OnCourse Software Updates PFE

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 23:50
PFE Version 2.3 addresses a few minor issues experienced by some users plus adds another new feature, allowing the pilot to request specific altitude changes. Full details at the OnCourse Software website.

AVSIM Wants You, News Editor

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 16:07
Ever wanted to write for the AVSIM team and get stories on the front page? Ever wanted to be a part of the best flight sim site on the web? AVSIM.com is looking to expand our news crew for front page news editing. All we ask is 3-5 days a month, and a couple hours during each of those days to post latest files for the day and the latest news for the day.

If this interests you, and you have a little writing experience, or if you just want to gain some, we'd love to have you. Send an email to John Binner, Managing Editor along with a short "news" story. I will personally be in touch with a few candidates as quickly as possible.

Thanks! And we hope to see you on our team!

John Binner
AVSIM Managing Editor

Toussus Le Noble For FSX

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 14:35
Toussus Le Noble For FSX is now available. After having released the FS2004 version, France VFR is proud to announce the release of the FSX version of Toussus le Noble (LFPN).

The Toussus Airport FSX (LFPN) scenery is developed by using extremely detailed techniques including building textures, high-definition ground textures and the corresponding night textures. France VFR emphasizes the difference between this new edition and the previously developed airports and writes, "Toussus is the first one entirely realized in high-definition for FS9 and FSX and conforms to new airport design concept charts. The scenery is a stand-alone product, can be used with the Paris BasePack without any modification and is fully compatible with any Mesh of your choice." Visit France VFR for more information.

GMap for FSX (Garmin Edition) Released

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 14:30
FSWidgets has released a third edition of the GMap for FSX freeware moving map system. This latest incarnation of GMap - the Garmin Edition - utilizes a Garmin 530 background or "skin" for those who prefer GMap in this particular "flavor". GMap is a free, stand-alone application that plots your FSX aircraft position on Google Maps. It can also be used as a module for EFBFSX (Electronic Flight Bag for FSX) which optionally adds this function to its map page. To download GMap please visit FSWidgets.

FriendlyPanels Navigation Pack For FSX

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 2:28
The gang at FriendlyPanels mention, "You have noticed that FSX propeller aircraft models have been improved regarding former Microsoft Flight Simulator versions, but, maybe, you're missing a better set of navigation and communication instruments. If this is your case, this is the FSX add-on you were waiting for."

What is this pack? This pack adds new realistic radio stacks and GPS to all the default FSX propeller planes that use the standard FSX radio stacks and GPS, improving your fligh tsimming experience. These aircraft are: Beechcraft Baron 58; Cessna 172; Cessna 208B; DeHavilland Beaver DHC2; Grumman Goose G21A; Maule M7 260C; Maule M7 260C with ski; and the Mooney Bravo. The FriendlyPanels Navigation pack for FSX includes NINE gauges: GPS GARMIN GNS530; BENDIX KX 165A NAV1 – COM1 RADIO and NAV2 – COM2 RADIO; ADF: BENDIX KR 87 ADF; DME: BENDIX KN 62A DME; Autopilot: BENDIX KAP140 •Transponders: KT 76C; Audio panel: KA134 and S-Tec System 50 Autopilot.

Aerosoft Announcements

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 2:01
German Airfields 2 - Nordlichter - "Fifteen high end airfields (some very challenging), several detailed helicopter bases and a whole load of additional scenery. Includes the the cities of Hamburg, with the sea plane base and Kiel. It's all in done in the latest technology and totally compatible with Aerosoft's other products that cover Germany. It's a fine example of advanced FSX scenery and if you like small airports you should not miss it, even if you only check out the screenshots on the product page!

German Airfields 9 - Northern Bavaria now fully FSX SP2 compatible - this is one of the last products that was not fully compatible with SP2, but that is now solved. As nearly every file has been changed, Aerosoft has a complete new version.
Take off in your small aircraft and explore the Northern Bavarian landscape. The 14 VFR airfields are highly detailed and located in a beautiful landscape. You can also approach one of the two regional airports (Hof/Plauen and Bayreuth) which offer instrument approaches in case the weather turns for the worst. The product created by the developers of the well known VFR Airfields series brings real life experience into your simulator.

