PMDG 737NG Voice Commander from FS2Crew

Posted: Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 0:59
New staff reviewer Gary Yip gets some help in the cockpit with FS2Crews' Voice Commander for the PMDG 737NG. "Where once before, preflight setup was a dull and lonely task and one that you just wanted to get out of the way, it has now become a totally different and enjoyable experience. From a cold and dark cockpit, powering up the aircraft and setting up for the flight ahead has never felt more realistic."

"The recent 2010 Voice Edition releases add a new element of voice control to the mix. This enhances the product’s realism by allowing you to talk to your virtual first officer. As in the real world though, train yourself to respond using the EXACT phraseology and it will not only make you a better pilot, but it will also help the flow of the checklist and avoid having to repeat yourself, thereby enhancing your realism."

Gary describes the various stages of flight from cold and dark, thru preflight, taxi, in-flight, approach, landing, and shut down, and the various commands and controls shared by you the pilot and your virtual co-pilot. You can even have the co-pilot do the take-off and flight.

"Despite the difficulties of simulating a multi-crew environment on a home PC, FS2Crew has done a great job of making it seem less lonely up on the flight deck with PMDG 737NG Voice Commander. Simple procedures such as starting the engines have a lot more realistic feel to them as well with the introduction of the passengers and cabin crew into the mix."

Class 20 Collection from Just Trains

Posted: Friday, August 13, 2010 - 23:31
Contributing Rail Sim reviewer Gene Davis takes a look at a recent release from Just Trains, the boxed version of the Class 20 Collection. "This software package comes with the Class 20 Diesel Engine, the Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) and an FNA Nuclear Flask Carrier. I found this add-on to be rather unique as it is an incredibly versatile package that allows for multiple uses and functions when it comes to railroading, something we really haven’t seen yet for Rail Works. The add-on also come with 12 different scenarios that span just about every default European route in Rail Works, if you own Newcastle to York Modern there are also scenarios included for that package as well and they include duties such as RHTT cleaning."

"The Class 20 Engine that comes in this package has been beautifully rendered and accurately models its real world counterpart. The liveries that are included in this package are that of real world engines and are accurate to that of their particular regions where the engine is used. Climbing into the locomotive is also a special treat as its age definitely reflects its design, there are a decent set of gauges, dials and knobs. The design of the cab also allows for it to be controlled either looking forward or backward as it does have functioning controls on both sides of the cab."

"There are several different setups for the Rail Head Treatment Train available in the Class 20 Collection. The first, which is the most used, is that of the three tanks with water and the generator car, the other is usually 1 or 2 tanks of water, with a sandite car and a generator. The cars themselves are nicely rendered, though I think they look a little too new and are not weathered in their design; they do have accurate markings and fit well into the Rail Works universe."

"The FNA Nuclear Flask Carrier is what it is, it has been nicely designed and is accurate to that of real world carriers in and around Europe. The carrier is highly detailed and features an authentic flashing light on the rear of the carrier. If the car is loaded you will see it with its accurate hazard diamonds markings and if it’s unloaded those diamonds will not be present. The car also has a weathered model and a clean, freshly painted, model."

"The Class 20 Collection from Just Trains is simply fun and I strongly recommend it to anyone who uses Rail Simulator or Rail Works. This collection is a unique set of rail content that offers hours of rail simulating."

FsFuel Flight Planning Tool

Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 14:00
The primary objective of FsFuel is to calculate fuel by taking into account a wide range of factors including routes, alternates, contingency scenarios, flight levels, en–route winds and many other factors. The fuel planning algorithms of FsFuel comply with regulations of civil aviation authorities, e.g. U.S. Federal Aviation Authority and Europe Joint Aviation Authorities.

With FsFuel you know timing of virtually every phase of your flight, thanks to CFP format of presenting computations and FsFuel converts routes for FMC import (Feelthere/WilcoPub, Level–D/Flight1, PMDG and PSS/JustFlight), as well as into other formats.
Visit the FsFuel website to learn more about this new utility.

Curtiss Hawk 75 from Vertigo Simulations

Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 6:10
New staff reviewer Ed Green looks at another warbird from Vertigo Simulations, the Curtiss Hawk 75. "Vertigo Simulations has reproduced the Hawk Model 75A in a number of its variations to give a broad representation of this historically significant aircraft."

"Overall I have to say at the beginning that I was very pleased with the performance of this add-on. The graphics design and execution are in a single word, stunning; the aircraft both inside and out is just beautiful. The external and internal modeling are sharp and crisp, the paint bright and clear and the schemes appear to be faithful to the period. Obviously a great deal of careful research has gone into the design of the simulation and the end results reflects that care and effort. This is a quality product."

