So many aircraft - how blessed we are!
Posted: 13 Dec 2009, 22:51
With a constant flow of new toys to play with in Flight Simulator 2004 (I'm thinking at the moment mostly of non "British" aircraft like Ilysuhin 12s 14s, 18s, Saab Scandias and a huge range of Constellations) it is so easy to forget some of the earlier aircraft that have given so much fun. There are times when I have to remind myself to wheel some of them out, crank them up and fly.
Recently, I dug out a couple I don't seem to have flown for ages - Rick's Argosy and 748.
I suppose I let them rest because the Argosy somehow seems to have escaped the huge range of repaints that so many other models seem to have had done for them - I have just six liveries installed for them worldwide and for me that feels a bit limiting. Then again it wasn't a large production run so maybe there weren't that many operators. But I have a great personal love for this aircraft as it is one of few types that I have been able to sit in for well over an hour (in a museum) listening to the local ATC and chatting with the engineer looking after it. I was in the co-pilot's seat, my wife in the pilot's, and the engineer . . . well, where would you expect him to sit? Magic! So for a change I made a short-ish flight in Canada with Trans Air watching the sun come up on a wintery morning, thoroughly enjoyed it and have vowed to return to the aircraft soon.
The 748 has always had a small irritation for me - its inability to taxi easily but I know that is a trait of Flight Simulator with turboprops so I don't blame the model or its designer. And I have no less than 78 liveries installed (and I know there are more!) so I can play with it more or less anywhere in the world. On returning to the 748, that irritation didn't really seem so big deal after all - in no time you are thundering down the runway with a fantastic roar that (to me) seems the most realistic and rewarding sound ever heard in FS.
So, to anybody else who has aircraft installed but hasn't been near them then for a while, I say dig 'em out and remind yourself how good they are.
And to all the designers (of the aircraft, their flight dynamics, panels and sounds), I say a very big thankyou for the many hours of work that have been put into giving us all so much pleasure. I know there are more aircraft in the pipeline from various sources. Who would have thought there would be any scope for improvement in Flight Simulator 2004 this many years on, but I know this will continue into 2010 and hopefully for many years to come. Seasons greetings to all!
John
Recently, I dug out a couple I don't seem to have flown for ages - Rick's Argosy and 748.
I suppose I let them rest because the Argosy somehow seems to have escaped the huge range of repaints that so many other models seem to have had done for them - I have just six liveries installed for them worldwide and for me that feels a bit limiting. Then again it wasn't a large production run so maybe there weren't that many operators. But I have a great personal love for this aircraft as it is one of few types that I have been able to sit in for well over an hour (in a museum) listening to the local ATC and chatting with the engineer looking after it. I was in the co-pilot's seat, my wife in the pilot's, and the engineer . . . well, where would you expect him to sit? Magic! So for a change I made a short-ish flight in Canada with Trans Air watching the sun come up on a wintery morning, thoroughly enjoyed it and have vowed to return to the aircraft soon.
The 748 has always had a small irritation for me - its inability to taxi easily but I know that is a trait of Flight Simulator with turboprops so I don't blame the model or its designer. And I have no less than 78 liveries installed (and I know there are more!) so I can play with it more or less anywhere in the world. On returning to the 748, that irritation didn't really seem so big deal after all - in no time you are thundering down the runway with a fantastic roar that (to me) seems the most realistic and rewarding sound ever heard in FS.
So, to anybody else who has aircraft installed but hasn't been near them then for a while, I say dig 'em out and remind yourself how good they are.
And to all the designers (of the aircraft, their flight dynamics, panels and sounds), I say a very big thankyou for the many hours of work that have been put into giving us all so much pleasure. I know there are more aircraft in the pipeline from various sources. Who would have thought there would be any scope for improvement in Flight Simulator 2004 this many years on, but I know this will continue into 2010 and hopefully for many years to come. Seasons greetings to all!
John
