FranceVFR Releases FlightParis VFRPack

Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008 - 18:59
France VFR announces its latest release in the FlightParis series: FlightParis VFR Pack (VFR landmarks). This is the 4th and the last pane completing the Collection of FlightParis scenery. This complete scenery allows you to get totally immersed in your Flight Simulator just as if you were there, above the Parisian region while taking off with the exact same landmarks as in real world above the 5 Parisian departments (12 000 km²). FlightParis Basepack is required for this scenery and needs to be installed before installing VFRPack.

These remarkable landmarks include antennas, water towers, power stations, notable buildings, famous castles within the region (ex: Versailles, Vaux le Vicomte, Chateau de Villarceaux, etc.), car manufacturing plants (Renault, Peugeot) and bridges. France VFR has put altogether 70 groups of objects in order to enhance your VFR Flights within the Greater Paris Area. With the release of this last pane it completes the FlightParis Collection (BasePack, Autogen, CityPack) and becomes the most developed and complete VFR scenery for this area in Flight Simulator. FlightParis is available for FS9 and FSX.

Note: this website is in French but can be translated directly via a Google search.

RealAir Simulations Releases Spitfire For FSX

Posted: Monday, March 31, 2008 - 18:42
This version is a ground-up and complete re-design of RealAir's previous Spitfire for FS2004 and includes the Mark IX and Mark XVI as well as the Mark XIV. The package also includes an updated West Malling WW2 operational airfield with improved graphics and improved squadron of AI Spitfires. The FSX Spitfire comes with new custom stereo and doppler-effect sounds individually designed for both the Mark IX Merlin and Mark XIV Griffon engined variants. There are new 3D gauges, a variety of worn, pristine and authentic 3D cockpits, contra-prop variants as well as single prop versions. A total of 23 unique liveries all with individually made Virtual Cockpits. The package is available as a full product or an upgrade for previous Spitfire owners. For more information please navigate to the RealAir Simulations website.

Airport Design Editor 1.2 Released

Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 17:12
ScruffyDuck Software and the ADE Development Team are delighted to announce the release of Airport Design Editor version 1.20. This is a significant upgrade to the Program and contains many fixes and functional enhancements. It also sees the merging of Home and Pro Edition functionality. As of version 1.20, there is only one edition of ADE.

Major new functionality includes the creation and manipulation of terrain elements such as airport backgrounds, land class and exclusions. There is not longer any need to use a separate utility to modify the terrain at your airport. Also ADE now loads the generic buildings, library objects, windsocks and fuel triggers with a stock airport. Once included you can move, delete or otherwise modify these items and ADE automatically takes care of excluding the stock objects. You can add stock library objects and ADE makes it simple to accurately enhance your local airport with easy access to around 450 common objects including library objects, windsocks and fuel triggers.

Other enhancements include copy/paste; display the XML code for the airport or any object, and automatic updating of ILS, Starts and runway links when a runway is renumbered. ADE 1.20 is delivered via an installer that also allows you to download the tutorials. A new installation and configuration tutorial is released alongside providing information on setting up this new version. Airport Design Editor 1.20 is available for download from AVSIM and the Airport Design Editor site.

DBS Profile Radar Now Vista Compatible

Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 17:01
Profile Radar is a new generation of flight-safety tools and can be assist to pilot on a low-altitude flight over strong terrain relief (bush flying, visual approach in bad wheater conditions, helicopter operation etc). Profile Radar display window can be configured to use different colors on background, terrain relief, grid lines. Maximum range is 25 nautical miles (can be adjusted to any distance between 0.1 - 25 nm) and altitude range can be variabled between 10 - 3000 feets. Radar resolution can be variable to low for better performance or to high for detailed relief drawing. Grid lines and aircraft altitude line can be hide. Grid resoltion can be adjusted to any distance between horizontal/vertical grid lines. With this configuration settings Profile Radar display can simulate most real relief radars.

Airbus Special Edition Released

Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 16:36
FS2Crew: Wilco feelThere Airbus Special Edition has been released and is now available at the FS2Crew website. Designed in consultation with a current Airbus pilot, the Special Edition is an expansion pack for the Wilco feelThere Airbus series for Volume 1 and 2. It adds a realistic flight, cabin and ground crew to the aircraft. A discount option is available for those upgrading from the A320 Edition of FS2Crew. For complete details visit FS2Crew's totally re-designed website.

