Airport GPS For FS2004

Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 18:52
DBSim announces that this utility is now available for FS9. Now, taxiing at any airport is like driving your car on the streets with your favorite Car GPS. Run Airport GPS and follow the route from gate to runway. Touchdown and taxi by GPS route to any parking!

DBS Airport GPS shows top-down view of the airport map. The map can be dragged by mouse and zoomed by mouse wheel. The route path calculated from current aircraft position to runway, parking, gate, helipad. Complete details about Airport GPS can be found on the DBSim webiste.

Ostafyevo from AlfaFly

Posted: Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 18:39
Staff reviewer Xavier Noche heads to Russia to review AlfaFly's Ostafyevo. "Oddly, this airport does not exist at all in FSX; it is just regular landscape and trees. This airport opened in 2000 on a former military air base near Moscow, Russia. The Ostafyevo airport is located South from Moscow, exactly midway between Vnukovo and Domodedovo, and has a single 6600 ft long concrete runway 08-26. It is mostly dedicated to general aviation."

"The scenery includes the airfield with all the buildings and parking lots with busses, cars, animated people in various places. The surrounding areas add real buildings, the real lakes and ponds, the approach lights structures, the roads with car and truck traffic, local trees like fir trees and birch trees, and much more. Lots of areas in the field are what we could call “sub-sceneries” of their own with custom details such as specific 1940’s cars. There are civil works scenes, and military storage of various vehicles."

"Ostafyevo proves to be amazingly detailed, in all areas, providing new things to discover each time you fly or taxi in the area for quite some time."

FW190A:The Late Variants from Classics Hangar

Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010 - 0:58
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura continues the other half of the Classics Hangar series of the FW190A: the Late Variants. "The latest product from Classics Hangar is “Focke Wulf Fw 190 A: The Late Variants.” Using ten models, it tells the rest of “Anton’s” story, from the A-5, which debuted in 1942 (when the defeat of Germany was still uncertain), to the A-8 and the A-9, both of which were still being manufactured during the last week of the war in Europe."

"Each of the ten models in this package comes with its own virtual cockpit (VC). Most variations are minor but all of the models have an artificial horizon gauge (something that Allied planes got earlier) and the very latest Antons include a vertical speed indicator (something, again, which today we take for granted but which most German fighters did not get until late in the war). Also new to the Late Variants are nav radios and the AFN-2 radio beacon indicator."

"The flight model for this aircraft, even though it was calculated on the basis of the aircraft’s weight and dimensions, feels as rich, responsive, and ‘analogue’ as any I have owned. One improvement in the Late variants is that prop speeds are now governed by a custom gauge, which responds proportionally to input from the throttle. Engine modeling for this product is on par with the Acceleration P-51 Mustang or the RealAir Spitfire: you can burn up the engine if you push it too hard, but the state of your engine -- its health or lack of same -- is not preserved from flight to flight (as it is, for example, with A2A’s Accu-Sim products)."

"This is one of the best-looking models in my hangar, and also one of the best-performing, with frame rates on par with the default planes and the RealAir single-engines. I have a few products that I use as reference standards. Occasionally, a new product is so good that it becomes a reference standard in its own right. That doesn’t happen very often, but this is one of those times, and one of those products."

Job Opportunity in Flight or Train Sim

Posted: Friday, January 22, 2010 - 0:39
Just Flight and Just Trains are currently looking to recruit a new member for their technical support team. This permanent entry-level position would suit a school leaver with a passion for simulation and provides an excellent beginning to a career in Flight or Train simulation.

Your tasks will include:

Responding to, investigating and solving problems reported by users.
Maintaining and expanding the FAQ database.
Testing and evaluating potential new releases.
Answering telephone calls and working alongside the customer service team.

The job requires that you be based in the Huntingdon (UK) office 9-5pm, five days a week. Serious applicants are to include up-to-date CV and references where applicable. To apply, or for more information please contact Richard Slater at Richard@justflight.com

Capt Sim Releases The B-52

Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 14:57
This highly detailed and accurate Boeing B-52H model comes with 4 hi-rez textures in USAF livery. Designed according to FSX standards, it has hundreds of animations and includes features like wing flex, wing vortices, and exhaust smoke. This is an exterior model only as the VC, 2D panels and sounds currently alias to the default FSX B747. Complete details can be found on the Capt Sim B-52 webpage.

