FSX Mission Editor from FSAddon

Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 19:23
Senior Staff Reviewer Jeff Shyluk tries to get technical as he delves into FSAddon's FSX Mission Maker. "This product is designed to make Mission creation easier. People who are experienced at Mission creation and who have used FSXME refuse to go back to making Missions without this program. Even the Mission gurus at ACES, Microsoft's internal development team for Flight Simulator products, have nothing but good things to say about FSXME."

"The FSX Mission Editor does four things much better than the default Microsoft editor:

1) FSXME will create and compile your Mission files automatically. You can even create a software protection key that will help keep your Missions from being pirated, should you decide to sell them for money.

2) FSXME uses a data flow chart system to arrange the elements of your Mission, which are called "nodes". Nodes can be dragged and dropped to create sequences of events, and are freely editable.

3) FSXME comes with a powerful set of easy-to-use debugging tools. Often, a mistake will show up in your flow chart as a colour-coded box, making it easy to diagnose and fix problems in Missions. You can even import files from Flight 1's Instant Mission Maker utility.

4) FSXME has a simple yet powerful Mission Creation Wizard. Use the speedy Wizard to create basic point-to-point Missions. Beginners can use these simple Missions as a tool for learning how to add and edit nodes."

"The FSX Mission Editor is compatible with Vista and XP. You can use it to edit Missions from FSX, FSX+SP1, FSX+SP2, and FSX+Acceleration. To get the most out of FSXME, you should also install the free SDK that matches your version of FSX."

FanCon Hotel Booking Now Available

Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 13:16
Are you ready to book your room at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center? Now you can use the exclusive booking code of 397447 and secure the FanCon rate of $75.00 per night (single or double occupancy).

This rate is available between 1-6 September which will allow you to come early and spend time at the US Air Force Museum onsite at Wright Paterson Air Force Base.

Simply log on to the Hope Hotel's website, and under the "guest rooms" drop-down menu click on "make reservations now". Insert 397447 into the "Group Reservations" block and voila....you can now make your reservation.

Review - I Am An Air Traffic Controller 3

Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 1:24
Senior contributing reviewer Gene Davis takes a look at Air Traffic Control in a completely different light with Techno Brain's "I am an Air Traffic Controller 3 - Tokyo Bigwing". "Every now and then there is a new program that just jumps off your computer screen and screams play me!"

"Tokyo Bigwing I am an Air Controller 3 creates a beautifully rendered version of Tokyo International Airport along with all sorts of different types of aircraft. The graphics are some of the best I have seen in this type of simulation, as it totally immerses the player into the operation of the airport by allowing him or her to see and hear everything from just about every perspective."

"The game comes with 6 stages of playability, all from within the control tower of Tokyo International. Each level, or stage as they call it, is much more complex than the previous and as you progress through each stage, you will definitely need to keep a level head and be mindful of your actions, otherwise your career as an air traffic controller will come to an abrupt end."

"Tokyo Bigwing was definitely a fresh and new approach to the ATC simulator set, it offers a different style of game play that is often fun and insanely fast paced! I have to say, Tokyo Bigwing has remained on my PC."

MD-11 British Voice Set For FS2Crew

Posted: Friday, February 20, 2009 - 16:10
FS2Crew MD-11 British Voice Set is now available for download. This is a a FREE update for existing FS2Crew MD-11 owners. PMDG MD-11 pilots can taxi to the FS2Crew website to download the British Voice Set.

FSFlyingSchool2009 V2.1 Released

Posted: Friday, February 20, 2009 - 14:28
FSInventions announces a new version of its FSFlyingSchool2009 add-on for FSX and FS2004. Version 2.1 introduces new features which are free to existing owners of FSFlyingSchool2009.

Sound Device Output Selection- Pilots with multiple sound devices are now able to choose which device is used to output sound from FSFlyingSchool2009. As just one example, this means that your instructor voices can come through your headphones while the engine sounds come through your speakers, increasing your immersion in the simulation.

Instructors Report Aircraft Failures - A great number of aircraft systems, instruments and switches can have a simulated failure when flying with FSFlyingSchool2009. When they do, your helpful instructor will (optionally) tell you what the specific problem is.

To find out more, watch movies, download demo, etc, visit the FSFlyingSchool website.

YMAV Melbourne For FSX

Posted: Friday, February 20, 2009 - 13:36
Orbx announces the release of its latest FTX airport YMAV Avalon for Flight Simulator X. This airport is the home of the world famous Avalon International Airshow and also a secondary base for Qantas training and maintenance, and a domestic passenger hub for budget carrier JetStar. Developers John Ross and John Venema have faithfully recreated the entire airport and surrounds using 60cm/pixel source imagery, custom objects and autogen placement. Seamlessly blended into Orbx's FTX AU BLUE, the scenery includes full seasonal support, night lighting effects and textures, moving traffic and extended photoreal areas covering over 30 square kilometres. More information at Orbx FTX
.