C130X from Captain Sim

Posted: Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 0:56
Staff reviewer Etienne Martin jumps into the cockpit of one of the most well known and versatile aircraft flying today, the C-130 Hercules. This is Captain Sim's version for FSX. "The Lockheed C130 Hercules is one of the success stories in aviation. The C130 easily fills the role of the “swiss army knife” aircraft. It can lift 33 metric tons (72,000 lbs) of cargo, has short takeoff/landing (stol) abilities, is robust enough to use unpaved landing strips, has a cruising speed a hair short of 300 knots/FL22 and has a service ceiling of FL33."

"Ten (10) C-130 variants are included between the base pack and expansion pack I (pack II adds nine more). The liveries heavily focus on U.S. and U.K markings. Captain Sim delivers solid 3D models for each aircraft variation, along with a generous heap of eye candy. Most of the animations are found on the external model. The exterior models are sharp, even up close, with no visible polygonal issues even given the odd shapes on this aircraft. All exterior textures match the quality of the models, and in particular “join” well, meaning, there is no stretching or tearing visible, even in the usual places where FSX challenges designers."

"The C130 interior carries over from model to model, the only difference being the engine instrument cluster. The VC includes the cabin, so it is possible to “walk” from the cockpit all the way back to the cargo doors. The virtual cockpit (VC) includes all major switches and knobs, and looks almost as good as the 2D equivalents. Overall, I like the VC design and the compromises made between detail and performance. The detail is included where it matters, meaning that a mid-range system should run this VC well. The 2D panels use mostly the left mouse button to increase/decrease values, whereas the 3D version use the left and right mouse. Captain Sim implements a useful control panel to manage the display of each 2D panel. This “panel navigator” makes for simple and efficient navigation between all key panels."

"The C130-X projects mass and inertia in the simulator. It feels heavy, yet it is (mostly) predictable and quite forgiving. The airframe sways during turns, the suspension responds to acceleration and braking. The aircraft responds very well to reverse thrust, although I found it impossible to start reversing only on two engines, while taxiing on two engines is entirely possible. In the air, the C130 is easy to fly, much more so than many smaller aircraft. This airlifter doesn’t twitch, it responds gently and proportionally to inputs, and is generally a joy to manually handle. The simulation includes emergency engine restart in the air, a sophisticated affair, and works well."

Wrapping up this detailed look at Captain Sim's C130 Xperience, Etienne comments, "The C130-X is an add-on that deserves a very serious look. The Hercules is a joy to operate in the virtual skies, not only because it flies well, predictably and forgives mistakes, but also because it can fly in and out of just about anywhere, from any surface, with great range (over 1,000 nm) to boot. The quality of the models is excellent, the eye-candy plentiful and attractive, and although a few visual bugs remain with this port to FSX that a service pack didn’t address completely, it is an enjoyable experience."

Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ Movie Contest

Posted: Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 0:10
Exciting Simulations ™ is delighted to announce the first official movie contest based on the Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ PC Space Shuttle Simulation. The contest is sponsored by Matrox Graphics, the developers of TripleHead2Go – the ultimate solution for cost-effective multi-monitor Productivity & Surround Gaming display, and NaturalPoint, the creators of TrackIR:PRO – the 3D Head-Tracking device for serious gamers.

This contest is open to all the customers of the Space Shuttle Mission 2007 PC game, and we are pleased to inform you that Space Shuttle Mission 2007 includes full native support for both TripleHead2Go and TrackIR:PRO. The full contest rules and prizes list can be seen on the SSM2007 official forum.

SkyUnlimited Productions Gotha Ho 229 for FSX

Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008 - 23:56
Had the Ho 229 made it into production, it would have been the culmination of Luftwaffe technology and design. Featuring flying wing technology to reduce drag, two 30mm cannons, one of the first ejection seats, and a powerplant of two Junkers Jumo jet engines, the Ho 229 would have been unmatched in the skies over Europe. In fact, the Ho 229 was the only German aircraft to come close to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring performance requirements of a payload of 1,000kg, a range of 1,000km, and top speed of 1,000km/h. Had the Luftwaffe been able to produce and utilize such power, one can therorize that the tides of the war would have been significantly different. In addition, there is also been much controversay regarding claims that the technology of the Ho 229 helped American researchers develop one of the most sophisticated aircraft of modern times, the B-2 Stealth bomber. Such claims, whether true or not, only give another testiment to this marvel of aeronautical achievement. SkyUnlimited has worked hard to replicate this marvel of aerial ingenuity for your personal enjoyment. You now can take to the skies in one of the most mysterious and deadly aircraft of WWII.

