ITS-Italian Tutorial System For Go-Flight MCP Released

Posted: Friday, July 7, 2006 - 14:11
Today a new ITS-Italian Tutorial System is released and is dedicated to the Go-Flight MCP. In this mini-tutorial you'll find how to configure the GF-MCP with any add-on thanks to Key2Mouse and FSUIPC modules! ITS is a series of Italian tutorials rich with images and information to help Italian simmers to use some FS Add-ons and now the GF hardware! At the present you can find the Phoenix Airbus 320-330 Tutorial and the Captain Sim B727 Tutorial. For more information visit the ITS-Italian Website .

Commercial Level Simulations Announces Airbus Pack

Posted: Friday, July 7, 2006 - 14:09
Commercial Level Simulations is pleased to announce the release of a unique package, The 3 Airbus Pack. This pack includes the Airbus A36R, the Beluga and the entire A310 series! Available as bundle with discount via their website. CLS writes, "But that's not all, for our existing A36R customers we have released Service Pack 1. Got our A300-600R product? Please have a look at our webpage for more details on this service pack which will update the models."

A few examples are improved wingflex, XML landing gear, improved VC texture and 3D stairs. Even more news from CLS, the F117A Nighthawk and A340-500/600 are now also available in a box (by Just Flight). Available at the CLS website and also from Just Flight.

First User Survey For VATSIM Results Available

Posted: Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 23:25
The first ever user survey for VATSIM was carried out online in April 2006. The data will be used extensively by VATSIM staff to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in the service we provide and inform future developments. Both the full report and an executive summary are available at VATSIM (click on Member Services-->Document Library). We would like to thank the 6,691 people who took the time to complete our survey, and Jeff Clark and his colleagues for developing and analysing it. Both a summary and full versions are available.

400 Copies of FSX PRO – One Could Be Yours!

Posted: Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 19:59
AVSIM is pleased to announce that the first 400 registrants to the 2006 AVSIM Convention will receive a free copy of the PRO version of FSX. That’s right, the PRO version. In order to receive your free copy, you must have previously registered for the event and be one of the first 400 to do so. Registrations are coming in at a clip that exceeds all previous AVSIM exhibitions, so hurry, as you do not want to miss this great opportunity to get your free copy of the next generation of flight simulator! In attending the 2006 Convention’s Friday night Social and Saturday night Awards Banquet, you will automatically be entered to win (for FREE of course)video cards and controller hardware which Microsoft will give away on those evenings. To be eligible for any of these great give aways, you must be present! So register today and join us at this year’s Convention in Washington D.C.

Military Aircraft Review - Captain Sim's AC-130E "Spectre"

Posted: Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 2:50
Lock and Load, you dont hear that too much in aviation. Sr Reviewer Alexis Esguerra looks at a completely unique version of the venerable Hercules, the AC-130E "Spectre" from Captain Sim. "AC-130E joins the ranks of add-on variants for the original Legendary C-130, which include the KC-130 (Tanker), CL-130 (Floatplane), C-130T (Fat Albert), and the C-130J (6-bladed props)."

Inside and out, this C-130 is different. "The external model is gorgeous, and from what I’ve been able to dredge up photo-wise from the chosen period in 509’s life, appears to be almost spot on. The changes to the fuselage, done to accommodate all the necessary equipment to support ‘Spectre’s’ new mission, were nailed in the rendering. The interior is really a piece of work in its limited scope, with all the various gunner, sensor, and rest stations for the ‘guys/gals-in-back’ redone in great form."

About the Flight Model, "AC-130E includes the original and quite excellent flight model of C-130. I’ll just leave it at the fact that it really does the job of mimicking the heavy transport feel and surprising short-field performance capabilities of the Hercules. It has to be experienced to be believed. As with all previous renditions of C-130 that I’ve dealt with, AC-130E is one system friendly package"

Alexis concludes with, "Just how happy AC-130E will make a user depends heavily on whether or not you own the baseline version. If you happen to be in the situation where you plan to merge this product with C-130, then I can state rather confidently that AC-130E would be an excellent addition to your Hercules collection. When I consider the details this package brings to the table and how well the baseline package mixes in, I have to admit that it may be very well next to impossible to find a finer rendition of this gunship in FS2004."

FS Earth 3.0 Available For Download

Posted: Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 0:05
FS Earth acts as an interface between Flight Simulator 2004 and Google Earth, letting to follow a flight in real time, over the satellite images generated by Google Earth. Flights can be saved, and many options are available for fine tuning the performance, as well as the map's style (zoom, tilt, orientation). May work on a single computer running Flight Simulator and Google Earth all together, or, for best experience, can be used on two networked computers running respectively Flight Simulator (master) and Google Earth (slave). Supports AI Traffic and mutiplayer aircrafts. New release, featuring many important improvements and the possibility to upload into Google Earth any flight plan generated by Flight Simulator. For further information, please visit the official FSEarth website.