Project Fokker IYP Compatible

Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 13:02
It's Your Plane (IYP) announces the latest aircraft to join the many already existing in the IYP hanger for FS9-2004,the twin jet-engine Project Fokker F-100. PFJ, the developers of the Project Fokker F-100 Series, is a small team of very enthusiastic people, dedicated to Fokker aircraft and to providing "freeware with limited use". We at It’s Your Plane have added the results of their enthusiasm to our own passion by including the Project Fokker F-100 Series in the IYP hanger for your further flight simulator enjoyment.

Wideview 3.0 For FSX Available

Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2009 - 12:57
Wideview can be used to get panoramic scenery views through multiple monitors connected to networked computers. This version has many new features and countless optimizations to let the clients to work at their best. The most important new features are: completely re-done weather synchronization interface, support for synchronized remote camera, additional performance optimization parameters, improved Spot Plane view which can also be spanned onto multiple monitors over the LAN, clients are no longer working in SLEW mode.

GoFlight Student Pilot in Avsim Store

Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 20:37
GoFlight Student Pilot II now available at the Avsim Store

The GoFlight Student Pilot II is a great system for those who want to get started in building a modular cockpit. It features 2 popular GoFlight components assembled in a mini-rack. It's a ready to-go solution. You can get the Student Pilot II here.

Visit the Avsim store today.

RAF Collection from Scotflight

Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 14:40
Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury looks at 3 UK airbases with Scotflight's RAF Collection. "As its name suggests, developer Scotflight concentrates on scenery for Scotland, which is good news if you are looking for UK military airbases to use in FS, because Scotland is home to some of the most famous and busiest ones to be found in the UK, and this is exactly what you get in the RAF Collection. Specifically, the three real-world Royal Air Force stations replicated in the RAF Collection are: RAF Kinloss, RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth."

"Both versions of the RAF Collection contain scenery for the three aforementioned RAF stations and both include configurable static aircraft scenery too, which does actually include one or two of the more exotic visitors these places see from time to time. Where the FSX and FS2004 versions in this package differ, is in an enhancement to the Scottish coastline. You’ll find coastal enhancements in both versions for the most part, however a tweak to the coast near Leuchars is only in the FSX incarnation."

"Intelligent decisions on how best to portray such busy places without compromising either frame rates or a sense of realism abound in this scenery. The potential difficulties of modeling military locations courtesy of these security stumbling blocks, Scotflight have come up with something which I suspect fans of RAF operations in FS are going to be particularly pleased with. RAF Collection is a solid enhancement for FSX and FS2004; it does exactly what it says on the tin and with considerable élan too."

FSX Citation II/SP Upgraded

Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 1:02
The long awaited upgrade to Eaglesoft's classic Citation II/SP showcases new avionics and features at no cost to current owners of CII/SP for FSX! Current owners may simply redownload and reinstall using their existing key and password.

This uograde features: New Eaglesoft avionics and systems programming for a more realistic experience; New Eaglesoft Sandel SA4550 EADI; New Eaglesoft Sandel SA3308a EHSI with GPS moving map and flightplan display; New Eaglesoft Collins RTU-4200 Radio Tuning Units; New Eaglesoft Garmin GNS500: New Eaglesoft WideScreen 2D Panel (1680x1050); New Eaglesoft Pulselite (Wig-Wag) lighting system; and New and improved virtual cockpit textures with improved lighting.

AirTrafficFX V2.0 Released

Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 1:09
The developers of AirTrafficFX have released version 2.0 of their popular air traffic generator for FSX. The latest version includes updates and enhancements to the existing product and is a FREE update for all current AirTrafficFX users. Some of these updates include: A 'Time Delay' feature that can be set to vary the amount of time AirTrafficFX waits before it adds an AI aircraft to FSX. Any number of aircraft, parked aircraft, traffic options and delay times can be recorded during an AirTrafficFX session and reloaded in a later session. Any number of files can be used for recording or playback in a single session.

AirTrafficFX is a powerful, yet simple-to-use air traffic generator for FSX. AirTrafficFX allows the user to add parked aircraft, local air traffic, enroute air traffic, and FSX ATC IFR air traffic. Formations can be added to local traffic, enroute traffic, and even your own flight. AirTrafficFX operates in real-time, no airline schedule management is required, and any installed fixed-wing aircraft can be used for air traffic generation. Visiti the Flight 1 website for this update.

Nantes Atlantique (LFRS) For FS2004/FSX

Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 0:55
With the release of Nantes Atlantique Scenery, France VFR completes its Collection of Regional Airports by editing the 5th pane of Airport scenery for both FS2004 and FSX.

