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The Bush Hawk, or FBA-2 was first flown in 1960 and wasn't around for very long. By 1965 it was out of production and in 1967 the company shut its doors to production after completing just 20 aircraft. The company was revived after 30 years out of action and their first product was the plane featured in this review - the Bush Hawk XP or FBA-2C.
The aircraft is available from the FS Pilot Shop for just under $33 which may make those on this side of the Atlantic think carefully but I encourage you to read on.
The installer is automatic and requires a simple key to run. The download itself is large at 350 MB which includes four model variations for different terrain, IFR and VFR cockpits and a handy application that will swap high resolution textures for DDS standard size textures and adjust to a lower detail model.
A 26 page manual may feel a little light on a quick scroll but that's more than enough to get going. There are full checklists, detailed descriptions of avionics functions and how to use them and short summaries about weather conditions and included extras. The manual is written in a concise manner that I found delivered just enough without coming close to putting me off and needing to sit down. Those who just want to fly may not need the manual because Aerosoft have included an introductory tutorial.
No proper FSX package would be complete without custom missions. Aerosoft know this and have written twelve 'assisted flights', a very useful introduction flight and a handful of other flight plans. Assisted flights are similar to the normal free flight but you are well equipped with maps, have a set weather theme and of course you may get a little graphic medal at the end. These are set all over the world and get you flying in different aircraft but they are not stern in what will or will not fail you.
The introduction flight is fantastic. It starts with a cinematic overhead shot to set the scene and is guided by a clear narrator who will direct you through the aircraft controls, avionics and important numbers at your own pace. As the flight is set at the Bush Hawk factory in Canada (with included scenery) it was a little odd listening to a German accent, but it did seem to fit somehow and overall it was a solidly crafted piece of work.
I quite like the way the Bush Hawk looks. I think it is boxy but with just enough angles to be interesting. Aerosoft have managed to get the subtle curves and ridges nicely defined and there are no jagged edges anywhere. As it is fairly simple from a design perspective any misplaced polygons would be quickly noticed but it is an excellent piece of craftsmanship.
To make the aircraft really stand out the developers have gone to town on the bump mapping. Ridges and double lines of rivets pop out in the sun and look terrific as you pan around the outside though some of the crumpled waves on the sleek panels look misplaced on such a modern aircraft giving it a strange fabric appearance on some paint jobs.
I counted 15 different liveries - some real and some fictional - over the models. Factory fresh, conservative stripes and bold kiwi or carbon fiber paints are up for selection so many users tastes should be covered though a plain white texture set is included too if you would like to get out your Photoshop and Illustrator brushes.
Textures can be selected in high-resolution 32 bit or as smaller DDS files. There is very little difference externally unless you zoom right in for screen shots but otherwise I would recommend the DDS versions simply for the faster load times.
There have been many reports of this aircraft being a frame rate hog. The exterior view is not the issue but that highly detailed interior is. The model can be selected as high or low poly but visually I really couldn't see any difference though you may see a performance increase without the animated can rolling about in the co-pilot foot well.
The virtual cockpit is quite taxing - I found a drop of 4-6 frames a second when compared to the Aerosoft Hughes H-1B (an aircraft with little frame rate punishment) - but it could be argued it is necessary to see gauges and switches in such three dimensional clarity.
Everything is nicely modeled though there are a few slightly lumpy bits on the switch panel surround and if you peek down below the control panel it is lacking detail. This doesn't actually make any difference because I wouldn't be looking under there if it wasn't for writing this review! The seats appear quite flat and boxy but they look a lot better if replaced by cargo via the payload panel.
Many models own a custom cockpit. These vary from very clean and shiny to covered in stains and even a carbon fiber number that may give users with lower anti-aliasing settings a headache.
The look of the cockpits is mostly not photorealistic so the parts that are textured using photography stand out. I am also not convinced by the textures of the gauge faces which seem a bit flat so when analyzing my screen shots here it is a little of a mish-mash. I didn't pay much attention to this when in the simulator but I really would have liked some bump mapping to make it all pop out more like the exquisite exterior.
One of the best features I have seen on this model is the windscreen icing up - it is both a visual treat and makes flying nice and tenuous when in the middle of a snow squall. The interior dome lighting effect however does not seem right as turning it on makes the windscreen clearer when I'm quite sure it should be the other way around. Small adjustable spot lights also dot the panel and gauge back lighting can be fine tuned using the scroll wheel. This looks great and actually adds to the experience.
Having been built in the last ten years the aircraft is equipped with an interesting array of high-tech gadgets and standard instruments. Each aircraft has a nice digital engine monitor which will let you check every cylinder - important if you have set failures higher with the realism pop-up. There is also a small digital clock and timer which has a realistic set of functions; a nice touch.
The aircraft are equipped with a Garmin GNS430 which quite comprehensively covered in the manual. It doesn't have a very attractive 2D pop-up graphic but it has a good level of functionality is clear to read. This also doubles as your COM and NAV radio so you will be seeing a lot of it.
The aircraft looks good on any airstrip but I really enjoyed flying it about Bill Womack's Plum Island and through Raimondo Taburet's ItalVFR scenery (available free from the FlightSim.Com library). The aircraft doesn't feel quite as sporty as I think it looks but it will leap out of most airstrips with room to spare and it can climb extremely well but you better keep those flaps down if you're carrying crates of fresh salmon.
Horizontally the aircraft is stable with a predictable and manageable roll rate. The aircraft requires only a little rudder input going into the turn to keep the slip ball centered.
Vertically however I found it hard to keep the aircraft level to the point where I adjusted the aircraft.cfg. Though trim is fairly gentle and precise, any adjustments to the throttle or stick may send the nose quickly pointing right where you don't want it because as a 'true bush plane' it is not equipped with an autopilot. When coming into land I found it difficult to keep steady as I slowed which would definitely result in more stains in the back from any virtual passengers. Since I don't have this issue with most aircraft I fly I hope I am not the only one who had this problem even if it is a very quick-fix.
Landing on water and taxiing around showed no issue with bouncing. Weather on water, tarmac or snow the aircraft seemed to handle quite solidly on the ground with good visibility through the huge windscreen.
Aerosoft have really pulled out all the stops and tried to hit every base. There are loads of small touches, lots of liveries, three major variations, a heap of missions and even realism settings and a payload editor thrown in. For the money this add-on makes a lot of sense but you will need to own a good computer to get the most out of it. In some areas there does feel like a lack of polish - perhaps the team was worn out - there are a few textures that stand out and I have queries with the lighting effects. However, these do not spoil the package and are extremely minor in comparison to this whopping add-on. In the end it looks great and there is plenty to do so it ticked the right boxes for me.
+ Great bump mapping
+ Some imaginative and well executed liveries
+ Lots of little animations
+ Introductory flight
- Strange mix of interior texturing
- Vertical stability issues
Matt Hinchliffe
hinch@forum-design.co.uk
Learn More Here
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