Initial Release Software Review of LAGO's "Airline Simulator" (AS)

By: Mark Stotzer Assistant Editor, FSNews Online

March 21, 1997 (Updated)

Current ATP or ATP+3DAGS Users: See the notes below before you install AS!!

Program Released: 27 November 1996.

Price: Depending on exchange rates, etc. about $50-60 US.

Introduction and Background: AS itself is a DOS program that simulates IFR flight and is great for VFR flight too.. The primary EXE file is basically ATP Revision E (first released October 1993 by Sublogic). AS comes with European and North (trans) Atlantic visual and instrument scenery (Navaids). The only aircraft right now is a "glass cockpit" 747 with an improved flight model compared to the ATP 747. The AS paper manual is printed in four languages-English, German, Italian and French. (See my Addendum to the AS paper manual). The same comment applies to the interactive manual.

AS System Requirements: See the AS Release Note for all the specific details. You need:

• An IBM compatible PC with a 486DX/33 or faster CPU
• 4MB or more RAM, with a minimum of 590KB free conventional DOS memory (617KB to open second view window and map views) and at least 560KB free Expanded memory (EMS). See my ATP/AS Tips page to learn how to optimize your DOS free memory!
• DOS 5.0 or higher. AS like ATP should also run on OS/2 thru version Warp4.0.
• Any version of Windows to run the interactive manual.
• 25MB of free hard-disk space.
• Multimedia: CDROM, SVGA 256 color monitor, 100% SoundBlaster compatible soundcard.
• Mouse, and Windows installed printer to print sections of the manual or approach charts.

System Used for this Review: Clone Pentium 133 (ASUS motherboard/Award BIOS) with 16MB of RAM, ProAudio Spectrum 16 soundcard, Cirrus Logic model 5426 SVGA/1MB video card, NEC 2X IDE CDROM.

What's in the box? A single CDROM, a 30+ page paper manual and a two sided, large paper map with a map of Europe on one side and North Atlantic on the other.. The CDROM also contains shareware versions of Win Planner, Simon Hradecky's ATP Utilities (ATPUTIL) and a LAGO slide show.

Installing the Program:

• The main setup program runs from within Windows. A DOS level only, installation batch file is provided that installs only the AS program itself and various DOS utilites. Without a version of Windows, you lose use of the AS Interactive Manual. From this manual you can print pages and approach charts. There is no DOS version of this interactive manual. TheWindows setup program also installs various ATPUTIL files for use with AS.
• The program installed in less than 15 minutes for me via Windows 95 and set up an AS program group containing these items: AS itself, AS Configure, AS Manual, European routes, North Atlantic routes, a "Route Randomizer for transAtlantic routes, ATPUtil, and ATPVoice shareware program icons.

Running the Program:

• The AS program ran well from an ordinary DOS prompt and from an icon in the AS program group from within Windows 95. Note: Some Windows 95 users may encounter video problems running AS. The AS configuration program allows users to select their video card or a "VESA 1.2 Compatible" (used with the included UNIVBE) mode They can also try running AS via the Windows 95 "MSDOS Mode" or from a bootup Win95/DOS7.0 prompt.
• BUT-AS itself WILL NOT RUN from a Windows 3.x icon due to, I assume, some video mode handling incompatibilites with Windows 3.x. The paper manual specifically discusses this fact and directs you to exit Windows 3.x and run AS from the DOS prompt and the C:\AIRSIM directory.
• The AS Interactive Manual runs well from any version of Windows.

Other Program Notes:

• Veteran users of ATP, especially those who have the "3D-AGS" addon, will feel quite familiar with AS.
• Users new to the "ATP World" may have trouble figuring things out at first. The program starts with a demo (just like ATP did from LAX to SFO) flight from Madrid, Spain to Salzburg, Austria that can be viewed in part or in it's entireity. There is no real pilot training included in the package.
• The scenery is similar in Look and performance to FS4 ASD visual scenery. In other words you don't have to sweat the frame rate!
• Using the Windows icons or DOS programs, you can easily switch between European or North Atlantic career flight and routes packages.
• The 747 has a more accurate flight model compared to the old ATP version and has not only a 'glass cockpit" fully functional, primary instrument panel but also a photorealistic, operational secondary panel.
• The AS Windows interactive manual was written with a multimedia authoring program called "Toolbook 3.0" from Asymetrix.

My Reccommendations:

• If you are new to the "ATP World" and just want a flight simulation to "putt around" and "eyeball" visual scenery AS is NOT for you! If you have no idea what a VOR, NDB, or ILS is DO NOT buy AS. You want either Flight Simulator for Windows 95 or Flight Unlimited.
• If you are looking for a flight simulation that has real voice ATC and dialog with ground and tower contollers, tons of airports and Navaids, and many excellent, challenging (graded!) career assignments to fly-by all means buy AS.
• If you already own ATP, especially ATP+3D-AGS+USA East/West scenery-buy AS to acquire the latest version of ATPUTIL and all the new European scenery to fly with what you have! See my "ATP/AS Tips" link above.
• If you are a pilot and desire a flight simulation that is certified to assist your actual pilot training then there are other, more expensive PC based simulations (Check out X-Plane) available from places like JetStream Catalog or PC Aviator.

Notes: As I discover more about how AS works I will publish the lessons learned, etc. at this website. Once we figure out how to mix and match ATP, ATP+3DAGS, and AS scenery, aircraft and other files we'll post it at my ATP/AS Tips page at this site.

****Bugs, complaints or other problems with AS? Email LAGO, or see their new Website.

MDS

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