Introduction The Fokker aircraft company was founded on February 22nd, 1912 in Germany. The company dominated the civil aviation market in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The company was named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. At the age of 20, Fokker built its first aircraft, the Spin. Throughout the World Wars, Fokker produced many aircraft used by the German Air Force. The development of the Fokker 100 began in 1981, when collaboration attempts failed with McDonnell Douglas. Development costs of the aircraft almost sent the company to bankruptcy. The Dutch government then stepped in to rescue the now failing Fokker Aircraft Company. Once the Fokker 100 was complete, the initial sales of the aircraft were good, which lead to the development of the Fokker 70. After many years of stiff competition with Boeing and Airbus, the company declared bankruptcy on March 15th, 1996. The Fokker 100’s low operational costs and with there being almost no market for the 100-seat aircraft, it became a best seller when it was introduced in the 1980’s. But with Boeing coming out with improved models of the 737 and Airbus coming out with the A319, competition did rise. The Fokker 100 was announced in 1983 as an update to the Fokker 28 models. A new wing was designed which allowed the aircraft to be much more fuel efficient. Fokker even built a business jet version of the Fokker 100. Installation and Documentation The installation of the Fokker 70/100 is very straight forward. The main seller of this product is Flight 1. Just like any other product from Flight 1, you simply download the auto-installer. Once the download has finished, you must run the installer. It will then prompt you with the purchase instructions. Fill out all the required information and presto, you may begin installation. Installation is just a matter of selecting “NEXT” and making sure you are installing to the FS Root Directory.
Configuration One of the very nice features that Digital Aviation provides once the aircraft has been properly installed, is a load editor along with a fuel planner. This allows for many different weight configurations. It is a very simple interface that allows you to load your Fokker 100 or 70 with a different number of passengers seated by zone. It also allows for configuration of the cargo. Once you have completed the load editor, you must move on to the fuel planner where you enter all the basics. Route distance must be entered along with your cruise altitude, average winds aloft, alternate distance, and a few more. The Basics The one thing that I will say before anything else, is that you MUST read the manuals and complete the tutorial flights included. Digital Aviation has gone so far in depth with the systems of that little Fokker. Digital Aviation has provided two tutorial flights for you to learn all the basics in being able to successfully complete a flight without any tie ups. The first tutorial will take you on a flight in Europe operating as SwissAir. During this flight, you will learn how to operate the aircraft under normal conditions. The pages after pages of the tutorial go deep into the systems. The next tutorial goes much deeper into explaining the different types of approaches and just being able to fly the aircraft as close to real as possible. They also include an Aircraft Operating Manual in PDF format and a Migration Guide. You may be asking, what’s a Migration Guide. Well, Digital Aviation has provided a PDF file explaining to Boeing pilots how to convert to the systems of the Fokker. Again, before you even touch the aircraft, you must read the manuals provided or you may become extremely overwhelmed at the in depth systems programming needed before each flight.
The Workplace The panel is just simply amazing. If you are looking for an aircraft that provides the most realism possible, look no further. The Fokker 70/100 is a very complex aircraft. Digital Aviation has modeled just about every switch that’s in the cockpit. I would say that about 95% of the panel works. All the sub-panels are divided into different sections. This allows for easier navigation. The overhead panel has been separated into two parts and the bottom pedestal has been separated into three different parts allowing for easy access to a certain portion of the pedestal.
According to Digital Aviation, they are currently working on an update that will include a virtual cockpit but as of this writing, no word on a date of release has been specified. Via the FMC, you can load different panel situations. This is also where you access the panel configurations for the tutorial flights. You can also select different situations such as “Ready to Start”. Using this page of the FMC, you can have various other set-up options. Digital Aviation has provided a virtual First Officer. He can give callouts and even perform the normal FO duties. These can be turned on and off via the FMC.
The overhead panel is where it all begins. Just about every switch is modeled allowing you to create havoc or just do a really nice controlled flight. That’s up to you.
Sounds The sound package that Digital Aviation has provided is superb. Fokker aircraft are equipped with either a Rolls Royce TAY620-15 (70+100) or a TAY650-15 (F100) engine. There is really not that much to stay about the sound package. It is just simply a great sound package. Summary / Closing Remarks
In conclusion, I would like to say that Digital Aviation has done an amazing job in making a re-creation of the Fokker 70 and the Fokker 100 variants. They have provided a variety of different liveries so you can fly all across the world using the correct liveries. The aircraft systems have been modeled to perfection and are extremely in depth. They have provided great manuals so you can really get the feel of how the real aircraft works. Like I
said above, Digital Aviation has modeled just about every switch that is
in
the cockpit. It has been a joy to fly and something totally different from
the
Boeing or Airbus. You will be able to make many enjoyable flights to
the exact way that actual flight crews perform them. Moving the same switches
and getting the same reaction out of the aircraft that you would find
in
the real world. |
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