World Airports 3 Released

Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 1:38
Just Flight is pleased to announce the imminent release of five of the best for Flight Simulator! The latest instalment in the World Airports series brings five fantastic airports to Flight Simulator X and 2004.

As the title suggests, the airports in the pack are in the North American region - Atlanta International (KATL), Charlotte Douglas International (KCLT), Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International (KCVG), Nassau Lynden Pindling International (MYNN) and San Juan Luis Munoz Marin, Puerto Rico (TJSJ). In addition, owners of World Airports 3 will be able to expand their collection further with two upgrade packs, available exclusively to purchase direct from their World Airports 3 disc. The upgrades will add Kansas City International Airport (KMCI) and New York LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) to the World Airports 3 range.

The World Airports series has been bringing flight simulation fans the best airport scenery for the last eight years. Now Flight Simulator X users can takeoff and land from some of the best destinations in North America. Developed by the highly experienced scenery design team at Imagine Simulations, the airports are re-created to an astonishing level of detail. Among the unique features are custom-made runways, airport vehicles, breathtaking night lighting, full ILS navigation and lots more.

Some of the features include:
- Terminal buildings are rendered to an incredible 5cm per pixel - get up close and personal with every airport!
- Airports look fantastic when darkness falls thanks to beautifully lit buildings and parking areas. Complete airport taxiway and runway lighting is also included.
- Hundreds of airport vehicles and ground personnel are featured and aircraft can be found parked at custom textured parking positions.
- Interactive docking system will help you to park you right on the mark.
- Runways and taxiways are individually modelled with realistic textures.
- Take a look round the airports in the driveable 'Follow Me' car.
- 3D approach lighting and full ILS navigation included.

A Little Help From Just Flight

Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 1:32
A PDF tutorial and tutorial flight from YBBN (Brisbane) to YSSY (Sydney) for 757 Captain is now available. It can be installed into both FS2004 and FSX. To install the tutorial (6.1 MB) you'll need your Just Flight 757 Captain DVD in the drive. The tutorial covers the programming and functionality of various aircraft systems including the FMC/CDU, Traffic and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II), as well as the fully functioning autoland system.

VR-920 Head Mounted Display from Vuzix

Posted: Friday, January 16, 2009 - 3:10
Staff reviewer Jeremy Jeffreys straps on a pair of high tech goggles and flies in a total immersion environment with Vuzix's VR-920 Head Mounted Display.

"The Vuzix website states that the display is equivalent to a person seated 9 feet away from a 62” screen. The HMD includes a head tracker giving it the ability to provide three axis tracking, Yaw, Roll, and Pitch. The HMD is very light in weight but you must get the ear buds, nose pieces and head strap fit to your head to be comfortable."

"Does the iWear VR920 allow a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, be it a real or imagined one? I would whole heartedly say yes, and iWear has really hit a home run with their VR920 HMD."

New VoxATC version now in Avsim Store

Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 16:12
VoxATC, the popular Air Traffic Control program , is now available in version 5.55. It includes more voices, more aircraft and more . You can get VoxATC from the Avsim store, or from any flight simulator distributor. The Avsim store is also carrying the Pro Flight Switch Panel from Saitek reviewed on this site.
Visit the new Avsim Store today.

GMap 1.1, With Chart Support

Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 6:39
FSWidgets has released an update to GMap for FSX, the freeware moving map system. Version 1.1 of all four GMap editions - EFB, Browser, Garmin and iPhone - adds a chart loading function with support for a new open format calibration system for aeronautical charts, overlaying them onto the Google Maps display. Sample TAC and Sectional charts are included and you can easily create your own charts as outlined in the GMap documentation. EFBFSX (Electronic Flight Bag for FSX) users also need to download the latest build (Version 1.3 - a free update) to use this new GMap release as a module under EFBFSX. Aside from the GMap 1.1 support, EFBFSX 1.3 now also accepts PNG image files on the WX page and includes the same customizable memory optimization feature included in the new GMap module.

FanCon 2009, Don't Miss It!

Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 6:35
We are pleased to announce that we have opened registrations for this year's AVSIM FANCON. The 2009 FANCON will be held in Dayton, Ohio on Friday, September 4th through Sunday, the 6th. The venue will be at the Hope Hotel, located on the Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Nearby is the Aviation Museum of the Air Force; the largest, most extensive display of aviation history in the world. At the FANCON you will visit dozens of displays related to flight simulation, have the option of attending our Friday Night Flight Simmer's Social and the Saturday night Awards Banquet. The Saturday Banquet will see the presentation of AVSIM's prestigious BRAVO ZULU AWARDS, and the community voted for READER CHOICE AWARDS. You can register here in our new RSVP System. We look forward to seeing you in Dayton!

Pro Flight Switch Panel from Saitek

Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 3:26
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen adds a new component to her home cockpit with Saitek's Pro Flight Switch Panel. "The reviewed Saitek Switch Panel, either as an extension of your Pro Flight Yoke System or as an individual item, is well designed. It fits perfectly on a Yoke System component but is also beautiful as a stand-alone component."

"Although the switch panel works well with the default FSX airplanes, it even works with add-on airplanes but a note is needed here. The more complex these add-on aircraft become, the bigger the chance some switches or selectors don’t work. Although the look of the Switch Panel tells me we’re dealing with a GA (General Aviation) panel, most of the external/internal light switches and landing gear handle are working with most of the add-on aircraft."

Angelique concludes her "test drive" of Saitek's Pro Flight Switch Panel with, "looking at the Saitek module and what it offers, keeping the price in mind, I must say it’s a great add-on for FSX. I had fun testing this component".

Worldflight 2008

Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 1:13
WorldFlight 2008 was conducted during the week of November 3rd to November 9th 2008 on the VATSIM network. The WorldFlight Group raise money for various aviation related charities around the world including The Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service, Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, Cancer Research UK and Christophorous Flugrettungsverein. The seven full cockpit simulators and their crews flew 45 legs starting from and finishing at YSSY (Sydney Australia) and covered 40,000nm. A total of 243 aircraft participated along the way for a total of 1,793hrs flown. You can check the statistics at the Worldflight website.

On behalf of the WorldFlight Group would like to thank each and every one of you for joining in and supporting the group. The result of the WorldFlight Group's fundraising for 2008 is: AUD 44,449 which equates to; USD 30,241, EU 21658, or GBP 20,492

JustFlight - C130 Hercules Review

Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009 - 23:21
Avsim Staff Reviewer Jason McKee has taken an in depth look at one of the most recognized aircraft in the world today... The C-130 Hercules published by Just Flight. Always a favorite with many flight simmers, Jason is suitably impressed with the package and goes on to say:

"Just flight has published the C-130 that has won awards for the developer Captain Sim. Included in the DVD is the following models; AC-130 Spectre Gun ship, C Mk.1, C Mk.3, C-130E, C-130H, C-130H-30, HC-130, KC-130 Model L100-30, C-130J, C-130J-30 and the C-130T. Overall there are 12 models with 28 different liveries. These models are for both FSX and FS2004. Also as a bonus, you get a custom version of RAF Lyneham for FS2004.

I can see that I am going to have to find more time to fly this aircraft. The Just Flight release includes the great Captain Sim package and includes some of the additional packs for the C-130, as a bonus you get the scenery and the FS2004 version."

Click on the link to read Jasons full review of the C-130 Hercules.

Carenado Releases C172 Skyhawk II for FSX

Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009 - 5:00
Carenado has released one of the most successful and mass produced light aircraft in aviation history. The C172N Skyhawk II for FSX.

As with all of their previous FSX aircraft, this one was also developed using:
•NURBS modeling techniques
•High resolution textures resulting in a photorealistic representation with very friendly FPS performance. All the textures have fine tune alpha calibrations of whites for the bloom lights.
•A polygon optimized procedure All of this plus FSX and DX10 features like cast shadows on VC, external dynamic cast shadows, normal mapping, specular mapping and bloom lights, resulting in a superior representation of this aircraft.

