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Spitfire '40 is the latest in a long line of flight simulations. Just about every conceivable type of aircraft has now been turned into a simulation - from 747s to gliders and jet fighters with a few helicopters thrown in for good measure.

Now nostalgia seems to be taking a grip on the market. This month's Screenstar is the excellent Dam Busters - though the romanic Spitfire gets in on the action as well.

In this head-to-head review we compare Mirrorsoft's game with Spitfire Ace from US Gold.

Spitfire 40 has the most impressive cockpit display I've seen on any flight simulation. Several authentic dials and buttons have an authentic gun-metal Spitfire look about them.

Flying the Mirrorsoft Spitfire is a joy. Turn on the engine, take off the brakes, hurtle down the runway and pull back on the joystick and you're in the air. But if taking off is relatively easy. landing and manoeuvring in dogfight will take lots of practice and considerable skill.

The game includes a map of the South of England - the authentic Battle of Britain location. By pressing a keyboard button a close-up of some of the ground locations is shown.

Spitfire Ace is less of a straight simulation than Spitfire 40. Your plane is represented by quite a small shape on screen. The planet is shown flying low over enemy terrain with its shadow visible on the ground below. Spitfire Ace features fourteen different combat scenarios - one of which gives you the mission of defending London during the Blitz. It's gripping, patriotic stuff - as you do battle with squadrons of Messerschmitts and other German bombers.

Spitfire Ace is not quite up to Solo Flight or F15 Strike Eagle standards - the two other flight games from the MicroProse US Gold stable.

It lacks the feeling of flight that you get with the other two. For my money the Mirrorsoft Spitfire game is the better of the two.