I've been a fan of RealAir's past efforts. I own their Decathlon, their Scout, their SF.260 and their freeware C172 update. The SF.260 has been my favorite FS9 plane for quite a while, and it's the aircraft I tend to fly for VFR touring.Despite my confidence in RealAir, I've held off on buying the Spitfire because my FS9 time has been somewhat limited. But, with a 3-day weekend on the way, I figured I might as well take the plunge.I've been flying the Spitfire for the last couple of days, and I am very, very impressed. These guys have outdone themselves, and have created by far the best plane (freeware or payware) that I've flown in any flight simulator.PURCHASE AND INSTALLATIONRealAir's ecommerce system is relatively painless. I had some trouble getting my credit card validated for some reason, so I ended up using my paypal account instead (which cost me an extra $4 processing fee). Once the payment went through, I immediately received my email with the download link and password. The download was about 45MB zipped, and the speedy server had it on my system in only a couple of minutes. I had to enter my password after opening the install program, and then everything else was idiot proof. RealAir doesn't make you jump through a bunch of hoops with hardware validation systems, which I appreciate.CONFIGURATIONRealAir provides a slick configuration program to set your options for the Spitfire. You can customize your Spitfire by choosing whether to have glass reflections, exhaust stack flashes and customized (more subtle) raindrops effects. You can also use this utility to enable/disable the engine failure simulation, adjust realview settings, and select from a historical or civilian cockpit. Finally, there is a wizard-style series of menus for adding a new texture.All-in-all, this utility is perhaps not as robust as something like Flight 1's config-o-matic (especially in terms of adding new textures), but it is clean and professional and gets the job done.THE PLANESRealAir provides 4 main Spitfire variants: The classic elliptical wing model, the clipped-wing version, a "prototype" contra-prop, and a fantasy civilian racer. There are several individual planes for the elliptical and clipped-wing versions representing specific WW2-era aircraft (with appropriate squadron markings). These variants offer a good, broad, set of options that should please both casual fliers and die-hard Spitfire fans.DOCUMENTATIONRealAir provides a flying guide, pilot's notes, and an actual (scanned) copy of the original XIV pilot notes. The documentation is comprehensive, informative, and an enjoyable read.EXTERIORThe exterior model is finely detailed. The textures are crisp and beautifully weathered, with individual panels and even rivets clearly delineated. I've spent quite a bit of time admiring this plane from the exterior view -- it's not unlike having your own personal museum quality aircraft.The pilot is visible and is animated. He moves his legs and arm in reaction to control inputs, and his head turns to scan the skies. The pilot model is accurately proportioned (unlike many of the big-headed pilots I've seen occupying payware aircraft) and has clean, sharp textures.INTERIORWow. There's been much discussion of the virtual cockpit on RealAir's Spit, and the hype is well-deserved. The gauges are, quite simply, incredible ... sharper than anything (2d or 3d) I've seen before. Instrument movement is smooth as butter. As a virtual-cockpit flier I don't miss the 2d panels, and I can imagine this cockpit could convert even the most adamant 2d panel proponent.As with the exterior, textures and models within the VC are of the highest quality. Just about everything is clickable, though several controls don't really have any effect because of FS9 limitations. Nevertheless, you can work through a realistic start-up check-list if you desire. Animations for things like the canopy, door, engine controls and gear levers are very smooth and detailed.The end result of all of this attention-to-detail is that the cockpit is incredibly immersive. It conveys a sense of a tangible environment.SOUNDThe Rolls-Royce Griffon engine is a beast, and sounds like it. From start-up to shut-down, the sound of the engine is loud, throaty and seamless during throttle changes. I can only imagine that they've recorded authentic sounds, and you definitely get a sense of the engine's incredible power. Stresses on the airframe are also depicted through appropriate sounds at high-G's.FLYINGThe Griffin and the 5-bladed prop put out an incredible amount of torque, and it takes careful engine management and rudder control to take off smoothly. For those with less patience, the contra-prop and racer versions are much easier to handle (since the dual propellers offset the torque).Once you're in the air, the Spit will eat up altitude with a vengeance, and it's a heck of a lot of fun to pour on the power and watch the altimeter needle spin in a blur. This is one powerful machine. You'll need to keep an eye on your instruments however, particularly your oil temperature, since RealAir has modeled engine failure due to over-stressing. If you aren't paying attention, you might find yourself (like I did) with oil all over your windscreen and a dead engine leaving a trail of black smoke. I really appreciate this feature, sine it makes it necessary to fly in a way that is consistent with the capabilities of the aircraft.The Spit is comfortable at altitude, and it's a nice change of pace for me to fly up with the airliners at 20,000+ feet. If you need to burn some altitude fast, RealAir has beautifully modeled side-slipping, making it possible to cross your aileron and rudder to drop altitude without adding speed.I am not a pilot, so I can't speak for the accuracy of the flight model, but it certainly feels great. It is incredibly stable once you get her settled down for level flight, and has a real sense of weight and momentum. Coming in for a landing is a hair-raising experience, but it's great to see how every stage of approach and landing can be performed by the numbers as outlined in the original pilot's manual.I had a tough time until I realized the value of setting my zoom level to 50% during take-off and on finals. This gives you a much better peripheral view of the runway, which is valuable since the Spit is a tail-dragger with a long nose. Once I learned how to transition from watching the end of the runway to watching the edges of the runway on each side of the canopy, I started to make pretty consistent landings. I'm still having a bit of trouble managing my flare, but I've had a few 3-point greasers that I was pretty darn proud of.Bottom line ... the Spit is powerful and FUN to fly, but offers a lot of challenge to keep every situation interesting.OTHER FEATURESThis is getting to be a long post, but there are some other features worth mentioning ...RealView simulates the forces on your virtual head, moving the camera with the inertia of the plane. This is similar to ActiveCamera's head latency feature, though I found RealAir's implementation to be smoother and more subtle. This also includes s stall buffet effect that is pretty unnerving as the cockpit starts to violently shake -- it definitely gets your attention.The package also includes historical scenery of a WW2 airfield in England, complete with some AI-optimized Spits flying patterns and heading off on missions. The scenery is nicely detailed and consistent with the level of quality I've seen in several payware GA airports.PERFORMANCEFPS are extremely solid, especially considering the level of detail and the clarity and smoothness of the gauges. Frame rates are consistent with the SF.260, which has always been the best performer in my stable of GA payware. Obviously a WW2-era fighter can be somewhat simpler in terms of instrument complexity, but the fps exceeded my expectations and are much better than other comparable planes I have tested.The technology used for their instruments also allows me to run at 1600x1200 without any of the micro-stutters I've seen in other aircraft at that resolution.I've only encountered one issue, and that is what would seem to be a relatively slow "drawing" of light/shadow across the surface of the plane and VC. In some instances, the movement of a shadow (i.e. when turning away from the sun) sort of creeps across the plane as if it is filling in individual polygons. I would suspect this is a system-specific issue, since I haven't seen any similar complaints here on the boards, and it really isn't noticeable unless I start looking for it.SUPPORTI've had a few questions for Rob and Sean at RealAir, and they've been very responsive and helpful via email. I've had nothing but good experiences with them in the past. They are always very gracious, even when faced with a dumb question.FINAL VERDICTClearly, I am a big fan of this aircraft. In fact, this will become my VFR touring plane of choice. Yes, it's perhaps a bit of a stretch to use a Spitfire for general aviation .. but why not? If I had the money, I'd rather own a Spitfire than a Cessna. RealAir's Spitfire offers good visibility from the cockpit, fairly good range, excellent speed, and acrobatics capability. The civilian panel includes a basic radio set and a VOR, giving you the GA basics but forcing you to keep it simple and enjoy the experience as you hand-fly to your destination.Pricing is