Carenado hopes this product covers the demand of the community for a good representation of the C172 that simmers have been demanding for a long time.

PMDG MD-11 for FSX and FS2004

Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 13:00
PMDG has released new versions of the PMDG MD-11 for FSX and FS2004. These updates serve to bring both versions to parity, and to add some new features and fixes since the FSX release in October and the FS9 release earlier this week. Both platforms are now up to version 1.10.0051, and customers may download the updates directly from PMDG's download page at Precision Manuals Development Group.

Attention X-Plane Simmers

Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 6:31
Robin Peel, the custodian of the X-Plane airport and navigation data for the past 12 years, announces he has given a new look and a new home to his web site. "This is the "official" source of X-Plane data, and also for the file specifications that define that data. It's now hosted at http://data.x-plane.com. There are new pages for FAQs and for data designer resources. The content will continue to evolve to better serve the X-Plane community."

FS2Crew For FS9 PMDG MD-11 Released

Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 6:25
PMDG MD-11 drivers please note that FS2Crew has just released the FS9 version of its popular PMDG MD-11 Edition. Based on real-world airline procedures provided by MD-11 pilot, David Bartoli, FS2Crew allows users to fly their PMDG MD-11 just as they would in a multi-crew environment, using real-world SOPs. PMDG MD-11 Captains are cleared via present position direct to the FS2Crew website for more information.

Pro Flight Trainer - Helicopter Controls

Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 6:01
Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis flies helicopters like he never has before with a complete flight control system from Pro Flight Trainer. "The product is aptly named the Pro Flight Trainer and what it does is quite remarkable, as it includes all of the controls needed for flying a helicopter."

"The unit itself is designed mainly with treated wood with the exception of the steel faceplate on the upper part of the base unit and this is to simulate the metal plating on the floor of a chopper. It comes with plastic knobs, the cyclic and the collective. The control cyclic is mounted on top of a lightweight steel pole and the collective is attached to the left of the unit with a wooden arm that is attached to the side of the unit."

Gene tests this piece of hardware with the default FSX Bell helicopter, and then jumps into AlphaSim's Blackhawk and Apache Longbow helos. "Pro Flight Trainer has literally transformed the way I fly helicopters in FSX and is well worth its price tag in my opinion. The guys that designed and developed these controllers really do have something that every Flight Sim Chopper Pilot should have!"

IVAO Virtual Sky, New Edition

Posted: Friday, January 9, 2009 - 13:27
IVAO is happy to present before you the fourth edition of their official magazine of IVAO Virtual Sky. Their first three editions had over 65,000 cumulative downloads for which they wish sincere thanks to all their avid readers. IVAO writes, "This edition is a special edition since it commemorates 10 Years of IVAO and also 1 year of IVAO Virtual Sky. Hence, the edition has been packaged with some interesting articles which we hope you will all enjoy."

For more information or to download this latest installment, visit IVAO Virtual Sky.

Aerosoft - Cologne-Bonn Scenery Review

Posted: Thursday, January 8, 2009 - 16:49
Avsim Staff Reviewer Allen Lavigne has taken a look at another product released by Aerosoft, German Airports 2 - Cologne-Bonn.

Allen seems enthused by this product and goes on to say: "This scenery product is top notch. The complete set of approach and departure charts, along with the photo terrain, allow for a pleasant immersion in simulating flights to and from the Cologne-Bonn airport. I found a better color match with UTX-EU for the surrounding terrain tiles, and a better match for accuracy with the VFR-Germany-1 installation. Although the configurator for tree textures could be useful, it can be easily forgotten, which may or may not make for a clashing of tree textures with the surroundings.
Performance was always smooth and acceptable except in areas where building and bridge objects from adjacent scenery was being drawn while on approach. If you are tempted to get this product, read the German Airports 2 - Cologne-Bonn review or visit the Aerosoft website.

