It is called FlightControl 98 and if you are flying FlightSim 95 or for that matter FlightSim 98 you will definitely want this add-on. FlightControl 98, put together by Sim Systems Pty Ltd. is a combination of programs that I gotta tell you, when combined make one heck of a package. If you are flying either one of the mentioned flightsims you definitely don't want to be without it. FlightPanner 98 consist of four programs, the Moving Map, Flight Planner, Joystick Control Centre and the Rotational Atlas.

Now I know a lot of you FlightSim 98 jocks are gonna say "we can download this from here at FlightSim.Com for free". This is true to a certain extent. What Sim Systems has done is put all of the best and the neatest programs together and fine tuned them into one affordable and very easy to use package (so easy even yours truly was able to figure it all out on the first try). The whole program takes up only 30 megs of hard drive and is very easy to load. The instructional booklet is very easy to read and understand and covers each and every part of the program very thoroughly. And the best part is that all the programs can be used together or separately to enhance the flight as well as to plan it.

MOVING MAP AND FLIGHT PLANNER

Close-up of the moving map display.

Yes it really does move as you are going though the air (and let's face it, on those long hauls some movement on the dash is nice). It displays all navaids as well as airports and borders and when you get low enough all runways. This alone makes it worth it because now you can showboat a little in front of your friends by hitting the runway the first time dead center when you're not tuned to an ILS.

Important note regarding 3D graphics cards: The Moving Map component of FlightControl 98 sits on top of the Flight Simulator display. Some 3D graphics cards cannot perform 3D functions unless running in full screen mode. If your 3D card is one of these, the map will not be visible when in 3D mode. Some graphics cards can display 3D in a window and these cards will function perfectly with Moving Map. This is not a limitation of Moving Map, Microsoft's own Flight Simulator windows cannot be seen in full screen 3D mode either. Which means you will have to look at your graphics card before you fly down to get your copy of FlightControl 98. Sort of like a pre-flight check.

Flight planner screen.

All the programs work with either the auto-pilot and a flight plan or as you can see in the full panel screen shot I'm using GPS 1.1 to control my movement across the country and the moving map is displaying the NDB's as well as the VOR's along the route as well as airports and by clicking on them it will tell what NDB or VOR or airport it is along with the bearing and range to reach it based on your present course.

It also can import a flightplan that you have on file in the Flight Planner part of the program and tie into the aircraft's own auto-pilot to show the projected course and give you an E.T.A. The Flight Planner part of the program is very simple to use and can create a flight plan either automatically or manually. With Flight Planner you can chose between Great Circle or Rhumbline navigation, make all your calculations, choose optimal flight level and determine alternate airports with a mouse click. This program alone does so much (just short of tying your shoes) that to tell you what it can do would take a whole lot of room and that I ain't got.

JOYSTICK CONTROL CENTRE

Right now most of you are using the joystick and fumbling fingers over the keyboard way of flying, aren't you? Well folks you can all but put your keyboard up on the shelf with this part of FlightControl 98 because with the joystick control part you can program your right hand grab to do all the things you have to fumble across the keyboard to do. The joystick control has 5 modes that you can program. This means if you have a 4 button joystick you have increased it to 20 functions (4x5=20). Which means you can even program your request to take off to your joystick and make it a one button affair instead of tripping over your fingers trying to hit the keys to ask permission to go up and crash (after all you would still be fumbling with the keyboard instead of watching what you are doing).

To set it all up is easy and straight forward and does not require programming skills, but only the ability to read and follow the simple instructions. And for those of us who have more buttons, need I say more.

ROTATIONAL ATLAS

Rotational atlas screen.

With all the information that is contained in this part of the program I myself think this would be a fantastic addition for the scenery builders (although a strange lot the folks do build some darn nice scenery for us to crash (fly) in). This also makes it easy to program your GPS with the places you want to go (maybe even the south 40 at grandma's, just watch out for meadow muffins upon touch down).

CONCLUSION

Nuff Said

Curt May
Email: mttly1@clinton.net