The word iconic is 'bandied' around for so many offerings, but, I must say if ever there was a worthy recipient of this accolade it is the Vickers Viscount. This beauty represents everything good about the English aviation industry of yesteryear, witnessing the inclusion of superbly comfortable passenger airliners, offering a new turn of pace with the introduction of the jet-turbine power plant, the Rolls Royce Dart.
With a tad of nostalgia I remember these well. As a child I was taken on these many a time (and the Vanguard). One thing I remember was the massive windows, affording excellent views of the passing ground beneath, and fluffy white clouds that I thought would be great fun to walk on. Not really recommended...
Incredibly there were over 445 aircraft made, used by many airlines and governments worldwide. This massive program, some 128 MB in download format, provides in total twelve liveries, including schemes from airlines and the Air Force.
The airline I have fond memories of is BEA, and to my delight it is included, along with the eleven other offerings.
As I have alluded to, there are many things about this beauty I remember, but one clear memory was the incredible sound of the RR Dart. In flight, and upon landing the turbo tale-tale sound of the propeller reversing the pitch of the propellers to aid stopping, that sound was wonderful, especially in the transition of the props, and boy was it effective. It made the aircraft 'judder' oh such wonderful days! So I will be looking forward to this in the program.
With the program downloaded, I hit with eager anticipation the FSX icon on the computer. Selected aircraft (remember to select all aircraft) and there you have the 'fleet' of Viscounts to choose from. I make no excuses that the majority of the review shots are of the BEA version. Selfish I know, but it is my review!
Select the airport of choice, in daylight if I were you to see the quality of the offering.
To say my jaw dropped would in fact be accurate. The initial impression is just incredible, a term not used often by me, but I believe this aircraft offering is one the best graphically I have seen. I am not going to list all the things noted, these are self evident, but I must single out a few. The detail around the moving surfaces and flaps are excellent.
The undercarriage is a 'work of art'. Looking carefully, there is even detail showing the hydraulic pipes. Take a peak into the undercarriage bays, the detail is treated in the same way!
Opening the passenger door, Shift+E, you see an air hostess about to welcome you aboard. Another view available to you to select is both the passenger doors open with a VW camper van (with the airline decal applied on the side of the van, reflective of the airline selected) positioned at the rear entrance, next to the crew ladder. This really is an excellent touch, and rendered in the same detail as the aircraft exterior.
Staying at the 'sharp-end' in the cockpit you will notice two very accurate and visually convincing flight crew. The heads of both crew members move independently. I do like this effect. On occasion I have noticed the head movement is linked with a rudder input, which in the main does not look 'natural' and well 'stilted', in this package, the effect is a way more natural.
The engine nacelles are again visually superb, with the detail clear to see, especially the props. In fact, when you close the engines down, the props feather. Another very good example of the accurate and excellent detail on offer.
Opting for dusk light conditions, I switched the lights on. I noticed some of the windows had the blinds down, now that is attention to detail! The landing lights are positioned on the underside of both wings, and when selected they extend out of that position to face forward. Clearly these retract when you switch off the lights back into the underside of the wings. When the lights are on, the port and starboard lights illuminate, or rather glow, green and red. I would have liked to see a more positive light source, but the effect is there. While we are talking about lighting, I noticed the cockpit lighting was too harsh, very bright light, too bright for night flight. But at least there was an effort to provide an effect. At the wing tips, the detail extends to static discharge wires, located on the trailing edges of each wing. There is an anti collision red beacon, on the topside of the fuselage, which offers a red flashing light.
With the engines running, I decided to taxi and take to the skies. But before I do, I have left the best until last, the sound set. This is incredible, just as I remember, the turboprop, it had a distinctive 'high pitched whine'. This offering has exactly the sound effect I remember. Moving around the exterior of the aircraft, the sound changed as well. This really is an excellent job, and adds so much to the experience.
The VC cockpit is no disappointment. It is excellent, and so reminiscent of the aircraft of that bygone era. Simple but functional, no glass house cockpits here... Again seeking out the manual, you can 'navigate' around the functional switches, and understand the instrumentation.
