AVSIM News Archive

May 8, 2008 - May 14, 2008

AlphaSim Tornado F.3 Released

Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 2:04
The awesome Tornado Air Defence Variant arrives in true state-of-the-art fashion for both FS9 and FSX. Over 12 months in development, the AlphaSim 'Tonka' has it all - spread over 2 separate packages (main and expansion), NINE unique models and NINE unique texture sets provide coverage of the F.3's many guises, even Saudi and Italian AF F.3's are included. FSX users get to fly in the rear and use the AlphaSim interceptor radar there. A 28-page .pdf manual and a paintkit are included. For FSX (SP1, SP2/Accel) and FS2004 only. Screenshots and details are available at the AlphaSim home page.

Latest Releases from Just Flight

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 19:09
In a Press Release from Just Flight announcing the release of the RAF Vulcan for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (SP2). The Avro Vulcan’s beautiful lines and distinctive shape make it an icon of cold-war aviation. The Vulcan first flew in 1952, entered RAF service in 1957 and the final Vulcan flight was back in 1993. Thankfully, the last of these milestones has changed - Vulcan XH558 is airborne again, courtesy of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and the tireless work of its dedicated fans. Now updated for FSX compatibility, RAF Vulcan includes a faithful model from acclaimed developers PSS of XH558 as it appears currently, an additional eight all-new liveries from some of the aircraft involved in the Falklands conflict of 1982, and some of the preserved aircraft in the UK. Fully licensed by the Royal Air Force, RAF Vulcan contains a total of eighteen examples in different Squadron liveries and with different model variations, including the 2K air-to-air refuelling tanker variant and those carrying the Blue Steel British nuclear cruise missile, the Shrike anti-radar missile as used in the Falklands, and the ‘project cancelled’ Skybolt missiles. The FS2004 version also includes scenery of RAF Cottesmore. Wolfgang Schwarz, who co-ordinated the FSX update, remarked: “We have responded to the huge demand from our customers and done what we think is an excellent job of upgrading RAF Vulcan for FSX. We have added eight new aircraft and given the whole package a complete tune-up. However, a couple of minor features from FS2004 have not been carried over to FSX. These are the one-button ‘quick start’ function and autopilot, which only operate in FS2004.”

Just Flight is also pleased to announce that the first instalment of its regular newsletter will be winging its way by e-mail to Just Flight customers very soon. As well as the inside track on all the latest products in the Just Flight hangar and Just Trains shed, there is also going to be a super prize competition in each issue and ten lucky recipients, drawn at random, will win a free download product of their choice from the Just Flight or Just Trains range. Readers of the newsletter will also get links to exclusive offers on the Just Flight and Just Trains sites as well as exclusive previews, demos and videos of forthcoming products. If you already receive e-shots from Just Flight or Just Trains then you don’t need to do anything – just check your inbox! However, if you haven’t signed up to receive the newsletter then simply visit the Just Flight or Just Trains sites, follow the ‘subscribe’ button, enter your e-mail address and you’re done. This, and a whole lot more at Just Flight

Space Shuttle Mission 2007 On Magazine CD

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 14:06
Exciting Simulations is proud to announce their Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ simulator is featured on the BBC Sky at Night magazine cover CD. Exciting Simulations writes, "Beyond getting an exciting and leading Astronomy magazine, the BBC Sky at Night May issue subscribers and customers are also getting the Space Shuttle Mission 2007™ simulator at a special, time-limited discounted price. We plan to make it a tradition to also offer the latest free updates and missions periodically on the BBC Sky at Night magazine cover CD."

For more information or to check out the magazine, check out Sky At Night Magazine.

German Airfields 3: Lower Saxony from Aerosoft

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 2:43
Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura continues looking at European scenery series with Aerosoft's German Airfields 3 - Lower Saxony. "German Airfields products (there will eventually be twelve of them) features about fifteen local and regional airports, plus their immediate environs."

"In this package there are fifteen airfields. The smaller airfields don’t usually have passenger terminals, but they are all detailed and all different. There are parked aircraft, parked cars, and parking lots. There are lamp posts, control towers (in some places), windsock carts, lots of gliders, glider cases, and signals squares (although the signals don’t get updated). Most of the airfields seem to some sort of eatery or outdoor café, and several have flight schools or repair hangars. Few of the fields, except Brunswick, have ILS facilities, or even PAPI and VASI lights. For on-site buildings, there is night lighting provided, but often not for runways, many of which are grass anyway; it depends on whether the real airfield is used at night, and many small ones are not."

