Infinite Flight has released its 6th update of 2018, focusing on a complete rework of one of their veteran aircraft in the fleet: the A-10. This aircraft was one of the first in the simulator and is now the first to feature a cockpit with working gauges. The 737 also received some much-needed work with the addition of wing flex, ground effect, and more.
A-10 Rework
Affectionately nicknamed the “Warthog” or “Hog”, the A-10 is a twin turbofan, single-seat fighter used by the USAF. With a modest complement of steam gauges, this aircraft was the perfect testing ground for introducing working instruments; something Infinite Flight has been planning for some time. Added, are fully functional six pack, fuel flow indicator, engine fan RPM indicators, compasses, and glide slope indicator. This feature sets a new precedent for Infinite Flight’s aircraft development. Indeed, recent models have been made to include working knobs, switches, and instruments and the A-10 is the first to take advantage of this.
In addition to this new level of realism, the A-10 also features nine new liveries, a new pilot with animated helmet visor, an animated canopy, new flight and ground spoilers, animated suspension, and custom sounds. The flight physics model has been completely reworked and tested by real-world A-10 pilots, to ensure a true-to-life experience while flying. New camera angles, including multiple views inside the cockpit, allow pilots to get a better look at the new instruments or go under the hood. The ability to refuel while aloft while led by another pilot in a tanker rounds out the A-10 list of features.
B737 Updates
One of the staples in any fleet of aircraft is the iconic B737. While not in line for a complete rework, Infinite Flight has added some features that help bring the 737 to be more in line with current aircraft standards. Included are:
- Autoland (APPR)
- 30+ New Liveries
- New Wheels
- Wing flex
- Split Scimitar Winglets
- Ground Effect
- Pilots
- New Strobe Light Timings
- APU Strobe
A small but often noticed issue with the Infinite Flight fleet was coupled control surfaces and levers. This update marks a new precedent for future aircraft work by animating the levers (ie the gear lever) and the surface it controls (landing gear) independently. Moving the gear lever is a quick operation, while the landing gear themselves take more time to fully extend.
Other Improvements
A new loading screen has made its way into v18.6 with added tips for pilots as their flight loads. As well, for pilots flying in the United States, Infinite Flight has added an updated waypoint dataset of 25,000 fixes for the USA to the latest available from the FAA. Some performance improvements for older devices have also been implemented, as well as an updated list of call signs.
