FS Video Contest

Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 1:17
SimTube is pleased to announce its first video contest sponsored by Natural Point! The contest will last for 30 days (ending on July 23rd, 2007) and the theme is "Prop Aircraft." The winners of the contest will be determined by vote and the community is asked to be the judges.

Not a member of SimTube? Head over to the SimTube website and learn what all the buzz is about! For more information on the contest, please read about the rules.

DC10 Video

Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 1:11
Commercial Level Simulations has just released an 8 minute video of some DC10 action. There is a lower resolution version available to keep the size down. The normal version is 75 mb (against 35 mb for the second version). The video can be download from the CLS website.

FS Free Press

Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 1:08
Arnie Lee of Abacus announces a new article in their FS Free Press relating to Aviation Photography. This is a great way to capture the latest liveries on your favourite airliner to add to your virtual hanger.

HJG June Hangar Contents Revealed

Posted: Monday, June 25, 2007 - 15:51
Never stuck for ideas and always ready with a surprise up its sleeve, the HJG (Historic Jetliners Group) have revealed the contents of their June hangar/website update.

This month's B707 & DC8 specialties from HJG include rarebirds from African, Asian, Caribbean, European, and both Latin and North American regions. Among the featured are six classic DC8 liveries covering U.S. supplemental carriers of the 1960's and 1970's. Four extremly rare DC8 liveries from Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico, and two equally rare Mexican B707's from the late 1970's and present day. Also included is an attractively painted B707 from Tanzania from the 1980's era, an unusual 1970's DC8 livery from Ceylon/Sri Lanka, and an almost now forgotten 1970's era DC8 operated by a long since defunct tourist charter operator from Belgium.

For the military buffs, also featured among HJG's June updates are new/revised Aircraft Base Packs for P&W J57 powered C135-A, and CFM-56 powered EC135-C & TC135 aircraft, complete with a selection of five new USAF liveries.

All this and more is currently available for "FREE" download and your personal FS enjoyment from the HJG website.

AlphaSim MH-53J Pavelow III Released

Posted: Monday, June 25, 2007 - 15:38
It's the special ops variant of the mighty CH-53 Super Stallion and some see it as both beauty and beast. From the blocky sensor-packed nose to the ungainly tail, it is the muscleman of the helicopter world, yet there is a powerful grace in its gentle movements.

It's the MH-53J Pavelow III and it available now from AlphaSim. Four texture sets present the MH-53J in gray lo-vis, Euro-camo, desert camo and an IFOR Winter scheme, all repaints by the esteemed Pierre Lheureux. The external model animations include the rear ramp, winchman's hatch, cockpit windows, extending refuel probe, togglable pilots, engine intake flaps and rotor discs which move according to joystick input. According to AlphaSim, the interior was constructed using the MH-53 operation manual for reference - all text descriptions and pretty much every switch & knob were replicated. The all-xml gauges include a moving map display and extend to both sides of the cockpit.

The MH-53J Pavelow III is available for FS2004/FSX. To see a preview video and purchase information, head over to the AlphaSim website.

Weather Maker RX from Calibre Software

Posted: Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 22:50
Senior staff reviewer Paul Middleton taps into Mother Nature and flies in the actual weather coditions as seen outside the cockpit window with Calibre Software's Weather Maker RX.

"What Weather Maker RX does is detects where your aircraft is, then goes to a weather report server to pick up the local and surrounding weather reports, and depict this weather around your aircraft using FSX's weather engine. As you move along it will pick up other reports along your route, so that you are consistently surrounded by real weather. If you prefer to use the real weather from an earlier day, then if you've previously stored that weather file it will allow you to use that."

Paul explains, "Now I won't begin to pretend that I've done a rigorous series of test flights on all continents and in all climates and seasons, comparing what I see with the weather reports from all the local stations. What I did instead was to use the product in my regular FSX flying, checking summary weather forecasts beforehand and mentally noting what I saw against what I expected. And my conclusion? Well, it never did anything completely silly, like snowstorms over Arabia or heat waves in Alaska. And generally speaking the results were pleasing, because unlike FSX's real weather with its (often) single layer of cloud, I got up to three layers, all different, and quite complex looking."

