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The P-47 Thunderbolt is really a fascinating aircraft. When you hear "World War II aviation" I'd bet a fair amount of money this is not the first aircraft that pops into your head. You'd probably think P-51, B-17, Spitfire, or one of the other famous war birds. I don't know how, but the P-47 has escaped my notice all this time. The name was familiar, but I've never bothered to find out about it. For one thing, the Razorback is absolutely huge compared to the fighters of the day, with an empty weight of nearly ten-thousand pounds. Other than size, it was produced in staggering quantities--12,600 P-47Ds were built, just a bit under the number of B-17Gs. This is an outstanding piece of history, and I've come to love it nearly as much as my dear Flying Fortresses.
After downloading the file of something like 150 MB between the base package and Accu-Sim, the installation for both products went uneventfully. The manual (available on the A2A web site) is done very nicely indeed, and I recommend you check it before you purchase the product. The base manual details the differences between each variant, operating limitations and the usual stuff, but also lays out exactly what the package contains. The Accu-Sim manual is almost entirely devoted to the management of the engine and how it works. It's largely the same information that we saw in the Boeing 377, but of course updated to reflect the differences in the P-47's Pratt & Whitney R-2800. I suppose that, if you're very familiar with vintage aircraft, you'll have no trouble getting flying the first time, but it's definitely essential for everyone else to read the manual in order just to get the thing started! On the whole they are very well done, with loads of useful supporting images.
The interior of the Jug is a vast, uncluttered expanse of olive drab. To the lower left are the electrical controls: here you control intercooler flaps, oil cooler shutters, landing lights, the generator, pitot heat, boost pump, etc. On the instrument panel itself, one finds all of the things you'd expect in an aircraft of this era: a basic attitude indicator, magnetic compass, suction gauge, etc. To the right are the radios, oxygen, and map. Now that you're familiar with the layout, let's see how it looks.
I'll be repeating this a lot in this review, but the interior is truly a work of art. All of the textures are beautifully crisp and realistically weathered. From the scuff marks on the pedals to the worn leather base of the control column which flexes as you move the yoke, this aircraft breathes of age and timeless dignity. There are tons of details here which, as throughout the entire model, make the cockpit something special. For instance, all of the engine lever controls are connected to columns heading forward to the engine. These move in smoother coordination with the throttle levers; in this same vein, we also see wires connecting the rudder pedals to the controls. To the bottom right there is a small brown case which. if one clicks to open it, shows a 2D map. This is not like the default FSX map and it doesn't show an aircraft symbol where you are. There are basic controls like zoom and of course selecting what you'd like to display, but on the whole it's a good deal more primitive. A2A did this intentionally, trying to replicate a real map.
The instrument panel is primarily light black in colour with a gap near the top-middle exposing some 3D wiring behind the panel. The panel is portrayed as surprisingly clean, and I was half expecting some scratches and nicks. The instruments themselves are a delight to see in action; as the engine is settling down after startup, you'll need to wait for the RPM needle to stop bouncing before you can get an accurate reading. The movement of all the gauges is definitely as smooth and realistic as I've ever seen and they all respond to the environment very well. Go into a snap roll (inadvisable, since these were not permitted in the P-47D) or a high-G maneuver and your instruments will be jiggling around as much as you.
Generally I have just one section to cover sounds, but there's so much that Accu-Sim adds in this respect that I don't think I could put it all in one paragraph. Absolutely every conceivable thing has been addressed by the A2A team. When one clicks on nearly any switch at all, an audio of the sound, as recorded from the real thing, will play. Even identical switches, like for the lights, will give different sounds from each other. I didn't notice any noise from the throttle levers or boost pump switch, so I would assume that in the real-life counterpart these things would be oiled enough that they wouldn't squeak. I find it very doubtful that A2A would simply leave these out. However, some effects are so subtle that you can very easily miss them. Take, for instance, the control column. There is a very quiet 'thud' when you move it to any of its extreme ranges as well as a slight squeak from the leather base.
By far the best sound effect is the canopy, which slides backwards in this model. This is an absolute stroke of genius; when you open the canopy with the engine running or while flying the noise of the wind and engine will increase. It opens with such a realistic squeak and onrush of air I could have sworn that I felt my ears literally pop; a feeling which I am sure was purely psychosomatic. You might think this is just me exaggerating, but this truly was real enough to give me this sensation.
