Combat Jet Trainer

By Nick J. Ross (1 August 2002)

Coolness with attitude.

The add-on comes with a manual, which has me interested. Not that the manual itself is very interesting; it's just a good start if an add-on pack has one. Instructions, for the most part, are detailed; aircraft specifications are included. There are also checklists, although these could be simplified, and although it's good to use actual checklists, it would help to have the key commands listed. For detailed information, it's best to look to the online manual. This is in HTML, rather than Adobe Acrobat. This is very helpful, although I can't help but think text pop-ups over gauges may be more beneficial in the flight than out of it? However, this is a trainer and train is all you can do.

Once done installing the aircraft, it was time for a test flight either in CFS2, FS2000 or FS2002. Broadly speaking, the differences between these are not noticeable, except you can't fly with guns blazing in Flight Simulator 2000 or 2002. Once you decide to fly, you have the option of starting the flight at Konotop AFB, "one of eight training airfields of Cheering Higher Fighter Pilot School". Upon taxiing you will see numerous ground vehicles, which are listed in the manual. These are very well detailed, and also often begin moving, if sometimes in seemingly relentless persuit of the horizon. The base is well laid out, although it looks somewhat unnatural in its surroundings. The runway looks as if it was tiled over someone's fields, and other hangars may be found lying in others. Instead of a perimeter fence of any kind, this station is ultra-low security and may be mistaken for a large farm. Barracks and accommodation are included, and you can even see through the windows of some blocks on the apron. Others, further away, are once again clumsily pasted among crops and roads.

Airbase Rating: 5/10

The panel--it all works.

Wishing to spend little more time on the ground, I desired to get into the air, but found no way of communicating with the control tower which doesn't seem to exist. Close inspection revealed air traffic operations to be co-ordinated from the small barrack block on the apron. Despite regular traffic, which looks impressive, you have to make your own judgement on when it's safe to go; cracks in Russian military spending seem to be appearing, I thought, as ground operations began to resemble Russian roads.

The cockpit can at first look daunting. However, whilst in the past I've been disappointed at how little there is to play with, I'm finally satisfied. There is a wealth of ways in the panel to send your aircraft crazy before you even leave the ground or get in a fight. Every instrument is covered, from air conditioning to the ominous looking 'Explosion Switch'--this can only be left to the imagination. At first, it's tempting to fly and hit random buttons without knowing their function. Be warned, the aircraft is not keen on this and will beep at you like an arcade machine.

Panel Rating: 9/10 (so close to 10, but let down on graphics in some areas)

Graphics, overall, are impressive. Textures are photorealistic, and, in some ways, the fact that this is obvious is a let-down. Detail is good, although things can look a little too pasted on. The aircraft also looks very new, with little sign of wear and tear, which is odd given its age.

The aircraft comes painted up for US service as well as Russian, although interestingly, there is no US airbase included for the simulation. Also, I found myself looking at Russian text along the side of the cockpit, which in itself yields some interesting results; namely that the Russian cockpit is the same as the US one, and also the very photographic-looking cockpit edges look slightly dubious against the flightsim background.

Take a night flight and you will be pleased by the interior and exterior of the aircraft. The red glow of the cockpit makes it like a cottage where a log fire would be more in place than a heater, and the glow can even be seen on the pilots face outside. Even the surroundings look good, and the farm takes on a nice night-time glow.

Graphics: 8/10. Looks good, and all control surface movement is featured. Night textures are excellent.

Konotop AFB--"...and if you look to your right, you'll see a milking parlor."

In combat itself I was expecting a fairly meagre performance; nothing special. However, its effectiveness gives me some idea why people consider this the world's best combat trainer. Give it the necessary boost on take-off and it's off like a rocket and can be taken up a considerable distance at a near vertical attitude. Stalling becomes a problem only at very low speeds. When a stall does occur, there is not only the casual beep, but the engines malfunction and other sounds come into play. Stall at low level, and a number of kittens are guaranteed to join you in the cockpit as the aircraft lurches toward the ground.

Sounds are indeed some of the best I've heard, and they are also some of the loudest. While they are many in their number, their quality is let down by the occurance of very strange noises, some of which are more suited to the milking parlor of the farm you just departed. Some are sporadic and can cause problems with the engine noise. Although they do seem, for the most part, random, they are part of a very complex panel which senses many inputs and acts on what it finds--yes, the flashing lights do mean something, and they don't go off until you hit the master caution light, or act on what they tell you.

Sounds: 7/10. Overall quality is good and you get many more effects than on most aircraft. Startup/shutdown is smooth. Other panel sounds unnatural and sporadic. Interfere with continuous noise like engines.

Side by side.

Overall, flying is good in this aircraft. It seems possible to fly on the edge, and whilst handling at low speeds resembles a rocket-propelled chest of drawers, it is very agile at high speeds. I tried placing it into an unrecoverable position over and over, but letting go of the controls simply allowed the aircraft to rectify itself; impressive and another rookie lives to fight another day.

Flying performance: 8/10.

There are other negative aspects to the aircraft, however. For example, there is no virtual cockpit, although the normal panel is good enough to compensate. Also, whilst you can look through the floor of the aircraft, pressing the down key will not give you a rear view. This could be due to the large block of metal behind your head, hence the designers left the rear view out. However, surely the view behind would be somewhat more interesting in combat than the ground below? However, you might need it--there seems to be no GPS so have that road map handy.

As a package, overall, this has to be one to go for. The aircraft is too good to pass by unnoticed. It has attitude and is good to fly, particularly on the missions included for CFS2. Its popularity is affected by the fact that not many have heard of it; possibly a package on the BAe Hawk would be more successful in this arena. Honestly, I do feel Just Flight could have done better when choosing the Albatros to model--given the Hawk's superiority, this would be a more sensible package to make. Nonetheless, this has given me a better insight into other Combat Jet Trainers and the result is very pleasing.

Overall Score: 8/10

Nick J. Ross
skytecuk@hotmail.com