Deltasim Powerboats Collection For FSX

Posted: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 15:43
Deltasim Studio has released its Powerboats Collection For FSX, this native FSX model is compatible with SP1, SP2, Acceleration and ESP. Three models versions are included with 10 liveries and all feature animating parts such as: engine compartment flap, retractable roof, DVD player with slideshow and music, skin animated crew etc. Drop in to the Deltasim Studio Showroom to see their latest creation.

New FS Multiplayer Server Service

Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010 - 13:45
There is a new FSHost server provider known as "Flightsim World Multiplayer and Teamspeak Service". They are attempting to provide a multiserver environment without the Regulations that most other Multiplayer Services offer.

For more information visit their website

PMDG Announces PMDG 747-400X -8i Product Model Extension

Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010 - 5:03
PMDG has announced that in a few days they will be releasing a new product title designed to please fans of the 747: PMDG 747-400X -8i Product Model Extension

This product has been produced in conjunction with their partners at Boeing and will add the 747-8i/F airframes to your existing 747-400X installation, allowing you to ply the trade routes with Boeing's latest incarnation of the venerable 747!

Built using the latest modeling techniques with technical input from Boeing, the PMDG 747-400X -8i/F Product Model Extension will allow you to experience the 747-8i in incredibly vivid detail. HD texturing of the external model, transparent cabin windows, complex internal and external lighting, fully 3D turbofan and engine components, updated landing gear, wing flex, redesigned flight controls and flaps are just some of the details we have packed into this new visual model.

The PMDG 747-400X -8i/F Product Model Extension will be providing a new, ground-up sound set so that you can experience the amazing audio experience of the new GENX engines mounted under-wing.

You can catch the latest videos from PMDG's You Tube Channel

PMDG has also provided updates on its ongoing projects and also provided anticipated(not firm)dates for release of PMDG 737-NGX, PMDG Bombardier Dash-8 and PMDG 777 at Mid 2010, Late 2010 and Early 2011 respectively.

For more on this refer Avsim Forum

Cargo Operations from Just Planes

Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 20:52
Staff reviewer Marlon Carter continues his look at instructional flight DVDs from the Just Planes collection. Thisd time he rides along and explores the world of Cargo Operations. "There are many simmers who enjoy flying cargo aircraft and these DVDs will surely appeal to this crowd. Why cargo operations? Well, passenger operations have been seen and experienced by the vast majority. It is very uncommon to have a first hand look at the day to day operations of an all cargo airline."

"The first video is the Air Atlanta Icelandic 747-400 DVD. Air Atlanta Icelandic is the largest ACMI service provider in the world operating a wide fleet of A300s and B747s for airlines across the globe. Air Atlanta Icelandic is a charter and cargo airline based in Kópavogur, Iceland."

"The second video is the Everts Air Cargo DC-6. This program follows Everts Air Cargo DC6 flights to half a dozen destinations across Alaska and Canada. Everts Air Cargo is the last airline in the USA to operate scheduled flights with a rather large fleet of 60 years old piston-powered aircraft."

"Cargo operations offer new and exciting experiences each day and lets not forget the fact that there are no passengers to complain. I think these DVDs are a great buy and it would be great to start a collection of some of your favorite aircraft, airlines or types of flight operations. Whether you are a real world pilot or flightsim enthusiast, these videos will be very informative and instructive in helping you to understand the lifestyle of airline pilots, operations of a cargo airline and real world airline procedures that may enhance your own simulator experience."

Hong Kong VHHH from ImagineSim

Posted: Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 1:55
Staff reviewer Tim Capps looks at the "other" Hong Kong airport with ImagineSim's VHHH. "Kai Tak is history. Flying into Hong Kong now means a straight in approach to the luxuriously long, wide and comparatively boring runways of Hong Kong International Airport, known as Chek Lap Kok for the island upon which it was built."

