Introduction

Several years ago, Great Planes released RealFlight -- a computer simulation that allows both beginner and proficient RC pilots to hone their flight skills in a consequence-free virtual environment. Great Planes has further increased its realism and expanded its scope with newer versions, and add-on packs have allowed virtual pilots to fly even more models in more environments.

The RealFlight Add-ons volume 5 box contains a solitary disc…

…. all that is needed to load 13 new aircraft and 3 new flying sites.

The latest expansion pack for RealFlight G2 is volume 5, and features many unique planes and options. Ever wanted to buzz down the runway with a Gee Bee Sportster? What about seeing the speed of a Quckie 500 racer making its laps around the pylons? Now it’s possible, not only without fear of losing your new model, but from the comfort of your own computer desk.

Software Requirements

RealFlight G2 Add-ons volume 5 does require quite a bit of computer power (see specifications table). Keep in mind these are the minimum requirements. My current system consists of an Athlon XP 2200, Pioneer 32 speed DVD drive, NVIDIA GeForce 2 32mb video card, and Sound Blaster AWE 32 sound card. It runs the simulator well, although a more powerful video card would greatly improve graphics. Background effects and detail settings can be adjusted to attain better system performance per your individual machine.

Since this is an Add-on pack, RealFlight G2 full version or G2 Lite will be required as well. Please note that this and the other add-on packs are not compatible with the NexStar edition of RealFlight. This new expansion is also incompatible with the classic edition of RealFlight.

Installation

Installation is a cinch, involving only placing the Add-ons disc into the CD/DVD drive. If autoplay is enabled, simply follow the on screen instructions. If using a CD/DVD drive that is not autoplay compatible, or autoplay is disabled, manual installation is required. Upon inserting the disc, access the disc and open a file called “Setup.” This will begin the installation process.

The Aircraft

Real Flight Add-ons Volume 5 includes 11 new airplanes and 2 new helicopters.

The new airplanes are:

Great Planes Gee Bee Sportster Great Planes Shoestring   Great Planes Tiger Moth 60 Great Planes Viper 500 Racer   Great Planes Lancair Top Flite Sea Fury   Top Flite Contender Top Flite T-34 Mentor   Tilt-Rotor Osprey Double Whammy Pulse Jet

Bob Violett Models King Cat flies very well!

The new helicopters are:

The H60 JayHawk, based on the full scale version in service in Oregon. look at that cockpit!

And the MD500E.

The Flying Fields

Watch out for those walls! Remarkably similar to the field down the road…..

Watch out for the picnickers when flying at this beautifully rendered field.

Three new flying sites are also included with the add-on pack: blimp hangar, baseball diamond, and Mountain Pass. The blimp hangar and baseball diamond are perfect for practicing your park flyer moves within close confines. The Mountain Park site is a beautifully rendered field with many of the features you’d expect of a national park.

Conclusion

RealFlight has grown over time from a training tool to a practice bed to a way of predicting a desired models performance. With few exceptions, the models I have flown at the field perform similarly to their virtual counterparts. This gives the pilot some familiarity with the planes before actual flight takes place.

The rendering on the new aircraft and fields is superb. Even cockpit gauges are visible, and the overall effect of the planes zooming by is more realistic. The visible flying wires on the Gee Bee are an example of the excellent detail that is designed into these new models.

The ability to practice aerobatics without the risk of losing a favorite model is also a great feature of the simulator. Always wanted to fly a turbine aircraft but can’t foot the bill? No problem-just load up the King Cat and have a blast. Curious as to how that Osprey really flies? It’s as easy as starting the program and selecting the plane. And its even better when you remember that in RealFlight, a crash won’t end your day’s flying!