AVSIM Online Combat Sim Reviewer David Slavens interviews Alpha Simulations' Phil Perrott. Be sure to read David's companion "Combat Aces" review.

AVSIM: Who are the members of the Alpha Simulations Team?

Phil Perrott: There are what I would call core members who have been around since the start, and there are several other much-valued contributors who have come and gone in the past, as well as some very recent additions. The 'A Team' consists of myself (panels, sounds and missions), Michael Davies (aircraft and scenery), Colin Norwood (aircraft), Chris Lampard (aircraft) and Richard Melville (gauges). All apart from Richard are based in the UK.

AVSIM: When and how did Alpha Simulations get started?

Phil Perrott: AlphaSim officially came into being on June 14th 1999. That was when I quit my day job in Sales Admin to do full time what I had already been doing as a hobby for about 2 years previously. It started in early 1998 with freeware panels for FS98 and CFS and this led to my first commercial work with Just Flight (then 'The Associates') on their 'RAF Collection' CD. This was a big hit and I soon got more panel work on 'Pacific Combat Pilot'. This was the point when I thought I could afford to make a business out of it and Alpha was born. I had been thinking about my own CD, with not just panels but great aircraft and sounds too. I contacted a few people I knew on the Net who could design aircraft and together we put together the AlphaSim version of 'Cold War' - which flopped, not because of quality, but because I tried to sell on the Web and was just not well-known enough to succeed. Some more involvement with Just Flight followed with their 'RAF 2000' CD. This was the first time the Alpha team had contributed to a big commercial CD - we did 8 of the aircraft and all the panels. Then came the big break last year when Just Flight agreed to release an updated version of our Cold War venture under their label. The increased marketing power and retail coverage afforded by a big publisher ensured it was a success second time round. I suggested the Harrier CD concept late last year and that was immediately accepted. Combat Aces followed shortly afterwards. We also contributed to the Abacus add-on, 'Flight Deck II' earlier this year.

AVSIM: Tell us about your partnership with Just Flight?

Phil Perrott: As mentioned above, the partnership started with just myself as a panel contributor, then developed into AlphaSim as a part-contributor (RAF2000), finally evolving into us doing our own CDs (Cold War, Harrier, Combat Aces) with Just Flight as publisher. It has always been easy to work with them as they are UK-based like us, but also because they are such easy-going and likable people. I am not always the easiest person to deal with but JF have always been helpful and considerate, even when I have my occasional tantrums!

AVSIM: What was your first release and how did it do?

Phil Perrott: The first release was Cold War 1947-70 and was a finished product, i.e. professionally packaged in a glossy box, full-colour manual, silk-screened CD, the works. This was a considerable investment on my part and, as it turned out, not a particularly wise one. It was a great (for the time) collection of aircraft and panels, many of which had never been done before and had all the then new features like moving parts (wow!) and pilot figures. Trouble was I did not fully realize at the time that add-ons sell primarily from stores, not over the net. This is still the case, but it was especially acute in 1999. So hardly anybody bought it. I couldn't get it into stores as I didn't have the up-front cash needed or the marketing clout of someone like Just Flight. So it could have all ended there. I stuck with it though and thankfully Just Flight stepped in with the RAF2000 work and best of all, the offer to release Cold War as a Just Flight add-on.

AVSIM: How many add-ons' have you made for CFS/CFS2?

Phil Perrott: I personally have done over 200 panels and have provided panels for 2 non-AlphaSim CDs. There are currently 3 Just Flight add-ons where Alpha is the sole contributor and there is a 'Cold War 2' CD (and 3 associated Cold War 'collection' CDs) and a Combat Aces expansion CD, all of which are Alpha-only releases and nothing to do with Just Flight. So I guess that makes 8 CDs in total.

AVSIM: You are recognized in the flight sim community for your panels. When did you start doing those and what fascinates you about them?

Phil Perrott: I think it is the sheer variety of panels there are; it is very rare that two are alike (military that is), even from the same manufacturer. Every one presents unique challenges - how much of the panel to show, perspective, aging, gauge types and much more. There really is very little repetition. I am also fascinated by the intimacy of the environment and I try to put that over as best I can - I like to think the player can get an impression at least of what it was/is really like to fly these aircraft. Sometimes there is also the pleasure of bringing to life something that just resides in a museum. These are my favourites, especially if I can photograph a panel myself, then make it 'live' on the PC.

AVSIM: Why military aircraft?

Phil Perrott: I suppose it has to do with the attractive qualities of speed, power and the destructive capacity of military aircraft. Probably a bit juvenile I know, but I just can't get the same excitement from civvie types, although I do respect the pilots immensely and the engineering is awesome. From the point of view of a panel designer, I find the claustrophobic closeness of military aircraft cockpits, especially on the older types, absolutely fascinating. This is the man-machine interface in a potentially deadly environment. It is sometimes unnerving to think the panel is probably the last thing many wartime pilots saw. With military aircraft there is also much more scope for modeling historic types, which is rewarding in itself. You just don't get that nostalgia and feeling of history with old airliners except maybe with the real classics, like the Connie. Plus there is so little variety in their cockpits in recent years.

AVSIM: Ever thought about doing Civilian Flight Sims?

Phil Perrott: Not in a million years :)

AVSIM: What is your favorite product?

Phil Perrott: My favourite AlphaSim product is Harrier - Jump Jet. I especially like the Falklands scenario we did. I narrowly missed the opportunity to take part in that War for real when I was in the Navy and this project gave me the chance to find out a lot about what I might have seen down there had things been different. I can't really comment on other flight sim products as I never get the time to play any, although I must say I will make an exception for IL2 when it's out, that looks amazing.

AVSIM: What are your current projects?

Phil Perrott: We are currently working on a CFS2 add-on provisionally called 'Vietnam Air War'. This will have at least 12 state-of-the-art aircraft, a carrier, several airbases and of course lots of missions. We are taking the unusual step of releasing the aircraft for sale as they are made, so the A-4C Skyhawk we now have for sale on the Alpha site is in fact the one from the CD. This will be followed soon by the MiG-17 and so on. This way people don't have to wait the several months it will take to complete the project and it also allows for a taster of what is on offer. After 'Nam, well it's too early to say, but we have been talking to Third Wire about doing a Cold War add-on for their stunning-looking 'Project 1' game engine, but that's at very early stages at present.

AVSIM: What is in the future for Alpha Simulations Team?

Phil Perrott: We hope to keep pace with MS for the foreseeable future, so that will mean add-ons for FS2002, CFS3 and whatever fantastic sims they have planned in the coming years. I envisage the quality and realism of our add-ons leaping forward soon when new software tools become available, although the increase in detail and authenticity will probably mean fewer aircraft on a CD due to the extended build-time needed. 28-aircraft add-ons are most definitely a thing of the past. The team will grow, of that I am sure. We have recently acquired the services of some exceptional designers whose work will be published very soon. I would also hope that we can start doing add-ons for other OA sims, 3rd Wire's Project 1 is a good candidate, even IL2 may have potential. Basically, wherever there is a military flight sim which you can add to, we'll be there!

AVSIM: Thank you very much for your time Phil and good luck in your future flight sim endeavors.