Eaglesoft Cirrus SR22 G2 Free Upgrade

Posted: Friday, October 27, 2006 - 22:20
Team Eaglesoft is pleased to announce the promised Free Upgrade for their Cirrus SR22 G2 for FS9 is now available by re-downloading and re-installing using your existing key and password! This Cirrus SR22 G2 Free Upgrade for FS9 adds two new 2006 Cirrus GTS Gold and Silver Liveries and fixes a few minor issues in the Eaglesoft Avidyne Entegra MFD fuel usage display, adds Vatsim Traffic to MFD, improves STEC 55X autopilot HDG/NAV operation and multiple Direct To operation, along with other minor improvements overall. This Cirrus SR22 Free Upgrade for FS9 will not work in FSX. Work continues on development of a full-fledged FSX Version and we will announce when that is available.

Fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Posted: Friday, October 27, 2006 - 22:18
With more than 400 units now on order from airlines around the world, the Boeing 787 looks to be a true "next generation" aircraft. Although it's not scheduled to enter service until 2008, the Dreamliner will carry 300 passengers up to 8000 miles at Mach .85. It's high tech design will make it the most fuel efficient jetliner in the skies.

Fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner features another great visual model, new 2D and 3D virtual cockpits and a brand new FMC that makes flying this advanced aircraft a breeze.

The Fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner liveries include several virtual airline color schemes as well as pending operators of the type. For more information about Fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, please visit Abacus.

Eaglesoft Beechjet/Hawker SR1

Posted: Friday, October 27, 2006 - 18:31
Team Eaglesoft is pleased to announce an SR1 for their Beechjet/Hawker 1.5 Package for either FS9 or FSX is now available by redownloading and reinstalling! This service release corrects a number of issues reported by users including hydraulic sytem initilization, missing beacon effects file, vc clickspots in FSX, and further optimization of gauge code in PFD/MFD for improved sim performance.

Glasair III for Flight Simulator X

Posted: Friday, October 27, 2006 - 12:48
Australian Simulation are proud to announce the release of the Glasair III for Flight Simulator X. Version 2.0 of the Glasair III is designed specifically for Flight Simulator X. New features include updated materials (using DDS/DXT5 texture format), dynamic camera views inside and out as well as an updated 3D model and VC. Not only do you get the Glasair III for Flight Simulator X, but you also receive via separate download, the Glasair III for FS2004! Modeled in stunning detail inside and out, this package offers virtual pilots the chance to fly one of the world's highest performance single engine aircraft. Fast, agile and with advanced avionics and instrumentation, this aircraft will test the skills of novice and experienced aviators alike. Modeled in 3D Studio max 7, the level of detail achieved for the external model and virtual cockpit is outstanding. The interior model also features new virtual head latency to really put you in the pilot's seat! It can be flown completely from Virtual Cockpit or 2D panel, day or night, and the virtual cockpit features new smooth gauge technology, gauges so smooth that you'll wonder why every aircraft isn't developed in this way. The package also features a complete stereo sound set, accurate flight dynamics, and detailed documentation - nothing has been left out! Also included in this package is Australian Simulation's renowned Aircraft Control Panel software, which allows you to customize your aircraft right down to the gender of your pilot and passenger and more! Please visit Australian Simulation for more information.

Continued Thanks for the Donations

Posted: Friday, October 27, 2006 - 0:56
Thanks to all of our readers who have downloaded files from the Library and continue to donate to the operations of AVSIM.

For those who have sent us a cheque, we want to thank you and confirm receipt, since we dont have your email address, we'd like to confirm receipt through this link.

GoFlight Announces New Module - EFIS

Posted: Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 21:18
In a press release today, GoFlight has announced its latest creation to its fleet of Flight Sim Modules. Their latest incarnation is the EFIS. The EFIS is designed to operate with a wide variety of simulated aircraft, and is sure to add lots of enjoyment to your flight sim experience. To find out more about this latest product, visit the GoFlight Website.

FS Insider Looks Back At Avsim Conference

Posted: Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 18:19
After the success of the Avsim Conference 2006 and the official announcement of FSX, the FS Insider website has a write up from the perspective of the development team. Mike Singer describes his experience of the conference and why MSFS has become quite unique. You can read the full article on the Fs Insider Website.

14 Gauges from Friendly Panels

Posted: Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 3:04
Sr Staff reviewer Brian Fletcher does some modifications to the interior of his aircraft with the inclusion of some new gauges. 14 Gauges to select from Friendly Panels. "Friendly Panels 14 Gauges Pack 1 includes three GPS’s, two NAV-COM radios, two autopilots, 2 transponders, three audio panels, an ADF, and a DME, all of which are designed to reflect there real world counterpart as closely as Flight Simulator permits. This package gives the simmer the opportunity to upgrade from the default FS9 radio and navigation instruments to something more authentic, more legible, and with more features."

