MegaSceneryEarth Washington State

Posted: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - 21:15
PC Aviator are pleased to announce MegaSceneryEarth has completed the entire state of Washington in the Pacific Northwest. Arguably the most visually spectacular area of the USA, this 71,300 square mile area of scenery gives you a massive chunk of day and night photoscenery that lets you cruise the skies and soar and explore such landmarks as Mt Rainier, The Cascades National Park, The Olympics Mountains, Mt Rainier, Mt St Helens, San Juan Island Group, Columbia River, Seattle and tens of thousands of square miles of mountainous wilderness. Test your flying skills with nothing short of the most spectacular eye candy you will ever see. Complete details on this release can be found at MegaSceneryEarth .

A2A Simulations P47 Razorback And Accu-Sim Expansion Pack

Posted: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 - 19:19
A2A Simulations has released the long awaited Wings of POWER 3: P47 Razorback and Accu-Sim Expansion Pack for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. P-47 Razorback Features include, Custom Cockpit Systems and Gauges, 3D Lights with under-wing landing light than can be turned on, deployed and retracted functional Recognition lights, Load Manager with the ability to load external stores including fuel tanks, bombs, rockets with authentic drag and weight, three different models each with a different propeller. Early D20 variant has the smallest propeller while the D22 and D23 have larger Curtiss or Hamilton Standard types, naturally animated pilot.
P-47 Accu-Sim Expansion Pack , released as a supplemental product the addon features : Complete piston combustion engine modeling, conditions affect system conditions, including engine temperatures. Manage temperatures with engine cowl flaps and oil cooler flaps and intercooler flaps to cool Carburetor Air Temperatures. Spark plugs can clog and eventually foul if the engine is allowed to idle too low for too long. Realistic water injection (ADI) system. Brand new A2A sound system allows for many new sounds including dynamic wind, turbo whine, engine sputters, etc. System failures including flaps that can independently jam or break based on the actual forces put upon them. Primer system modeled and authentic inertia starter. Complete details on both products can be found at A2A Simulations .

Portugal Terrain For 2004

Posted: Monday, February 2, 2009 - 13:04
Luis Sá Has let Avsim know that Portugal Terrain can now be downloaded freely from PTSim. With Portugal Terrain you can see the beaches, the ports, the marinas, the lagoons, the coves, the estuaries, the cliffs and other landscapes that make the Portuguese coast one of the most beautiful ones in Europe. Portugal Terrain is a scenery for FS2004 and you can get it at PTSim.com.

FS ProTeam - TU154M Aircraft Review

Posted: Sunday, February 1, 2009 - 20:35
Avsim Senior Staff Reviewer Angelique van Campen has taken on a freeware product for her latest review. The subject in question this time is the FS ProTeam Tupolev TU-154M.

The review captures pretty much all the TU-154M has to offer including an interview with an instructor pilot who flies a Boeing 737NG for GloBus.

Angelique says: "All together I think when you see it as a challenge to learn something new, then you’ve found a great FS9 add-on aircraft and with this in mind and looking to all the details, I think the FS Pro Team members and others have done a great job."

Angelique has taken a very in depth approach to the Tupolev TU-154M review. Why not read her comments and download the package and see for yourself!

FlightSoft Re-launches Their Website

Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 18:19
FlightSoft has launched a brand new website featuring its extensive line of Flight Simulator Add-On products for Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

In a recent interview FlightSoft's President & CEO said "Our extensive new line of FSX titles blanket the entire world with add-ons focused on such diverse destinations as Africa to a revolutionary new title based on Hong Kong."

FlightSoft's president added that "FlightSoft's ambitious strategy for Microsoft Flight Simulator X is to offer global titles that appeal to a worldwide audience. The core features of FlightSoft's new FSX titles will target customers who wish to learn how to fly specific approaches unique to resort destination airports, encounter diverse terrain and weather simulations, and explore vast libraries of airport approach scenarios to become familiar with all the diverse experiences encountered at real world airports by real world pilots."

Manhattan X Released

Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 18:03
With almost 180,000 buildings and over 3,000,000 polygons, Aerosoft's Manhattan X is a very serious scenery (and yes you need serious hardware to run it) and it has been in development for nearly a year. The FS2004 version was one of the most successful scenery products Aerosoft sold but for the FSX version almost 90% of the buildings were redone to full FSX specification. The result is nothing short of spectacular using current hardware. A mission is included that will let you fly one of the many tourist helicopters around what many consider the most exciting island in the world.

Space Shuttle Mission STS-47 Released

Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 14:07
Exciting Simulations has released today a new Service/Mission Pack for the Space Shuttle Mission 2007 simulator, STS-47 the first Spacelab mission for SSM2007. This adds a new feature to SSM2007, the possibility to roam in Zero-G inside the various structures. In this case you can float freely inside Spacelab-J just like real Astronauts. The download adds new communications for STS-401 improved KSC scenery, specific Spacelab-J payload panel and other goodies and improvements. Complete details can be found at the SSM2007 official website.

Sz-Flight Data Recorder V1.1 released

Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 - 13:55
Eszett Solutions release V1.1 of their Sz-Flight Data Recorder for Flight Simulator X. The update allows FDR to import and export data to and from external flight data recorders, record and play back control surface positions such as flaps, ailerons, spoilers, elevators etc and lights. The upgrade to version 1.1 is free of charge for all existing users and additional information and download is available at Eszett Solutions .

GMap Chart Manager

Posted: Friday, January 30, 2009 - 12:32
FSWidgets Release GMap Chart Manager. The Chart Manager includes built-in tools to view, calibrate and overlay the charts onto Google Maps in real time from within the application, easing the process of calibration. Each chart can now have a custom zoom setting, which automatically sets the zoom level on loading the chart. For full details visit FSWidgets.

