SimWare Simulations & VRinsight At Oshkosh

Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 1:16
The Korean hardware manufacturer VR Insight and SimWare Simulations will both introduce the whole VRinsight product range to aviation enthusiasts and professionals at the 2010 Oshkosh AirVenture. Visitors will be able to take controls of the new IFR/VFR training device, Prop Cockpit Trainer. Other training devices (prop & jet) will also be demonstrated.

You will find these vendors at Booth #1104 Hangar A - From July 26 to August 1, 2010

Kosrae International For FSX Released

Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 - 1:11
Pacific Islands Simulation has just released its latest product Kosrae Internationalfor FSX. With a population of nearly 8000, Kosrae is the most eastern of the Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia. The island is located 370 mi (590 km) north of the equator, between Guam and the Hawaiian Islands. Its land area is 42 mi² (110 km²). Kosrae has high mountains that is largely unspoiled and rarely visited. Kosrae is fast becoming a destination for scuba divers, hikers and tourists. Dense vegetation and steep mountains keep the island largely undeveloped. Viewed from the sea, the island's distinct shape resembles a female body. This has led to the island being called "the island of the sleeping lady."

Kosrae International airport, located on the northwestern coast of the island, is served by Continental Micronesia Airline's "Island Hopper" flights (three times a week in each direction) between Hawaii and Guam, stopping at other FSM and Marshallese destinations on the way. Specifically, the "island hopper" employs the venerable B737-800 (and the occassional B767-300) which usually begins in each direction (from Honolulu and Guam) via Majuro and Kwajelain atolls (Republic of Marshall Islands), Kosrae, Pohnpei and Chuuk (Federated States of Micronesia). Once a month tourists also arrive on an chartered B727 including weekly freight runs by DHL and Fedex.

New: Boeing 787 Dreamliner for X-Plane available at the Avsim Store

Posted: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 20:43
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the latest release from VMAX. It is a highly detailed rendering of the 787 Dreamliner for X-Plane 9. It features a great flight model, a complete 3D model and an accurate virtual cockpit. This 787 model also includes many details such as a dynamic winglex and a populated cabin.

Visit the Avsim store today.

"On The Horizon"

Posted: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 14:55
1. AVSIM has been given the scoop. A new improvement pack for Wilco Publishing's Airbus Series (FSX/2004) is about to be released. It will cover their A318-A319-A320-A321-A330-A340. Willco tells us, " there will be stunning new features added, as well as improving the existing systems. This improvement pack will be available separately for the different Airbus Series versions."

In 2007, Wilco Publishing released their Airbus Series v1 and Airbus Series v2, and today they are still mentioned as being the most advanced Airbus simulation for Microsoft Flight Simulator X/2004.

2. Attention ATC lovers. Vireos Simulations has opened its doors.

Vireos Simulations, was founded with the goal of creating and reproducing the daily air traffic patterns within some of the world's busiest skies. In addition to replicating the entire operation of an ARTCC, the software also and primary allows the user to take control of any sector inside the simulation.

Once the user assumes control of a sector, it becomes necessary to conduct the airspace in accordance with various and unique policies to ensure correct positive operational control. Specific documentation will be provided to enable the user to be knowledgeable of aircraft entry and exit requirements for each controllable sector within the simulation. Included in the simulation are Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) sectors permitting users to issue initial departure procedures and vectors for approach courses to dozens of airports.

The most unique feature of the software is its ability to run the entire ARTCC while the user controls a single sector. This feature allows the user to switch sectors at any time without restarting the simulation. The simulation is also flexible to allow frequent changes to traffic databases and sector policy changes as required to maintain accuracy. Specific scenarios can be custom created for training purposes as well.

US Cities X: Chicago from Aerosoft

Posted: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 1:47
Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke goes back to where it all started with a look at Aerosoft's US Cities X: Chicago. "If you are a long time flight simmer, you may well have started your virtual flying career at a little airport situated just off Chicago on a peninsula in Lake Michigan, Meigs Field."

"U.S. Cities X is a series of city sceneries that should be positioned between the high end city scenery like Manhattan X and the default scenery. Fully aimed at daytime VFR flights, it does not include seasons and night textures."

"The performance impact is not really noticeable, at least until you fly to KORD, Chicago O’Hare airport. Overall though, the performance is acceptable for VFR flight and the amount of visual detail presented here is a feast for the eyes. If you liked Aerosoft Manhattan, you are sure to like U.S. Cities X Chicago. You get some breathtaking views when flying around the downtown core."

Solar Impulse Aircraft from Pre-Flight

Posted: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - 13:51
PRE-Flight RC Simulator has announced the release of PRE-Flight Solar Impulse for free download. The Solar Impulse made the first overnight flight by a manned solar-powered plane on July 8 2010. This plane was piloted by André Borschberg - Swiss businessman, pilot, and co-founder of the Solar Impulse project.

