October 5, 2007 - October 21, 2007

Try Weather Maker X For Free

Posted: Sunday, October 21, 2007 - 11:26
Calibre Software Solutions is pleased to release Weather Maker X Open Beta 1, Weather Maker X takes advantage of the new Simconnect module available with Microsoft's Flight Simulator X to simulate realistic and random weather. The weather situation is now depicted on the enhanced radar that offers map depiction, giving the pilot the knowledge on how to avoid dangerous weather conditions. You can try out the open beta version for free at:
weather-maker.com.

Email Meets Flight Sim

Posted: Friday, October 19, 2007 - 6:29
3D Mailbox, the world's first 3-dimensional email client, has released "Level 2: LAX". Set in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 3D Mailbox allows the user to be an "Air Traffic Controller" simply by sending and receiving email.

3D Mailbox is designed so that jumbo jets represent incoming and outgoing email, and thousands of real pilot-ATC conversations correspond to any flight or movement. Based on an email's origin or destination, 3D Mailbox assigns country-specific liveries to each plane. According to World Market Watch, Inc.'s Robert Savage, the founder of 3D Mailbox, an email from Australia, for example, will arrive on a Qantas 747; an email to the UK will depart on either British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, or British Caledonian. Over a dozen US liveries carry domestic email. Emails with attachments are delivered by cargo planes such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, and CargoLux. The built-in SpamBayes SPAM filter sends junk mail to the airport boneyard, and puts uncertain mail in a holding pattern.

Savage says users can explore the airport using a HUD; hang out in the tower; or sit back and watch the dozens of cinematic cameras capture the action above and below.

For more information on this product, please visit the 3D Mailbox website.

MyTraffic X Updates Available

Posted: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 23:28
Burkhard Renk has announced a significant free update to MyTraffic X. Continuing the MyTraffic tradition of delivering enhanced value to its customers, the update to V5.1a includes a range of Airbus models completely rebuilt for FSX along with several hundred repaints. Also packaged in are a number of small bug fixes, improvements in the night lighting of selected aircraft and around 480 airports newly tuned for AI Traffic. Last but not least, they have added a brand new aircraft to the MyTraffic fleet - the A380. To share the momentous occasion of the A380's first commercial flight with all flightsim enthusiasts, they are also making the A380 and its associated AI flightplans available as freeware for everyone to enjoy. The freeware Singapore Airlines A380 AI package and additional information may be found HERE.

The Votes Are In!!

Posted: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 19:25
Imaginesim announced today the results their online vote. Allowing you, the users, to decide their next product for developement, proved extremely successfull. The votes are in and KATL has won by a landslide. For additional information please visit Imaginesim

Welcome Aboard

Posted: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 10:58
The negotiations are over and a contract has been signed. Please welcome our two new library managers to AVSIM. Hendrik Herryjanto and Jerel Gregory. These are the great guys that keep the library updated and available to all our loyal visitors. Thank you for joining our family.

Abacus Release Bundled Scenery For FSX

Posted: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 17:13
In a press release today, Arnie Lee from Abacus Publicaitons has announced its lastest software for FSX to hit the market. Arnie goes on to say:

"With Microsoft FSX, the scenery environment has been enhanced to provide more attractive areas in which to fly. Microsoft brings you more detail by opening up the scenery engine to improve the display techniques."

World & USA Extreme Landscapes BUNDLE delivers this incredible improvement of detail by boosting the resolution of the terrain data as follows:

Continental USA from 19 meters to 9.5 meters
Canada from 38 meters to 19 meters
Mexico from 308 meters to 76 meters
Alps, Scandanavia, Pyrenees, Caucasus 19 meters
Parts of Japan, Africa and New Zealand 19 meters
Himalayas high detail
Elsewhere from 612 to 76 meters

As an added bonus and for your "low and slow" flying pleasure so that you can better enjoy the new amazing ground detail, we've also included two new aircraft: the exquisite Liberty XL2 aircraft from Eaglesoft Development Group and the Socata TB21 Trinidad.

For more information about this press release, visit the Abacus website.

First Real-World Airbus A380 Delivered

Posted: Monday, October 15, 2007 - 14:40
With both parties no doubt breathing a huge sigh of relief, Airbus today finally delivered its first airline A380 superjumbo jet to Singapore Airlines, following an earlier string of legal and technical troubles.

More details in this news report.

What's Next For Imagine Simulation? You Decide

Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 19:39
Hong Kong or Atlanta? It's not the choices for which city will get to host the next Olympic Games but it might be just as exciting to flight sim enthusiasts.

Imagine Simulation, which has already produced nine detailed airport sceneries for Microsoft Flight Simulator, wants to know what its customers want to see next as it wraps up final production in its latest endeavor, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (TJSJ).

San Juan won the last competition against Hong Kong and now Atlanta is pitted against the busy Chinese airport.

To cast your vote, head over to the Imagine Simulation website.

AlphaSim Supermarine Scimitar F.Mk.1

Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 17:30
Supermarine's last aircraft the Scimitar F.Mk.1 has been released by AlphaSim in a full-specification FSX version and for FS9. The FSX version includes V-C self shadowing available with MicroSoft's forthcoming FSX Service Pack 2 (with Vista),the VC also has full gauge night lighting and self-reflecting glass (also present in the FS9 version). The package includes FOUR model variations, six texture sets with weathering ,accurate squadron markings and insignia. Full details and a demo video of the VC shadow effects can be found at the AlphaSim website

FanCon 2007, Reminders

Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 16:38
Several reminders for our AVSIM patrons: If you are also attending DevCon earlier in the week, please note that your entrance to DevCon portions does not include entrance to FanCon, FanCon Awards dinner, FanCon Friday night social, or entrance to the FanCon vendor's area. This is a separate purchase and can be paid for on the FanCon registration page.

For other questions, please join the discussions in the FanCon forum.

Thank You AVSIM Readers!

Posted: Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 15:19
Did you know that the AVSIM Community is the largest in the hobby? Here are some statistics to consider;


  • The AVSIM front page is read over 46,000 times a day (1.5 million reads a month)
  • The front page is read by some 330,000 different people a month
  • Over 98% or our readership comes directly to AVSIM rather than from a search engine or referring site
  • Over 30,000 people visit the file library every day
  • 300,000 users visit the library every month
  • On average, we serve up over 80,000 files a day
  • On average, we serve up over 5.5 TERABYTES of files a month
  • On average, the forums have over 8,000 readers a day
  • The forums have nearly 42,000 members and over 82,000 individual readers


AVSIM continues to be flight simulation's number one site because of you, our reader. Our entire staff is very proud to bring you the daily services that you have come to expect of us. Thank you for continuing to support AVSIM!

Eaglesoft Piper PA-30 Released

Posted: Friday, October 12, 2007 - 20:31
Team Eaglesoft is pleased to announce that their Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche Package for FS9 has just been released and is now available for purchase! Eaglesoft writes, "we've attempted, within simulator limitations, to model a faithful replica of Roy Wilbanks PA-30 Twin Comanche. From Roy's beautiful N204WT livery to the included "retro" liveries, we've attempted to capture the essence of the aircraft known affectionately as the "Twinkie". More information can be found on the Eaglesoft Piper Site.

Calibre Software Solutions, New Webpage

Posted: Friday, October 12, 2007 - 19:45
Calibre Software Solutions, creators of the Weather Maker Software, has released a new website. For more information visit Weather Maker.

FanCon 2007, Erik Lindbergh

Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 18:34
AVSIM is proud to announce that Erik Lindbergh will be a special guest speaker during our Saturday night awards banquet! Erik is a commercial pilot and flight instructor, is the grandson of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and serves as chairman and director of the Lindbergh Foundation. Mr. Lindbergh is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the X Prize Foundation, works in public relations for Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing, is one of four founding X-Racer pilots in the Rocket Racing League and is a founding board member of the Aviation High School in Seattle. In addition Erik is also an accomplished artist and his works can be seen on The Lindbergh Gallery.

Time is running out to catch this spectacular flight simulation event! Book your stay and conference attendance now!

FSFlyingSchool Adds To Curriculum

Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 15:41
For those of you who like a good challenge or if you're just looking to hone those fine piloting skills, FSInventions announced FSFlyingSchool Version 1.7 for FSX and FS2004 has been released.

FSFlyingSchool's random failures simulation has been extended to include the autopilot whereby six more switches, including airspeed and heading hold, may or may not function normally during the flight. In addition, failures which occur during the flight are recorded in detail in the pilot log book, along with the total duration of failure and indicating whether the system was still inoperative at landing.

More new features increase the add-on's flexibility by permitting the pilot to specify if transition from takeoff to cruise mode or from cruise to landing mode are to be detected automatically or indicated by the pilot.

For more information, you're cleared to land at the FSFlyingSchool website.

No Meshing Around, FS Dreamscapes Does California

Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 15:18
Aimed at providing what it calls high quality terrain mesh for flight simmers, FS Dreamscapes has released California 10m Mesh+ Terrain for Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

The 10m Mesh+ Terrain is based upon the 10 meter National Elevation Dataset (NED) produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The terrain is based upon the most current available data and is said to be three times more detailed than the default FSX California terrain.

FS Dreamscapes, which officially launched their first product for Utah in September 2007, is headed by longtime flight sim developer, Dean Mountford. You can find out more information on this product by setting your course to the FS Dreamscapes website.

FS2CREW Updates Released

Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 0:07
FS2CREW announced today that they have released two new updates for the 747. There is an update available for the default FS9 747 and one for the FSX 747. The downloads and additional information can be found at their site FS2Crew.

Ultimate Terrain X Canada Released

Posted: Monday, October 8, 2007 - 9:47
Fans of the Ultimate Terrain series of scenery enhancements, and awaiting the next product for FSX, will be glad to learn that Ultimate Terrain X Canada is now out.

For further information and purchase details, visit the Flight 1 Ultimate Terrain X Canada page here.

Charity Flight, Looking For Pilots, FanCon 2007!

Posted: Friday, October 5, 2007 - 19:07
Charity Flight is still in need of pilots for FanCon 2007 in Seattle! Bill Van Caulart writes, "With just a month to go until we depart KBFI Seattle for the virtual skys of the world, Charityflight 2007 is still looking for a few good pilots to fly the Level-D 767. If you are going to the convention and would like to pilot a few legs, go to Charity Flight Homepage and register yourself as a pilot volunteer. Look for us at Fancon 2007."

Not signed up for FanCon yet? Then check out the AVSIM FanCon information pages and come join us! Time is running out!

Free Track Updates

Posted: Friday, October 5, 2007 - 13:05
Freetrack is freeware allowing you to directly control view directions by your head movements in compatible games and simulators. A major update has just been released; Freetrack V2.1. This update includes native FSX 6DOF, FS2004 4DOF and FS2002 4DOF support. Many other features included. More informations on the Free Track Webpage.