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AVSIM Freeware Aircraft Package Review
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| Product
Guide |
Now with a new level of freedom of movement, almost any position can be attained for flying this aircraft from the virtual cockpit
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Aircraft designer:
Yannick Lavigne, Rob Young, and Fred Banting |
Description:
Tri-engined Corporate Jet |
Format:
Zipped file |
D/L Size:
16.4MB |
Simulator:
FS2002 |
| Reviewed by: Steve (Bear) Cartwright, AVSIM Senior Reviewer |
| Freeware Review Rating Policy: Freeware reviews are unrated, but may earn an Avsim special award. Please see details here. |
Introduction
Since the introduction of Microsoft's Flight Simulator, nearly 20 years ago now, there have become available many add-on aircraft and scenery packages (specifically since the release of FS5 about 6 or 7 years ago) from 3rd party authors. With the release of FS98 and then two years later, FS2000, the quality of these 3rd party add-ons have greatly increased in their individual quality and often times easily exceeding the quality of the default, whether these add-ons be payware or freeware.
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It was with FS2000 that we really saw some interesting and exciting add-ons such as the Wilco Pilot In Command 767, the PSS 777 & 747, Dreamfleet's extraordinary 737; even the Corporate Pilot series from Abacus was surprisingly well done. On the freeware side of the coin there was (and is) the DC-3 from Bill Rambow-Roy Chaffin-Jan Visser, the infamous Antonov AN-24RV from the Russian Flightsim Group, the little Cessna 120 with a dynamic virtual cockpit from Bill Lyons, and of course the Dassault Falcon50 from Yannick Lavigne-Rob Young-Fred Banting. There have also been many fine examples that included aircraft only or panels only, but in the overall it has been the complete packages, that for the serious flightsimmer, have raised this cross-bar to a level that I don't believe many of us had even considered possible just a couple of years ago.
Since the introduction of FS2002 there have been several update files or patches released, allowing one to install the vast majority of their high quality FS2000 aircraft add-ons into the latest simulator from Microsoft—and there have been a few very high quality aircraft designed specifically for FS2002 as well (Bill Lyons' Cannuck 80s for example). Each new release seems to bump that imaginary cross-bar up a notch or so.
With the release of the freeware Dassault Falcon50 from Yannick Lavigne-Rob Young-Fred Banting for FS2002, this imaginary cross-bar has once again been raised to a new level—a level that will be difficult to match, let alone exceed with future releases, regardless of whether future releases—which are sure to come—are payware or freeware.
What these three fellows have done with their release of their Falcon50, from their FS2000 design updated for use in FS2002, is to offer up one of the most advanced design examples of an aircraft for Flight simulator ever seen. With each version of Flight Simulator, there is a boundary or wall—where the limitations of the FS program just simply will not allow you to go beyond with any FS aircraft design—though with each version of Flight Simulator there has been an author or two that has certainly pushed this wall out an inch or two. I am quite surprised and delighted to see that Yannick, Rob, and Fred have pushed this wall out even further (specifically with the virtual cockpit) with FS2002 and they have done this so early from its (FS2002) release date—and they have done this without the use of the SDK for panels (the SDK for FS2002 panels has yet to be released from Microsoft).
I was privileged to have been sent (two weeks before its general release) a beta version of the Yannick-Rob-Fred Falcon50 for FS2002 and I have flown it a number of hours under many different flying conditions, and I am quite excited and pleased to offer the following review!
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Test System
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Compaq 1.3GHz Athlon
Windows ME
256 Mb RAM
GeForce2 MX
DVD, CDR-W
JBL speaker/sound
Saitek 3D Cyborg Gold joystick
Compaq 19" flat screen monitor
FS2002 Professional
Flying
Time:
11 hours
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This cut-away view of the cockpit area shows additional detail that Yannick has raised to new heights of design quality
From high overhead, the view of the virtual panel in this aircraft is extraordinary
Pop-up windows allow for full function and control of this aircraft's panel and autopilot from anywhere within the
virtual cabin
Moving aft, we discover the photo-realistic leather seating area, divided into two sections and ending with a bulkhead mounted world map
You can almost smell the wonderful odor of new soft leather seats in the cabin mid-section area
The subtle night-lighting of this virtual cabin is equally as impressive as is everything about this latest work from
Yannick Lavigne
With the freedom of movement allowed within the virtual cabin of the Falcon50, you can even position yourself at a
passenger window and watch the terrain pass by.