This amazing technological marvel has a wingspan of 63.4 meters but weighed just 1600 kg and is powered by 4 x 7.5kw motors. It can cruise at 70 kph and has a theoretically unlimited range due to its over 11,628 solar cells. The Solar Impulse will be known in history as the pioneer in solar-powered manned flight.

PRE-Flight model has actually 2 models in one - a humongous 1/4 scale model (15.85m wingspan) and a smaller 1/16th scale model of the historical aircraft. It features movable controls, realistic solar cell arrays on its wings and "toothpick" outriggers and main landing gear which operate faithfully.

For free download, visit PRE-Flight's website.

Review Editor's Screenshot Contest

Posted: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - 0:55
It's the last few days to get your warbird screenshot entered into the Review Editor's screenshot contest. The top screenshots will be rewarded with a copy of "Wings of Prey" courtesy of Iceberg Interactive. Send you best warbird screenshot with a caption to the Reviews Editor with your name and address (in case you are a finalist). Contest closes Fri 23 July, with the winners announced the last week of July.

X-Aviation Releases Cessna 152 for X-Plane

Posted: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - 0:37
X-Aviation is pleased to announce the Cessna 152 as their latest product release. The Cessna 152 has been carefully designed and simulated after the real model, and comes complete with a realistic flight model, photorealistic textures, a 3D cockpit, cabin, animations, 3D interior lighting, and the manipulator technology that X-Aviation is well known for. X-Aviation says, "If you've been looking for a beautiful aircraft to fly those scenic cross country flights in, this is the one."

Airport Enhancer HDX Released

Posted: Monday, July 19, 2010 - 16:48
Cielosim Releases Airport Enhancer HDX for FSX, compiled from real life DSLR photographs and countless months of research, Airport Enhancer HDX provides the most detailed runways ever seen in FSX at 4096x4096 pixels, other features include the following.
- Taxiway Textures - a wide variety of highly detailed concrete and asphalt textures.
- Parking Textures - Includes extremely detailed airport parking spaces in numerous flavors
- Jetway Textures - Includes a two brand spanking new jetway textures so detailed that you can almost smell the jet-fuel stains.
- Gate Textures - Features a remade gate texture that is 4 times more detailed than the FSX default.
- Lighting - Includes brighter and more focused runway lighting along with a more natural airplane lighting system.
- Marking Textures - Includes two new taxiway and runway marking tweaked to match those found in real airports.
- Grass Textures - a state of the art, photoreal perfectly tiled grass texture.
- Airport Sign Textures - Features tweaked and remade airport signs that match those found in airport around the world.
Visit the Airport Enhancer HDX Homepage for complete details about this new release.

Virtual Oshkosh 2010

Posted: Monday, July 19, 2010 - 16:32
2010 marks the third Virtual Oshkosh event, where virtual pilots from all over the world can fire up Flight Simulator X and fly the VFR arrival to KOSH in a multiplayer environment, a sky filled with other aircraft piloted by real people.
The air traffic controllers guiding you in will be real people too, and a few of them are either retired or active real-world air traffic controllers.
Using an advanced, 2nd generation FSX server, the multiplayer session can be viewed on the Internet, in real time, on the Google Map Display.
A Session Status web page, shows all aircraft and controllers within the session, as well as streaming the session Audio, over the Internet.
The FS-MP Multiplayer Session can be found, running 24/7 on the FSX Gamespy list of sessions, and is open to all owners of FSX, who would like to realistically simulate the fun and excitement of flying in and out of Oshkosh during Virtual Oshkosh 2010

Mega Airport Amsterdam from Aerosoft

Posted: Sunday, July 18, 2010 - 20:46
AVSIM staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt takes a look at his "home airport" with Aerosoft's Mega Airport Amsterdam. "This series of products includes well-known airports, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Stockholm Arlanda, Madrid Barajas and Budapest Ferihegy. This title is also AES and AESLite compatable."

This screenshot intense review takes you to every corner of the airport and the surrounding area outside of the security fencing. Once back inside the airport's perimeter, Benjamin takes a detailed look at all of the concourses, terminal buildings, cargo area, as well as the runways and taxiways. Not only does he look at Aerosoft's offering but mentions its compatability with other titles such as Ultimate Terrain Europe and NL 2000.

"Schiphol Airport is a huge scenery. It might even be one of the biggest projects undertaken in flight simulation scenery design, with some notable other projects such as FlyTampa’s Kai Tak and various other “Mega Airports” such as Paris Charles de Gaulle. Mega Airport Amsterdam is a good scenery package, portraying EHAM quite accurately, but it needs more work. One more patch that resolves the last issues is truly needed, but in its present state it is still perfectly usable. It looks very good, works as hard as you’d expect, and should give you lots of fun."