"This aircraft is VC only, there is no 2D panel. The instruments are readable and appear to update smoothly. Gauge response was excellent on my system and with a couple of exceptions (fuel tank selector and cowl flaps) the panel seems to work quite well. I really had no problems as far as operating the Hawk on my system."

"The graphics, sounds, and computer modeling aspects of the Vertigo Simulations' Curtiss Hawk 75 are very well done. I can certainly recommend this aircraft to those who want the experience of learning and flying a historically significant aircraft."

"On The Horizon"

Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 1:02
The iconic DC-3 is celebrating its 75th birthday this year and Just Flight has this most famous of transport aircraft in development for Flight Simulator X. DC3 - Legends of Flight looks like a fantastic package, it should be available in September and will feature the original Douglas DC-3, the USAAF's C-47 and the RAF Dakota.

The different models will be clothed in a range of authentic liveries and the award-winning development team at Aeroplane Heaven is leaving no stone unturned in its drive to create the best simulated DC-3 ever built. Product details and some stunning screenshots, including images of the Waco troop/cargo military glider, famous for its role in Operation Market Garden in 1944, are available.

E-Jets v2 Embraer 175/195 Released

Posted: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 14:36
After the award-winning Embraer Regional Jets and E-Jets Series v1, FeelThere and Wilco Publishing release two new aircraft variants : Embraer 175 / 195, the most serious Boeing and Airbus competitor. The Embraer 175/195 range of airliners are an entirely new family of aircraft, with state-of-the-art avionics, fly-by-wire technology, superior cabin comfort and extraordinary and uncompromising performance.

Highlights of this release include: Highly detailed Embraer 175/195; a Head Up Display; a new generation flight deck; Detailed interiors; Ultra realistic dual FMS; Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC); and 2 bonus fetures, Call! and Map!

Alicante Ultimate from Eiresim

Posted: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 11:26
Eiresim Scenery Design has announced the release of 'Alicante Ultimate' for FS2004. This scenery is their first scenery release outside Ireland. This add-on includes detail 20cm/pixel aerial imagery throughout that captures Alicante Airport in all its glory. Also includes all the airport structures including the soon to be opened Terminal 3 and the nearby coastal apartments which can be seen on final approach to runway 28.

For more information visit Product Page.

Flight 1 titles are available at the Avsim Store

Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 15:05
The Avsim store carries all the major titles from Flight 1. Redesigned from the ground up, Ultimate Traffic 2 provides FSX users the definitive AI-traffic upgrade, and still is the only package that provides computer traffic based on real airlines, flying on real schedules and now using realistic routings too.
Audio Environment: Airliner Edition replaces the FSX airliner sounds with custom-made, high quality stereo sounds. Extensive development time has been taken to ensure that the improved sounds work seamlessly with whatever traffic program you use. If you are looking to improve the visual environment of FSX, get the Ultimate Terrain X from Flight 1. If you are looking for advanced airliners consider the Super MD 80 Pro or the Fokker 70/100.

Visit the Avsim store today.

C185F Skywagon Bush from Carenado

Posted: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 1:54
Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt looks at another version of the Cessna C185F, the Skywagon Bush as presented by Carenado. "The C185F Skywagon Bush is a package of variants on the C185F Skywagon. The Bush package adds a ski, float, tundra and amphibian version, with the float and ski version each having a separate variant that contains an extra lower window in the door."

"At first glance, the exterior model looks very good. You can see lots of detail, but what makes it such a nice model to look at, is the great texture quality. Tiny details are textured with crispness that is great to behold. The exterior model of this plane truly shines, and with textures that are among the best out-of-the-box that I have encountered, Carenado has made a truly great exterior model."

"Concerning the floats, one must appreciate the level of detail of both the modeling and texturing. All the cables have been modeled with great precision, and it is finished off with a very good layer of textures, that make the floats seem like they have been heavily used. Next is the Skywagon with skis. The big, clunky floats have been replaced, and we now face a Skywagon with normal wheels, to which skis have been attached. Of note are the intricate details of the wiring holding the skis at the right angle for operation. What I think is very good here, is the texturing of these wires: they are so detailed, so crisp and so good, even though these are some truly tiny parts. The tundra model is the least exciting variation of all. The only difference is that this model has far bigger wheels. The wheels have been modeled well: there is hardly any blockiness, and the texturing looks as good as always."

"The virtual cockpit is very functional. Not all switches work, but everything you need to operate the plane and more is there, to give you the feeling of being the pilot in command. The animations of the various switches are good, but note that the various radio and navigation instruments are 2D, however 3D they look."

"Taking off from land and water and landing on both, gave me a good impression of the capabilities of this variant of the C185F, and the flying itself was easy yet great fun. There is nothing difficult about this plane. This package also sports a very good sound package with some very convincing engine sounds that bring this aircraft truly to life. The C185F Skywagon Bush by Carenado is a true gem."

