Nantes Atlantique (LFRS)For FS9/FSX

Posted: Monday, February 9, 2009 - 16:13
With the release of Nantes Atlantique Scenery, France VFR completes its Collection of Regional Airport, by editing the 5th pane of Airport scenery for both FS2004 and FSX.

The scenery conceptualizes the Airport of Nantes Atlantique 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.

Madiera X from Aerosoft

Posted: Sunday, February 8, 2009 - 23:18
Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne visits the Canary Islands as he looks at Aerosoft's Madeira X. "Just north of the better known Canary Islands and 326 miles southwest of Portugal, two islands of this autonomous (only since 1976) Portuguese archipelago called Madeira are inhabited; Madeira and Porto Santo."

"The instrument approach to Porto Santo's runway 18 (by VOR/DME or NDB) is unspectacular until short final. First you encounter dangerous cliffs, then you have a sloped runway with walls of rock on each side, and finally the nice little terminal only becomes visible half way to the end of the runway. The experience is well worth the price of admission: it is quite interesting, with a well done rendition of this tiny airport."

"Madeira is the airport with an architecture that defines eye candy. Although not stylistically superb, what catches your imagination here is the geographic challenge and the engineering marvel of the elevated runway, a third of which is supported by pillars. On one side you have the sea, and on the other, a rocky slope or a manmade inclined wall."

"Performance was fluid at all times in this scenery (<15 to >35 fps) with my system. I was expecting a little more custom buildings in the cities of Porto Santo and the Madeira Islands, as was the case with both Helgoland, Monaco X and Venice X. I enjoyed flying back and forth between airports and taking leisurely tours of the mountainous terrain. The Madeira X package makes a nice little playground if you are short on time and just want to scoot around."

Malta Int'l Airport Updated

Posted: Sunday, February 8, 2009 - 20:12
Malta Scenery announces that Update 1 for MaltaIntAirport v2 is now available for download. The update comprises mainly of a fix that solves the performance issue encountered when using the Acceleration Pack. They would also like to announce that an all new landclass scenery and accurate coastline of the Maltese Islands is now available for FSX. It also includes some static generic scenery to highlight certain prominent areas. This scenery is freeware. For more information and to download the file visit the Malta Scenery website.

The Facts Emerge - The future of MS Flight Simulation

Posted: Sunday, February 8, 2009 - 20:01
There has been a lot of speculation, rumor and simple guesses as to what Microsoft is going to do with the Flight Simulator “enterprise”. Through a number of sources, some of whom are former ACES members, we have been able to get to the bottom of where our hobby is heading, at least as far as Microsoft is concerned. Our sources will remain anonymous, for obvious reasons. Here are the hard, cold, and very disappointing facts:

FACT: Microsoft Flight Simulator for the PC is dead. There are no plans to continue the FS series in a form that we would recognize. The wholesale dispatch of the ACES team speaks volumes to this.

FACT: ESP is dead. Boeing, Raytheon and presumably Northrop Grumman (ESP’s first adopters) received notification that the ESP franchise is done and that, in effect, they are on their own. We have seen some discussion putting hope in the emergence of ESP as the next "engine" for flight simulator. That is not going to happen.

FACT: Some developers in our hobby approached Microsoft to purchase the MSFX code. Microsoft rebuffed that offer in total. We presume that this is because having the FSX code out there would “diffuse” their future intent and model for a flight simulator “replacement”.

What is Microsoft’s future intent as regards flight simulation? Simple really… Create a flight simulation system for Windows Live, and sell applications for it much like Apple does for their IPhone / Ipod family. Third party developers will have to submit their applications, as do Apple developers, for approval by MS and they in turn would earn a percentage from the sales of those applications. Vendors that we have talked to are extremely upset about this. It also brings back memories of the infamous Papa Tango attempts to hijack freeware.

Imagine for a moment a “live” simulator that has as its core a “Flight Unlimited” like virtual world. You can fly around a very small part of the world in the default system, but to add to your simulation world, you have to purchase the additional scenery from MS. You want more than a 172, a Baron, or a 737? Simple, purchase it via the Live system.

Imagine for a moment the availability of liveries that would be made available. Without approval by the airlines, you can imagine the lack of variety in the “live” modeled aircraft. Under the present arrangement, freeware is seen as free advertising for the United’s, American’s, Lufthansa’s and others of the world. Insert the dollar into the equation, and it is reasonable to expect that our current arrangement with carriers would evaporate. Would MS consider providing freeware via its live system? Don’t hold your breath – too many liability concerns, copyright infringement risks, product support and management issues to take on for free.

