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May 14, 2006 - May 23, 2006
Ivao Finland Opened
Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 13:59
A new Finnish division to online flying network IVAO has been officially opened. The goal of Ivao Finland is to promote simulated flying in the Finnish and Nordic region and to enhance the online air traffic control services for simulator pilots.
Ivao is currently the leading and most active online flying network in European region, based on online hour statistics. Our regular online day is every Monday.
Visit the respective homepages for more about IVAO Finland and IVAO.
Building Your Own Cockpit
Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 12:44
The add-ons for Flight Simulator are increasingly becoming more and more complex as well as closer and closer to the real thing. However, even installing the most sophisticated aircraft, sceneries, and utilities on the marked might still provide an experience that is well short of even resembling being a pilot. In other words: it is not enough that the plane behaves like the real thing, if you are trying to fly it with a simple joystick and the keyboard.
Thus, it is becoming increasingly more popular to venture into the art of cockpit building. By using multiple monitors and buying dedicated hardware to simulate switches, autopilot, throttles, yokes, pedals, etc. it is possible to bring the illusion to a completely different level.
If you would like to take a closer look at the possibilities there are several resources available. First of all you can look at our review index which also contains reviews of hardware. Secondly, some of those who has build or are in the process of building their own cockpit have made a web page describing their experiences (see e.g. AVSIM's page on Home Cockpit links). Finally you can always try to find additional informations on the Internet – the AVSIM Forum is a good place to start.
More Reality XP Gauges Reviewed
Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 2:04
Sr Staff reviewer Brian "Cap'n" Fletcher takes a look at two of Reality XP’s award winning products that are sure to enhance any Flight Sim enthusiast's home cockpit. The Wx500 Weather Radar and ST3400 TAWS/RMI.
"The Wx500 Weather Radar gives you ample notice of dangerous weather systems that should be avoided. The ST3400 acts as a terrain awareness warning system, radio magnetic indicator, traffic collision avoidance system, and ground proximity warning system all in one."
Brian goes into great detail about the installation, set-up and use of these two pieces of equipment. Such detail, that you must read the complete review to get a true feeling as to what these add-on gauges can accomplish.
He concludes his analysis with, "I am extremely satisfied that both the Wx500 and ST3400 do everything that they claim and more. I find the displays to be crystal clear, the information is relative and accurate, and they can be resized to fit into just about any cockpit. I really enjoy using both of these products, I continue to do so, and I will likely continue using both of them for a long time to come."
Feel There to Introduce The Landing Series
Posted: Monday, May 22, 2006 - 13:41
This new series has the goal to re-create realistic approaches and landings within Microsoft Flight Simulator. By using hundreds of square miles of aerial and satellite images color corrected and blended into the default FS scenery and using custom autogen around the airports we tried to reproduce the feeling that we experience in real life during landing. In the very near vicinity of the major airports we even introduced moving traffic with over 100 variants of automobiles, buses and trucks. These vehicles emit lights at night creating the usual flood headlight and red glowing tail light effect without any serious framerate hit.
The first in the series will introduce the South Eastern Florida region covering KMIA, KFLL, KHST, KOPF, etc. covering 15 airports followed by Las Vegas later this summer. For early screenshots and more information please visit FeelThere.
A New Review of the South Atlantic Area
Posted: Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:55
Sr reviewer Gene Davis takes us way south of the equator, with a look at the Falkland Islands with Prolific Software's South Atlantic Series 1.
"One of the many things I enjoy doing with MSFS is finding out of the normal places to fly," comment Gene, "this scenery package covers the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island thus giving the Flight Sim user accurate representations of 3 major airports in those particular regions in the South Atlantic."
"Flying over the Falkland Islands is a visual treat, as it has been given a virtual facelift and there are over 50 different airstrips all over these islands to journey to. As you explore the airport and surrounding military base you will see that a lot of care went into the placement of these objects to make them as accurate as possible to that of their real world counterparts. I found Ascension Island to be the most impressive, as it uses custom land textures and gives a very real representation of what the island looks like. The add-on does include custom AFCADS for each airport, so if you don’t have a program like My Traffic 2006 or the military traffic package by the same people, you might find it a little lonely at these out of the way places."
Gene concludes his review by saying, "Though some of the scenery objects are a little dated in this package, it does offer some much needed scenery to this particular region of the world. I really do enjoy flying in out the way places and this was a different type of flying for me as it re-introduced me to military flying."
