Download Chuck Yeager Air Combat
Blenda Loveless
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat is a 1991 combat flight simulation video game by Electronic Arts. Chuck Yeager was a technical consultant in the game and his digitized voice is featured in the game, giving encouragement and praise before and after missions. The game is characterized for its balance of an action laden gameplay which focuses on classical dog fights and a simple yet realistic flight model.
All missions are based upon actual missions ranging from strafing attacks of World War II, the open dogfights of late 20th century air warfare, and the combat missions of Vietnam, which included bomber escorts. The name of the actual pilot involved and the outcome of the encounter are told to the player, as a way for the player to judge air combat prowess (though it did not affect the overall scoring). This feature separated the game from other similar games of its time, and influenced future work on later flight simulations. However, large, famous battles in the wars are not included (for example, there are no D-Day, Pearl Harbor, or Battle of Britain missions). For World War II, the missions are based solely on the European Theater of Operations.
Computer Gaming World in 1991 said that Chuck Yeager's graphics and flight models impressed a Vietnam War combat pilot, and predicted that it would be popular with both flight sim veterans and newcomers.[1] A survey in the magazine that year of strategy and war games gave it four and a half stars out of five,[2] a 1993 survey in the magazine of wargames gave the game three-plus stars.[3] and a 1994 survey gave the Macintosh version ("a few minor improvements") four stars out of five.[4] In 1994, the magazine stated that Hellcats Over the Pacific and F/A-18 Hornet had better graphics on the Macintosh but Chuck Yeager's flying was more realistic, despite the lack of a rudder. The magazine concluded that it "is worth a test flight, especially for we Mac-types who must live on a thin diet of top-flight games".[5] In 1996, the magazine ranked it as the 35th best PC game of all time.[6]
This game is unusual in that it takes place over three distinct eras of air combat, rather than focusing on one. This gives players a firsthand look at the development of air combat, and the technologies and corresponding tactics as they evolve over time.
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat is a classic modern air combat simulation that set new standard for the genre at the time of its release. Designed by Brent Iverson (LHX Attack Chopper), the game boasts very realistic controls, a large amount of planes, and nearly endless missions that span 3 theatres of operation.
Trixter said it well in his thorough review of this seminal classic for MobyGames: "CYAC is about air combat, pure and simple. You can quickly design your own missions to fly, or jump into over 50 historically-accurate missions across three war periods (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam), some of which were recounted by Chuck Yeager himself. The handling of the planes is perhaps why CYAC is still played by die-hard sim fans today--it's accurate. Not perfect-down-to-the-last-detail accurate, but most planes just feel right. So "right", in fact, that your success at achieving certain mission objectives depends on knowing what you plane can and cannot do. (Not only are each plane's specifications listed in the manual, but you can bring up a window with a real-time flight envelope to see how and why your maneuvers are stressing the plane!)
Unlike most celebrity endorsements that are shamelessly used to sell a product, Chuck Yeager worked closely with the designers to make the simulation more accurate. His experience in actually flying all of the planes contributed to how they feel in flight and combat, and also helped design certain aspects of the simulation itself (the addition of clouds, for example, was something Chuck insisted on, since they can be used to a tactical advantage).
Finally, the documentation that comes with CYAC is exquisitly detailed, with over 150 pages of full-color plates, quick tutorials on air combat maneuvers, a quick-start that shows you the basics, and a full history of war in the sky. The manual significantly adds to the game's value.
The bottom line: even today, Chuck Yeager's Air Combat has one of the best "feels" of any combat sim. Since it runs perfectly on any speed machine, you owe it to yourself to give it a whirl. Let's put it another way: I was not a fan of flight combat simulations until I played Chuck Yeager's Air Combat. I think that says it all."
Here is where this game shines. Yes, it might be a bit dumbed down but it's neat how you can push each aircraft to its limits. When playing, be very careful to keep your aircraft within its flight envelope. It can be quite easy to stall and, in the middle of combat, stalling is NOT recommended.
The historical missions are neat, as they put the player in the cockpit of actual combat missions. Historical missions range from shooting down Allied bombers in World War II to a MiG combat air patrol in the Korean War, to Cunningham's Ace in a Day during the Vietnam War.
