NZFF

Note: The photos aren't mine as my PC isn't connected to the internet right now, so I've got them from flight1.com where the aircraft is sold. This review will be about the visuals and flight model for a start since I haven't quite worked out the radar and weapons yet.

The J10 is an indigenous Chinese multi-role fighter that has its roots in the Israeli Lavi program from the 1980s. During this time there was a love triangle between China-Pakistan-Israel that centred around the Afghanistan war but that's really another story for another day. Suffice to say the F16 and the Lavi have influenced the design and the systems.

So that's the real aircraft. This payware model is by Bear Studios, who have also released a Mig17, a Mig15 and an F-7 (I prefer to use the Chinese designation of J7, the F denotes it's for export). It was released about 4 or 5 days ago and I picked it up about 2 days ago.

We'll start with the visual model. It comes with quite a few different models- single and twin seats in CAP, recon, SEAD and strike.





For the twin seat model they have also modelled a fully functioning backseat that you can switch between in flight or on the ground or in the pub or where ever.

The cockpit is very detailed. Everything is clickable. There are three MFDs that seem to operate quite well but I've only been fiddling with them to get the radar to work. The cockpit is in Chinese but there's an option to switch it to English I understand (the MFDs are in English).



The FM seems good but I've not flown a real one so I'll put it at "plausible." It has a very very quick roll rate, which is something I'm getting used to. She needs a very light hand. The flaps and leading edge slats are set to auto but you can turn that off if you want- I do. She's very easy to fly and rather fast but I did find a snap roll at full speed overstressed the aircraft (max G is 6.8 I think) and sent me back to menu hell.

I haven't had too much of a chance to explore the weapons yet. I'm not really too worried about being able to fire them but the working radar and being able to lock targets up interests me greatly.

More to come once I've got some more time in it.

Aircraft is $34.95USD and I would say at this stage worth it. It's available from: http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=bearj10 which also lists all the features I haven't figured out yet. The manual could do with some work but it seems that the lead designer on this isn't a native English speaker which could explain it.

Just wanted to add, I also recently purchased this aircraft. I don't normally fly the FSX military aircraft as I'm more into the big iron, but somehow I've caught the bug and have been making some formation based videos using military aircraft.

Admittedly, my first impression of the VC (once loaded) didn't strike me as impressive, but it has grown on me in the last few days and I'm just now figuring out how much simulation this aircraft has to offer where many fall short. All I can say is, Bear Studios did an awesome job with this one! Out of 3 other high performance military jets I've purchased in the last couple of weeks, the J-10 has become my favorite.

This AC hauls some serious tail in combat mode and accelerates quickly on the runway. It turns, rolls, pitches/climbs like mad. I found I had to turn down some of the pressure settings on my X-65...lol.

There are however some nuances like being able to read the green blurry lettering on the MFDs, but I figure once I know where everything is, on each page, it won't be that big of a deal. Its going to take me a while to learn where everything is, how to get to what page, when I need it etc.

Being able to switch the aircraft over from Chinese to English was a life saver for me. I didn't think I was going to be able to remember where every little knob and switch was located until I found out about the configurator tool for the aircraft.

If you're looking for a good FSX/FS9 military jet to add to your stable, do not give the J-10 a pass!!

I wholeheartedly agree re being able to change the cockpit. I study Chinese (so in my mind I wrote this off as a "study aid!") but until my Aviation dictionary turns up I really need the English. I didn't realise, for instance, that the throttle is retarded and is in training mode when you start. I did think that 700odd knots was quite slow but now I'm going much much faster

Where are you based mate? I should get the PC hooked up to the internet so we can multiplay.

Nice shots 'J' , further adding the J10 inherited Lavi which in turn inherited a lot from the F16XL and other reborn concepts discarded by the US ... a love triangle between China-Pakistan-Israel interesting how the world works .

I'd forgotten the Lavi had a lot to do with the F16XL. Pakistan and China are very tight in sharing technology so it's not a stretch to think the production F16 has had some of its system copied/examined by the PLAAF so the J10 really would owe a hell of a lot to the F16.

Regarding the model, I wrote that last bit after an all nighter doing an essay so I forgot to mention that I've worked out the radar and how to turn it on at least. Made my first intercept of a 737 somewhere over the US (don't ask, they weren't supposed to have it in the first place! Spooks!) and barrel rolled around the bugger. Probably spilled some old dears cup of tea.