"Chek Lap Kok seems to consist mostly of empty space. This contributes to the sense of newness: there just hasn’t been enough time for a lot of new growth, perhaps. Lights along the extended centerline of the runways march out into the surrounding sea on pylons. In addition to the buildings, numerous airport vehicles both static and in motion add to the ambiance. Long baggage trains and boarding busses are at the ready, and many of the vehicles have flashing lights. Jetways are modeled in detail, but are not animated."

"If your fleet includes a car, this is a fun airport to drive around. You can really appreciate the details from ground level, including fixtures like 3D lighting, parking areas with guidance systems, and lots and lots of moving vehicles of various types. Night lighting deserves special mention. The taxi lighting is beautifully subdued and pinpoint sharp."

"It may not be Kai Tak, but Hong Kong International at Chek Lap Kok is a big, interesting and beautiful airport with practically unlimited choice of carrier and equipment. By day or night, Imaginesim has a winner here."

A320 (Basic) from AirSimmer

Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 - 21:58
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at AirSimmer's A320 Basic package including the V1.1 update. Be prepared for a long read as this is an extremely detailed review.

"I can’t say anything else about the external model other then SUPER. Super this time means that a lot of work was put into the creation of the external model. Are you looking for some wires or hydraulic lines? I can tell you that almost every wire or hose is modeled, thus highly impressive. That’s the same with the wing surface and flaps and slats. Oops, I forget even the hydraulic actuators connected to the spoiler panels. It’s all handmade or handcrafted by the graphic designer and he or she did a perfect job."

Angelique explains all the details inside the cockpit and main cabin with the assistance and breakdown of her screenshots. The VC offers without any Airbus equipment switched ON while on the ground located at and in combination with a powerful add-on airport active, average FPS between 60-70 FPS and that’s high. When switching ON all the electrical power thus activating the PFDs, NDs and ECAM displays, the FPS drop is more or less imperceptible but let’s say then a drop of 1-2 FPS. Some like a 2D cockpit, some don’t like it! For those who like flying a 2D cockpit, this model still offers one."

Putting the aircraft through it's paces with version 1.0 and then with the updated version 1.1, Angelique goes into great depth when describing her test flights, including the various setting of the flight instruments during each phase. She concludes her review with a serious of questions and answers she posed to the developers at AirSimmer.

"This A320 has a well designed flight model that looks awesome including a well shaped VC and 2D cockpit, but that isn’t enough to be a success. A single aircraft model like this AirSimmer Airbus A320 with hardly any manuals included and a flight tutorial document with pure basic information and nothing more, asks for more. With the released Service Pack, I think the airplane is doing what it is supposed to do. It’s a shame and it must be said that the initial released version 1.00 package was full of bugs and hardly flyable. The fact that the Basic model is a stripped Advanced version disappoints me."

Scotflight Western Isles Airports & Landmarks

Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 - 15:56
"Scotflight are pleased to announce the availability of their latest product, Western Isles and Landmarks. This VFR Scotflight product enhances Scotland's Western Isles with highly realistic, detailed airport and landmarks scenery. Also included, as an option, is customised local ferry traffic. The custom made Caledonian MacBrayne ferry models visit all the ferry ports in the area with daily car and freight scheduled services. You might also glimpse the Hebridean Princess cruising amongst the islands.

This product is specifically designed for use with, and is fully compatible with, Horizon Simulations Ultra High Definition GenerationX Photograhic Scenery - Scotland;Western Isles. Full details of the features of VFR Scotflight for Western Isles, together with a gallery of screenshots, can be found at ScotFlight Scenery website. Existing users of ScotflightFSX Scenery Volume2 should look for the free updated photo-compatible version to be released shortly."

OZx Releases Tuscany Upgrade And Full Version

Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 - 14:16
OZx have released their upgrade of North Tuscany Italy photoreal, this upgrade improves the autogen of the already covered area, adding a new zone, Lucca and its environment.

