We have lined up some fantastic papers sessions which will be given on both Saturday and Sunday of the event, with Microsoft presenting on MSFSX most of Sunday. We have also lined up some fantastic give aways for both the Friday night social and the Saturday night awards banquet. But, in order to have a chance to win one (or more) of those giveaways, you need to be in attendance! The next generation of Microsoft's Flight Simulator will be released later this year. Do not miss this final opportunity before that release to see the real deal and ask questions of the team that is bringing it to you! Register today for the most important flight simulation event this year and be part of the hundreds who will be in attendance from around the world. Register now and be one of the first to see the next release of MS FSX! You can also get more information and ask questions in our AVSIM 2006 Convention and Exhibition Forum.

24 Hours - Over 3,000 Respond

Posted: Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 15:36
In the short 24 hours since we posted the new MS FSX survey, over 3,000 readers have responded. What is the pulse of the community regarding the soon to be released FSX? How many are going to replace hardware, add more hardware, wait to buy, and where will they seek support? View the results at this moment.

Suvarnabhumi International Released

Posted: Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 9:37
Siamavsim has released their latest project, the scenery of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport (VTBS). In the real world the airport will replace Donmuang (Bangkok International, VTBD) ultimo September, and it provides full support for the Airbus A380-800 as well as it has the highest ATC tower. The scenery has been under development since December. If this sounds interesting, you can find more details and download instructions on Siamavsim's homepage.

7 Titles From "France VFR" Reviewed

Posted: Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 23:29
Our staff reviewer from "down under", Joe Ellwood, travels to Europe to take us through 6 different scenic areas of France as presented by France VFR. Along with the sceneries, he looks at an aircraft package also available from France VFR.

Joe reports, "All of these scenery packages were developed from quality aerial photographs, and all include custom mesh. All of the airports that are covered have been given new AFCAD’s, but unfortunately only Mayotte contains a whole new look. Each and every scenery package is simply astounding. My favourite airport is Corte (LFKT) which is covered in the Flight Corse package. The mountains around here are simply incredible. The airport is squeezed tightly amongst the mountains, and approaches into here can get tricky."

"If you’re interested in these products, you may be asking yourself “which one do I choose”?" notes Joe, "You may base your purchasing decision upon what sort of flying you do. I am pleased to say each product is worth the price being asked – so you won’t regret any decision you make."

About the aircraft package, Joe says, "I honesty was disappointed by the quality of the aircraft. Mainly because they all contain default gauges and sounds. Simply put, these are freeware quality, nothing more, nothing less."

The complete set of France VFR Scenery and Aircraft packages have been summed up with, "If you’re on the hunt for some visually amazing VFR scenery – then have a look at the publisher’s or developer’s website. In all honesty, I’d stay away from the Aircraft Collection. To be frank, there are better VFR aircraft for free. Thumbs up for the scenery, thumbs down for the aircraft."

New MS FSX User Survey

Posted: Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 16:15
The early BETA's of FSX have been shown, discussed and reviewed. You have seen the AVSIM early review as well as others from around the net. You have read the forums, seen the speculation. You have read the facts from MS FSX Team Members posted on the AVSIM forums. Now, participate in a short survey which will allow us to gauge the thoughts of the community at this point leading up to the release of this next generation simulator. Take our short five question survey and let us take the pulse of the community!

Lots Of Trains From Just Trains

Posted: Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 5:31
There’s lots of news for train fans from Just Trains. Some great new double pack offers and a classic is back by popular demand! Euro Loco Train Sim Pack features nine great European locomotives and accurately detailed rolling stock. After a short break it’s now available again at in both download and boxed formats. This package brings new life to your virtual railway, with authentic and detailed locomotives, carriages and freight car sets. Each of the new loco's includes custom driving cab and passenger views as well as great sounds. Check out the locomotives at Just Trains

Margarita 2005 - Reviewed

Posted: Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 3:20
Sr Staff Reviewer Brian Fletcher takes us on a quick jaunt around a Caribbean Island, namely Margarita 2005 from BSS Holdings. "Our adventure will include a trip to the island’s Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport, a tour around Margarita Island, and we’ll top it all off with a trip to an amusement park," say Brian, "Margarita Island, or Isla Margarita, is the largest of the three islands making up the Nueva Esparta State off the northern coast of Venezuela, which also includes the islands of Coche and Cubagua."