He continues, "FSX's own Real Weather has improved by leaps and bounds from the early days. It's by no means perfect, but it's certainly a lot better than it used to be, and it's an increasingly "hard act to follow". This does therefore challenge third-party software developers to provide a significant improvement, with weather that really does match the reports all the time. The test flights I carried out are representative rather than exhaustive, but it does suggest that when depicting the weather outside the cockpit, Weather Maker RX needs to do more to distance itself from "out of the box" FSX."

In his summation of Weather Maker RX, Paul remarks, "it provides a weather radar that can be used both in pre-flight planning and weather avoidance in-flight, and real in-flight weather based on real-world meteorological reports. Whilst this is not always as accurate as FSX's own Real Weather, it does allow you to go back to historic weather, and is a platform for further development."

IRIS E.A.P For FS9 & FSX Now Available

Posted: Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 4:54
The British Aerospace E.A.P. (Experimental Aircraft Program) was a technology demonstrator designed in the early 1980's. First flight was on August 8 1986 and they conducted 259 test flights, it featured a full glass cockpit, multi-function displays and voice warning systems. Iris Simulations provide three different combat variants of the E.A.P. based on the technology available around the time of manufacture. The result is the Tempest F.2 and T.1 for the RAAF and RAF, the navy F/A-39 Vortex for the US Navy and US Air Force and the Cyclone ES.2A. For full details about this release visit Iris Simulations

B17 from Shockwave Productions

Posted: Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 4:52
Staff reviewer Michael "DocW" Wehner reviews a WWII classic from Shockwave Productions, the B17 from their Wings of Power series. "There are only a few airplanes around with such an affectionate appeal as the B17."

"Bump-mapped rivets? Paint chipping? Exhaust stains? Hatches? All sorts of small cooling rips and neat little other exhaust-like-thingies? 3D modeled valve shafts? 3D modeled ignition cables? Readable prop placards? Guns, guns, guns with textured cooling holes and ammo belts? A bombardier’s office with a Norden bombsight visible through a reflecting Plexiglas nose cone? Name it on the exterior, and Shockwave has done it when it comes to the exterior."

"I know many of my AVSIM fellow simmers prefer flying in the 2D cockpit, but if you look for another argument of your transition over to VC flying and TrackIR using, the WOP B17 II VC is a most striking one: You can real ALL the placards, textures and gauges and you will hardly find a lever or knob that won’t work. The VC is a visual orgy and to the extent that FSX allows to simulate systems; the dials and levers all have functions."

"I felt somewhat challenged by the “Ultimate Realism” tag. So I decided to conduct some takeoff runs measured on the numbers. But apart from the numbers, does it feel right? Yes, it feels ok. The flight model makes you feel like you're actually fly the plane. All in all, I conclude that the flight modeling is about on par with the visuals."

In DocW's conclusions of Shockwave Productions' B17 he says, "the plane continues Shockwave's tradition of graphically high detailed, faithfully modeled WWII aircraft. In fact, they did not just continue it; they raised the bar even a little further. With the right weather settings at an English grass field, you can achieve that “almost there ” feeling."

FSX Update For The Flight1 ATR

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 17:51
Flight One Software has released an FSX compatibility upgrade to the ATR 72-500. For one price, you can use the Flight1 ATR 72-500 in either FSX or FS2004. This update is also free for all CD ROM customers. For more information, please visit the ATR product page.

Project Airbus Releases Version 2 Of Their A320

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 17:46
Project Airbus' version of the A320 contains an accurate model with details such as: opening passenger and cargo doors, animated pack inlets and outflow valves, all operetable control surfaces, detailed flap tracks and slat rails, hydraulics modelled on spoilers and landing gear doors, wingviews and other various features. Please visit Project Airbus for more information.