Bear Studios have actually been very vocal with help on this one it seems by reading the forums, which is nice since before the support seemed a bit spotty.

J7G wrote:

QUOTE (J7G @ May 12 2011,6:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wholeheartedly agree re being able to change the cockpit. I study Chinese (so in my mind I wrote this off as a "study aid!") but until my Aviation dictionary turns up I really need the English. I didn't realise, for instance, that the throttle is retarded and is in training mode when you start. I did think that 700odd knots was quite slow but now I'm going much much faster

Where are you based mate? I should get the PC hooked up to the internet so we can multiplay.

Yea I hadn't really noticed the lack of power per se as I'm used to flying the big and slow iron, but as you said, once I figured out the combat mode via reading some of Big's posts, I was like WHOA!! lol 0-170 kts comes damn quick in this bird at full throttle during takeoff! I almost biffed it the other night takeing off from KBJC in Colorado. Your a bit ahead of me on this bird, I've yet to figure out the radar. Been messin with the AP and trying to figure out the Tacan, GPS and ILS systems. I should probably crank up the traffic in UT2 and practice locking on...haha

Oh and to add, since FSX likes loading ya up with full tanks of fuel, go into your fuel management and lower it, I think I usually put my main takes around 65% if I recall correctly. Then after takeoff jettison your stores/payload, that should add some inspiring performance.

I've actually been looking for a few people to do some formation flying with within my VA, but I'm open to flying with anyone who is interested. Admiteddly the only, 'multiplayer', flying I've done has been on VATSIM. And from what I've seen, I wouldn't think it'd bode well for formation type of flying. Have you flown in FSX multiplayer before and what is the lag like or lack thereof? I've actually looked into using tunngle which is a VPN used to connect peer to peer gaming sessions. Got er installed, now just need to find someone to test it out with. As I understand, alot of the Hamachi users have migrated to tunngle.

Anyway let me know. I'm in the states, Colorado to be exact. Sorry for throwing this a bit off topic.

Cheers,

Brandon

I've only been able to figure out how to get the radar to scan, locking on and navigating are still beyond me since I've been too interested in throwing her around!

Re multi. My screen appears to have bitten the dust and I don't think I've helped matters! So that might be out for a while. However, there's a server on here we could use possibly.

Which VA are you with? I thought about trying to start a vPLAAF on VATSIM but it's a bit too much work for the moment. You can get most of the PLAAF planes now, they just need repaints for the most part.

J7G wrote:

QUOTE (J7G @ May 14 2011,7:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've only been able to figure out how to get the radar to scan, locking on and navigating are still beyond me since I've been too interested in throwing her around!

Re multi. My screen appears to have bitten the dust and I don't think I've helped matters! So that might be out for a while. However, there's a server on here we could use possibly.

Which VA are you with? I thought about trying to start a vPLAAF on VATSIM but it's a bit too much work for the moment. You can get most of the PLAAF planes now, they just need repaints for the most part.

haha..totally understandable! I get my nose stuck into the pdf for about 20 or so minutes than I just want to fly around. Hey at least I sat down long enough to figure how to
VTOL Wilco's new Harrier tonight. By the way here is a formation (or attempt at) vid I posted to youtube with the J-10, F-14 and the CS B52. Its nothing fancy or exciting,
but cool to see the J-10 in action along with the Tomcat and B52! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X49E1t994vg

At this point I'm relegated to using FSrecorder for all my formation practice. I used the B52 first since its so damn big and easy to see..lol. I've tried a few flights with
the Albatross L-39 and have only been successful once at staying close enough to the other prerecorded L-39 throughout the flight.

That sucks about your monitor! Hope you're able to fix it or get a new one soon. I'd be more than happy to hook up anytime in multiplayer, just let me know what server.

The VA I fly for is called WestWind Airlines. They've been online now for over 15 years. I've been with them roughly seven months, and currently volunteering my time as their
Boston AHM. They're no doubt one of the friendliest and flexible VAs out there IMO.

b1m2d3 wrote:

QUOTE (b1m2d3 @ May 14 2011,8:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The VA I fly for is called WestWind Airlines.

Hell s that,s a name i have not for a long time 'WestWind' , I signed up with them back in 1997 after buying a VIP aircraft package , got to move around to much and not have a stable internet , so never really continued .

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ May 14 2011,8:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hell s that,s a name i have not for a long time 'WestWind' , I signed up with them back in 1997 after buying a VIP aircraft package , got to move around to much and not have a stable internet , so never really continued .

Ian,

Stop in and say hi on the forums m8. We'll keep the coffee warm.

b1m2d3 wrote:

QUOTE (b1m2d3 @ May 14 2011,7:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

haha..totally understandable! I get my nose stuck into the pdf for about 20 or so minutes than I just want to fly around. Hey at least I sat down long enough to figure how to
VTOL Wilco's new Harrier tonight. By the way here is a formation (or attempt at) vid I posted to youtube with the J-10, F-14 and the CS B52. Its nothing fancy or exciting,
but cool to see the J-10 in action along with the Tomcat and B52! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X49E1t994vg

At this point I'm relegated to using FSrecorder for all my formation practice. I used the B52 first since its so damn big and easy to see..lol. I've tried a few flights with
the Albatross L-39 and have only been successful once at staying close enough to the other prerecorded L-39 throughout the flight.

That sucks about your monitor! Hope you're able to fix it or get a new one soon. I'd be more than happy to hook up anytime in multiplayer, just let me know what server.

The VA I fly for is called WestWind Airlines. They've been online now for over 15 years. I've been with them roughly seven months, and currently volunteering my time as their
Boston AHM. They're no doubt one of the friendliest and flexible VAs out there IMO.

I really liked that video. Actually it gives me an idea- is it possible to have two people in the same aircraft in FSX? I know you could do it in...02 I think it was and maybe in FS9 but I'm not sure about X. It would be pretty cool to have someone in the back seat doing WSO stuff.

I don't think I'll fix the monitor for a couple more weeks...best to keep it broken when exams are coming up! Hope you stick around on these forums mate, they're full of great people.

J7G wrote:

QUOTE (J7G @ May 16 2011,9:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really liked that video. Actually it gives me an idea- is it possible to have two people in the same aircraft in FSX? I know you could do it in...02 I think it was and maybe in FS9 but I'm not sure about X. It would be pretty cool to have someone in the back seat doing WSO stuff.

I don't think I'll fix the monitor for a couple more weeks...best to keep it broken when exams are coming up! Hope you stick around on these forums mate, they're full of great people.

I know you can do that with the default aircraft. But with most payware, I don't think thats supported. Although, the L-39 Albatros developed by Lotussim does allow you to do that.

Some liveries of the aircraft are two seaters which allow one person to sit up front and another to sit in back, of course both people must have their own copy of the Albatros. The plane can also be flown from the back seat as well. Its developed more as a training aid where the instructor sits in the back and can create failures for the student flying the plane. Some liveries also come with an overhead canvas which forces whoever is sitting in front to fly the plane by instrumentation only.

Pretty cool eh? Before I bought the plane, I wondered if more payware developers will be including those features into their planes as well.

Sure makes some of the older payware aircraft seem very vanilla in comparison with alot of the new features coming out.

With the J-10 having a back seat, I'm not sure if it supports cockpit sharing, but would be cool to find out!! Heck even if you could just go along for the ride and or take someone else for a ride.

I've been lurking for a about a week here and everyone seems very friendly and personable! Been chattin it up over on the Harrier thread as well about Wilco's new Harrier Jump Jets. Of course I bought the aircraft the minute I heard of it.. lol I've always liked the Harrier.

I posted this vid of it the other night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0vnHGduTEA

I think there are only two or three vids on it so far on youtube. And I promise I won't keep throwing more links to vids in here..haha. But the beginning of the vid is pretty cool showing two Harriers taking off together using VTOL (vertical takeoff).

You make some very cool videos mate, once I get this monitor sorted out I'd be very happy to star in one Ermmm, I mean, well, you know!

Good info re the two seater thing. We can always try it! Never hurts.

Have you tried the F7 Skybolt from BS? I notice you've got the MiG15 as well, what's that like? I'm thinking about getting the -17 in a few months, but I'm not sure yet.

Cool video! Great music too!

Hey thanks guys, I really do appreciate the kudos!

Just hollar at me when you're good to go and we'll do some flying!

I haven't flown the F7 yet, but I will definitely check it out. Seems Bear Studios put out a pretty decent product. I do like the Mig-15 although
admittedly I haven't flown it but a few times. I still need to go through the manual and learn where everything is. Unlike the J-10, I don't
think the Mig is convertible to another language.

I do like that the Mig-15 comes with quite a few liveries. It handles well and is good on framerates.

**EDIT** Just spent some time with the Mig last night and realized that a few of the variants are two seaters, so that might lend a hand in cockpit sharing.