Ultimate Traffic 2 and Audio Environment by Flight-1 at the Avsim Store

Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 15:32
Re-designed from the ground up, Ultimate Traffic 2 provides FSX users the definitive AI-traffic upgrade, and still is the only package that provides computer traffic based on real airlines, flying on real schedules and now... using realistic routings too. There are over 1 million flight hours of commercial traffic and a further 2.5 million flight hours of general aviation flights– with vast flexibility and the ability to customize what you see and where. Ultimate Traffic 2.

Audio Environment: Airliner Edition replaces the FSX airliner sounds with custom made, high quality stereo sounds. Extensive development time has been taken to ensure that the improved sounds work seamlessly whatever traffic programme you use. Audio Environment.

Visit the Avsim store today.

FSG Introduces ATAPs

Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 4:50
Ever since terrain mesh was introduced in FS2000 the application of add-on high-resolution terrain has resulted in airport plateaus. This means flight simmers could either have detailed, accurate, high-resolution terrain, or have a flightsim experience without plateaus, but not both. There may be a solution soon.

FSGenesis plans to launch a new product called “Airport Terrain Adjustment Packs (ATAP)” . ATAP will be distributed and organized by state, province, or country, depending on the scope of the coverage area. Each airport in the coverage area will be checked and verified by using geo referenced aerial photographs. Where required, the airports will be moved to their proper location, elevation, and orientation based on georeferenced aerial imagery, as well as adjustments to the airport grounds, and where necessary the terrain surrounding those airports will be adjusted to eliminate any plateaus using proprietary methods.

ATAPs can be used with any third-party terrain mesh products installed, regardless of vendor.

For more information visit FSGenesis Website.

ELITE RC-1V From Flight 1 AT & ELITE Simulation Solutions

Posted: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 15:23
ELITE Simulation Solutions and Flight 1 Aviation Technologies today introduced the ELITE RC-1V (Victor) ™, a powerful new VFR "ab initio" flight training device. The RC-1V is designed specifically to meet the needs of Middle and High School Technical/Magnate Programs, Civil Air Patrol organizations and "ab initio" flight schools and training academies.

The Microsoft ESP-based RC-1Victor couples Flight1’s high fidelity aero model, a high resolution instrument panel on a 22 inch wide screen LCD, an intuitive "touch screen" instructor/operator station and the signature Microsoft rich visual scenery with a fully enclosed cabin, world class ELITE avionics and flight controls and three high definition 52 inch LCD displays to immerse students completely in the world of VFR flight.

ELITE Simulation Solutions and Flight 1 Aviation Technologies are set up in Oviedo, Florida for Sun ‘N’ Fun or visit their websites for further details.

Space Shuttle Mission Simulator Announces Special Edition

Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010 - 17:13
Exciting Simulations creators of the Space Shuttle Mission have announced their distribution agreements with Iceberg Interactive BV and PMDG Simulations LLC for publishing and distributing CD version of Space Shuttle Mission in Europe and North America respectively. This announcement also marks the 29th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle launch on April 12, 1981.

The special edition boxed versions will also include all the missions and features that have been developed for the Space Shuttle Mission Simulator, and will also bear the name "Space Shuttle Mission Simulator: The Collector's Edition" or "SSMS: TCE".

For more info visit Space Shuttle Mission's Website

New In-flight Entertainment Software

Posted: Sunday, April 11, 2010 - 14:55
Sky Blue Radio is pleased to announce the release of their latest in-flight entertainment software Wee Tune Beastie II. The application promises to transform the virtual pilots long or short haul flights by bringing Sky Blue Radio right in to your cockpit simply by tuning to 123.45 on your com 2 radio. However, this nifty little application does not stop there. In addition Wee Tune Beastie II provides a direct link to the live DJ's simply be clicking on the DJ's banner, and if there is no DJ on air and our hard working monkey Otto Matix is playing the tunes, you can even make a request from him. All this for FREE..... what more could you want? Live DJ's, critically acclaimed chat shows, simplified connection to fellow enthusiasts and a chance to pick a tune from the Sky Blue Radio's favourite primate. Visit Sky Blue Radio and select the download section to get your copy of Wee Tune Beastie II now. Sky Blue Radio and Wee Tune Beastie II, your co-pilot in the virtual skies, sounding great at any altitude.