AlphaSim's XB-70 Valkyrie Ready To Go

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 14:10
AlphaSim XB-70 Valkyrie out now. The Valkyrie is aimed at those who relish a technical challenge in their flightsim world. The real 'tour de force' of the model has to be the panel and cockpit - every gauge is represented and pretty much every knob and switch. All text descriptions are from the actual XB-70 manual. The Valkyrie's oddities are reproduced in the sim - the canards with animated trailing edges, the dramatic folding wingtips, the animated nose visor and the complex gear retraction sequence. The six animated afterburner nozzles blare out the deafening roar of the soundset and spew flames and smoke thanks to some amazing effects. Canard and wingroots both provide nice vapour trails under the right circumstances and a large cloud of custom tire smoke lets you know you have arrived back on the flight deck. Please expedite your taxi on over to AlphaSim

Georender Does It Again

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 13:54
In a news release receieved early this morning; Georender have released the third volume in the U.S. National Parks scenery series. Volume three covers Yosemite/ Mono Lake and is for both FSX and FS9. The FSX version is 2.4 meters per pixel resolution. Yosemite National Park is a treasure trove of deep valleys, granite mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, meadows and more. Please visit Georender for more information.

Phoenix & Dallas Megascenery arrive in Avsim Store

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 13:41
ADVERTISEMENT:
These two new Megascenery titles for Flight Simulator X (also includes the previous FS2004 versions)let's you explore thousands of square miles of high-resolution photographic scenery in these two major metropolitian areas. Never before has such high detailed resolutions been available... as now can be experienced using the new scenery engine in Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

Get your copy today at the Avsim Store

Stinson Model A Trimotor Released

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 1:52
Dubbed "Americas Fastest Tri-Motor" the Model A was the Stinson Aircraft Company's last tri-motor, designed in 1933 as a low wing monoplane, eight seat feeder-liners for American Airways (now American Airlines). Featuring an unusual double-tapered wing that, combined with its tubby fuselage and forward-raked windscreen, gave it a markedly sinister appearance. It also boasted retractable landing gear that left the lower part of the wheels exposed below the engine nacelles while in the raised position, as many pilots forgot to lower the undercarriage on landing. Passengers were seated in two rows of three and a paired seat behind the enclosed cockpit. Fitted aft was a hold for 500lbs of luggage and freight, and that ultimate luxury for the time, an on-board lavatory. A total of 30 Stinson Model A's were built until production ceased in 1936. It was one of many promising designs whose commercial success was cut short by the introduction of the stressed-skin Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2.

Golden Age Simulations brings back to life this graceful and unique airliner. The model is complete with a custom gauge package and once again unites the talents of our designers with Aaron Swindle of Sky Song Soundworks. Aaron has created for the model a unique soundfile that duplicates the sound of the three Lycoming R-680 radial engines. The model is fully animated and includes the Model A 2-W; a variant designed for Airlines of Australia and flown throughout the 1940's.

This release for FS9 and GW3 can be found with complete information at the Golden Age Simulations website.

Ultimate Traffic FS9 Update Released

Posted: Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 1:03
Flight One Software has released an update to their classic Ultimate Traffic for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 users. This version ships with a new schedule current for the Summer of 2007 and includes over 100 adjusted repaints to make traffic coverage larger than the original FS2004 version, There are over 350,000 real world flights in the new traffic database. The “ultimate” sandbox for AI Traffic generation in Flight Simulator, experts can use the advanced tools to create their own traffic environments, Virtual Airline's can use the tools to have their airlines fly around in the FS9 AI traffic system. For beginners, all you have to do is point and click your way to all new traffic in FS9. For more product details visit Flight One Software .

Tweak Flight For FSX - Released

Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 - 16:36
In a news submission sent to Avsim today, TweakFS announced the release of TweakFlight for FSX . A completely new edition, re-designed from the ground up allows the user to launch favourite flights, missions and lessons, tweak over 150 different flight file variables, change an aircraft and launch your favorite flights, missions and lessons from within TweakFlight. The software includes a built-in screenshot utility and a FSX HTM briefing viewer/creator. For a look at this product the freeware utilities and other software visit the TweakFS website.