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General
The first thing I want to say is that despite all the comments in the flight simming forums over the last several months, at the various flightsim websites, this new release from Yannick Lavigne, Rob Young, and Fred Banting is positive proof that high quality freeware is not dead!
This is a complete package including: 2 complete aircraft (a lite and a full version), a custom designed flight dynamics model, comprehensive flight-operations manual, and a highly detailed panel with a fully functioning 3D virtual cockpit/dynamic panel. The only compromise was with the sounds, as Yannick took advantage of the default Lear45 sounds for this aircraft.
Aircraft
From a visual point of view (external), the Yannick-Young-Banting Falcon50 is only marginally changed from its FS2000 counterpart. Now when I say marginally changed or improved, that shouldn't be misunderstood or considered to be a negative comment, because the external appearance of this FS aircraft is as near perfection as could possibly be hoped for. From the fully animated landing gear to the perfectly round & chrome tipped engine air inlets, this FS aircraft is simply on the top of the heap when it comes to design shape and texturing. This aircraft includes FS2002 style lighting effects and the landing lights are fully visible from the 3D virtual cockpit.
Flight Dynamics
Rob Young is no secret to those of us that have had even a passing interest in add-on aircraft for FLY! or Flight Simulator; he has once again applied his magic to the design of the airfile for this aircraft. Rob explains in the portion of the flight manual covering flight dynamics, that working with the limitations of FS2000 apparently have carried over to FS2002 as well. Regardless of these built-in limitations though, Rob has been able to overcome them, and even though this FS aircraft may not hit all of the numbers exactly on target, Rob has been able to tweak the airfile to where an ultra-smooth experience (particularly with pitch and trim) will present itself with anyone that flies this wonderful aircraft.
One of the areas that Rob addressed are those involved with duplicating the real-world feel of a medium sized business jet such as the Falcon50, considering that most 3rd party FS aircraft are either overly sensitive or are very sluggish in their feel. The default Lear45 in FS2000 was a classic example of an over-sensitive FS aircraft, almost to the point of being unflyable in Flight Simulator. Real-world aircraft of this size and weight generally resist brisk inputs from the flight controls, particularly at higher airspeeds.
Duplicating this real-world reaction to a FS flight-yoke or joystick (even the force-feedback type) has been difficult, if not impossible, but Rob has been able to design in this feel by his manipulation of this FS aircraft's airfile. Rob also gives a great deal of credit to his beta flight testers Peter Sidoli (a highly experienced Corporate jet Captain), Tim Sanders (Falcon50 Training Captain), and Ron Freimuth (another highly experienced FS airfile guru) for having assisted in perfecting his flight modeling with this Falcon50 FS aircraft. Other areas that Rob improved have been with taxiing and with correcting braking/reverse thrust reaction (or more correctly, over-reaction). It is now possible to apply off-idle thrust and maintain a constant taxi rate, using slight braking inputs to control your speed. This ability to taxi smoothly also translates to making turns at slow speeds as well. Overall this aircraft exhibits as accurate a feel for an aircraft of this type and weight, under all conditions, as any FS aircraft you will ever get your hands on!
By clicking on the "panel light" switch located on the overhead panel (to off), you can open the exit door and stairs
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Once outside, the high quality of Yannick's design becomes very
apparent. Notice the engine air inlets and just how perfectly round they are.
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From whatever angle, the exterior
views of this FS aircraft are sharp & clear, and very realistic
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Even the night shots reveal the nearly flawless FS aircraft design from Yannick!
