Australian Sceneries releases“Runway and Taxiway Environment”

Posted: Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 16:40
Australian Sceneries is proud to present “Runway and Taxiway Environment” Runway and Taxiway Environment greatly enhances the Flightsim world with high definition textures for both runways and taxiways, textures taken from aerial photography and multiple photos, a NEW halo effect which greatly improves the overall image of flying at night with all new effects. Runway and Taxiway Environment affects every airport in the Flightsim world adding cracks in the taxiways, touch-down markings on the runways, life-like renditions of the runways and taxiways at the airport. Runway and Taxiway Environment include the following textures: Asphalt Runways Asphalt Taxiways Concrete Runways Concrete Taxiways Ramp Textures Taxiway Markings Tarmac Taxiways Bitumen Taxiways A New Halo Effect All having no Frame Rate Impact Runway and Taxiway Environment also includes alternate textures, so you can swap and change your Runway and Taxiway Environment textures to suit your own liking. Please visit Australian Sceneries for more information.

Flyware releases FsXPand v5.2 with EICAS

Posted: Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:02
Flyware releases FsXPand v5.2 with EICAS for 737, 747, Fokker 100/70, Fs98-Fs2004 FsXPand/FsClient is a custom panel toolbox for cockpitbuilding. Connect 1 or more PC's in a network, and display custom (non-FS!) panel gauges on each PC, including dual-head or extra video card outputs. All FsXPand gauges can be customized and shown on all PC's in your network, just make a local selection. Great for a General Aviation panel or 737/747 standby instruments. Connect up to 8 game devices to each PC. Use standard game port or USB sticks and FsXpand will get the data over the network. Lots of functions can be assigned to your flight controllers. A selection from the new features: - Boeing 747 EICAS panels (primary and secondary pages) - Fokker 100/Fokker 70 EICAS panels (primary and secondary pages) - Gauges enhanced with the 'add bitmap' option. Non-linear ASI, VSI - Non-linear analog inputs on game ports (sensitivity curve) - Borderless panel option - Rotary Encoders enabled with game ports - Buttons can send a keystroke combination to the FS PC Licensed FSUIPC required for Fs2004 only. License must be purchased for unlimited use, otherwise there will be a time limit of 15 minutes per session. Stop on by Flyware and check it out.

Reviews Editor Visits Aces Studios for a Preview of FS-X

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 19:52
I received an invitation from Brett Schnepf, Microsoft FS-X Community Development Team Lead, to visit ACES Studios in Redmond, Washington and discuss the upcoming release of FS-X and how the simming community can interact and be supported by Microsoft with future endeavours of the flight simming world.

The discussions were spread over 2 days with interaction between Microsoft’s development team, online simulation media reps, like AVSIM, and select journalists. We had the opportunity to see, hear and touch this latest version of Flight Sim.

Read my complete report on the upcoming release of FS-X and Microsoft's outlook on the future of simming.

Birds Eye View Volume One Free!

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 17:53
BirdsEyeView is proud to provide Volume 1 Summer for free. In an effort to attract more people to the textures of BirdsEyeView, "BEV" has decided to make the first package free. No time-limit, no ads, just a free package! To download the main volume visit the BEV VOL1 Download. Also available is the BEV Vol1 Patch.

In addition Birds Eye View has a new website. So check them out and see what you've been missing!

Cloud9 Releases Reagan National (KDCA)

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 17:40
Cloud9 is happy to announce the release of another scenery: the Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport. Features include: realistic ground textures with seasonal effects, 3D active Marshall, active gates, moving ground equipment for all aircrafts (AI included), the de-snowing caterpillars during the winter season, dynamic cars and trains on the landside and many other interesting features. The scenery is available for download from the cloud9 website and is offered, as all other cloud9 products, with an embedded full featured time limited trial version.

FSclips, New Videos

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 17:37
Fsclips releases two new clips! Fsclips is back and has just released two brand new clips. The first one features Gary Summons Gatwick Pro scenery, the second one was made in conjunction with Austrian Airlines Virtual. For those who haven`t seen it yet, there is also a new PMDG 747 video available. Just go to the "General Clips" pages in the download section at FS Clips and take a seat in the fs-cinema.

Full Throttle Simulations Goes Live

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 3:20
Full Throttle Simulations is proud to anounce the opening of our new site, Full Throttle Sims. FTS is the creator of the great "Xtra Water" repacement water textures for Flight Simulator.

