Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ - STS-98 Released

Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008 - 20:37
STS-98 started with the liftoff of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Feb 7th, 2001. The mission's highlight was the delivery and installation of the USA Destiny Lab at the International Space Station. Mission Specialists Tom Jones and Robert Curbeam conducted three space walks during the mission totaling nearly 20 hours of Extra Vehicular Activity. The addition of the Destiny Lab module greatly increased the habitable volume of the International Space Station.

Destiny is at the center of scientific exploration aboard the orbiting outpost, enabling experiments requiring Microgravity environment which will be performed there for years to come after Destiny's racks were delivered. Destiny also has a special optical glass window through which the crew can look outside and take high quality pictures of Earth. STS-98 concluded with an uneventful Atlantis landing at Edwards AFB on February 20th, 2001.

In the best SSM2007 tradition, the budding astronauts will experience first-hand the historical liftoff, On-Orbit ops including the Destiny deployment and installation, Extra Vehicular Activities, Deorbit, Reentry and manually Landing the Shuttle at the Edwards AFB.

The Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ is available in downloadable format at the SSM2007 official website. The latest Demo can also be downloaded freely at the same website.

Aerosoft Releases Standalone Subway Simulator

Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008 - 20:28
World of Subways Vol 1: New York Underground "The Path" covers one of the most important subways routes of New York. Starting in New Jersey the 50 kilometer Path route ends in downtown Manhattan and over 40% is above ground. This is a complete simulator, not an add-on for an existing train simulator. Aerosoft told us interest from flight simmers was pretty high so you might that a look at this new simulator.

The simulator is very modern and uses an advanced game engine with superb graphics and animation and uses a complex scoring system to track your progress. The physics behind the simulation is based on highly realistic models making this one of the more advanced simulations available.

German Airports 2 - Leipzig/Halle from Aerosoft

Posted: Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 18:33
New staff reviewer Marlon Carter Flies the German skies with Aerosoft's German Airports 2 - Liepzig/Halle. "Leipzig/Halle Airport, sometimes called Schkeuditz Airport (EDDP), serves Leipzig, Saxony and Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany."

"The terminals, after being compared to real photos found online, are indeed very accurate and up to date. While they are very detailed they do not rob us of precious frame rates. The ground textures were apparently created from high definition aerial photographs and adds even more to the realism of this scenery package."

"Some of the features that stand out are the AES light, Taxiway Bridge over the highway and the animated trains. Taxiing to the runway and passing over the highway is a big treat and by far one of the features many can enjoy as part of enhancing the virtual flight experience. Over at the DHL cargo area, the atmosphere is no different. With static aircraft enabled, DHL aircraft can be spotted with more cargo ramp equipment making their way around the aircraft."

"In the event that anyone is worried the about loss of frame rates, there are tools provided that will enable you to tweak the performance and display features. Tools such as the CarConfig Tool can adjust the areas where you may want vehicle and train traffic displayed. Also, by adjusting the density of the dynamic ground scenery in your version of MSFS, performance issues can be adjusted with regard to ground traffic."

"This is a marvelous product. Features provided in Aerosoft's German Airports 2 - Liepzig/Halle are refreshing to the virtual flying experience and makes virtual flying very realistic."

Intel Price Cuts Imminent

Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 13:36
Intel Corporation has updated its partners with details of its latest desktop CPU road-map, as well as issuing product discontinuance notices (PDN), end of life (EOL) and price-cut schedules for the next few months. "...Price-cuts for existing CPU models are expected from October 19th with many models being discontinued from early next year..."

Intel will launch its Core i7 CPUs and X58 chipsets in November and a whole range of new CPUs are expected from January 18th next year. For the full story pop over to the digitimes website.

UH-60 Blackhawk from AlphaSim

Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 1:35
Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl climbs aboard AlphaSim's UH-60 Blackhawk. "In 1972, the United States Army decided it needed a new helicopter fitting the UTTAS or Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System. This new aircraft would replace the venerable, though imperfect, UH-1 'Huey'."

"Right off the bat, the visual model is just stunning. All of the lines, little animations, and effects really come together to immerse you. Included are 9 different variants, with different model and paint configurations. All the little details on this detail-heavy Blackhawk have been faithfully modeled, and each model type shows this with small but noticeable differences."

"The virtual cockpit included with Alphasim's Blackhawk is quite exquisite. No shortage of detail or beautiful crafting, and almost all of the important controls are functional. Included in the VC is a neat MFD, or Multi Function Display panel. This panel will give you nice flight directors and horizontal situation indicators, a functioning hover gauge, and other useful information."

