Alpha Tornado released!!!

[ChrisHunt]

Forthbridge, the standard height at threshold and subsequent runway when doing a run-in and break at Warton was (is?) about 50' or a bit less if the pilot thought he could get away with it. Once saw a bucc do a bit under that, break (avoiding the hangers and only just the ground) and came back after an obvious talking to at a more sedate pace and granny height. Speed was usually at or above hair-raising.

Regards,
Chris

[ChrisHunt]

Nige, I was just thinking back to the Tornado crash at Blackpool and there is a short vid on YouTube showing the crash. Uncommanded roll to the right on climbing out of Blackpool apparently caused by FOD but I can't find any other details. That was some loss of control though.

Regards,
Chris

[ChrisHunt]

DaveB, you've gone and done it... I held out, was going to hold out until you published your positive review and to cap it all the boss said yes I can buy it! I'm off to Alpha to get this one - I do like the fast jets and a quick trip through Snowdonia and the Lake District is on the cards .

Here's a question... in the spirit of Top Gear and which is the best road in Europe on which to drive a fast car, where is the best place to put a fast jet through its paces at low level? I've done the Grand Canyon, Wales, Cumbria, the Brenner Pass but where in the world gives the right mix of distance to cover and challenge in the turns?

Regards,
Chris

[ChrisHunt]

Well... I did it, I bought it and I flew it (more briefly than I would have liked) but first impressions (for those contemplating purchase or not are):

1. There is much to like about this one... the visual model is very good and probably the best Tonka done to date.
2. Flight model needs work, specifically:
- much too quick off the blocks... 11 Sqn with aux tanks and configured as such, got off the runway at Warton (West to East) just after runway intersection... not in real life you don't.
- speed at low level is not an F3 strong point but managed 862Knots at <1000ft which is GR1/4 performance, but if I remember correctly not that of an F3.
- stall in tight turns is extreme, even with fuel load configured as above, speed bleed-off is greater than speed brakes, easy to loose 300Knots in less than 10 secs with power off.
3. VC not as good as it should be given the cost, often a weak area with Alphasim but about time they did something about it.
4. Reverse thrust animation is good when reversing but bloody awful when cancelling RT - all done in less than the blink of an eye.
5. Airshow sound effect - sorry AS but a complete waste of time from within the cockpit.
6. Sound generally is weaker than it should be... nowhere near enough low notes when reheat engaged.

That is first impressions and purely a personal view. I will post these at AS but will run for cover when done so. Overall verdict... good, especially externally but not good enough for the price.

Regards,
Chris

[DaveB]

Hi Chris

I've not had a chance to get back into the darned thing since I bought it and had a quick whizz :roll:

Had difficulty getting it off the deck at LHR fully loaded and at the speed I unstuck, I'm certain the flaps would have blown. Certainly.. had I done the same thing flying in the old DOS 'Tornado' sim.. there'd have been red lights everywhere and the mission would have been aborted there and then :o

The problem you mention with the buckets shooting back closed in an instant is known and already reported over at Alpha (though they didn't know why the hell it was doing it) :o

Interesting reading what else you've found ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[forthbridge]

I was actually about to try (and ask the question) what people thought of the performance compared to the DSB freeware Tornado......

But since my HDD has just been formatted that'll be a while yet.... :@

[ukmil]

Well... I did it, I bought it and I flew it (more briefly than I would have liked) but first impressions (for those contemplating purchase or not are):

1. There is much to like about this one... the visual model is very good and probably the best Tonka done to date.
2. Flight model needs work, specifically:
- much too quick off the blocks... 11 Sqn with aux tanks and configured as such, got off the runway at Warton (West to East) just after runway intersection... not in real life you don't.
- speed at low level is not an F3 strong point but managed 862Knots at <1000ft which is GR1/4 performance, but if I remember correctly not that of an F3.
- stall in tight turns is extreme, even with fuel load configured as above, speed bleed-off is greater than speed brakes, easy to loose 300Knots in less than 10 secs with power off.
3. VC not as good as it should be given the cost, often a weak area with Alphasim but about time they did something about it.
4. Reverse thrust animation is good when reversing but bloody awful when cancelling RT - all done in less than the blink of an eye.
5. Airshow sound effect - sorry AS but a complete waste of time from within the cockpit.
6. Sound generally is weaker than it should be... nowhere near enough low notes when reheat engaged.

That is first impressions and purely a personal view. I will post these at AS but will run for cover when done so. Overall verdict... good, especially externally but not good enough for the price.

Regards,
Chris

well chris, it seems you got well and truly told to 'wind your neck in' on this one. seems you pay your $60 and thats it, you have no say

[garethfs]

Gotta agree re the sounds - they are a very personal thing.

I don't know about anyone else but I am always fiddling round trying different sounds for my aircraft until I get one I'm happy with!

Actually, when you think about it - the whole point of this is surely that it comes down to personal opinion. I've seen people say they love the VC and others not so keen. The visual model generally seems to be getting a big thumbs up and it would appear that any control issues are resolved by fiddling with the fuel and payload.

I've been quite impressed with the level of discussion on the AS site. Having been led to believe that they sometimes dismissed issues outright they seem to be helping people with fixes etc as much and as quickly as possible. You can't survive in this day and age without good old customer service so fair play to them on that score. I for one can't see that anyone has been told to "wind their necks in" - but maybe I'm not reading between the lines!

Cheers

Gareth

[DaveB]

Yo Gareth

I've not been over there to get into any discussions (or read what others are saying) since I bought it but like you say.. many things about flightsim are 'personal' likes and dislikes and you're never gonna please everyone

It could be argued that the visual model (though beautifully textured) is more GR4 with a stretched nose than full F3 but my time in it will be limited and it's close enough for me. The textures actually make this what it is and I can't imagine them being done better

I only stayed a brief while in the VC as you'll all know of my dislike for the things but it looked inferior to the rest of the package.. noticably so. This doesn't disappoint me as I'll only be going there while 'S'ing on my way to the outside view but I can imagine VC fans being less than pleased. Perhaps if the rest of the model was generally poorer, the VC wouldn't stand out so much :think:

I won't be spending the extra £9 on the expansion pack as I'm not that serious about my flying experience in it. Has anyone else forked out yet??

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[garethfs]

Yo Gareth

I've not been over there to get into any discussions (or read what others are saying) since I bought it but like you say.. many things about flightsim are 'personal' likes and dislikes and you're never gonna please everyone

It could be argued that the visual model (though beautifully textured) is more GR4 with a stretched nose than full F3 but my time in it will be limited and it's close enough for me. The textures actually make this what it is and I can't imagine them being done better

I only stayed a brief while in the VC as you'll all know of my dislike for the things but it looked inferior to the rest of the package.. noticably so. This doesn't disappoint me as I'll only be going there while 'S'ing on my way to the outside view but I can imagine VC fans being less than pleased. Perhaps if the rest of the model was generally poorer, the VC wouldn't stand out so much :think:

I won't be spending the extra £9 on the expansion pack as I'm not that serious about my flying experience in it. Has anyone else forked out yet??

ATB

DaveB :tab:

I think I'll fork this week Dave!

Not a huge VC fan myself so I don't think that will be a problem. For me anyway models with a 'great' VC really stand out from the rest - so maybe this one is only as good as everything else if you get my drift.

I do worry that some of the payware developers, not just AS, will pack their bags and go home and some point. What with the piracy issue some of the hammerings they get must be hard to take and must make them wonder if it's all worthwhile.

We flight simmers seem to be a hard bunch to please and, scenery aside I believe, we need payware developers with the time and resource to keep making us happy. Or at least trying to!

BR

Gareth