A Flight Model Review

[Chill31]

I've followed 777s ROF development from the beginning, and I can see a lot of great features that they have brought with them to BOS. 

 

My setup runs the game at max settings with smooth frame rates.  I use the warthog hotas with simped pedals (no brakes), default curves, and track IR4.

 

I really like that they have an easy start feature.  While there is something gratifying about bringing one of those old engines to life, when I hit the sim, I just want to fly.  That being said, I'm also happy that they modelled the starting procedures in higher detail for the folks who want that as well.  If anyone cares, I can elaborate on starting the real engines, but I won't bore you with it otherwise.

 

Ground handling on the Lagg felt like I was taxiing a WW2 airplane.  It had mass and inertia, and spun to a stop using braking with a close resemblence to WW2 aircraft I have flown.  I've never flown off of a Russian tarmac before, but my initial impressions were that it seemed a little too bouncy on taxi compared to what I normally see.  Open to interpretation though I suppose.  Turns on the ground without a steerable tailwheel (I dont think the locking tailwheel was working...or I was using the wrong button) were like the real thing.  You have to use some throttle to blow the tail around and braking to make it go where you want it to go. 

 

Takeoff on the Lagg reacted just like I expected it to based on my previous experience.  Feed in the throttle slowly over the course of 5-10 seconds and not at a faster rate than you can control the yaw with the rudder.  I have not flown a Lagg, but the control inputs required matched what I have used previously.

 

In flight, the Lagg gave a very realistic feel with inertia and mass that feels like a WW2 airplane.  The things that really seemed to shine were the accelerated stalls and spins.  In the accelerated stall with high power, the airplane would torque roll with a slight wing drop which was immediately regained by unloading the G.  Thats exactly what happens in the real plane.  The spins are very impressive, and I would submit that you could use this sim for legitimate spin recovery training.  The spin entry oscillations were similar to what I have experienced in other aircraft.  It stabilized into a nose low spin after 2-3 turns.  Again, what I would expect from the real thing.  With pro/anti spin aileron, the aircraft changed rotation rate and oscillation in a believable manner.  Spin recovery with anti spin controls occured just as I would describe it to someone asking about the real planes.  The nose dropped, the spin rate accelerated briefly before rotation slowed and the plane began flying again.  Beautiful!

 

Landing the Lagg (I brought it in on a low glide path unintentionally) was straightforward with full flaps and calm wind and a wheel landing on the 2 main tires.  The key to landing tail draggers is not letting the nose wander left and right.  You have to make immediate corrections for the slightest deviation and immediately remove the correction to prevent over correcting.  It is sort of like making small stabs at the rudder peddals with your feet. 

 

At this point, I have nothing but good things to say about the flight model.  I dont have lagg performance data, so I can't comment on the accuracy of the performance model.  However, the flight model is excellent at this point in my book.  Nice job!

[Sternjaeger]

I totally agree, despite some bits that still need to be polished/implemented, it's evident that the quality of the physics is setting a new benchmark here, so even if the FM is not 100% complete, the parts that are already showing its full potential. It might sound as a bit of a stretch, but as an alpha, I find it more stable and rewarding than other products that were released to the public in the past.

 

This sim feels right.

 

Even as it is it's an extremely rewarding experience, and by far the most accurate rendition of actual flying I have ever experienced.

 

I'm so looking forward to the finished product! :-)

Edited November 26, 2013 by Sternjaeger

[BeastyBaiter]

Agreed on all points. Everything feels about right to me from a flight dynamics standpoint. There are really only two things I take issue with atm and those are: the bounciess of the gear (especially the tail wheel) seems excessive and the LaGG-3's horizontal stabilizer is at the improper angle. At a ~30% complete alpha, having only those two gripes says a lot. Amazing quality overall.