Mark Pechnick, Flight Sim Pioneer, Dies

Posted: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 17:39
Mark Pechnick, a flight simulation pioneer, who was instrumental in the development of subLogic's Flight Assignment: ATP and later directed Sierra/Dynamix's Pro Pilot 99 and Pro Pilot 2000 flight simulation software, died Saturday in Oregon. He was 53.

Pechnick developed the Avidyne displays, the flight simulation interface, and data capture for the PC-based advanced training device (PC-ATD) used at the University of North Dakota for FITS research project. He also developed a Garmin primary flight and multifunctional display and a Chilton multifunctional display for Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, according to the Instructional Simulation for Enhanced Learning (IS4EL) website.

"Mark was a soft spoken man, a loving father and husband with a passion for flight simulation," said Mike Altman of Precision Flight Controls, Inc. "(He) will be missed."

In 2001, Pechnick, then with ETC Interactive, sat down with AVSIM Online to discuss the revival of the ProPilot2 software. You can read the article here.

Pechnick is survived by his wife and a son.

Weather Maker RX Demo Updated

Posted: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 16:26
Calibre Software Solutions announced it has released an updated demo version of its recently released Weather Maker RX for Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

The new demo version now supports users of Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows XP SP2. The features of Weather Maker RX are limited in the demo version and you are limited to flight around San Antonio, Texas. To see if Weather Maker RX is right for you, set your course to the Weather Maker RX home page.

Freeware Review - TinMouse 737-200

Posted: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 3:18
Staff reviewer Adam Volcek looks at a freeware version of the Boeing 737, namely the TinMouse 737-200. "This package has its origins with Richard Probst and his original TinMouse project. The many more additions by a group of individuals have made this package one of the most comprehensive and better freeware packages available to date."

"The panel is where this package really shines, of course the aircraft model, aerodynamics, and sound are top notch as well, but the panel is what makes this package one of the best out there. The panel does show its age, but knowing this is coming from a –200, the nostalgia makes it all that much better. ne feature you are treated to includes a very faithful representation of the Sperry SP-77 autopilot. Another nice feature are movable speed bugs that you can change by just clicking on the airspeed indicator."

"The aerodynamics for the package has been excellently done and those who have flown the real –200 say that the numbers and performance are spot on. A nice little addition is made with adding the engine model, either JT8D-9 or JT8D-15, to the title in the aircraft configuration file. There are five models included by Terry Gaff, a straight passenger and cargo model, both with the option to include hush-kits, as well as the option to include the gravel kit with the passenger model. There are also six supplied liveries. The models themselves are nicely done with all the standard animations. No virtual panel is included, but I’ve never been a fan of them anyway so that doesn’t matter to me."

"This package is easily one of the best available complete freeware packages on the Internet. It is a shame that this package has not gotten more notice than it has," says Adam about the TinMouse 737-200, "This project is still a work in progress, although it has slowed now that the main components are done. Overall, the TinMouse Boeing 737-200 is a wonderful airplane for a by-gone age, and should really be in everyone’s hanger."

Some WWII Action

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 18:04
Two of the most famous fighters of World War II are now available for you to fly in Flight Simulator X and FS2004.

In fact with two different versions of the Spitfire being included alongside the Hawker Tempest V you are really getting three different aircraft. The Spitfire Mk VB model is a representation of an aircraft from 401 'Canadian' Squadron from May 1942; the Spitfire Mk VB Tropical model is of a 249 Squadron aircraft based at Takali (Malta), March 1943, and the Tempest Mk V is one from 3 Squadron based at Hornchurch in 1944.

Complete details and screenshots are available at the Just Flight website.

FSX SR20/SR22 LSK Issue Fix

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 17:58
The Eaglesoft Team is pleased to announce that theFSX SR20/SR22 LSK Issue Fix is now available! This fix addresses the Avidyne PFD Line Select Keys becoming unusable after FSX completes its 30 minute "security check". This fix has been "rolled into" our current FSX SR20/SR22 Download and users may simply redownload and reinstall using the Reinstall Button on their Flight One Wrappers and inserting their existing Key and Password in order to prevent repurchase.

Wilco Publishing/feelThere.com Cessna CitationX

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 17:45
With advanced functionalities such as, Flight Simulator X viewpoints and contextual animations, the Cessna CitationX will be part of the best simulation software. Bearing a Pilot in Command label, the Cessna Citation X is developed for experts as well as beginners. On top of all systems simulation, the Cessna CitationX features a full glass cockpit equiped with ultra-realistic Honeywell Primus 2000 advanced digital avionics suite.