Expansion Package For Airbus Package

Posted: Sunday, April 11, 2010 - 2:11
Commercial Level Simulations is pleased to announce the release of their first Expansion Package with 20 new liveries for the 3 Airbus Package. This new release includes many liveries from countries all over the world. Examples are: Lufthansa, Delta, Martinair, French AirForce, Qatar, White Airways etc. The package is now available for both FS9 and FSX form the CLS website.

Wings of Prey from Gaijin Entertainment

Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 18:22
Senior staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk takes to the skys in his trusty "kite" as he experiences Wings of Prey from Gaijin Entertainment. "Now that Microsoft's Flight Simulator projects have been shuttered, the window of opportunity has opened for other developers to come forward with products for those of us who need our fix of virtual flight. Some of the world's leading flight sim programmers are now working out of Russia. Gaijin Entertainment is a new developer, and they have produced Wings Of Prey, a World War II flying combat sim inspired by the phenomenal IL-2 Sturmovik line of products."

""Wings Of Prey" is the conversion of "Birds Of Prey" to PC, and it features many new improvements over the console version, including improved multiplayer support, multi-core enhanced graphics, and the ability to use a TrackIR for viewpoint."

"If you like a lot of shooting action with spectacular graphics, if you wanted to see the major battlefronts of the 1940’s from the air, then you should find a lot to like in Wings Of Prey. The advantage to PC-based Wings Of Prey over Birds Of Prey is that the game has been optimised for more powerful computer processors. As well, Wings Of Prey easily supports high-end controllers, such as a joystick and throttle, rudder pedals, and a TrackIR. For a port-over, Wings Of Prey provides a lot of PC-friendly features."

"There are many eye-catching special effects to behold. Light and shadow effects look true to life. Specular highlights are beautifully modelled, and shaders look absolutely striking. Wings Of Prey is one of the prettiest flight sim games on the market. It makes FSX look out of date by comparison, and IL-2 seems positively ancient. This is a fun game, and there are a number of very interesting things to see and do. Multiplayer is easy to set up, whether you want to host your own game or join one in progress. If that's good enough, then we can leave things there."

Real Environment Xtreme Service Pack 2 for FS9 Released

Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 1:16
Real Environment Simulations is pleased to announce the release of the Real Environment Xtreme Service Pack 2 for FS9. The service pack fixes and enhances many items, which include:
- Added new global weather averaging system
- Added additional wind layers at 45000 and 80000
- Added feature that prohibited updating of weather while user was starting descent or landing
- Added pop-up option after saving texture theme to automatically request user to install textures into FS
- Added new countdown feature to alert users when the WASys was about to start the process of loading weather into FS
- Raised lowest wind base to help with flare upon landing and wind shift issues
- Enhanced winds aloft and wind speeds algorithm
- Fixed mapping code to keep mapping service from losing connection
- Fixed mapping reload issue, even though the issue was not consistent with our user base
- Fixed changes to cloud layers issue when loading weather into FS
- Fixed several environmental texture issues
- Fixed some problematic wave animation sets. Some users reported too harsh of an animation algorithm
- Added two texture sets to the inland and ocean water areas
- Added one texture set to the wave animation area
- Added a new dawn sky set named "ejoiners sky"

Real Environment Xtreme is available for both FS9 and FSX exclusively from The FlightSim Store. For discussions, please the REX Forum.

Flight1 Releases EZdok Camera 1.14 Update

Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 0:56
Flight One Software, in partnership with EZdok Software, is officially announcing the release of the version 1.14 update for EZdok Camera (EZCA) for FSX. This is quite a significant update, and it provides many new features. These include:

- The addition of CTRL, SHIFT, and CTRL+SHIFT in keyboard shortcuts to extend the keyboard possibilities in switching between cameras.
- You can now configure up to 3 different joysticks to use within EZCA.
- Additional movements using the joystick HAT switch (enhanced HAT switch mode).
- Special middle-mouse button emulation via a joystick or keyboard.
- You can now switch between cameras using the joystick.

EZdok Camera (EZCA) is a camera and effects system and manager that enhances the pilot experience in FSX. It offers view control in Flight Simulator for easy navigation throughout the virtual cockpit and cabin, around the aircraft, and around the Flight Simulator world. But also very exciting are the effects exerted on the pilot, immersing the virtual pilot in a more realistic physical simulation of aviation. Flight 1 says, "EZCA is one of the "Must Have" technologies for FSX".

It's Your Plane Adds Convair CV-240

Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 0:53
It's Your Plane (IYP) is pleased to announce that it now supports the historical Convair CV-240 turboprop, (with fully integrated checklists) for FS 2004 and FSX. With the addition of this latest CV-240 airliner, there are now over 50 aircraft in the IYP hanger. Visit the ItsYourPlane website to review the selection of aircraft (including the CV-240) available for IYP Users for both FSX and FS9.

Strasbourg (LFST) For FS9 & FSX Released

Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 0:40
With the release of Strasbourg Airport Scenery (FS2004), France VFR completes its Collection of Regional Airport Scenery by editing the 7th pane of Airport scenery for FS2004 and FSX.

The scenery conceptualises the Airport of Strasbourg Entzheim using photo-real high definition textures of the ground adding as well night textures for the entire covered zone. The scenery spreads over 40 km² and adds to the airport an extended photo-realistic area including specific Autogen as well as semi photo-real tarmacs and taxiway (NEW!). The scenery is optimized in order to obtain the best possible framerate and quality/performance. You can use it as a standalone product or in addition to the Alsace scenery (VFRPack, to be released later this year) without any modification. Due to its particular concept, the scenery is entirely compatible with any mesh of your choice. For the owners of the FS2004 version the Upgrade to FSX is possible at a preferential price. Complete details can be found at the FranceVFR website.

Updates from FS2Crew

Posted: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 19:03
FS2Crew, a leading developer of advanced airline crew simulations for FSX and FS9, has released Service Pack 1 for FS2Crew PMDG 737 Voice Commander; FS2Crew 737 PIC Voice Commander; and, FS2Crew Default 737 Voice Commander.

Also, a small audio engine update for the Leonardo Maddog version of FS2Crew is available via the FS2Crew Support Forum.

FS2Crew is looking for new voice actors for its upcoming PMDG Jetstream Version.

For more info visit FSCrew's Website

Treasure Cay Scenery from FS-FreeFlow

Posted: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 12:28
FS-FREEflow is proud to announce the release of Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. This is an enhancement to the FREEflow Bahamas packaged released back in 2006. The airport has been completely redesigned using objects created in GMAX along with a new marina and extensive use of AI air traffic.

For more info visit Free Flow's Website

GMap for X-Plane

Posted: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 12:22
FSWidgets has released a Mac Version of their Google Maps powered freeware moving map system.

GMap for X-Plane (Mac Version) is not a part of the Windows Version, it has been re-built from the ground up in XCode using the native Objective-C language to ensure as tight an integration as possible with the Mac OS X operating system.

It comes in two versions, an EFB Edition using the EFB-style faceplate image and a Windowed Edition using a standard re-sizable window. Both editions can be run locally or remotely and the remote mode supports connecting to a copy of X-Plane running on a Windows machine.

For more info visit FSWidget's Website

World Airliners Livery Packs from Wilco/feelthere & McPhat Studios

Posted: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 2:17
Staff reviewer Mark Kolo looks at the exterior model of Wilco/feelThere's ERJ 135/145 and McPhat Studios World Airliners Livery Packs. "Wilco’s simulated ERJ is one of many modern regional aircraft in the Wilco Publishing hanger which also includes a CRJ-200/700 package as well as a highly praised E-Jets series simulation. The newest version which covers the ERJ-135/145/145XR for FSX includes Wilco’s “Call” program which provides you with a copilot to assist with procedures, along with the World Airliners 1 and 2 livery packs by McPhat Studios is the subject of this review."

Mark looks at the exterior of the ERJ in great detail and then goes into a description of McPhat Studios' World Airliners livery packs. "In addition to the Embraer house livery and a select few airline liveries provided by Wilco/feelThere, additional textures are available from McPhat studios. World Airliners 1 and 3 feature 13 liveries for the ERJs from airlines including Delta, Continental, AeroMexico, Air France, and United’s respective regional divisions to name a few. World Airliners 2 covers the extensive British Airways ERJ fleet, and the respective artistic Tails of each aircraft."

"For roughly one dollar per livery, you can be the proud owner of dozens of high quality textures for your new Wilco ERJ. Thanks to McPhat’s attention to detail, these liveries seem to mimic their real world counterparts nearly flawlessly. I feel that these livery packs will be popular with simmers, as it allows you to use your ERJ around the world using a proper livery."

FS Traffic Live 3 from AirNav Systems

Posted: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 1:22
Staff reviewer Roger Curtiss dons the headset and listens to AI traffic request clearances and watch them taxi around the various airports that he visited with AirNavSystems' FS Live Traffic 3. "Like any good airplane enthusiast I have spent my requisite time listening to a radio scanner and even tuned into the action on one of the live ATC computer channels available at www.liveatc.net. But these were just audio feeds and I had to use my imagination to visualize the actual aircraft movements. I was intrigued to learn of an offering called FS Live Traffic 3 by AirNav Systems Inc."

"FS Live Traffic 3 promises to provide the same real airline traffic as the earlier offerings but states that the traffic information is freshly loaded each time and will reflect actual aircraft movements from one minute before the download. AirNav Systems is primarily a provider of aircraft tracking hardware and software for the aviation community both professional flight organizations and home users. Real-time flight information is collected and then distributed to its users."

"For what it does; taking real world traffic and displaying it as dynamic features in the FSX environment, FS Live Traffic 3 performs brilliantly."

Massive Photoreal Scenery from Sim Savvy

Posted: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 0:43
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes a scenic tour of the US West Coast with Sim Savvy's Massive Photoreal Scenery package. "TWO MILLION square miles of photoreal Scenery for FSX. First there’s the AMERICAN WEST with 11 STATES and over one million square miles. It covers the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Then there’s the AMERICAN EAST COAST with 23 States and over 750,000 square miles. The following states are included: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia."

Through the aid of screenshots, a road map and a descriptive narative of her cross-country flight path, Angelique comments, "The whole idea of this trip is just to cross a couple of Massive Scenery states and see how this works out. During this trip I’ve seen very good / realistic ground texture tiles, but also some which are overexposed, or with a wrong color balance while at some places the ground texture tile border was clearly visible between the two texture tiles. Overall, the VFR flight was fun."

"Although I didn’t cover every state and every corner including the high level detailed areas, my general impression of this Massive Scenery Western USA product from Sim Savvy is good. The quality of most of the textures equals 2 meters per pixel, with some areas being even higher."

C185F Skywagon Bush by Carenado now at the Avsim Store

Posted: Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 16:18
Carenado has just released one of the most popular Bush aircraft….the C185F SKYWAGON BUSH for FSX. This is a high quality designed aircraft, polygon optimized model, friendly FPS and a Control Windows controlling eye candies (Cargo Pod, Wheel chokes, boxes& packages, Pitot cover, Sights prop and Tiedown ropes). This is a standalone package (it doesn't require the C185F package)
Pop up Skywagon Owner Manual Supplement with performance charts and normal & emergency procedures.
Original HQ digital stereo sounds (44100 HZ) recorded from the original aircraft.
Four different models: Amphibian, Float, Ski and Tundra.
More information here

Visit the Avsim store today.

New Aéroports du Roussillon Missions

Posted: Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 14:48
3 new missions for the addon "Aéroports du Roussillon" are now available as freeware. All the details and screenshots are on the Roussillon AeroSimulation website.

SimFlight3D Releases '47 C140 For FS9

Posted: Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 0:34
The C140 tail-dragger is a two-seater, single-engine, light utility airplane with a maximum speed of 109 knots (125 mph), never to exceed 122 knots. Original models came equipped with 85-90 horsepower, 4-cylinder piston engines. The C140 was first introduced in 1946 at the end of World War II, and produced from 1946-50. More than 7,600 airplanes have been sold worldwide.

This aircraft features: a working, highly detailed virtual cockpit (with custom upgraded panel for IFR); Full 2D and 3D panels -- (day and night); High resolution, photo - realistic textures (interior/exterior), and is optimized for smooth frame rate. It is available in 4 paint schemes and includes a checklist and performance information.