estimated power.
• TAS and GS.
• Fuel flow.
• Required fuel.
• ETE.
• Endurance.
• Range.
• Reserve margin.
• Takeoff weight.
• Center of gravity.
• Overall mission feasibility.

Global mission optimizer

The Optimize mission button analyzes the entire calculator at once.

It compares:

• ECON, NORMAL, and FAST.
• All levels between FL100 and FL250.
• Power.
• Fuel on board.
• Payload.
• Weight distribution and CG.
• Selected reserve.
• Oxygen requirements.
• Icing risk.
• Turbulence.
• Alternate.
• Climb, cruise, and descent limitations.

The tool can increase or reduce values, choose another level, and even switch the selected profile to find the best possible configuration.

After optimization, all controls remain available for manual adjustments.

Single feasibility indicator

The entire mission is consolidated into three easy-to-understand states:

• FEASIBLE: the configuration meets the calculated parameters.
• MARGINAL: the flight is possible but has reduced margin or a condition worth attention.
• INFEASIBLE: there is at least one blocking operational limitation.

In addition to the status, the system provides a Mission Score from 0 to 100, the main factors that influenced the score, and the most important action to improve the result.

Full level comparison

Quickly compare all cruise levels between FL100 and FL250.

Each card shows:

• Required fuel.
• ETE.
• Ground speed.
• Icing condition.
• Feasibility status.

Levels incompatible with the flight are automatically disabled and removed from the recommendation.

Icing-Aware Level Optimizer

Since the Velocity XL has no ice protection, the calculator uses OFP weather to assess conditions potentially favorable to ice formation.

The system:

• Analyzes temperature, humidity, and weather evidence.
• Considers exposure during climb, cruise, and descent.
• Identifies altitude bands that should be avoided.
• Recommends alternative levels.
• Shows the ICE index for each level.
• Calculates the impact of the change on fuel, time, and performance.

When weather data is insufficient, the tool reports the limitation instead of automatically turning uncertainty into a blocking condition.

Turbulence & Ride Comfort Optimizer

Compare the expected comfort at all available levels.

The analysis considers:

• Turbulence reported in the OFP.
• CAT, AIRMET, SIGMET, and thunderstorms.
• Wind shear reported by SimBrief.
• Vector wind changes between levels and segments.
• Vertical limits of weather phenomena.

The calculator rates each level and helps you find a more comfortable altitude without ignoring consumption, time, and feasibility.

Alternate & Diversion Advisor

Evaluate the alternate and possible diversions while still planning.

The system calculates:

• Distance to the alternate.
• Estimated time.
• Required fuel.
• Predicted fuel at landing.
• Margin over reserve.
• Diversion feasibility.
• Diversion options from route waypoints.

ETP and PNR

The calculator determines:

• ETP — Equal Time Point: the point where time to continue or return is equivalent.
• PNR — Point of No Return: the limit point for returning while keeping the selected reserve.

Calculations use wind-corrected continuation and return speeds.

A/B scenario comparator

Compare two configurations before applying them.

Change in scenario B:

• Performance profile.
• Cruise level.
• Payload.
• Fuel on board.

The system shows the differences in:

• Consumption.
• ETE.
• Ground speed.
• Fuel margin.

If the result looks good, just apply scenario B to the mission.

Preflight Load Optimizer

The LOAD area analyzes the combination of payload, fuel, and operating weight.

It shows:

• Recommended minimum fuel.
• Maximum possible payload.
• Optimized weight.
• Compatible profile and level.
• Required payload reduction, when applicable.

Weight & Balance with five seats

A complete weight and balance section adapted to the Black Square configuration:

• Pilot.
• Copilot.
• Three passengers in the rear seat.
• Baggage.
• Header fuel.
• Main tank fuel.
• Oxygen system.

The dynamic graph shows:

• Zero Fuel Weight.
• Takeoff weight and CG.
• Landing weight and CG.
• CG path with fuel consumption.
• Operating envelope.
• Weight, arm, and moment of each station.

Any weight or CG violation immediately affects mission feasibility.

Cabin Altitude & Oxygen Planner

Plan oxygen for all five occupants.

The tool considers:

• Cabin altitude.
• Exposure time.
• International usage limits.
• Individual seat occupancy.
• Estimated consumption per person.
• Cannulas and masks.
• Number of available outlets.
• Bottle capacity and endurance.
• Oxygen reserve.
• Bottle weight in the aircraft's weight and balance.

The system also recommends the appropriate oxygen configuration and lets you apply it to the mission.

Engine-Out Glide Corridor

Visualize the estimated range after a potential loss of power.

The model uses:

• Glide ratio of 12.15:1.
• Best glide speed of 90 KIAS.
• Available altitude.
• Wind influence.
• Estimated glide distance along the route.

Step Climb Advisor

For longer flights, the calculator can suggest step climbs.

Each recommendation is linked to a waypoint and considers:

• Progressively lower weight.
• Remaining fuel.
• Performance at the new level.
• Available time and distance.
• Weather conditions.

Position, altitude, and fuel can also be updated manually during the simulation.

Performance Confidence Envelope

Beyond the main number, the calculator shows a confidence range for:

• Fuel.
• ETE.
• TAS.
• Range.

Results are presented as low, expected, and high estimates, making the model's uncertainty margin clear.

Flight Debrief & Model Accuracy

After the flight, enter:

• Actual time.
• Fuel actually consumed.

The calculator compares the actual result with the forecast, shows the accuracy achieved, and gradually adjusts the TAS and fuel flow factors for the profile used.

The more flights you log, the more personalized the model becomes to your way of operating the Velocity XL.

Manual calibration

You can also calibrate the ECON, NORMAL, and FAST profiles separately using stabilized values observed in the simulator:

• Position on route.
• Current level.
• Remaining fuel.
• Observed TAS.
• Observed fuel flow.

Calibrations and debriefs remain stored locally in the browser.

Full mission visualization

The interface brings together:

• Performance comparison chart.
• Map with all OFP waypoints.
• TOC and TOD.
• ETP and PNR.
• Vertical profile.
• Fuel profile.
• Step climb points.
• Icing conditions along the altitude.
• Overall mission summary.

A new level of planning for the Velocity XL

The Velocity XL Performance Planner brings together performance, weather, fuel, payload, balance, oxygen, and risk analysis in a single experience.

Using it is simple: just enter your SimBrief ID to load the flight plan into the system. Right now, I couldn't find a Velocity XL profile for SimBrief. It's not a problem to pick any aircraft, though the system only uses the route and weather data generated by SimBrief. All the performance and calculations come from the tool itself. I used available references from the TSIO‑550 engine and the EXP kit, and the weight and balance data was pulled from the real manuals. Feel free to use it, test it, and report any bugs to me. This is still a test version, currently hosted on GitHub.

Hope you enjoy it!

Click here!

Developed exclusively for the Black Square Velocity XL in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Tool intended exclusively for simulation. Results are uncertified estimates and must not be used for real flight operations.