Aeroplane Heaven releases the Grumman F3F-2 for MSFS

New Year, new airplanes! Third-party developers are very active on this first week of 2022. The first day of the year saw the release of the Discus-2c glider from Got Friends, then yesterday it was Indiafoxtecho with its F-35, and Aerosoft has also finally unveiled the release date of its long-awaited Twin Otter. Today, it’s Aeroplane Heaven’s turn, with the release of the Grumman F3F-2, a fat-looking biplane fighter that was actually deceptively fast!

The Grumman F3F-2 is coming a little later than promised, given that Aeroplane Heaven said it would be out for Christmas. In any case, it’s here now, just a few days later, and it seems to be quite an interesting package!

The Grumman F3F-2 was affectionately nick-named as “The Flying Barrel”, due to its shubby looks. This was due to the use of the massive Wright Cyclone radial engine, which powered the F3F-2 up to 255 mph with a service ceiling of nearly 34.000 feet. Despite its looks, the F3F-2 was actually quite fast and nimble, as reported by pilots. It’s capable of lifting off the ground in just 200 feet!

Altough the F3F-2 ended up being replaced by the much more successfull F4F Wildcat in wartime operations (also coming to MSFS soon), it was still used as a trainer throughout WWII.

Aeroplane Heaven is promising a high-fidelity version of the F3F-2 for MSFS, with high-quality models and attention to detail throughout the whole package, including a WWise sound package and special coding to improve tail-dragger behavior in the simulator.

You will find 7 authentic liveries in this package, including the “GulfHawk II” as flown by Major Alford “Al” Williams, a special built F3F-1 with improved aerobatic capabilities that can currently be seen on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

The Aeroplane Heaven Grumman F3F-2 is now available directly from the developer’s website, priced at $28.99. Other vendors should also get the airplane soon.

A handy user-manual is also available as a free download, to get you acquainted with the airplane and its systems.

INNOVATIVE FEATURES

All new hi-fidelity models with superb detail including modelled rivets and overlapping panels.
Beautifully crafted exterior and interior models built over contemporary detailed plans and drawings
Authentic cockpit detail includes many bespoke animations and effects.
Full PBR materials and textures include realistic “pillowing” of metal surfaces.
Animated authentic U.S. military pilot figure
Specially animated, realistic undercarriage operation.
Choice of electric or cartridge start.
Highly accurate flight dynamics and perfomance based on real flight tests.
Specially authored WWise Hi-Fidelity sound package.
Unique code to “iron” out poor simulator tail-dragger performance.

7 AUTHENTIC LIVERIES

The package includes a variety of colourful liveries from pre-war fighter squadrons: