FFS Extra 300L

Flight simulator 2002/2004

Flight Factory Simulations is a quite new flightsim add-on designer group, it started in January 2003. They concentrate in making complete aircraft packages with sounds, panels and models. Their first release was Learjet 35 and second release which is freeware is the Extra 300L aerobatic plane.

It is a nearly 24MB package including a very detailed outside model, many liveries, custom Extra sounds, a panel and of course very good and realistic feeling flight model (I haven’t flown a real Extra so I can’t  say for sure).

First impression when I saw the panel was that it looks quite the same as the default extra, but when looking closer there are differences. But enough of the 2D panel and let’s move into the virtual cockpit where this aircraft is really flown from! The virtual cockpit looks pretty good, nothing exceptional and the textures could perhaps be a little better. Also the gauges aren’t very smooth which makes aerobatic flying a little more difficult but it’s not too bad. Also the frame rates with this plane are very good, so there should be no problem with that even with slower computers.

The plane is originally made for FS2002 but it seems to work quite perfectly in fs2004 too, only the propeller and mixture levers cannot be pushed with the mouse, but it isn't necessary so it doesn’t matter. The flight model seems very realistic, the engines power can be felt and all aerobatic maneuvers that I know are possible. The plane even goes to a nice spin if started correctly. If not started correctly, the plane goes easily to a flat spin, but can be recovered easily, which as far as I know isn't very realistic but it's not a problem. All in all, this must be the best aerobatic airplane available for Flight simulator 2002/2004. I even removed the default extra because it's now useless.

Let's make a test aerobatic flight. Well take off, make some maneuvers and head back to the airport. First we start the engine with just ctrl+e, because we can't move the levers, The engine starts, we put on lights and start taxiing. Taxiing isn't very easy with these kind of aircraft but it is realistic I think. When at the end of the runway we put on full throttle and the powerful Extra gains speed very quickly. We take off at about 80kt and push the stick a little to get more speed. When at about 130 knots we an Immelman. (There are instructions on the panel, just follow them.) Then let's get some altitude, when about at 3000 feet we make a loop. That seems easy but making a perfect loop can be quite challenging. Then we head back to the airfield. First we remove our altitude by making a spin. We reduce throttle to idle and pull the stick until at stall. Then we add full rudder and stick to the other side. (Of course this doesn't work if autorudder is on.) Hold that  until at about 1000 feet and center the controls, the spin should end, if not, then we can add some opposite rudder and stick, but not much. Then we just slow  by keeping throttle to idle and touch down at about 60-70 knots.

The virtual cockpit

Upside down

Touchdown

Turning to final approach

Stall