Spitfire Dawn to Dusk Challenge 2006

Posted: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 22:22
Flight1 has been supporting the The Spitfire Dawn to Dusk Challenge 2006 - an attempt to visit as many former Spitfire airfields as possible in a single day.

The challenge involved a planned 15 hour period where Today’s Pilot editor, Steve Bridgewater, and Louise Walker, a flying instructor at Oxford, would pilot a Piper PA-28 Cherokee the length and breadth of the British Isles to raise money and awareness for the Flying Scholarships for the Disabled charity, visiting up to 25 airfields.

Flying Scholarships for the Disabled is a charity that is dedicated to helping disabled people discover their true potential through the mental and physical stimulation of learning to fly an aircraft. The charity was founded in 1983 following the death of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, who lost both his legs in a flying accident and yet went on against all the odds to achieve fame as a gifted fighter pilot and leader during the Second World War.

Steve and Louise’s day did not go entirely to plan, due to some unexpected poor weather both at their departure airport and enroute.

However, despite the best efforts of the British weather, they managed to visit 14 airfields and logged just under 10 hours in the air stopping off to give countless press, radio and television interviews to promote the FSD charity and of course raise money!

Their routing took them from Oxford-Coventry-Coventry (weather divert)-Blackpool-RAF Coningsby-RAF Wittering-Duxford-Cambridge-North Weald-Manston (via the overhead at Southend)-Goodwood-Lasham-RAF Lyneham-Kemble-Little Rissington-Oxford.

Any challenge such as this is supported by many people, including Jamie Chalkley (who was Ops Manager for the successful round the world helicopter speed record) and Polly Vacher (who has flown round the world twice, solo).

You can find out more about the team, the challenge and the charity at the specially created website at Spitfire Dawn to Dusk Challenge.

Perfect Flight Announces New Version United Flight Ops

Posted: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 13:16
Perfect Flight announces the availability of a new version of United Flight Operations, game add-on for Flight Simulator 2004.The update comes with planes in new United colors and is free for previous users of the product. The new version, available as download or Boxed edition, contains timetables, adventures, planes, and an original software interface that allows users to replicate the most common airline operations, such as rating checkrides that earn promotions, flight assignment and more. For more info and free update visit the Perfect Flight site.

VOZ Version 1.21 Released

Posted: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 3:21
The VOZ Team is pleased to announce that version 1.21 of their Vista Australis freeware scenery covering all of Australia has been released and is now available for download. Originally intended as a patch to fix several missing textures and performance issues at some airports, 1.21 now resembles as much more feature-rich release with two completely designed-from-scratch GMax modelled airports at YMHB Hobart and YMLT Launceston, plus YDPO Devonport Phase I, YGTO Georgetown and new landclass for Tasmania. It also adds many new airports and sceneries, AFCAD updates, new textures and many other enhancements and tweaks to greatly enhance the VOZ experience. Download it free from the Vista Australis website

FsGenesis Releases Ontario 38.2m Terrain

Posted: Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 2:04
Ontario 38.2m Terrain renders the entire Canadian province of Ontario in incredible and accurate detail, derived from recently-released 23m CDED source data. Ontario 38.2m Terrain comes in two downloadable versions--an auto-installer and manually-installed .zip files, and an optional CD for an extra price, shipped worldwide, postage-paid. Ontario 38.2m Terrain can be purchased from the FsGenesis website and you can be downloading in minutes. Galaxy-class members need only log into their FSG Store account and click GalaxyXpress.

New Scenery Review - Brest by SimuDesign

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 23:26
Sr Staff Reviewer Brian Fletcher takes a look at a southern French city that this editor has a warm spot for, Brest, as presented by SimuDesign. "Not only is this recreation of Brest leaps and bounds above the default scenery, but it has joined the next level of scenery enhancements."

As a general overview of this airfield, Brian describes the many features included in the add-on. "The Brest Bretagne Airport has many exciting features and the layout is a near perfect recreation of the real airport. The parking spots are home to an array of dynamic and static ground support vehicles, a detailed terminal, and even a marshal that is available at parking spot 4 only. This parking area is where the majority of the AI traffic will reside, and it is also where your aircraft will be serviced. Once you are properly marshaled into position, you can use NAV 2 frequency 117.50 to activate the dynamic ground support equipment. The module included with this product will permit the vehicles to pull up to each aircraft as appropriate. A fuel truck, stair truck, and two baggage handling vehicles will pull up to your aircraft from their previous position on either side of the parking spot. If the weather is fair, the stairs will have an open top, in fowl weather, the stairs will be covered."