Among Cessna CitationX advanced features are: Vertical profile on the MFD; Accurate AutoPilot features; Colour weather radar with turbulence detection; and Traffic avoidance system with audio-visual Traffic Advisory.

Cessna CitationX has a Luxury VIP/Executive interior with a welcoming flight attendant, as well as specific animations of VIP welcoming which can be triggered at several airports around the world !

Fly at nearly supersonic speed, the Cessna CitationX is now available for Flight Simulator X or 2004 (download version). Complete details are available at the Wilco Publishing website. The Cessna CitationX is developed by feelThere.com.

Earth Day 2007

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 17:37
Yesterday, April 22nd, was Earth Day. The first Earth Day was organized 37 years ago and took place in Ann Arbor, Michigan and came off with much fanfare as the way to save the environment.

An article in the FS Free Press describes a personal background about the first Earth Day and then looks at how the aviation industry has fit into the environment. How have we done since the first Earth Day?

Freeware Review - David Maltby's BAC 1-11

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 - 2:43
Staff reviewer Trevor Clark continues his look at individual freeware aircraft with David Maltby's BAC 1-11 Series. "The story of the BAC 1-11 is a typical story of British commercial aviation, a good aircraft but lacking that certain ‘spark’ that would turn it into a real world beater."

"One of the most impressive things about this designer is the fact that the gauges and panels have been made ‘in house’, by David himself. The flight deck will look very familiar to anybody who has an interest in civil aviation of the mid to late 20th century. Neat rows of pretty analogue dials and an awful lot of switches and knobs, all exact replicas of the real thing……and almost all fully functional!"

"For a model that can trace its origins back to FS2000, the current 1-11 has everything that one would expect of a ‘state of the art release’. Everything that you would expect to move does move: air stairs, doors, control surfaces and even the wings flex under high loading. Each model is very accurate in shape and size and later models also feature the famed ‘hush kits’, an attempt to keep the volume of the noisy engines within modern levels of acceptance."

"As with the very best modelers in MSFS, David has had all his aircraft tested by people who have flown the real thing. Within all the usual restriction of PC flying, this fact really shows through here. Every little element of performance mirrors the flight manuals of the real thing; it also has that all important feel of reality that makes a good model exceptional."

"I started this review of with the thought of comparing the David Maltby BAC 1-11 with the amazingly popular Project Fokker F-28. In the real world they both have the same configuration, the same engines and were pitched into a similar market place, at around the same time. The only fair conclusion I can come to is that we, as a community, are very lucky to have been blessed by these talented individuals who offer these two wonderful creations free of charge. In this case, we really can enjoy the very best of both worlds."

SceneryTech Announces Scenery Addon

Posted: Monday, April 23, 2007 - 23:05
SceneryTech is a new company formed by Flight Simulator hobbyists to produce innovate scenery products for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. The press release goes on to say: "At launch SceneryTech is offering their "North America Landclass" (the first in a set of 6) which, besides simply improving the realism over the default landclass, will reduce the pervasive use of desert textures as found in the default and substantially increases the number of towns and cities. This is also the first product to ever include a modified slope landclass, which activates smoother texture transitions on slopes."

To find out more about this product, visit the SceneryTech Website.

Air Madagascar Scenery

Posted: Monday, April 23, 2007 - 22:59
After several months of hard work, the AMS Team is proud to announce the Antananarivo 2007 project. Readers should note that the website is in French. Readers are required to create a logon to gain access to the website. To find out more, visit the Air Madagascar Website.

Computer Pilot Digitize Entire Back-Catalogue

Posted: Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 13:05
The popular flight-simulation magazine Computer Pilot have just announced that they will be releasing their entire back-catalogue in electronic (.pdf) format. Responding to numerous requests from Computer Pilot readers, they are now providing entire year back volumes of Computer Pilot Magazine on CD, all the way back to their first issue in 1995.
With these digitized versions - Called The Computer Pilot Reference Collection- you can have these issues on your PC ready to read in it's 'as published' format, print any part you like or perform instant searches of over 8,000 pages of Computer Pilot Magazines from over the years. Currently available are Volume 10 (2006) and Volume 9 (2005) with the remainder (1996-2004) becoming available within 3 months.
The Computer Pilot Reference Collection Volumes 9 and 10 are available now at a low introductory price, and are available on CD-ROM or to download; both include a free version of Adobe Acrobat to view the '.pdf' files. These are currently not available on the Computer Pilot website but are out on the PC Aviator online shopping site. Here are the links you can click on to purchase your preference of CD-ROM or Download Version: