|
|
|
|
REALFLIGHT HELICOPTER DELUXE RealFlight Deluxe comes packaged in two configurations; one with a Futaba transmitter and the other with an interface which allows you to use your own transmitter. The transmitter version plugs directly into the joystick port of the sound card. The supplied transmitter is outfitted with three switches which may be configured in any manner you desire. The default functions are; throttle hold, idle up, and heading hold gyro lock and unlock.
The "interface" version only comes with an interface, which uses the PC's printer port. You just plug the trainer cord of your transmitter into the interface then select "My Own Computer Radio". The interface supports up to 8 channels. Both versions use the same software supplied on CD.
RealFlight Deluxe is designed for Windows 95/98. Installation is straight forward and no different than installing any other program. As soon as the CD is inserted into the drive, you're prompted with; "Would you like to install RealFlight". A typical "Wizard" installation follows.
After the installation, by double clicking the RealFlight icon, in less than a minute, you're at the startup screen. This screen allows you to immediately begin flying or you can select "Simulator Setting" or select "Airport and Aircraft". In addition to these main selections, you can also select the "Help" menu, where an online instruction manual is located.
After I selected the "Sun Dog 60" model for my first choice, I clicked the "Fly Now" button. As the program fired up, for a minute I thought RealFlight was nothing other than a pretty simulator with real live backgrounds and a helicopter that you would swear was real.
According to Mr. Scott Kemp, President of Knife Edge Software, between 50-80% of the CPU cycles are spent in the physics for the simulator, not the graphics. RealFlight employs the use of RealPhysics which is based on formulas that take the physical description of the aircraft as input parameters. The actual flight of the helicopter is determined in real-time as it analyzes the physical properties of the heli. By changing the rotor blades, it will effect the helicopter throughout the entire flight envelope. There will be changes in the roll and elevator rate. Other changes such as blade lift and drag are also affected. No where in RealFlight will you find parameters such as "roll rate" or "stall speed". All of these characteristics are calculated in real time based on the physical description of the aircraft's parameters.
Possibly one of the most detailed features of RealFlight is the smoke trail from the exhaust. The smoke actually increases as you add more power. Keep in mind, RealFlight does millions of calculations during a flight since the smoke has to be "transparent" to show the scenery and machine thru the smoke trail.
Helicopter Models - There are eleven helicopters and nine airplane models provided in RealFlight Deluxe. The scarry thing about the models is; they all fly just like the real heli they portray. They range from two full 60 size body ships, which include an Ecureuil and Jet Ranger with some serious looking paint jobs. As you get these models streaking across the sky, you can feel the extra speed from the fuselage.
In the 60 category, there is a "Foiler", a competition heli and my favorite RealFlight model, the "Sun Dog 60". For those of you who like to venture from the norm, there's a "Spritzer" 4-stroke machine which flys just like the real thing as well. The acceleration ascents and descents are just like a real 4-stroke. You can feel the extra weight of the engine along with the slow wind-up time. From there we get into the .46 "Dolphin", an aerobatic 3D trainer. Also included is an "Impala", a 30 size machine. The same machine is also available with a real training gear, whiffle balls included. The last 30 machine is a "Schweizer" model powered with a Supertiger 34. In the mini category, there is an .049 powered heli called the "Finch", which by the way is fixed pitch. I have flown .049 fixed pitch helis and this flys almost identical to the real thing, even the .049 engine sound is there. Last but not least, for those of you who would like to see what all this electric stuff is about, RealFlight includes a machine called the "Watt Not" which has an Astro C-05 motor and a Sanyo KR-1000AE 8 cell pack. To give you an idea of the completeness of RealFlight, in the engine menu of the Watt Not, there are 17 different electric motors to choose from and 12 different battery packs. Just like a real electric heli, there is a curve in the battery pack and after 3-4 minutes you can feel the pack wearing down. Since the electric heli is so quiet, I noticed something (that in most cases would be overlooked with a gas powered heli model) that as the machine gets into ground effect, 1-2 feet off the ground, you can really hear the rotor noise change and increase in intensity. Wow!
While on the subject of sound, RealFlight went all the way. The engine sounds are sampled from real model helicopters. Along with the engine sound you have real "gear train" noise and "rotor disk" sounds as well.
Concerning the over 300 editable parameters for helicopters, I assure you that they are not there for just looks. Each parameter that you change makes a difference in the flight characteristics of the selected helicopter. Don't expect the helicopter's appearance to change as you make changes in the design. For instance, if you change a muffler from a tuned pipe to a Hatori muffler, the physical characteristics stay the same, the changes you make show up in the performance of the model.
For an example, after taking the "Sun Dog 60" model and copying it. I went in to the engine menu and changed the OS 60 engine to a Super Tiger 90. As soon as I flew the machine, I could feel the difference immediately. Just like if you changed it in a real model, the engine felt almost powerless when compared to the 60, since the gear ratio was now off. Aside from the power, the model felt real torquey and the tail rotor was twisting severely to the right as throttle was added.
If you are considering RealFlight, you will need a powerful computer with an accelerated 3D card or you won't be able to take advantage of the features that set it aside from other simulators. If you have to upgrade your system, you'll have to make the call - is it worth the investment of the new system and the simulator to have a more realistic simulation? Keep in mind, you can still sharpen your simulator skills with other simulators, you don't have to have this high degree of realism to learn.
What more can I say, RealFlight is a state of the art flight simulator. It will be the game to beat for companies who offer simulator products. The team at Knife Edge Software consisting of Scott Kemp President, Angela Kemp, Jim Coleman and Tom Godin have brought the realism of model helicopters to everyone's desktop.
If you're looking for the ultimate in simulation and you have the power under the hood, then RealFlight Deluxe could be for you.
|
|
|
|