Siai-Marchetti SF260

[G-HEVN]

I liked the SF260 in FS9, but because it was designed to be flown from the right seat, the "picture" out of the windscreen was always wrong, making it difficult to land (curiously, my old instructor says he has the same problem if he flies in the left seat!), it was never going to be a plane I flew lots.

But now, RealAir have brought out an update, designed for FSX (rather than just 'compatible'). It costs €12 if you own the FS9 version, or €28 for a new purchase. There will be a free 'compatibility' update for the FS9 version in the near future, but without any of the FSX features. One very nice feature of the FSX version is the left-seat cockpit option. So what can I say? After the FSX defailt planes, this is truly a breath of fresh air!

Anyhow, being a cautious chap when it comes to trying new addons, this flight was using fair weather. Scenery is Red Baron's 19m mesh, but otherwise default. Minimal traffic. Global Textures and water sliders to the right, everything else midrange. 25FPS.



Departing Tauranga. By this stage in the flight, you already know how this bird is going to behave!


Heading down the coast. The roads are there, but the expensive beachfront properties aren't!


That's Whale Island in the distance. Now, I have an idea...


Yup, here it is, 25nm off shore. Appears to be a little quiet though! Meanwhile, just look at those rivets on the wing!


Let's do a few descending orbits and get a closer look...




No gloopy sulphurous mess today, but the shape's right!


Back on shore now, and set up for final at Whakatane.

[Charl]

Nice pics Tim
I'm an FS9 SF260 owner, what's different about the FSX version?

[G-HEVN]

This is from their web site:

New Features for FSX

• Whole aircraft re-designed from scratch specifically for FSX.

• Completely new VC

• New truly 3D gauges that have depth and realism, and silky smooth movement

• Two separate VC panels "â€￾ A left seat panel layout and a right seat panel layout.

• Choice of 9 liveries with the ability to fly each from the rght or left seat.

• Convenient quick panel zooms so you can effortlessly zoom in on Radios, IFR instruments and controls.

• New super-smooth radio tuning innovation using simple left/right click and drag mouse operation.

• Bump mapping on wings which show fantastic detail from the VC looking out to the wing.

• Improved spin and recovery characteristics....the spin now continues with stick centred.

• Enhanced Stereo Sounds to take advantage of FSX's sound engine.

• New enhanced smoke effect, improved gauge backlight at night and improved VC interior graphics.


Features carried over from the FS2004 version

• Visible and audible pre and post stall buffeting.

• Realistic engine torque effects.

• Crystal clear VC gauges with perfectly smooth movement (no more stuttering VC gauges).

• A pilot whose head always look in the direction of flight.

• The pilot also scans the sky, keeping an eye out for traffic.

• All VC switches and levers can be clicked on and manipulated.

• New controls have been added to the VC including pitch trim, park-brake and fuel cut-off.

• A magnetic compass that moves more realistically than ever before, appearing to be suspended in liquid.

The new radio tuning method is also really nice, and it works for all the knobs in the VC - HSI etc as well. Just left-click on the knob, then move the mouse up to turn the knob clockwise, or down to turn it anticlockwise, all while holding the button down. Far better than the traditional click-hold-wait-curse-go-back-the-other-way-repeat system IMHO.)

[JonARNZ]

Nice shots , White island looks very real as does the Whakatane / Tauranga coast lines, the 20M mesh makes a real difference it seems.

I'm considering my first FSX aircraft add-on, looking at the Wilco 777 but a bit nervous about what impact it may have on performance. Have you/did you notice any impact with the SF260? Being a light aircraft rather than a heavy (polygon count) I would think not, but you never know.

[Charl]

Yes I saw that stuff on their website, and that's what prompted the question.
Not sure what it means to be "re-designed from scratch specifically for FSX" other than you can see rivets on the wings and maybe a tad more clarity in the VC.
Gauges were previously a major selling point so are the new ones better to the point of trading in the FS9 A/C?
Since my mouse utility allows wheel scrolling for knob tuning, and full zoom/back/forward/up/down for looking, there's no benefit there, over FS9.
And flying LHD never bothered me.
Sound? I thought I already had stereo
So unless the sum of all the improvements is a gobsmacking new flight experience, why shell out the NZ$25?
My fear is that we are to be treated to a rash of repeats for FSX just for the sake of not looking left out... B)

[G-HEVN]

Well, I take it to mean that the techniques and technologies they invented for FS9 don't work in FSX, and so they've had to reinvent the wheel, so to speak. I guess the true test from the user's perspective will be when the free compatibility update arrives, then we can compare...

[Cbris]

Well, as one who's had all the versions of the SF260, this one flies exactly as you would expect from Real Air.

What have they done special for FSX? Added the option to fly all the planes from the left hand seat. I guess that's aimed at purists who want nothing to do with military aviation.

As to making use of FSX's new features - there is a lot! You can now "alias" (it's called "fallback" in the new texture.cfg files) aircraft textures, that means you don't have to have common textures in each aircraft paint folder - just the ones that are different. Saves a lot of disc space and gives your system breathing space.

By converting all the textures correctly to DDS format, you get better detail for the same file sizes.

By judicious use of the specular and bumpmap techniques, the exterior model looks better.

Copying paints from FS9 to FSX is easy.

The airfoil on the tip tanks is now curved. The instrument panels are prettier. And they have made a special price - 12 Euros - for owners of the FS9 version. And you can't really call that a rip off, 'cos you get all the planes in left hand pilot variants.

One of my FS9 paints on the FSX SF260



Another one of my paints (RAS do have a similar model, but I prefer my shininess )



One of the RAS default models



Instrument panel

[Cbris]

P.S. Actually, there's quite a bit of new stuff for FSX and quite a few "easy ports" from other planes.

Rick Piper has made an FSX version of his Chipmunk - visit the classic British Flight Sim forums here You'll have to register before you can see the "New Releases" threads... but that's where the download links are. It's still a work-in-progress version, but it is already grand.

The JustFlight Tiger Moth is out too - not too happy myself, because they haven't made use of FSX file saving technology...

There's also a lot more addons in the wings. I have seen some in Beta and there is hope there.

Patience...

[Charl]

Thanks for those thoughts
I guess I am happy enough with my FS9 setup not to want to merely "improve" for the sake of it.
It would take a quantum leap for me to shell out anything at all for an FSX payware aircraft at this time:
y'know, pilots lip-synching radio calls, bald patches appearing on tyres when I do my customary "make sure it's down" landings, that kind of stuff B)
Having said that I've just downloaded an FSX aerobatic SU-31 which I've lusted after for years.
I'm hoping it works as advertised, you can't have it in FS9.

[Cbris]

Bald patches? See my first two above...

[Charl]

Explains the hat, then
And my Sukhoi download is the FS98 one or worse, tarted up for the "FSX" experience by being brighter

[ZK-Brock]

Wow, that VC is so clear! That aircaft is amazing!


*adds to list*

[silverfox]

Hey Chris,Im a FS9 - SF260 user.I have two questions:
first - where can a find that texture of that bleu FS260 Warrior
second - how can I add show smoke on my SF260.

Freddy - SILVERFOX Belgium.