A2A Simulations is one of the best publishers of FSX add-ons in the world, and has some of the best WWII era warbirds anywhere. Their product expansion called Accusim is the most realistic flight simulator expansion on the market. I'll talk about it more, later in this review.
I own the A2A Wings of Power II B-17 with Accusim, and it is the most realistic airplane in my arsenal. Everything is accurately depicted including sounds and visual effects. Then, when I received the Spitfire, I couldn't believe that it was feasibly possibly to improve on such a plane, in such a smaller package. It has beautiful detail, both inside and out. The sounds are phenomenal, and the engine, well, it's like unlike anything you've ever seen before.
As with any A2A product, with Accusim, this Spitfire brings every detail of realism into perspective. There are features, which I couldn't have dreamed for, from just the way all of the systems work, to the manual gear in the Mk.I and so much more. I would like to say that there is no hesitation in this buy! However, unlike some other developers, A2A has unlocked the door, by integrating all these features, perfectly, and realistically, without compromise.
The interior, to say the least, is amazing. Everything is detailed, every switch is clickable, and has a function. The engine starting sequence is fun, and requires that all sequences by carried out correctly. The funny thing is, this is probably one of the best, if not THE best virtual cockpits I've ever seen, and it is so small! Just large enough for one pilot, with very little elbow room, plus gauges and controls. Every texture is in its place, the gun sight can be switched either on or off, and I can't wait to apply Captain Sim's Weapon for FSX to this product. Everything in this cockpit is amazing and worth praise, all the gauges function well and as period accurate.
The immediately recognizable lines of the Supermarine Spitfire have their depiction right to the last detail in this model. The textures are very high quality, paint wear is visible, and every portion of this aircraft emphasized to a level feasibly possible. The engine smoke on startup is amazing, and the gear goes up nice and slowly, since it is manual in the Mk.I and the Mk.II is, well, slow for a motor. I just love looking at this plane, whether shut off on the tarmac or flying through the air.
Well this is a procedural aircraft, and to get it flying every sequence needs execution, done with perfection to achieve a seamless startup. Anything like starting with magnetos being off, or primer not applied, can cause the engine to not start. Taxiing is a bit difficult at first. The gear is narrow, so turning rocks the plane, and wings go either upward or downwards. The engine is so powerful, and center of gravity is in such a way that going fast and pulling the brakes hard can cause the tail to pop up, or even cause a prop strike. A2A added a feature in which two men hold the tail down for run-up. I, not knowing why they were needed, proceeded with performing my routine run-up; didn't have those guys there, and when I revved up the engine, with brakes applied, I broke my wooden fixed-pitch prop. These are nice touches, which frankly in the case of the prop strike, you'd never want to see in real life. All these features are good modeling of this plane's actual behavior.
A2A Simulations has programmed and built this liquid-cooled Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk.III V-12 to an exact specification, and the modeling of features is as realistic as it gets. A radiator under the right wing is the only source of intake for engine cooling; this cannot properly cool this engine while stationary, therefore radiator flaps need to be fully extended, and RPM slightly elevated to force air in. However, takeoff needs to be your main priority after startup, as the engine will quit while stationary for a time of more than five minutes, or even less. The Accusim model of this engine is exquisite, and it breathes, and runs like a real engine. In start up you can flood the engine, the engine actually burns oil, and fuel, and coolant. The maintenance hangar lets you fix anything on this V-12, from top overhaul, to cylinder replacement, part replacement, it lets you perform a compression check. Systems wear over time, and things are prone to failure, without random failures engaged. In addition, these failures have a programming, so that they coincide (unpredictably) with engine age and wear.
Sound recording by A2A is pristine, over 300 samples taken, to make this plane sound more real than anything else. Every action has a sound, switches, throttles, doors, canopy, engine, start-up, fires, hard landings, prop strikes, all have their unique sounds and are definitely applied in a smart way, and aren't your standard "pre-packaged" sounds. The sound of wind passing this aircraft is variable, and has programming to change the sound in an array of ways to have it simulate what the actual passing air would sound like.
