5 FLIGHT TESTS NORTHEAST SAILPLANE PRODUCTS ...

This close-up shows the surface.
reflection qualities of the Gee Bee
Model R-l racer. Notice the flight
info data window in the lower
right-hand corner.
Here's a scene straight out of the
movie "Top Gun"! The F-14 Tomcat
is a perfect model to fly off the
USS Enterprise aircraft carrier!
The aerobatic Christen Eagle biplane is
one of my favorites. It's just one of the
many aircraft that are featured in the
Aerofly flight sim.
snow-covered mountain peaks. Once you
start exploring, it becomes very obvious that
a lot of work went into developing Aerofly.
CLOSE UP AND PERSONAL
I think the thing that makes everything seem
so real is the program's attention to detail.
The outer surfaces have a reflective quality
that changes as the airplane taxis by. The
control surfaces move according to your control
settings (a little for low rate and a lot for
high rates). Some planes have servos and
pushrods showing, and the Ikarus Shock
Super Star 3D indoor profile flyer even has a
prop protector complete with small rubber
band to hold the prop in place. When you're
at a flying field, you can taxi up to the pit
area and see things like the sign over the
clubhouse door and a field box on a work
table. The detail is everywhere, and that
includes the hangar deck of the aircraft
carrier! And yes—you can even fly your
model into and through it! Another very
convincing detail is how your model reacts
to surface roughness. When you taxi the
model, there are little jolts and bounces that
look totally real. I love it!
ADD SOME RAZZLE-DAZZLE
So, what else can you do with this impressive
package of VR RC? Well, there are several neat
special features you can try out for size. In the
View menu, the Trace option paints a very
long translucent ribbon behind your airplane
as it flies. I thought this was a great visual aid
that shows you where you have already been.
If you want to fly maneuvers in an aerobatic
box, you're able to see exactly where your last
heading was in relation to your entry and exit
points! How about smoke? Sure, we got
smoke; you can even change its density and
color! 3D maneuvers such as hovering and
torque rolls are also possible.