Captain Keith Update

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 3:17
Service Release Available for Captain Keith's Scenery Adventure Pack Volume 1. This service release fixes some autogen issues as well as adds an all new bonus adventure! Get more info at Captain Keith's.

B747-400 Full-motion Simulator Now At London Gatwick

Posted: Friday, July 14, 2006 - 3:16
If you fly the 747-400 on your PC, now you can test your skills on a real full-motion simulator! Virtual Aviation's unique Flight Simulator Experiences allow enthusiasts to take the controls of a real airline simulator, with hands-on guidance from an experienced airline pilot. They offer a wide variety of Airbus and Boeing simulators at Gatwick, Luton and Manchester. Their fleet has just been expanded to include Virgin Atlantic's new Boeing 747-400 simulator at London Gatwick.

To celebrate the launch of this new simulator, Virtual Aviation are running a free-to-enter competition. The prize is a 2-Hour Exclusive Experience (for 1 person plus up to 2 guests) on the B747-400, worth £1099.00! Enter here!

TinMouse II Boeing 737-200 Adds AVSIM Support Forum

Posted: Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 17:12
The creator of the TinMouse II Boeing 737-200 has added a support forum to help those with his add-on. The forum can be found right here on AVSIM by checking out the TinMouse II Boeing 737-200 Forum.

NZFF's The Long White Cloud Tour

Posted: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 - 4:16
New Zealand flightsim websites and forums haven't always fared well, with many coming but most going over the years. It's great then to see the New Zealand Flightsim Forum doing so well after just a few weeks. I would definitely encourage everyone to visit the forum and have a look around, it's a great way to find out what's new, solve any flightsim problems or get some info to extend our flightsim skills. At the moment Trolly from NZFF is undertaking The Long White Cloud Tour, a virtual flight down the length of the country, stopping off at some interesting locations along the way. You can follow the tour by going to their website.

Bush Flying Unlimited Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary

Posted: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 6:30
Bush Flying Unlimited (BFU), a virtual bush flying club, freelance bush charter and AVSIM Partner, is pleased to announce it's Fifth Anniversary! From its early days of using Flight Unlimited to its evolution into an open-sim (MSFS, Flight Unlimited, X-Plane, FlightGear, etc.) operation, BFU has set up offices in many exciting wilderness areas and its members have produced numerous sceneries, aircraft and repaints for the bush flying enthusiast. The founders of BFU would like to especially thank AVSIM for being home to BFU for the past five years and all the BFU members both past and present for all their contributions to our hobby. If you've ever wanted to experience the freedom of flying where you want, when you want, come check us out at our website or in the AVSIM Forums

MAAM C-47 Free Expansion Pack

Posted: Monday, July 10, 2006 - 19:59
MAAM-Sim is proud to announce that their new C-47 'All-Theaters' Free Expansion Pack is now available, and it includes a great Virtual Cockpit upgrade too! For the details, head over to MAAM-SIM.

Online Airline Management Game At FSZone

Posted: Monday, July 10, 2006 - 19:21
Flight Sim Zone is proud to announce it's new online airline management game. This system will let you own and operate your own Airline, where YOU call the shots. You control your aircraft, staff, gates, finances, and you even make your own routes and flightplans. The game also features several unique features such as Dynamic Weather which directly affects your profits, a banking system to earn interest on your profits, and a user input system. You control all of this online, and best of all it is free! Your local airport not included? Not to worry, for a short time we will be accepting public airport submissions via our easy to use system available on our website.

To learn more, and see devlopment screenshots visit us here: FSZone Forums.

Flight One Releases Baron 58 Boxed Edition

Posted: Monday, July 10, 2006 - 19:16
Flight One Software and DreamFleet continue their Greatest Airplanes flight sim series with their latest release, the Baron 58 now available in a superb boxed package for Flight Simulator 2004.

For those who own the Beech A36, the Beech Baron 58 will feel like a comfortable shoe. Why? The Baron 58 is based on the Beech A36, and is known around aviation circles as the “Twin A36”. If you step inside a Baron, and do not notice the dual throttles and engine gauges, you might think you are in a Beech A36, or vice-versa; that is how similar (in most cases identical) they are on the inside.

The Baron 58 continues the Flight 1 / DreamFleet tradition by providing users the latest in Flight Simulator technology. The aircraft is another DreamFleet Trendsetter; the first GA aircraft to feature Reality XP's new, ultra-realistic Sandel 3308 EHSI with Storm Scope! Also provided is Reality XP's latest Garmin GNS530 GPS system (GNS 530XP 2005 v 5.2™). The package also includes a fully interactive virtual cockpit & cabin, complete moving parts, accurate flight dynamics, high resolution instrument panels, plus much more.

