 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Home » Awards and Reviews » Awards and Reviews |
 |
Dudley Henriques is a professional civilian pilot, and has been flying high performance aircraft for over forty years, having flown at least fifty different types including experimental, prototype, and fighters — both jet and propeller. A specialist in aerobatic demonstration flying and aerobatic instruction, he has flown air shows in aircraft ranging from the Pitts Special to the P51 Mustang fighter. This review was originally posted on the Avsim forums, and Dudley has kindly allowed us to make it available here at realairsimulations.com.
|
 |
‘Bravo Zulu’ is a time-honored maritime signal meaning ‘Well Done.’ Each year Avsim's Editors select what they consider to be the truly outstanding contributions of new simulators and related hardware, aircraft, panel, scenery, and add-on utilities, awarding developers their 'well done' recognition. This year our Spitfire XIV won the Bravo Zulu ‘Best Vintage Aircraft’ Award.
|
 |
Review Score 5 out of 5 Extract: ‘Every once in a while a new aircraft comes along that is so clearly a step forward compared to everything that has been done before, that you drop whatever you are doing to explore it in all its glory.... the real magic is the level to which this simulation has been crafted… it one more time re-defines what is possible in FS2004. A realistic three dimensional cockpit with smooth gauges, great looking interior and exterior, great flight dynamics, awesome sounds, lots of neat new effects... and all this without bringing my PC to its knees! The 5-star rating is only given to products that establish a new benchmark, and the Real Air Spitfire fully deserves this recognition. Rob Young, Sean Moloney, and the other members of the Real Air team have produced a masterpiece!’ — Bert Pieke, Avsim Online
|
 |
Awarded Flightsim.com Armchair Aviator Award Extract: ‘Verdict: Class simulation. Fantastic, if I ever get to fly a Spitfire, I know what it will feel like now. Fun. Great value. Automatic AAA award, there being no faults worth mentioning. Just buy it.’ — Andrew Herd, Flightsim.com
|
 |
Review Score 5 out of 5 Our Spitfire XIV was reviewed in PC Pilot Issue 32 (December 2004) and was awarded the maximum score of 5 out of 5. It also featured prominently on the cover of the same issue. Quotes: ‘It's the sheer all-round attention to detail which makes this add-on so spectacular’ ‘Excudes charisma and quality... a stunningly impressive version of R.J.Mitchell's classic.’
|
 |
Our Spitfire XIV was reviewed in the February 2005 issue of MicroSimulateur, receiving an 8 page review and featuring on the cover of the issue. Extract: ‘Non content de concentrer dans le plus célèbre des chasseurs britanniques le meilleur de son savoir-faire, RealAir Simulations s’offre le luxe insolent d’une percée technologique.’ ‘On ne voit bien qu’avec le coeur disait Saint Exupéry. Moi j’ai eu un coup de coeur pour le « Spit » de RealAir bien que n’étant pas particulièrement attiré par les warbirds. De manière plus objective, cet appareil présente sur l’année écoulée l’un des meilleurs, si ce n’est le meilleur ratio (fonctionnalités+innovations+qualité) / prix’ — Tony Argaud, MicroSimulateur Magazine
|
 |
Review Score 5 out of 5 Our Spitfire XIV was reviewed on Scandinavian website FSNordic.com and received the first ever FS Nordic Star Award. Quote: ‘RealAir Simulation’s Spitfire Mk XIV has truly set a new standard in Flight Simulation add-ons. The quality of its virtual cockpit and flight dynamics are unmatched, and the remainder of the package also is of the highest quality...I had to evaluate the add-on on a higher level than I would usually. Hence, I find this add-on to be deserving of five stars, for it is far above the currently expected quality for payware add-ons.’
|
 |
Review Score 9.87 out of 10 Our Spitfire XIV received an extensive review on flight simulation website, FlugSimulation.com. Review author Jens Winkler awarded it a near perfect score of 9.87 out 10 according to a rigorous set of criteria. Quote: ‘The best virtual cockpit I have ever seen... simply fantastic’
|
|
|
Review Score 5 out of 5 Extract: ‘As you’ve probably guessed by now, the SF-260 is my all-time favorite in FS. I fell in love with it back in 2002, and since then, I’ve flown countless hours in it. Despite trying literally dozens (or maybe hundreds) of different aircraft types in FS before and after the first release of the SF-260, this aircraft is the one I always come back to time and again... The last version was awarded 5 stars, and this one really deserves 6, but as 5 is the maximum that can be awarded, that’s what I’m giving it. If ever there was an FS aircraft that is “as real as it gets”, then this is the one. ’ — Grahame Myers, Avsim Online
|
|
|
Awarded Flightsim.com Armchair Aviator Award Extract: ‘Verdict? Still one of my very favorite packages, thanks to a truly well balanced combination of a great visual model, attractive liveries, super panels and top notch flight dynamics... It makes a great package for teaching yourself aerobatics - there is even a section in the excellent manual provided with the sim devoted to explaining how to do basic manoeuvres... In short, it is an oustanding package that really does give a feel of what it is like to fly one of these remarkable little planes. In recognition of that, and the fact that three years on, I still think the SF260 is one of the best addons ever developed for Flight Simulator, it keeps its Armchair Aviator award... Take it from me that you will not be disappointed with this one - if you have as much fun flying it as I did reviewing it, you will have had more than your money’s worth.’ — Andrew Herd, Flightsim.com
|
 |
Review Score 5 out of 5 Our SF260 was reviewed in PC Pilot Issue 20 and was awarded the maximum score of 5 out of 5. Quotes: ‘This is one of the very few simulated aircraft we've flown that somehow feels right’ ‘A refreshing change from the usual GA aircraft we see. A flawless package, and an FS first to boot.’
|
 |
Our SF.260 made it onto the cover of the September 2002 issue of French Simulation magazine, Micro Simulateur. The SF.260 also received a positively glowing six page review written by Micro Simulateur's Tony Argaud, in which he states (among other things): "This aircraft is a masterpiece".
|
 |
Extract ‘the combination of crystal clear, totally smooth moving gauges, the view of the spinning propeller, and the subtle movement of the panel in reaction to changes in flight direction, make for a superb simulation. It is easy to forget that you are flying in your basement, and instead just get lost in the sheer joy of flying, period!’ ‘What I like about the Decathlon-Citabria-Scout package • Great flight models, the aircraft handle well and realistically ‘What I don't like about the Decathlon-Citabria-Scout package • Nothing’
|
 |
Extracts ‘In a class of its own at a highly reasonable price ... RealAir's latest offers tremendous quality and value, well worth every penny.’ ‘The 3D cockpit's highpoint is in the gauges. Sharp and brilliantly clear even at very high zoom levels, smooth and fluid in operation - the floating compass still catches my eye - they are in a class of their own. As the advertisments say: "crystal clear gauges with ultra-smooth movements." And, for those of us chugging along with ageing machines, there is a further nice surprise in store - for all their quality, the VC view and panel gauges have insignificant impact on frame rates, if any.’ ‘Once again RealAir's flight modelling has fulfilled expectations, producing whizzbang aircraft which seem to fly right on the money, that feel just right. Wing design, size, engine power, even the slab-sided fuselage, all seem to fuse smoothly into a highly realistic FDE which makes the aircraft suitably challenging and a great pleasure to fly.’ ‘By themselves, the aircrafts' flight modelling, together with their other drawcards, makes each of them worth the price of admission. Any single one of them would be worth having in one's fleet. Having three of them, variants of the same basic aircraft, each with its own design intentions, shape and power is something quite special - in my experience, maybe even unprecedented in flightsim products.’
|
