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.

The BRAVO 369 Flight Foundation

Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009 - 17:57
AVSIM is pleased to announce our sponsorship of a very worthy cause – The BRAVO 369 Flight Foundation. The foundation describes itself as “a Non-Profit organization dedicated to Education, Aviation History and Preservation of Historic Aircraft. Our main objective is to offer unique educational opportunities for students, teachers and the general public to actively participate in a series of interactive flights and educational aviation projects.” One of the exciting projects that the organization is undertaking is called the FLIGHT FOR EDUCATION. We encourage you to read this challenge that the organization is currently planning for. Among other means of supporting the BRAVO 369 Flight Foundation, AVSIM has established a forum for the organization, where members of the organization will report on projects, news items and provide support for educators around the world. You can access the forum in our Forums System. Are you an educator looking for a unique curriculum to bring to your class? Are you an simulation aircraft, panel, scenery or utility designer that would like to contribute your works for the variety of flights that BRAVO 369 will undertake? Are you a resident of the Northwest U.S. or Canada and would like to volunteer to assist the FLIGHT FOR EDUCATION? Are you simply a simulation enthusiast who would like to participate? If you are any of these, we would encourage you to visit the BRAVO 369 FORUM and make your interests known!

Flight1 Releases Fokker 70/100 Boxed Edition

Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009 - 1:20
The ultimate procedures and systems simulation for Flight Simulator 2004 and Flight Simulator X is now available. This fully packed boxed edition comes complete with printed manual, including 'your first flight' tutorial, poster-sized panel familiarisation guide and a full-length flight-deck DVD filmed with British Midland airlines (BMi) on a round trip to Nice - which will help both novices and airliner experts alike to 'learn to fly the Fokker way'

With the involvement of Fokker pilots, this is an airliner that MUST be flown just as the real aircraft would be. Complex systems such as hydraulics, bleed air and electrical connections, lift dumper and speed brake logic, emergency controls, reverser logic plus detailed icing and fire protection systems are all modelled, delivering the ultimate cockpit simulation.

The boxed version and the download version of the Fokker 70/100 (using Flight1's popular e-commerce system) are also both available direct from Flight1.

FSX "Home Movie"

Posted: Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 1:09
Jaggyroad Films has released "Sunday Morning," a video based on what one might find watching a hand held camera recording of a plane. "It seems everyone is making videos like this nowadays for Flight Simulator. I figured I might as well try it myself and give it the Jaggyroad Films spin," says founder Cody Bergland. The video comes free of charge for your viewing pleasure. To see the video, head to JaggyRoad Films.

FS2 Crew now in Avsim Store

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 15:04
The Avsim store is proud to announce that it is adding the FS2Crew products to its selection. FS2Crew products are quality add-ons that let users simulate muti-crew flying in an airline environment. These expansion packs will take your Flight Simulator to another level. FS2Crew products are designed to be used your favorite 3rd party aircraft such as Wilco Airbus, PMDG 747, Level D 767 and others. You can get the FS2Crew products from the Avsim store. They are instant downloads.

Support Avsim.com and visit our store today.

Reserve Your Place Today At FANCON 2009!

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 14:23

The AVSIM FANCON 2009 will be held at the Hope Hotel on the grounds of Wright Patterson Air Force Base on September 4 - 6 this year. Hotel reservations at a special group rate are now open. If you are attending the FANCON, you are going to want to stay at the Hope - the nerve center for our event and the host for our exhibition. Put your reserverations in today, and don't miss out! Room availability is limited and they are going to go fast, so don't delay. You can read the information you will need before registering on our FANCON RSVP page.

Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport from Aerosoft

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 1:31
New staff reviewer Vybhava Srinivasan takes a look at Aerosoft's German Airports 3 - Paderborn/Lippstadt for FSX. "Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (German: Flughafen Paderborn/Lippstadt) (IATA: PAD, ICAO: EDLP) is an airport in Germany that serves the Ostwestfalen-Lippe area in North Rhine-Westphalia. While the name implies a location within the city of Paderborn or the town of Lippstadt, the airport is actually located in the town of Büren, around 18 km from Paderborn city centre. The location also plays host to the annual German Flight Simulation Conference."

"One thing I should comment about the terminal of the airport is that it is "impressive". The buildings and structures created in the airport seem to match the real-world buildings. Each gate is well modeled and while taxing, one will notice the various cargo baggage carts, push-back vehicles and passenger buses along the apron."

"The airport looks even better at night. I would agree with Aerosoft's claim that the scenery has "excellent night effects" like the name boards and the light posts. Great graphics comes at a cost. More extensive the graphics, the more will be lost in frames per second (fps). Hence, it is important to strike the right balance."

"Paderborne's main terminal building, gates, parking areas are well designed. The scenery glows and blossoms under the lights. In addition, the charts that are available, along with downloads, I am a satisfied reviewer."