This month I took a peek at the RealAir SIAI Marchetti SF.260. RealAir Simulations have, of course, an excellent reputation, so let’s see if the FSX version of the SF.260 lives up to it’s buzz.
Background and History
developer: RealAir Simulations
publisher: RealAir Simulations
price: USD38/EUR28
test system: Pentium 4 2800, 1GB RAM, ATI Radeon X1600 512MB
The SF.260 is a light high performance GA craft designed as an advanced aerobatic trainer in Italy. It was designed by Stelio Frati, originally for Aviamilano, which flew the first prototype in 1964. Actual production was undertaken when SIAI Marchetti purchased the design soon thereafter and continued until the company was bought by Aermacchi in 1997. The military versions are popular with smaller air forces, which can also arm it for use in the close-support role.
The SF.260 is powered by the 260 hp Lycoming O-540-E4A5 and holds the airspeed records for aircraft in its class over the 100 km and 1,000 km closed circuits. Out of some 860 SF-260s produced, around 180 have been sold to civil users.
The Real Air Simulations version of the SF.260 is a cracker. It is extremely responsive and yet still very easy to fly at speed. It is very manageable on approach and has mild stall behavior, but more on that later.
Installation and Documentation
The download file from RealAir for the review was 43Mb and I also grabbed the glass patch while on the website. The installer has the usual options allowing for customization if desired and found my FSX installation directory without a problem. One thing to note is that the installer needs you to create an account with RealAir in an attempt to make this aircraft safe from pirates. This is similar to online activation, except that you need to supply your email account.
The documentation is excellent. You get a flying guide, pilot checklists, and a manual for the autopilot. RealAir also supply a config panel, which allows configuration of some options for the cockpit. You can also check for updates, which is excellent as you don’t need to go over to the RealAir website to check.
After a quick peek at the readme to make certain I hadn't missed anything it was into the simulator for a little look see.
Outside Model
After booting FSX I was eager to see what was different between the FS9 and FSX versions.
There are 9 standard variants that can be flown from either the right or left seat depending on your preference. Externally the SF.260 is as I’ve come to expect from RealAir, from small things like the shading and markings here and there to indicate a used but well looked after aircraft. Some dirt and grime on the panel joint lines is evident, and the softened fasteners are all a feature of the very well detailed exterior. There is also shading and distressed paint where the pilots have accessed the normal maintenance hatches as well as the fuel fillers for both the wing tanks and the tip tanks. I was a little disappointed to see that the wing tank fillers weren’t built into the model as 3D on the wing panel. Other areas like the carburetor air scoop on the cowl and cooling air intake are nicely reproduced.
The aircraft uses FSX textures features, namely bump and specular mapping and this makes the textures look fantastic. You can see the bumps of the rivets and the aircraft has a realistic shine that changes depending on angle to the sun. The animations are well done, including gear retraction and canopy opening and closing, even the pilot moves. The pilot himself is amazingly detailed and looks very realistic.
2D/3D Cockpit
Standard in this aircraft is the right, and I suspect it might be related to something as simple as engine torque. The 2D Cockpit is, to say the least, an afterthought as this is a direct carry over from the FS9 version. This aircraft is meant to be flown from the virtual cockpit.
To describe the virtual cockpit in a word - WOW. Sitting in the cockpit, the very first thing that struck me was the detail in the instrumentation which is of a standard that I have not seen before, ever. The depth of 3D illusion I saw on my monitor was nothing short of amazing. This was made more accentuated when viewed with Track IR. The depth to the instrumentation, especially looking from the left to the right and vice versa was absolutely marvelous and it truly did feel as if I was in the cockpit of the real deal.
I’m of the belief this aircraft should only be flown and enjoyed from the VC, which is, by any standard you like to judge it by, very impressive. I’d have to say this is the best I have seen in any aircraft for MS Flight Simulator of any flavor to date and I must congratulate the RealAir Simulations team for their attention to detail and the crisp sharpness they have managed to achieve. The instruments themselves are amazingly crisp and easy to read. RealAir is well known for pioneering smooth gauges, a technology which results in tremendously fluid instruments. The stutter of the default way to do instruments is completely eliminated and the instruments are as fluid as in X-Plane. With FSX, RealAir has taken one further step. The instruments are now true 3D, which means all knobs and buttons stick out (all, including radios!), the middle wheel in the HSI sticks out, the clear tube on the turn indicator sticks out, etc. RealAir once again have revolutionized flight simming, as far as I know this is a very first!
