So, I’ve basically decided that the x-wing, exactly how it looks in the original trilogy, could land exactly as portrayed in the original trilogy, WITH realistic physics.

THe only missing piece is exactly the engineering of the engine, and importantly what sort of moving parts it has. (thrust vectoring).

I have two pieces of media, one video and one picture.

Basically, however, the x-wing can direct its thrust so that it is pushing both up and back on the top, and forward and down on the back, and hold its orientation (flat, landing on the landing gear), to achieve a nice hover. Imagine holding a board by one end, but still level and flat. (you pull back on the top fingers, and push up and inward on the bottom fingers)

Here is the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zkxh903s_w

and here is the picture

http://spacesimcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/wpforo/attachments/22719/thumbnail/1-xwing-landing.png