The outside of this aircraft is just beautiful. One can take in the gleam of the silver rivets blazing in the sun (this is an FSX-native aircraft, so there is a glare off of the aircraft), see the reflections of clouds in the polished surface, or admire details such as wear on the wing walkways or oil runs coming from the undercarriage. Perhaps one of the more innovative things is that the propellor, when spinning, is 3D when viewed from the side. Most add-ons just have a 2D surface when in motion which appear flat from the side.
The actual physique of the Jug is a little unusual. The powerplant is very large, which makes for a long area between pilot and propellor. Additionally, the engine cowling ends up as something like an oval rather than a circle which always reminds me of the drooping snout of a basset hound. The engine itself is a thing of beauty; the first row of cylinders, and portions of the second row, are portrayed in outstanding detail and clarity. All sort of tubes and metal rods are on parade, and although I could not name these parts on sight, they certainly do look good! And besides, after seeing some photos of the real life engine, I think that A2A included as much detail as they could without slaughtering performance. Realistically, if a company were to portray even just the engine to its fullest potential, I doubt they'd have the polygons left for the rest of the model.
The undercarriage is very nicely detailed with evident wires and information placards on the struts. The detail on the tread is also very nicely done, although I'd be happy with a few more polys on the wheel. The wheel wells are composed of detailed, if dirty, green texturing with plenty of rivets and metal plates in evidence. The texturing is done so well that one can even make out many of the servicing instructions. Another detail which I appreciated is that they chose to model the screw jacks which drive the flaps, something which is often either given cursory attention or none at all. The landing gear light also extends and retracts, although I did not find it possible to have the landing gear light extended with the light off; unless I'm very much mistaken, this was possible in the real aircraft. I could go all day picking out the nice bits which they've modeled, such as the turbo-supercharger or the cowl flaps, but for the sake of some semblance of being concise, I won't. I really can't describe all of the wonderful systems the producers have implemented, so I sincerely recommend that you download the manual from the A2A site before purchasing the product. I found no inaccuracies or falsehoods, and I endorse it as a great way to know exactly what you're buying.
Keep in mind that this aircraft does not have a 2D cockpit, but it does have some helpful information via the various key combinations for those panels. One of them, 'Controls' (shift-3) offers provisions to temporarily disable Accu-Sim. I never touched this button. The model looks gorgeous, but as I'll discuss later, Accu-Sim is what makes it really special. So, in this review, I'll summarize what the aircraft is like without Accu-Sim, but this review is written for users of that expansion pack. Also, keep in mind that I've never flown the P-47D in real life, but there is plenty of feedback from real-life pilots, and one very notable fighter pilot, saying that the P-47's flight model is excellent.
Firstly, select what sort of payload you'd like. Bring up the payload controls with shift-4 and choose what sort of external stores and fuel levels you'd like. All of the ordinance, except rockets, can be dropped from the aircraft--I need hardly say that this makes for some fun adventures. You can also add Anti-Detonation Injection, oxygen, and even have your mechanic put fresh, warm oil into the engine to aid in cold weather starts.
Upon entering the cockpit, the first step is to get power into the aircraft, accomplished by hitting the switch on the top right quadrant of the instrument panel. Now that this is done, open up the oil shutters and intercoolers via the controls on the side panel. This is another opportunity to hear the great sound effects and the whine of the electric motor is very convincing, but I didn't like how the sounds are just cut off when the switch is released. Once they're open, pump up some hydraulic pressure using the hand pump (again, very realistic audio accompanies this) and open the cowl flaps with the lever on the right-hand side of the instrument panel. Next, select which fuel tanks to fly with and put the propellor control and mixture levels forward. Prime the engine with the hand pump next to the cowl flap control, but remember that for a cold engine one needs about four primes but warm temperatures may need only two. This is probably my second favourite sound effect (not including the engine, of course) because this pump squeaks, squeals, and practically bubbles with authenticity.
Now the engine should be ready to go. Don't fret if it doesn't start the first time, especially in cold weather. Sometimes you can look very stupid because, for whatever reason, the engine wouldn't start for me one sunny day in the Nevada desert! You see, we simmers have been lead to feel that if something doesn't go right, it's our fault. We forgot to prime the engine, perhaps, or didn't select the right fuel tank; the true beauty of Accu-Sim is that it adds the elements of surprise and chance into the game--things that are totally beyond our control. Sometimes, things will run too hot, too cold, or not at all and the best thing is there's little you can do about it.
