October 23, 2010 - October 31, 2010

La Aurora from Latin VFR

Posted: Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 5:36
Latin VFR releases Guatemala city "La Aurora" (MGGT). Guatemala City's main and only airport is “La Aurora” located in the south of the city. The airport commenced operations in 1911 and became an important air force base during WW-II. Today this airport serves as an Air force base, an important general aviation airport with more than 200 hangars, and an important international airport of Guatemala. Recently the main terminal was renovated and expanded, making it possible for more than 20 narrow body aircraft operations at the same time. La Aurora is Central America’s third largest in terms of passenger traffic.

This scenery includes many of airport’s characteristics in order to make it as real as possible. More than 200 hangars, airforce facilities, the surrounding buildings, the approaches to runway 01 and runway 19 with replicas of their atmosphere. Certainly this airport is an interesting place to visit in Central America. Also contains, surroundings detailed buildings and high resolution photo satellite imagery for the area around the airport, the skyline around the east of the airport, more than 300sq Kilometers of photo scenery with thousands of hand placed custom autogen Mesh for the entire area of Guatemala City.

World's Most Powerful Biplane Takes Flight In FSX

Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 13:30
Infinity Entertainment Inc. and FSD International have joined forces to bring the Turbine Toucan the worlds most powerful biplane to the virtual world, the Turbine Toucan represents the highest thrust-to-weight ratio of any aircraft in the world today and allows Virtual Pilots to create 3D manoeuvres and break boundaries in ways only accomplished with the Turbine Toucan, in both the real and virtual worlds.

Flight Dynamics were derived from David Kervinen Builder and Pilot of the Turbine Toucan and the supplied technical data , this aircraft is capable of vertical ascent after a 100 foot ground roll , its acceleration creates 3G's , matching a catapult launch. The Virtual Cockpit is a composite of analogue and glass instrumentation, with custom VC sounds, all systems are represented with 3D switches and levers rendered in VRay to provide realistic cockpit illumination and shading, a Ground Power Unit and animated scenery with support vehicle and hospitality area are included to provide atmosphere.
The Turbine toucan was brought to FSX in anticipation of new manoeuvres being developed for inclusion in the routines performed at air shows, virtual pilots are being offered rewards for creating utube videos of their inventions, full details of the performance characteristics and the planes record setting history are available from the FSD International homepage .

Xtreme Prototypes 20 Series Service Pack 2

Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 13:23
Xtreme Prototypes has just released a new update for its legendary 20 Series add-on business jets.

Service Pack 2 is free to registered users of the addon and contains additional VRay texture upgrades to the exterior with one Lear 24, 25 and 28 Series aircraft aged and represented as "weather-beaten". State of the art high resolution virtual cockpit texture sets have also been rendered using VRay to add interior shading with accumulated dirt and wear.

An American-registered Gates Learjet 24 in a "jet black" livery has been added to the collection with an informally dressed passenger in the cabin, new lighting and the full spectrum of DirectX® 10-enabled features such as cockpit shadows.

A paint kit is available , featuring an adjustable dirt layer and separate detail and color layers with UVW layout for creating custom liveries. Technical updates to the analog 3D avionics suite and gauge set round out the anniversary edition update and present pilots with a sophisticated representation of all cockpit systems to master with the extensive documentation provided.

Current owners are invited to download the Service Pack for free, the Xtreme Prototypes 20 Series for Flight Simulator X is compatible with FSX SP2, FSX Acceleration Expansion Pack and FSX Gold.

Visit Xtreme Prototypes website for more information.

REX release Service Pack 2 for X-Plane

Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 13:15
Real Environment Simulations has announced the release of Service Pack 2 of REXPlane for X-Plane. The fixes include the handling of the database connection when clicking on the "Weather" menu item, updated program to add multiple connection attempts when accessing the remote weather database server, fixed the issue with the configuration manager not saving all records including resolution features and fixed the theme creation and tab view problem.

For more information on this release visit their Forum

From The "All Vehicle SIM" Files

Posted: Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 2:32
The sequel to the best-selling worldwide hit "Farming Simulator" has loads of new features. Get to grips with some serious farm equipment and learn how to make it big in the farming business. Farming Simulator 2011 is available on Steam and opens up a world of new experiences, as you drive highly-realistic recreations of the latest vehicles and equipment and learn the farming trade on a fully-explorable island.