The review concludes with Brian stating, "I really enjoyed reviewing the SimuDesign Brest scenery add-on for FS9 and have no reason not to recommend that you consider adding this facility to your virtual world. I am very pleased with the modeling of the buildings, all of which I find to be detailed very well. I am also more than satisfied with the new ground textures and overall photo realistic land class. So all in all I would definitely place my stamp of approval on this product. It is my opinion that this add-on has something to offer for just about every simmer."

FlightParis AutogenPack Just Released

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 23:01
France VFR has just released the last FlightSeries product: FlightParis AutogenPack. The AutogenPack is the second pane of the FlightParis scenery and complements the photo-realistic BasePack (required) with buildings and vegetation mandatory to achieve a realistic visual of the area. This complement provides an Autogen coverage of about 12500 km2 and is made of trees, buildings, warehouses and houses meticulously positioned on the BasePack photo-realistic texture. In order to depict the specificities of the different Paris areas, we have developed a set of specific Autogen textures for the Paris area, towns, industrial areas, villages... With this new Autogen pack, FlightParis is the first scenery developed for Flight Simulator that offers a specific Autogen coverage with such a surface and density bringing a level of realism never seen before. Visit FranceVFR to find out more!

SquawkBox 3.1 Released

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 20:29
VATSIM and the SquawkBox team led by Joel DeYoung announce the release of SquawkBox 3.1, a new version of the VATSIM online pilot client. Upgrades to the software include several major bug and crash fixes, new commands added, compatibility improvements with VRC (another pilot client), and new navigation data. You can find more information, and download the new version of the software, from the SquawkBox site.

Dreamscenery KIND Scenery Package Released

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 18:36
Dreamscenery releases Indianapolis International Airport scenery (KIND 2006). It tries to match the real thing and how this airport looks as close as possible to real life. Among its features are all the airport terminals (international main terminal, Fedex, etc.), runways, taxiways and apron network with custom textures, runway grass and runway light system, dynamic jetways in main terminal and ex-United Facility Hub (frequency-controlled), terminal ground facility vehicles in main terminal as well as in Fedex cargo area (frequency-controlled), all the airport hangars, most of them with frequency-controlled opening doors, taxiway and runway signage, both the current and the new control tower, static objects, dynamic scenery such as airport ground vehicles as well as cars coming and going away from the airport drop off area, real buildings and vegetation around the airport zone (hotels, industrial, etc.) making you feel like you're there, new GRE next to the runway 5L-23R, runway ice accumulation in those heavy winter days between January 15th and February 9th, new midfield terminal construction site as it’s expected to be seen in late 2007 (due to be ready by 2008). You can find more information at Dreamscenery.

Has Amazon Let the Cat Out of the Bag?

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 15:17
Amazon has posted a release date for MS FSX and though AVSIM cannot verify that date, we can point out that the AVSIM Conference and Exhibition is set to occur the weekend before the Amazon stated date of 19th September. The 2006 Conference and Exhibition takes place on the 15th thru 17th September, and the first 400 registrants will receive a free copy of MS FSX, either at the event or immediately upon receipt at the AVSIM fulfillment center. If the 400 copies of MS FSX are not ready by the event, AVSIM will ship those 400 copies free, to any address around the world. You have to be pre-registered, one of the first 400 to register, and IN ATTENDANCE at the event to get your free copy of MS FSX! Attendees may also be lucky enough to win some pretty spectacular hardware on Friday and Saturday night as well as give aways from vendors exhibiting at the event. But, you have to be there to win! With this year's attendee registrations easily outstripping all our previous conferences -- register today and be a part of the largest flight simulation event this year!

Free Blogs for Pilots

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 6:26
A new service provided by Virtual Ground School provides individuals the opportunity to have their very own blog. Whether you are a virtual pilot, aviation enthusiast, or a real world pilot let the world know about it. We have numerous new blog templates under development such as specific ones for aircraft, airlines and aircraft manufacturers. Blogs @ VGS is a totally free service. Fly on over to Blogs @ Virtual Ground School and check it out for yourself!

New Aircraft Package Review - World Airlines by Overland Japan Ltd

Posted: Monday, July 3, 2006 - 1:25
New reviewer Jeff Shyluk takes a look at a product from a Japanese developer, Fly Into The Sky! World Airlines from Overland Japan Ltd. "Although World Airlines was created for a Japanese flight simulation audience, all of the included aircraft have English-language cockpits and liveries, and the manual has instructions in English as well."