Before becoming a test pilot, he served as a P-51 Mustang pilot in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. He was shot down on his eighth combat mission over German-occupied France on March 5, 1944, and only evaded capture with the help of the French Maquis. Unlike most downed pilots, required by military policy to return stateside, Yeager successfully lobbied his commander for relief from this policy from Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, and returned to combat.
First Air Victory: The first combat Encounter Report filed by Flight Officer Charles (Chuck) E. Yeager described the destruction of an Me 109-G on March 4, 1944. The enemy pilot bailed out and disappeared into the overcast.
All missions are based upon actual missions ranging from the straffe attacks of WWII, the open dogfights of modern air warefare, and the combat missions throught Vietnam which included bomber escorts.
General Yeager graduated from the Air War College in June 1961, became Commandant of the Aerospace Research Pilot School in July 1962 and in 1966 assumed command of the 405th Fighter Wing at Clark Air Base, Philippines, during which time he flew 127 combat missions over Vietnam. Returning home in 1968, General Yeager took command of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, and in 1969 advanced to Vice Commander, 17th Air Force based in Ramstein, Germany. In 1971 he became the United States' Defense Representative to Pakistan, and in 1973 became the Director of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton Air Force Base.
Chuck Yeager's Air Combat is a flight combat simulation. Fight over 50 missions with Chuck Yeager's advice on your side. You can use the mission builder to create your own missions if the history-based missions don't offer enough challenge. Replay modes let you fast forward and rewind through a recorded battle, including a 3-D "cube" visualization that helps analyze what happened.
The Good
I'm a huge fan of air combat games and flight simulators - as I am training to be a pilot (hobby, not career) and I can safely say that this is a brilliant game.The main aspect of its brilliance is the sheer customizability included. You can make your own missions with a large amount of different parameters, aircraft, etc. Also the historical missions are very good and definitely make a great attempt to capture Chuck Yeager's experiences with help from the man himself; which brings me onto the fact that the game has accurate physics, due to Yeager's input on the subject.
The Bad
What I didn't like were the graphics - OK, this is a 1991 game, but still not a huge fan of the blocky textureless planes we have and I also find the sound to be quite depressing - Either internal PC speaker drones which are arguably BETTER than the sound blaster racket that you could get. Also would like there to be more planes - half of the aircraft you see in Chuck Yeager's Air Combat are not playable!
The Bottom Line
Good game for its time and this is my definition of "early air combat game" - It paved the ground for all the upcoming games based on this genre, and is still a great game to experience now, 15 years later! Get it!
Computer Gaming World (1991): "A combat flight simulator offering the ability to fly scenarios in World War II, Korea or Vietnam, or mix and match them. Good graphics, good game play and an excellent post-mission analysis yield a high recommendation."
Yeager was slightly wounded. His Mustang was destroyed. Over the next few months he evaded enemy soldiers and escaped through France and Spain, returning to England in May 1944. He returned to combat with a new P-51D-5-NA Mustang, 44-13897, which he named Glamorous Glenn II. He later flew Glamorous Glen III, P-51D-15-NA Mustang, 44-14888.
Flight Officer Yeager was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, Air Corps, Army of the United States, 6 July 1944. A few months later, 24 October 1944, he was promoted to the rank of captain, A.U.S. Between 4 March and 27 November 1944, Captain Yeager was officially credited with 11.5 enemy aircraft destroyed during 67 combat missions.
During World War II, General Yeager distinguished himself in aerial combat over France and Germany during the years 1943-1945 by shooting down 13 enemy aircraft, including one of Germany's first jet fighters. He became an "ace in a day" by destroying five German aircraft on one mission,. On March 5, 1944, he was shot down over German-occupied France but escaped capture when elements of the French Maquis helped him to reach the safety of the Spanish border.
This is an amazing flight sim for your PC! Play air combat with old aircrafts against the computer. The controls are very easy and during play you can set a lot of stuff in the menu (using Escape) The most beautiful feature are the g-forces which are shown using the fading the screen in to another color. Go check this one out. A must!
by Latis