Surprise! Flight Simulators
One of the more interesting specials of the show was the strong tie-in that 1C Games Company had managed to build. Running their own large exhibition hall with tons of playable demos set up, I got my first “hands-on” time in the new “Black Shark” expansion for Eagle Dynamic’s Lock On series. While I managed to crash the helicopter in a really graphically impressive fireball, I suddenly realized that this was the best helicopter flight model I ever had felt in a computer simulation. Oh, according to my secret source at the booth it will be released… drum roll please… ”when it’s done”. No word on the copy protection either.
Additionally, IL-2 in all its versions, as well as “plain” Lock On and Flaming Cliffs were also on display.
But the biggest flight sim surprise was yet to come on my second day.
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The 1C Booth featuring…
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Eagle Dynamics Black Shark
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This young gentleman doesn’t know how fortunate he is!
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The White Ravens
When I was younger, I had my own virtual aerobatics team with the 131st Squadron. Back then, we flew Jane’s F-18 Hornet online. Our biggest dream would have been to perform live at an Air Show.
Now a few years later, the guys from the White Ravens Team have made this a reality. Invited by Eagle Dynamics, the Sukhoi Company had actually hired them to perform a real time, three ship, aerobatics display in Lock On using the Su-27. It was projected onto super-sized flat screens and a video wall — right inside the main Sukhoi Exhibition Hall. I’ve never seen or heard about a closer fusion between what we consider “flight sim games” and the real deal. Certainly every one of these guys is giving his best, and the honor to fly as part of Sukhoi’s crew was well deserved.
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The White Ravens Team
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Aerobatics display in Lock On
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