The selections available in this package include:
Bendix KLN 90B and KLN 94 GPS, Garmin GNS 530 GPS, Bendix KAP140 and KFC225 Autopilots, Bendix KX 165A NAV1-Com1 and NAV2-Com2, Bendix KT70 and KT76C Transponders, Bendix KR87 ADF, Bendix KN62A DME, and the KMA24, KMA26, and KA134 Audio Panels.

"While researching each of these instruments, I contacted my local Allied Signal retailer for Bendix / King products and found out that FP has done a remarkable job of making the instruments in this package extremely close in functionality and appearance to the real instruments," reports Brian. He summarizes this 14 Gauge review with, "My overall impression of this package is one of satisfaction with a desire for only minor improvements, the manual being the most notable. I am very pleased with the authenticity of each instrument, and I like the fact that all of the features of the real instruments are included with the only exception being those not supported by Flight Sim. As for recommending this product, while I can not possibly determine the wants and needs of every simmer, I can say that if you are looking to enhance your communication and navigational equipment, than this package is made just for you."

Two Condor Soarers Break Virtual World Record

Posted: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 22:29
David Castella from Switzerland and Guy Meneault from France teamed up and flew the awesome distance of 2016.95 km in a single flight over a Swiss scenery. In their ASW27 gliders it took them more than 14 continuous hours to complete the task using a combination of wave, ridge and thermal lift. Read the full story in English or French.

Flight1 172R Skyhawk Now Available For FSX.

Posted: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 22:24
Developed as an FSX compatibility version the Skyhawk is available via Flight1's E-commerce wrapper system for new FSX customers, and available at no cost to existing FS9 172R owners. Existing customers can simply download the FSX version and use their existing 172R keys for FSX installation. For more information, please visit the Flight1 172R Skyhawk product page.

FS9 CD Customers will be able to download a special FSX compatibility update in the near future.

Freeware Review - P51 Mustang

Posted: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 2:02
AVSIM reviewer Joe Ellwood contributes a Freeware review featuring the P51 Mustang from Warwick Carter and Garry J. Smith. "Well, where to start? The P-51. Enough said?" asks Joe, "This is a simple case of “a picture can paint a thousand words”."

"Warwick has done an amazing job at replicating the P-51. The model is just beautiful and the textures are amazingly detailed. EVERY switch, button and lever is clickable and easy to operate in the cockpit. The interior has been painted by Garry, and you can expect the same amount of detail and realism with the exterior colours as you can with the interior."

"Mastering the Mustang is quite a job. To get the full enjoyment of this add-on, you’ll need to be willing to spend a few hours practicing certain aspects of the flight envelope. Once that’s done, this girl is a lot of fun!"

Joe wraps up his review of this freeware version of the P51 Mustang with, "When a freeware aircraft with the quality such as this comes along its impossible to find anything that makes this an unworthy download. Interactive and fully functional 3D cockpits, lifelike and beautiful sounds, an extremely fun flight envelope – what more could you possibly ask for?"

VFR Scenery Demo Now Available

Posted: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 2:30
Just Flight announces the eagerly awaited demo for VFR Real Scenery can be downloaded from their website (110Mb) and tried out now in Flight Simulator X.

The area covered is taken from Volume 4 (Northern England) of the series and features Lake Windermere and Coniston Water in Cumbria's Lake District - an ideal location to show off just how well the scenery and the 9.6m terrain elevation data work together.

Nassau Int'l Airport from ImagineSim

Posted: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 2:20
Sr Staff reviewer Alexis Esguerra heads to the Bahamas to look at ImagineSim's Nassau International Airport MYNN). "The largest airport in the country, it serves airlines coming into and going out to such places as the US, Canada, Great Britain, and of course, the numerous other islands of the Bahamas."

Alexis reports, "The major changes to the airfield are numerous. Retexturing the airfield’s area in general so that it matches satellite imagery, accurate layout of the taxiway system as it is today, and adding the Million Air FBO ramp (complete with it’s tarmac stenciling) on the southeast end of the field are but a few of the major improvements that will leap out at you. Closer up, the finer points are also enhanced."

"MYNN is one of the more frame-friendly airports out there on the market, averaging 23-25 FPS under test conditions. I feel it is important to point out that the field never handled a large amount of air traffic at any given moment (I never saw more than four active aircraft at any one time), so there wasn’t a lot of resource-stealing activity going on," says Alexis.

In summation, "Overall, the improvements are great. Crosschecking the scenery against photos and other reference material would seem to indicate that ImagineSim did their research well. ImagineSim's Nassau is a great scenery add-on that easily accomplishes its goal of making its slice of the default world a better place to fly into or out of."

FSX - Did You Know?

Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 23:06
With FSX now wildly available around the globe, there are no doubt some who have not yet taken the plunge to buy the new software. If you are looking to purchase in the near future, you may be interested to know that it now comes with a new addition to the aircraft fleet. For the first time the Airbus is included in the package.

For those of you who are Airbus fans, this might be just the thing you have been waiting for. Have a look at the screenshots and see for yourself!