Just Flight's Carenado Hangar Grows

Posted: Friday, January 30, 2009 - 3:24
Scott Phillips of Just Flight announces, "Our fleet of Carenado aircraft continues to grow. The latest addition is the C172N Skyhawk II for FSX, which is available to buy now as a 43.6Mb Download. No doubt many will be familiar with this aircraft - some 43,000 of these enduring trainers have taken to the air since the mid 50s, meaning that the Skyhawk has been produced in greater numbers than any other aircraft.This version of the Skyhawk II has been developed specifically for FSX to take advantage of all the FSX features such as DirectX 10 Preview. Two model types are included in the package, in four liveries.

Due to the increased number of Carenado aircraft we now stock, we have set up a dedicated webpage where you will find details of all the Carenado aircraft we currently stock."

Addon Converter X v1.03 Released

Posted: Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:57
FlightSimTools.com is pleased to announce a new update for our Addon Converter X product. The update adds a standalone configurator tool and contains several bugfixes. The update is free of charge for existing customers. Addon Converter X is a module for FSX that allows using most aircraft and scenery add-ons designed for FS2004 with FSX SP2 and Acceleration Pack, both in DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 modes. For more information and a free demo version, please visit the FlightSimTools website.

Cessna 172N Skyhawk II for FS9

Posted: Friday, January 30, 2009 - 2:56
Carenado announces this release as a product with superior textures and the 3D model having an excellent relationship between polygons and details, soft curves and excellent FPS allowing for a smooth performance. It comes with four different paints with maximum detail and realistic textures. The realistic performance is based on documents and pilot observations plus Carenado's own experience during real flight and within MSFS. Complete details about the Cessna 172N Skyhawk II can be found at the Carenado website.

AI Flight Planner V1.6 Available

Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 1:30
AI Flight Planner is a fully-integrated AI flight planning tool for both FS2004 and FSX - from collecting stock and add-on airport data to compiling/de-compiling traffic files. It accepts TTools-format text files as source data - but it is equally "comfortable" reading traffic files. Among its unique features are: times may be specified using local time, airports specified using either ICAO or IATA codes, similar legs in weekly flight plans created automatically, comprehensive error checking and traffic file validation and conversion.

Build on the extensively re-designed Version 1.5 base, AI Flight Planner Version 1.6 offers enhanced functionality including an aircraft editor and automatic update detection, a refined user interface, improved performance and less sensitivity to regional settings.

AI Flight Planner is freeware. It is the only tool you need to develop and maintain AI flight plans and traffic files and to locate and convert FS9 traffic files for use with FSX.

Flight Sim Podcast

Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 1:27
Eric McClintock announces, "I am proud to announce that a new project that we've had in the works for a few months now has finally launched. FSBreak is a weekly audio podcast devoted to flight simulator news, reviews, hardware, and more all rolled up into a weekly audio podcast. The first episode features Microsoft's closure of the ACES studios, Avsim's Fancon 2009 information, and other popular stories.

The show is hosted by myself, Eric McClintock of fszone.org, and co-hosted by Cam. We are also looking for enthusiasts who may be interested in taking part in the project by co-hosting future podcast episodes. You can find more information on the new podcast, including guest and co-host information on our website."

MegaSceneryEarth W. Wash State Completed

Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 - 1:09
PCAviator announces another 23,000 square miles added to Washington state, which completes all of western Washington state. This release adds photoreal detail from east of Mt Rainier all the way west to the Pacific Ocean while experiencing such visually spectacular land features such as the Olympic Mountains, San Juan Islands, Olympia (capital of Washington) and more. Total coverage stands at 48% of the state and a photoreal flying area at 34,000+ square miles. See Washington State area coverage.

Sibwings SAAB Safir Aircraft Review

Posted: Monday, January 26, 2009 - 20:32
Avsim Staff Reviewer David Wilson-Okamura has taken on the challenge of reviewing the SibWings Lab SAAB Safir X. David goes on to say:

"Four models are included, and each is based on a specific, real-world aircraft. The differences are subtle: for example, one model has two ventral exhaust pipes, another has two. But both types vibrate when the engine is running! This is typical of the package in general. I've been flying these models for about three weeks, and I'm still discovering fresh details.

Framerates are excellent: probably lower than the default Cessna 172, but not so much that I ever noticed. That is surprising in a package with this much detail, and shows how well the developers have adapted to the FSX modeling tools. The FSX version is more of a faithful translation than a great leap forward, but for most customers that will be enough: high detail, high fidelity, high frame rates."

Read the full SAAB Safir X review, and for more information visit the SibWings Website.

Attention RailSim Fans

Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 20:18
Just Flight/Just Trains announces 6 new downloadable RailSim PlusPaks to add authenticity and extra content to the Rail Simulator environment. These new releases include new authentic sound packages for a variety of rolling stock and a package containing six new scenarios. There is also a specially priced Combo Pack containing four of the individual PlusPaks.

These PlusPaks include: Class 47 Sound Pack; Coach and Wagon Sound Pack; HST125 MTU Sound Pack; HST125 VP185 Sound Pack; Scenario Pack 1; and Combo Pack 1.

Ultimate Weather FX Released

Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009 - 14:41
Zinertek announces the release of Ultimate Weather FX for FS9 and FSX. This new product enhances the environment and weather themes in both simulators by providing new skies, clouds, precipitation effects, 3D lights, and much more. For more information regarding this product visit Zinertek.