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Screen shots by Lotus Sims |
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The Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s for the Soviet Union Air Force. In the decades since, it has evolved into light fighter aircraft named L-159A, L159B, and L159T. The L-39C is the original trainer version. The world's most widely used jet trainer, it is still flown by 25 to 30 national air forces around the world (depending on the source), mostly former Soviet Union republics and allies such as Cuba, Estonia, Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria.
Note: The spelling "Albatros" appears to be correct. It is spelled this way in every reference I could find on the Internet. It is not spelled "Albatross," which is the spelling for the large, web-footed sea birds.
Lotus Simulations created an L-39C Albatros for use in FSX. Lotus Simulations is "a newcomer to FSX development" operated by Mike Johnson, who describes himself as "a die hard flight simmer for over 20 years."
"There has been a growing trend in addon aircraft lately where the focus has been on maximum possible detail with extremely complex models," he explains, "but I feel this has come to drag down overall frame rate performance, especially in multiplayer flight. I wanted to do something quite different, to create an aircraft with a very efficient model and high frame rate performance, but not lacking in any detail."
Mr. Johnson said he made this aircraft because he loves small, nimble jets and "simply adores FSX's Shared Cockpit multiplayer feature." He also feels it was "long overdue that the L-39 had a presence in the FS world again" because "no one had really done a nice Albatros for FS in eight years, not since CaptainSim's model in 2000."
Czech Air Force
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Russian Air Force
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Pipsqueak Reno Racer
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Royal Thai Air Force
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Private
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Examples of L-39C Liveries
Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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Lotus Simulations touts the following among many features:
This aircraft package is easily downloaded in a few minutes from the FlightSim Pilot Shop. A license key is required, but no end user license agreement is required. The installation program extracts all needed files quickly and deposits them in the correct folder. The aircraft in all its liveries appears in the aircraft-selection menu.
Single Seat
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Dual Seat
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Virtual Cockpits | |
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Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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The aircraft is reasonably detailed inside and out. It looks realistic, but there are no unnecessary details that can be seen only from close up while diminishing frame rates.
Taking Off
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Climbing Out
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Climbing Turn
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Barrel Rolling
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L-39c Albatros in Flight Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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For all features to work properly, the following software and hardware are required: Microsoft Flight Simulator X with Service Pack 2 or Acceleration installed, or with the FSX Gold Edition. A 256 megabyte ATI or Nvidia video card. An Nvidia card with 512 megabytes or more video memory is "strongly recommended" by the developer.
As explained in the manual, installation of an included sound program is required for all sounds to work properly. A window appears during the simulator's startup giving users the option to install this special sound program and use it once or permanently.
Frame rates are very good because of Lotus Simulations' attention to the matter. "This aircraft is designed to maintain high frame rate performance in all flight situations," because of "careful and considered design of geometry, textures, and code from the start," Lotus Sims says in its product description. Indeed, my frame rates were as good with this aircraft as they are with default FSX aircraft.
Sound Option Window
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Aircraft-Selection Menu
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Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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I tested this aircraft thoroughly, including high power, low power, steep climbs, barrel rolls, and go arounds. It is very unforgiving and prone to stalling if flight configurations are not exactly as recommended, and it does not recover easily. It does not climb nearly as steeply as the FSX Learjet 45. It will barrel roll, but it loses altitude quickly during the maneuver. Simulation pilots must monitor airspeeds, climb rates, pitches, and bank angles exactly as specified in the checklists, reference sheet, and manual. Ditto the flaps. It requires several thousand feet of runway for taking off and landing, so users should be sure to use airstrips with sufficient runway length.
In response to my question, Mr. Johnson said: "The L-39 doesn't have the cleanest stall break due to its high wing loading, so the stall speeds are a bit fluid and vary slightly based on weight and fuel load. It should stall in clean configuration at around 180 km/h. In landing configuration with full flaps it will stall at around 158 km/h with a heavy fuel load, and closer to 150 km/h with a light load."
Users are wise to read the manual thoroughly before flying this aircraft — including basic installation. This aircraft differs from most other add-ons I have examined, and users are likely to be frustrated if they put the manual aside and read it only to figure out why the aircraft doesn't perform as expected. Examining the aircraft should be done in conjunction with reading the manual.
