I've had the need for a decent Hurricane for a long time. The SkyUnlimited Hurricane was 'ok' for FS9 and despite it being FSX compatible, it didn't really cut the mustard. I've had my eye on the Just Flight BOB model for some time and yesterday.. I could resist no longer
I had a few points loafing so ended up paying £3 less than the rrp of £14.99.You never really know what to expect with these things. Were it RealAir.. you're pretty much guaranteed what you're gonna be getting is a quality item but from JF.. there's always an element of doubt. I'd been looking at the FCS Sunderland they sell and having found reports yesterday saying it was probably the worst payware model ever.. this swayed me toward the Hurricane
I've not spent a lot of time in it yet but I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised. You get 11 versions on the theme in the pack.. the prototype, a selection of Mk1 '2-blade' and the rest are Mk1 '3-blade'. The one in the shots will be familiar to all Duxford Airshow goers.. the Mk1 painted up in the colours of Douglas Bader
There are loads of animations.. various panels come off to show good detail behind including a starter trolley and the little tinker fires it's machine guns but I've yet to try this. I'll set up an He111 at some point for target practise
The cockpit is sufficiently busy with loads of switches and levers. It all looks pretty authentic I'm not sure about 2 starter buttons. This does ring a bell somewhere but it doesn't seem right on a single engine aircraft.
The flaps.
On every Hurricane model I've had thus far, they've all had multiple flap positions (unlike the Spit which is either up or down). I read somewhere in the blurb about this one having 2 stages.. up.. intermediate and down but today at least, it was working up or down. Let this not detract though. The JF Hurricane is a peach to land.. the flaps working very well. No shedload of ballooning and no barndoor-like drag. It really is very nice to land
Takeoff is pretty much as you'd expect too. Like the RA Spit, there seems to be a load of up trim set as default and this isn't a problem to dial out. Trim control is very nice The mag switches didn't want to move to cut the ignition until I'd cut the fuel. Not sure how realistic this is but now I know it's there, I won't try and cut the mags first
Other than this.. there's not a lot more I can say at this point. There's a fair amount of alt loss in the turn if you don't balance it with the stick but once you get used to it, it's ok. So.. it takes off great, it lands great, if flies really well in my opinion and above all.. it looks the part. For the full RRP of £14.99, it's not bad and had I paid that, I'd still have been happy. Not sure who the developers were.. I suspected AeroplaneHeaven but feel this is too good if you see what I mean. Anyway.. enough blurb.. here's a few shots I took from this mornings escapades at Duxford..
There's a PK available but a quick check this morning reveals not a lot of additional paints for it. Not gone through the files at SoH yet and if any further paints are available, they'll be there
Right.. that's ya lot. If you fancy a Hurricane for FSX that runs well and is kind on FR's.. I can recommend this one
ATB
DaveB
