Flight Environment X DVD Edition Released

Posted: Friday, July 30, 2010 - 0:55
Flight One Software is proud to announce the release of Flight Environment X DVD Edition. Flight Environment X offers FSX users an unlimited range of flight environments that include realistic new clouds, sky, and water. The easy-to-use interface allows for the easy installation of various preset themes and environment types, or users can create can create their own environments by selecting from the many preset clouds, sky, and water types.

The range of customization is enormous with the included design features, allowing you an incredible depth of control, from adjusting the transparency of clouds and the color of the cloud bottoms, right through to adjusting how the water color scales in depth. The intuitive tools allow even the novice to be able to achieve stunning results. The included cloud editor will make it nearly impossible to see the same cloud twice.

All the artwork used in Flight Environment X has been wholly originated from high definition photography using state of the art camera equipment. Many flying trips have been undertaken to photograph clouds from every angle, along with water, sunrises, and sunsets. This has enabled the developers to master all textures at a very high definition which can then be scaled to your requirements in FEX. Flight 1 has gone to exhaustive lengths to quality check every piece of artwork found in FEX and are confident you will agree that this is as good as it gets in terms of cloud realism.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to download community content which includes many users creations. They believe FEX a "must have" for anyone who owns Flight Simulator X and enjoys a high level of customizing their flight environment.On

Build Your Own Helicopter Controls

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - 23:17
Roger Dodger Aviation has published a series of videos "DIY Easy Helicopter Collective" with instruction manual that show how to build a simple home helicopter cockpit using your existing flight simulator controls and materials from a hardware store.
The finished DIY Helicopter Collective project is a frame built from PVC pipe that links the flight sim throttle to a helicopter collective handle. The frame also holds the rudder pedals and joystick in place (anti-torque pedals and cyclic) and the instructional package can be purchased as a download.

PRE-Flight RC Gee Bee Model R

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - 23:10
PRE-Flight RC Simulator is pleased to announce the release of the Gee Bee Super Sportster for free download. The Gee Bee Model R Super Sportster "Flying Silo" was a racing airplane built by Granville Brothers Aircraft of Springfield Massachusetts in 1932 and famous for a long string of race wins and speed records.
It represented the state of the art at the time - designed for maximum performance and, consequently proved to be extremely dangerous to fly, the design was basically the smallest possible airframe with the largest and most powerful possible engine - the Pratt and Whitney Wasp 9-cylinder radial engine.
This PRE-Flight model is a gargantuan 1/3 scale (2.54m wingspan) and features movable controls and the same agility as the real Model R-2. Includes cockpit and wingcam views as well as chase plane view.

Leeds Bradford EGNM for FS9

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - 23:04
Mexsim proudly presents Leeds Bradford International Airport, It is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds itself. It serves the cities of Leeds and Bradford, as well as the wider Yorkshire region including the cities of York and Wakefield, and is the largest airport within Yorkshire. The airport is also the highest in England at an elevation of 681 ft (208 m). By the number of passengers handled in 2009, Leeds Bradford was the 17th busiest airport in the UK.

R E X Service Pack 3 for FSX

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - 22:54
Real Environment Simulations is pleased to announce the release of Service Pack 3 for the FSX version of REX. Available from the REX product forum are multiple REX SP3 patches that are geared towards users of different REX versions. Please be aware of your REX version number BEFORE installing the REX SP3 patch. This update is required for the installation of the upcoming REX OverDrive texture update.

The Douglas DC-3 Celebrates Its 75th Anniversary

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - 14:14
The 75th Anniversary of the Douglas DC-3 is being celebrated this year. The largest flight of DC3's seen in many years was gathering on the tarmac at Whiteside County Airport for the final leg before heading to Airventure 2010 for their formation overflight and landing.
Trev Morson of The DC-3 Hangar was flying over the field in a Mooney Bravo “N45RH” at 300 feet above Whiteside Airport, Rock Falls, IL where he snapped some great pictures of this rare gathering, take a look through the website for some background about this legendary aircraft and then visit their destination for an update on this years AirVenture 2010 .

Pitts S-1T Special from Addictive Simulations

Posted: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - 0:33
Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury throws his weight around the sky with Addictive Simulations' Pitts S-1T Special. "At just fifteen and a half feet long, six and a bit feet tall and less than eighteen feet wide, the Pitts Special would comfortably fit on most people’s front drive. Size clearly doesn’t matter, because the only word you can choose to describe the influence of an aircraft such as this is, massive."