AU Red & Port Lincoln Available

Posted: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - 14:30
Orbx is proud to finally complete the FTX series for Australia, with its final AU RED region. If you've ever flown from one of the eastern Australian cities and overland to Asia, from your window seat you may have thought that you were on a mission over Mars. The outback is a vast, red place and certainly the least boring of all the places to visit in Australia. With a sometimes alien landscape and stunning vistas, there is so much to find in this massive inland region. Huge craggy mountain ranges, salt lakes, millions of miles of sand ridges and dunes and a rich pallette of colors that can change overnight during the wet season, the outback is what makes Australia one of the most diverse and unique places on earth. Visit Uluru, Alice Springs, Kings Canyon, the Olgas, and the Indian Ocean coast at Shark Bay. FTX AU RED includes all roads, traffic, vertical obstructions, major towns and cities, 55,000 windmills and pumps and even includes roo fences for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Port Lincoln is available for free, for Flight Simulator X and is also available from Orbx

FanCon 2009, Call For White Papers!

Posted: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - 23:29
We’ve begun our planning process for White Paper presentations at FANCON 2009. Share your expertise with hundreds of fellow flight simulation enthusiasts; we’ll select from among your entry summaries those we feel are the most innovative and/or informative, in categories such as:
Development techniques for FSX (including innovative new product introductions: Aircraft; Scenery (including weather effects); and FSX Mission creation. Simulation applications: Based on a Microsoft flight Simulator; or Special purpose simulations. Pilot training (including application comparative surveys, flight planning tools, etc.). FSX application tuning (guidelines/benchmarks). Home cockpit development.

Entries in additional categories will be considered as well, based on potential interest to the flight and train simulation community. Please send an e-mail to the FANCON presentations administrator including your proposed subject title and a brief synopsis of your topic, and the proposed paper length (for publication in the Conference Proceedings).

Also indicate whether you plan to be available to present the paper (you may opt for a team presentation) during one of the presentation sessions or can arrange for an alternate presenter if necessary; presentation time should be in the 30 - 50 minute range. We’ll acknowledge your submission promptly and follow up with an acceptance notice and further information concerning your presentation.

FTX YPJT Jandakot Airport Released

Posted: Sunday, January 4, 2009 - 19:18
Orbx is pleased to announce the immediate availability of FTX YPJT Jandakot Airport. Jandakot is one of Australia's busiest regional airports in terms of flight movements, and the Orbx version has been faithfully reproduced down to the last gable marker.

Made using 25cm/pixel licensed aerial photography from the Western Australian government, and superbly modeled airport buildings made using photos taken on-site, this airport will be a delight to use as your hub for your western GA flights. The scenery includes most major VFR approach and circuit waypoints and encompasses well over 50 square kilometres of photoreal scenery with seasonal variations and night lighting. The airport also includes accurate custom GA AI aircraft with custom paints and flight plans. Jandakot is the culmination of over two years of development by Jarrad Marshall and more recently in collaboration with the Orbx team.

Friendly Panels' CRJ 700 Panel for FSX

Posted: Sunday, January 4, 2009 - 16:47
Senior staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk renovates a cockpit with Friendly Panels' CRJ 700 Panel for FSX. "The Bombardier CRJ 700 Panel by Friendly Panels for FSX adds realistic cockpit instruments to the default CRJ 700 jetliner that comes packaged with Flight Simulator. It creates an updated 2D cockpit environment and it replaces some of the gauges in the VC."

"The 2D cockpit seems to me to work a lot better than the 3D cockpit. Both cockpits allow the user to click on the MFD's to enlarge them, which is always a welcome feature. The central feature is the new FMC. This device allows for more realistic flight procedures, and is capable of LNAV and VNAV autopilot operations. Flight plans must be created in the default FSX .flt format, and are loaded automatically when you file the flight plan in the simulator. The FMC depends on default FSX data, so you should not download fresh AIRAC information to update it."

"The Friendly Panels system seems to improve the functions of the gauges in the CRJ 700 cockpit. However, it does not improve the layout and usability of the virtual cockpit, which was disappointing for me. If you fly with the 2D panel, though, this product seems to perform decently."