| MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS FLIGHT SIMULATOR TEST |
Flight Sim Showcase 3 Hot New Flight Sims
By the Model Airplane News Crew
This article highlights three brand-new flight simulators. When they were first
introduced, flight sims were regarded as basic teaching aids for RC pilot
beginners, and they did a great job of introducing an entire generation of pilots to
the virtual flying field. Now, however, sims do much, much more than that. The
newest among them include an incredible array of virtual aircraft modeled after
real-world RC airplanes. They offer everything from basic trainers and park flyers
to scale warbirds, civilian planes, high-end sailplanes, 3D giant-scale aerobats,
aerobatic foamies with 4D reversible-pitch props and even turbine-powered jets.
You can take your pick and experience a totally new way to fly. The virtual
features in today's sims take them up a notch with advanced flight training, aerial
games, races, fun-fly events and many exotic flying locations for day and night
sorties. Whether you want to try "RC" for the very first time, hone your 3D
aerobatics skills, need to practice slope soaring or just want the latest "glass
cockpit" for some very cool bragging rights, we're sure there's a flight simulator
here that's perfect for you. Get ready; you're cleared for takeoff!
By the Model Airplane News Crew
This article highlights three brand-new flight simulators. When they were first
introduced, flight sims were regarded as basic teaching aids for RC pilot
beginners, and they did a great job of introducing an entire generation of pilots to
the virtual flying field. Now, however, sims do much, much more than that. The
newest among them include an incredible array of virtual aircraft modeled after
real-world RC airplanes. They offer everything from basic trainers and park flyers
to scale warbirds, civilian planes, high-end sailplanes, 3D giant-scale aerobats,
aerobatic foamies with 4D reversible-pitch props and even turbine-powered jets.
You can take your pick and experience a totally new way to fly. The virtual
features in today's sims take them up a notch with advanced flight training, aerial
games, races, fun-fly events and many exotic flying locations for day and night
sorties. Whether you want to try "RC" for the very first time, hone your 3D
aerobatics skills, need to practice slope soaring or just want the latest "glass
cockpit" for some very cool bragging rights, we're sure there's a flight simulator
here that's perfect for you. Get ready; you're cleared for takeoff!
You can choose from several Hangar 9
aircraft on the FS One sim. Here, the
Corsair is being brought around for a
low pass.
aircraft on the FS One sim. Here, the
Corsair is being brought around for a
low pass.
You can also play games. Here, the
Corsair fires rockets at a target, and
you can drop bombs, too!
Corsair fires rockets at a target, and
you can drop bombs, too!
How about flying a Blade CP electric
heli in a local gym? FS One has you
covered
heli in a local gym? FS One has you
covered
HANGAR 9 FS ONE FLIGHT SIM
Hangar 9's FS One was in development for more than three
years. I took it for a test flight and can definitely say that it's
worth the wait. FS One is available with or without the TacCon
USB controller. The version that includes the controller
provides Mode 2 (U.S. standard) and Mode 1 control
configurations. The version without the TacCon controller
allows you to fly with JR, Futaba, or Hitec transmitters, and an
Airtronics adapter cable is available. The FS One with the
TacCon controller includes four software setup CDs, JR,
Futaba and Hitec transmitter adapter cables, a USB connector
and a handy Key Command card that shows the shortcut
keyboard commands that will enhance and speed up your
virtual flight experience. The flight sim requires DirectX version
8.0 (or later), and after you've loaded the program, FS One will
automatically detect whether you need to update your system.
DirectX version 9.0c is included on the setup CDs.
3D EFFECTS & FEEL
FS One features airplane flight-program modeling developed
by the renowned aerodynamicist Michael Selig, PhD. The
aerodynamic features include extensive high-alpha (high angle
of attack) "post stall" effects. This modeling allows the program
to accurately depict aircraft reactions during such 3D
maneuvers as hovers, harriers, blenders, torque rolls, walls,
elevators, parachutes, waterfalls, rolling harriers, knife-edge,
knife-edge spins, spins, Lomcevaks and more. Realistic flight
reactions include tip-stalls, engine and propeller torque and
gyroscopic effects. Ground-effect and propwash effects are
also part of the equation. FS One offers five 3D and 20 photo-
panoramic flying sites to choose from. You can fly off grass and
pavement and experience the appropriate rolling friction that
affects your model’s behavior during taxi and takeoff. You can
also adjust your environment by altering wind speed and
direction, and you can even add thermals. In addition, you can
enhance all of the 3D flying sites with more than 40 photo-
realistic skyscrapers.
