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Digital Integration's Fighter Pilot still rates as one of the best aircraft simulations on the Spectrum, and, like most Spectrum conversions, it gains stature on the transfer to the Amstrad machine.

The aircraft itself is a McDonald Douglas F-15 'Eagle': a purposeful warplane if ever there was, with a performance that rates it as a Ferrarri of the skies. In fact, since the thing climbs happily at 90 degrees (i.e. straight up) and has a top speed of over 1500mph, it's easy to get out of trouble by calling on the performance. It's also a very good thing that your ears don't pop and you don't black out under excessive G forces.

There are six program options that allow you to start gently with landing, flying, and air-to-air-combat practice. The real air-to-air-combat mode is definitely for heroes only, since the simulation becomes a full scale wargame requiring you to defend a number of bases by finding and shooting the enemy (which looks like a Mirage fighter/bomber) before he bombs the ground targets.

You can also try a 'blind landing' on instruments only (it is possible), and you can add a little spice with crosswinds and turbulence.

Add to this, a selection of game levels from novice to ace, and this program could provide an alternative to basic flying practice and save the taxpayer the odd £100 million.

The 3D effects are excellent. If you approach the enemy from above or below, you will get a correctly drawn perspective that is completely credible.

Admittedly most modem simulators offer this level of sophistication, but it's still quite exciting to see this on the first full scale simulation for the 464.

The runways are similarly correctly projected, but it is very difficult to land unless you do things properly and in an orderly manner. Flaps, undercarriage, speed, rate of descent, alignment; there's nearly no chance of landing in one piece if you come zooming in and expect to 'plonk' it down. It all adds up to give the would-be superhero a healthy respect for the business of flying.

Your F15 comes complete with a detailed map that tracks your position and that of the enemy across a terrain with four air strips and the occasional mountain. There's an instrument landing system that works very well, which doubles up as a combat computer to inform the pilot of the enemy's height.

There is also a radar/compass system that indicates the relative heading of either the enemy or the selected runway (there are various radio beacons placed around the four runways).

Speed, thrust, altitude and rate of climb/descent are also displayed. Undercarriage, flap, fuel and ammunition status round off the control displays. First Sorcery and now Fighter Pilot. Amstrad owners are being spoiled.

£7.95 for this program is a steal. Star ratings? Straight 5's.