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Documentation
This freeware FS aircraft contains a documentation package that frankly rivals even the best of the available payware aircraft. Dynamic and comprehensive in its content, all aspects of the Falcon50 are well covered, as are all operational features and limitations of this FS aircraft. Beautiful in its presentation and offering a print button on every page, this is about as good as it gets.
Just like the rest of this aircraft upload, the manual is every bit as impressive as the Falcon50 itself!
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Panel(s)
Well, I've saved the best for last, as the really outstanding feature of Yannick Lavigne's Falcon50 is the panels. Now Yannick has included two complete versions of the Falcon50, a full version and a 'lite' version, the lite version being available for those that are still operating Flight Simulator on a less powerful computer. The lite version is devoid the high detailed features, but specifically it lacks the virtual panel-cockpit. Being as I have Flight Simulator installed on a mid-range system (AMD 1.3Ghz with 256mb ram) I found that my Frames Per Second to be quite acceptable flying the Full version Falcon50 and using the virtual panel-cockpit.
The 2D panel is for the most part unchanged from its FS2000 version, with the exception of Yannick and Fred having exchanged the Dragonflight Collins radios for the default FS2002 737 radios. Where Yannick and Fred have really pushed the envelop of design has been with their virtual panel-cockpit. Without the benefit of the panel SDK, these fellows have really stepped up to a level of functionality that I hadn't even imagined was possible. The gains they have achieved include: fully dynamic gauges, animated controls, pop-up windows for all panel functions (including the overhead panel), extraordinarly accurate cockpit night lighting, and the best feature is giving you the ability to move anywhere about the cockpit or passenger cabin. Because of the pop-up windows, you can fly and control the autopilot from any position in the aircraft, which allows you to make autopilot heading and altitude changes (as directed by ATC) from the rear cabin area where you can relax and peer out the window, traveling as a passenger. You can also move forward and fly this aircraft from either the captain's position or from the co-pilot's position; the choice is yours. Your ability to fly and control this aircraft from the virtual cockpit mode is so complete, having the 2D panel is merely redundant—frankly I probably would prefer that this mode be removed from future upgrades of this aircraft, if possible.
Although the 2D panel in the Falcon50 is very good, it probably is the most unneeded item of this FS aircraft
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The landing lights are quite visible from within the virtual cockpit
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The soft and highly realistic night lighting of the virtual cockpit-panel is second to none!
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The only thing that I am sure many will notice or comment on are that there are no people visible (pilots or passengers) around you when you are in the virtual cockpit mode. Now I agree that this would have been a nice little feature; it simply is not possible to do, because had Yannick included pilots and passengers in the virtual mode, it would have greatly restricted your ability to move about the cabin and would have negatively effected your views of the panel or out the windows. Flight Simulator 2002 simply has no allowances for this feature at this time.
Summary
We here at AVSIM adopted a review policy that now separates the review rating standards of payware files-packages from reviews of freeware files. In addition our reviewing policy (specifically only for payware reviews) includes a rather comprehensive scoring method (each reviewer is responsible to complete this form before submitting a review to the editors at AVSIM) that is used to determine the stars "grade" that product receives. For any reviewed payware package to receive 5 stars requires, above all, that the product being reviewed not only achieve near perfection, it also must be the new standard that all following products of its type will be compared to. Had the Falcon50 for FS2002 from Yannick Lavigne-Rob Young-Fred Banting been a payware package, it would have easily achieved a 5 star rating from all of us at AVSIM – of that I have no doubt. The best we can do for these fellows is to award this FS aircraft freeware package the "AVSIM Freeware Gold Award" for an absolutely outstanding package. In what probably is the best compliment we can pay these fellows is that it will be the Falcon50 of Yannick, Rob, and Fred for FS2002 that will be the new standard that all future payware aircraft releases will be compared to as well. Yannick and the boys have pushed the envelop for FS aircraft design so far out to the edge as to make if very very difficult for any future payware releases to achieve a 5 star rating here at AVSIM! Believe me, that says a lot!
By all means download these two files from Avsim's Library by clicking on the following links:
fal50c2.zip
fa50ptch.zip
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