"All of the airports have parking spaces (which hasn’t always been the case with these products), but so far as I noticed, none of the hangars could be parked in. Outside of the airfields proper, for about 2 km in every direction, there are also VFR landmarks such as would be marked on a real-world chart. For the full effect, Aerosoft recommends that you also get VFR Germany 1 and 2, which will fill all the intervening spaces between airfields with glorious aerial photography and custom-placed autogen."

"All of the airports are built on top of aerial photographs, which have then been overlaid with matching runways, taxiways, and aprons. To my eye, the effect is seamless. What’s more, all of the tiles have matching autogen: that’s unusual with photoscenery, because all of the placement usually has to be done by hand. Another feature worth noting is seasons. Most photoscenery (including VFR Germany) has only one season, spring or summer, because more seasons would consume too much disk space. In this case, however, the total coverage area is small enough that a second season, winter, can be included without breaking the disk bank. The result: airfields blend in with the surrounding default ground textures even in winter."

David says of German Airfields 3, "The question that I think many readers will be asking is, “Should I bother with it if I don’t live in Lower Saxony?” I’ve never set foot there (yet), but I’ve had a wonderful time flying there. With fifteen detailed airfields, there’s a lot of variety. It’s also possible, at GA speeds, to make longer flights, but often we don’t have time for a long flight, and for occasions like that, this type of package is ideal."

Jaggyroad Films Website Offically Open

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 0:45
Jaggyroad Films has announced that their website is offically open. Jaggyroad Films specializes in gaming media, specifically flight simulation commercial and non-commercial videos and is a leader in video production among numerous addon developers throughout the community. To see some of their commercial and non-commercial work, head to Jaggyroad Films to stream and download videos free of charge.

Dolomynum 1.2.0 for Windows Released

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 0:40
Are you a user of online ATC networks? Dolomynum 1.2.0 might just be the tool for you. Gergely Kosa has contacted us to announce the release of Dolomynum 1.2.0 (also known as DLMN or Don't Lose My Number) for online flying networks such as IVAO or VATSIM. Dolomynum 1.2.0 allows you to view traffic status on a three-dimensional OpenGL map with accurate geographical and aeronautical information, or organized in different lists. In addition, there is an always-on-top console able to display various kind of important information, and it can gather and store structured statistics about traffic status that can be analyzed later. Dolomynum 1.2.0 is Microsoft Windows-only, but there is a platform-independent re-implementation, named QuteScoop.

IVAO Real Flights Event: Mumbai

Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 18:37
IVAO is pleased to announce a Real Flights Event on May 17th from 1230Z onwards. Mumbai Airport (VABB) was chosen as the host division by the IVAO membership from bids submitted by eligible divisions. Boasting a mix of flights, from short hops to long hauls, the event truly offers something for everyone. The popular Real Flights Events, now in its second year, is designed to reproduce real-world movements at the host airport during the given time slot. Of course, full air traffic control services will be provided at the host airport as well as select nearby airfields and nearby FIR's. The Indian Divison and IVAO Events Department invite you to join us for a flight in Mumbai airspace on May 17, 2008 - and more details about the event.

Cielosim Releases Live ATC Chatter

Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 16:29
Cielosim is pleased to announce the release of Live ATC Chatter. Live ATC Chatter is program for Flight Simulator that allows you to listen to live real-time Air Traffic Control streams within the simulator. It connects via the internet to the ATC streams and then projects the audio in Flight Simulator. Live ATC enhances your Flight Simulator environment by adding real-time live ATC audio for the selected airports you fly at. If you don’t always have an active internet connection or you don’t want to connect to a stream while flying, Live ATC also offers the option to play either Mp3 or Wave sound chatter files. So whether you be online or offline you will be able to listen to Real ATC chatter in Flight Simulator. For more information the Cielosim website.

ASX Service Pack 3 Released

Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 5:38
HiFi Sim announces that ASX Service Pack 3 was officially released today! All known issues have been solved and several improvements have been made. This is a recommended update for all ASX users. Visit HiFi Sim's support page now to download this service pack! All new customers purchasing ASX will not be required to download the update as it is included in the new full download. ASX is a comprehensive weather simulation system for Flight Simulator X. For more information please visit the HiFi Sim website.