Austria X from Aerosoft/Flugwerk Design

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 - 1:51
Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis visits a country on his wish list with Flugwerk Design's Austria X Professional available at Aerosoft. "What Austria X does for Flight Simulator X is quite remarkable, as it adds the entire road network, custom buildings and objects, landclass, photo type scenery for several cities and accurate terrain mesh data for the entire country. Thus giving the Flight Sim user an all-out true to life representation of Austria in FSX."

"All of the buildings in Austria Professional, aside from the autogen, are native to that country, and if you are flying in places like Vienna, you will see accurate landmarks and commercial buildings plucked right out of that part of the world.Included in this package are four of Austria’s biggest cities; Vienna, Linz, Salzburg and Graz. Each have been designed from the ground up using aerial photographs for proper placement of all of the buildings, landmarks and bridges, along with a photo-real overlay that blends in well with the surrounding terrain textures."

"The roads, rivers and landclass is where the heart and soul of this product comes in to play as it covers the entire country no matter where you fly. If you are flying VFR, as this product is intended, then you should be able to find your way via geographical references with little or no instrumentation. The terrain mesh that is included with this package really enhances the look and feel of the surrounding mountain ranges, especially in areas like Salzburg! Salzburg is inherently mountainous, and you don’t have to go far to find that mountainous terrain and the valleys to fly into."

"Austria X Professional is a beautiful product and it adds a lot to that particular region of the world," says Gene, "the box calls it an “accurate visual model” of the places in question and I really do think they deliver on that statement. You are getting roads, landclass, terrain mesh, custom objects and buildings, and photo real scenery for four different cities all in one nice little package; and if that was not enough, the product covers the entire country instead of just a portion of it."

Learn The Mad Dog

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 18:43
Learn The Mad Dog announces the release of their new Learn the Mad Dog Study Guide & Reference Manual. The perfect accessory to your Learn The Mad Dog DVD, the Study Guide features key information to help you learn while watching the DVD presentation and serves as a reference document during your Mad Dog flights. Nearly 50-pages of content including 75 exam questions covering every aircraft system to prove you really know your stuff. Also included in this manual, and by popular request, is information related to the weather radar. Visit Learn The Mad Dog for more information or to order.

MAAM's TBF/TBM Avenger Reviewed

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 5:02
Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl looks at MAAM's latest release, the TBM/TBF Avenger. "Leroy Grumman designed the XTBF-1, or what was to become the TBF Avenger, and the heaviest single engine aircraft of World War II. The Avenger has several unique design features including the rear facing dorsal and ventral turrets, a large torpedo bay, and a three man crew."

"The external model of this ship is as expected from MAAM's development team. In one word, stunning. The attention to detail of the ship itself is remarkable. All regular and expected animations are included, and even a few unexpected 'extra' animations are included like a droppable torpedo. The regulars are very well done of course, and include great suspension modeling, flaps, and control surfaces."

"This aircraft comes full of 2D panel options and many sub-panels. If you enjoy good 2D panels, this is the ship for you. Also, many sub-panels are included. These sub-panels look remarkably detailed and realistic, because they are photoreal and taken right out of the real Avenger that MAAM has restored. The Virtual Cockpit is near seamless in its representation, with nearly every switch, knob, and lever being clickable. Not to mention the amazing detail included in everything, I just feel like I'm sitting in their Avenger when I 'climb' into this ship. Everything needed for your day-to-day operations is clickable in this virtual cockpit; radios, aircraft and engine controls, and tons of little extras."

"The Avenger's flight dynamics are another home run of the package. Very docile and forgiving handling characteristics make this ship an absolute joy to fly. Flight is very enjoyable, and as I said, forgiving. She'll cruise along nicely with just a bit of trim work and at a nice cruising speed. The sounds of this package are simply more of what I call the best. Recorded from the real Avenger that MAAM has, you simply cannot beat the sounds."

Wrapping up his look at MAAM's Avenger Chris says, "I greatly enjoyed this highly anticipated release. It's going to be one of my regular aircraft to fly. MAAM's work to keep you immersed simply can't be beat."

Eaglesoft Releases Premier1 For FSX/FS9

Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 3:48
Eaglesoft announces that after listening to the many requests for our legacy Raytheon Premier1 Corporate Jet, Team Eaglesoft, has released a new Premier1 package which includes both FS2004 and FSX installers at one price.

This fun little basic Corporate Jet is offered as a "Dual Sim Version for one low price. FSX Version requires SP2.

To get your copy, you're cleared direct to the Premier1 hanger.

AlphaSim Releases The H-60 Blackhawk.

