American B-25J 'Briefing Time' & Douglas R4D/DC-3/C-47

Posted: Thursday, August 2, 2007 - 1:01
The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is pleased to announce the release of download versions of both of its award-winning add-on aircraft packages for FS9. Both downloads feature self-installers containing all the aircraft included on the latest editions of the CD-ROMS. FSX Basic Compatibility Upgrades for both aircraft are available from the MAAM-SIM Free Stuff Pages. These adapt the FS2004 models for use in the latest version of MSFS. While you are there, you can download all the free user's manuals, instructional videos, vintage training films and pilot's manuals that are included on the CD-ROM versions. You can also download hundreds of liveries and other enhancements for the planes. For complete details visit the MAAM webpage.

Megascenery X Phoenix from PC Aviator

Posted: Wednesday, August 1, 2007 - 2:46
Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis heads south to visit Phoenix Arizona with PC Aviator's Megascenery X Phoenix. "What you get with Phoenix is not only 7000 square miles of scenery of the Phoenix area and its surrounding rural areas packed onto two DVD’s, but you also get 96 approach charts, SIDS, STARS and airport diagrams for the entire coverage area of this scenery package as well as a full color VFR chart and a full color terminal chart for quick and easy reference."

"Megascenery X Phoenix offers up a high resolution representation of Phoenix Arizona and its surrounding rural areas at a whopping 1.19 meters per pixel reformatted from 1 foot per pixel photo scenery derived from actual aerial photography. Not only are the day textures enhanced, but the nighttime textures have been given the same attention to detail. As you fly around the region you will notice that all of the surrounding airports and airfields have been given some kind of special attention and are remarkable realistic looking when compared to actual photo’s of the real deal. I mean after all, you are essentially looking at a photo of the real thing! I was ultimately impressed with the overall look of Phoenix Sky Harbor, the buildings have all been placed correctly and the surrounding textures are pretty amazing looking."

"The Phoenix scenery looks and performs well within FSX; in fact, I have experienced some of the best frame rates with this scenery package and FSX. With the Phoenix scenery I can turn up my autogen and scenery sliders as well as turn on the moving vehicle traffic and experience some of the best looking Flight Simulator flying I have seen to date in that sim and it really has to be seen to be appreciated. Also included in this package is scenery designed for FS9 of this region. This scenery is displayed at a lower resolution than that of the FSX scenery package but nonetheless looks good in FS9."

Getting back on the ground in Phoenix, Gene comments, "I have come to one realization and that is I find FSX is my home for any and all of my photo scenery add-ons as it has produced an excellent engine for such titles. I was in no way disappointed by this title and if this is the future of Photo Scenery titles, then I can’t wait for the next one!"

Are You an RSS Guru?

Posted: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 23:49
Are you an RSS Guru? No, we don't mean by that; can you spell it. Are you really a guru with RSS? If you are, we have a challenge for you; managing the new AVSIM RSS feed system. If you have experience in RSS feeds, want to give back to the community, and be part of the largest volunteer team in the flight simulation hobby, then we need you! If you are interested in this position, have the experience, and are willing to donate some of your time, we would like to hear from you! Please send an email to srstaff@avsim.com and tell us about yourself, your RSS experience and why you would like to be a part of the AVSIM Team.

Tropicalsim FSX Updates

Posted: Monday, July 30, 2007 - 20:38
In a news submission sent to Avsim today, Tropicalsim announces updates for her FSX sceneries including Rio's Galeão/SBGL, available at their websitesite in the Updates Section .

Real Scenes Redland Airport

Posted: Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:11
Real Scenes release their second scenery package Redland Airport. Completely photo-realistic terrain surrounding the area of Redlands Airport, the hangars were modeled with actual photos. All objects placed with satellite precision -10 Meter resolution mesh encompassing the area of Redlands and far in to the valley, AI Traffic to make the airport feel "alive" For more information visit Real Scene's homepage.

Piper Warrior v2.0 from Australian Simulation

Posted: Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 20:36
Staff reviewer David Swindle test flies Australian Simulation's Piper Warrior v2.0. "Compared to the older Warrior II, the Warrior III has essentially the same airframe and control system, but the cockpit has been substantially redesigned to give a more modern look. The Warrior III is also available with an Avidyne glass cockpit system, which gives the humble Warrior navigation capabilities exceeding those of some older airliners."

"Both the Warrior II and III include unique 2D panels which look very good. On both Warriors, the background bitmaps are of a very high quality, with the Warrior II showing an excellent texturing effect that makes the ridges and bumps on the panel look almost 3D, while the III model has a much flatter, more modern looking panel. The Warrior II also shows some excellent weathering and wear effects on the 2D panel and pop-ups, making the panel look very much like it has seen the wear and tear of years of use."

"Both the Warrior II and III have their own VC's, which are pretty much identical to the 2D panels in terms of layout and instruments. Even though the Warrior is a simple aircraft, the Aussim team has added an impressive number of features into the virtual cockpit. Almost every single switch, knob and lever in the VC is clickable, as well as smaller touches like the dome lights and sun visors being usable from the VC."

"Although the Aussim Warrior package lacks some of the “bells and whistles” present in purpose-built FSX models, the aircraft still look extremely good. The 3D models themselves are of a high quality with all of the expected control animations included, and most of the small details (like the fuel caps and boarding step) being modeled as opposed to textured. Each version of the Warrior comes with three textures from various countries, and there are also a good number of repaints."

"Since both the Warrior II and III share essentially the same airframe and powerplant (and therefore fly very similarly), both aircraft share the same flight model within FSX. Aside from being a joy to fly in both cruise and maneuvering flight, the Aussim Warrior is also very pleasant to fly in the traffic pattern. Because the Warrior is so stable and predictable, it is also a pleasure to hand fly on instrument approaches."

David compares real world to sim world with this Piper Warrior, "having spent quite a bit of time in real world Warriors, I initially expected the Aussim Warrior to be a pretty mediocre addition to FSX, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself really enjoying the product. I would say that it is a great product for those who just want a simple, fun aircraft for FS9 or FSX."

Put the Power of SimWords to Work for You!

Posted: Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 15:03
The AVSIM SimWords text advertising system has been in operation for just a week and it has been an overwhelming success. Inexpensive text based advertising and revenue possibilities for flight simulation theme web sites combine for success! If you are an advertiser you will want to check out the inexpensive advertising possibilities via SimWords. You can also sign up as a Publisher (affiliate) and through a simple code addition to your web site, start earning income from SimWords today! Sign up as either an Advertiser or a Publisher today and put the power of SimWords to work for you.

Active Sky X from HiFi Simulation

Posted: Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 20:33
Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne incorporates real time data in his flying by using HiFi Simulations Active Sky X. "If you have previous versions installed, you do not have to uninstall them. ASX is a completely separate entity."

Allen describes in detail each settings page and menu within ASX. "On initial launch, ASX downloads the current weather only if you left the “Automatic Weather Downloads” option checked ‘on’ in the Settings menu (default setting is on); otherwise, ‘off’ or unchecked, it will reload the last weather downloaded (LastWeather file), which is critical for continuing a saved flight unaltered. Collaboration with VATSIM allows users to download the weather from VATSIM’s source for those who wish to fly on their network."

"The map page displays by way of graphical symbols (see legend below), weather conditions at stations within a selectable range from 30 to 5000 SM. Care must be taken not to overcrowd the map. This is easily done by manipulating the range and by selecting symbols from stations, airports, route, clouds, precipitation, visibility, and winds as desired. This legend can also be accessed as a popup from this page. I found this map screen useful to predict weather conditions around and distant from my current position."

"The weather conf page is where you can manually configure the weather one station at a time, and impose the METAR range that this station imposes on other stations (up to 80 SM, and “global”). Want to hear the weather enroute? This can be tuned in by adjusting your COM1 radio to 122.00: A voice reading of the local WX is heard but no text is displayed."

Allen has included a nice screenshot gallery of various weather conditions, real and built, in his review. Because of the depth of this review, these screenshots help describe the functionality of this utility. In his summary of HiFi Simulations' Active Sky X, he says, "I am pleasantly impressed with this promising new version and knowing HiFi’s excellent support and steady flow of updates, this application will certainly improve with time."

CH Products Releases Drivers For Vista

Posted: Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 1:38
CH Products announces the latest software release, Control Manager V4.30 for Windows Vista 32 and 64 bit O/S. Control Manager Version 4.30 is compatible with all CH Products Retail Gaming peripherals and Windows Vista. The file will automatically install both 32 and 64 bit versions of Vista. You may use this link to obtain the file. Please read notes before installing. The file will also be mirrored at the CH Hangar for your convenience. This updated software is not intended for any operating systems other than Vista. The current version of Control Manager for Windows 2K and XP is V4.20.

Tatra Photo Scenery Released

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2007 - 22:24
Simdesign is proudly announcing a new release: TATRA PHOTO SCENERY for FSX/2004/2002. The Tatras are the highest range of the Carpathian Mountains. They represent a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. The Tatras cover an area of roughly 750 km2, with 150 km2 within the borders of Poland and 600 km2 in the territory of Slovakia. The highest peak in the Tatras is Gerlach in Slovakia (2655m above sea level), whereas the highest Polish mountain is Rysy (2499m above sea level). Now the beauty of the Tatra mountains is available to all flight simmers. Enjoy outstanding beauty and breathtaking views in Simdesign's latest product. To learn more visit the Simdesign webpage.

441 Conquest II For FSX

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2007 - 2:55
Flight1 pleased to announce that their hi-fidelity simulation of this cabin class twin turbo-prop is back and now flying in the Flight Simulator X and Vista skies. The Cessna 441 Conquest II cruises in excess of 300 mph and at an altitude of up to 35,000 ft. Flight 1's 441 Conquest II uses high definition gauges and panel systems with unique panel perspective views. Combined with accurate flight modelling and state of the art 3-D modelling, the 441 Conquest II is the premier twin turboprop aircraft for FSX and FS2004. Visit the Flight1 website for all the details.

SimTube Video Contest Voting Begins

Posted: Friday, July 27, 2007 - 2:49
Cason Farmer of SimTube announces, "The submission period of the first SimTube Video Contest has ended, and now is your chance to see what your fellow simmers have made! Head on to the SimTube website and cast your vote! Voting will end in 15 days so don't delay! Remember, in order to vote you must be registered on the forum."

Alphasim's DH Sea Venom Released

Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 14:40
AlphaSim announce the release of their DH Sea Venom. This package depicts the Sea Venom in three of its marques - the Mk.21, the Mk.53 (Australian) and the Mk.22, each wearing a distinctive highly detailed texture set. Animations include the tailhook, wing fold, and pilots - these move around automatically and can be toggled off after the engines are shut down. The panel is suitably equipped with period 1950's gauges to cater for fans of this era. A staged turbine glow effect is designed to add realism, as are wingtip vortices and wing root g-vapour in both FS9 and FSX. A suitable centrifugal jet engine soundset completes the package.

It is available for both FS2004 and FSX, with a filesize of 27MB. The price is approximately $32USD, £15.75, 23EUR, or 36.50 AUD. Screenshots can be viewed at the Alphasim News Page.

VoxATC Available At The AVSIM Store

Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:50
The new version of VoxATC-X Deluxe for Microsoft Flight Simulator X is finished and will be shipped to the Avsim Store later this week.

VoxATC-X is the new ATC voice-recognition package that provides the first "2-way" air traffic control for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. The deluxe version is also supplied with 16-bit natural-sounding AT&T voice paks. With auto-switching FAA and European procedures as you cross the Atlantic VoxATC also generates visual virtual traffic seamlessly integrated with ATC traffic. Check it out today at the Avsim Store and place your order.

Caspian Sea Monster Sighted!

Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 11:18
AlphaSim have announced the release of their LUN Ekranoplan, popularly known as the 'Caspian Sea Monster'. Described by the Russian word экраноплан or 'Ekranoplan', meaning 'Surface Plane', it was the second-biggest aircraft ever built, an 8-engined sea-skimmer that flew in surface effect, and could have been a deadly weapon of war with its six anti-ship missles and ability to travel at high speed below radar. AlphaSim state that their model offers true sea-skimming ability and an easy controllability, plus dazzling spray and smoke effects with a suitably loud soundset to ensure a superb spectacle when the 'Monster' gets under way. There is both a panel and a VC, with authentic Russian gauges being used throughout, and pressing the tailhook key opens up the forward missile tubes to display a pair of SS-N-22 'Sunburn' anti-ship missiles.

The 'Monster' is available for FS2004 and FSX, with a filesize of 17MB. The price is approximately $26USD, £12.50, 18.70EUR, or 29 AUD. Screenshots and a promotional video can be viewed at the Alphasim Website.

Cessna Skyhawk 172R from Flight1

Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 - 2:54
Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes an old favourite, the Cessna Skyhawk 172R from Flight 1, out for a spin and puts it through its paces within FSX. "When you have flown this Cessna 172 in real life, then I can say “yes, it is really a superb add-on with many details”. We know this Flight1 model already from FS9, and now it’s also available for FSX."

"The 2D panel looks very clear. It comes with highly detailed instruments which are very readable for every screen resolution, even with settings of 1600x1200. When looking at it, you could think “that’s a simple main panel design” but remember, the old fashioned Cessna didn’t have anything more than those instruments. If you own two monitors, just undock the sub-panels you need and put them on the other monitor. But keep in mind, too many of those panels could slightly reduce your FPS."

"When changing to the VC (Virtual Cockpit) and specially looking to the PF (Pilot Flying) side, we’re overwhelmed by the sharpness and details of this instrument panel and the installed instruments."

"Before doing anything, it important to mention that we have to decide what kind of aircraft flight dynamics we want to have. Open the Configuration Manager and click either for a stable configuration or a more spinable dynamic. Once we’re finished the walk around, we jump into the aircraft. Put your belts on and take out the checklist. Either you do it via a paper version or you can call it up from the Panel Manager by clicking on the checklist icon." Angelique performs stall, spins, steep and shallow turns while testing this version of the C172, "completely exhausted from all manoeuvres, I think we can conclude that the Flight1 C172R Skyhawk dynamics are very realistic and worth the money for this model."

Angelique concludes, "You get a good and very realistic model with highly detailed 2D and VC panels, including an excellent exterior model and few things like opening panels. But more important, you get sounds and flight characteristics that are very close to the real C172 Skyhawk model. Since there is no other add-on C172 to compare with, I still think this Flight1 model is worth the money."

New BasePack From FranceVFR

Posted: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - 0:54
France VFR is proud to announce the last-born sceneries in their 'Flight' Collection: the FlightMediterranee BasePack and AutogenPack. These new sceneries of photorealistic images (FS9 and FSX compatible) complete perfectly the other sceneries already released. Combined with the FlightAlpesSud BasePack and the FlightRiviera BasePack, they allow you to soar from Monaco to Perpignan near the Pyrenees. It covers a large zone of 20 000 sq. Km, contains 30 airports and more than 80 booklets of flight plans. In completion with the sceneries mentioned above, The FlightMediterranee BasePack allows you now to fly VFR from Monaco to Perpignan, following the magnificent coastline and the cities of the Mediterranean like Marseille, Orange, as well as the back-country landscapes of the Lubéron, Alpilles and the Camargue. For complete details of this latest BasePack, visit the FranceVFR website.

AudioFX Pro 5+1 from eDimensional

Posted: Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 0:40
AVSIM Reviews Editor Robert Whitwell slips on a newly designed headset from eDimensional designed by Benjamin Heckendorn. "The nice thing about this headset is that it is all run from the USB port. The headset has one USB 2.0 Plug and Play connector with an integrated 5.1 surround sound decoder."

"The mini-DVD has all of the necessary drivers to setup your new headset and the multiple configurations screens guide you through an easy process to set up this headset with the built in configuration settings or you can customize it to your own personal liking."

"An in-line volume control and microphone mute switch is a nice addition to this comfortable, lightweight headset with its leather-like earpieces and flashing small LED's that signal the force-feedback action going on inside your head. The 5.1 surround sound features of this headset enable you to hear and feel all the action in a true 3-dimensional audio environment. The newly designed microphone with improved sensitivity completes this headset for the gaming world."

Read Robert's complete review on eDimensional's new AudioFX Pro 5+1 Gaming Headset.

AVSIM Introduces Text Advertising

Posted: Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 20:21
Today AVSIM unleashed the most powerful text advertising system in the flight simulation community ever seen. Google calls them "Adwords", Yahoo calls their version "Sponsored Search". We call our system "SimWords". Like Google and Yahoo, the AVSIM SimWords system puts your advertising in front of thousands of readers a day, across multiple web sites. For pennies a day, you can get your advertising in front of a focused, dedicated flight simulation reader. If you run a flight simulation website, you can become a publisher (or affiliate) and generate revenue by serving up SimWord advertising on your site. For more information as either an advertiser or as an affiliate, please sign up.

Here is an example: