Review: CLS/JustFlight - DC-10 Collection HD

The DC-10 Collection HD for FSX/P3D from Just Flight and CLS build on the earlier FS2004 version with greatly enhanced, graphics, cockpit, systems and more. It comes with all DC-10 variants and a wide variety of liveries. I was very pleased with what I found while testing the aircraft.

CLS/JustFlight - DC-10 Collection HD

The DC-10 is a three-engined, wide-body aircraft built by McDonnell Douglas from 1968 to 1988. It was able to carry up to 380 passengers and was known for its two turbofan engines and a third at the base of the aircraft's vertical stabiliser (tail). It was built as a successor to the DC-8 and was a direct competitor to the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.

Early on in its life and throughout the 1970s, the aircraft was plagued with incidents due to a major flaw with the cargo door. The DC-10 was the first aircraft with an outwards opening door which meant that loading crews could utilise the entire cargo space of the aircraft. The design of this door however, meant that it was possible to 'lock' the door without the locking pins being secured. Once the aircraft passed 10,000 feet, the door would rip off due to explosive decompression. This issue was resolved in 1974.

In 2007, Commercial Level Simulations (CLS) in conjunction with Just Flight, released their DC-10 Collection for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. A review of this product can be found at FlightSim.Com here. It's well worth reading as you'll be able see how far the new aircraft has progressed.

With the release of FSX, Just Flight took on the package once more and revamped it to add far more detail than what was possible in FS2004. This development led to the DC-10 Collection HD which is what I'll be reviewing in this article.

Download & Installation

Installation of the aircraft was easy. Via the FSPilotShop, you are provided with a 391 MB zip file that includes two folders: Assets and Product Files.

Inside the 'Product Files' folder lies the executable installer which Windows SmartScreen informs you is a potential risk (on my system at least). If this warning happens to you, simply proceed with the installation as the file is 100% safe. Once the installer loads, select whether you use FSX or Prepar3D, accept the license and then input the key provided (via email). The aircraft then installs and is ready for use.

Inside the 'Assets' folder there is a folder titled 'Screenshots', an image and a Word document. These three items contain assorted media regarding the DC-10.

Exterior

From the very first moment you see the DC-10, it's hard not to be impressed by its visual appearance, it simply looks amazing! Whilst walking around this mighty three engined aircraft, it seemed that each and every panel had been painstakingly modelled. Even minor details such as the transparent plastic covers on the external lights had not been forgotten.

Fourteen different models are included in the package, with each one referencing the correct variant of the DC-10: -10, -20, -30, -40.

There are also cargo versions of each variant, including different engine types and landing gear configurations, depending on model, which makes for an extremely solid DC-10 package.

Texture wise, the aircraft includes highly detailed 2048x2048 textures across the body. This relatively high resolution ensures that small details, such as decals, are clear and easy to read even when viewed close up. Wear and tear has also been incorporated into the textures which gives the aircraft added character.

To open the doors on the aircraft an onscreen panel is included which lets the user open each door. This panel also allows airport ground services to be called to the aircraft.


When it comes to aircraft liveries, Just Flight's DC-10 certainly delivers:

DC-10-10

• Pan Am
  
• United Airlines 'Friend Ship'
  
• Western Airlines
  
• Continental Airlines

DC-10-10F

• FedEx

DC-10-30

• Air France
  
• Alitalia
  
• British Airways 'Landor'
  
• Continental Airlines
  
• Ghana International Airlines
  
• KLM
  
• Lufthansa
  
• Monarch
  
• Northwest Airlines
  
• Swissair

DC-10-30F

• World Airways Cargo
  
• Gemini Air Cargo
  
• White (GE CF6-50C2)

DC-10-40

• Japan Airlines
  
• White (no center gear)
  
• White (JT9D-D20)

DC-10-40F

• Aeroflot
  
• White (JT9D-D20)

As well as the above, there is also a template kit provided so you can create your own DC-10 liveries.

If all this still leaves you wanting, then for £8.17 ($10) you can add an additional 20 liveries on top of this! (DC-10 Collection HD Livery Pack[www.fspilotshop.com])

Cockpit and Interior

This aircraft includes both 2D and 3D cockpits, both of which are highly functional.