FS One also includes realistic damage modeling that affects
how aircraft impact the ground and other objects. Aircraft
cartwheel and tumble; pieces break off in crashes; and the
model can hang in the top of a tree while pieces fall to the
ground! Every model’s size, power and numerous other
parameters can be adjusted using FS One’s powerful Aircraft
Editor and Scaling Wizard tools. This means that you have a
virtually limitless number of variants for any given model, each
with its own unique flight characteristics. give you unlimited
possibilities. I recommend the FS One ($210) to all who want to
extend their RC flight experiences.
GAMES & MOVIES
Built-in gaming features include bomb-drop and bottle rockets
to hit targets on the ground and in the air. You can compete in
pylon racing and go head-to-head against another pilot in two-
player mode, or race against the clock or to beat your previous
best laps. The built-in two-pilot capability allows two to fly
together using the same computer and another USB controller
(extra USB controller not included).
FS One also features in-flight movies with its array of video
playback controls. The recording options include being able to
share your best FS One flights and have multiple-aircraft
playback so you can fly your plane with other recorded aircraft.
FINAL WORD
This sim does a good job, and it has excellent flight
aerodynamics to provide the visible feedback needed for
realism. I flew several of the real-world model aircraft featured
in FS One, and when I flew their virtual versions, the feedback
and "feel" were right on! The flight-training modes are
outstanding for beginners and advanced pilots, and the 42
models in FS One’s virtual hangar can be modified in many
ways to give you unlimited possibilities. I recommend the FS
One ($210) to all who want to extend their RC flight
experiences.
— John Reid
Hangar 9's FS One was in development for more than three
years. I took it for a test flight and can definitely say that it's
worth the wait. FS One is available with or without the TacCon
USB controller. The version that includes the controller
provides Mode 2 (U.S. standard) and Mode 1 control
configurations. The version without the TacCon controller
allows you to fly with JR, Futaba, or Hitec transmitters, and an
Airtronics adapter cable is available. The FS One with the
TacCon controller includes four software setup CDs, JR,
Futaba and Hitec transmitter adapter cables, a USB connector
and a handy Key Command card that shows the shortcut
keyboard commands that will enhance and speed up your
virtual flight experience. The flight sim requires DirectX version
8.0 (or later), and after you've loaded the program, FS One will
automatically detect whether you need to update your system.
DirectX version 9.0c is included on the setup CDs.
3D EFFECTS & FEEL
FS One features airplane flight-program modeling developed
by the renowned aerodynamicist Michael Selig, PhD. The
aerodynamic features include extensive high-alpha (high angle
of attack) "post stall" effects. This modeling allows the program
to accurately depict aircraft reactions during such 3D
maneuvers as hovers, harriers, blenders, torque rolls, walls,
elevators, parachutes, waterfalls, rolling harriers, knife-edge,
knife-edge spins, spins, Lomcevaks and more. Realistic flight
reactions include tip-stalls, engine and propeller torque and
gyroscopic effects. Ground-effect and propwash effects are
also part of the equation. FS One offers five 3D and 20 photo-
panoramic flying sites to choose from. You can fly off grass and
pavement and experience the appropriate rolling friction that
affects your model’s behavior during taxi and takeoff. You can
also adjust your environment by altering wind speed and
direction, and you can even add thermals. In addition, you can
enhance all of the 3D flying sites with more than 40 photo-
realistic skyscrapers.
FS One also includes realistic damage modeling that affects
how aircraft impact the ground and other objects. Aircraft
cartwheel and tumble; pieces break off in crashes; and the
model can hang in the top of a tree while pieces fall to the
ground! Every model’s size, power and numerous other
parameters can be adjusted using FS One’s powerful Aircraft
Editor and Scaling Wizard tools. This means that you have a
virtually limitless number of variants for any given model, each
with its own unique flight characteristics. give you unlimited
possibilities. I recommend the FS One ($210) to all who want to
extend their RC flight experiences.
GAMES & MOVIES
Built-in gaming features include bomb-drop and bottle rockets
to hit targets on the ground and in the air. You can compete in
pylon racing and go head-to-head against another pilot in two-
player mode, or race against the clock or to beat your previous
best laps. The built-in two-pilot capability allows two to fly
together using the same computer and another USB controller
(extra USB controller not included).
FS One also features in-flight movies with its array of video
playback controls. The recording options include being able to
share your best FS One flights and have multiple-aircraft
playback so you can fly your plane with other recorded aircraft.
FINAL WORD
This sim does a good job, and it has excellent flight
aerodynamics to provide the visible feedback needed for
realism. I flew several of the real-world model aircraft featured
in FS One, and when I flew their virtual versions, the feedback
and "feel" were right on! The flight-training modes are
outstanding for beginners and advanced pilots, and the 42
models in FS One’s virtual hangar can be modified in many
ways to give you unlimited possibilities. I recommend the FS
One ($210) to all who want to extend their RC flight
experiences.
