F-117A Nighthawk for FSX/FS2004

The Nighthawk casts its sinister shadow across Flight Simulator!

This incredible aircraft can go pretty much where it pleases and fly undetected thanks to its bizarre shape. Known as the Stealth Fighter, its actually a bomber and has been deployed successfully in many theatres of war ever since the first secret flights in the early 1980s. Now the team at CLS has brought this amazing machine to Flight Simulator and armchair pilots can now join the airborne elite and take the Nighthawk anywhere they want in the FS world.

The F-117A Nighthawk is the worlds first operational aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology. A product of Lockheeds highly classified Skunk Works department the Have Blue program called for an aircraft that could enter enemy airspace without detection by radar. First conceived in 1978, it took to the skies in 1981 (rumour has it over Area 51) and operated under total secrecy until 1988 when its existence was made public.

Detailed features

• Accurate 3D model.
• Flight dynamics based on over 50 hours in the real flight simulator
• Five liveries including the famous US flag scheme. Correct pilot arm badges according to unit.
• All external markings and badges are based on the actual current aircraft and are all readable.
• Authentic nose art painted on the port bomb bay door as seen during Operation Desert Storm. They have since been removed from the real aircraft, but are included in this model as the legends live on
• The airframe surface has been given a realistic reflective sheen. The finish has a mottled effect to model the RAM (radar-absorbent material) coating.
• The canopy glass has a gold coloured finish to represent the gold film applied to the glass.
  Custom gauges, effects (navigation lights and cockpit illuminations) and animations
• No VC option for improved performance on lower spec PCs

Liveries included

• Fatal attraction 9th OG
• Its Hammertime 8th FS
• Nachtfalte 9th FS
• Toxic Avenger 7th FS
• US Flag Scheme

Animated Features

• Rotating 3D wheels, full suspension, steering, gear locks and gear door connection rods.
• Main wheel ventilation holes showing brake texture behind.
• Gear modelled to real aircraft components producing authentic mechanism with correct animations.
• Animated flight control surfaces including split differential working elevons and all moving V configuration rudders.
• Opening canopy. As the canopy opens in VC and spot views, the panel/gauge shade flaps fold forward.
• The bomb doors open and the armament swings down in a realistic manner
• Animated radio antennas that extend or retract according to the radio operation.
• Animated drag chute that can be set to deploy automatically on landing and actually helps slow the aircraft
• The IRADS animate to keep on target.
• The engine blow-in doors on top of the engine fairings open automatically for speeds below 160 knots. These assist for low speed flying and manoeuvres
• Refuelling port revolves to open and is illuminated.
• Customised flashing beacon light with rotation effect reflections. Gear lights with reflections. Landing and taxi lights with reflective lenses.

Panel

• The panel has been painstakingly researched and is as true a representation as possible. 3D VC panel. Elements including 3D AP assembly (includes Spatial Disorientation button). AP and HUD frame have authentic positioning.
• The gauges are self illuminated by using the panel light switch only, including the HUD (2 glass pieces with illuminating HUD projector lenses) with transparent background and bright detail illumination (also with night dimming), and do not rely on a general background light. Cockpit lighting is available. In the 2D view, the CRT gauges can be switched between bright and green luminous. All gauges have high quality graphics and can all be zoomed to improve their reading. Lighting colours (including the blue CRT buttons) are to the current aircraft specification.
• Target panel gauge shows camera views in 2D view. In VC view shows FLIR views.
• Adjustable Head Latency gauge introduced for VC view. Added head turn switching for taxi speeds.

Effects

• Engine exhaust shimmer and smoke turn on according to engines speed. Smoke effects can be turned off on the panel.
• With the engines off and the parking brake on, ground services
  appear:
  Mj-1 bomb truck with illuminating spot light (cabin light switch)
  Pilots steps
  Chocks
  Remove tapes that move in the breeze.
  The elevators sink down and the rudders hang (spread to align with the aircrafts fore/aft axis) due to zero hydraulic pressure and move with reducing engine speed.
• Wing vortex and wing vapour according to G force.
• Wheel spray if raining or snowing.
• Runway tyre marks have been customised for this aircraft.

Other features

• All original and authentic De Havilland DHC-6 sounds
• Mutliple layers and sound cones provide a great dynamic mix
• All RPM's inside and out are covered
• Tire touches, doors, flaps, start and shutdown are all included
• Custom crashes for land and water
• Water sounds for float versions
• Doesn't suffer from common problems such as incorrect RPM's on view switching

Recommended system requirements

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 or FSX
Pentium IV 1.7 GHz PC
Windows XP/2000
512Mb RAM
64Mb 3D graphics accelerator card
180Mb hard drive space

Review

"...if you can find the Commercial Level Simulations F-117 on your radar, than I would recommend getting your hands on this package, assuming that this type of aircraft interests you. I have only tried one other payware F-117, which was twice as expensive and half as good. There may be others out there of equivalent quality, but for my money I am sticking with this one." - Avsim