WSSS Singapore For FS2004 Released

Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 - 23:51
Imaginesim's latest airport for FS2004 is available to download right now. WSSS Singapore Changi is an essential transport hub, lying at the very heart of the Far East with an unmatched network of true global reach. The city of Singapore is the economic powerhouse of the South China Sea. It dominates Indonesian trade and is the world's foremost logistical centre. It's likely that the very computer you are using at one time passed through the city's port. This scenery add-on features custom made ground textures and runways, terminal, cargo and hangar buildings, an interactive docking system to park you right on your mark, taxiways with highly realistic concrete textures, full airport taxiway and runway signage, 3D approach lighting and full ILS navigation. Also included are hundreds of airport vehicles, an AI AFCAD map made specifically for the airport with accurate ramp parking, carefully crafted night textures creating a completely immersive experience and completely AES compatible from the get go. Its available now at the Imaginesim website along with screenshots and a demo version. Imaginesim advises us the FSX version will follow in mid August.

C L S Release The MD 81 / 82 Jet Liner

Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 - 13:00
Commercial Level Simulations Has released their MD81/82 JetLiner for FSX, featuring top class visuals and realistic flight dynamics. The product comes with a long developed panel, which is simplistic in its nature yet offers mid-level functionality, perfect for LITE users as well as advanced simmers. The product includes 15 liveries with an additional 15 as livery expansion package. The visual model is created with an eye for detail, and includes many photorealistic elements, 3D windows, 3D cabin (exterior and interior!), animated stairs and many more features. The soundset is recorded using the real aircraft providing for a superb sound environment. The product is now available from the Commercial Level Simulations website.

Constellation Professional Expansion Pack C

Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 - 12:32
Just Flight has released Expansion Pack C, a new livery pack for their Constellation Professional FSX add-on (Download and Boxed) that supplies new liveries for the L049A, L749, L749 with Speedpack and the L1049H with tip tanks, and 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, visit the Just Flight Hanger for details and dawmload

Gliding Tour de France

Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 - 9:47
Roussillon Aéro Simulation has released a Gliding Tour de France. Take off from the airpot of La Quillana airport and Land again after flying over 1599 Nm over 19 different stages. For more information visit their website.

FSXFollow Updated To V1.1

Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 - 1:37
The FSXFollow app turns your iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch into a moving map for your flight simulator! Do you own Flight Simulator X, Flight Simulator 2004 or older FS version? FSXFollow connects to the flight simulator directly through their free PC client. FSXFollow saves valuable screen real-estate on your desktop by using your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to display your aircrafts current position. You can see the Flight simulator's screen on your device.

FEATURES: Connects to FSX, FS2004 and CFS. PC Client provided free. Map supports drag to pan and pinch to zoom. Easy setup, no entering of IP adress required and no local network needed. Option to tranfer screenshots to your iPad, iPhone and iTouch (FSX only). Option to automatically snap to optimal zoom level.
REQUIREMENTS: Installed copy of Flight Simulator X or Flight Simulator 2004. Free PC Client must be installed to connect to simulator. Just download from the FSXFollow website.

Flight1 Europe Open Day 2010 - This Weekend

Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010 - 1:33
This Sunday (18th July) Flight1 Europe will be again hosting their Open Day at Shoreham Airport. Whilst anyone is welcome to simply turn up on the day, if you register in advance they will have a bag full of giveaways ready for you. It would help them plan the day too, if they know you are coming!

They have had a great response to the free landings offer and this along with excellent flying conditions forecast should mean that there is plenty of interesting air traffic to see. They've got ex-RAF and Commercial Instructors on hand to give talks and they will also have Tom Main from Flight1 in the USA with them to talk to people about Ultimate Traffic 2 and flight simulation development in general. The schedule for the talks is as follows:

11:30 Aircraft performance
12:30 Aircraft icing
13:30 Flying Hawks for the RAF
14:30 Flying with EFIS/Garmin 1000

Don't forget they will also have VATSIM, RAFsim, RC Simulations, Dodosim and Alpine Computers on hand to chat with you and show you the very latest developments. With more and more being added by the day it is certain to be every bit as popular as last year's event.

PA-28 Archer II from Carenado

Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 14:47
Staff reviewer Peter Clemenko III looks at another beautiful GA aircraft from Carenado - the PA-28 Archer II. "The Piper PA-28-181 Archer II is a easily distinguishable GA aircraft which has become one of the more recognizable GA aircraft in the world. As a direct competitor to the Cessna 172, the PA-28-181 Archer II is a single engine, GA aircraft, with the standard design of the fuselage over the wings."

"The agility of this aircraft is pretty good. It feels like it has mass and inertia, which is not something to take lightly. The flight controls seemed to be fairly stable, and not overly twitchy. After a few flights, I wound up determining that the flight model is relatively perfect based on published specifications."