The coast from Marina di Pisa to Lido di Camaiore has been fully covered with the autogen, along with the wonderful area of Puccini lake in the Apuan Alps (provided with mesh developed by Holger Sandmann), and lake Vagli.

Beautiful landmark 3d objects have been added, miracles square in Pisa and the castle of Malaspina, in Massa . The Isle of Elba and others are also available here. The territory is perfect to be flown at sunset or during the night, a real experience with the true nightlights system.

OZx has released the Upgrade and full version free of charge and complete details are available as well as the download on the OZx Forum.

FSWidgets Release AirView

Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 - 13:43
FSWidgets release AirView MFD avionics for FSX and X-Plane 9. AirView technology provides the pilot with detailed awareness and environmental information, including industry first 3D Terrain Visualization with Dynamic Elevation Color Coding (DECC). Coupled with sophisticated 2D and Profile elevation contour display technologies, AirView literally allows the pilot to see in the dark.

Modelled on real world avionics and leveraging capability within both FSX and X-Plane, AirView graphically presents airport detail, runway and taxiway detail, frequency data, and live flightplan overlay. Combined with these critical pilot cues, situational awareness is further enhanced with aerodrome charting, tracking information and display of navigation data including airways, fixes and beacons.

AirView is available in a trial version and is compatible with FSX and X-Plane 9 running on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Detailed specifications and further information can be found on the FSWidgets website.

Piper PA32 Saratoga from Carenado

Posted: Friday, January 15, 2010 - 1:13
Staff reviewer Jamie Whiting climbs aboard Carenado's Piper PA32 R-301SP Saratoga. "The Piper Saratoga, perhaps the ultimate single engined development of the basic Cherokee design of 1961. The Saratoga has been used for everything from being a fully equipped luxury touring machine that private pilots dream of, to a beaten up, worn out old work horse used in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world for its rugged reliability and versatility; carrying everything from desperately needed medical supplies to tropical fish from remote strips in South America and beyond."

"The first thing is that the proportions and overall shape of the model are bang on. The aircraft is festooned with numerous small details, including most interestingly for you rivet counters out there, an actual 3D oil cooler inlet, complete with oil cooler within. Carenado have gone with a timeline theme with the supplied liveries, with one in the 70s’ style with stripes to an ultra modern 2000 themed one, giving 4 liveries in all, plus a blank white one with no registration, presumably for repainters to use as a base."

"It is important to mention that this PA32 does not come with a 2D panel as such, instead it offers the user the ability to use pop-up instruments. The virtual cockpit itself is very well built, and features a host of animations in addition to the usual controls. There are no holes and the entire cabin is modeled from the flight deck to the rear baggage compartment. All of the texturing is of a very high resolution and creates the impression of an old PA32 that has been well used but looked after. The overall detail is exquisite and certainly represents the state of the art."

"All of the numbers and capacities of the PA32 are accurate to real world equivalents, and it is necessary to load the aircraft realistically to within its limits, that is to say that you cannot take a full passenger load as well as another 120 pounds of baggage and still expect full tanks. Ground handling is accurately depicted. The amount to thrust required to move is right, as is engine response to throttle input."

"Takeoff feel and performance is excellent. In the cruise phase the PA32 continues to impress. In the traffic circuit the Saratoga requires a firm control of airspeed to prevent things getting out of hand. All in all it has to be said that the Carenado PA32 is largely excellent when it comes to that most important area of flying."

"Carenado's Saratoga is a pleasing addition to my ever swelling hangar, and occupies a useful niche in the FS market. The visuals are superb and will provide users with a considerably upgraded and more realistic impression of what many GA pilots fly around in, as we do not all dart about in brand new glass cockpit machines. If you like a fun aircraft with useable performance and good visuals you will enjoy this immensely."

Flight Replicas Super Cub For FSX

Posted: Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 13:57
Flight Replicas is pleased to announce the release of its Super Cub for FSX, consisting of 18 aircraft from the early 95 hp models right on up to an Experimental 210 hp variant with 35" tundra tires and the military L-18 and L-21 models.

