Wired4iPhone were up early to grab a copy from the UK Appstore and so here are a few early screen-shots as we get to grips with the two new airfield layouts.

Two new airfields, from L to R, Classic, Beach and Carrier

No sooner was the app installed than we were playing and first impressions are superb. The first new layout, the beach airfield, adds a second heliport and instead of light aircraft you now get the low and slow amphibious planes that land on the sea.

The gameplay here is very similar to the original airfield although you need some skill to route the aircraft without collision (as always).

New coastal layout with amphibious planes

The second new layout is Carrier. And wow does this up the gameplay! In common with the real carriers, you have the fast jets, large twin prop patrol planes, slow aircraft and helicopters. This gets real busy real fast. Within a few seconds of start you will have a lot of aircraft on screen and very little space in which to direct them.

The helicopters here are twin rotor Chinook types and with the slow twin prop patrol planes lining up on the same runway as the fast jets you need a very quick eye and deft finger if you are to have any hope of organising them all. Not only that, the carrier slowly rotates which makes life harder still! After a morning playing this I’m struggling with 80 on the carrier level.

New carrier with Chinooks, twin props and fast jets

One other addition in this release is the Fast Forward button at bottom left.  Although I can’t imagine you’ll ever need this in the Carrier version, it may be useful in the earlier stages of the Original and Coastal layouts.

So top marks to Firemint.  The No1 most playable game on my iPhone just got better!  The Carrier layout will hopefully keep high-scores at realistic levels and allow for a quicker game (for now at least).

Although we are far from expert at FlightControl we will be publishing a tips’n'tricks guide later today that explains how to maximise your chances of improving your scores.  Still the best 59p you will ever spend, Game On.