"Flying the Alphasim Blackhawk is similar to flying any other FS Helicopter. It does take a little getting used to, but after a little bit of flight time, I had things ironed out nicely. The helicopter does tend to want to sink or climb unless you stay right on top of it every second. Another stunning achievement with this package is the sound, done by Turbine Sound Studios."

Summing up his ride in AlphaSim's Blackhawk, Chris comments, "Flying the Blackhawk is great, if you are an avid fan of Military Aircraft/Helicopters, you can't miss this one. The aircraft's lines themselves are worth it, the sounds are above and beyond, and the VC does not disappoint."

Perfect Flight Sound Environment X

Posted: Friday, September 19, 2008 - 14:10
Perfect Flight has released Sound Environment X; an add-on tool for Microsoft Flight Simulator X and / or Acceleration Pack. Sound Environment X adds more realistic engines and surrounding sounds in your flight simulation experience by changing and improving all default FSX and Acceleration pack sounds. By default, sounds in Flight Simulator X comes registered by Microsoft at 22,050 kHz using only one channel (MONO). Sound Environment X converts all sounds using two channels (STEREO) at 44,100 kHz. The result is a more accurate effect for every sound available in Flight Simulator X and Flight Simulator X Acceleration Pack.

Sound Environment improves all type of sounds like engines, precipitation, thunder, airport ambiance, and winds. Many sounds have been totally reworked. For more information visit Perfect Flight.

PFE 2.6 Released

Posted: Friday, September 19, 2008 - 14:04
OnCourse Software is pleased to announce the release of PFE version 2.6. This release adds airport specific transition altitudes and options to designate runways for landings or takeoffs only. PFE now uses FS COM frequencies throughout, independent TGS voice selection for those using Voice Buddy, Game Commander (or similar), variable background radio transmission noise for added realism and the ability to resume a flight plus much more. All this plus several reported issues fixed. More details at OnCourse Software or their support forum here at AVSIM.

FSDreamTeam Releases New York JFK

Posted: Friday, September 19, 2008 - 1:44
FSDreamTeam is pleased to announce a new groundbreaking release for MS Flight Simulator: New York J.F.Kennedy International airport. Available for FSX and FS9, with a license valid for use in both simulators.

This scenery has been created with great care to be the right compromise between performances and detail, in one of the most densest areas in Flight Simulator. The FSX version marks the beginning of an novel concept in scenery programming: JFK use a powerful scripting engine based on the Python programming language, that allows unlimited flexibility to create animations, custom events and user interaction. Gone forever is the supposed limited flexibility in FSX scenery programming. What can be seen in JFK is just a glimpse into the future.

As always, FSDreamTeam offers the scenery in a Trial version, and can be freely downloaded from the FsDreamTeam website.

The Flying Club Aircraft Updated

Posted: Friday, September 19, 2008 - 1:37
The seven acclaimed GA aircraft that make up Just Flight's Flying Club series have now all been fully updated to the latest FSX SP2 and DX10 Preview standards. The C-152, Tomahawk, Warrior, Archer III, Seneca, Robinson R44 and Schweizer 300CBi have all had praise heaped upon them by reviewers and there has never been a better time to join the club.

If you are an existing owner of any of these aircraft or of the Just Flight Flying Club and Flying Club X boxed products, you can get a free update to the latest spec from our Support section. You can find full details of how to update any of the download aircraft and for the boxed versions of Flying Club or Flying Club X. If you've got the boxed version of Schweizer 300CBi, you will find a separate update.

So dust off your virtual PPL, head over to Just Flight and put some hours in!

PMDG MD-11 Printed Manuals Available

Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 11:27
To help prepare future MD-11 captains, PMDG has partnered with one of the world's most recognized publishers of aircraft flight manuals to produce manuals and cockpit posters with the look and feel of actual flight manuals! Covering more than 1400 pages of documentation on the PMDG MD-11, the manuals include the Quick Reference Handbook, Flight Crew Operating Manual and the Systems Guide & FMS Supplement all professionally bound, indexed and color tabbed to maximize your PMDG MD-11 flying experience. Customers who purchase the full set will receive a complimentary laminated PMDG MD-11 cockpit checklist! In addition to the flight manuals, PMDG is offering full color high quality cockpit posters of the PMDG MD-11 in three different formats. Posters can be laminated prior to shipment if desired! For more information, please visit PMDG.

