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."

The Library Awaits You

Posted: Sunday, January 4, 2009 - 9:50
Have you been considering joining a cause lately? Perhaps you have some spare time or maybe enjoy volunteering with others in a very friendly atmosphere. If so, our family here at AVSIM invites you to express your interest in joining us. We are seeking a volunteer that has web and e-mail experience that will be able to check in at least five to six days a week. This is as simple as reviewing files and answering e-mails; you may choose to volunteer after supper to relax, before bed to wind down, in the morning to wake up, in those boring moments at work, or to productively pass some free time. AVSIM needs your help to maintain our diverse file library and to help users with their questions. If this seems interesting to you, please e-mail Chase Kreznor, Library Executive Director with a brief summary about yourself and your interest to help out the community.

VFR London X from Aerosoft

Posted: Saturday, January 3, 2009 - 19:46
Staff reviewer Jason McKee takes us up and down the Thames to have a look at Aerosoft's VFR London X. "London City is a small area inside the larger greater London area, this is an historic area which the rest of London has grown around. Most people will be familiar with the landmarks of London, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and the London Bridge, and more recent landmarks such as the London Eye."

"If you bought the download when it was released you did not get the London City airport, which is included in the later downloads. You can download the airport for free through your account on the Aerosoft website."

"London is, by its very nature, a lovely city to look at with its old world buildings combining with the modern day architecture. It makes for an interesting mix, and looking down from the air, it seems to all fit together well. London City Airport (EGLC) is crammed into London downtown itself. This creates some interesting operational issues as only certain types of aircraft can operate out of the airport. The only aircraft permitted to operate out of London City are aircraft that can fly a 5.5 degree or steeper approach, and as the runway length is only 1508 meters long."

"As we fly around London, all the major landmarks and smaller buildings are accurately placed, as are all of the roads and railways. Flying at night opens a whole new world. The buildings and lights look very, very realistic, and there is not too much glare from them at all."

"Overall, VFR London X enhances the area so much it is definitely worth the money. If you fly in or out of EGLC, this will benefit you greatly as the airport itself is very well reproduced. So would I recommend it? Yes, I would. It is worth the price and for what it covers."

Super 80 Professional from Flight 1/Coolsky

Posted: Thursday, January 1, 2009 - 21:41
Staff reviewer Peter Clemenko kicks off the new year with an updated submittion of the Super 80 Professional from Flight 1/Coolsky. "The Super 80 Professional by Coolsky is a rendition of a modernized MD-80, with a glass cockpit. The MD-80 is a spin off of the DC-9."

"The external model is very well done and are pleasant to look at. You can even see the reverse thrust in action when you activate it because the reverse thruster doors activate and move. If you want variety, you got it, as this aircraft comes out of the box with 23 liveries. Some liveries look like a fresh coat of paint and others look weathered and worn."

"I love that the 2D panel and the major textures are sharp and it is easy to read the labels. The thing that really kills it for me is that the 3D virtual cockpit isn’t all that 3D. On the plus side though, I have to say that the avionics are very complex. The avionics are those of the modernized MD-80. This includes the glass cockpit, FMS, and various other digital goodies. Overall, the panel is very well detailed and the procedures to work with these avionics are highly detailed as well."

Peter sums up the Super 80 Professional review with, "All in all, the Coolsky Super 80 Professional is certainly a very complex and nice add-on. While it isn’t for everyone, it is worth the money if you enjoy the MD-80 and you are willing to read a big manual. I personally recommend that if you can settle with a low detail 3D cockpit and a couple of glitches you should go for it."

AVSIM Opens BETA Testing of New Library System

Posted: Thursday, January 1, 2009 - 21:17
AVSIM is pleased to announce the opening of BETA Testing on our new Library system. This system is in trials and we are looking forward to our readers and members giving it a thourough testing. For the moment, the library is only allowing uploads in the categories of FSX files, and our regular library remains totally functional. If you are an author of FSX files, we encourage you to upload your hard work to our new trial library in order for our users to see the total capabilities of the system. For access to the library, you must be a registered member of the forums system (FREE of course). You can access the Library BETA Testing here.

Malta Intl Airport v2 For FSX

Posted: Thursday, January 1, 2009 - 18:22
Malta Intl Airport v2 for FSX has been released and is compatible with both SP1 and SP2. The FSX version includes both updates previously released for the FS9 version plus more. It also makes use of special FSX features such as specular bloom and reflective textures. All those customers who purchased the FS9 version will get the FSX version for free. More info can be found at the Malta Scenery website.

C152 II from Carenado & Mega Airport Paris from Aerosoft

Posted: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 - 0:27
Staff reviewer Marlon Carter jumps into his shiny new Cessna 152 II from Carenado and tours Aerosoft's Mega Airport Paris (Charles de Gaulle). "Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (French: Aéroport Paris-Charles de Gaulle), also known as Roissy Airport (or just Roissy in French), in the Paris area, is one of the world's principal aviation centres, as well as France's main international airport. The Cessna 152 is an American two-seat, fixed tricycle gear, general aviation airplane, used primarily for flight training, touring, and personal flying."

"The detail of the C152 II is simply amazing, all the hinges on the tail piece, the landing gear struts and cockpit detail will get any fan of the 152 excited. Starting with the cockpit, it's clear to see that Carenado spent a lot of time and effort getting every detail into this product."

"The Charles de Gaulle scenery is quite stunning with high quality textures and accurate renditions of the real terminals to date. No detail was spared, even on the surrounding buildings and the smallest of features of this airport. The gates are accurately modeled with ground equipment moving in and around the aircraft."

Wrapping up this double review, Marlon comments, "Both Aerosoft and Carenado delivered on all the features promised. The Paris - Charles de Gaulle scenery is a breath of fresh air and really does give you the mega airport feel. Flying the Carenado C152 II can be likened to jumping out of a big rig and hopping into a 2 door sports car and taking a cruise down an empty highway…nothing but pure fun!"

X-Scenery, X-Plane And A Mitsubishi MU-2

Posted: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - 16:09
Cameron Bowerman from X-Scenery.com has written to AVSIM to announce the release of the Mitsubishi MU-2 for X-Plane. The aircraft is modeled entirely in a 3D, outwith X-Plane's Plane Maker utlilty for enhanced detail and comes with an accurate flight dynamics model, as well as detailed animations and liveries. The aircraft includes a virtual cockpit, virtual cabin, and also offers the first X-Plane modeled aircraft to allow a user to fly in virtual cockpit accurately for the entire flight. Thanks to a fully animated 3D cockpit and a revolutionary feature to the community called manipulators, X-Scenery are able to make this possible. Manipulators allow a user to literally get as "real as it gets" without a home cockpit setup, and allow you to do things such as grab the throttle levers with one click and drag the mouse in any cockpit mode view while moving your throttles up or down. The aircraft also features a custom prop animation, radiosity based texturing, 60 custom datarefs for the purpose of simulating as much accuracy as possible, a paint kit, animated fowler flaps, a fully animated gear mechanism, animated extending landing lights, accurate simulation of the autopilot, and much more! If you are a user of X-Plane, this is not to be missed at X-Scenery.com .