[D-SK666]

Ich habe gestern Rob Young von RealAir kontaktiert und ihn gefragt, warum die RealAir Spit mit z. B. mit ihrer Rollrate so von den Leistungen anderer Spit-Developer abweicht.

Meine erste Mail:

Dear Rob,

I appreciate RealAir-addons very much, in particular the Decathlon and the Spitfire are my favorites. Concerning the Spit I doubt that the general flight-feeling is as authentic as one expects from a RealAir addon.

I own some of the other spit-addons, further more, I am a IL2/Sturmovik-veteran and used to several warbirds that are simulated in Sturmovik. No version from other FS-addon-developers (Shockwave, Aeroplane Heaven, Just Flight) nor the models in Sturmovik have so slow roll-rates. The roll-rate is much too slow for a warbird like the Spit. A minor aspect, but also true for the whole Scout 2006 package, is the exorbitant rudder effectivness of all RealAir-planes. This might be the price that has to be paid for a slip-ability, but compared to other developers like Shockwave the overall feel for the aircraft suffers from this. Then, I think, the whole Scout package 2006 as well as the Spit do have a bit too responsive steering authorities. I mean there is no swinging after applying counter-aileron-inputs or elevator-inputs during rolls and loops. The planes react as if there were no turning moment based on the weight.

Concerning the Spit I tried this to improve the feeling that I am used to from all the other Spits I flew at the PC:

Aileron effectivness tuned up to 1.1 and roll stability tuned down to 0.9 or even 0.8. The roll-rate and the counter-swing-effect is slightly more agile then. Of course, I never flew a real Spit, but citating the original manuals a Spit should roll with about 140 degrees per second. With enormous amounts of rudder-input the roll-rate can be increased but ailerons alone should provide more agility around the longitudinal axis than actually can be achieved.

I would be grateful for some feedback and some comments on how one can improve this high sophisticated product.

My flightstick setting: No dea-zones, full sensitivities.

Then you can pull back the stick at once without stalling at speeds above 170, 180 mph. Not really realistic.

Erste Antwort:

Hi Sebastion,

I am sorry you are dissapointed in the Spitfire FDE.

The accepted roll rate of the Spitfire (on average) in IDEAL conditions is 140 degrees per second. This is actually quite slow compared with the perception of a few people and maybe other designers of the simulated Spitfire. But you seem to be stating that you know what the roll rate should based on your trying other simulations of the Spitfire, but you do not mention that you have flown the actual Spitfire, and you think that just because the roll rate is "xx" in other simulators then it should be the same in our version.

We base the roll rate on the feedback we have had from real Spitfire pilots and from a lot of research. It is in fact possible to increase this roll rate with use of high angle of attack and rudder, but I agree that the Spitfire does have a surprisginly slow roll rate. This rate was gradually improved throughout the development of later models but it was still way short of modern aircraft like for instance the Extra or Pitts.

Your criticism of the imperfect rudder response is reasonable. We have to live with the limitations of MSFS. It is not perfect but we believe it is good within the FS framework. Of course there are many many simulated aircraft available and if I wanted to make a hobby out of this, I could spend hours analysing and criticising, then posting my findings to many other developers, but happily my life is too filled with other more important things.

We think the Spitfire is fine...it is not perfect...but no simulated aircraft is. We know it is not ideal in every department, but nor are human beings.

Meine zweite Mail:

Hi Rob,

please don`t get me wrong. If I was really dissapointed I would not spend a minute on comparing, testing and writing e-mails. The roll-rate as well as the overall rather undemanding flight behavior is totally different from those many other spitfire-addons. Every developer refers to real-pilot inputs that do attest authentic FDEs in any way. If you read this on any publisher`s homepage this won`t impress after some fairly average addon-experiences.

I spend most of my FS-time on flying RealAir-planes so I am curious whether this characteristics are desired respectively why these are so different from other publisher`s approaches. Take the Shockwave, the Aeroplane Heaven, the Sturmovik or the Just Flight, no matter which MK-version they simulate they all react and especially roll the same way, generally speaking. Your Spit feels like a much bigger and heavier plane.

Letzte Antwort:

Again, as before, what matters is not how many developers follow a convention, but what is right. The published roll rate for the Spitfire IS 140 degrees per second at maximum deflection at IDEAL speed, so in fact at other less ideal speeds it will be LESS than this. That is surprisingly slow and that is why you are seeing what you are seeing.

Many low house pilots or beginner pilots have the illusion that certain aircraft must be difficult to fly because they are warbirds. This is simply not the case. ANY aircraft that is harmonious and well balanced is Eeasy to fly and the Spitfire is no exception. The Spit is quite difficult to land, and take off has to be carefully managed because of the power, but in other respects it is no different to any other tail dragger.

Your discussion is based on" This many developers did this so they are the majority and they must be correct". I disagree. The roll rate reflects the Spitfire. However, as you observe, other things are not perfect, but we do not pretend they are.

Thanks,

Rob Young