"I immediately decided to fly the Piper in 3D panel and I found something that made me happy immediately. There are tons of cool things to click and play with that aren’t flight related. Items like the moving the seats back and forth and flipping down the visor. This cocpit get’s a pass in the 3D department, as it seems as though everything is 3D modeled. Furthermore, the gauges all seem to be custom, with the exception of the GPS, which appears as if it’s default FSX."

"The sounds all appear to be custom, and that is something worth noting as it’s important to have a full immersion experience, including audio. The engine sound varies based on the mixture and the throttle settings, which is a good touch of realism."

"Carenado delivers big time on the PA-28 Archer II, and I applaud them for their work on this."

New FS2004 Terrain Mesh

Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 1:17
FSGenesis has begun the release of a new product line aimed at the many FS2004 aficionados still out there. This new product line is comprised of 19m (LOD11) terrain mesh (the highest resolution FS2004 will display) covering all US states and Canadian provinces that have significant terrain. These are compiled from the latest 10m NED data and 23m CDED data and have a vertical resolution of .5 meter. All are download-only products and come with both manual install and auto installed options. Up to 20% quantity discounts are applied at checkout, or get access to unlimited downloads with a one-year FSGXpress subscription or Galaxy Lifetime membership. Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming are now available with further new titles coming online every day. Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California are currently in production and will be available over the next couple of days before they move on to Appalachia and New England, then on to the Canadian provinces.

AVSIM Goes To E3 2010

Posted: Sunday, July 11, 2010 - 20:55
Reviews Editor Robert Whitwell had the opportunity to attend E3 2010 in Los Angeles. While at the convention, he attended a special presentation and demonstration of the new HOTAS Warthog soon to be released by Thrustmaster.

Dublin X from Fly Wonderful Islands

Posted: Sunday, July 11, 2010 - 18:57
Staff reviewer Rick Desjardins visits the Emerald Isle as he looks at Fly Wonderful Islands' Dublin X. "Dublin Aiport, EIDW (known as Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath in Irish) is located in Collinstown in County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. As Ireland's busiest airport more than 20 million passengers passed through it's facilities in 2009."

"This is my first time ever flying out of an airport created by this group and my initial impressions of this scenery was very positive. The difference between the FSX default version of the Dublin airport and this one from Fly Wonderful Islands is like night and day. This rendition of Dublin airport has two active runways; 10/28 at 8652ft and 16/34 at 6798ft."

"Observing the airport at ground level you quickly see that this is indeed a busy place. There are vehicles of all types parked on the tarmac and around the various structures within the airport grounds; baggage carts, trailers, pushback tractors, fuel trucks, mobile stairs, cargo trucks, cars, etc. Overall the ground textures for the grassy areas, adjacent roadways and the hard surfaces such as aprons, runways, taxiways and aircraft parking areas look good and are fairly well detailed."

"Besides the buildings you will find that there are all of the other items you normally find at an airport such as VOR/DME, PAPI lighting, approach lighting, runway and taxiway signage and lights, antennae, perimeter fencing and more. As with most everything else the objects were detailed and realistic in appearance."

"The developers recently released an update that corrects a few problems, but despite those you are sure to enjoy Dublin Airport from Fly-Wonderful-Islands. You should seriously consider having this airport as a part of your flight simulator world."

Ultimate 757 Collection - Redux

Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 18:13
A 2nd look at Quality Wings' Ultimate 757 Collection. This time for the FSX perspective. “ Complexity… simplified!” is the motto of Quality Wings, whose debut product is unabashedly named “The Ultimate 757 Collection.” Quality Wings has aimed for a crowd-pleasing middle ground better described as a “medium” offering. Complexity Simplified indeed.

"The external modeling is excellent. Details like antennae pylons have not been forgotten. The paint jobs are a bit mushy up close, but from any distance you are likely to view them from, they are beautiful. Particularly noteworthy are the “metal” liveries which look convincingly shiny despite being a clever painter’s illusion. It is hard to overstate the luxury of being able to download any or all of 125 liveries right out of the box. There are no bump maps, but they are hardly missed."

"The visual quality carries through to the virtual cockpit, which is quite nice in a rubbed up sort of way. You have a choice between the original display and the glass retrofit, which is a nice touch."

"The flight characteristics are among the best this reviewer has experienced. Once you get this bird steady, you can take your hands off the yoke and let her fly herself. Manual landings are like coming in on rails. I really can’t say enough good things about hand-flying this airplane. So what is sacrificed in the quest to simplify complexity? The FMC lacks some functions and others are presented in shortcut fashion. This airplane may not be the smartest in the room, but it is as smart as it needs to be."

"There is nothing about the Quality Wings Ultimate 757 Collection that does not live up to the name."

Flight Control Replay Version 1.1 now Available

Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 14:48
Fabio Merlo has released Flight Control Replay v1.1. Flight Control Replay is a software that allows users to record and play flight situation in Microsoft FSX with a various options. This new version 1.1 add a very useful feature: GOOGLE Earth and Google MAPS support. You can save a flight situation and you can see all your performance in Google MAPS or Earth. You can see all your recorded flight in Google Maps in 2d or in Google Earth in 3D.

