FSX IRIS Flight Simulation Software F15 Eagle V11
Shay Silvertooth
Few aircraft in history are as iconic and easily recognizable as the Christen Eagle. The distinctive multi-color paint scheme; the history of The Eagles aerobatic team; the excellent combination of performance, value and economy; and the success of the Eagle as a kitplane have all combined to make this an airplane sought after by both real world and simulation pilots alike, worldwide.
IRIS Simulations, an Australian developer of add-on aircraft for the Microsoft Flight Simulator platform took the excellent Long Island Classics Christen Eagle which was among the first and remains one of the very best truly aerobatic aircraft for Flight Simulator, and has upped the ante significantly. IRIS has developed a number of great aircraft including some fantastic military aircraft (F-15E Mudhen, F-14 Tomcat and F-20 Tigershark to name a few) for FSX as well as earlier versions. For their Christen Eagle, IRIS has modeled both the classic 4-cylinder 2-seat Eagle II, as well as the airshow special 6-cylinder single seat Eagle I.
The real-world Christen Eagle is, essentially, a civilized Pitts S-2A. Frank Christensen had tried to buy Pitts, and when he was unable to purchase the company he set out to design and build a competition biplane that could also be used as a multi-purpose sportplane.
In the pattern it is a rather fun machine. The great Eagle paint scheme is a real treat to see when you look out over a wing to time your turn downwind. Once again, like the real thing, the Eagle is a very honest airplane, so it must be flown consciously in the pattern. Power-off descent rates can be pretty impressive, so I typically fly a simple Navy style dogleg or descending 180 from about 45 degrees off the approach end of the runway with power to maintain about 90 mph. When I am in a hurry or feeling adventurous I might start my turn abeam the numbers with power off and in a constant slip. The airplane simply does what you tell it to, the powerful flight controls and great power will allow you to recover from almost anything shy of a cross-controlled departure at low altitude.
Takeoff and landing are very fun, and reasonably well simulated here. The airplane responds correctly to engine torque, and will not be controllable if you mash in full power without using your feet. This is one area I was very interested in with respect to improving my own real-world flying. As an amputee (below-knee, right leg) I was concerned about being able to handle taildraggers, and as a result did not log my first tailwheel takeoff/landing until I had over 350 hours in about 30 different make/model aircraft. The use of a good rudder pedal setup in FSX (I use the Saitek Pro Rudder Pedals) is key for any transfer of muscle-memory with respect to tailwheels, and also for aerobatics.
Typical takeoff is standard tailwheel fare, line up, hold brakes and apply power, release the brakes with the stick back to keep some weight on the tailwheel. I usually pick the tail up after 4 or 5 seconds, really before the airspeed comes alive. Keeping the nose down, accelerate to about 75-80 mph and fly it off or let it fly itself off, climb out at 100.
As with the auto-rotational capabilities discussed above, another area where the LIC and IRIS Eagle set themselves apart from most other simulations is in the faithful simulation of gyroscopic effects and maneuvers. In aerobatics, gyroscopic maneuvers are those where the engine torque and propellor gyroscopic forces act on the aircraft, usually in low or zero airspeed conditions. With the correct control inputs, the IRIS Eagle is capable of performing textbook Lomcevaks (forward tumbles) and Torque Rolls, again putting them in a class nearly by themselves, but with a level of fidelity that is truly unique as of this writing. Few things in the real-world or in simulation are as satisfying as hitting a Lomcevak on a 45 degree upline, getting a solid 2-3 tumbles, and then recovering on-heading, save perhaps for nailing a Torque Roll on the top of a 1700 foot vertical line, hanging on the prop, and slowly descending backwards through your own smoke trail.
Just like the real-world planes, timing and technique are huge inputs into the quality of any advanced aerobatic figure, but with a total cost of $30 for the add-on plane, and no fuel, oil or maintenance expense, the IRIS Eagle simply cannot be beat in terms of bang for the buck, while also providing transferrable experience.
In summary, the IRIS Simulations Pro Series Christen Eagle package is a fantastic add-on that provides a depth of realism that few aircraft I have found are able to match. The excellent systems and graphical simulation of say the Carenado PA-46T JetProp Malibu represent a high-level of fidelity, and the IRIS Eagle package reaches the same level of execution, but in terms of performance and handling while also providing a high-quality graphic.