Historic Jetliners Group May Updates

Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 17:35
Mark Cranston from Historic Jetliners Group has e-mailed to announce the latest releases for May. The team has worked so hard, and produced so many updates that there are far too many to list here, but if you head over to Historic Jetliners Group there you will find a list, and links to download some virtual nostalgia.

FSDreamTeam Updates O'Hare Scenery

Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 3:40
Here's what Version 1.1, now available at the FSDreamTeam website, includes:
- De-Icing added in the Pad 28 Aerea, there are 4 vehicles, operating only in Winter with Snow
- Corrected some textures problems in the airport signs
- Corrected names for stands M1 to M6
- Night textures resolution doubled to fix the grid effect at night in FS9
- AFCAD - Fixed taxiways width
- AFCAD - Diamond technique used at runway intersections
- AFCAD - Added instrumental approaches in FS9

Aerosoft Releases and Updates

Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 3:18
Lisbon 2008 Released - "We did Madrid Barajas 2008 recently and we can add Lisbon 2008 for FS2004 to our download shop. Michael Kopatz recreated the airport up to the smallest detail for Aerosoft including all buildings and installations, docking systems and all the features you expected from a modern scenery development in FS2004. Customers of Lisbon 2008 will get the FSX version without charge in a few weeks.

The airport ground texture is based on a high detailed areal image. All buildings, lighting systems, navigation beacons and of course the layout of taxiways and runways have been recreated to perfection. Static aircraft can be de-activated to make room for the AI traffic. Runway 03/21 in Lisbon has two special Rapid Exit Taxiways, RET‘s. These taxiways (HN and HS) allow the aircraft to leave the runway at high speed and are a nice new feature on this airport."

Update - DHC-6 Twin Otter X - "We found a problem with some of the textures of the Twin Otter and will upload a fix through the forum and the main page."

FREE - Flight Tales 1 - Demo Mission II - "If you got the FSX Acceleration Pack installed, we have a superb free mission for you. Very challenging and it would test your helicopter flying skills to the limit. There is a link to the mission on our main news page.

Tu-154M AI Project for FSX

Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 3:09
DBS Studio and Simlandmarks presents the Tu-154M AI Project for FSX. The Tupolev 154 is a remarkable aircraft and its FSX AI model incorporates the most advanced AI modelling up to date. The airframe is modelled with every small part as accurate as possible. Special XML coding is widely used to manage various animations and custom FXs. The package includes 'ready to go' real world, summer 08 AI flightplans for two major Tu-154M operators, Aeroflot - Russian Airlines and Rossiya - Russian Airlines(former Pulkovo) to ensure that you don't miss Tupolevs at some popular airports in Europe and Asia. Detailed description and screenshots can be found on the DBS Studio website.

FS2Crew A320 Updated

Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 3:03
FS2Crew announces that Service Update 2 is now available for the FS2Crew A320 Edition. This update transfers enhancements and fixes that were incorporated into the FS2Crew Airbus Special Edition into the FS2Crew A320 Edition. Important: This update should *not* be installed by FS2Crew Airbus Special Edition owners, so if you own an FS2Crew Airbus product double check which product you have first before installing. A320 Drivers may taxi to the FS2Crew website to obtain the update.

Fly Before You Buy Premier Collection Series

Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 2:58
Many years ago Abacus pioneered the first "fly before you buy" aircraft with their Premier Collection Series. The series has grown and now users can download and test fly free for up to 7 days any aircraft in their large fleet.

Abacus has been continuously adding new aircraft to the fleet. This week they have added three new aircraft to their already large selection available in the Premier Collection which has now grown to more than 75 aircraft. These aircraft are of all shapes, sizes and varieties - from the general aviation, military and commercial arenas. Here's some of the most recent planes:

Gippsland GA-8 Airvan
Adam 700 Jet
Cessna 185 Skywagon
Zenith CH801
B-2 Spirit
F16-C Fighting Falcon
Airbus A319
Beech 1900D

All of the aircraft in Abacus' Premier Collection Series are available immediately for free 7 day trial. The most recent additions are for both both FSX and FS2004 users. Simply go to their main website and click Download Now button.

Raildriver from P.I. Engineering

Posted: Friday, May 9, 2008 - 4:04
Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis travels IFR, I Follow Rails, as he looks at P.I. Engineering's Raildriver in concert with Microsoft's Train Simulator and a few add-ons. "A controller designed specifically for the use with train simulation. "How cool could this be?" I thought."

