My Review of the Alpha Jet
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:15 am'Lo!
I got Alpha Ciel Bleu's Alpha Jet yesterday while answering a question regarding its CFG. After having a day to play; here are my thoughts regarding this aircraft.
My first thoughts were 'Wow - what a pretty airplane!'
It certainly is gorgeous - sleek and sharklike; and I love the paint job.
Taxiing out - a very well-appointed model.
Nice looking plane!
I immediately ran into trouble. I REALLY like the factor of having to start the engines manually without just 'shift-E'ing them. Unfortunately; all the documentation is strictly in French; which I can't read. So I had to puzzle my way through the startup - in the end it wasn't that hard. I was a bit disappointed too that the negine controls are not present in the VC; in order to start the 'plane one must switch to the (excellent) 2D panel.
After a nice docile taxi; I pourd the coals onto the bird and off she went like a scared rabbit - this thing just leaps into the air!
I was extremely impressed with her confident, solid feel and all-round crips handling. Some parts of the plane's flight model might be a bit unrealistic - those dinky little airbrakes won't slow the aircraft twho hundred miles in 5 seconds with the engine at full; no way. But even still; very fun.
It's got an excellent VC as well - missing a few points (such as no engine controls and the light switches don't work) but clear and easy to use.
For manoeuver testing; I took her up into Switzerland to cruise around mountains for a while.
What fun - this plane's an ideal trainer. Fun, challenging but forgiving. Overall; I give this plane a high score.
PROS:
Excellent model, skin.
Very good flight dynamics. Some modding required to make it useable though.
Easy but fun to fly.
Engines require manual start.
CONS:
Limited visibility.
Docs all in French.
Small errors in flight dynamics; easily corrected.
Starting engines requires using the @d panel.
Some switches in VC (lights) nonfunctional.
Overall; a nice sweet payware-quality aircraft. I heartily recommend it.
Cheers!
I got Alpha Ciel Bleu's Alpha Jet yesterday while answering a question regarding its CFG. After having a day to play; here are my thoughts regarding this aircraft.
My first thoughts were 'Wow - what a pretty airplane!'
It certainly is gorgeous - sleek and sharklike; and I love the paint job.
Taxiing out - a very well-appointed model. Nice looking plane!I immediately ran into trouble. I REALLY like the factor of having to start the engines manually without just 'shift-E'ing them. Unfortunately; all the documentation is strictly in French; which I can't read. So I had to puzzle my way through the startup - in the end it wasn't that hard. I was a bit disappointed too that the negine controls are not present in the VC; in order to start the 'plane one must switch to the (excellent) 2D panel.
After a nice docile taxi; I pourd the coals onto the bird and off she went like a scared rabbit - this thing just leaps into the air!
I was extremely impressed with her confident, solid feel and all-round crips handling. Some parts of the plane's flight model might be a bit unrealistic - those dinky little airbrakes won't slow the aircraft twho hundred miles in 5 seconds with the engine at full; no way. But even still; very fun.
It's got an excellent VC as well - missing a few points (such as no engine controls and the light switches don't work) but clear and easy to use.
For manoeuver testing; I took her up into Switzerland to cruise around mountains for a while.
What fun - this plane's an ideal trainer. Fun, challenging but forgiving. Overall; I give this plane a high score.
PROS:
Excellent model, skin.
Very good flight dynamics. Some modding required to make it useable though.
Easy but fun to fly.
Engines require manual start.
CONS:
Limited visibility.
Docs all in French.
Small errors in flight dynamics; easily corrected.
Starting engines requires using the @d panel.
Some switches in VC (lights) nonfunctional.
Overall; a nice sweet payware-quality aircraft. I heartily recommend it.
Cheers!
Untill I looked at the gauges and thene evrything became clear 