Describing the product, Brian reports, "Though Margarita 2005 contains a lot of scenery enhancements for the entire island of Margarita, the Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport is the heart of this product. In between the buildings you might be able to make out patches of grass, fencing, and the occasional car driving around behind the terminal. There are also some animated ground servicing vehicles that will pass in front of the parking area on a loop from one end to the other, over and over. The animations are mildly acceptable, but certainly not overwhelming. The animated ground servicing vehicles are of satisfactory quality, but they do not have any operators at the controls."

Brian continues with, "Using aircraft, cars, and boats, I have toured this island from every angle, and after countless hours of exploring Isla de Margarita I still continue to find new scenery enhancements with every pass. The island contains countless houses and other structures, two grass strip runways, and a lot of different varieties of trees and shrubs, all of which are encompassed by a nice beach that wraps around the island. My favorite part of the island are the roads that you can use to tour the perimeter of the island, go up into the mountains, or just take a Sunday drive through the different towns. The new mesh terrain included with this package is a welcomed change from the flat and undefined terrain on this island by default. The most noticeable terrain is the mountains northeast of the airport, which helps to make for a great approach if you’re coming in from the north."

Brian wraps up this tour of Margarita by stating, "I am pleased with the Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport enhancements, not overwhelmed, but pleased. The quality of the modeling and texturing of the airport buildings and vehicles must be described individually, as some of the items are very well done, and others, such as the fire trucks, yield much room for improvement. I am also a little irritated with the presence of default scenery objects, not all of the scenery is taken from the default library, but perhaps a little too much is. If I were to rate this product, I would say it's better than default, but yielding room for improvement.

UK2000's Gatwick Pro - Scenery Review

Posted: Friday, July 21, 2006 - 3:58
Sr Staff Reviewer Paul Middleton guides us around "the busiest single-runway airport in the world", Gatwick Pro from UK2000 Scenery.

"Gatwick is not only busy with air traffic, it is at the hub of rail and road traffic also, and these forms of transport are also well-represented," reports Paul, "I particularly like the strips left on the grass by the mower, this gives a very convincing feel of depth and proximity as one is about to flare and land."

Commenting about the activity around the airfield, "There is a convincing amount of "furniture" around in the form of luggage trains and service vehicles, and other service vehicles move around if you have "Dynamic scenery" set on. If you use certain specific gates, then there are working Precision Docking Lights and Docking Boards to guide you to your final parking place."

Paul concludes with, "this is a scenery designed for performance rather than for total effect, and in that respect it is completely successful, and is better than any other scenery I have seen for this airport. For anyone who wants to operate in and out of the busiest single-runway airport in the world, I would certainly recommend UK2000 Gatwick Pro."

Microsoft Will Be There, Will You?

Posted: Friday, July 21, 2006 - 3:38
Microsoft is sending its heavy hitters, with 400 free copies of FSX. The industry power houses will be there showing there newest wares. 400 lucky entrants will walk away with a free copy of FSX. Microsoft and others will be there with handout drawings, white paper demos, and talking it up over drinks, dinner, and appetizers. Do you really want to miss this event?

Do not miss the most important simulation event of 2006. It's September, Microsoft is close to a new version, and do you really want to miss this? Visit the 2006 Convention webpage now and reserve your spot for the Washington, DC, 2006 conference now! Spots and hotel space are filling fast! Don't miss your chance to be part of flight sim history!