What about VATSIM, IVAO and the plethora of other peripheral attractions that we now benefit from? Imagine paying to connect to VATSIM for an hour or two of supervised flight. Spend some time thinking about the ramifications of this, and it only gets scarier.

We have a simple new reality to face up to; Microsoft has changed their business model as regards the flight simulation genre and we are seeing the first steps of that new model taking hold. We can assume that a “live” version will entail online subscription costs per month or year, and additional add-on’s will cost us.

Something For The Train Sim Fans

Posted: Sunday, February 8, 2009 - 1:07
Just Flight/Just Trains announces the first of their Freight Wagon PlusPaks for Rail Simulator. The Cargowaggon IWB freight wagon - a true workhorse of the railways - has been widely used throughout Europe for the past couple of decades, and this PlusPak expansion can be used with the default Rail Simulator locomotives or Class 66 and 08 Shunter add-ons.

The Cargowaggon IWB PlusPak supplies you with a set of eight distinctive and striking liveries with authentic weathering, and also a demanding set of scenarios to drive on the default Rail Simulator routes. Modelled in very high quality and with exacting attention to detail, the IWB set lets you create colourful and realistic rakes of wagons to haul around the Rail Sim world.

Multi Crew Experience V1.3 Released

Posted: Sunday, February 8, 2009 - 0:46
MultiCrewXP are pleased to inform the flight simulation community, that an updated version of their voice control add-on to FSX & FS2004 has been released today. The new improved version is available for download.

What's new? Improved the ATC feature; Tweaked application for better performance on single core machines; Added more variations to the co-pilot vocabulary; Fixed the button in CL tab of the user interface sometimes not showing checklist; and You can now ask the co-pilot to execute the after landing sequence of actions.

These are just a few of the main updates. In all, there are 4 major features, and each could be considered a separate add-on on its own. A fully working time limited demo is also available for download.

A Look At PMDG's MD-11 Manuals

Posted: Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 23:40
Contributing author Tino Broekstra has submitted his look at PMDG's MD-11 printed manuals. "To fly the MD-11 the way PMDG intended you to do, it's necessary for you read the manuals carefully. However, there is another alternate to have printed manuals on your Computer's desktop; you can buy the PMDG printed manuals."

"The 3 manuals are on A5 sized paper. The outside of the binders is well Illustrated with a beautiful picture of the MD-11 in PMDG house colors. The first impression is a good one, very professional, and invites you to have a closer look. The size of the manuals is a good choice: it will fit on almost any desk for use during your flights."

"These kinds of manuals are also a "must have" in my opinion. For those of you wanting to be a serious virtual MD-11 pilot, this set of manuals should be on your desk."

MD-11/MD-10 from Sky Simulations

Posted: Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 17:51
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes a look at another version of the MD-11/MD-10, this time from Sky Simulations.

"I'll combine the external model, animations and textures (FSX and FS9) together. Ok, first the animations. Wow! So many things to simulate like opening most of the passenger- - ok, not strange - and cargo doors, tail cone for the necessary maintenance inspections and APU, all kind of cargo loaders in position, a pushback truck, even a ground engineer with headset! The overall look of the models is good, including the more detailed items but not every part, like the MLG (Main Landing Gear) and NLG (Nose Landing Gear), is offering very sharp textures."

"After spending several hours in the MD-11/MD-10 flight deck, I'm coming to the following conclusion; the external model with simulations looks good, although certain textures seems to be missing like the inside of the tail cone and thrust reversers of all engines. While spending hours and hours in the 2D and VC cockpits I can only say these are uncomplicated flight decks. You can start, taxi and fly away, but in-depth simulation of the real aircraft and auto flight systems, you won't find here. Therefore, don't compare it with the recently released PMDG MD-11."

"With all the things I found during my ground and flight hours in the Sky Simulations cockpits and external model, I think it's not difficult to say that this model can't compete with the PMDG model. Can it compete with another add-on payware model? The only vendor who I can think of that can compete with it is the CLS Douglas DC-10 collection, brought to you by Just Flight."

The Sky Simulations MD11/MD-10 review goes into great detail so you can judge for yourself who's version of this aircraft is right for you.