For more information visit their Website.

Sky Blue Radio Makes A Grand Return

Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 1:19
Sky Blue Radio is proud to announce that they are back on the air and ready to sound even better than ever before. After serious server difficulties, Sky Blue Radio is back on air and plans for a major 'return' celebration are in the works. The big return date is scheduled for July 9th with a full weekend of live shows lined up from Sky Blue Radio's DJ's all over the world.

They would like to thank their thousands of loyal listeners who held in there during their rebuild. The Wee Tune Beestie Request system will be down for a couple more days but a note will be sent out when this is brought back online. They will be continuing to play the variety of music that Sky Blue Radio is noted for. So hop in to your favourite aircraft load up Wee Tune Beestie and tune into Sky Blue Radio right in your cockpit on 123.45 on your com 2 radio as you fly the virtual skies.

AstraSim Expo Aug 28-29 2010

Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 1:07
RAF Museum Cosford in Shropshire UK will host this major event 28-29 Aug, a full two day show is planned at this world class venue with everything from demonstrations to seminars and not forgetting the amazing museum itself with much of the UK's national aviation heritage on display.

Information about the exhibitors along with commercial companies will be posted on the AstraSim website and as a visitor to the show you can find information on the venue plus visitor faq's (frequently asked questions) to help plan your trip.

Abacus Releases Mini Collection Series

Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 0:35
The Mini Collection Series is just that - small collections of aircraft that are suited to the varying tastes of pilots. Each collection includes 4 aircraft that are compatible with FSX and FS2004.

GA Collection #1 includes the Adam A-500, Piper Tri-Pacer, Zenith CH-801 and Maule MT-235
GA Collection #2 includes the Diamon DA-42 Twin Star, Gippsland GA-8 Airvan, Socata TB21 and Socata TBM 850
GA Collection #3 includes the Adam A-700, Diamond D-Jet, Grob SPn and Safire Jet.

What a great way to get 4 GA aircraft all in one neat little downloadable package.

Ultimate Alaska X from Flight 1

Posted: Saturday, July 10, 2010 - 0:22
Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne heads north to check out Flight 1's Ultimate Alaska X. "This is the fourth in the Ultimate Terrain Series offered by Flight1 Software. The area covered is that forming the Alaskan state with its Aleutian Island chain. There is a little bit of cross coverage with UTX Canada in the vicinity of Prince Rupert (CYPR)."

"There are 5 layers unique to Ultimate Alaska (see introduction above); Mesh, Cities, Water, Railroads, and Roads, with two shared UT Exclusions for Default Scenery and UT Landclass-Vegetation which must be at the end of all UTX layers. There are five different object sets in the environmental presets that have differing loads on the performance. My choice is 1-alt for fidelity and performance."

"I'm happily impressed with Ultimate Alaska X and recommend it to anyone interested in Alaskan flying. I am glad to say this is an excellent terrain enhancement product."

New Releases from OZx

Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 - 18:35
OZx Release North America Addon and OZx 3.2 For Free! OZx 3.2 Upgrade includes steamy tropics of North Queensland to the cool temperates of Tassie and includes 10 more strips to test your navigation and landing prowess. OZx NA 1.0 includes Spectacular snow-covered mountains separated by abysses of dense evergreen forests, wild rivers and wild life. Island hideaways for the wealthy, hunting lodges, logging camps.

For more information OZx 3.2 and OZ NA 1.0

Update for Sibwings's Cessna "Bird Dog"

Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 - 18:21
Sibwings release update for their Cessna "Bird Dog". The update includes Totally new flight dynamics files, 15 new "Bird Dog" liveries of different countries and epochs, 5 new models and more.

For more information visit Sibwings website.

Update Released for Audio Environment - Airliner Edition

Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 - 18:18
Flight1 release Audio Environment: Airliner Edition Sound Updates for MyTraffic X, MyTraffic 2010 and Traffic X users. This update is totally FREE to existing users.

Audio Environment: Airliner Edition replaces the sound sets in the FSX flyable airliners with custom made, quality stereo sounds, and also brings AI traffic to life. You can even use the sounds in other freeware and payware aircraft addons.
You must have Audio Environment: Airliner Edition installed to be able to install the updates.

For full details of how to get the update visit Product Page.

Widgets Moving Map for iPhone

Posted: Friday, July 9, 2010 - 16:31
FSWidgets announces release of iGMap. An application turns your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a moving map for your favourite desktop flight simulator. The application can connect to FSX, FS2004 or X-Plane 9, giving you a wireless hand-held moving map display to aid navigation, especially suitable for simulated VFR flights. iGMap comes with six custom map styles providing world-wide coverage. It also includes aeronautical charts in the form of WAC (World Aeronautical Chart) data covering the entire contiguous US, Alaska, Cuba/Puerto Rico, and a set of detailed US TAC (Terminal Area Charts). iGMap works with the three most popular desktop simulators on the market today, connecting to your simulator of choice via the free FSWidgets Network Pack which can be downloaded from the website.

For more information visit website