Product Review by : Atul Dev

Little known in the world of simulated flying software, Hangsim's Light Aviation Simulation for PCs really combines technology with realism as near as it can get for Hang Gliders, Microlights, Gliders and Paragliders.

First impressions about the software on loading onto your PCs is that it is an easy to use programme with a fair amount of realism. Pilots like me who have not been on the controls of some of these flying machines did find it fun and got a real thrill out of the four-in-one programme presented by Hangsim.

Wilco Publishing needs to be complimented on their development efforts as these air sports have really taken off since 1970s.

Getting Started

Even before you decide to buy the programme the system requirements are spelled out very clearly on the packaging leaving no doubt in the minds of the enthusiasts the hardware needs. Instructions in the manual to get started are clear.

The programme gets completely loaded onto your hard disk. This is a very debatable issue. 200 MB of space to be taken up on your hard disk may not be to every ones liking. Programmes which require the disk to remain in the CD drive are often more popular with just the set up for the start-up being loaded onto your hard disk.

The Free Flight Option

If one is simply wanting to get airborne without delay the Free Flight Option in the opening screen allows one to take off in a glider immediately. Inquisitive minds like mine did use this option to get a feel of the programme.

Aircraft Options

The programme has the following aircraft options available:

• Hang Gliders - 3 ( The Storm, a medium performance hang glider with good flying characteristics; The Seagull, another medium performance hang glider fitted with two engines; and The Sensor, a high performance glider.)
• Paragliders - 2 ( The Eagle, a motorised paraglider good for beginners; and The Spider, a hi-technology hang glider.)
• Glider - The Hawk, a high performance twin seater glider. Only one glider has been simulated in this programme.
• Microlight - The Thunder, a conventional three axis control machine with a high wing. Only one microlight has been simulated in this programme.

Flight Models There are seven different aircraft that can be flown, all modeled after similar real life counterparts. It's a great spectrum of the low cost light aviation aircraft, and each handles convincingly. Having flown gliders and small aircrafts in my life I was impressede with the realism that was present in these flying models.

Spinning has also been included in Hangsim, which came as a real surprise with the realism in-built in the programme. Handling of these aircraft leaves you in no doubt that you are hasndling sport equipment and not any major commercial aircraft.

The engine on the paraglider, hang glider, or microlite doesn't need to be turned on or off, simply add power if you have a throttle on your joystick or hit the right arrow key and then the up key and the engine turns over automatically. It works well and makes handling the engine easy. This does, however, needs getting used to before you really appreciate the power that is generated.

Cockpit Features For most of the craft modeled there ain't no cockpit, just the wide open air, a control bar, or a rope to hang onto. The cockpits in the sail plane and microlight are 3-D virtual cockpits but none of the gauges function and the levers modeled can't be clicked on or moved. It would have been nice if the instruments appeared at the correct virtual place and showed all the actual readings.

An important aspect is that the view from the virtual 'cockpit' is as close to the actual view without having to fiddle with any special controls or carrying out any adjustments. This is not so in all the flights that were undertaken. At first the viewing system seems cumbersome. Unbelievably, one method for controlling the pan view requires holding the joystick button down and moving the stick. This relinquishes all control of the glider since the stick is being used to control the view. A second method available is to depress and hold a mouse button and use the mouse to move the position of the view away from forward. It's difficult to explain but suffice to say movement of the head is unnatural. Both viewing methods provided snap-back to the forward view after the joy or mouse button was released. Then I found you could select 'move mouse' function from the settings menu and making the mouse 'hot' and wherever it moved you looked and the view would remain where you left it. Fortunately it went from being a ridiculous viewing system to a good one. With this method, looking around is easy and natural. You can see the control bar, your arms and hands, you can look straight down and watch for thermals and enjoy the view.

Sky and Weather The changes in the sky and the look of the terrain from day to night are very well done in Hangsim, and making dusk flight a pleasant experience. Time of day can be changed easily. Clouds in Hangsim are well depicted.

Other atmospheric effects that have an impact on how these are flown are the thermals and the winds. Both are easily customized from the menu bar and are well done. Thermals can be set to rise straight up from the ground or drift with the prevailing winds. Wind flow over terrain is also meticulously modeled. The use of bubbles to indicate the thermals is not very realistic.

The sounds introduced in the programme are at time unnecessary. Engine sounds or the rush of wind on ones face are understandable but some sounds arte certainly not necessary. Fortunately they can be turned down or even switched off.

Hangsim is an good product - ideal for those exposed to simulated flying for the first time. The programme is reasonably clean and easy to use.