France VFR Releases Aircraft Collection and Scenery

Posted: Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 8:09
The aircraft pack includes 6 new complete VFR dedicated aircraft:

- Beechcraft Twin Bonanza
- APM20 Lionceau
- De Havilland Twin Otter
- Socata Rallye
- Socata TB9/10/20
- Stampe & Vertongen

The collection features:

- Numerous liveries
- Detailed 2D and virtual cockpit (Ground textures are summer only)
- Numerous variations (engines, floats etc.)
- Detailed visual documentation for every instruments of each panel
- Detailed checklist for each aircraft
- Additional liveries available for free on our website

Westsim Design Group Releases Murrayfield 2006

Posted: Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 8:00
In a press release to Avsim Westsim Design Group announced the release of their freeware Murrayfield 2006 scenery package for FS2004. Murrayfield is a small general aviation airfield south of Perth, Western Australia. According to the release, "The scenery package covers the airport in photographic detail, with photoreal ground textures (up to 0.1m resolution), custom autogen, and highly detailed buildings created using Gmax."

FS2Crew For Level-D 767 Now Available

Posted: Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 17:57
Level-D 767 Captains take note!! FS2Crew has released their highly anticipated Level-D 767 Edition. Designed in close cooperation with Captain Dave Barrington, the 767 Edition was custom programmed from scratch to work with the Level-D 767. The product adds a whole new layer of depth, immersion and realism to the Level-D 767 by allowing users to simulate true airline style flying in multi-crew SOP driven environment. To purchase the product or to obtain more information, please visit FS2Crew’s website.

Imagine Simulation Release KEWR Newark

Posted: Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 17:54
Newark International Airport, the fourth in the series of add-on airports for MSFS from imaginesim, has just been released. This world hub and New York gateway airport features custom made runways, terminal buildings rendered to 10cm per pixel scale, smoothly operating jetways that dock with your aircraft's forward door with an interactive docking system to park you right on your mark, taxiways with highly realistic concrete textures, full airport taxiway and runway signage, 3D approach lighting and full ILS navigation.

There are hundreds of airport vehicles and ground personnel. Aircraft can be found parked at custom textured parking positions, all hangers, cargo and airport auxiliary buildings are modeled, there is even a complete and secure perimeter fence with security checkpoints and emergency vehicle access points - all under the steady gaze of intermittently placed security cameras! Complete airport taxiway and runway lighting is also included. There are lots of preview screenshots to sample over at the Imagine Sim Website.

Classic British Files Releases Jetliner Sound Packs

Posted: Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 15:07
Classic British Files has released a package of over 20 sound files. Mark Cranston writes, "The level of authenticity incorporated into this extensive range of quality FS audio is extraordinary .... comprising "aircraft type specific" startup sounds for each of the various turbojet, fanjet, and turbofan engines represented .... some with and without reverse thrust as may apply to their realworld counterpart aircraft. Each soundpack has been carefully compiled to reflect aircraft sound exclusively from a "flightdeck perspective" .... quite a different sound environment than the passenger cabin."

These files, along with more information, can be found on the Classic British Files Website.

BirdsEyeView Volume 5: Released

Posted: Friday, March 24, 2006 - 10:17
For all those BirdsEyeView customers that have purchased all 4 previous releases and you would like your 5th volume free please email all proofs of purchases to sales@flightsim-bev.com You will receive a reply the same day with the information you need in order to get your free volume. If you are new to BirdsEyeView you can download this product from Flight1 . BEV was designed specifically to be another step forward towards reality. With the releases of add-ons that enhance your flight simulating world such as coast lines, rivers & streams, highway & railroad systems, water and sky textures, etc., the next step in the evolution of the FS world environment was to increase the level of "real" in the ground textures themselves. BirdsEyeView has reached that goal quite admirably.

New Platinum Collection from Abacus

Posted: Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 14:50
Thousands of Flight Sim users have enjoyed Abacus' Premier Collection add-ons. The Premier Collection is the only way to "fly before you buy". Abacus has now launched a new series, the Platinum Collection, a smaller, more select group of aircraft the first of which is the Lockheed Constellation. The "Connie" demonstrates the committment to superior aircraft in the Platinum Collection. The download package include three variations, a custom sound set from Aaron Swindle and enjoyable flyer's guide. It is now available for a free 7 day test flight. For more information and to begin your flight, visit Abacus.

Reader Choice Award Nominations now Open!

Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 23:17
At this year's Convention and Exhibition in Washington D.C., AVSIM will present its Bravo Zulu awards as always. In addition to the BZ awards, this year we will also give recognition to those products that win the AVSIM Reader's Choice Award. Unlike the BZ awards, which are picked by the editors and reviewers of AVSIM, the Reader's Choice Awards will reflect the preferences and accolades of the community at large. We have opened a forum specifically for nominations and posted the rules for nominating a product or add-on. Please submit your nomination today!

Maldivian Air Taxi DVD Released

Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 21:06
In a press release to Avsim today Just Planes announced the release of their latest airline DVD featuring Indian Ocean operator Maldivian Air Taxi.

According to the release, "Maldivian Air Taxi has been in operation since 1993. The airline services resorts in the Maldive Islands with a fleet of 16 to 22 Twin Otters depending on the season. This 3 hour program takes you on 15 flights during which you can see the pilots at work along with some of the most spectacular exotic island scenery in the world. The airline's Chief Pilot takes you for a detailed tour inside and outside the Twin Otter and shows the special equipment used for certain flights."

Interested simmers can get more info by proceeding at pilot's discretion to Just Planes

AVSIM RSS Feeds Now Available

Posted: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 13:25
For those of our readers who have been asking for an AVSIM RSS news feed, we are happy to announce that it is finally available. Through the hard work of AVSIM reader and forum member Matt Fox, we now have news feeds for the Front Page and the Library news postings. If you want to read the details on this subject you can read Matt's posting in the forums. Thanks Matt for making this happen!

DreamFleet Releases Boeing 727

Posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 16:58
[Press Release] According to Flight1 and DreamFleet, "This luxury boxed CD-ROM release features the best 727 yet for Flight Simulator: new gauge functions, sounds, flight models and model updates. Included are five “never seen before” 727 models including a 727-200 passenger and freighter version with winglets and three Super 27s. 32 installed liveries plus an additional 33 official Dreamfleet repaint templates." For details see Flight1's Boeing 727 press release.

Alaska Cinematic Volume 2 Released

Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 - 14:37
Volume 2 of the award-winning Alaska Cinematic series has been released. By extending the original scenery, Volume 2 doubles the size of the total flyable area. New processing methods guarantee the highest possible resolutions and rich naturalistic terrain coloring.

Coverage includes the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge plus the adjoining mountains, lakes and marshes all portrayed in the characteristic Georender detail. The area includes 22 airports bringing the total to over 50 airports for both volumes 1 and 2. Also included in Volume 2 is a free update to the Volume 1 textures which employs the latest processing techniques to add further realism to the Anchorage Metropolitan Area. Visit the Georender site for more information.

New Version of QLRP4UT Available

Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:56
Yesterday Ultimate Terrain Europe was announced, and this is followed up by the Quantumleap Repositioning Project for Ultimate Terrain (QLRP4UT) version 2.00. The new version of the QLRP4UT, which includes support for Ultimate Terrain Europe, is now available for download at QLRP4UT's homepage.

QLRP4UT is a shareware companion product to Ultimate Terrain and repositions over 700 custom MSFS bridge, building and landmark objects across North America and Europe to better match the accurate coastlines, lakes, roads and railways of the Ultimate Terrain series of products from Scenery Solutions.

AlphaSim Tyndall AFB Scenery out now

Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:38
The Florida fighter base, Tyndall AFB, is recreated for FS9, complete with AI F-22A Raptors. As with recent scenery releases, the AI aircraft are completely autonomous and will taxi, take off and do T & G's on both the main runway at Tyndall and also on the included Tyndall Auxiliary runway a few miles away.

The aircraft are based on our recent F-22 release and are both framerate-friendly and very realistic. A C-5 Galaxy adds to the mix on the Tyndall pan. The base also includes a detailed bomb storage area with vehicles and perimeter fencing. Screenshots can be viewed on Alphasim's home page.

New Review - X-treme King Air B200

Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006 - 1:04
Staff reviewer Nick Preston reviews that latest version of the King Air B200 from Aeroworx and distributed by Flight 1. "Aeroworx essentially created a whole new aircraft that offers much more then its previous version."

"The visual model Aeroworx has created can be summed up into one word: beautiful. Every detail has been accurately rendered to perfection," Nick comments about the B200, "Aeroworx has done an excellent job at providing a virtual cockpit that is both enjoyable from a visual stand point and also easy on performance. There are two variations to the 2D panel. The Collins EFIS-84 equipped panel and the Sperry Analog panel."