Already in receipt of numerous awards for the quality of the software, this great value boxed edition also includes a quick start guide with checklists and performance data to get you up and flying this beautiful aircraft quickly.

Sim pilots can purchase directly from Flight1 or at their local aviation or flight sim outlet.

FS Newbies Opens

Posted: Monday, July 10, 2006 - 14:35
FS Newbies is now open for business. As the name suggests, we cater for the new online pilot who hasn't a clue, or who needs help with correct ATC/Pilot etiquette/terminlogy. FS Newbies is in it's infancy, but has enough information onboard to help the first time pilot into the online airways. We aren't an online file repository, however, we do include links to essential online software. Our link is FS Newbies.

Review of Flight 1's Re-released Islands of the West Indies

Posted: Sunday, July 9, 2006 - 20:53
Sr Staff reviewer Gene Davis takes us on a tropical vacation with his look at Flight 1's Islands of the West Indies. The original Islands Of The West Indies titles from Flight 1 was released some time ago as 4 individual volumes for each different region, Flight 1 has taken all of the individual volumes and compiled them into one great package, creating the new Islands Of The West Indies scenery package on CD.

So what do you get with the combined package? "Over 44 different airports covering the entire Island chain of the West Indies as well as graphically enhanced islands with their own textures and custom scenery objects. As you tour each island you will notice that a lot of care went into designing an accurate match for each island. Touring the islands is literally a visual treat as every island in the chain is modeled with accurate terrain textures and elevation data. The island chain covers almost 700,000 square miles of the Caribbean and not only covers the more popular islands of that region, but all of the lesser known ones as well," Gene reports.

Gene concludes this Island adventure by asking, "Is this package for me? Well, I have to tell you that it really does dress up this particular region of the world and makes for some nice island hopping adventures." His answer, "I would have to say "get this package". Very few titles can match the size and beauty of the Islands Of The West Indies package."

AVSIM Exhibition A380 Released

Posted: Sunday, July 9, 2006 - 17:53
AVSIM is pleased to announce the arrival of the 2006 Convention and Exhibition's mascot Airbus A380. The model is by Mike Stone and the special livery for the Convention is done by Garry Smith; both well known contributors to the flight simulation hobby. The idea of the AVSIM Convention mascot came from Ken Paulick of Transload Virtual Airlines. Thanks to all for their contribution to the AVSIM event! You can view the details and download the special edition A380 here.

AlphaSim Westland Merlin HC.3 Out Now

Posted: Sunday, July 9, 2006 - 8:31
AlphaSim has added the RAF variant of the hi-tech battlefield transport Westland Merlin HC.3 to its helicopter fleet. A high level of external detail is complimented by an equally busy cockpit, the six MFD screens provide switchable readouts with amazing fluidity and high FPS, thanks to a new modelling technique used for the first time here. The whole rear cabin is included in the v-c, complete with typical seating. Two texture sets represent a HC.3 as seen at a UK airshow in 2005, and a 'working' HC.3 as seen in Bosnia, 2003. The two variants also demonstrate the HC.3 with and without its refuelling probe. Animations include the rear ramp, crew entry and cargo door. Lifelike crew figures and a sound set complete the experience. If this sounds interesting you can visit the AlphaSim homepage for further informations and screenshots.

IMAGINESIM Releases KCLT Charlotte Scenery

Posted: Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 18:12
Released today is the fifth in the series of imaginesim's popular commercial add-on airports. For the first time ever, a fully specified recreation of KCLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the US Airways hub and home base.

Charlotte features custom made ground textures and runways, terminal, cargo and hanger buildings rendered to 10cm per pixel scale, smoothly operating jetways that dock with your aircraft's forward door with an interactive docking system to park you right on your mark, taxiways with highly realistic concrete textures, full airport taxiway and runway signage, 3D approach lighting and full ILS navigation.

Also included are hundreds of airport vehicles and ground personnel, aircraft can be found parked at custom textured parking positions, all hangers, cargo and airport auxiliary buildings are modelled, there is even a perimeter fence - all under the steady gaze of intermittently placed security cameras! In addition to all of this, KCLT looks stunning after dark with beautifully lit buildings and parking areas. Complete airport taxiway and runway lighting is also included.

Interested? Visit Imaginesim's website and get the info on their 'try before you buy' free demo version.