Cover Page
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Installation Instructions
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Panel Description
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Flight Hood
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Gear & Flaps
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Sample Pages From the Operations Manual |
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Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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The thumbnail images in the aircraft-selection menu contain icons that reveal details about the model, such as whether it is a one-seater or two-seater, has long-range fuel tanks, or is multi-player compatible.
The 120-page manual is exceptionally well done. It explains everything a simulation pilot needs to know about using this add-on product, from installation to flying the aircraft. It has a complete table of contents and clear photographs. And it has a must-read section that explains the aircraft capabilities, limits, and idiosyncrasies. Finally, it's available with the basic package — users are not expected to find it on the developer's web site.
The kneeboard contains detailed checklists and reference data. I have been very critical of other add-on aircraft that lack these handy data sources.
An animated IFR training hood blocks all outside visual references for the student pilot and can be opened and closed.
Night effects are realistic inside and out.
The canopy opens, but Lotus Simulations warns in its manual against doing it during flight. So I tested it, and alas, opening the canopy during flight is not a good idea. Compare this realism with canopies in other add-on aircraft that absurdly allow take-offs while open or that open and close during flight!
There are literally more features than I can reasonably describe in this review. All significant features are listed in the product description at the Flight Sim Pilot Shop.
Left Console
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Main Panel
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Right Console
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Instrument Panels & Consoles |
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Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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Dusk
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Night
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Dawn
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Night Effects Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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There is no two-dimensional instrument panel. The black area where the 2D main panel would be can be removed with the usual "W" keystroke, however.
There is only one popup window for subpanels — the GPS device. There are no popups for the radio stack, electrical switches, or throttles, as is customary in MSFS aircraft. As a result, users must pan around the virtual cockpit to use those controls.
Mr. Johnson said he didn't make a 2D panel because "the virtual cockpit, when using 3D gauges, offers much better gauge performance and fidelity, as well as looks and night lighting options." He also believes "the days of the 2D panel are quickly coming to an end." He used a popup window for the GPS device because the original aircraft did not have any GPS (it wasn't available then), and because it is more difficult to use than the other panels.
I disagree with Mr. Johnson's opinions of 2D panels and subpanels because I believe that using them is much easier than panning around a virtual cockpit to find and use gauges and controls. Those flight simmers who rely on 3D virtual panels will naturally agree with him and disagree with me.
Some of the performance data seem to conflict with one another. The kneeboard reference sheet says the minimum control speed is 160 km/h, but it doesn't show stall speed in clean or dirty configuration. The kneeboard checklist shows "final approach threshold" speed with flaps in "land" configuration at 200 km/h. The manual shows the stall speed at 85 kts, 158 km/h. The manual also shows the airspeed indicator with a narrow white arc depicting stall speed that ranges from 150 kmh to 180 kmh. The manual does not show any minimum control speed. In response to my question, Mr. Johnson said any incorrect kneeboard references would be fixed in the patch he's working on, which he hopes to release in a few weeks.
Main 3D Panel and Yoke |
Popup Windows |
Stalling |
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Examples of Issues |
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Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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My screen shots were made with FSX display settings on "default" because that's what I presume most flight simmers would be using. The manual recommends 30 frame per minute. I tested with the frame rate set on "30" and "unlimited" to see what rates were possible, and they were within acceptable range. They were highest when no scenery or clouds were visible and lower when scenery and/or clouds were visible.
This aircraft for FSX is ideal for flight simmers seeking unique simulation experiences. The ultimate challenge is keeping it from stalling and crashing by following the recommended flight configurations precisely and flying it exactly as instructed in the manual. The numerous features and nuances, the close attention to realism and frame rates, and the outstanding manual make this product among the better I have reviewed. Users will enjoy this aircraft if they read the manual before attempting to fly it, and they will be frustrated otherwise. A 2D panel and some typical popup subpanels would make this add-on product even more beneficial for some users while others might not care. Considering everything, this product is worth its asking price.
Learn More About Lotus Simulations' L-39C Albatros
Bill Stack is author of several books about flight simulation, a regular author in flight-sim magazines, and a contributor to Flight Sim Com. His website is www.topskills.com
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