Nick makes note, "Those of you who are already wondering, the King Air B200 works beautifully when integrated with the Reality-XP Avionics as there are already several modifications available to download which house a variety of configurations to suit anyone’s need, including a replacement of the Collins WXR270 MAP/NAV display with the RXP WXR-500 weather radar."

So how does it handle? "Control movements are crisp and highly responsive requiring a light touch on the controls to make small movements. The aircraft is also quite easy to trim out with only a few small adjustments needed. Unlike the control surfaces, the engines require a little skill to properly manipulate them to exact settings."

"What we have here is an aircraft package that has changed from an intermediate level simulation, to a simulation in a class of its own," says Nick in his finals thoughs of the review, "The Aeroworx X-treme King Air 200 is not an add-on, it’s a simulation. One that I and many other fellow simmers will spend a great amount of time enjoying for years to come."

SkyUnlimited Supermarine Spitfire V updated

Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 10:39
The Spitfire V by SkyUnlimited Productions has been updated once again. This time Droppable Slipper Fuel tanks controlled by the stock Fs2004 Release Fuel Tank command have been added. Whenever the drop tanks are released the appropriate weight and fuel are subtracted from the aircraft. Now you can keep the SkyUnlimited Spitfire in the air longer with 90 additional gallons of flight time. In addition, new conditional appearance features have been added. Now, whenever the aircraft is parked (engine off and parking brake on) chocks, pitot tube cover, and an oil pan appear. To get the update go to SkyUnlimited's Spitfire V page.

Ultimate Terrain Europe Available from Flight1

Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 8:06
Flight One Software, in cooperation with Scenery Solutions , has released the 3rd product in their highly acclaimed Ultimate Terrain series. Using commercial data licensed from TeleAtlas Europe, in combination with Scenery Solutions own digital processing, Ultimate Terrain Europe is the biggest and best Ultimate Terrain release yet. Visit the Flight1 product page, for more details.

PMDG 747-400F CARGO Now Available

Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 8:01
Whether you enjoy flying freight to remote areas of the globe or like to enhance your 747-400 Queen of the Skies experience, the new PMDG 747-400F CARGO is the highly anticipated expansion product you have been waiting for. With over 50 new additions and updated systems, this product is far more than simply a new visual model. To purchase the product or for more information, please visit PMDG's website

New ATC Training Program At VATSIM

Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 4:16
VATSIM (the Virtual Air Traffic Simulation Network) is pleased to announce the introduction of a new program for training virtual Air Traffic Controllers - ACSim, also known as the "sweatbox". Up until now, training controllers has been dependent on the number of pilots flying online, which can be very unpredictable. To enable consistent training under the supervision of a mentor or instructor, Chris Serio has developed ACSim (short for AirCraft Simulator) to simulate traffic for the student to control. ACSim is a program that connects to a stand-alone VATSIM server and allows an instructor to set up any number of IFR and/or VFR aircraft, which he can control by typing instructions into the program while he also takes the role of the "voice" of the pilots. With the introduction of the ACSim, instructors and mentors can train or test their students at any time that is convenient. In addition, students will learn to handle large volumes of traffic with much more efficiency because it develops the most important skills of a constant scan of all aircraft in a controller's sector, planning ahead and learning to get the "big picture". According to Ruth McTighe, ACSim has been extensively tested in VATUSA, and has been a valuable addition to their training program. VATSIM will be bringing the ACSim server online in March 2006, and ACSim will be made available to regional, divisional and subdivisional staff to implement in local training programs. To experience these improvements for yourself, join us at VATSIM and learn to be a virtual air traffic controller, or just come and fly online with live air traffic control provided by simmers who are just as real as you are.

50 North Simulations Announces The Boxed Version Of Their 737

Posted: Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 21:37
Fifty North simulations presents their 50N Boeing 737 Classic family of aircraft. The Highly Detailed aircraft models for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 now include the Friendly Panel 737 panel. Albert Bouwman of Fifty North simulations is announcing to the flight simulation public, that their popular 737 classic package - highly detailed models of the Boeing 737 300/400/500, is now available as a boxed version, in conjunction with the Friendly Panels 737 panel. The boxed version is being published by www.bssholding.com and will be available on many large resellers’ sites. You will find accurate animation and proper movement times of all moving parts like reversers, slats, flaps, highly detailed gear parts etc. Models are designed using the high standards given by G-max and MSFS development kits. Now, dynamic wing views are also available. Please visit BSS Holdings to pickup your copy of the 50N Boeing 737.