This aircraft features: Full FSX model with self-shadows, specular maps, and bump maps; Highly detailed exterior model of the Gotha Ho229 by Kevin “Gibbage” Miller; Beautifully rendered Virtual Cockpits by Brandon Toomey that are animated and labeled; 8 stunning paint schemes featuring differently nationalities including a fictional Japanese version; "By the Book" flight dynamics built with the latest in airfile design technology by the acclaimed Jerry Beckwith; Highly Detailed Panel by Jesse Lambert; Custom Gauges by the acclaimed Michael Flahault; Custom Gun Effects for FSX and Fs2004 by Rob Barendregt and Douglas Dawson; and Custom Sound sets created by Michael Flahault. For more information visit the SkyUnlimited website.

Long Haul Is Here

Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008 - 14:57
Just Flight has announced that the release date for the boxed version of Airbus Collection - Long Haul is confirmed as 11th April and the download version is available to 'buy by wire' as a download product exclusively from Just Flight's website. The package contains four aircraft variants, eight different flight models and 150 liveries. The Airbus Collection - Long Haul has been developed by the award-winning team at Commercial Level Simulations. It features the A330-200 and -300 together with their illustrious stable-mates, the wide-body A340-200 and -300, in a F-Lite collection for Flight Simulator X and 2004.

Animations range from thrust reversers and control surface droop to air stairs and pushback truck. The Cockpit features include custom Airbus gauges, easy-to-use Airbus style MCDU/Autopilot, realistic EICAM displays, limited function FMC which allows for SIDs and STARs in the MSFS database, EFIS displays, PFD with limited Airbus Laws Logic and Alpha Protection; overhead panel comes complete with switches for air-con packs, fuel pumps, engine fire and more.

For more information go to the Just Flight website here.

Try The Fork-Tailed Devil For Free

Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008 - 14:53
Just Flight and Aeroplane Heaven's P-38 Lightning 'Curly Six' demo now available for download. If you've yet to experience the P-38 Lightning package currently on sale on DVD Rom and as a 102Mb Download you can now take a demo aircraft for a spin. A fully functional model of the P-38J 'Curly Six' aircraft included in the full P-38 Lightning expansion pack is now available to download here. The demo will run a short video before installing and there's no time limit on the aircraft. It will work in both FSX and FS2004 and is also fully Vista-compatible. The full Lightning package costs £24.99/€37.95/$49.99 and includes a further 16 versions of this iconic multi-role aircraft. This Lightning pack for Flight Simulator X and 2004 has been created by the classic aircraft experts at Aeroplane Heaven. Some of the features of the full pack include:

Two Lightning legends - Antoine de St Exupery and W/Cdr Adrian Warburton.
Drop tanks that can be jettisoned
Detailed gun and camera bays
Removable gunsight for improved vision in cockpits and even working gun and cannon effects.

AlphaSim Release F-5E Tiger II

Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 16:37
AlphaSim have just released the F-5E Tiger II for Flight Simulator 2004/X. The package features multiple aircraft load-outs and colour schemes. US operators include both a SE Asia scheme (with several weapons/pylons fits) and a US Navy 'Top Gun' 'aggressor'. Foreign operators encompass the Singapore Air Force and two Swiss variants : a 'stock' Swiss AF version and the stunning Patrouille Suisse display team version. The package is also fully compatible with FSX SP2, and also includes the cockpit self-shadowing feature. If this sounds interesting to you, then you are cleared direct to AlphaSim.

Oz Flight Sim Expo Announce Film Competition

Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 16:31
Oz Flight Sim Expo in association with Digital Nexus are holding a competition for all you budding film directors. They are looking for a short sixty second opening video that is high impact, both visually stunning and also contains highly motivational modern sound track supporting the clip. The winning entry will be used as the opening Video Presentation at the Trade night and VIP Cocktail Party held on Friday the 19th September 2008. There are some fantastic prizes to be had, and you can find out more about the competition and how to enter at Digital Nexus.

FeelThere Releases "Call" For The Legacy

Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 2:40
FeelThere just released the next product for the Call! series. It's a first officer and flight attendant simulation for the Legacy. Both FS9 and FSX installers are included in the package and will work with both versions. The product support is done at our new forum. It's a new forum with lots of new features including voting and image uploads. The registration is painless, as a new spam filter has been introduced so registrations are instant. For more information about CALL! for the Legacy please visit the FeelThere website.

2 Jets and an Airbase - a Multi-Review

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 0:43
Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis takes a look at 2 historic aircraft and an historic airfield. The aircraft are Alphasim's F86 Sabre and Flight 1's MiG 15. The airfield, RAF Alconbury from Alphasim.

"The Alphasim F-86F offers both a working FSX and FS9 model that does include some pretty nice features, but I think you will find the FSX model more to your liking, at least I did. With all of the new features in FSX, this aircraft model takes full advantage of the FSX engine. Features like self shadowing, bump mapping and bloom are fully featured. The exterior model of the F-86F is masterfully done. Every conceivable part that can be seen visually from outside the aircraft moves in a realistic manner; items such as landing gear, flaps and the air brakes."

"Visually, the cockpit of the F-86 from Alphasim is one of the best I have seen from them, but again functionality is somewhat limited in the virtual cockpit mode. The gauges have a glazed over look that make them stand out more and frankly make them look more realistic and 3 dimensional. If you have used or just looked at Alphasim products of late, you will know what I am talking about."

"First off, I chose RAF Alconbury as my original base of operation for the F-86, but decided after using it that it had too much of a frame rate impact on my flights in FSX with the F86. The base itself has a nice layout and all of the objects are custom designed to match that of their real world counterparts. Included in this package is a nice set of flying AI aircraft, the C130E, F-4C Phantom, and the U2-R are the ones you will see flying in and out of the base as well as parked at the many different hangers. There are also several static aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy and the F-5E Tiger as well as many static vehicles parked throughout the scenery for your viewing pleasure."

"This product will work with either FS9 or FSX. This is a great base to have if you are flying any of the older military jets in FS9. Personally, I think that RAF Alconbury blends in better with the surrounding scenery in FS9, as the FSX versions looks out of place. This is not the product's fault as it is more of FSX’s fault with the texture colors surrounding the airports."

"I spent quite a bit of time with the MIG in FS9 and FSX and found that the aircraft performed best in the world it was created for, FS9. This didn’t come as much of a surprise. Climbing into any one of the 53 different MIG's you can’t help but think how crazy some of these guys must have been; you're essentially riding a rocket with guns attached to it."

"The Flight 1 Mig-15 is a magnificent aircraft; it features an array of moving parts and extra eye candy. Most impressive is the ability to take the aircraft apart and view the jet engine. The cockpit is 100% authentic and is fully functional, either from the 2D panel or the virtual cockpit. I was amazed that the aircraft was completely flyable from the virtual cockpit as everything is accessible, and if you turn on the cockpit tags within MSFS you won’t have to learn how to translate Russian."

In his review, Gene adds a conclusive paragraph for each of these 3 products. Briefly: "The F-86F is one of the best add-ons I have seen yet from Alphasim and if you don’t have it, get it. RAF Alconbury is good and it represents an airfield that is rich in history and you have to take into account that this add-on was built from the ground up. The Mig-15 is really an oldie, but it is truly a goody! Made for FS9, this wonderful aircraft will definitely challenge even the most accomplished sim pilot. With accurate system modeling and flight management from within the cockpit you can’t go wrong."

Eaglesoft FSX Liberty XL2 Now DX10 Compliant

Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 - 6:51
Eaglesoft's FSX Liberty XL2 Upgrade includes a completely rebuilt DX10 Compliant Model and .DDS Textures along with minor revisions to the Avionics for improved performance in FSX/SP2/DX10 Preview! Current FSX Liberty XL2 owners may Download and Reinstall with their existing Key and Password. New customers should checkout the Eaglesoft website for important information.

Stansted Xtreme Compatible With FSX Acceleration

Posted: Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 16:44
In a news release received via the Easter Bunny from the Team over at UK2000 Scenery they have released the FSX SP2/Acceleration compatible version of 'Stansted Xtreme'. All existing users are entitled to this update free of charge. For details on this release please hop on over and upgrade your Stansted Xtreme

Pilatus PC-12 for FSX from Flight 1

Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 20:27
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura revisits one of his favourite aircraft, the Pilatus PC-12. This time the recently released FSX version from Flight 1. "The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop. Available in passenger, cargo, and surveillance configurations, it is designed to minimize workload in the cockpit and can be safely flown with just one pilot."

"The visual model is all-new for FSX. I didn’t notice any differences in the silhouette, but the reflections are more convincing, and bump-mapping has been used selectively to give surfaces more texture. All of the standard animations are here, and all of them are smooth."

"There are some new gauges but the environment of the virtual cockpit is largely unchanged -- meaning, it is still world-class. Modeling is smooth and textures are ultra-sharp, even when viewed up close. Behind the flight deck there is a virtual cabin, the contents of which vary depending on which model of PC-12 you are flying: passenger, cargo, executive transport, or surveillance. Most of the PC-12’s cockpit functionality was already present in the FS2004 version. For FSX, there are improved map and arc views on the horizontal situation indicator, and the comm radios have been upgraded."

"Sounds are unchanged from the original product for FS2004. The mechanical sounds (of gear, flaps, and engine) are all factory fresh; you will notice nuances, but they’re part of a sequence, not the results of age and use. The PC-12 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6; unlike some engines, the PT6 does not exhibit the long lag between throttle inputs and power outputs that we associate with turboprops. This behavior is reflected in the model, and makes the PC-12 easier to manage at low speeds than most other turboprops."

Wrapping up this look at Flight 1's FSX version of the Pilatus PC-12, David concludes, "The PC-12 is flexible, fast, forgiving, easy to fly, and looks great in the virtual cockpit. The FSX version is just as good, and in some areas (avionics and exterior views), even better than its successful predecessor. I’m glad to have it in my hangar."

Skysim Releases Ellsworth AFB Scenery

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2008 - 19:30
Skysim, the new home of classic jet aviation for MSFS are proud to announce a brand new range of military sceneries, exclusively for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Located in South Dakota, USA, Ellsworth AFB is home to the 28th Bomb Wing and the B-1B Lancer aircraft. The base has been in service since 1942 and has been home to some of the US Air Forces most powerful bombers, such as the B-29 and B-36, a proud history that continues to this day. The airfield has been built using custom buildings and textures and features superb A.I. aircraft, representing the types normally seen operating from the base, the mighty B-1B and the ubiquitous C-130 Hercules. This product is fully compatible with all variations of FSX, up to and including SP2. It can also be scaled in complexity, to ensure you enjoy high frame rates and smooth operation without requiring the very highest specification system. Ellsworth AB for FSX has been designed and built for Skysim by SBD design and is the first in a whole new series of military airbases that the team have planned, covering all corners of the globe. To purchase Ellsworth AFB or to check out more details this and other Skysim products in production and development, visit the all new Skysim website.

French Riviera/Cote d'Azur from FranceVFR

Posted: Friday, March 21, 2008 - 3:36
Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen continues her adventures in Europe with a flight along the French Riviera and Cote d'Azur as presented by FranceVFR. "Apart of the great villages, white beaches, wine, beer, excellent French cuisine, boats, extraordinary cars like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and many more, this piece of Franc is famous for the Film Festival of Cannes; and what about Monaco and Monte-Carlo?"

Angelique goes into depth about this multi-faceted scenery offering. She takes you on several flights throughout the region and has fun navigation her way through the scenery at low level via IFR (I follow roads). As usual, her screenshots tell a lot of the story. Angelique goes on to describe the "JetSet" package that is also offered by FranceVFR as an add-on to the Base Pack and Autogen Package.

Wrapping up her "Excursion Francais", she comments about FranceVFR's French Riviera and Cote d'Azur, "you need the base pack as a minimum. This can be extended with either the AutogenPack and/or the JetSet pack. The JetSet creates more special buildings or landmarks or interesting places including detailed airport buildings like at LFMN (Nice) but also smaller ones like LFMD (Cannes/Mandelieu). According to the France VFR website, you can – if you want to use only the JetSet package – also buy the standalone BasePack with the JetSet and forget the Autogen Pack. Flying this wonderful scenery is fun and it even becomes more fun when you fly cross-country VFR flights. It's a high quality product where navigation can be done with an official ICAO chart, but also with Michelin auto route charts.

For Our Italian Simmers

Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 23:44
"SIMWING MAGAZINE", the first and currently only Italian language online magazine that deals with the simulation of flight has now been released on their website. If english isn't your first language and you are looking for more flight sim information and reviews in Itlaian, then this just may be for you. The also plan to involve their reading public in stories and event announcements. So set your heading to that piece of land that looks like a boot in the Med and check out this online flight sim magazine. Ciao.