— John Reid
| Aircraft Hangar The FS One sim’s 30-plus aircraft are all incredibly detailed, so they represent very realistically many popular full-size airplanes, sailplanes, helicopters and park flyers. The visible aircraft features include: moving control surfaces; retractable landing gear and flaps; landing gear and wings that flex under load; photo-realistic surface textures and reflection; and smoke and exhaust effects. You can customize the colors, trim schemes and decals with almost any graphics editor (available separately). AIRPLANES Hangar 9 • Ultimate TOC 46% • Funtana S 3D 40 • Funtana S 3D 90 • P-51 150 • Cessna 182 Skylane • Ultra Stick Lite 1.20 • Alpha 40 trainer • F4U Corsair 60 • Edge 540 33% • T-34 Mentor 40 • AT-6 Texan 60 • Twist sport 3D 40 E-flite • Ultimate 3D • Tribute 3D profile • Ascent BVM • Bobcat • MiG 15 Hobbyzone • Aerobird Xtreme • Firebird Commander ParkZone • J-3 Cub • Slo-V • F-27B Stryker • Pawnee 30% scale • Swift 44% scale • Swift E 44% scale FS One • Tracon 3.1m • Tracon E 3.1m • Tracon E-DS 3.1m • Tracon 2E 3.1m • Tracon K2E 3.1 m HELICOPTERS E-flite • Blade CP • Blade CX JR • Voyager E • Voyager 50 • Vigor CS • Bell Long Ranger • FS One Jet Copter SX |
Advanced Awareness
FS One allows you to
maintain complete
situational awareness from
any viewpoint to evaluate
your performance with
handy flight aids. These
features include: map,
variometer; HUD
FS One allows you to
maintain complete
situational awareness from
any viewpoint to evaluate
your performance with
handy flight aids. These
features include: map,
variometer; HUD
(heads-up display); spot-landing tool; compass; radar gun
and multifunction timer. Flight training and tips by world-class
RC pilots are on tap for those who want to improve their skills.
Using the various key commands, you can adjust your
viewpoint and camera position. There’s auto and manual
zoom, view-distance increase and decrease, eye-point-
position up and down and several walk commands to move
forwards, backwards, left and right.
and multifunction timer. Flight training and tips by world-class
RC pilots are on tap for those who want to improve their skills.
Using the various key commands, you can adjust your
viewpoint and camera position. There’s auto and manual
zoom, view-distance increase and decrease, eye-point-
position up and down and several walk commands to move
forwards, backwards, left and right.
Sailplane simulation
Not only can you fly with
glow- or
gasoline-powered aircraft
and helicopters, but FS
One also offers
sailplanes. To get into the
air, you can hand-launch,
high-start (bungee cord),
Not only can you fly with
glow- or
gasoline-powered aircraft
and helicopters, but FS
One also offers
sailplanes. To get into the
air, you can hand-launch,
high-start (bungee cord),
winch-launch, or use a towplane to pull the sailplane up
to altitude. You can even choose to fly the glider or the
towplane. A variometer offers in-flight information that will
allow you to maximize your thermal soaring, slope soaring
and dynamic soaring.
to altitude. You can even choose to fly the glider or the
towplane. A variometer offers in-flight information that will
allow you to maximize your thermal soaring, slope soaring
and dynamic soaring.
Fly a turbine-powered BVM BobCat
jet, here viewed with the Fly By
mode and with the heads-up
display (HUD) function turned on.
Select the Padlock view mode, and
you can fly alongside your model
and change the viewpoint. Here’s
the Hangar 9 T-34 Mentor.
you can fly alongside your model
and change the viewpoint. Here’s
the Hangar 9 T-34 Mentor.
| Minimum computer system requirements Operating system: Windows XP or Windows 2000 Pro (SP3 or later) Processor: 1.8GHz Intel Pentium IVor AMD Athlon XP 2500 Memory: 512MB RAM Hard-drive space: 4GB Video/graphics: NVIDIA or ATI graphics card w/64MB VRAM NVIDIA: GeForce4 Ti, GeForce 5000-series (5200 or better) ATI: Radeon 9000-series (9200 or better) Price: $209.99 w/controller; $179.99 w/out controller Recommended computer system requirements Processor: 2.8GHz Intel Pentium IV or better, or AMD Athlon XP 3200 or better Memory: 1GB RAM Hard-drive space: 4GB Video/graphics: NVIDIA or ATI graphics card with at least 128 MB VRAM NVIDIA: GeForce 6000-series, or 7000-series (6600 or better) ATI: Radeon X-series (X600 or better) |