Game Description

Aircraft Factory 99 is a utility that allows flight simulator users to design, build, and paint aircraft for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 or Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator. The user designs the parts, puts them together on a blueprint, adds texture, and then sends them to an assembly line to be constructed.

Users can build an airplane from scratch, they can modify one of the nine sample aircraft included with Aircraft Factory 99, or they can modify any plane in the Flight Simulator 98 or Combat Flight Simulator directories. Building a plane from scratch will require more time and effort from a user, because he or she must design each part of the plane before the assembly line personnel can assemble it. Tweaking an existing airplane takes less time to complete.

Aircraft Factory 99 features a project wizard that allows players to design a completely new aircraft that includes some features from an existing aircraft. Using the project wizard, users can have a new aircraft ready for assembly in a very short time. The manual includes a step-by-step project wizard tutorial that will help users design and build a balsa wood glider.

Aircraft Factory 99 is designed to simulate a virtual aircraft factory. After running the project wizard, the software takes users to the assembly line where assembly line personnel will construct the plane or glider. From there, users will visit the parts shop, the components shop, the structures shop, the paint shop, the photo lab, and the flight dynamic editor. After completing design tasks in each area, the user returns to the assembly line to create his or her aircraft. The completed aircraft is then exported to the FS 98 or CFS 98 directory for use with the flight simulator. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Aircraft Factory 99 is the brainchild of Laemming Wheeler, the creator of the original Aircraft Factory utility for Microsoft Flight Simulator 5. Aircraft Factory 99 utilizes the additional resources available with Windows 95 and Windows 98 to create a more complete design program. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

Despite the incredible amount of time this software consumes, you cannot help but enjoy yourself when your newly designed plane rolls off the assembly line. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Production Credits

Author: Laemming Wheeler ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

The decision of whether to purchase Aircraft Factory 99 will come down to one thing: your love for flight simulation. If you happen to be a total flight sim junkie with a strong desire to build and fly your own planes, then Aircraft Factory 99 would be an excellent and worthwhile purchase. If, on the other hand, you only occasionally take the controls of a flight simulator and have little time to design airplanes, then Aircraft Factory 99 will probably collect dust in your software bin.

Aircraft Factory 99 is a niche product. It is not for everyone. For those who love flight simulation, however; Aircraft Factory 99 is a product that you must have.

If you want Aircraft Factory 99 to work for you, you must bring one element to the table: time. Aircraft Factory 99 is a time-consuming utility that can only be used as a tool in a labor of love. Even with the project wizard, one simple aircraft will take hours to design and build. Unless you have a strong desire to see your own creation fly through the skies of Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 or Combat Flight Simulator, Aircraft Factory 99 will be a big waste of time. I am done being negative now.

Despite the overbearing time consumption involved in designing planes in Aircraft Factory 99, it is a utility that can be used by anyone interested in flight simulation, from novice designers to the folks at Boeing or McDonnell-Douglas. The software is intuitive enough that it allows novice designers to play around on the drawing board until they get something right. It is also advanced enough that expert designers will not feel like they are crawling through the design process.

Designing and building you aircraft will take time, but it is worth it when you see your finished product. That feeling becomes stronger when you take your plane out for a spin in one of the supported flight simulators.

The graphics in Aircraft Factory 99 are simple. Blueprints, design grids, and finished airplanes (with or without texture) are all reasonably flat. Aircraft Factory 99 is not about pulse-pounding thrills, however, and its graphics reflect that. The real adventure begins when the planes are exported to FS 98 or CFS.

Aircraft Factory 99 has very little sound. Again, it is not really a game but a utility to be used with a flight simulator. Sound is not relevant.

The Aircraft Factory 99 manual is packed with information and helpful design hints. Without it, novice users are certain to get lost in the design process. Unless you are an expert, hold onto this book.

Aircraft Factory 99 is a utility that fills a niche market, but it fills it perfectly. No diehard flight sim fan should be without this software package. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

The graphics are not breathtaking, but they fulfill their function. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Sound is not a major factor in designing airplanes, so sound is kept to a minimum in Aircraft Factory 99. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

Terrific replay value for diehard flight sim fans. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

The instruction manual is packed with useful information and design tips. ~ Anthony Baize, All Game Guide