Digital Aviation Fokker F70/100

The Fokker 70/100 is a short-range, narrow body commercial passenger jet aircraft. The 79 seat F70 is a smaller version of the 79-122 seat F100. The F100 was announced in 1983 as an updated replacement for the F28 Fellowship. The most important changes are a stretched fuselage, more economical Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans, revised wing design, a modern EFIS glass cockpit and no eyebrow windows above the main cockpit windows. The F100 prototype first flew on November 30, 1986, while the second prototype, a F70, first flew on February 25, 1987. 283 F100s and 48 F70s had been built when the production ceased in early 1997 due to the collapse of Fokker in 1996.

Digital Aviation is a German developer of general aviation aircraft and small jets. Their Fokker 70/100 is a very detailed and realistic addon aircraft for FS2004 and FSX. The exterior model looks great, lots of details and high quality textures - a very realistic representation of the real F70 and F100. The package comes with 3 models: the Fokker 70, Fokker 100 with a sliding door and a Fokker 100 with stair door. Also included: engine sounds, load manager, fuel planner and very detailed documentation and tutorials.

One of the best things about this package is the detailed panel. All cockpit systems are simulated and available on many detailed 2d panels. Those panels look very realistic and almost all buttons and switches are clickable. A few of the features are: TCAS, weather radar, EGPWS with terrain data display, fully featured FMC, IRS simulation, CATIII auto landings and much more. Another nice feature is the multi crew simulation via TCPIP. You can actually share the cockpit with someone else by using the captain and f/o panel. This is also possible in FS2004!

Although the aircraft is ready to go when you startup FS, there is a lot to learn if you want to use the full potential of this aircraft. Most simmers will not have any problems getting into the air, but like the real thing, many things can go wrong if you don't know how all the cockpit systems work. A virtual first officer speaks (German accent) sometimes and helps you with real flight procedures. The flight dynamics are excellent and based on numerous real world comparisons and data.

Many special animations can be seen on the exterior. One of the funniest are the moving heads of the crew. Also, the windshield wipers are moving independent from each other when switched on. Heat shimmers can be seen behind the engines depending on the amount of trust. There is an separate panel that allows to open and close the doors and also connect ground power. Shut down of the aircraft shows chocks and engine covers.

At this time, there is no virtual cockpit included, but it will be available in the future, most likely as an update. However, its safe to say that this aircraft is the best Fokker simulation out there and definably worth you money.