Like Starfighter, reviewed here in #90, and Spellmaker, reviewed in #89, this is one of the Gemetime Games series from Heritage Models. It is a game of plane-to-plane combat in WWI for two to six players, aged eight and up. Each player controls one plane and attempts to be the sole surviving player.

The mounted mapboard has an attractive aerial view of a battlefield, which has no affect on the game, overlaid by a grid of hexes (each of which is a little over one inch wide) forming a large hexagon with ten hexagons on a side. In each corner is located an airfield, each having three runways, one running towards the center and one along each of the sides forming the corner. Cloud markers are placed on the board at random.

Each plane may move one, two or three hexes. This decision is made secretly (and simultaneously with the other players) by placing counters in a "control panel" for each of the three "moves" of a turn. Each counter has a pointer printed on it which is turned toward the maneuver chosen for its move. The choices are: ahead, left turn, right turn, left slip, right slip and no maneuver. Other counters are placed on the control panel to indicate the intention to fire after any or all three moves of the turn. Each plane's ammunition supply and damage taken is indicated by counters moved along one of the six tracks paralleling each side of the hex grid. A plane may be landed to pick up more ammunition. But when its damage marker reaches zero it is destroyed. Maximum range for firing is four hexes, and damage inflicted is inversely proportional to the range. That is, at one hex range four damage points are inflicted, at two hexes three points, etc. Fire may be directed along a straight line that starts in any of the three hexes bordering the front of the plane.

Optional rules provide for: moving clouds, two planes per player, team play and aces, among other things. This is a simple, fun game, ideally suited for introducing youngsters to wargaming. It comes in the standard Gametime 12" x 12" x 2" box and sells for $9.95. It is available from Lowry Enterprises or your local games dealer.

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