Higher Resolutions For Matrox TripleHead2Go

Posted: Sunday, July 18, 2010 - 16:48
Matrox Graphics Inc., the leading manufacturer of specialized graphics solutions, today announced enhanced resolution compatibility for Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go Graphics eXpansion Modules (GXMs) when using Intel® HD Graphics and Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset with Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator. Maximum DualHead2Go resolutions have increased from 2x1280x1024 to support 2x1920x1080, and supported TripleHead2Go resolutions have expanded from 3x800x600 to 3x1280x1024 (standard) or 3x1360x768 (widescreen). This enlarged display real estate was previously only available to Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go customers using graphics solutions from other manufacturers. Now Intel mobile and desktop graphics customers can benefit from higher resolution multi-display support via Matrox DualHead2Go and TripleHead2Go Digital or DisplayPort Editions.

Service Pack 1 for FS2Crew: PMDG Jetstream Edition

Posted: Sunday, July 18, 2010 - 14:53
Attention PMDG Jetstream owners, FS2Crew has released Service Pack 1 for FS2Crew: PMDG Jetstream Edition. SP1 corrects two minor bugs with the software. FS2Crew develops advanced flight crew simulations for FSX and FS9. The recently released Jetstream Edition was custom designed to work with the highly realistic PMDG JS41 turboprop. Please taxi to the Fs2Crew Homepage for more information.

SBD Dauntless from Vertigo Studios

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 18:46
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura continues his love of warbirds with a review of Vertical Studios' SBD Dauntless. "The most famous dive bomber of World War II is probably the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. But the Stuka did not win any major battles; the only dive bombers that can make that claim are the Japanese Aichi D3A (“Val” to the Allies), which hit eighty percent of its targets in the Indian Ocean raid of 1942, and the American SBD Dauntless, which disabled or sank four Japanese carriers in 1942 and won the Battle of Midway -- by most accounts, the turning point of the war in the Pacific."

"The external model is a piece of real craftsmanship. The lines are true and the details are fine. Rivet-counters will not be disappointed. In addition to the usual animations for carrier-based warbirds -- control surfaces, dive flaps, cowl flaps, tail hook, landing gear, canopy, and prop -- there are also several animations that deserve special notice. One of these is the drop-down landing light; colored identification lights that can also be selected separately."

"The comm radios are tunable, but only through a 2D popup (borrowed from the default DC-3). This item doesn’t break my heart, but I mention it here so that readers know what they’re getting. Taking the VC as a whole, this is a work of art. Like all of the best models that I’ve reviewed in the last year or two, it has 3D gauges -- which not only look better than 2D gauges, but move more smoothly and have better frame rates."

"The Dauntless’s sounds are licensed from Iris Simulations. Iris has used FSX’s sound cone feature to define where sounds come from. In addition to the normal sounds (of engine, flaps, canopy, and wheels), the Vertigo model also includes ambient sounds for ground operations, the most noticeable of which is another Dauntless passing overhead. That’s a nice touch."

"Compared with other carrier-borne types from the same era, the Dauntless is very stable: a useful quality in a bombing platform. For a tail dragger, it also has good visibility in the landing attitude. Compared with the F4U Corsair, the Dauntless is easy to position on a runway or carrier deck. Engine modeling is somewhat more sophisticated than the defaults."

"Overall, Vertigo Studios' SBD Dauntless is a strong package and well priced. Framerates are good, it’s easy to fly, and it makes great screenshots."

Free Fan Zone at Summer Sim 2010

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 17:48
Summer Sim 2010 at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford Aug 28-29 promises to be a fantastic event. At the last minute they have had an individual come forward to sponsor their Fan Zone now making this a FREE event! They are also now able to offer some extra space to enthusiasts who would like to bring along their own flight sim systems on the weekend.

The Fan Zone will be completely devoted to the people who matter, the hobbyist! The person who spends his income on flight simulation products to make his own virtual world 'as real as it gets'. Come along and meet other enthusiasts, talk with developers and publishers, share your expertise and be a part of one of the largest gatherings of flight simulator fans.

The Fan Zone gives each individual developer/vendor, table space plus a chair and power. They're also giving FREE parking to all exhibitors over the weekend. But hurry, space is limited and on a strict first come first serve basis.

Be a part of the action and visit the Summer Sim 2010 website for more information. and don't forget to register for the Fan Zone.

A320 Available From Just Flight

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 17:10
The A320 is Europe's answer to the American-built 737 and has been highly successful on the short to medium length routes, with over 4,500 aircraft in worldwide service or on order since this aircraft entered service in 1988.

