This is a video by Huns Valen which is an effective complement to textually describing all the work that went into his Valen Heavy Industries V-1 Nimbus aircraft in startling detail.

Huns graciously asked me a few days ago if he could use my music ("Calliope" and "Passion8") for the flight film, and I watched it shortly thereafter. There's also a hi-rez version.

I've not flown the V-1 Nimbus for myself, but I previously enjoyed the Slipstream II (which I once had a surreal dream about: a squadron of anthropomorphic bunnies piloting them in bold spirals like a lapinesque Blue Angels — such a dream didn't come to pass, but I flew it as Torlop, nevertheless).

What I do admire here is, including my early days in Second Life, I've admired precision engineeering of tools that have incredibly intricate innards, but the end result can be casually enjoyed; think of iconic devices like the iPod, which have advanced technology but are easy to slip into. To this day, I still see a lot of lacking documentation for products in SL which, in some cases, should be redesigned so they don't really need an explanation — encouraging exploration without fear is a hallmark triumph of design.

That being said, in Huns' video, pay close attention to the text subtitles and onscreen actions; in the space of 10 minutes, there's a lot to go on during the ride, but it helps show what's happening. Also look closely at the HUD in the lower-left corner, which is reminiscent of the vector graphics in some of the classic flightsims I've enjoyed. It's unfortunate that region crossing rubberbanding obstructs the smoothness, but that's one of the most common SL performance frustrations, with no way to bypass it. I'll keep hoping.

Marketing-wise, the VL-1's features rundown list is deep. Notice some hit points which you'll see on no other aircraft in SL — it's a unique paragon to follow. In particular, the complexity of the physical simulation, and keen attention paid to "Superior Sound", which is often missed or outright done only "average" (AWFUL TINNY WHITE NOISE LOOP ARGH!) in many inworld vehicles. (I've long liked how Huns does his "stall" sound effects when you're getting dangerously close to the ground.)

Oftentimes inworld, I feel while the right amount of attention is paid to visual quality, but audio is lacking. I'd like to see experiments conducted with trying to sell two versions of the same vehicle with a test drive: one with crap sound, the other with gorgeous sonics. See which one ultimately snags more buyers. Or heck, even other products like fountains. With all manner of economic research being carried out with the media buzz on SL — "How do I make L$?" — this is clearly of great relevance and it's just gonna take the right people(s) to do it.

Ah, even with the current technological constraints of what can be done in SL, I don't think anyone knows how to surpass the wall until you get up close to it and break down every little element while still keeping eyes on the grander pictures, powers of 10-style. Like what the V-1 exemplifies. I could wrap this up with some corny parallel to "the sky's the limit", but no…

but I will mention I'm still eyeing a set of Saitek pedals, hoping I'll be able to fluently talk-and-walk, or even talk-and-fly, in the future.