Aircraft Factory - Avro Anson MkI RELEASED

[Lewis - A2A]

Developers Stephen 'stiz' Barstow and Łukasz "Lucas" Kubacki have come to us with a great model we are proud to be releasing in the coming days.

The Aircraft Factory Avro Anson MkI brings to FSX an icon of the RAF during the 40's. Famed not for its combat role but for its training role, first flew in the 1930's with production not finishing until with into the 1950's. The Avro Anson known as 'faithful Annie' by its crews was responsible for training thousands of aircrew the world over, serving in the RAF, RCAF, RAAF and USAAF amongst many others.

"I really enjoyed modeling the Anson. It’s great to finally be able to fly the old faithful Annie in FSX. Being able to almost pay respects to the lesser known aircraft that was so important to the war effort yet always in the background is great. I really hope everyone enjoys the aircraft,” said Stephen 'stiz' Barstow

Now you will be able to experience the Anson with its unique cockpit visibility as you cruise over the FSX countryside in this classic Aircraft Factory release featuring;

- High resolution textures
- High quality, naturally animated crew figures
- Smooth, clear 3d gauges
- Four historical paint schemes
- Paint kit (a separate download)
- All the cockpit instruments are click-able
- Optimized for Accu-feel for an enhanced experience

[VH-MAL]

Thanks for this gem Lewis.

My father was in RAAF during WWII and was stationed at a couple of airfields where the Anson was operating, most notably Mount Gambier where they were used as training aircraft, mainly for the Air Observers School. On one occasion someone spotted what they thought was a Japanese submarine off shore, so a flight of Ansons were armed with bombs and headed off to attack the suspected vessel - all that was found the next day was a dead whale!

There is an Anson being restored at the Aviation Museum here in Adelaide, but it is unlikely that it will ever be returned to a fully airworthy example.

It will be wonderful to be able to 'fly' the Anson once more in Australian skies.

Thanks again from my Dad (now 90) and me - it will instil some great memories for him, particularly the Radio Operators compartment with which he was very familiar.

Mal

[Ian P]

Stix?

Ian P.

[lucas]

I was surprised as well, when I was chatting with Lewis and he called him "Stix"

[Ian P]

My interest on this one isn't just because stiz is a friend, or just because it's a British WW2 aircraft, either. My closest airfield to home and the place where I learned to fly was Halfpenny Green Airport (now Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green, previously RAF Halfpenny Green and RAF Bobbington very briefly). During the 1940s, this was a navigator's school amongst other roles and the place was Anson central - there were upwards of fifty on strength and according to perod reports from local villages, the 'skies were filled with Ansons'.

Halfpenny Green, today, stands very much as it did in period. The admin/accomodation area across the road is mainly gone and some of the WW2 buildings have been "repurposed" or demolished, but for the most part until it gets redeveloped under a plan to modernise the entire site, it stands as a testement to "temporary, relocatable" hangars and "temporary" brick huts... Sixty years later.

I did try and convince stiz to do an Anson X and a passenger version, for the ATA, as well, but he says the X is "ugly", the uncouth youth.

Ian P.

[Lewis - A2A]

haha, i was very aware of that when I was typing it but still managed to hit X instead of Z. Sorry Steve!

[dhasdell]

I am pretty sure I have seen pics of an Anson in USAAF markings, maybe as a result of some unofficial exchange at some time.

One interesting fact about the Anson is that it was one of only two British aircraft to have been in production from before the war started until after it ended, the other being the Spitfire.

[Romeo_Tango]

is this airplane accu-simmed?

[Ian P]

The fact that it is "Aircraft Factory" and not "Accu-Sim" answers that question.

Ian P.

[YoYo]

is this airplane accu-simmed?

No, but Accu-feeled .

[tbaac]

is this airplane accu-simmed?

No, but Accu-feeled .

Optimised for Accu-feel for an enhanced experience

(Which I'm sure is what you meant YoYo, but Lewis' quote to me says, "Accu-feel is ours, and we designed this aircraft around it")

Thanks for the Tweet about it Lewis. I'm pretty excited about this one.

Anyone taken any video of it in use yet?

[Ian P]

I am pretty sure I have seen pics of an Anson in USAAF markings, maybe as a result of some unofficial exchange at some time.

One interesting fact about the Anson is that it was one of only two British aircraft to have been in production from before the war started until after it ended, the other being the Spitfire.

The Anson was actually in US hands throughout the war. Some were used when the US aircrew were arriving, but their aircraft hadn't yet (the same as Spitfires and many other random types which got painted in US markings...) of which some were kept on strength throughout the war for various reasons, while others were returned to the RAF/crashed/Damaged BER. Later in the war, Canadian built Ansons were intentionally purchased by the US and flown South of the border for reasons I have never actually established. They did, however, buy quite a few of various marks.

Cheers,

Ian P.

[Lewis - A2A]

Yup as with all the aircraft factory aircraft she works great with Accu-feel

[clyderoy]

As a 14 year old Air Cadet we flew from Blackpool Squires Gate RAF station around 1950, in Ansons. The pilots were older Officers, Sq. Ldr or Wing Comm who were not able to be combatant.We were called up to the pilot and had simple navigation training around the coast of Lancashire. Happy memories!

[montypot]

Hi Lewis,
The Anson is a great aircraft, always wanted to see someone do this for FSX, and to have A2A step up was great. Have many A2A products and truly believe them to be not only the most accurate and absorbing to fly, but great value for money. Thumbs up guys, and looking forward to more top aircraft in the future. Cheers, Montypot