Among this collection are also a range of Extreme Super Cubs for off-airport flying, plus a line of classic Bushplanes for those interested in discovering why the Super Cub has remained such a successful workhorse for so many years.

The project had the assistance of a real Super Cub owner (and 747 pilot), who did much of the flight testing for the project. His own Super Cub is among the aircraft modeled, accurate inside and out.

The 18 Flight Replicas Super Cubs can be bought as one complete package, or smaller role-specific packages: Standard that includes early, standard, amphibious, military, and wheel-ski aircraft, Classic which includes two variants of the classic bushplane, on floats, wheels and skis and Extreme including five aircraft with tundra-tires up to 35" and many other modifications.

To complete the package a deluxe stand-alone IFR equipped Amphibious model, that allows substitution of the avionics pack with any high end third-party avionics you may own. For more information, please visit the Flight Replicas website.

DBS Studio Airport GPS for FSX

Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 17:14
DBS Studio release a new product - Airport GPS for FSX - its the new way to navigate while taxiing at the airport, now driving in any airport is like driving your car on the streets with your favorite Car GPS. Run GPS Airport and follow the route from your gate to the runway. Touchdown and taxi by GPS Airport to any parking spot.
Visit DBS Studio for complete details and screenshots of this new product.

LLH Release Altiport Henri Giraud

Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 14:06
LLH créations announce thier latest release for alpine flying, "LLH7 ALPE D'HUEZ, Altiport Henri Giraud" for FSX. A new chalenge for all mountain pilots with this new 15,5% sloped runway. And if this runway is too easy for advanced pilots, they will discover new sensations flying in winter and landing on the snow covered runway. This scenery represents a new approach in development by pushing the realism to the limits of the FSX SDK, using very high resolution textures (5cm/pixel) and bumpmaping technology. More info and screenshots on the LLH website .

Yak 40 from DBS Studio

Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - 5:43
Staff reviewer Xavier Noche examines DBS Studio/SIM Landmarks' Yak 40. "This is an early small Eastern Europe civil airliner jet, with a capacity of 40 passengers, designed to replace the ageing thousands of prop liners Lisunov Li-2s (Soviet built DC-3s), Ilyushin Il-12s and Il-14s. It first flew in October 1966, entered production in 1967 and Aeroflot started flying it in 1968. It is now used both as a regional airliner and as a VIP transportation."

"Only a 2D panel is provided but it is beautiful, in daylight and at night, dark or illuminated. It features a pure Soviet style gauges, with the exceptions of the additional radio control sub-panel and GPS. The base of the model is an enhanced AI. It has been redesigned for FSX, while remaining compatible with the previous FS9 one, thus keeping the same .bmp layout. Overall the aircraft looks good. Some parts are highly animated and detailed, such as the gear and flaps. Gear compression, whether on front or on main gear, is very well rendered."

"At startup, the aircraft is some 1800 lbs above gross weight, so you first need to adjust the load or the fuel. Chock and covers for the engines and pitot tubes are in place when the parking brakes are on and all electrical systems are off. Stairs can be deployed as the main exit opens and closes. Taxi is easy; be advised the aircraft pitches sharply down upon brake action. The autopilot is very simple; and easy to learn. The sounds are aliased to the default Microsoft Learjet 45 ones. Straight from the speakers, it sounds realistic for this aircraft."

"The DBS Yak-40 makes a good AI, and a decent flyable aircraft, but with some imperfections on the exterior. The nicest part is the 2D panel; beautiful and, faithful to the Soviet 1960s style and nonetheless easy to operate and fly without reading tons of documentation or learning dozens of Cyrillic letters acronyms."

CLS Releases B767 (FS9 & FSX)

Posted: Sunday, January 10, 2010 - 18:40
Since early 2008 CLS has been working on their Boeing 767. Creating a high quality and highly detailed package for all flight sim fans to enjoy. The package is more then complete with both the 767-200 and 767-300 modelled. The base package includes 24 liveries! The base package consists of all regular passenger models. The expansion package will include the beautiful winglet version, AWACS, Tanker and the cargo variants. Obviously, these all come with detailed textures. For complete details, change your heading to the CLS website.