Harrier Jump Jet: Flight Sim and Combat Flight Sim 2 Add-on

You can use this package in Either FS2000 or CFS 1 or CFS 2. The Falklands bit only appears in CFS 1 or 2 of course. However, just about EVERY Harrier or Sea Harrier type is represented, mostly in the RAF's colours (emphasising the British successful development), but Royal Navy, USAF,USMC,Italian,Spanish and Indian versions are also wonderfully rendered, with 2 twin seater trainers too. Therefore almost every possible Harrier mission can be undertaken authentically (up to a point). The drawback to most missions is that the FS programme on which it is added on does not cope very well with vertical flight (as you will have found if you try hovering in a helicopter!). The problem can not be rectified in this expansion, so that you frequently end up summersaulting endlessly over you intended landing ground and the only solution is to shut down the program! The other fault lies in taking off from one of the included "Through-deck carriers" in the Falklands campaign. the "Ski-jump" ramp doesn't function at all. It is purely cosmetic as the Harrier will only pass through it - spirit like - and take off the other side at the very edge of the ship! Landing on the ships prsents the same less-than-vertical approach problems as other landings.

On the plus side, there is also aRoyal Navy Sea King helicopter which works fine too, and the sheer range of Harrier types from early to late models gives a broad flight experience. The development in aircraft technology shows through in the cockpit details, with displays becoming more and more electronic, and less analogue over later models, and with increased pilot vision as the cockpit was mounted higher in the Sea Harrier and AV-8B variants. The external views have rotating jet nozzles and animated gear actions too.

As for the performance and usage, well in FS2000 you can attempt landing on the helipads (even the old World Trade Centre one which perhaps would have fared better if a Harrier had been stationed there!), or try taking off from a street in London, Berlin or Munich (since the NATO war plan for dispersing Harriers included positioning them in car show rooms to avoid detection before they took off from the fore-court!) or find a forest clearing to fly out of. The included Falklands campaign is almost a complete game in itself, as you can fly for British or Argentine forces, but is limited to the use of bombs, rockets or guns only - Sidewinder missiles (the preferred weapon choice for Sea Harrier jocks) can not be properly launched in the CFS programs. Also, the HUD is non-existant, as all you end up with is the standard CFS gun-sight which is highly unrealistic. The scenery is great though, with detailed targets and buildings scattered throughout (though not a single sheep - the main inhabitants of the Falklands!). You may even be attacked by a Rapier SAM if you fly an Argie plane over the islands, and the ships have withering fire against attackers.

There is a well-documented Harrier history too, and if you have only a passing interest in this unique plane then this package does the business. It certainly increased my fascination.