I like sticks (versus yokes), sliding canopies, excellent flight dynamics, and high frame rates. Needless to say, the Spitfire & SF260 are without doubt, two of my favorites!

Greetings all!I'm more into the heavy four-prop stuff. Oh, if this good old RealAir group would consider making a Lancaster bomber! Imagine what THAT would be like! Although "my present Lanc" in the ** package isn't bad at all, on the contrary: she's pretty good. But some essentials are missing, like the booster coil switch, which of course was easily taken care of (or at least "mimicked") by "splitting" the engine start command in two parts, assigning the common first part (ctrl) to one Goflight button, and the remaining individual parts to four other GoFlight buttons. Haven't figured out a way to assign the ctrl key (booster coil) to a GoFlight SWITCH instead of a button, since FSUIPC doesn't seem to provide therefor.And I had to improvise with Key2Mouse and FSUIPC to make the slow running / cut-off switches (mapped to GoFlight switches) do NEARLY what they are supposed to do, but I still haven't figured out a COMPLETELY realistic way to achieve what the true Lanc III in fact did: starting each engine with its sr/co OFF, and only switching it to "engine running" once the engine, indeed, ran.Also, I can't remember ever having seen generator switches on the engineer's panel in any Lancaster that's "late" enough to have the H2S radar dome underneath its belly, only pretty early Lancs seem to have had those switches. But since in the ** Lanc they're "on" by default and hence can be completely ignored, I can hardly say that their presence unduly bothers me. It also doesn't bother me that the engineer's instrument panel looks more like a X than a III, for some of the instruments don't work the way they are supposed to anyway (grin)! Which basically is more an FS limitation, I guess, than a ** designer's matter.Anyway: she flies BEAUTIFULLY! I completely revamped the 2D main panel so now I'm sitting actually on the "throne" instead of sort of "mid cockpit" straight behind the throttles and propeller speed control levers, and from the throne the panel and the outside world look GOOD! So if it might have seemed that I'm complaining: I am NOT! I'm very happy with the ** Lanc and all the physical switches, swatches, swetches and swootches that I mapped the various functions to. But... I would still dearly love to see a Lanc being produced by the RealAir people! Me bloody oath: THAT would be something!Be well!Jaap Verduijn.

From all the previous threads, I guess it is a bit of an old topic. That said, I've just got it, spent 3 hours solid on it, and have come away with the view that it is easily the best FS aircraft I have ever flown - on every level......My only issues are:1. The one that you picked up re slow drawing of the a/c and VC when switching views. This is not a framerate thing as fps are solid 20+ on my mid range 2.4 gb Athlon.2. A Catch 22 problem with UK VFR Scenery. Pushing the MipMaps up to 5 makes the terrain sort of "Spizzy" for want of a better word. Had this before the Spit, so I reduced MipMaps to 4. However, true clarity of the gauges requires a 5 or more. At the moment I living with the Spizzy look. Anybody else come across this?3. A bunch of interesting flights would have been good. We only get 3 basic flights with the package. Anyone read Geoffrey Wellum's "First Light" about his experiences as a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain (un putdownable book by the way)? The time when he had to get home to Manston in the fog/dark would be an interesting adventure...Well done RASRichard

I fly the Realair Spitfire in FSX as well with a set of Spitsim controls, they have really done a great job on this aircraft. Having flown in a real TR9, it is the nearest thing you will get to flying the real thing, just remember to turn the sound up to max!

Wow holy dead thread...welcome back to life!