Fighter Pilot

• Title — Fighter Pilot • Developer — Dave Marshall • Publisher — Digital Integration • Released — 1983 • Genre — Combat flight simulator • Platforms — ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit

In Fighter Pilot, players control a McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft equipped with two F100-PW-100 engines. The gameplay emphasizes realistic flight simulation, offering various training and combat scenarios. There are multiple gameplay modes, including landing practice, flight training, combat scenarios, and blind landing exercises. During combat missions, players must intercept enemy aircraft attacking four ground bases, using radar and flight computer to locate enemy aircraft, determine their targets, and fly intercept vectors. Enemy fighters lock on to player aircraft within one mile range and 5000 feet altitude difference. Damage taken by player's aircraft is indicated on the radar with colour change of aircraft symbol. A total of four direct hits results in player's aircraft destruction. If players disengage from combat, enemies continue toward their destinations, potentially destroying airfields. The cockpit interface presents a set of flight instruments. On the left, a radar compass helps locate enemy positions, displaying them as flashing dots. The flight computer assists in determining enemy altitude and aids in landing procedures. Players can also access a map of the area to check their position or the positions of enemy aircraft during combat. Other instruments include an artificial horizon displaying roll and pitch angles, an airspeed indicator, an altimeter, a vertical speed indicator showing climb rate, and a thrust indicator with afterburner indication. Additionally, the cockpit features an Instrument Landing System (ILS) for high-accuracy landings, a fuel gauge, and a navigation beacon system. Players can adjust difficulty settings by adding crosswinds and turbulence, and select skill levels ranging from novice to ace.

The game offers multiple control schemes, including keyboard input and joystick support (Kempston, Sinclair, and AGF/Protek). Players control aircraft functions such as thrust, flaps, undercarriage, and weapons systems through dedicated keys or joystick movements.

The game uses a simple graphical representation with a blue sky and green ground. Runways are detailed with center lines, distance markers, and end lights, aiding in landing procedures.

Fighter Pilot was programmed in machine code to optimize performance on the ZX Spectrum hardware. Marshall's background in military aviation testing and simulation development contributed to the game's realistic flight model.