Aerosoft Piper Cheyenne II - SP1a Available!

Posted: Friday, July 21, 2006 - 0:48
The Service Pack 1a for Digital Aviation's Piper Cheyenne II has just been released. Among many enhanced instruments it contains a lot of cockpit bugfixes so that flying with the Piper Cheyenne gets even more fun than it already is. Go to the Aerosoft website for more information.

Utility Review - Left Seat Simulations' Copilot 767 Edition

Posted: Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 5:31
Rookie staff reporter Nick Preston takes an accompanied flight in Level D's 767 with Left Seat Simulations' Copilot: 767 Edition. "Left Seat Simulations Copilot: 767 Edition is a stand alone package developed to bring an added sense of realism to flying the Level D 767-300 using voice recognition technology."

"After reading through the instruction manual for Copilot: 767 Edition, you will note some key steps that need to be taken before you can begin flying with your copilot. The most important step is training Microsoft’s Voice Recognition Software to listen and follow the commands of your voice," Nick informs us. "Completing the voice training should take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and once you are done you are ready to fly with your copilot."

So what's my new copilot going to do for me? "The copilot can control a number of commands, most of which are used to control functions on the main panel. These commands are used to control functions like the landing gear, flaps, radios, autopilot, flight director, autothrottles, autobrakes, radios, aircraft lighting, and more. All spoken commands are repeated by the copilot to confirm that the command has been received after the action is carried out, which simulates real world operating procedures." This gives you more time to concentrate on more important things, like flying the plane.

Nick sums up this utility by stating, "Copilot: 767 Edition is an excellent utility for the avid Level D 767 pilot who wants to further their realism and get the most from their flying experience without sacrificing computer performance."

FScene Finally Covers The Whole FS9 World

Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 12:24
Ruud Faber announces the fact that he finally painted the last replacement texture for Microsoft's Flight Simulator FS9. It took him 10 years to finish this huge job. The whole World can now be covered with his work, in all seasons, including the 5th season: Hard Winter. All files have been updated recently. For all information visit the FScene homepage.

MegaCity Atlanta - Reviewed

Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 4:11
New staff reviewer Jeremy Jeffreys takes us on a quick tour of Atlanta, GA. MegaCity Atlanta is about the surrounding area of the city more than the airport itself. It lets you explore, from your cockpit, all the names and places you know in Atlanta. See all of the suburbs, all of the landmarks and all water bodies - right down to small ponds.

Jeremy says, "I have never owned a photoreal scenery because I have always been an IFR pilot who never really thought there was a need to have the extra resources spent on the scenery. MegaCITY has just changed my perception of life in the FS world. I was able to follow roads and see landmarks that I would normally not be able to follow in the default FS world."

"MegaCity and PC Aviator have done a fabulous job in meticulously recreating one of the USA’s most frequented destinations. Both day and night is accurately reflected in a complete package. I would highly recommend MegaCity Atlanta to anyone that is a scenery lover from anywhere in the world," Jeremy concludes in his review.

Carenado Releases the Cessna 182Q Standard and Long Range Version

Posted: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 2:27
Carenado's Cessna Skylane 182Q, 1978 model Standard and Long Range Version, comes in 8 variations with 4 different models with maximum details and realistic 4 textures.

Some of the features included in this release are:

– Interactive virtual cockpit
– Full moving parts
– Animated Cowl Flaps
– Rolling Wheels
– Opening doors; and
– Adjustable seats, to name a few.

The 182Q comes with custom sounds and custom panel and gauges with nightlight effects. The realisitic performance of this GA aircraft is based on Cessna's actual documents and comments observed by an experienced Cessna 182Q pilot.

Visit the Carenado website for all the details about this new release. Watch for a 182Q review coming soon to our Front Page.

Utility Review - FSBuild

Posted: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 6:09
New staff reviewer Gavin Hendrie plans a flight using the latest version of Ernie Alston's FSBuild. "It’s a flight planning utility akin to FS Navigator, but, in my opinion, better."

