It Has Arrived...

Publisher: SSI
Flanker 2.0 official page: http://www.flanker2.com/

Su-27

After months of speculation and anticipation, SSI's Flanker 2.0 (F2) has arrived. Promising some of the best Air-to-Air (A2A) and Air-to-Ground (A2G) action yet seen in flight simulations, installing the final RTM copy of Flanker 2.0 filled me with excitement and anxiety. This simulation has taken years to bring to consumers and much like its popularized competition, Microprose's Falcon 4.0, it had some very big shoes to fill.

F-15C Eagle

Su-27 Landing

No time like the Present

My initial reaction to the finished version SSI's Flanker 2 is that the simulation sought to accomplish the goals SSI set forth many moons ago. First off, picking the Su-27 was a great choice. The plane is a brilliant example of aerodynamic excellence. The Flanker is very sound in the A2A role and offers the power and design to accommodate an A2G role that is incorporated into the game by way of the Navalized Su-27, the Su-33. Much like the plane it desperately sought to emulate, the American F-15, the Su-27 is fearsome because of its design and not by sheer numbers, unlike other Russian aircraft in the past. This latest hard-core flight simulation will keep many simmers busy with happy smiles for months to come.

Su-33 Carrier Takeoff

Su-33 Preparing for Takeoff