Deltasim HMS King George V

Posted: Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 14:03
DeltaSim Studio has released the Battleship HMS KING GEORGE V. This native FSX model with moving parts, working turrets and firing cannons. It includes three virtual cockpits, fire consoles, captain bridge and with the possibility of walking on the entire ship - all in 3D. The model has custom, very accurate textures, gauges and effects. Two models are included, one with a long range of the fire and another with a short range of the fire. For more information, please visit DeltaSim Studio .

It’s Your Plane Version 4.1

Posted: Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 13:53
It’s Your Plane announces the release of IYP Version 4.1 – a complete rewrite designed to be able to more easily incorporate the many new aircraft designs that IYP users have been requesting. Version 4.1.0 also includes the following new and upgraded features: New and Interactive Pushback, More Natural Taxiing speed, Destination Prompts, Waypoint Information, Destination Distance and Direction, Altitude and Rate of Climb and Flight Training
IYP has a new built-in flight training facility with an interactive “live” co-pilot who can be asked to walk you through any or all the IYP checklists from Pre-flight to Shutdown, in both GA (General Aviation) and Jetliners. for information drop by the It's Your Plane website.

Just Flight SAAB 91 Safir

Posted: Saturday, February 7, 2009 - 13:39
Scott Phillips has informed us of two releases from Just Flight . First the SAAB 91 Safir for FS9 & FSX developed by SibWings , in his short release notice Scott mentions the Safir is supplied with a very comprehensive PDF manual and comes in four different liveries, both military and civilian all with a dedicated custom virtual cockpit, and pilots will feel so at home in the VC that no 2D panel is included.
As well on DVD only, World Airports 3 - North America is now released. for FSX and FS2004 brings you a selection of highly accurate airports, each featuring thousands of superbly detailed objects which have been accurately placed with the aid of pin-point satellite photography: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (KATL), Charlotte Douglas International (KCLT), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (KCVG), Lynden Pindling International (MYNN) and Luis Munoz Marin International (TJSJ).The products are for Flight Simulator X (Acceleration, SP2 and DX10 Preview compatible) or FS2004, Windows Vista or XP and full details can be found at Just Flight .

RealFlight F6F Service Pack.

Posted: Friday, February 6, 2009 - 14:25
RealFlight Simulations are pleased to announce the release of their F6F Service Pack. The SP corrects a number of issues that were presented through customer feedback in the support forums and as well suggestions for additional VC functionality. The Service Pack also includes new documentation , a paint Kit , more aircraft systems implemented such as Anti-detonation and Engine Management as well as various modifications to lighting, gauges and switches. Owners of the Hellcat are invited to visit RealFlight Simulations for instructions and download .

VRS F/A-18E "SUPERBUG" SP1

Posted: Friday, February 6, 2009 - 14:04
Vertical Reality Simulations, (VRS) today released Service Pack 1 for their F/A-18E Super Hornet simulation for FS2004. Service Pack 1 addresses some minor issues encountered subsequent to release as well as some enhanced features and additional liveries. Current owners will receive this update automatically through their Aircraft Manager. For a complete list of changes, or to manually download SP1, please visit VRS support at Vertical Reality Simulations.

AVSIM Is Looking For A Tech Manager

Posted: Friday, February 6, 2009 - 13:57
Are you an avid simmer? Do you know Linux - inside and out? Do you know MySQL and are conversant in building and maintaining databases? Do you work well under pressure? Do you have time? If so, this volunteer position may well be yours. AVSIM is looking for a tech guru who can run and manage our back end systems, who can take the pressure of managing servers that cater to millions of hits and serve tens of terabytes of information a month and whose reliability is of primary focus. This position sits at the heart of everything that AVSIM does. If you are imminently qualified to run a multiple server farm and can take the "heat" of the position, then we would like to talk with you. If you have the qualifications and the time, please send us an email to The AVSIM Board of Directors. Because of the sensitivity of this position, you will need to include at least three personal references.

FanCon Hotel Booking Now Available

Posted: Friday, February 6, 2009 - 13:56
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.

Avsim Store downloads

Posted: Thursday, February 5, 2009 - 15:33

Downloads are back at the Avsim store. Now you can get famous titles like the Wilco 777, Tower simulator and others. The Avsim store is also a good source for your flight controls needs. Please help support Avsim and visit the new Avsim Store today.