FSDiscover! Updates and Demo

Posted: Monday, December 4, 2006 - 19:29
Flight1's "FSDiscover" version 1.02 is a sightseeing guide, navigation tool, and simple flight planning program for both FS2004 and FSX. Version 1.02 adds map views for VOR's, NDB's, intersections, and runway / ILS information for airports.

A 30 day demo version limited to a rectangular area between New York and Niagara Falls is now available.

Plan a flight, get visual guidance, and discover things you have never noticed before in Flight Simulator no matter where you live.

Visit the FSDiscover! for more details.

FSD Releases Seneca V - Version 2

Posted: Monday, December 4, 2006 - 2:53
FSD International has released the FS X file set for Version 2 of it's popular Seneca V.

FSD reports the new Seneca sports a much more sophisticated virtual cockpit and visual model using advanced cutting edge techniques and design tools that are in use today. This new Seneca features two cockpits, a glass avionics cockpit the way it is being delivered today by Piper and the classic standard "steam driven" cockpit familiar to Seneca pilots.

The Seneca V Version 2 is designed for both FS 2004 and FS X. The FS9 file set has been released today. For more information about the FSX release, visit the FSD International website.

To Staff Reviewer Applicants

Posted: Monday, December 4, 2006 - 1:17
Prospective reviewers, please note that there is no time limit on your applying for a position with AVSIM. A good review takes days of flying the product and then more time to draft, edit and rewrite your review. A good review is not rushed. While there is no limit on the size of the review, short and sweet just won't cut it with our reading audience. Treat the review as if you were writing for yourself to read on the AVSIM website.

Unless you happen to have an old review from a previous position handy, I don't expect to see your sample reviews application for at least a week. As I have several positions to fill, this will be an ongoing process for the next month. Your location in the world has no bearing on whether you can apply or not, as AVSIM is an International family.

Robert Whitwell
Reviews Editor
robertw@avsim.com

Sun Valley Airpark Right In Your Home

Posted: Sunday, December 3, 2006 - 19:45
SkyFilm Productions is happy to announce that the Sun Valley Airpark documentary film has been released! Located in the Mohave Desert, Arizona, the Sun Valley Airport is not the usual airfield, but people have built their houses right by the taxiways and, in addition to the car garage, everyone has a hangar next to the home. Pilots taxi to the runway directly from their front door and the fully lit runway allows them to do it 24 hours a day. This documentary takes you right into the environment and introduces several people living at the airpark. If you are an aviation enthusaist this is a must have for your aviation DVD collection. For purchasing and more information, please go to SkyFilm Productions.

Take A Trip To Cancun "X Generation" Style

Posted: Sunday, December 3, 2006 - 19:33
In a news release this weekend TropicalSim is proud to release it's third Flight Simulator X scenery: CANCÚN X-GENERATION. An extremely detailed scenery including the recent real world modifications such as the current construction of the terminal 3 building and repainting of other buildings due to the destruction of hurricane Wilma. The scenery was made for FSX partly using native FSX Tools however, this scenery also has been designed to run on the FS2004 platform without missing any features except FSX's new airport service vehicles and the FSX city landclass. A bunch of improvements from the first version released for FS2004. Head on over to TropicalSim for excellent screenshots and download information.

Staff Reviewers Needed

Posted: Saturday, December 2, 2006 - 22:05
AVSIM's Reviews Editor is looking for a few trained quillers. Our reviews department is in search of fans who think they have what it takes to write comprehensive reviews about simulation hardware and software. The types of software (payware and freeware) we receive include: aircraft, scenery and utilities. On the hardware side there are the usual flight controls, but we sometimes receive utility hardware such as radio stacks, FMC's, cockpit setups, multiple-monitor devices and audio/video cards.

Before everyone starts sending in their request to become a Staff Reviewer, you have to ask yourselves the following:
1. Can I write a comprehensive paper about an aviation simulation product like I have seen here at AVSIM?
2. Do I have the time to fully fly a product, push all the buttons, ask technical questions of the developer, take screenshots of the product and put it all together for the Reviews Editor within 3-4 weeks?
3. Do I have a computer that should be able to handle most of the products that are coming out on the market these days? (Most mid-range computers can).
4. Can I be honest and unbiased about the product I am reviewing, even though it may be a product that I might not normally be interested in?

If you think you can say yes to the above items, then becoming a member of the AVSIM family may be for you. To apply, send a review of anything in your library (or take something from our freeware library) and write a review in a form similar to what you have seen here on our website. A WORD document, with screenshots (and captions, if possible) is fine as this is just a sample review. Send the review by email, with a short simulating biography, to the Reviews Editor as your Staff Reviewer application. All reviews received will be considered and replied to.

Trinidad and Tobago from Lionheart Creations

Posted: Saturday, December 2, 2006 - 21:41
Senior staff reviewer Paul Middleton looks at Lionheart Creations' latest GA release Trinidad and Tobago. "The TB series comprising the TB9 Tampico, TB10 Tobago and TB 20 Trinidad were designed to provide a full range of aircraft types, from a 2-seater trainer at the bottom end to the 4-seater turbo-charged retractible tourer at the top end. Lionheart Creations have chosen to model the Tobago 200GT, an updated model based on the original TB10 which at 75% power cruises at 130 KTAS for a non-stop range of 600 nautical miles; and the TB21 Trinidad GT Turbo, which is equipped with a computer-controlled turbocharger."

"In real life, the Trinidad and Tobago are extremely nice-looking aircraft, and Lionheart have captured their appearance well," notes Paul, "On an Active Camera walk-round I was able to verify that all the bits that should have been there, were there, including the longitudinal strakes under the fuselage, and the small ADF aerial pod that's also underneath. As a representation of a TB 200 or a TB 21 cockpit, it's an almost perfect likeness. Believe me, from many hours sitting inside one, it's about as close as you can get to the real thing. The instrument and avionics fit in both aircraft is as it is in real life."

"So how does it fly, and how does it compare to the real thing?" Paul asks. "Very well, and very well. But I mentioned that these aircraft do have their little vices. They display them on takeoff and landing, and result from their slightly unusual wing and tailplane geometry. I can honestly say that flying this virtual aircraft is as near as you can get to reality, while still sitting in front of a screen."

"In my view, Lionheart's rendition of the Socata TB family is excellent," Paul says in his summary, "As virtual aircraft, they are a joy to look at, to sit in, and to fly. This is one plane that will definitely stay in my collection."

Aerosoft Announces German Airports 2 – Hanover.

Posted: Saturday, December 2, 2006 - 18:04
The German Airports Team shows once again that their reputation is well deserved with their latest release - Hannover Airport. As with most airports, Hannover has been undergoing many modifications but this scenery shows the airport exactly as it is now. All buildings, lighting systems, navigation beacons and of course the layout of taxiways and runways have been recreated to perfection.

As with their previous releses, detailed real images are the base for this project and the immediate surroundings of the airport are accurately portrayed. Another highlight is the use of Dynamic Airport Enhancement Services. This creates a high volume of vehicle traffic on the airport (and beyond). You will see them follow complex routes and when they take a corner you even see them use the correct lights!

The moment a FSX version can be created, all customers will be able to download a complete new version (not a patch/update) without additional cost.

For a listing of all the detailed features in this release, visit the Aerosoft website.

DBS Studio Helps Out Developers

Posted: Saturday, December 2, 2006 - 2:51
DBS Studio has released a new free tool for developers. The new tool, FS Startup Editor is intended to allow easy access to simulator startup definition files such as dll.xml and exe.xml. These files are used to define the applications that load automatically when the simulator is starting. Surf on over to DBS Studio for more information.

Abacus Wants You To "Fly The Airbus Fleet"

Posted: Saturday, December 2, 2006 - 2:20
Another exciting FSX add-on released today from Abacus. The Fly The Airbus Fleet Package includes the A310, A319, A320, A330, A340, and the NEW A350-800. In addition to these great models are new liveries, revamped cockpit panels, improved flight dynamics, and a new, and I'm guessing a welcomed addition to some new flight simmers, a simplified FMC. I almost forgot Abacus threw in a paintkit as well for all you designers out there. Abacus didn't forget about you FS2004 owners The Fly The Airbus Fleet Package also runs on the FS2004 platform. Stop on by Abacus and browse their products and check out the new The Fly The Airbus Fleet Package

CLS Adds Some Textures

Posted: Friday, December 1, 2006 - 14:17
Commercial Level Simulations has just released a new product for both FS9 and FSX. Environment Boost is a product that will improve your Flight Simulator experience. Environment Boost does this by improving over 300 textures. The developer, Aaron Clark, known from Australian Sceneries, has done his best to optimize the textures. This will give you an improvement in frame rates, depending on your system. The product is available by download from Commercial Level Simulations.

Wilco & Feelthere Go X

Posted: Friday, December 1, 2006 - 3:25
Wilco Publishing and feelThere.com announce their latest releases, both for FSX. The Boeing 777, the world's largest twinjet, is now available for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. The 777 CD version is now gold and will hit the shelves of the main retail stores early December.

The Legacy, Embraer's first class business jet, is the first Wilco Publishing's title to be released in the new series "The Luxury Aircraft Collection." It too is now available for FSX. The Legacy CD version is now gold and will hit the shelves of the main retail stores early in December. For more information, visit Wilco Publishing.

Grand Teton Photoreal Demo

Posted: Thursday, November 30, 2006 - 13:10
A demo of the new Georender Grand Teton scenery can now be downloaded from the Georender website. Georender's award-winning photoreal sceneries are far more than just high-resolution pictures. Each scenery is hand-crafted to offer the highest quality colouring, tonal balance, resolution and immersiveness. Extensive effort is made to reduce the visual anomilies often seen in high-resolution photographs. Full autogen and terrain mesh included. FS9 and FSX compatible.

Century Triden Autopilot System Released

Posted: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 14:10
Century Flight Systems is the original developer and leader of autopilot systems. Originating from Edo-Mitchell, Century knows and understands autopilots better than anyone. The Century Triden Autopilot System rivals features and performance with those found in commercial airliners. Created by Mudpond Development, Flight1 Aviation Technologies, and Flight1 Software, the fully endorsed Century Triden Autopilot System for Flight Simulator 2004/Flight Simulator X includes: the Triden Autopilot with vertical speed, alt hold, approach, nav, hdg, flight director and yaw damper modes; the world-famous Century NSD-1000 HSI; a Century ADI w/Flight Director; and the Century GPSS/HDG switch. An easy-to-use panel editor interface allows you to add the autopilot system to any existing aircraft libraries. Two manuals, one for the autopilot system and the other for the panel editor, are also included with the software. For more information, screenshots, and to purchase this product visit the Flight 1 site.

Xclass USA Released

Posted: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 14:09
Cloud9 has announced the release of another Flight Simulator X native product: Xclass United States. This product aims to improve the terrain of the United States continental area. Using the new raster terrain data (instead of the old vector data), Xclass United States renders the terrain with high accuracy for the urban and suburban areas. Xclass uses the new land class set available in the FSX only. Xclass United States is another cloud9 Flight Simulator X completely native product and not and update of old packages developed for the previous simulator versions. Visit the Cloud9 website product page for screenshots and download links.

New VOZ Release

Posted: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 22:29
The VOZ Team has announced the release of VOZ 1.3, the fourth installment of their freeware scenery series covering the whole of Australia. Release 1.3 adds or updates over 60 new airports, new textures, landclass and full integration with the recently released VOZ AI PACK 1.1 plus many scenery updates and new content. Grab it from http://vistaoz.org

CLS Releases FSX Patch For Business Jet

Posted: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 20:14
Commercial Level Simulations is pleased to announce the release of the FSX patch for the Business Jet, making her fully compatible with the newest flight sim. The patch can be downloaded from the Commercial Level Simulations website.

EagleSoft Has Some Important News

Posted: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 8:27
EagleSoft. is pleased to announce that the promised Free Upgrade for their Cirrus SR20 G2 1.0 for FS9 is now available to current owners by redownloading and reinstalling using their existing key and password!

They also have announced that their Cirrus SR20 G2 1.5 Package for FSX is now available for purchase! Current owners of original FS9 Cirrus SR20 G2 1.0 may download a 30% Discount Coupon from our Coupon Page. This extended time 30% Discount Coupon for original FS9 Cirrus SR20 G2 1.0 owners may be used to purchase Cirrus SR20 G2 1.5 Package for FSX through Christmas 2006! For more information on the coupons please visit the Coupons Page.

CSS Releases Update For Weaher Maker Pro

Posted: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 8:19
Calibre Software Solutions in celebration of this Joyous Time of year has released a new update for Weather Maker Professional 4.9. Also they are offering a great deal on a new purchase of this software. Weather Maker Pro 4.9 changes the way you approach weather for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. You can download Realtime weather or create your own weather scenarios. Weather Maker Pro 4.9 continues support with a special format for users of Flight Environment 2004. The update is free to previous owners of Weather Maker Pro 4.9. For more information you can visit the Calibre Software Solutions website. Weather Maker Pro 4.9 requires: FSUIPC 3.60 + (Registration not required), Microsoft's .Net Framework 1.0 or 1.1 and is only for Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004.

Speed Bumps in the Road of Progress

Posted: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 1:09
Brett Schnepf, Microsoft Simulations Community and Partner Development Manager, today posted an update regarding the free copies of FSX to the attendees of the AVSIM 2006 Convention. AVSIM received all copies of FSX last week for our attendees, and we are saddened to report that they were all the Standard Edition. Brett updates the community and attendees on that situation and what they are doing to remedy it here.