The scenery conceptualizes the Airport of Nantes Atlantique (dept.44) using photo-real high definition textures (0.50 m/pixel) of the ground adding as well night textures for the entire zone covered. The scenery spreads over 45 km² and adds to the airport an extended photo-realistic area including specific Autogen, VFR landmarks and nearby road and highway traffic. The scenery is optimized in order to obtain the best possible framerate and quality/performance. You can use it as a standalone product or in addition to the Pays de la Loire scenery (VFRPack, scheduled release: 2009) without any adaptation. Due to its particular concept, the scenery is entirely compatible with any mesh of your choice.

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise Updated To V1.1

Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 18:07
This update is free to all existing customers, and is included with all new orders as a full download. The update includes numerous bug fixes and new features, including a new feature that animates the yoke as the autopilot changes course. X-Scenery has also added in a new IFR "Hood" feature that hinders the ability to see out the cockpit window, and disorients the pilot. This makes the pilot rely completely on instruments in order to fly the aircraft. To see a full list of features and fixes, head over to the X-Scenery website and view screenshots and videos of the aircraft, as well as make your way to their store.

vroute.info Premium - Flight Planning Utility Review

Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 22:33
Staff reviewer Colin McFadden looks at a handy utility for all your flight planning and ATC needs, vroute.info Premium. "If you’re like me, having the ability to quickly create flight plans and track whom is online and at what time, is very important when preparing for your next flight, especially when using a network like VATSIM. vroute.info Premium was created by a small group of dedicated developers to ease this process. As a matter of fact, you may never need more than one program to plan your flights ever again!"

"The interface of vroute.info is very user-friendly and easy to navigate, not to mention it looks great; the developers did a great job designing the user interface. On the right side are four buttons or “orbs” as I like to say, that act as the primary navigation. At the top of each page are the “subpage” tabs, if you will, allowing you to explore all the features and functions of each “orb.” This review goes into great deal of each interface located within the utility."

"I just have to say that vroute.info Premium is probably the most useful and powerful utility for Flight Simulator. Even the free version of vroute.info is a great tool to use while planning flights, while not being nearly as powerful as vroute.info Premium."

Captain Keith's Sandspit-X Scenery Released

Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 21:43
The FSX version of the highly popular Sandspit scenery by Captain Keith is now available and ready for instant download! Sandspit-X packs all the great features of the original FS2004 version and adds a few new ones as well. Now all you sim pilots can enjoy flying Sandspit, Masset and the Queen Charlotte Islands in FSX. Please visit Captain Keith's website for more information.

Northrop Gamma from Icarusgold

Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 19:12
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura looks at another vintage aircraft from the golden age of aviation, Icarusgold's Northrop Gamma. "The Northrop Gamma was developed in the early 1930s to carry mail, and it was adapted by the U.S. Army to act as a light bomber. What made it famous, however, was a trio of records: two transcontinental speed records (including one by Howard Hughes, while his own racer was being modified) and what supposed to be the first flight across Antarctica (it had 25 miles to go when it ran out of fuel)."

"There is one livery, Texaco Sky Chief, and one visual model. The model is FSX-native. The Gamma comes with a 2D mini-panel, but is meant to be flown from the virtual cockpit (VC). The gauges here are mostly from the default Douglas DC-3 and the default Lockheed Vega."

"On the ground, it’s relatively docile for a tail dragger, but corrections need to be made gently if you want to avoid fishtailing. In the air, the Gamma is a fast climber and responds easily to the stick. In spite of its heavy looks – a consequence of the massive wheel pants – the Gamma turns out to be rather dexterous."

"The Northrop Gamma doesn’t break new ground like the Hughes Racer that I reviewed six months ago: you can run the engine at the highest settings for as long as you please with no consequences. But this model costs less and it comes with scenery."

New ATC Academy

Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 17:27
Are you interested in learning about online ATC? Perhaps becoming part of a VATSIM? Check out the Top Flight ATC Academy.

OZx 2.1 Update Released

Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 12:23
Now available OZx 2.1, this update adds about 20 airfields, various minesites and VFR scenery. The Airfield Directions Document includes directions for all the Minesites, all Anthony Lynch's fields and ORBX/FTX fields. There's a beautiful, well-organised GE kml and heaps of new objects by the OZx 3D designers. Also available at OZx now is what we call HD ( High Definition ) paints, this one in particular is for the Bell 206. Visit the AussieX.org website for complete details about these free addons.

Flight Replicas Releases J-3 Cub for FSX

Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009 - 23:51
Built specifically for FSX (SP2 or Acceleration), the J-3 is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947. With tandem seating, it was originally intended simply for flight training, but went on to become one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time. The Cub's simplicity, affordability and popularity has enabled it to retain a strong presence in General Aviation right up to the present day, around the world. So popular is the aircraft that some companies continue to produce close imitations of the aircraft in kit form. To learn more visit the Flight Replicas website.