Harrier Jump Jet: 2002 Version (FS2000, FS2002 and Combat Flight Sim 1 & 2)

There is actually loads of possibilities, as scenery from RAF bases to US carriers and half the Falklands task force is included. Just flying any of the 20 Harriers is a challenge, as vertical landings on a ship are very tricky, though not half as bad as the helicopters (a Sea King from 1982 RN colours is also here) due to the limits of FS. The entire Falkland islands are included, with 3 bases to fly to/from or to attack with bombs, rockets or cannon fire. From what I have gathered, the scenery is completely accurate (haveing never been in those remote islands!), right down to the buildings at Port Stanley airport and Goose Green, plus the rocky outcrops and the general lack of trees. The entire San Carlos Falklands task force are moored appropriately, and you can even pilot a boat in CFS1 to see the ships and landing beaches close up and slow. The missions are historical, and there are enough Argie planes to take the Harriers and Task force ships on. Two Sky Hawks (Air force and Navy versions), a Pucara close support attack plane (with damaged ones littering Port Stanley airport along with an Argentine Chinook in the scenery), and the Mirage/Dagger for supersonic flights. CFS2 has an Etendard with exocet, though it plays no part in the missions. There is nowhere for the Argie planes to land after fleeing the Falklands , unless they outrun the Harriers and dash to Port Stanley. The Harrier missions begin and end on HMS Invincible, or at the prefab airstrip at San Carlos.

Both Falkland Harriers are displayed in appropriate camoflage, the GR3 remaining as it did for European operations. Then there are a mass of export versions, from the USMC AV-8a, AV-8B and the Matador of Spain, Italian, Indian, Thai and prototype versions, all with differing cockpit instrumentation. THe flight models follow the vertical/short take off and landing very well, and, yes, you can VIFF effectively in combat situations. Only the Sidewinder missiles don't seek and heat in CFS! All the planes can be used as targets in quick combat, and there are even escort ships for the really brave tpo attempt to land on (such as HMS Fearless assault ship, SS Canberra, or a RFA container ship/ refueller etc.) I haven't seen any other Harrier sims except the Royal Navy Aviation Collection which has ONE older liveried Sea Harrier. This is more than enough harriers for one flight sim.


Another poor add-on   April 30, 2002
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

Looks good but peformance is sluggish and generally poor. It's ridiculous attempting such a project without air-to-air missile capability (which is only revealed in the small print!)I wouldn't bother if I were you!


Great Graphics no heat seeking   December 1, 2002
Stuart Aston (Devizes, Wiltshire United Kingdom)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

This product offesr great graphics and i have to say some good scenarios, but is ultimately limited by the model of CFS2, which does not support heat seaking missiles... and this fundemental gap makes for a very unrealistic feel to the environment. No struglling for "tone", just the knowledge that as my 9-L comes of the rail I might as well be firing an FFAR ...