The 2D cockpit is simple, easy to understand with everything easily located (mouse click points). There are also boxes that the user can click to open different panels, such as the overhead panel and the flight engineers panel.

The virtual 3D cockpit is, however, where this aircraft really shines. High definition 2048x2048 textures are used throughout the cockpit and they do a great job of bringing the aircraft to life.

Each switch is faithfully created in 3D and also animated. The gauges too are three dimensional and look fantastic! Placing yourself in the pilot's seat feels great and if you're one of those people lucky enough to have an Oculus Rift headset hooked up, it would be like you're sitting in the real thing.

Unfortunately, I'm not one of those lucky people. However, I have managed to make myself a 'Hackulous' VR headset with my phone, and I must say that when using it, I've never felt so immersed in an FSX aircraft.

As with the exterior textures, the internal textures also exhibit wear and tear, showing that this aircraft is far from being showroom fresh. This I feel is a nice touch and greatly adds to the depth and detail Just Flight have put into their DC-10 model. I did however notice that no matter what aircraft you fly, the flight engineer's documentation comes from the Monarch DC-10-30.

Apart from this one minor issue though, the DC-10 cockpit is extremely well rendered and adds real value to the package!

Buttons, Gauges and Functionality

The DC-10, being a three-man crew, includes a flight engineer's panel, which this package models to a pretty high level. This also means that if you are following the checklist on how to turn the aircraft on (optional), you'll also need to know how to turn on the APU and GPU from the back of the aircraft. Other options at the flight engineer's station include operational battery switches, external power to the two black box recorders and even a fuel dump that works!

The Flight Management Computer (FMC), however, is non-operational. You can still look through all the menus and use it to determine a course and runway, but you cannot press any of the letters on the keypad, only numbers. This means that if you are setting up a flight plan, you'll have to use the built in FSX Flight planner. It's not too much of a loss, but it does mean that not everything can be done within the aircraft itself.

Even with this omission, Just Flight's DC-10 is still an incredibly enjoyable aircraft and one that is suited to both new and old pilots alike.

Sound

Just Flight's DC-10 uses sounds recorded directly from an actual DC-10. If you happen to have a good set of headphones connected, you'll really enjoy the high quality sound samples! The different spool stages of the jet engine are especially satisfying. Exterior and interior sounds have been recorded from all angles, along with sound effects to represent the airflow around the cockpit.

Just Flight as a whole have made good use of the sound cones FSX has built in so as to create the effect of 3D sounds. Listening to the APU powering up brings back memories of flying to Poland during my summer holidays. On a slight side note; I'm also pretty sure that I can hear people talking during the engine spool sound effect. It's very quiet and inaudible, but I am definitely not alone!

My only small gripe is that the cockpit and exterior 'ambience' sounds make it sound like the APU is on full blast at all times (even when you turn off all batteries, APU and ground power).

Flight Dynamics

I personally have never flown a DC-10, and I'm sure most of you guys haven't either, but based on online videos and looking back at the detail this package includes, I am sure that this is as close as you are going to get! It certainly feels nice to control, somewhat heavy as you would expect but surprisingly agile. Flying this aircraft either manually or via autopilot is an extremely fun experience and one that definitely hits the mark. I've not noticed any issues or anything out of the ordinary.

Opinion and Closing Remarks

As you can probably tell from the review, I had an absolute blast in this aircraft. I've always liked the DC-10 and the CLS and Just Flight model only goes to cement that fascination further. Not only does the DC-10 look visually amazing, she feels great too. However, perhaps the biggest selling point of this aircraft is that pretty much everything works!

At £31.05 ($37.99), the price is about what you would expect from a package of this detail. Fourteen models along with 23 liveries (with the potential for another 20+) is definitely a major selling point and a real bargain in this reviewer's eyes.

There are no major issues which I can think of that prevent this aircraft from being anything but a 'must have' add-on.

Just Flight and CLS both have to be congratulated in creating an aircraft that works well, really well, and one that is accessible to all levels of flight simmers.

If you enjoy flying trijets, this package is definitely for you!

[Hobbes]

Thanks!

[Drawyah]

If you press [Shift] + one of the numbers (I think it is 6 or 7, can't quite remember) it will open the door panel screen.

[Hobbes]

How do I access the door panel to control the doors? I've been trying to figure this out for a while.