Every flight control is easily accessed from within the VC with visibility that is very good in all directions. One of the things that I found a little odd was the fantastic secular lighting giving tremendous depth to the panel and it’s instruments, but there was a decided lack of shadowing, both on the panel from the instrument bezels and the knobs and levers too. This may be a decision that the designers thought was a worthy sacrifice to keep any FPS problems well and truly in check. Something I can say without reservation I think they have resoundingly achieved. However, the switches look a tad cartoonish to me. All in all, the very clean look of the instruments and panel has a bit of a clinical look. There is no wear and tear or clutter in the cockpit, like some other aircrafts offer. So, if your after a cockpit with ‘character’ you won’t find it here. This is not a bad thing, some simmers prefer the clinical look, some people prefer the ‘worn’ look – RealAir caters for the first group.
The virtual cockpit also offers full bump and specular mapping. This results in shiny metal surfaces, like the handle bar and the rudders and makes metal surfaces look very realistic. Since the cockpit has a very clean look, metal does look indeed very polished, fer example you won’t find any grime marks on the handle bar.
I did a night flight with the room lights off and immersed myself in the moment with pale moonlight, with the glow of the instruments the feeling was incredibly lifelike. Having said that, the lighting is a bit flat, similar to the lack of shadows at daytime. Again, the night light feel a bit clinical.
Another technology pioneered by RealAir is RealView, which simulates the head moving in the cockpit, for example around turns. FSX has this behaviour by default which means RealAir has discontinued this feature (as there is no need for it anymore). However, RealAir have retained their simulated stall buffet, which is really cool. When you stall the airplane, the cockpit wildly shakes, just as a real airplane would. You’re not going to miss a stall again…
Flight Dynamics
The SF.260 is a stable platform to perform aerobatics with, but it does have one particular idiosyncratic behavior that might surprise you for an aircraft of this type. I found during early test flights that if I got too aggressive with the elevator at speeds exceeding 120 Kts I suffered a high speed stall. This isn’t a real problem, but when performing maneuvers at low altitude it is something to be very much aware of. Flying the SF.260 is an exhilarating experience and I can only surmise that the real aircraft is similar. You can comfortably lift off at 75 Kts and cruise at around 120 – 150 Kts and with a top speed of 180 Kts and still slowdown to a nice 65 Kt approach with full flap and have a very controllable touchdown.
You can very aggressively roll this aircraft and 4-6-8 point rolls can be achieved with some practice. The rudder, even though it is physically small on this aircraft, does have quite a bit of authority and things like hammer head turns and with practice knife-edges can be performed with awesome results.
RealAir, of course, have a reputation for excellent flight dynamics, possibly the best in the industry. The attention to detail is illustrated by the inclusion of a stall buffet as I already mentioned. Yes, you can spin this aircraft and it works just like a treat. Spin recovery of course depends on aircraft, with this one RealAir have again bested themselves by keeping the spin even after you let go of the rudder. You need to release pressure from the joke to fully recover. This makes for pretty exciting spin recovery. What is also great is that you can get the aircraft to spin without applying rudder, if one of the wings is lower than the other, just like a real airplane would. I have never seen this simulated beforehand.
Side slipping also works like a treat, I believe better than in any other aircraft I have seen. On top of that the aircraft pulls to the left when adding power and to the right when easing up. However, I couldn’t make out any adverse yaw, but I don’t know the aircraft well enough to comment on that.
Sound
To round this aircraft up, the sound is fantastic as well. The engine has a nice throaty sound, the wind sounds realistic, and so do the gears, flaps and canopy. The switches however don't make a sound. To finish it off, you get a nice rattling sound when the stall buffet kicks in. Well done.
Summary
If you are used to politely behaved and well appointed GA planes then this craft might appeal. I would consider this plane to be an ideal stepping stone into the world of sports flying and aerobatics. The SF.260 is a very well behaved performance aircraft that is also capable of some serious airwork, being capable to be stressed for +6 and –3 G’s.
If you are more inclined to push the envelope and want to explore the world of aerobatics the SF.260 is a fine choice. RealAir truly lived up to their name with this aircraft, and if you are a serious flyer there is no way past this one. There is lot’s of ground breaking technology included, and the only real thing missing may be the maintenance module that comes with the Dornier from Digital Aviation.
most realistic flight dynamics, top class exterior model, clean virtual cockpit with smooth and true 3D instruments, ground breaking technology
virtual cockpit maybe too clinical depending on preference
Maurie King