New FSX Mission Pack

Posted: Monday, August 9, 2010 - 14:43
Just Flight have releases a new mission pack for FSX - Challenges Over The USA: East Coast Edition - is now available by Download.

This latest mission/race pack from the creators of Challenges Over The Rockies and Low & Fast Air Racing includes seven missions and three races - get ready to race across the skies over Washington DC, save lives over the Atlantic ocean, launch from an aircraft carrier, fly challenging approaches, test your piloting skills and land in unique locations!
Challenges Over The USA: East Coast Edition will provide you with hours of intense and entertaining flying, accompanied by detailed mission briefings and helpful voice-over communications.

There's also a video which shows what the mission pack is all about, and a demo (15Mb) is also available so you can try your hand at a mission.

The S.E.5A Released

Posted: Monday, August 9, 2010 - 14:39
A Legend of Flight from WW1 arrives in the simulated skies exclusively from Just Flight. The Royal Aircraft Factory's S.E.5A is one of the best known and most successful fighter planes of the First World War. S.E.5A - Legends of Flight is a fantastic re-creation for Flight Simulator X that has been painstakingly put together and raises the bar for WW1 aircraft simulation.

The S.E.5A was built around the Hispano-Suiza and Wolseley Viper engines and it reached combat units in significant numbers from June 1917 onwards. Many of the most famous aces of the period including Ball, Mannock and McCudden were S.E.5A pilots and there were over 2,700 in service by the end of the hostilities.

The simulation includes nine aircraft to pilot in five versions with Hispano or Wolseley engines and two-blade and four-blade propellers. Exacting detail inside and out even includes modelled rivets and stitching on the fuselage.

Each aircraft has unique markings and features a fully animated pilot, opening gun hatch and a Lewis gun which swings down on its Foster mount. All rigging is accurately modelled, including the RAF aerodynamic rigging wire and round flying wires, bottle screws and fittings. A unique technique provides a 'canvas' texture to the exterior finish and carefully researched colours have been applied in such a way as to replicate the unusual 'colour change' effect of the paint used on the S.E.5A. Inspection windows in the wings and tail reveal the pulley gear for the control wires to ailerons and elevator. Radiator shutters on the Viper variant operate from the cockpit and detail includes bungee cord 'suspension', correct Palmer AeroCord tyres and even tyre valves in the wheel covers.

Ship of Dreams from PRE-Flight RC Simulator

Posted: Monday, August 9, 2010 - 13:34
PRE-Flight RC Simulator has announced the release of PRE-Flight Titanic Scenery for free download. The "Ship of Dreams", the RMS Titanic, is the most famous ship in history. The largest passenger ship of the time, she departed England on her maiden voyage on the 10th April 1912, and sank after hitting an iceberg resulting in the loss of 1,517 people.

The PRE-Flight Titanic model is full-scale (269 meters long), high-quality (345874 polygons) and attempts to accurately depicts the Titanic on her fateful voyage from her bronze propellers, thru the 9 highly-detailed decks (some decks with realistic wooden plank texture), and to the pennants that she was flying on the day she sank. It contains details like the brass bell that the lookout used to signal the approach of the fatal iceberg, the radio transmitter wiring, even a genuine Titanic-style lounge chair. The PRE-Flight Titanic Scenery is 3 scenries in 1. The first where the Titanic model is stationary for detailed exploring. The second scenery has the Titanic running at cruising speed and grazing an iceberg. And lastly, the 3rd scenery has the Titanic sinking. This release also makes available an updated version of PRE-Flight's UFO which makes an excellent camera platform to explore the Titanic. Any PRE-Flight aircraft can also be flown in the scenery.

For more information and free download visit PRE-Flight RC Simulator's website.

UK2000 VFR Airfields Volume3 Released

Posted: Sunday, August 8, 2010 - 16:38
UK2000 VFR Airfields Volume3 includes 73 airfields in the northern part of the UK. It brings you truly amazing UK Airfield scenery that will make FSX come alive. Designed to match the real life layouts and buildings, each one is modelled to a high level and is supplemented with FSX objects and effects. In addition these airports use photographic ground images.

This is the last of the 3 Volumes released for FSX; each area will match the corresponding Horizon Generation-X photographic scenery product. You can still use VFR Airfields without photographic scenery, but for the ultimate experience it is highly recommended. There is a Free DEMO version of the scenery containing 7 airfields. For complete details visit the UK 2000 Scenery website.

Northland - Bay of Islands from Flightsim Creations

Posted: Sunday, August 8, 2010 - 4:49
Flightsim Creations has announced the release of a Photoreal Scenery for New Zealand - "Northland - Bay of Islands". Visit their website for more information and also to download Freeware/Demo version covering 200sq miles or the Full Version covering 600sq miles.