PRE-Flight Fokker Eindecker Released

Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 11:24
Jose Pena from PRE-Flight RC Simulator have announced the Fokker Eindecker for PRE-Flight RC Simulator. Designed by Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker, the Eindecker or "monoplane" in English, was the first plane to be fitted with a gun/propeller synchronizer gear which allowed its machine gun to fire thru the propeller arc. So advanced was this feature that it started the "Fokker Scourge" where the Allied planes became "Fokker Fodder" for the early German Aces. Although the Eindecker would probably not pass any current aircraft standards, it was the very first "true fighter" aircraft - the less advanced aircraft it preyed on were merely scouts armed with conventional hand-held firearms. It was used to great effect by a number of German luminaries like Boelcke and Immelmann, and became a true Terror of the Skies above the World War I warscape. This super scale PRE-Flight model of the Eindecker has moveable control surfaces and a realistic Oberursel rotary engine (in which the cylinders rotated with the prop - resulting in a difficult airplane to master). To download this and other models, visit PRE-Flight RC Simulator.

Mosquito from Just Flight / Aeroplane Heaven

Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 2:19
New staff reviewer Tom Dilbeck jumps aboard Just Flight's Mosquito, fully equipped with the additional add-ons Special Op Pack and Photo-Recon Pack. "This product was designed by Aeroplane Heaven, a group of designers headquartered in Australia. Just Flight markets the product, bringing it to market cost effectively and providing friendly and expert product support."

Tom give a listing of all the versions and liveries included with this "3 Pack". He continues with, "the Mosquito’s visual models are astonishing for their detail, accuracy and correct perspective. The level of panel detail is incredible. The approximately 60 gauges and switches in custom designed housings operate smoothly and do not have any impact on system stability. The navigational tools are historically accurate for the period, meaning you are flying a 300 knot aircraft by spending a lot of time looking out the window and some time trying to home in on radio sources on a Directional Finder."

"The Mosquito model includes sound files for the Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 engines. The sound files reinforce the character of the airplane - it is dominated by engines and propellers. Aeroplane Heaven may have taken a little liberty in reaching the Mosquito’s performance specifications while leaving out some of the handling traits that would leave customers frustrated just trying to find their way to the runway. The Mosquito is easy to fly and not in need of excessive amounts of trim. Just like the real airplane, speed control in the pattern is critical and there is a noticeable difference in the flight characteristics with heavy equipment installed in the nose."

"There is a lot of product included with your purchase of this Mosquito. This is a product that will provide hours of enjoyment just viewing the features of the various aircraft and even more hours as you learn to fly the aircraft and deploy their unique abilities. The Mosquito, Special Operations Pack and Photo Recon Pack, will appeal to Flight Sim enthusiasts, aviation fanatics with an eye for detail and history buffs alike."

Project Open Sky Release CRJ-700

Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 20:53
Project Open Sky is pleased to announce our latest freeware release - the long-awaited CRJ-700v3 regional jet for FS2004 - with development spanning over a 4 year period, this model incorporates the latest XML animation control system as seen on our 777V2 series, as well as the Lektro towbar-less pushback tug. Some liveries have already been uploaded to the AVSIM library and more will follow in the coming days. A dedicated sound package for the GE CF34 will also be released shortly.

Dispatch Planner X for FSX and FS2004

Posted: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 21:17
Make your pre-flight quicker and easier with Dispatch Planner X. Dispatch Planner X includes new advanced features such as full Nav Log with leg times, advanced fuel calculation, tankering, and Load Sheet. A breakdown of fuel, aircraft weights (retrieved from FS), airframe limit weights, flight-plan, weather, loadsheet and other information can be generated for each and every flight in just a few clicks of the mouse. VORs, NDBs, Intersections and Airway databases can be updated every month via the popular Navigraph navdata service. An Aircraft Performance Data Editor is also included so you can tweak or add the profiles used by Dispatch Planner for fuel and weight calculations.

AI Flight Planner Version 1.5 Available

Posted: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 21:14
Since its initial introduction barely six months ago, AI Flight Planner - the first comprehensive, TTools-compatible AI flight planning tool for both FS9 and FSX - has been very well-received by the AI flight planning community. Don Grovestine - its developer - says "its success was very nearly its downfall. When I started this project, I had a much more modest utility in mind. However, every release prompted requests for even more features and the project almost collapsed under the weight of all the unplanned functionality! As well as being dependent upon a couple of third-party applications." With Version 1.5, AI Flight Planner has been extensively rewritten, sporting significant additional functionality over Version 1.4 and, along with its integrated traffic file compiler/decompiler, all dependence on others has been eliminated. AI Flight Planner is freeware, available from popular download sites. It is the only tool you need to develop and maintain AI flight plans and traffic files and to convert FS9 traffic files for use with FSX.