"Addictive Simulations (AS) is not one of the more well-known FS add-on makers, but they are certainly not new, nor indeed new to making FS add-on aircraft. The FSX and FS9 versions are not merely a simple port-over job; each one being a dedicated development for the respective sims, which is apparent in how well they look and perform."

"Once installed, when you fire up FS you will find several Pitts Specials available to you. Apart from the fact that the FSX version can have self shadowing and lighting with a nice bump-mapped texture on the cockpit coaming, you can see that there’s little to split them in looks for either sim. There are also a number of rather clever animations and extra bits and pieces to be seen. The fact that the exterior model is pretty, yet manages to zip along at an impressive frame rate in either sim, even with the custom smoke effect on, is definitely a credit to the Addictive Simulation developers."

"Inside the snug cockpit of the Pitts, the visual treats continue. The FSX and FS9 versions have both virtual cockpits as well as 2D panels. One thing you will need in order to get the best out of the Addictive Pitts, is either Track-IR or some well-placed left, right and rear view buttons on your joystick, because in any aerobatic aircraft it is vital to constantly look either side. The Addictive Pitts cockpit is reasonably well tricked out for an aerobatic aircraft in terms of avionics and such, with a GPS and fairly comprehensive radio stack."

"Once you’ve fired up that simulated Lycoming, which incidentally can be done exactly as per the real thing if you so desire, you are greeted with a very convincing and typically Pitts buzzing engine sound. Once up to a decent height, a tentative move of the stick confirms that it has the twitchy, fairly rapid roll rate of the real thing, yet it still manages to sit nice and level if you want it to. In spite of the fact that the roll rate is high, it feels well balanced and is easy to keep coordinated in a leisurely turn."

"I’ve been mightily impressed by the Addictive Simulations Pitts on pretty much all fronts. Go to the Pitts product website and buy it before they come to their senses and realize they should be charging far more for the thing. Is it worth it? You bet your ass it is. This one is thoroughly recommended."

FlightSimTools Release STOL Kit

Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 13:50
FlightSimTools has released STOL Kit, a module for adding solid rocket motors and braking parachutes to FSX and FS9 airplanes. Easily add short takeoff and landing capability to your aircraft and experience the thrill of rocket-assisted takeoffs and landings on shortest runways! STOL Kit runs inside Flight Simulator and is fully customizable. You can easily specify attach points for rockets and parachutes for every individual airplane simply by pointing with the mouse. You can also freely choose key combinations for activating rockets and parachutes. And if you need even more power, simply add more rockets! There is no need to restart Flight Simulator after customizing your plane - you are ready to go immediately after clicking the OK button. Whether adding plenty of power to a small Cessna or reducing the runway requirements for a heavy cargo plane, FlightSimTools STOL Kit is a perfect tool for improving the takeoff and landing performance of your Flight Simulator aircraft.

AirSimmer Update v.1.2 Released

Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 - 15:33
The AirSimmer Development Team has released their much-awaited v.1.2 Systems Update for the AirSimmer A320 Basic Edition, offering a number of major fixes for CTD's and other current product issues.
AirSimmer Update v.1.2 is available free to all existing clients.

Wee Tune Beastie Updated

Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 - 13:47
Download the latest version of Wee Tune Beastie from Sky Blue Radio , it updates the server location and various bug fixes that improve speed and some other cool stuff! Sky Blue Radio - Sounding GREAT at any altitude.

Beechcraft Bonanza F33A from Carenado

Posted: Sunday, July 25, 2010 - 18:42
Staff reviewer Jason McKee looks at Carenado's latest FSX release, the Beechcraft Bonanza F33A. "The F33A has a 285hp engine and was produced with two layouts, one had a long cabin with room for two full seats in the rear and a larger cargo door, with the other version being the bog standard no frills version."

"Carenado are experts at building flight sim visual models that look just right, this aircraft is no exception, everything is in its place. The dimensions look spot on, and visually it looks exactly like the Bonanza should. There are four paint jobs included with the package, all representing the F33A Bonanza. There is a plain white version as well for all you budding repainters out there. Animations are well covered with this aircraft, from the aerial moving in the breeze to the exhaust vibrating while then engine is running."

"There is no 2D cockpit per se, there is an option to display the instruments but this is in no way anything like the real aircraft, it is more so you can fly the aircraft. Having said that, the VC is stunning with the attention to detail being seen everywhere you look. The instruments are smooth and fluid, and most importantly easy to read. The textures are crisp and look just right. This aircraft package sounds like the real thing too. From start up to shut down the sounds are spot on."

