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Geoffrey Crammond spent over nine months putting together this Spitfire simulation including research into the plane itself and an analysis of aeronautics and the physics of flight. Any user (player?) of the program is consequently guaranteed an accurate flight, if not a smooth one.

The software has certainly succeeded in capturing my imagination and so far produced some moderately capable flying. Some of the best results I have seen were produced (not surprisingly) by Air Vice-Marshal Sandy Johnstone who flew Spitfires during the Battle of Britain and who helped launch the Acornsoft game.

The cockpit detail is a fairly realistic representation of the original aircraft and much of the flying is done using the various instruments depicted here, the Altimeter, Air and Vertical Speed, Fuel Guage and Throttle. A joystick position indicator and 'radar' spoil things a bit but prove helpful during flight. Both the keyboard and a single joystick can be used to pilot the Spit and the joystick option simplifies things a great deal.

The sounds used to represent the engine are pretty effective although 'realistic' is going a bit far for the capabilities of a computer sound chip. The 3D graphic landscape which houses the game is amazing, and the features are laid out on a map which is part of the immaculate package which accompanies the game. The manual apparently simulates the original Spit manuals in many ways.

The 'challenge' to Aviator beyond getting off the ground and flying around safely is to succeed in completing a number of aerobatic tests of skill, including looping the loop and flying beneath a bridge. Points also accrue for landing and taking off again without mishap, or weaving amongst the buildings which make up Acornsville, a 3D township in the Aviator world which extends for approximately 15 square miles around the airstrip.

There are many subtleties of control which are discovered as you go along and the plane is very responsive to anything you might want to try. It's reassuring to now that you can practice without fear of endangering anyone below. All eventualities are dealt with, including things like taxiing off the runway and landing on a river bank!

If you require further stimulation then there is yet another aspect to Aviator - the Theme. This is activated when still on the runway at the start of a flight. It is necessary to navigate to Acornsville to protect the population from some alien invaders - the manual explains this unlikely scenario. The Spit is a bit underpowered for this sort of thing I would have thought but the Theme does add the game-playing element without spoiling the training flight aspect which is such fun.

Flying Aviator is great fun and it beats all other BBC simulations for response and graphical interest. The romance of flying a Spitfire and the excellent package which come with the cassette or 40/80 track disc are big pluses.

The price reflects the quality of the program and the printed material and, even if the individual finds it a bit steep, it should be made compulsory for every BBC in school. Learning to fly would be a popular addition to the curriculum.