With a new computer and operating system temporarily keeping him grounded, resident Australian Flying flight sim aficionado Dave Tonks offers a guide to a few of his favourite sims.
Those of you who have been simming for some time will undoubtedly be troubled by what I am about to say, so I do apologise. Two comments follow, each with the capability to turn even the most experienced simmer into a blubbering wreck. One – I have bought a new computer, and I am in the process of re-installing every single piece of software onto it, including FSX and all my add-ons, both scenery and aircraft. And two – I have changed over to a new operating system (Windows 7), and everything is different.
How hard could it be, you ask? Well, one tiny little problem has arisen – Windows 7 will not allow you to install scenery add-ons into FSX, apparently something to do with ‘administrator rights’. Now, you are right and I probably could have resolved that another way, but I discovered a quick fix (thank heavens for Google and flightsim forums) and now at least I have that sorted.
So instead of a review of a particular product, I thought I would give you a heads-up on what I mostly fly at home, and at the same time give you some good ideas on where to look for quality add-ons. The list includes fast jets, an amphibian, a chopper, a wonderful new LSA, an ex-Australian Army Aviation icon and a big twin – and if you can’t find something in that lot to tickle your fancy, I give up!
First up is the Alphasim F-111 (reviewed Jul/Aug 2010 issue). This was available as a payware aircraft only for FS9 (2004), but with the wonderful freeware add-ons developed by Karol Cheblowski you had the opportunity not only to fly the magic Pig in FSX but also to enjoy a wide range of added functions. Karol is one of those freeware developers who just doesn’t know when to stop, and his love of the F-111 has spurred him on to produce some outstanding software that makes flying the Pig an absolute delight. Low and fast has never been so much fun! Unfortunately, Alphasim is no more, but Virtavia is now producing some of their products.
At the opposite end of the speed scale is the new Tecnam P2002 from Anthony Lynch. Anthony has a reputation for top class freeware, both scenery and aircraft. His rendition of Boonah Airfield is nothing other than astounding, and his Tiger Moth has received rave reviews from all who have flown it. The Tecnam is Anthony’s first attempt at producing a payware aircraft, and as someone who sees a huge amount of flightsim software I can assure you that it is top class and an absolute bargain to boot. Check it out at www.antsairplanes.com.
As an ex-Australian Army Aviation soldier, I remember fondly my flights in the AAAvn Pilatus Porter. In fact, I can remember the first ones arriving at Amberley back in the very early 70s. The Porter is an extremely robust aircraft with spectacular STOL capabilities. By feathering the propeller to a very fine negative-thrust pitch, the Porter is able to conduct Beta approaches, which entails pointing the aircraft at the landing point at a very steep approach angle, then pulling up at the very last moment, slamming the aircraft onto the ground and initiating full reverse thrust and braking. This wonderful feature is reproduced in the FSD version.
FSD also markets a Cirrus Vision SF50, Piaggio Avanti (nice, but only for FS9) and some wonderful Pipers (Seneca V, Saratoga II TC, and another of my very favourites, the Navajo). The Navajo is one of those big twins that are just so lovely to fly, fully pressurised, of course, and an absolute delight to fly on IFR flights with an ILS. One of my favourite flights is in the Navajo, take-off at dusk, YAMB-YBOK-YTWB-YBBN-YAMB, with ILS approaches at Oakey, Brisbane and Amberley. In the Navajo, this flight is a doddle, and very entertaining – and isn’t that what flightsimming is all about? Look at www.fsd-international.com/Home.htm.
The Aerosoft Catalina is an absolutely terrific package, and if you get this aircraft and you don’t have a good set of speakers (including a sub-woofer) then you are missing out on one of flightsimming’s most entertaining features. The AS Cat was reviewed in the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Australian Flying, and in that review I commented, “My long-suffering, aviation-tolerant wife puts up with a lot, but she couldn’t take the magnificent bellowing of those huge radial motors emanating from the study when I couldn’t resist turning the volume up – and I even had the door closed! If you love the sound of radial motors, that alone would be enough excuse to get this software – it really is that good.”
The big deal with the Catalina, of course, is the ability to fly from water or land, and as an added bonus you get to fly a warbird with sounds that will scare the hell out of your neighbours! Aerosoft is one of those companies that really never produce an ordinary product, so you can be assured that virtually anything you get from them will be of top quality.
Helicopters have always been a hit and miss affair for flightsimming, with the default choppers being notoriously difficult to fly. But they are notoriously difficult to fly in real life too, so there’s a point to be made! Enter a small company called Cera and their only two products, the Bell 212 and 412. These aircraft would have to be the most highly detailed rotary wing aircraft I have seen, and to top it off they are a delight to fly! Check out their website at www.cerasimaircraft.com.
F-111, low and fast.