FScene Release South-America FSX

Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 - 13:21
New from FScene South-America for FSX, in a news submission sent to Avsim today the crew at FScene follow the release of FSX packs for Europe, USA & canada and Asia with South-America. Over 2300 textures cover this huge continent in all seasons and as a bonus the buyer will get FScene 2006 (FS9) for free, for a look at the full range of sceneries visit FScene

New From FSFrance.com

Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 - 12:51
The team at FS France.com sent Avsim a note to mention that they have a series of new models and liveries available at their website, highlights include a North American T-28F Fennec, Airbus A300-600st BELUGA, a trio of Boeing 737-200's in assorted liveries, Me262 in C.E.V textures, L39 Albatros and Frecce Tricolori. The website in French is easy to navigate using the title bar, give FS France.com a visit today

VFR Real Scenery Vol 1 from Just Flight

Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 - 2:33
Staff reviewer David Rogers takes us on a scenic tour of a section of his home country, the UK, with Just Flight's VFR Real Scenery Vol 1 for FSX. "Up until now, photographic scenery in general has held something of a love-hate status among flight sim hobbyists. Enter FSX."

"So we know it’s scenery, but what exactly is all the fuss about with this new type of photographic scenery in FSX? Well, although Just Flight may have replaced the word photographic with ‘real’, make no mistake, the main feature of this type of scenery is that it is based around digital aerial photographs of the featured area."

"The area covered by this volume is a rather slim but tall Easterly slice of England. The most obvious area to mention in terms of the coverage provided, is that it includes the City of London. But when you tire of checking out the City, you also get the eastern section of the South Coast area of England as well as the flat and generally rural East Anglia region. (The ‘hip’ of England!). As well as the Capital, towns and cities such as Brighton, Folkestone, Dover, Ipswich, Norwich, Peterborough, Cambridge and Luton are also featured in this area. The Counties covered being Kent, East Sussex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and parts of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and West Sussex."

"I decided that a good way to check out the eye candy, and try some true VFR navigation, would be to start from an area I know and check out some references on the ground that I know. While FSX has reasonably accurate main road placement for the UK, what I immediately noticed was how better the Just Flight Real Scenery sits alongside the main roads. As I reached 600 ft, I was exceptionally pleased to note that the quality and focus of textures are immeasurably better at this low altitude than they were in the previous VFR Photographic Scenery software for FS2004. I noticed that the coastline is far more accurate and detailed with VFR Real Scenery, as opposed to FSX’s default scenery. Flying over London is a treat and you could spend hours hunting out the sights. It really is great fun and about as good as we’ve seen yet for VFR flying."

Summing up this first Volume of Just Flight's VFR Real Scenery, David concludes, "Whether you want this scenery on your hard drive will largely depend on your preferences within the hobby. If you are into low and slow VFR flying, then I could not recommend this product highly enough. The world of photographic scenery within the sim is a developing technology and this product is not perfect. But generally, this is an awesome add-on that will transform the way you see and even think about the ground below you."

Brussels National Airport Released

Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 - 0:29
Dream Factory Studio has just announced the release of Brussels National Airport for FS2004. The Brussels airport is one of the fastest growing International Airports. In the past few years, the airport was proclaimed the best Airport of Europe by several organizations. This is truly what every Belgian simmers and many Belgium flyers have been waiting for.

It has been totally designed with Gmax and features animated and static cars, trucks and many other airport objects. High quality photo textures have been used on buildings and the ground for both night and day views. A lot of attention to details can be seen in this scenery, from realistic taxi signs and the famous “black and white” runways to the road signs, ads around the airport and hotels. The scenery is AI compatible and features a docking guidance system. Famous landmarks such as churches can be seen from runways and factories around the airport have been added. Custom autogen for the local houses has also been implemented.

Screenshots are available for viewing and more information can be obtained about Brussels National Airport on the support forum.