"The Raildriver unit looks a lot bigger in its pictures than it actually is, as it is only a little over half the length of a keyboard. That is probably a good thing though because it doesn’t end up taking a lot of desk space and can be tucked away neatly when not used. The unit is shipped with instructions and a drivers disc that includes drivers for Microsoft Train Simulator and the Trainz series along with a couple other train sims that are quite a few years old."

"Setting up the unit is easy. Simply plug in the USB cable into a USB port and install the necessary drivers. There is also a DC plug that drives the sound amplifier built into the unit and if you want to use it you must divert your main sound line into the unit and then run a second line to your sound system. Once the product drivers are installed, you will need to configure the unit for whatever sim you are going to use it with. This is just like setting up a joystick and takes about 10-15 minutes. The good news is once it is done, it is done."

Gene's review guides us through his trips through Switzerland and Germany using the Raildriver. "The realization is this, MSTS is old but it is good and offers a lot of replay ability with each new route that is released for it, especially with the Rail Driver unit. Had it not been for the Rail Driver unit I probably would not have gone back to MSTS, but it did make me realize how good it actually was."

FMC-CDU Pack2 Released

Posted: Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 20:52
FriendlyPanels announces the release of their FMC-CDU Pack2 for FS9 AND FSX. A jetliner FMC style navigation system collection, this FMC pack 2 contains six FMC gauges (three for FS9 and three for FSX), all of them imitating the look of real aircraft FMCs, as Bombardier CRJ, DASH or ATR.

These gauges are general purpose FMC gauges and they don’t contain specific aircraft data pages as APPROACH, IDENT, TAKE OFF... so they can be used with ANY aircraft. The purpose of these gauges is to implement the FMC style you can find in many modern jetliners or business jets, using the flight plans created with Microsoft Flight Simulator FS9 or FSX, or any add-on which can export flight plans in the FS format. FriendlyPanels has eliminated the complex way in which you have to plan your flight in current commercial FMCs.

Some features of these gauges are; Follow a flight plan, fly direct to a FLP waypoint (by passing some of them) and continue from there, choose any waypoint in Microsoft's database to fly direct to without a flight plan loaded, select an arrival procedure for destination airport (if it’s implemented in Microsoft FS), follow the vertical navigation and IAS desired, display information concerning airports and navaids, display information concerning fuel and winds and much more! To see the user manual and for more inforamtion, visit FriendlyPanels.

Sky Blue Radio Turns One!

Posted: Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 14:12
The volunteer staff at Sky Blue Radio are celebrating their first birthday as a dedicated broadcaster for the flight simulation and aviation communities and you are invited to come and enjoy a great weekend of entertainment.

As part of the celebrations SkyBlue will be having a weekend cram packed with live shows with over 60 hours of live DJ’s throughout the weekend and a great series of free prize giveaways and competitions from the simulation industries leading companies, such as Horizon Simulations, Captain Sim, Just Flight, Angle of Attack, Flight1, Vroute, France VFR, Space Shuttle Mission 2007 and World Flight Scotland.

With a great mix of music, FS and real world aviation news, great prizes to be won and live DJ’s, this all sums up into a weekend not to be missed.

Join them online at SkyBlueRadio and on your cockpit com2 radio (123.45) with Wee Tune Beastie, FS Inn, FS Co-pilot and now available through Vroute.

IRIS Releases F-20 Tigershark for FSX

Posted: Thursday, May 8, 2008 - 14:09
So you sit down at the computer and start up FSX. Next thing you know your in the virtual seat of the new Iris Simulations F20 Tigershark. You've been briefed for a standard testflight which you feel will be anything but 'standard'. Opening the F-20's unique Ordnance Manager, you customise your F-20C to carry the ordnance YOU select, pylon by pylon and finally you're set. In the cockpit you busy yourself going through the detailed pre-flight procedures ensuring all the required systems are online and functional prior to starting the F-20C's Jet Fuel Starter and powering up the General Electric F404 Engine capable of supplying 18,000 lbs of thrust on your command!

Features include: 2048x2048 pixel bitmap masters resized to 1024x1024 pixels for all the paint schemes providing super sharp bumpmaps and amazing visuals across ALL graphics cards capable of running FSX, a unique ordnance manager allowing you to choose exactly what ordnance you wish to carry at your command, a soundset from Turbine Sound Studios with 360 degree sound panning customised specifically for FSX, a choice of over twelve paint schemes making use of the best art techniques available allowing for weathering and visual clarity on five specialised visual models and much more!

For more information or to tame the tiger yourself, head over to IRIS Simulations.