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Here's a flight simulation program with a difference, available at last (in an improved version) for the Beeb. It doesn't boast as many cockpit controls, knobs and dials as some simulators, the view through the windscreen is not as detailed or authentic as in others, and there's no opportunity to blast enemy aircraft out of the sky. But what makes Red Arrows special is the skill you need to develop to fly in tight formation with other aircraft - for the object of the game is to fly alongside the RAF's crack aerobatic team in manoeuvres they actually perform in their death-defying displays. Indeed, the Red Arrows team are credited with helping the authors in designing the program.

Whether you choose joysticks or keyboard, it's not easy even to fly your Hawk straight and level (it's a very sensitive aircraft), and the first time you try flying in formation, you'll probably set back the Red Arrows' reputation ten years by screwing up the whole routine. For this reason, there is a series of training exercises for you to practise on alone. Then, when you feel fit to join the team, you can 'cheat' at first by requesting screen instructions for every manoeuvre, or by letting the micro look after the throttle and airbrakes while you handle the steering, or vice versa. You can even use the RETURN key to bring you back into line if you get hopelessly lost.

The screen display offers you the basics of air speed indicator, altimeter, thrust indicator, artificial horizon and so on, but in fact you learn not to fly on your instruments too much. The real skill lies in keeping in contact with the rest of the Red Arrows, who are sometimes frighteningly close (as in real life, one presumes), sometimes distressingly far away. The animation is not seamlessly smooth, but despite what's going on, the screen is updated four times a second - quite fast enough for the novice pilot.

Altogether, it's a very clever, very demanding flight simulation. My only fear is that, when I can perform the Big Nine loop, the Pyramid Roll and the Concorde Flypast with these boys, landing my old 747 with 300 people on board will seem rather dull.