REVIEW: Just Flight Spitfire

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It's here. At last Ozzy can finally stop marmalading everything in sight, and calm down in front of his PC with his favourite aeroplane, the Supermarine Spitfire. It's a name steeped in history, and now we have a complete package for Flight Simulator 2002/2004, and CFS 2/3, covering the development of the Spitfire from the prototype, K5054, to the MK22.



Having been beaten to the shelves by the Real Air Simulations Spitfire XIV, the Just Flight package has a lot to live up to, although in fairness they have covered a lot more of the Spitfire's history. Lets have a look at what we've got in the box.

The add-on comes on two CD-ROMs, and includes a comprehensive manual, which is styled as, and includes, abridged pilot's notes covering the Spitfire. This is of the usual good quality from Just Flight. There is also an interactive program covering flying the Spitfire. As far as the aircraft are concerned, we have 39 models, depicting the following marks (a full list of the specific airframes included is available on the Just Flight website):

*denotes CFS3 enabled, ** denotes CFS2/CFS3 enabled

Prototype K5054
Mk. I, Mk. Ia* & Mk. Ib*
Mk. IIa
Mk. Vc*
Mk. Vb**
Mk. IX, IXE & T. IX
Mk. XIVE*
Mk. XIX
Mk. XXII


Spitfire PR Mk XIX in Swedish colours

So, we have a rounded selection of aeroplanes, which I was thoroughly looking forward to getting my hands on. However, before I do that, I'll put down my cup of tea, put on the flying jacket and saunter over to the dispersal to have a closer look at these beauties on the ground...

Visually, the modelling is of a generally very good standard. The Spitfire is an aircraft well known for its flowing curves, and is notoriously difficult to model well. The one area where this package may have been let down is the vertical fin and rudder, which on certain marks (XIV and XXII) does not look quite right. The early marks (Prototype and early Mk 1s) come with a beautifully crafted two bladed wooden propeller, the later ones with variable pitch props with up to five blades. The movement of the blade pitch is modelled statically, and it is a nice touch to see it moving as you conduct you pre-start checks. The other animations are fairly standard (Opening canopy, door, radio access panel).


Spitfire Mk IX in the marking of one of the "Free French" Squadrons

The markings on the aircraft are generally fairly accurate, and are from several countries, including a Free French Mk IX, Belgian Mk XIV and Swedish PR Mk XIX. Some of the colours are slightly wrong on some particular aircraft (duck egg blue undersides on several aircraft that should be light grey), but you would have to be very familiar with real aircraft to notice, and it detracts very little from the package. The textures are nowhere near as fine as those found on the Real Air Simulations Spitfire (which are exceptional), but there is a lot more variation in the types of scheme, be it the light blue of the prototype (the best quality textures in the package), the yellow civilian T. IX trainer, or the natural metal finishes of the Mk XIV and XXII.


Early Mk 1 Spitfire

The 2D panel is very good, as should be expected now that we are in the age of the virtual cockpit. The virtual cockpit itself has the relevant controls animated, to allow manual functions such as engine start to be performed from it, and is different for each of the individual marks.


Spitfire PR Mk XIX 2D Panel


Spitfire Mk 1 Virtual Cockpit

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Starting the aircraft can be done the easy way (ctrl-e), or by manipulating the controls in the VC or 2D panel. The start-up sounds are quite realistic, and the transition between the start up sound and the running sound is good. With the throttle at idle we a can hear the Merlin growling and popping, and as you crack the throttle open a little we are greeted with a little hint of what is to come. Release the brakes and we roll forward with just a trickle of power. The brakes are responsive and essential for low speed handling in the earlier Spits. We line up on the runway, pre-take off checks complete, poised ready to apply a boot-full of rudder as the power comes on. Advancing the throttle, the Merlin's growl becomes a roar, and working hard to keep straight we are airborne in no time at all. The undercarriage comes up and we accelerate to 140mph, and commence a climb at 160mph. Climbing up we prepare to carry out some general handling.


The prototype Spitfire, K5054 gets airborne. This for me is the best model in the package

The aircraft handles very positively in all three axis, and performance in roll is accurate, with a roll rate of just over 90 degrees/sec without rudder, and a little faster with rudder. This corresponds with the full size aircraft in roll. In pitch the aircraft may be a little too stable, and is easily trimmable. The rudder is sufficient for positive control. As you would expect the controls become heavier and less responsive as the speed builds up over 300kts. In the stall the aircraft will usually drop a wing, not necessarily in the same direction, unless there is any rudder input. As with most MS Flight Simulator aircraft it is difficult to spin, but it can be encouraged to do so with a little into spin aileron, and centralising the controls will stop the rotation.


Spitfire Mk I

As we bring the aircraft back into the circuit, we lower the gear and flaps at 138kts, and start a long curving approach to land. Speed control is essential, and if the aircraft stalls the aircraft will drop a wing and recovery will be exceedingly difficult. Once back on the ground the aircraft requires careful handling and judicious use of the brakes.

In summary the handling characteristics are good and you'll be happy spending several hours looking at the aircraft in the external views as you loop and roll around the clouds.


The Mk 22, with its Griffon engine, back on the ground

The sounds are good, the Merlin particularly, which starts beautifully, and purrs and pops away all day. The Griffon sounds are very reminiscent of the sounds used Just Flight's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight package for FS2000/2002 for the Spitfire XIX, and lack the start-up effects of the Merlin sounds and the characteristic pop and crackle of the Griffon power-plant.

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Numerically, I rated the Just Flight Spitfire package as follows:

External model - 8/7 (most of it is very good, but let down by some modelling errors and the textures aren-t of the highest quality)
Internal model - 8 (not up to the standard of Real Air Simulations Spit, but very good all the same)
Flight dynamics - 8 (Realistic as per spec - could benefit from some simulation of buffet near the stall)
Sounds - 7 (Merlin sounds are very good, Griffon sounds not quite as good, but they still capture the essence of the aeroplane)

Likes: Variety of aircraft and colour schemes, most of the modelling, Merlin sounds, Handling, Fun to fly (you'll be flying it for ages)...
Dislikes: Lack of attention to detail, lack of "finesse" items, such as stall buffet (the only effect being included is simulated gun firing), for the purists the swing goes same way on take off for both types of engine (which of course it doesn't on the real aircraft)...


The T. IX is modelled so it can be flown from either the front or rear cockpits

Overall - 9

You may wonder why, having given the package elements scores of 7 or 8, I have given it 9. To conclude, the Just Flight Spitfire package is a must for any Spitfire fans. It is quite expensive for an add-on at around

[SaVas]

Excellent review Charlie! Informative, and well thought out with a good basis of knowledge

I have made it a stickie for everyone to read