Project Open Sky CRJ200
By Steven Beeckman (18 September 2002)
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Canadair Regional Jet 200 was built by Bombardier to provide superior
performance and operating efficiencies in the fast-growing regional
airline industry. The result was a quiet aircraft with low engine
emissions powered by two General Electric CF34-3B1 turbofans. It can
carry up to 50 passengers and has a 2-pilot crew with one flight
attendant.
Project Open Sky is known for their highly detailed visual models,
and this CRJ has such a visual model too. It is also the first
aircraft from POSKY that has a virtual cockpit (VC). The aircraft is
made with Discreet's Gmax, which means that the frame rate is
better.
The panel I used was made by Johan Peeters (the default panel is the
Lear 45's). He took a screen shot of the VC and used that as a bitmap
for a 2D-panel. He added a Heads Up Display so you'll feel like you
are in a real CRJ.
I made a short flight around Ljubljana in Slovenia (southeast
Europe) with the Adria CRJ. The pictures you'll see were taken during
this flight.
As you could see, the aircraft has all the beautiful things an aircraft can have in FS2002: it has a detailed virtual cockpit, detailed exterior with reflective textures, rolling wheels, moving parts (including suspension of the gear struts), passengers viewable from outside and realistic lights. The aircraft is available in several liveries (Adria, British Airways, Air France and some American airlines). There is a manual available from POSKY.
What I didn't like about the aircraft was the rapid acceleration it has. A little push on the throttle results in almost immediately 30 knots at the ground. And during a turn on the ground, you risk flipping over.
The aircraft was tested on a AMD Duron 1 GHz processor, 256 MD SDRAM and the Kyro II chipset with 64 MB RAM. Frame rates in flight (both in spot view and virtual cockpit) were around 18 FPS, locked on 24 FPS. I consider this very well for such a highly detailed aircraft.
Conclusion:
Download the aircraft as well as the 2D panel made by Johan Peeters. They are both a must for every itself respecting flightsimmer. If I have to make a rating about this aircraft, I'd give it a 9/10.Steven Beeckman
s_beeckman@yahoo.com
Beeckman Aircraft Designs
Download Project Open Sky CRJ aircraft.
Download Johan Peeters 2D panel.