"Going from published flight data I could find, the F33A handled slightly different with the different models. But there were no major differences in flight characteristics. The F33A flew by the numbers and felt like an aircraft this size should."

"Carenado have got another successful aircraft here, it is an easy to fly aircraft that will reward you on long flights. If you want something a bit different from the usual Cessna offering, the Beechcraft Bonanza F33A could very well be the aircraft for you."

Small Airfields Switzerland: Parts 3 & 5 from Aerosoft

Posted: Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 18:35
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura grabs his hole punch and heads for the land of cheese and Heidi, by touring Small Airfields Switzerland: Parts 3 and 5. The products are brought to you by Aerosoft and developed by FlyLogic.

"Each package comes with five airfields. All of the fields have photographic ground textures that adjust to the seasons. What sort of objects will you see? It varies from field to field (which is part of the fun, of course). All fields have static aircraft, depending on which kind the real field is host to. Most of the fields have gliders, but there is more than one model of glider."

"The architecture is varied as well. There are hangars, of course, but each one seems to have a unique design or roofline. There are some generic signs but most of the signage is unique as well, naming fields or stating elevations. Some of the fields here have night lighting and others don’t; that’s how it is in the real world too. There’s some animation but not a lot. There is moving traffic on the local roads, but no moving service vehicles on the field grounds proper."

"The other challenge with these fields is finding them from the air. But even when you know where to look, the smaller fields aren’t immediately visible. That’s by design, because in real life, they blend in with the landscape."

"I think Orbx sets the standard for GA fields rendered in extreme detail -- keeping in mind, though, that they’re just doing one field at a time. Small Airfields Switzerland are less detailed, and there’s considerably less effort to model the surrounding area; you’ll get some VFR landmarks, but not a whole township. On the other hand, you get five airports instead of one, frame rates are noticeably higher, and they’re in Switzerland. I like the Swiss airfields: they’re somewhat exotic (to American eyes) and they’re grouped close enough for short hops."

Complete X-15 Series From Xtreme Prototypes

Posted: Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 12:58
Xtreme Prototypes is proud to announce the issue of the complete X-15 series of add-on rocket aircraft for Microsoft® Flight Simulator 2004 and Flight Simulator X , the bundle consists of 11 highly detailed models of the legendary North American X-15 experimental rocket planes, built in the late 1950s to demonstrate the ability of pilots to fly rocket-powered airplanes out of the earth's atmosphere and back to precision landing.

The Xtreme Prototypes X-15 series of rocket aircraft bring the excitement of high-speed and high-altitude flight and the challenge of an X-15 research mission to flight simulation enthusiasts and X-15 fans. Each add-on aircraft has been carefully modeled based on archive material in order to conform as closely as possible to the real-world X-15 when NASA pilot Joe Walker set an altitude record of 354,200 feet in the No. 3 aircraft, the highest flight of the X-15 research program.
The X-15-1 rocket aircraft package comes with a recreation of the original X-15-1-2/3 100-page flight manual including a 20-page VC manual supplement (English and French), allowing test pilots to accurately follow startup and system checks from the real-world X-15 manuals. The flight manuals are available as a free download to allow people interested in the X15 program to read through the procedures and systems used to achieve M 4 .

The set is available on CD-ROM or download , for complete details, including screenshots, visit the Xtreme Prototypes Website.

Curtiss P-36 Hawk from Vertigo Simulations

Posted: Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 2:58
New staff reviewer Aidan Sandri takes a look at another Vertigo Simulations warbird, the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. "The (Curtiss) P-36 Hawk - otherwise known as Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was a US fighter model built in the 1930s and 1940s and it was one of a new generation of fighter aircraft. The P-36 Hawk is a sleek monoplane making extensive use of metal in its construction and is powered by a powerful piston engine."

"Vertigo Studio's have raised the bar once again with this highly detailed model that they have designed. This aircraft features 8 repaints, which are all of the highest quality. The Hawk has one Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp air-cooled engine, which produces 1,050 horsepower. Vertigo Studios have magically remade this engine’s sound, using their 3D ‘Sound Cone’ Technology."

"This aircraft has a fantastic flight deck. If you mainly fly in the virtual cockpit then you will absolutely fall in love with this aircraft as this one is by far the best in terms of detail. I have put the aircraft through a series of flight tests and I found the flying dynamics of this aircraft are for the casual flyer and not the "hard core" simmer group. Vertigo Studios has made a great effort in keeping this aircraft at a safe FPS level."

