The following images were taken directly from the FS2004 VC in order to demonstrate the clarity as well as the functionality of the avionic suite. The F/A-18 (all variants) share a predominantly "glass" cockpit. There are 5 interactive CRT displays and a raster HUD. Of the 5 CRTs, 4 are multi-function displays containing up to 20 buttons each, and one is a dedicated engine/fuel display.

For those of you with a TrackIR, the experience is even more amazing. Not just because the TrackIR offers unprecedented situational awareness, but because we actually take advantage of it with features like full HUD collimation. This features is designed to optically correct the HUD so that it can remain completely conformal with the outside world regardless of head position.

Cockpit lighting is accomplished on a level not seen before in military add-ons. Transilluminated backlighting and "NVG compatible" modes, as well as flood lighting, provide and immersive and functional night environment without being distracting.

There are a total of 40 liveries (with many additional repaints available online), ranging from every active US F/A-18E squadron, to fictional Blue Angel, Canadian, Australian, and Swiss models. External model details include animated boarding ladder, avionic bays, canopy operation, radome (with slewing radar), flight line accessories, and even a fully animated ejection sequence!

The following system requirements should be met to at least the minimum requirement (FS9) in order to run the VRS Superbug. The Ultimate requirements are obviously not necessary, but will greatly enhance your flying experience. The following figures for Minimum, Average and Ultimate frame rates should only serve as a guide. There are far too many variables associated with Flight Simulator and the Superbug to make accurate predictions. Think of these figures as a general guide - nothing more.

MSFS is generally a CPU-bound application. Below a certain resolution (fill limited), the graphics processor (GPU) becomes less important than your system processor (CPU) in maintaining frame rates, and all the quad-SLI in the world won't help a bit. Most consider extremely high frame rates less important than consistent frame rates. Therefore maintaining an average 30 FPS would be more desirable than frame rates which spike into the 40s or 50s only to dip into the teens. While some "tweaks" may be a legitimate and effective means of increasing performance, not many will provide a boost on the scale of a processor upgrade. In MSFS, GHz is king.

In terms of multi-core systems, the number of cores is virtually irrelevant since FS2004 is not multi-threaded. Some of these extra cores can offload disk I/O, however you shouldn't really expect any additional benefit. With that in mind, newer Dual and Quad core CPUs ARE much faster per cycle than the previous generation of processors, even running MSFS under a single core. A much cheaper dual core processor with a faster clock will best any quad core at a lower clock. That $999 Extreme Quad Core running under 3GHz WILL be slower than a $150 3.2GHz Dual Core when running FS.

The tutorial flight is designed to touch on many systems during the course of a single flight, and is approximately 90 pages in length (FS9 version).

In addition to the PDF documentation, an extensive interactive HTML "kneeboard" is available in flight. The kneeboard is designed to mimic the NATOPS "Pocket Checklist" used by actual F/A-18 pilots. Procedures ranging from carrier operations to normal startup, to emergency procedures are right at your fingertips at all times.

*At time of this writing, these sections were still works in progress and may or may not be complete at the time of purchase.

True Fly-by-wire Flight Control System
The Superbug remains the only FS2004 military aircraft featuring a fly-by-wire control augmentation system. Input signals from the stick, throttle and rudders are fed through I/O controllers where they're filtered, passed through control-law schedules, and finally sent to the control surfaces. The CAS is responsible for allowing the incredibly wide AOA range while maintaining excellent lateral and longitudinal handling. In addition, neutral speed stability in conjunction with automatic longitudinal trimming means there is no need to trim the aircraft for pitch. Similar CAS algorithms are used to drive everything from engine FADEC control ro dual-rate nosewheel steering and autopilot modes.

Avionics Designed from the Navy's NATOPS Flight Manual
Avionics are the heart of this "glass" combat aircraft, and no compromises in realism were made to bring you the first truly accurate simulation of this aircraft's combat and navigation systems. Four digital displays provide data for navigation, stores management, targeting, sensors, fuel systems, engine systems, and flight advisory. With over 40 individual interactive displays, nothing was left to the imagination.

Highly Realistic Sensor and Targeting Simulation
Short of actually shooting down AI aircraft, sensor and targeting systems are simulated just as their real-world counterparts. You can lock up AI aircraft and receive feedback to the HUD, radar and early warning systems, just as if you were in an electronic military exercise -- the only thing missing is the lethality. The radar simulation takes a number of factors into consideration, including signal strength (range), aspect angle, closing velocity (Doppler shift), and more. A total of 8 radar modes (4 primary and 4 ACM sub-modes) are simulated.

Unmatched Virtual Cockpit Quality & Speed
Although the simulation is heavily focused on avionic systems, we haven't ignored little indulgences like "eye candy". The VRS F/A-18E sports a stunningly beautiful  and completely "flyable" Virtual Cockpit in which 100% of the controls are functional 3D components rather than "projected" 2D maps. The VC and external models feature a set of extremely high resolution textures for the ultimate in visual clarity. Gauge update rates in the VC are optimized for the fastest possible response. Four types of interior lighting including panel transillumination, flood, and night vision modes provide a completely immersive environment. Animated shadows for many of the controls further enhance the "suspension of disbelief".

Extensive Hand-Drawn, High-res 2D Sub-panels
Although VCs are becoming quite the norm, we also realize and appreciate those who prefer their "office" in 2D. The aircraft features over a dozen 2D panels in native 1600x1200 resolution, all hand-crafted and extremely clean. A unique "Panel Navigator" pop-up can be used to quickly find the system you need.

Professionally Designed Aircraft Management Application
A very comprehensive Aircraft Manager application is included for loading out an extensive set of weapons and pods, as well as configuring fuel, failures and preferences. In total, the number of combinations of stores which can be carried is in the thousands. Schematics for all major systems including electrical, environmental, fuel, and hydraulic are interactive and show you exactly which systems will be affected by the failure(s) you've chosen. Failures can be immediate or randomly generated for any system.

Procedural Animation System
A single model file with procedurally animated components handles all firing, jettisoning and dropping. Each of the 11 loadout stations can be individually dropped/fired with a corresponding decrease in weight and drag. The external model features folding wings, tailhook, avionic bay doors, ECS auxilliary duct doors, complex flight control system-slaved primary control surfaces, opening nosecone with working (and tracking) radar dish, deployable boarding ladder, and much much more. We've also designed a procedurally animated air-to-air refueling system, or "Buddy Store", which can by carried on the aircraft so that it may act as a tanker. The entire refueling process is simulated in intricate detail right down to the cockpit-installed aerial refueling panel. This is quite simply the most advanced animation system you're going to find on a combat aircraft for MS Flight Simulator.