VAdmin 2.1.1 Released

Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 17:22
VAdmin: Virtual Airline Administration 2.1.1 is pleased to announce an update version of VAdmin2, the free, web based virtual airline administration system. New features and enhancements allow you to deliver a multi-lingual, managed airline covering routes, schedules and tasks with graphical reporting and airline news. For full details, please visit VAdmin.

F-Lite A340 500/600 from Just Flight

Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 - 0:47
Staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk continues Just Flight's F-Lite Series with a look at the A340 500/600 jet.

"The Just Flight/CLS A340 500/600 is an add-on for Flight Simulator 2004 that can be downloaded or purchased on a DVD-ROM, showcasing the four-engine Airbus A340 passenger jet. It features Just Flight's exemplary "F-Lite" avionic system, a straightforward control scheme that provides a high level of visual detail and a realistic flight model. Despite being a part of the "F-Lite" brand, the Just Flight/CLS A340 500/600 can actually be rather challenging to fly. In this product, a well thought-out cockpit system with some automated instrumentation, such as the MCDU and the ECAM, goes a long way to help a novice pilot to manage his or her flight. This product should appeal to a wide range of sim pilots of long-haul passenger jets, in that you can have an A340 in the air in a matter of moments, or you can follow real-world checklists and run your cockpit much in the way a real airline would."

"The visual models are authentic and beautiful. The cockpits are filled with realistic instrumentation, although I found some of the read-outs to be tiny, even at the normal zoom level. There are several user-configurable viewpoints included in the add-on that allow you to enjoy a nice wing view and passenger cabin view. Day and night textures are rendered well, and the sound set that comes with the A340 500/600 includes a wide range of excellent aviation audio."

"The Just Flight/CLS A340 500/600 has been released near the end of the FS2004 life cycle. To me, it represents a peak in the evolution of the third-party vendor add-on. It is accessible to sim pilots of just about every type; from beginners, to casual pilots, to dedicated long-haulers. This kind of flexibility is a real asset for Just Flight, at least in my opinion. The A340 500/600 boasts sophisticated features and a strong attention to detail. The installation is stable and reliable."

Jeff sums us with, "I give the final word on A340 500/600 over to the crew at Just Flight, who wish me to pass this message along: "At £19.99, this package is very good value and if you fancy an alternative to the four-engine offering from Seattle, this may be just the thing!"

Dutch FS Weekend

Posted: Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 20:44
Its that time of year again when Holland hosts its annual FS Weekend. If you dont have any plans for the 4th & 5th November why not head to the Aviodrome and be part of one of europes biggest flight simulation shows. The organizers are expecting a large turn out, with promises of hardware and software vendors, many flight simulation clubs showing how they utilize the simulator, cockpit builders and many more enthusiasts. This event has been going for many years now, and its a safe bet that this year will be on par with the previous shows. To find out more about the event, visit the Fsweekend Website.

Eaglesoft Beechjet/Hawker 1.5 Package Goes Gold

Posted: Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 17:35
Eaglesoft, is pleased to announce that their Beechjet/Hawker 1.5 Package for either FS9 or FSX is now available for purchase! Current owners of original FS9 Beechjet/Premier1 and/or Standalone Hawker 400XP may download a 30% Discount Coupon from our Coupon Page. The limited time 30% Discount Coupon for original FS9 Beechjet/Premier1 and/or Standalone Hawker 400XP owners may be used to purchase Beechjet/Hawker 1.5 Package for either FS9 or FSX! This limited time Discount Coupon is designed to help our customers make the transition to FS9 or FSX! Please vist Eaglesoft for information and purchasing coupons.

ActiveSky Version 6.5 Has Been Released

Posted: Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 4:40
ActiveSky Version 6.5 has been released and includes full FSX support! All ASv6 users can upgrade free of charge from ActiveSky Version 6.5 Upgrade ASv6.5 also includes FSX native flight-plan file import support, official FSUIPC v4 support, and several changes to ensure the best possible experience using AS with FSX. Of course FS2004 is still fully supported as well! Users having both simulator versions installed can easily run either one at any time with full ASv6.5 weather generation. ASG and AR, 2 bundled components that are included with ASv6 and v6.5, are not compatible with FSX due to significant technology differences which requires completely new FSX-based solutions. These new FSX-based solutions are already being developed with more news and status on them to be made available very soon. Please stop on by ActiveSky Version 6.5 for more information.

EagleSoft Liberty XL2 Goes Gold

Posted: Friday, October 20, 2006 - 20:17
Team Eaglesoft is pleased to announce that their Liberty Aerospace XL2 for FSX is now available for purchase! This release represents the first of many of Eaglesoft FS9 to FSX transition aircraft. Eaglesoft will announce when other aircraft are ready for FS9 to FSX transition. Current owners of Liberty Aerospace XL2 for FS9 may download a 30% Discount Coupon from the Coupons Page for use when purchasing Liberty Aerospace XL2 for FSX. The limited time Discount Coupon is designed to help current customers make the transition to FSX! See the Coupons Page for more on the Discount Coupons.