There are two Spitfires here, a Mk.I and a Mk.II. The Mk.I is the most primitive, with a manual gear pump and an older starter. The Mk.II has a gear motor; it's slow, but better than hitting ctrl+g constantly. The Mk.II also has an explosive cartridge to induce starting. Other features are different as well, but I'm not prepared to make a laundry list, and I think that you should find out yourself!
Accusim is undoubtedly in a class of the most thorough FSX expansions ever made. A2A was able to shut off an entire section of FSX and replace it with their own system, which runs the airplane like a real plane. Your actions affect the plane. The engine wears naturally and accurately; the engine is like a real engine, and needs the care that a real Rolls-Royce Merlin would need. It can apply sounds depending on variables of the airplane's current situation, to make an uncountable amount of sound variations. I could spend five pages explaining Accusim, but this brief summary can let you know just what it does. In depth research for this product gives instant recognition, as the engine and aircraft have a modeling according to specifications, and operates like in real life. Excerpt from the manual: "Many times, an aircraft is considered to fly accurately if it reproduces a handful of specific performance figures (top speed, max climb rate, stall speeds, etc.). These figures really only represent how an aircraft is performing at a single point in time. We push through these numbers and authentically simulate all flight through an almost unlimited amount of conditions." This can give you an idea to how extensive the programming on this product is, how thorough, and how it would be impossible to fully explain how this system is programmed, as it can operate with many parameters, with nearly infinite combinations depending on all temperatures, throttle, fuel, altitude, attitude, power settings, and so much more.
The visual effects are outstanding for this product; everything you do to the engine has an effect (mostly). If you prime too much and flood the engine, lots of smoke may come out. If you have an oil leak, burning oil will have blue flames, obscuring your cockpit view, until the oil is burned off, or the leak has ceased. These effects aren't your familiar pre-packaged ones; the same smoke doesn't appear for start-up, it changes depending on all equations, such as temperature, fuel, oil, speed, power, etc. If you have a prop strike, you don't magically evade the ground, your prop will bend around the cowling, or as in the case of the wooden fixed-pitch two bladed prop, it shatters with nice splinters. If your glycol coolant isn't present, or critically low, your engine will catch on fire, and there will be a big fireball. However, you can't see the fire from the inside, while the fire is obviously going over the canopy with smoke from the outside. However, this is an overall beautiful and nearly flawless product, and a gem to fly.
Now as much as I wish I could say there's not one thing I don't like about the Wings of Power III Spitfire with Accusim, I can't. From a critical standpoint, and un-biased point of view, I must point out a flaw as there are with any product. I can say that A2A has done it again, and created a beautiful representation of the Supermarine Spitfire, a buy that should carry no regret or hesitation and is worth every penny. Make sure, however, that you get the Accusim pack, as this is what makes the plane an overall thriller. She is definitely one of my finest birds.
Ultra high quality textures, both interior and exterior, an invaluable Accusim pack, providing the most accurate and realistic FS experience, awesome sound sets, visual effects to equal those of real life. Reasonable price, awesome dynamics, ultra-thorough manuals, fun to fly, and fits into any long day of flying.
Engine fire smoke is invisible within the aircraft.
After careful analysis, a week of flying, testing, reading manuals and enjoyment, I can say, without a doubt that the Wings of Power III Spitfire with Accusim is one of the best products, if not THE best, on the market right now. I have been flight simulating for about five years now, less than many people, but I've been around right as the big achievements started rolling in. I own a large number of add-ons that I bought for my enjoyment and there are many great ones out there. Captain Sim's Boeing airliners are very good, and have a permanent place in my fleet. As well as my Constellation from Just Flight, Traffic X, Flight1 Citation Mustang and many more. However, when I bought the Wings of Power II B-17 with Accusim, my view on Flight Simulation products changed, and after all these great add-ons, I was given the Spitfire for review, and it exceeded all my expectations.
With a level realism unequaled by its competitors, and an overall outstanding achievement by A2A Simulations, this product is, by far, the single best add-on I have ever had the privilege of owning, and flying, and will forever be welcomed in the skies of Flight Simulator; and I can say that this product, receives five, polished and glistening stars (out of five).
Peter Carlson
petersnoopy@sbcglobal.net
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Reviews Of A2A Simulations Products:
B-17G Flying Fortress With Accusim
J-3 Piper Cub With Accusim