Farming Simulator 2011 includes realistically-recreated vehicles from manufacturers such as Deutz-Fahr, Krone, Horsch, Pottinger and Vogel& Noot, and a huge variety of sophisticated and authentic farming equipment to get the job done. Play career mode and begin with a small farm in beautiful rolling countryside with a small collection of vehicles, and progress through the game by completing a range of tasks over 18 hour days, like breeding and feeding cows, milking, ploughing, seeding and baling, eventually building up your finances to invest in newer and better equipment and machinery.

Multiplayer mode allows players to manage their farms together with friends over the Internet or local area network. Steering wheels and gamepads are supported, and players may download additional machines and maps with automatic mod installation, as well as a Mod SDK containing an editor, exporters and sample mods.

Helicopter Missions from Roussillon Aero

Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 - 9:44
Roussillon Aero Simulation has released a new pack of missions for the 3 default FSX helicopter. Now you can Fly with the 3 FSX default helicopter (Robinson R22 - Bell JetRanger - AgustaWestland EH101) in 9 exciting missions in different place of the world.

Lille Lesquin (FSX) from FranceVFR

Posted: Friday, October 29, 2010 - 0:57
Staff reviewer Rick Desjardins looks at FranceVFR's Lille Lesquin International Airport (FSX) 2 years after the publishing of the FS9 version. "Lille airport, LFQQ, is also known as Lille-Lesquin or Lesquin airport. The airport is in the community of Lesquin that happens to be approximately 7 km south of Lille. Lille is the capitol of the Nord Pas de Calais region of northern France. The airport has two runways; 08/26 which is 2825 meters long and 02/20 at 1580 meters."

"The scenery package includes this mid sized regional airport and approximately 50 sq km of area surrounding it. The neighbouring towns and villages use the same photo scenery base textures as the airport. If you have FranceVFR's Nord Pas de Calais installed, the two sceneries will blend seamlessly."

"They have populated the airport with many objects that you'd typically expect to find; objects such as the DME/VOR, wind socks, blast walls, runway taxiway and apron lighting, ground markers and signage, cargo containers, freight and lamp posts to name just some of them. They are detailed and add to the overall appearance."

"FranceVFR's Lille Lesquin is a huge improvement over the default FSX airport and because of that, it does make the airport much more enjoyable to fly in and out of if you are interested in French scenery."

DIY General Aviation Home Cockpit

Posted: Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 14:45
Roger Dodger Aviation published a new Do-It-Yourself video. The DIY General Aviation Home Cockpit includes a step-by-step guide for building a desktop cockpit framework using materials from a hardware store and your existing flight simulator controls. The instructions also show how to easily modify a standard keyboard to resemble a control panel from a Cessna 172. The finished General Aviation Home Cockpit frame is built from PVC pipe. It elevates your monitor and provides a place to mount the modified keyboard.

Commercial Level Simulations at the Avsim store

Posted: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - 20:53
The MD 80/81 Series is the latest release by Commercial Level Simulations, featuring the best visuals and realistic flight dynamics. The product comes with a long developed panel, which is simplistic in its nature yet offers mid-level functionality. Perfect for LITE users as well as advanced simmers!
This FSX version of the MD 80/81 by CLS features:

  • Extensive manual and Flight Tutorial
  • Highly detailed exterior model
  • High quality interactive 3D Virtual cockpit (VC)
  • 2D panel with custom gauges.
  • highly detailed liveries!


    From CLS, we also carry the 747-200, the Airbus A340 package , the DC-10 and other planes. See all titles by Commercial Level Simulations here.

    Visit the Avsim Store today

    Cessna C162 Skycatcher from Abacus

    Posted: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - 1:01
    Staff reviewer David Pike looks at Abacus' Cessna C162 Skycatcher, giving us a chance to fly the aircraft before most of us have even seen a Skycatcher in real life.

    "The cockpit of the Skycatcher is positively spartan compared to more traditional Cessnas. The panel is dominated by two Garmin 300 displays, separated by the switches, circuit breakers and radio panels. Apart from the autopilot controls to the far left, that's about it! The Abacus Skycatcher is provided with two panel variations to cater for both standard and widescreen monitors. The background image looks very realistic and is nicely rendered, and at first glance the Garmin 300 displays are very clear and easy to read. A number of sub-panels are also provided for those out-of-the-way controls."

    "One of the key features of the Skycatcher is the all-glass cockpit. Cessna has selected the Garmin 300, which is a development of the Garmin 1000 that is now widespread in new general aviation aircraft. Don't let the size fool you - the G300 is every bit as capable as its big brother."

    "If there is an area in which the Abacus Skycatcher shines, it is the flight model. A training aircraft needs to be easy to fly but rewarding when flown well, and I think Abacus have managed to achieve this with the Skycatcher."

    "If you are about to enrol in a flight school that has ordered a real-world Skycatcher, there may be a temptation to invest in the Abacus version to practice your procedures. However, I would say that this product is designed for entertainment rather than real-world training. The flight model is good, making the Abacus Skycatcher fun to throw around the sky."

    New Mexican Airport Scenery Developer

    Posted: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - 0:21
    Announcing the birth of Bajasim: a group of graphic artists, who decided to put together years of expierence in the graphics arts and 3D modeling to bring quality sceneries for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

    Their first goal is to fill the actual emptiness in México's main airports sceneries (mainly touristic ones) with real HQ scenery design for FS9 and FSX. Their products main futures are: advanced & realistic texture renders, accurate modeling and poly optimization so you can enjoy great detail with high FPS. They invite you to visit their new website for more information and screenshots.

    Cessna O-1 Amphibian

    Posted: Monday, October 25, 2010 - 23:52
    SibWings releases the Cessna O-1 "Bird Dog" on amphibian gear. There's also a free bonus for every SibWings Bird Dog customer.

    Flight1 Releases BN2 Islander Boxed Edition

    Posted: Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 17:37
    The BN-2 Islander is a British light utility aircraft, mainline airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe and although designed in the 1960s, over 750 are still in service with some 50 commercial operators around the world. The aircraft is also used by the Army and Police forces in the United Kingdom and is a popular light transport with over 30 military aviation operators.

    As is to be expected Flight1 have put together a fantastic simulation of this aircraft, not only with regard to flight model and visuals, but with lots of little extras such as cabin shake effect on take off that all add to an incredibly immersive experience. The Islander is an aircraft that will satisfy airliner pilots as well as GA pilots - whether you want to operate simulated inter-island transport, feeder airliner flights or just simply have fun in this all-purpose aircraft, the Islander is certain to put a smile on your face.

    Scenery Designer Needed

    Posted: Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 17:27
    A new small FSX project, which includes one hangar/terminal combination and a small ramp area, is underway. The developer is looking for a simmer with a proficiency in GMAX and experience with FSX scenery development. Please email the FSX Scenery Developer for more information.

    Lelystad Weekend 2 Weeks Away

    Posted: Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 17:24
    AVSIM is pleased to announce that an AVSIM delegation (Dutch Reviewers Angelique van Campen and Benjamin van Soldt and AVSIM Store rep Marty Arant) will be present at the FSWeekend 2010 in Lelystad, the Netherlands. This Flight Simulator event is held on November 6 and 7th in the Aviodrome, situated at Lelystad Airport (EHLE). You'll find dozens of software- and hardware companies, Virtual Airline representatives, Flight Simulator clubs, individual scenery- and airplane developers, military squadrons, private cockpit builders as well as commercial builders. Furthermore, you'll find online network representatives from IVAO, VATSIM, OnlineSim and Flight Simulator magazines like PC Pilot and FS Magazin and many FS enthusiastic representatives. Their last event had 74 display/vendor booths. In other words; you should be there!

    You should visit not only the event itself, but also for the gorgeous museum with lots of collector items like the Douglas DC-2 and the world famous DC-3 and not to forget the extraordinary Lockheed Constellation. The exhibition is held in the National Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome and apart of the flight simulator event, guests will experience 100 years of intriguing aviation. With not only a very large collection of historic planes, it also offers an ex-KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747 Classic, registered PH-BUK.

    So plan ahead now (November 6 and 7th) and while you're there visit our AVSIM stand and say hello to two outstanding staff reviewers and hopefully they will be able to help you with AVSIM related questions. The Dutch AVSIM team is looking forward to meeting you!

    Lancair IV-P from Orbx

    Posted: Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 10:14
    Orbx has announced the release of its debut aircraft. The Lancair IV-P is a kit-build aircraft . The ultra-sleek lines are formed from composite materials and allow it to slice through the air and into the FL's whilst offering a fully pressurized cabin.

    Orbx has spent over two years on this project and tried to achieve the exact modeling of the curvacious lines, to the faithful reproduction of the cockpit and instruments, etc. Also to ensure that the simulated aircraft behaves precisely like the real one, they have flown many hours in their donor aircraft in Australia and Switzerland for both handling checkflights and 32-bit HD audio captures.

    For more information visit Orbx website.

    FlyThisSim Releases 7 New Panels

    Posted: Saturday, October 23, 2010 - 2:35
    7 new panels including the Garmin GNS430W, AvSimMap II, and STEC-55X autopilot are stand-alone instruments. They are not integrated into a complete cockpit. This enhancement pack is superb for hardcore cockpit builders that use multiple and dedicated displays for various instruments.

    These avionics should be used with analog aircraft panels. They are generic, allowing them to be used for ANY aircraft. The stand-alone GNS430W and AvSimMap II comes with and without the bezels, giving you the option to use real hardware buttons and knobs.

    Free your X-Plane cockpit from generic instruments. Enjoy the high fidelity and resolution that FTS avionics can provide. Visit FTS Avionics Stack for details and purchasing information.

    Airline Pilot Xtreme Released with an Avsim Exclusive

    Posted: Saturday, October 23, 2010 - 2:30
    Airline Pilot Xtreme is now available for download. This new package allows users to simulate realistic multi-crew flying in an SOP driven environment using Voice Control.

    It works with the following aircraft: Level-D 767, PMDG Jetstream, PMDG 737NG, Leondardo Maddog, Wilco 737 PIC, and the Default 737. As a special bonus to all AVSIM readers, you are eligible to use a time-limited Coupon Code: AVSIM

    All Avsim readers are cleared via direct to the Airline Pilot Xtreme product page for more information.

    Pasped Sklark from Lionheart Creations

    Posted: Saturday, October 23, 2010 - 2:11
    Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at Lionheart Creations' Pasped Skylark. "We’re dealing with a native FSX model where all kinds of FSX features are integrated and also the model is DirectX10 Preview compatible. A quick walk-around check teaches me that the overall skin of the empennage, fuselage, wings and forward section with the single row radial engine is full with tiny details. The Pasped Skylark comes in three different flavors."

    "You can fly the Skylark from within a 2D cockpit or the Virtual Cockpit. Keeping the FPS in mind, just go for the VC. It’s a frame rate friendly VC and it still offers a great and realistic instrument panel, sharp and detailed instruments and much more. For those who insist to fly with the 2D office, it comes with a lot of additional panels. It offers a modified old (buttons etc.)/new (display) fashioned Bendix GPS panel, a remodeled radio panel, a mini panel that offers the main instrument panel to fly with, compass, fuel selector and a modified/old looking kneeboard."

    "Don’t expect a racing monster or a Cessna 150 or whatever. The Skylark is in that respect a unique flight model with own flight dynamics. The fact that the airplane never went in production doesn’t mean it wasn’t flyable. Flying this Lionheart Skylark is fun."

    "Without a doubt, this extraordinary old fashioned aircraft should belong in your hangar. When you like nostalgia then this is a great model. The cockpit may be simple, but it reflects the real Skylark and more important, every tiny detail is created."

    Flight1 Release Fw-190A Boxed Edition

    Posted: Saturday, October 23, 2010 - 0:48
    Flight1 proudly announces the Boxed version of Classics Hanger's incredible Fw-190A for FSX. This simulation has been developed to award winning standards, not just the visual depiction of each included model, but individual virtual cockpits and German period micro-mechanics.

    The flight model is stunningly created with each aircraft making full use of Flight Simulator X's advanced 6DoF aerodynamic equations, including accurately modelled coupled Moments of Inertia calculations, giving the virtual pilot that 'really flying' sensation. The Fw-190A boxed edition is available now from Flight1.