There is one map covering Georgia and it is free. You can buy other regions like Nevada or Normandy (for WW2 warplanes). Apart from that you have some few free planes. I encourage you to try civilian version of Mustang (free).
DCS A10C is very accurately modeled, because the company that makes it (Eagle Dynamics) had been doing some military contracts for National Guard. Actually, some time ago, I have found a picture of National Guard cadets on a lecture with DCS A10C running at their desktop computers.
The A10 was my first DCS aircraft that I thoroughly learnt ("typed") on. That was several years ago. Haven't flown it for over a year and now, it's now impossible to just jump in and fly the Jet, I need to re type in it! It's so technically correct. Every system is modelled. Every weapon is faithfully re created. I followed their forums over the years and those Hog flyers were fanatical for getting the correct deatail. They jumped on very small differences from the actual aircraft. They involved Hog pilots and quite a few ground techs who looked after the systems and weapons. The result is a fully evolved simulation.
+1. I got the TacPack enabled warthog set up in V4 yesterday. Aside from the 32 bit fuel gauge dll (which appears only to correct fuel consumption ) it's working beautifully. I did notice my installer is missing a few fx files...fx_iris_a10_gau8, and VC lights.
Now that DCS 2.5 got released, I am re-learning the A10 and all its systems. I truly believe it is one of the most magnificent addons ever created for flight simulation. It needs to be flied by every Warthog fan out there!!
With respect, I do not believe this is a fair characterization of DCS. Yes, there are certainly gaming components to the experience - the developers just choose to focus the simulation elements in specific areas; for example, systems and flight model of certain aircraft, rather than faithful recreation of scenery for most of the world. IMHO, the DCS A-10C in particular is one of the most faithful study-level simulations of one aircraft type ever created for a desktop computer platform.
My experience with the most recent beta of DCS is that it is an outstanding combat aircraft simulator. And the limited geographic content is beautiful. In my opinion, DCS is much more realistic than either P3d4 or XP11. But because of the geographic limitations it is no more of a true flight simulator than GTA 5 is.
Of course DCS is a combat simulator! What is the A10? A combat airplane. It is not made for "cross-crountry" flying. In any case, this idea that you can only fly "30 minutes" in DCS is a joke. Yesterday I flew a mission in DCS for multiple hours. That does not count the flight preparation time to get the cockpit set, CDU programming and weapons loaded.
Vaicom user. Virpil Mongoose base CM3 & Mongoose stick CM2 (not set for dead stick), Virpil TCS with apache Grip. MFG pedals with damper upgrade. Total controls Apache MPDs set to virtual Reality height. Simshaker Jet Pro vibration seat.. Uses data from DCS not sound.
Brummer has off-shelf FF bases for this already. Not sure about the Iris stuff, though they turned up at flight sim trade shows recently showing more of their hardware and in different form factors so it seems like they're moving forward with them one way or another.
If the price comparison and feature list and performance of Brummer's yoke vs Iris's is similar, Brummer has a lot more to offer and for less money in addition to being established already in the field of flight simulation and control loading.
As I already mentioned in the Open Source Joystick FFB thread, the Brunner base does not use the DirectInput force feedback API, instead relying on a plugin for Prepar3D/X-Plane/MSFS. This means it's only compatible with those 3 sims, and won't work with DCS unless a plugin is written for it.
Brummer's prices are at the high end of the spectrum, but it would be worth it if the quality is as high as the price... TM with force feedback! The feel and accuracy of the stick would have to beat the VKB MCG Pro to get my money, but I can see the combined stick/rudder pedals package in my system. But my wife might kill me if she caught me spending that much money. Then again, she once offered to allow me to buy an F-4 ejection seat training cockpit from eBay and I had to turn it down because I had no where to put it.
Once again, the Brunner CLS-E joystick won't work because it doesn't use the DirectInput force feedback API. Please stop suggesting it, someone's bound to buy it without doing enough research and be sorely disappointed when they find out that it doesn't work with DCS.
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