Anyway, first of all find the starter; this is an inertia starter which works like jump-starting a car by rolling it down a hill and slamming it into gear. In warm conditions with a full battery, you'll need to hold the switch to the left to have the wheel spinning at full velocity and it'll take a good twenty seconds. There's no gauge to tell us when it's stopped accelerating, just judge by when the sound levels out. Once it's going full steam, shove the switch to the right to engage the engine. Now, there's a couple of things that can happen; firstly, the engine might not start. If this is the case, just double check the procedures and try again. Keep in mind that the more times one has to start the engine, the slower it will take for the inertia wheel to spin up because the battery begins to drain; don't worry, though, since there are provisions to have your mechanic recharge the battery via the 'Controls' 2D panel. If the engine did start, there's a couple of things one might hear. It might have been a clean start, a coughing struggle, or any variation in between.
After the aircraft has started, make sure to warm up the engine at around 900 RPM. When the oil temperature and pressure is in the green, it's time to start taxiing. Taxiing this bird is, I dare say, much more difficult than most other tail draggers. Firstly, make sure the control lock is off and that the rudder lock is positioned aft (both of these, of course, are accompanied by some lovely audio). If you're very lucky, you'll have a CH Eclipse Yoke (with a trigger on both handles) or rudder pedals. Differential braking will be your biggest friend in taxiing this monster. I've recently procured the VRInsight HAT-Track, and I found that a tracking system like this is ideal for flying this sort of aircraft. It's lovely to be able to 'lean' out the side of the aircraft, but you'll still have to swerve a certain amount to be able to see in front of you. Also, one can judge the aircraft's position by the edges of the taxiway.
Reached the runway in one piece? Well, if you've strayed onto the verge don't worry, as we can always polish the grass stains off. Anyway, after you've lined up with the runway, it's time to consult the checklist. The takeoff distances will vary immensely depending on what the weight is, but for a clean configuration I like to have a good three-thousand feet of runway in front of me. This aircraft uses red-line power to takeoff, so your RPM should be at 2700, and manifold pressure at 52". Hold the aircraft with the brakes as long as possible, but be very careful that you don't nose over, which will actually bend the prop and trash the engine. Ease up the throttles, release the brake, and most importantly don't panic! She's slow to get going, but you can't go wrong if you follow the correct procedures. Better to be lifting off right at the runway threshold than having a hot engine to worry about as you start going over people's houses.
Climb is, as the A2A manual says, a carefully constructed process. The average simmer, and I daresay myself included, can simply set the trim to hold speed and let 'er go. However, when you're on a mission which needs to be flown as precisely as possible in order to have enough fuel, you need to make sure you're executing your climb by the book and correctly managing power and boost as the air pressure decreases.
Cruise is something to marvel at. This aircraft can literally reach the top of the world, and there's nothing like being in a gleaming fighter with the engine's rhythm dominating your thoughts as one sails past delicious white clouds. Mind you, there's nothing more here than basic trim controls, so don't think that you're going to get anywhere easily. This leads me to another point. Due to Accu-Sim, the sim will realize the difference in temperature and humidity inside the cockpit and the world outside and will gradually 'fog up' your windows. This can be solved by turning on the hot air, or opening the cockpit vent via the control on the floor.
High-altitude is where the Jug excels. The old girl can be a bit sluggish to maneuver at low altitudes, but when you're cruising in a formation of bombers you feel as light as a feather. Keep in mind that maneuverability will vary immensely with your payload, though. At high altitudes, it's possible to squeeze enormous amounts of power out of the engine and not have it overheat due to the extremely cold temperatures outside. So, if you need to relax, have a good twenty-thousand feet between you and the earth before you think too much about aerobatics. Keep in mind that the oil pressure will drop after a certain amount of inverted flight, which is just another nice, and most importantly realistic, touch from Accu-Sim.
Descent is fairly uneventful, but be careful not to cool your engine quickly, since the combination of low engine power and cold air temperatures can lead to shock cooling.
Landing isn't a lot trickier than any other tail dragger, but the flaps can cause some interesting problems; I read a real P-47 pilot saying that the flaps produced more drag than lift, so he generally didn't deploy flaps until final. Here you'll notice one thing which A2A has, in their own quiet way, revolutionised; companies have long complained that, due to FSX limitations, you had to set where the flaps go--that is, you couldn't stop them at any position. However, A2A has figured out how to do this, but hasn't bragged about it at all. These are the sort of innovations which make this such a ground-breaking aircraft.
For that matter, you'll find that the Razorback has the flap degree markings on the wing, so you'll need to look out over the flaps while you are extending them to see when they've deployed enough. After your smooth landing, accompanied by the appropriate chirp of rubber on pavement or crash of metal depending on how well you did, you have to make the even more difficult journey of taxiing back to the hangar!
