FSX T-34C

[sparkomatic 7]

I flew the mighty Turbo-wienie many years ago...still one of my favorites! Had bought the FS9 edition by alphasim...but didnt really like it too much...it bounced too easy on landing (which the real one didnt)...additionally, some of the performance numbers were off (the real one's best climb rate was surprisingly not far from its stall speed, quirky I know)...it flew like a trusty old pick-up truck, friendly/forgiving/faithful...you really had to do something stupid for it to bite you and even then it was more of a nip.

 

Having said that, the FSX edition is way better. Though it completely trashed my FPS...went from a respectable 24 FPS (on a workhorse of a 7600GT w/ 512Mb on the card) down to a slideshow 4...yep, four FPS. So now I need a new video card as I have been waiting for a chance to fly this bugger again for over 12 years. It is in so many ways better than the FS9 version...it just feels right.

 

The engine sounds close, but it is not a recording of the real one...the real PT-26A had the distinct sound of a rattling in the distance...not unlike a pebble was caught in a 1,800 RPM dryer...but the engine sound is quite respectable here.

 

There are already a number of free textures out there, so NPAS (CTW6) is available and even a full NPAS scenery upgrade on flightsim.com (registration is free) can be had.

 

It has some "neat" features like instrument hood, VLE, and blah blah...it has GPS, but back when I flew them the engine gauges were on the left side of the instrument panel and the fuel gauges were on the right...here they moved all of the engine gauges to the right to make way for the GPS...GPS? Things have changed. It is also missing the ashtray (no kidding!) on the starboard side just above the oxygen mask connector. Hey, it was built in the 1950-ish era. But if I have the time to comment about a missing ashtray, then obviously this is a good deal

 

Not for everyone...she wont like your hair on fire, but she is fully aerobatic...and CV capable...if you like tooling around/practicing ILS approaches/and occasional aerobatics...then this one is for you! By the by, if you take it online, the T-34C is (was) a fine formation trainer...you would be surprised how close you can comfortable be (with smooth air) in this thing...though if you have a network lag/"skip" it might not be as easy as in the real thing.

 

Oh, I am not in any way compensated by alphasim...just the opposite, I paid them. The going price is about $30 and given that you can pick up PSX for $38 it might be a bit steep. Plus, alphasim has a habit of releasing their stuff as freeware when they replace it (as in you can get the FS9 edition for free, from them), but given that Aces Studio closed, that might be a long while.

 

Let me know what you think, cheers!