Designed and built exclusively for FSX, the A320 Jetliner is part of the much acclaimed and user-friendly Just Flight F-Lite series. Developed in-house by Just Flight's designers, the A320 Jetliner features an accurate and detailed exterior and virtual cockpit, a custom-programmed MCDU (Multifunction Control Display Unit), and CFM56 and IAE V2500 engine models with high quality sound sets for both engine types.

Just Flight's F-Lite range of aircraft are designed to provide top quality aircraft that are extrememly high in detail but less demanding to fly than other complex procedural add-ons. These aircraft are a significant step up from the default FS aircraft in terms of modeling and cockpit systems and they won't require weeks of study before you can get airborne.

New Connie Pack Now Available

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 16:59
Constellation Professional Expansion Pack C is now available at Just Flight. This new livery pack for their Constellation Professional FSX add-on (Download and Boxed) supplies new liveries for the L049A, L749, L749 with Speedpack and the L1049H with tip tanks, and also includes the aircraft models as well. Each new livery is accompanied by matching passenger steps.

The accurate period airline liveries take full advantage of all the graphics capabilities of FSX and are also frame rate friendly.
See the Constellation Professional Expansion Pack C page for all the details. Note: You will need their Constellation Professional add-on (Download or Boxed) installed to be able to add this additional aircraft package.

PMDG Jetstream Edition SP1 Released

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 16:36
Attention PMDG Jetstream owners, FS2Crew has released Service Pack 1 for FS2Crew: PMDG Jetstream Edition. SP1 corrects two minor bugs with the software. FS2Crew develops advanced flight crew simulations for FSX and FS9. The recently released Jetstream Edition was custom designed to work with the highly realistic PMDG JS41 turboprop.

Ultimate Traffic 2 (boxed) from Flight 1

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 3:49
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen adds extra intelligence to her flight experience with the FSX boxed version of Flight 1's Ultimate Traffic 2. "Let's first have a quick look at what the DVD box offers; the DVD and an Operations Handbook. I haven't compared every page of this booklet with the software version of the user manual, but most of the menus from the UT2 control panel are discussed in this handy booklet."

"The UT2 control panel gives full control of FSX Ultimate Traffic. Important to mention; AI traffic is only injected if available at that airport for that day and time of the week, so "for pleasure" flying traffic is not implemented and to complete the story; this means not only AI commercial traffic but also GA registered traffic! Irrespective of the default FSX AI Airline traffic density and General aviation traffic density slider position, UT2 has become active and no longer are the default FSX airplanes shown."

"The AI aircraft all look realistic. I haven't seen an AI model I didn't recognize. One problem I encountered is the appearance of approaching AI planes. Not from the sky following the ILS, but out of nowhere low with the ground. It seems, after checking this behavior for hours that the approaching AI models land far before the planned touchdown zone."

"Ultimate Traffic 2 is designed to be active from the beginning without the need for making complicated setting changes. This means you're ready to go and AI traffic is automatically injected into FSX. That the control panel allows you to make additional changes or monitor AI traffic movements is an additional benefit. The way the control panel is designed and the look of the dedicated UT2 website, both reflect a well balanced AI environment. Looking at the overall functionality, I think Ultimate Traffic 2 is worth its price."

The Latest Aerosoft News

Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010 - 0:07
Aerosoft Scala - Want to know if an item (or aircraft) will fit withing your scenery or on your taxiway? Aerosoft tells us that Stefan Hoffmann has made a flying measuring tape. Aerosoft Scala is an 'aircraft' you can slew around to measure things. If you are a scenery designer contact Aerosoft at support@aerosoft.com and they'll get you a free copy.

AES 2.07 Released - Mainly because there were new airports to cover but there is also a nice new feature that allows you to control AES remotely, something that was requested a lot. Check out the Release Notes for all new airports but the highlights are Aerosoft's Andras Field, Mega Airport Munich, Mega Airport Amsterdam, Rotterdam X, Larnaca X, Barcelona X, Santorini X.

Wasserkuppe X For Free - While going over old files in dusty corners of the office Aerosoft found the Wasserkuppe scenery for FS2004. And they missed it for FSX because they now have a superb glider but not the most famous glider airfield in the world, Wasserkuppe where gliding was more or less invented. It's located on top of a hill. sloped runway in a stunning setting. so LimeSim and Aerosoft worked together to bring this airfield in FSX and guess what, it's free. A gift from Aerosoft to you. Soon you can also fly aerobatics with a glider.

Antalya X - Aerosoft has a habit of releasing holiday related scenery in summer and this year will be no different. Today Aerosoft released Antalya X, a high end scenery of one of the busiest holiday airports. Created by one of the internal development teams it has some very innovative features (mostly in animations) and will get you the highest possible framerates. This initial release is for FSX but in a few weeks they'll add an FS2004 version.