Eiresim: A Triple Scenery Review

Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 21:13
Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt heads to the Emerald Isle to look at 3 titles from Eiresim; Dublin 2009, Shannon Ultimate and Cork Ultimate. "This is a multi-product review. In it, I review multiple products, instead of just one. In this particular review, I will discuss the airports one by one, in a chronological order (first released is discussed first). This way I hope to make clear how every airport by Eiresim gets increasingly nicer and more functional. To give a global idea: Dublin is okay, but Cork is awesome."

"Dublin International Airport has two terminals. In general, it is an okay looking scenery and I like what I have seen. There is no unnecessary detail that bogs down frame rates, but here and there the scenery does tend to look a bit stale, or light. This is mostly because of the lack of shadow effects, reflections and more detailed ground textures around the terminal buildings. Fact is that the developers would have liked to have an aerial ground image, but they couldn’t due to copyright issues. I have heard there are plans to redo all of this airport and when that happens, an aerial ground image will be added."

"The scenery of Shannon Airport by Eiresim covers not only the airport itself, but also the industrial park and some other buildings on what seems to be airport premises, including two big houses and an oil storage facility. Shannon Ultimate is a very nice rendition of the real airport. The buildings are all well modeled, but the same texturing “flatness” and “depthlesness” is present here, too. As it is, it is still a very nice airport scenery and shows a marked improvement over Dublin 2009 in various departments."

"Eiresim has made its own Cork Airport scenery, and here we have a sudden and very big leap in quality from Shannon Ultimate. The biggest improvement is the appearance of satellite ground imagery. With Cork Ultimate, Eiresim has shown their true potential. In short, this is the very best scenery of all currently released Eiresim sceneries, improving over Shannon Ultimate by leaps and bounds. The terminal looks stunning and the satellite ground imagery is among the best I have seen. All the other buildings show a pattern of nice modeling and texturing. Eiresim has set itself a high standard with Cork Ultimate."

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Released

Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 18:31
FSDreamTeam is pleased to announce the release of the highly anticipated Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Available for FSX and FS9, with a license valid for use in both simulators.

FSDreamTeam comments, "This scenery raises the bar in scenery design, by implementing new design methods, which allows for great textures clarity on ground, despite the airport huge size. Fully FSX native Shader effects like Bump and Specular mapping on ground, allows full DX10 compatibility, without using any default textures."

Other features (in the FSX version only) include elevated taxiways bridges fully compatible with AI, several custom animations, more than 130 fully functional Docking Systems, more than 130 working Jetways, all handled by the exclusive FSDT ParkMe feature, and the DFW Skylink train, animated. With a manual including all charts and totaling 101 pages, this is truly a "monster" scenery, one of the largest airports in the World, finally captured in extreme detail.

The scenery is also available in a Free Trial version, and can be downloaded from FsDreamTeam website.

New Avionic Expansion Packages Available

Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 17:39
NEX® Simulation's online catalog offers "gaming expansion packs" for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator® X and FS2004. Future editions will include support for X-Plane as well.

Mix-and-Match your own avionics suites! At NEX® Simulation, you can purchase only the units you want to, and mix-and-match them with others to create your own custom avionics suites.

Forum Upgrade Complete

Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 12:36
Friday, August 6th, we shut down the AVSIM Forums system at 11:00 a.m. EST. The shutdown was necessary to transition our forums to the new forum sytem that we are bringing online in advance of bringing the new AVSIM web site online.

IMPORTANT!!! The new forum system will require that you SIGN IN WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, not your name, as the current system requires. The new system will be populated with the current user database (along with every message in the current forum system, your previous message post count, and all of your stats and control panel settings). This means that the EMAIL ADDRESS YOU SIGNED UP TO THE FORUMS WITH WILL BE USED IN THE NEW FORUM SYSTEM. Your PASSWORD WILL BE THE SAME AS YOU ARE CURRENTLY USING.

GarSIM GNS hardware from Emuteq

Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 12:34
Emuteq has announced the release of the GarSIM GNS hardware. This hardware interfaces with RealityXp's software, for FS2004, FSX and X-plane. Features of this hardware inclide integrated NAV and COM tuning, adjustable backlighting, full USB plug and play.

For more information visit their website.

Pauma Valley Airstrips from Rural Vistas

Posted: Saturday, August 7, 2010 - 7:46
Rural Vistas, a new developer has released their first scenery "Pauma Valley Airstrips", a package containing two rural airstrips located in the scenic Pauma Valley of Southern California. This scenery offers vantage of the quaint and simple world of General Aviation. With the two airstrips you get a look at two contrasting elements that make up General Aviation. With one offering your local, rural airport, complete with hangers, a Club/Terminal building and other details and the other a working agricultural airstrip, providing the surrounding orange groves (modeled in 3-D) with access for their aviation need.

For more information visit their website.