Posted: Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 23:45
The iconic Blackhawk helicopter has finally arrived for FSX and FS9 - seven variants of the majestic H-60 series make up this AlphaSim package. The highly accurate models come in various configurations and seven detailed texture sets. Users of the true-FSX package will benefit from all the special graphical features (inlcuding cockpit self-shadowing with DX10/SP2) which that sim has to offer. Even FS9 users get an amazing package in terms of detail. For FSX (SP1, SP2/Accel) and FS2004 only. Details and screenshots at the AlphaSim home page.

Flight 1/Bear Studios Release MiG 17

Posted: Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 5:12
Bear Studios just released the MiG-17 Fresco package at Flight1. The MiG-17 follows the steps from their successfully MiG-15, both from OKB MiG for real aircraft, and from BearStudios for FS aircraft. The MiG-17 is equipped with an air intercepting radar on an all weather fighter and has a radar range finder for daylight fighters. As with the MiG-15 SP2(current version on Flight1), the MiG-17 can work with both FSX-SP2 and FS2004. The MiG-17 package includes the MiG-17A, MiG-17F daylight fighter, LiM-5 & LiM-6Bis fighter-bomber, MiG-17PF, MiG-17PFU and LiM-5P all weather fighters, as well as the FT-5 advanced trainer.

American Champion Aircraft from Flight1/RealAir

Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 16:59
Staff reviewer Etienne Martin looks at three aircraft from RealAir Simulations put togther in a package known as American Champion Aircraft - Scout Package 2007. "This is the second release of the product from Real Air Simulations, this time updated for Flight Simulator X. In the box, we will find three tail-dragger airframes, the Citabria, the Scout and the Decathlon."

"American Champion for FSX looks good, although the models are perhaps not as extremely detailed as some other products. Certainly, the trio of ACA aircrafts are not complex machines and have relatively few options on the airframe that naturally lead to extra animations and volumes of eye candy. Real Air spent time on the exterior textures. Grime and wear provide an additional immersion factor."

"Real Air has actually removed most of the 2D panels found in the FS2004 product. Instead, camera views duplicate the panels found in the FS2004 version, and can be cycled via the keyboard. It remains that the VC is best enjoyed with a head tracking device, especially if you get into acrobatics, just to help with spatial references. For the virtual cockpit (VC), Real Air creates gauges in 3D. This adds a significant amount of realism to the panel, while making the gauges responsive and actually reduces the impact on FPS"

"The suitability of the airframe for acrobatics is a definite plus to get away from the more mundane haul missions. The star model is, of course, the Decathlon, although through my testing, the amphibian Scout had surprisingly few problems executing the occasional loop and barrel roll, although it clearly didn’t like to stay upside down for very long. I didn’t observe any performance impact on my system, even in the VC."

"American Champion Aircraft X fills a gap in the short haul, go nearly anywhere aircraft category. It provides an excellent cockpit experience combined with a realistic flight behavior that can only make the bush pilot happy. Plus there's scenery (Bear Gulch) from Bill Womack included in this package. I like to think of the trio of aircraft as the same plane available in three trims - “limited” (Citabria), “grand touring” (Scout) and “rally” (Decathlon). Real Air has packed a lot of versatility and fun into this polished and well rounded add-on."

Free Scenery From Fly-Wonderful-Islands

Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2008 - 16:27
Fly-Wonderful-Islands has released La Gomera, a small island in the Canary's. The release features a detailed airport, 3D signalizations and taxiways, numerous static objects around the airfield, a new mesh terrain and the coastlines have been corrected. If your destinations include the Canary Islands, stop by Fly-Wonderful-Islands and take a look at this new Freeware release

Jaggyroad Films Releases “Kai Tak Serenity”

Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 18:29
Jaggyroad Films has released their first non-commercial video in over 6 months for your viewing enjoyment. The new short video features several popular add-ons throughout the community and gives an interesting portrayal of one of the most dangerous urban approaches. To view the video free of charge in both downloadable WMV and DIVX, as well as stream, head to Jaggy Road Films.

Jaggyroad Films is a small independently contracted company that specializes in video production, with a niche for Flight Simulator and other gaming content. The website contains several product promotional and non-commercial films which are all available for download or can be streamed. Jaggyroad Films was recently featured in the “From the Editor” article in the July FSInsider newsletter .

FS2Crew News

Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 - 18:24
Today FS2Crew has announced: