Introduction

Developer: Jane's
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: Fall 1999 (Sept/Oct)
Official Website: http://www.janes.ea.com (Click USAF)

Top Gun

Jane's is a long trusted name when it comes to statistics and intelligence on the world's military capability and military vehicles. I remember when I was a child, wasting more than a few hours in the library flipping through the latest Jane's books to read about fighter aircraft, navy ships, and other combat vehicles. It's no wonder that EA has turned to the Jane's name for their expertise in military simulations. Games under the Jane's name have been fairly successful with titles like US Navy Fighters, ATF, and Apache Longbow. Jane's hopes to continue this proud tradition with their latest installment, US Air Force.

A B-2 bomber in flight

There goes $2 billion

The story

You start off as a green rookie in the United States Air Force, the most potent and technologically advanced air force in the world. You'll need to work your way up through 62 different missions as you go from a rookie pilot to a 4 star general. Combat takes place in three different eras, a historical one that chronicles the brutal Vietnam War. Mix it up in the skies against MiG 21s and other aircraft. You'll also be able to relive one of the US Air Force's crowning glories - Operation Desert Storm in Iraq. Feel like you need some training? How about trying to guide your supersonic aircraft in between the rocky walls of the Grand Canyon? USAF also includes one more arena for combat, a hypothetical war over German soil in Europe.

F-16 loosing a Sidewinder

F-15 refueling in midair