"Vertigo Studio's have done a great job with their Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Though this aircraft is not perfect, it indeed is a fantastic aircraft."

Sky Blue Radio Under New Management

Posted: Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 2:33
Richard Rudd - Station Manager for Sky Blue Radio since it was born over three years ago stepped down late last week and named Jeff Turner the new owner and Station Manager for Sky Blue Radio effective immediately. Richard started Sky Blue Radio over three years ago with just a few DJ's and today has multiple with multiple shows and ten of thousands of listeners everyday. JT started with Sky Blue Radio three years ago as a DJ and held several Management positions at the station before this one. From all of us, Thanks to Richard for all his love and dedication over the years and thanks to Jeff for taking the station to the next level.

AI Time Table 2 For FSX

Posted: Friday, July 23, 2010 - 14:53
Genixsoft announces AI Time Table 2 for FSX now with flights announcements vocalization. As with the FS2004 related version, AITT2 for FSX can optionally speak flight announcements (it needs Windows MS-SAPI 5.x to work) where they are displayed on board.

Aerosoft Releases Faro X

Posted: Friday, July 23, 2010 - 14:46
Aerosoft has released Faro X, the second holiday related airport they've released this summer (Antalya X was released last week). A high detailed rendering of this Portuguese airport that is the gateway to the Algarve holiday destination for millions of people every summer. The airport was created by one of the Aerosoft internal development teams and has extensive and innovative animations, detailed buildings and superb night lighting. All of that does not slow the scenery down as frame rates are excellent even on older systems. A FS2004 version will follow later this summer.

UK Flight Sim 2010

Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 14:45
UK simmers, mark your calendar. Just Flight is pleased to announce that this year's premier flight simulation event, Flight Sim 2010, which will be taking place at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford over the weekend of the 4th & 5th September at the Battle of Britain Airshow.

Just Flight is delighted to be hosting this event which is set to bring together the major names from the flight simulation world to demonstrate the very best in virtual aviation to those attending the Air Show. Visitors will get the chance to experience the latest releases at first hand and to chat with leading figures from the FS community - and will also be able to pick up a bargain or two. Exhibitors confirmed so far are: Just Flight, Aerosoft, Alpine, First Class Simulations, Flight1, RAFSim, PC Pilot, RC Simulations and Saitek.

Flight Sim 2010 will take place in a spacious indoor exhibition hall within AirSpace, which will give visitors the perfect chance to hop next door to the Aircraft Hall and enjoy a look at the historic military and civil aircraft on static display. Entrance to Flight Sim 2010 is totally free, although you will need to pay to enter the Battle of Britain Air Show which is taking place over the same weekend.

Full details of the show and access to discounted tickets for the Air Show are available on the show website.

Pitts S1 Special from Addictive Simulations

Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 14:11
Addictive Simulations announces the release of Pitts S1 Special for FS2004 and FSX. This add-on strives to provide the ultimate in high performance aerobatic aircraft. The add-on also features a host of special features including:-

• Flight model verified by active Pitts pilots.
• Custom high-poly, low framerate modelling techniques
• The FSX model features full bump mapping and lighting
• An accurate facsimile of a real Pitts Special
• Custom animations including an operable canopy, chocks and ties!
• Three animated pilots, 2 male and 1 female!
• An integral configuration manager
• Six custom liveries
• Custom smoke trails
• detailed performance charts and checklists

For more information, visit their Website.

Real Environment Xtreme OverDrive for FSX

Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 12:32
Real Environment Simulations has announced REX OverDrive, a FREE 9.9GB High Definition texture upgrade for REX FSX available to all current REX/FSX customers.

REX presents its users a free gift of 256 cirrus and 192 3D cumulus and stratus cloud formations, 2 sets of asphalt runways, 1 set concrete runways, 9 sets asphalt taxiways, 9 sets of concrete taxiways, 1 set hard-winter runway, 6 sets of dawn sky colors, 19 sets of day sky colors, 8 sets of dusk sky colors, 2 sets of tropical water and reef textures, and 11 sets of wave animations.

Tim Fuchs of REX has stated "Our team worked tirelessly for almost 5 months, with almost 1,000 man hours clocked on this update and we're extremely confident users will really enjoy the outcome."

For more information visit the REX Product Page.