Alphasim Releases Apache Longbow For FSX

Posted: Monday, September 15, 2008 - 13:18
AlphaSim has announced the release of the AH-64D Apache Longbow This FSX-only package, features Apaches from the US, Netherlands and Great Britain, each with customized textures and weapons loadouts. All the FSX features from their original AH-64A package are included, with the addition of custom-made MFD screens together with a sound package from Turbine Sound Studios. The VC features AlphaSim's 'RealGauge' technology, designed to enhance frame-rate performance.

For FSX (SP1, SP2/Accel) only and a file size of 84MB, visit the Alphasim website for further details.

Flight Deck Software Announce Glass Cockpit

Posted: Monday, September 15, 2008 - 12:50
Flight Deck Software is proud to announce the immediate availability of it's Glass Flight Deck 737NG suite. Aiming to provide quality software at affordable prices for the flight simulator and home cockpit-builder community, the software has been under development for the last two years and has been tested in a professional simulator. All gauges and systems are modeled in accordance with Boeing documentation together with input from real -world pilots, to provide as much realism as possible .

Currently there is a degree of hardware support which should be extended the next coming weeks and months. You are invited to visit Flight Deck Software at their official website for further details and pricing.

German Airfields 2 and 9 from Aerosoft

Posted: Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 17:55
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura takes us on a scenic tour of some of the smaller airfields in Germany with Aerosoft's German Airfields Volumes 2 and 9.

"The airports covered in this series are smaller in scale, and at the same time more intimate. Each of these airfields feels unique. There are elements, of course, that are common to all airports; for example, all of them have runways and a majority have control towers. But support services vary widely, and so do the types of traffic."

"Some fields are urban, others are rural. Each package covers a relatively small region, and some of the fields are only a few minutes apart; because of the variety, though, you don’t have to fly a long distance to see something different."

"GA2: Nordlichter is a newer product than GA9, and feels like it. For most airfields, products in the GA series try to cover the airfield proper and the surrounding terrain for about 2 km in each direction, including bridges, church spires, observation towers, windmills, smokestacks, and other aerial obstacles. For Kiel, though, the team has modeled the entire harbor, including the marina, the cargo loading facilities, an off-shore lighthouse, and numerous buildings."

"GA9: Northern Bavaria is fully compatible with FSX, including SP2 and Acceleration. GA9 airfields tend to blend in better with the surrounding default terrain. Each field has variety, and surprising details abound. GA9 also has seasonal textures."

Concluding his local tour of Germany, David says, "But both of these products are fun and -- what’s kind of rare in Flight Simulator -- they’re fun right away. With German Airfields 2 and 9, you just jump in your favorite small plane and pick a couple of airfields to fly between. There’s a range of distances, so if you have an hour you can fill it. But if twenty minutes is all you have, that’s enough too: not just to fly somewhere, but to fly somewhere interesting."

Space Shuttle Mission 2007 Service Pack Released

Posted: Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 17:59
Exciting Simulations has announced the release of a new Service Pack for the Space Shuttle Mission 2007. The Service Pack adds several changes and fixes but most importantly, performance improvement and a new free mission: STS-32.

STS-32 – was a complex and unusually long mission for the time. The mission highlights included the deployment of the Department of Defense SYNCOM IV-F5 Communications Satellite and the rendezvous and retrieval of the LDEF NASA satellite which was deployed during STS-41C six years earlier (STS-41C is also available in SSM 2007).

The Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ is available for online purchase in downloadable format at the SSM2007 official website: www.space-shuttle-mission.com. The latest Demo can also be downloaded freely at the same website.

Carenado Releases C182 Skylane II For FSX

Posted: Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 3:19
Carenado today released a new aircraft developed especially for FSX. The traditional C 182 Skylane II RG which was previously developed for FS2004.

As with all of the other FSX releases, this aircraft takes advantage of all the new features in FSX and DX10 which allow things like casting shadows on the VC, external dynamic shadows, normal mapping, specular mapping and bloom lights, resulting in a superior representation of this aircraft.

With this addition to Carenado's Full FSX fleet, the aircraft available are: Mooney M20J, C206, Piper Cherokee and the new C182RG.