"In terms of sophistication, these jets are roughly equal to what you would find among the default MSFS airliners," Jeff reports, "if you are looking for sophisticated details in these airliners, then there are a few improvements over the basic jets, but operationally speaking, there are not a lot of complicated in-flight functions. Flight controls and cockpit devices for all of the World Airlines jets closely resemble those for the default MSFS airliners. There are no working Flight Management Computers, other than the Flight Planner that comes built into Flight simulator."

"Every World Airlines jet has a basic 2D cockpit and a 3D cockpit. Overall, I found the presentation of the flight decks to be quite good. Since there are no truly complicated controls in any of the World Airlines cockpits, you may feel free to experiment with what each switch does without the worry of ruining your airplane. The 3D cockpits in World Airlines are very nicely done. For those sim pilots looking to find Airbus jets with clickable 3D cockpits, you should be happy with the selection in World Airlines."

Commenting on the exterior models, "The number and variety of passenger jets in World Airlines is impressive, but the real star of the show has to be the exterior models of the airplanes. In a word, they are beautiful! Every World Airlines jet comes loaded with animations. The attention to detail in the World Airlines models is very high. The World Airlines planes look like they are made from real-world metal rather than pixels. The unpainted aircraft parts shine brightly, while the painted textures have just the right degree of specularity and glossiness."

As far as flight dynamics goes, Jeff says, "The first impression that I had when I started to test all of these planes is that twenty is a very large number to go through! Most aircraft add-on packages will either give you one airplane with a very high level of detail in terms of avionics and flight dynamics, or they will give you an assortment of planes with a lesser amount of detail. World Airlines fits into the latter category."

Jeff concludes his extensive review with, "Fly Into The Sky! World Airlines is an ambitious add-on for Flight Simulator 2000/2004. Featuring 20 different airframes and many liveries from all over the planet, World Airlines deserves its name. The best feature of World Airlines are the stunning aircraft models. Beautiful and realistic, these airplanes are marvellous to look at in both day and night conditions. The cockpits of each aircraft are visually sophisticated, with a very good balance maintained between the visibility of the flight instruments and the view out of the front windscreen. My impression of World Airlines is that it is a good add-on. There is a lot of material to explore in this product."

Flight One Software Releases Ground Environment Professional

Posted: Sunday, July 2, 2006 - 18:56
Flight One Software, in partnership with Peter Wilding, Anthony Vos, and Carl Hackman, announce the release of a more advanced and exciting version of Ground Environment.

Ground Environment Professional is the "Enthusiasts dream". With expanded ground textures and the ability to customize and save for future use, the colors and hues of the ground, as well as the ability of adjusting the sky colors, you can fly in truly customized landscapes in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. This is all accomplished through the Ground Environment Professional interface.

The product also has coordination with the latest weather conditions. Included is technology for downloading and decoding the latest METAR cycle which then intelligently selects and installs the correct texture sets for both ground and sky. This will allow you to match shades of ground and sky that match current weather conditions, in terms of color, hue, brightness, contrast, and reflectivity.

Flight One has both Ground Environment Professional and Ground Environment Standard available. Ground Environment Standard edition will be for users that do not wish to have advanced customizations of the ground textures and sky environments. The Professional version offers the advanced customizations, weather interface, and additional texture expansions for parts of Florida, Miami, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Asia, and other parts of the Tropics.

Complete details on Ground Environment Professional for previous GE owners and interested purchasers are available at the Flight One website.

Callsigns/Forum Names at Conference - Update

Posted: Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 19:22
A reminder to those who have already registered for the September Conference. If you would like your "callsign" or "forum name" on your name tag at the conference, please forward your real name and forum name to the Conference Registrar.

For those of you who haven't registered yet, please include this info when you register. For those registering onsite, we will make your nametag there.

Don't forget, the first 400 registered get a copy of FS-X. See everyone in 11 weeks.

Military Aircraft Review - Alphasim's F-22 Raptor

Posted: Saturday, July 1, 2006 - 6:54
New reviewer Joseph Ellwood takes a look at the Air Force's newest acquisition, the F-22 Raptor from AlphaSim. "The sheer maneuverability of the F-22 is astounding."

"The cockpit of Alphasim’s F-22 is well laid out and easy to use. Any intermediate simmer should take only a few minutes to master the operations of this plane," Joe comments about the office, "from the looks of things, this appears to be Alphasim’s best VC to date."

Taking a look at the Raptor from the outside, "The model of the Raptor is just brilliant with lots of detail clearly evident. The F-22 is equipped with Thrust Vectoring Nozzles (TVN) to assist in pitch. The afterburners are different from what you’d expect from regular combat aircraft add-ons for this simulator, in that the effect does not actually extend beyond the thrust nozzles."

Joe states in his review conclusion, "I had a blast flying this plane; it flies, looks and performs brilliantly. Any military simulation enthusiast should give this a hard look."