The giant Pratt and Whitney which powers the P-47 is magically brought to life by the A2A team. Simply by listening to your engine can tell you many things about how it is running; if you have Acceleration, then you'll be familiar with how the P-51's engine starts clanking around if you don't manage it properly. This Razorback does this and much more. The startup audio tells you how well the engine started and gives a good indication of temperature and condition, and as you continue to fly, you can tell if you need to raise your idle if your engine starts 'chugging'. At other times, it's as smooth as silk--albeit oily, noisy, metal silk.
In all honesty, I could do a whole review of just what this package adds. I've talked about things that the Accu-Sim expansion adds throughout the review, but now I'll summarize it. The biggest aspect is that it adds true engine dynamics. Without this expansion, you can ram the throttles forward and experience no adverse effects. However, with Accu-Sim, you need to baby your engine at times to get yourself and your plane on the ground safely. Additionally, Accu-Sim is responsible for all of the sounds. Without it, your engine will not clunk when it's cold or clank when it's being ran too hard. It also adds tons of sound effects, and hypoxia. I haven't mentioned hypoxia, and I think I will respect A2A's wish to keep what they've done here a secret. However, I'll tell you this; hypoxia will affect your breathing and your vision and they've reproduced this accurately. If you know what hypoxia does, then you know what Accu-Sim does.
All of A2A's new aircraft have 3D lights. This isn't as noticeable on this model as compared to the Stratocruiser, but most prominently it has a 3D landing light, which will even shoot light downwards as you deploy the light. However, on the navigation lights, I don't think the light effect looks very good since it shows through the fueselage a certain amount. This is understandable since the majority of FSX aircraft suffer from this, but nonetheless...
I have reviewed a fair variety of aircraft with varying degrees of success, but when you come right down to it I feel at home in a little green cave with a huge propellor in my face. Vintage is my great love in aviation, and the P-47D Razorback has brought a huge revolution to the way I view such add-ons now. Accu-Sim, I suppose, deserves most of the credit for the innovations, but it would not be successful without the beautiful modeling. In my experience with vintage, I am very pleased to say that I view this as the most creative, beautifully created, and irrefutably correct aircraft I have ever encountered; thus, I view it as the best vintage aircraft, whether a fighter or not, that has ever been produced for Microsoft Flight Simulator and without a doubt it's one of the top five add-ons, period.
VFR Reviews is very excited to be giving our first award to the A2A P-47D 'Razorback'. We sincerely consider this to be one of the best things that have come out of Flight Simulation.
On behalf of VFR Reviews, Kevin Glover is immensely pleased to be awarding the Gold Award to this product. The Gold Award symbolizes some of the best development that we see for the simulator. Although this is the first award we are giving out, we feel that these will be much more scarce than you'd think.
This product has forged well into FSX's potential and is, without a doubt, the most creative add-on which has ever been made. This was incredibly close to receiving the Blue Award, VFR Reviews' highest honour, but there were a few very small things which kept this product from achieving the true 'perfection' we were looking for. As a matter of fact, this aircraft scored within the Blue Award range, but this is just the first Wings of Power III aircraft to be built by A2A and we are confident that we will see 'True Blue' quality soon. We confess to being incredibly picky with this, but we cannot compromise the Blue Award's integrity by mitigating any issues.
Programming: This product has a very small amount of programming errors. This is that not every part of the cockpit creates sounds. A2A never said that they did, but for paying the extra amount for Accu-Sim we expect to see a truly real-to-life environment. It was also insinuated in the A2A videos that every control had an accompanying sound.
Appearance: The P-47D did very well modeled inside and out and does not possess any visual issues.
Flight Dynamics: The P-47D does not exhibit any characteristics which would lead me to think that the flight dynamics are unrealistic, but A2A has recently announced that there may be a problem with how the aircraft responds to the flaps being deployed. This is being addressed by the company.
Features: Thanks to Accu-Sim, this is absolutely overflowing with creative and innovative features.
For a list of what is required of VFR Gold Award candidates, please visit the VFR Reviews web site.
Documentation: 10/10 points
Interior Appearance: 20/20 points
Exterior Appearance: 20/20 points
Systems: 19/20 points
Extras (unique features, etc.): 10/10 points
Pricing: 9/10 points
Performance: 10/10 points
Total: 98/100
Check out these videos for more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7cTL6YhEyg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-E50TqJfGk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTY11zy5-m8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rag1q9OGCPA&feature=related
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