Looking inside the cockpit, the center main and overhead panels are treated with a great attention to detail...and it shows, the instrumentation seems to function very accurately. When night lighting is selected, the panel takes on a different look, one that works well. I have to say, the option to position yourself in the cabin, and being able to look out of the windows, and you will note that air hostess standing in the aisle is now typical of the detail and effects on offer.
Engine at idle, removed the parking brake, and with a gentle touch of the throttles, and increase in the distinctive engine noise, the Viscount started to move forward. This process was predictable, and proportionate, but I did find if you taxi other than at a very slow pace the aircraft had a tendency to 'slide', but differential braking is active, and works. On the runway, I selected the flaps, and then applied full power.
(In the roll', one thing I did note, from an exterior view, was how 'slow' it appeared, I guess we are mostly used to flying 737's and the like, where the rotation speed is reached in a 'gnat's whisker'.)
Started to drift, so a tad of rudder, which was excellent and responsive, reached rotation speed, nose up, and selected gear up. In exterior view, the gear retraction looks very accurate indeed. As mentioned previously, the details of the olio legs, wheels, struts, and inside the undercarriage bays are a delight.
Make an effort to select a view from the cabin porthole onto the wing. This is well worth a try, especially if the flaps are deployed, again the detail is superb. Selecting to retract the flaps, you will note a very accurate movement of the flaps.
I maintained the climb, pulled back on the throttle, which had an immediate effect on the engine note. Whilst in a steady state, I tried all the control surfaces, and all had immediate effect, which I am glad to say seemed to be accurate, or in proportion to the aircraft mass, and flight dynamics. I feel the developers have done a good job with the flight dynamics, especially in flight, everything worked well, including the trim up/down.
In flight, the propeller effects are excellent, and each of the aircraft models selected looks quite superb in the air. Let's face it, the sky is where any aircraft belongs.
On the approach, gear down, flaps deployed, throttle back, nice sink, over the threshold, I needed some rudder, and for me this is where I experienced some sliding. I felt something was not quite right with the dynamics. I was not happy with the effect. Perhaps it is me? Maybe, but I do believe something is not quite right. But I have to say, it makes flying it slightly more challenging. You just may totally disagree with my view, one this is sure, it does not spoil the effect, merely an observation.
Landed on, went for reverse pitch, by pressing F2 (the default reverse thrust setting) nothing.... It seems this feature is not included in this model.
This is not an oversight; it is due entirely to the FSX engine, and limitation of the same.
Now this is a real shame. The sound of the props altering the pitch was highly distinctive, and unique to the turboprop. I make no bones about it, I was really looking forward to that effect, but nothing could be done, for the reasons as mentioned above.
Applying the brakes, I slowed down enough to turn off the active, and commenced taxiing to a parking position, applied parking brakes, switched off the engines, one by one, and from the outside view, you can see the props feathering in great detail as they come to a halt.
As I think you may have gathered I love English passenger aircraft of this era, so this was going to be a must have. And I stick to my original view, this product is one of the very best I have seen in terms of the attention to detail for some while. Adding value, you get a number of aircraft types (twelve liveries) that will I am certain cater for most tastes.
OK, there are some minor points i.e., the static discharge wires on the training edge on both wings do not move in flight, they would be horizontal in flight due to the slip stream. The red/green wingtip navigation lights could have been more obvious, but were certainly functional, and visible.
The landings were at times very demanding and in my humble opinion were well 'challenging'. I experienced odd drifting, just before touchdown, making it difficult to make an accurate landing, but landing I did.
The sound set is truly excellent, but I have to say from a personal perspective, it is a 'crying' shame the reverse pitch sound/effect is not included. You would not miss out reverse thrust on a 737, or any other jet for that matter, and rely on the brakes only?
All the other elements are well, perfect -- Q.E.D.
I will conclude by saying this is a real beauty, and a work of art. A glib phrase, but in my opinion, a true must have. Enjoy.
Onwards and Upwards...
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
I7 processor
8 megs RAM
X2 Nvidia GTX 460 Graphics Cards, SLI
Nigel C. Martin
n.c.martin@btinternet.com
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