"FSB is a powerful utility and allows you to plan a route in a number of ways, from simply picking the DEP and ARR airports and hitting AUTO GENERATE, to manually entering each waypoint, fix, VOR, NDB, Airway, etc yourself. The package also comes with a large number of pre-stored routes and plans. A User Guide folder is installed as part of the installation process and contains both a range of thorough documentation, including a 4 page quickstart guide, which will have you planning and exporting simple FP’s in no time at all."

Gavin summizes in his review, "you may never fully appreciate ALL of the features FSBuild offers, but equally, you won’t be left with a utility that is obsolete as it will constantly update with the times. If you need a powerful Flight Planning utility, buy FS Build."

Historic Jetliners Group Updates Again

Posted: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 5:20
The Historic Jetliners Group have pleasure announcing yet another website update and a whole raft new and revised files for your FREE FS enjoyment.

Among these are 19 new aircraft repaints amomg which feature a splendid chronological selection of historic TWA liveries for B707-320, -320B, & -320C, all based on Gary Carlson's latest "VERSION 6 B707 models". Also available are Gary's new E8 JSTR (B707 conversions) aircraft in a selection of USAF liveries. And for DC8 enthusiasts some new and extremly rare Latino aircraft have also been uploaded.

3 new B707/720 panels by George Carty have also just been released. These include B707-120B & B720-020B panels comprised of more advanced "1965" style instrumentation, along with a new B707-323C panel based on a unique American Airlines configuration. These CARTY/HJG panels all feature "authentic engine startup sequences with cockpit/ground support. Working INS system. Operating F/E panel with functional fuel, electrical, and pressurization systems. Dual Captain and F/O 2D main panel options complete with a full suite of interior cockpit views.

Addition of these latest files increases the groups B707/720 panel inventory to 11 seperate variations customised for almost all civil versions of these aircraft currently offered by HJG. Further revisions have been made to both gauge sets for the CARTY/HJG B707/720 panels and supporting FDE data too. New gauge sets have been uploaded to the "BOEING PANELS" page and latest FDE modifications included within the HJG "B707 BASE PACKS" for these aircraft. Each of 2 supporting manuals for the groups B707/720 panels have been further edited/revised.

In short .... everyone who downloaded this material prior to July 14th, 2006, is encouraged to replace their original files with this new material. The replacement files are neither large nor complex but should be promoting of increased satisfaction with these fine panels and virtual aircraft. This particular website update is HJG's 5th since re-establishment. Already over well over 100 new files have been uploaded since April 2006. More new files continue being accumulated for the group's next website update, which will be advised of in due course.

To review the latest and greatest in jetliner nostalgia for FS please visit the Historic Jetliners Group website and forums at Historic Jetliners Group.

F-Lite Airbus Collection Out Now

Posted: Monday, July 17, 2006 - 23:52
[PRESS RELEASE] The latest release in our F-Lite range - Airbus Collection is now available to order direct from JustFlight. The download version will be available later this week.

The Airbus Collection includes the best that Europe has to offer in the airliner field. A download version will also be available on 19th July. There are 30 different aircraft to fly and variants include the A300-600R, A300-600ST, A310-200, -300, -308 (cargo) and three military A310-304s. The A300 and the A310 rule the roost in the short to medium-range airlines market. A close (but bigger!) relative of the A300 is the distinctive Beluga and this behemoth earns its keep by ferrying parts around the Airbus empire. Now they've all joined forces in a brilliant collection for FS2004. It's time to load up!

General features

31 aircraft to fly!
Highly detailed exterior model
Interactive 3D Virtual cockpit (VC)
2D panel with custom gauges
Highly detailed liveries
Printed manual
Many animations
Pushback truck!
Wingflex
Dynamic wing views
Dynamic shine
High quality sound set.