P-38 Lightnings of WWll Volume 2 released
Posted: Monday, May 22, 2006 - 1:36
The P-38 Lightning is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable aircraft ever devised. It is credited with a string of achievements and innovations that defined its legacy for generations. SkyUnlimited hopes you consider enjoying the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time.
Features include:
*5 Highly Detailed versions of the P-38. Included in volume 2 are the P-38E, P-38F, P-38G, P-38H, and the P-38F Glacier Girl
*Beautifully rendered virtual cockpits, created in the most stunning detail, with virtually everything animated and labeled.
*Over 15 highly detailed and historically accurate paint schemes.
*New exterior enhancements include our new conditional appearance parts, and droppable fuel tanks.
*Highly detailed 2D panels with new pop-up windows and features
*Open the cowling or gunbay access and marvel at the detailed and intricate parts that make up these aircraft.
*Fully animated and enhanced vintage pilot with moving legs, arms, and head
*Feel the rumble of the engine with this completely accurate sound set created by the acclaimed David C. Copley.
and many more where that came from...
A must have flightsim addon. Please visit Sky Unlimited for complete details and ordering.
New Offering From Bill Lyons Reviewed
Posted: Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 17:26
Rookie AVSIM reviewer Joe Elwood offers his first contribution, Bill Lyons' - Flying with the Stars. "Bill Lyons has always brought the flight simming community exciting packages, not just including one aircraft, but usually with add-on scenery and included flights for the user's convenience."
"The SJ30 lives up to all expectations. It features all the regular eye candy you’d expect from any payware aircraft, such as full moving control surfaces, rotating fan blades, detailed gear, wing flex and an opening door. To view the accurateness of Bill’s model, I searched for real photos of the SJ30 on Airliners.net, and from what I can see – this rendition of the airplane is perfect."
"The great thing about this package is the simple and easy to use panel. The panel itself has clear and easy to read gauges, which makes flying a lot more enjoyable. The airplane handles great at high altitudes, and has an amazingly low stall speed – which makes this aircraft awesome to handle when flying into those small exotic airstrips. You do not need a high-end system to run the SJ30."
Joe concludes his review with, "if you don’t want to mess around on the ground and want to fly – then you’ll get a heck of a lot of enjoyment out of this plane. This is an all around fantastic package, which includes some awesome scenery to add to the fun."
Reader's Choice Awards
Posted: Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 19:36
In addition to the prestigious AVSIM Bravo Zulu awards which will be presented at this year's Convention and Exhibition, we will also be awarding AVSIM Reader's Choice Awards. At our gala Saturday night Awards Banquet, which will happen on September 16th, the Reader Choice awards will be presented for a number of categories of add-ons to Flight Simulator. The Reader's Choice awards are based both upon the nominations of the FS user community, and the voting which will take place in August. To nominate your favorite add-on or utility, please read the rules and then submit your nomination. Nominations close on August 15th, so get your nomination in today!
Convention Registration Now Open
Posted: Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 3:06
Registration for the AVSIM 2006 Convention and Exhibtion is now open. Join us for the most important gathering of flight simulation enthusiasts this year! The Microsoft FS team will be there in a big way with news, papers and displays of the next technology in Flight Simulation - MS FX or MS FS-10. Enjoy the new National Aviation and Space Museum (NASM) just down the road from our convention venue, the Dulles Hyatt Hotel. Bring the family and explore Washington D.C., an aviation enthusiast's dream come true! Join us at the Friday night social and don't miss the Saturday night awards banquet where Microsoft will have three key note speakers to wow you with news of the latest FS release and AVSIM will award its prestigious BRAVO ZULU awards, and this year, the AVSIM Reader's Choice Awards. Sign up here for the AVSIM 2006 Convention and Exhibition! and join us for the FS event of the year!
AVSIM Convention Key Note Speakers
Posted: Friday, May 19, 2006 - 15:32
AVSIM is very pleased to announce the Key Note speakers for this year's Convention and Exhibition. Our Key Note speakers will be three heavy hitters from the Microsoft Flight Simulator team; Brett Schenpf, Hal Bryan, and Mike Zyskowski. Here are the biographies of the three:
Brett Schnepf – Microsoft Aces - Director of Community Development
Brett has been at Microsoft over 14 years working as a Beta Coordinator, Test Lab Manager, Sales/Channel Analyst, Product Manager, Technical Evangelist and Developer Relations Manager. He has worked on everything from the Windows Printing System, Ballpoint Mouse, Mouse 2.0, Natural Keyboard, SideWinder, Xbox, Dungeon Siege, Vanguard, Jade Empire, DirectX and the “Common Controller”…crunched numbers for the former Consumer Division, created the massive NPD data pivot table (still in use today), forecasted hardware, negotiated contracts, and traveled the world “preaching the word”, building relationships and doing PR. Currently he is using these skills building the community management team that will support the Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise as it ventures into new and uncharted skies.
 Hal Bryan – Flight Simulator Community Evangelist Hal Bryan has worked for Microsoft in different capacities for 11 years, the last 7½ as a Test Engineer on the Flight Simulator team. In addition to spending most of his days testing, which is a polite way to say “complaining”, Hal has been coordinating the Flight Sim Beta programs, working trade shows, air shows and other events, and has never turned down an opportunity to speak publicly. He’s been using Flight Sim for 25 years, which means he’s still a customer first. In addition to being an avid licensed pilot and an aviation buff, he is a super genius and a notary public. Hal is excited to be making the transition from Engineer to Evangelist and being able to focus his efforts on the Flight Sim community full time.
 Michael Zyskowski - Developer Relations, Program Manager, Microsoft Simulations Michael Zyskowski is a graduate of the University of Kansas, with both Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering. He has worked with the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and Boeing Commercial ithin Boeing, including Product Development, Accident Investigation, and Aerodynamics before leaving for Microsoft Flight Simulator in January 2000. He has been there since, spending 5 years as a developer working on the Simulation Engine, Systems Development and Flight Models in CFS2, FS2002, CFS3, and FS2004. He is now the Developer Relations Program Manager, responsible for third party development extensibility across the entire line of products that are developed in the Aces Studio.
Registrations for the AVSIM event in September will open this weekend. You don't want to miss this convention! This will be the most important event in simulation this year (except for the release of FS-10, of course!).
Just Flight Announces A400M Released
Posted: Friday, May 19, 2006 - 14:03
Just Flight is pleased to announce that A400M Airlifter is now released. Available from the usual stores at retail and also available to order direct with immediate ship out direct from Just Flight.
The A400M is the next generation of military transport aircraft. It is being built by Airbus and is scheduled to fly in 2008. It will be used by the Royal Air Force, as well as the French, German, Spanish and South African military. This simulation of the A400M has been developed by Wilco and will give flight sim enthusiasts the chance to fly the transport of tomorrow! Fly the future - today! Visit Just Flight for more information.
TweakFS Releases Freeware Open Installer
Posted: Friday, May 19, 2006 - 13:59
The TweakFS Open Installer is designed to run and create open, Zip-based installations for FS2004 which allow the end-user to view the contents of the package and decide which files are overwritten. Many discerning simulator pilots are understandably wary of automatic setup routines as some can overwrite important files if they are not well implemented. Installations created with the TweakFS Open Installer are totally transparent and customizable; users can even add or remove files from the installation if they wish.
The Open Installer is a two-part application which includes the installer and the creator. The creator side of the utility can save your work as a Project file which can be loaded again and tweaked. It can be used by developers and casual add-on creators who normally release their creations as Zip files but who want to automate the process. Simmers in general can also use it to compile a personal collection of add-ons which can make re-installation a breeze.
Because it is freeware and has a relatively small file size (about 850 KB when compressed) it can be freely distributed to help take some of the guesswork out of installing add-ons for those not accustomed to doing things manually. This useful tool can be downloaded from Tweak FS.
Perfect Flight Releases Adventures Ulimited Vol. 7
Posted: Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 18:53
Delta Adventures by Perfect Flight is a new game add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator that lets you fly using Delta Airlines planes. Command your favorite Delta aircraft and enjoy the realistic ambience of flights recreated by the exclusive Adventure Manager. You can manage your flights before compiling an adventure and then select it or one of the 1000 pre-saved flights already created for you. Delta Air Lines Adventures includes: 10 aircraft in the Delta Airlines fleet including the "Fly The Md-11" plane in Delta colors. Adventure Manager: You have 1000 pre-saved flight ready to be compiled using our exclusive Adventure Manager. You can now choose your flight and select it from one of 130 airports managed by our compiler. Also, you don't need Flight Simulator to set weather, time, and season or refueling the plane and more. Flights cover the entire Delta timetable. Adventures features: Complete AI/ATC interaction, AI traffic available during the adventure, speed restrictions, flight ratings, cabin announcements, check lists (pre-start, taxi, before t/o, after t/o, descend, landing, parking) speeds stalls, 80 Kn,V1, Vr, V2, flaps, gear GPWS and radar altimeter. Each plane features custom panels and stereo sounds. Also panels include a new Checklist Icons Manager that allows you to have all checklists visible in your cockpit! The Adventure Manager generates a complete flight briefing for each flight compiled by you and you have also full access to charts and maps database during the flight. That makes your flights more realistic, as in real life! For more information visit the Perfect Flight website
VATSIM Makes Front Page Of Wall Street Journal
Posted: Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 15:59
On Thursday's May 18th edition of the Wall Street Journal, VATSIM got a rather large artice written about them! Highlighted was the ZLA controllers from the virtual skies above California. Continued on page A10, the article also featured a large picture from our 2005 AVSIM San Diego Convention, showing ZLA working their fly in from the floor of the convetion.
To see a syndicated view, without photos, visit the Post-Gazette Online. So if you wanna show the family what you spend all your time doing, now is the time to show them! Run out and grab a copy before they are gone!
New Review - Reality XP's Flight Line T
Posted: Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 6:47
Alexis Esguerra, Sr Staff Reviewer, looks at Reality XP's Flight Line T package, flight instruments intended to replace those that don’t come up to par.
"FLT is designed to replace the basic ‘six-pack’ on the instrument panel, those basic items that any pilot relies on to give him or her feedback on what the plane is doing flight-wise at any given moment. The basic six for all GA aircraft in MSFS are good at what they represent and what they do. Closer scrutiny reveals that they all are a bit clunky, both in appearance and operation," explains Alexis, "FLT addresses those shortcomings by providing the end user with a set of instruments created from an all new, in-house rendering program that they call TrueGauge XP. An advantage of the instruments in FLT is that they are configurable for the specific aircraft they are mated to."
"I am happy to report that FLT did not seem to have any visible impact on my system. As compared to the default gauge-equipped C182S under a variety of conditions that included more complex sceneries, traffic conditions, and weather, the FPS rate of the FLT-equipped Skylane performed just as well as the pre-retrofit version."
Alexis concludes his review with, "I can state without question that these gauges are a vast improvement over the original gauges they replace, and I continue to use it to this day. If I had purchased this add-on, I would have considered it money well spent."
WestJet DVD Released
Posted: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 23:04
Just Planes has released a new DVD in the World Air Routes series featuring 11 flights on board the WestJet Boeing 737-700s which started joining the WestJet fleet in 2001. 10 of the flights are recorded in the cockpit while the last is recorded in the cabin.
The locations visited on the DVD includes the WestJet base Calgary as well as Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Prince George, Toronto, Vancouver, and San Francisco.
To learn more about the DVD visit the World Air Routes homepage.
The Lockheed Constellation from Abacus - Reviewed
Posted: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 3:35
Sr Staff reviewer Gene Davis looks at Abacus' first installation of their Platinum Aircraft Collection, the classic Lockheed Constellation. "Connie’s were used for a long time. Conceived in 1939 the first Connie, the L-049, flew in 1943 and the first L-749 went into production in 1947."
"The first time you look at this airplane you will see that a lot of care went into the design of the exterior portion of this package," remarks Gene, "you will find three variations of the Connie; Comet Airlines, MATS, and Meridian Airlines."
"Initially, I wasn’t expecting a lot when it came to the flight model of this aircraft, but I found that flying this particular Connie is a dream. The aircraft does have a certain heavy feeling to it and you can definitely feel it. Climbing into the cockpit doesn’t really give off a sense of realism, though the 2D panel is nicely rendered, the virtual is a little on the basic. This is not a bad thing as it opens up the simulation to better performance."
Gene concludes this review with, "This add-on is a good representation of the Connie. It is important to remember that this is a “basic” model, you can’t expect it to have the level of detail and realism that you get with other add-ons!
CWDT Release Hellcat For FS2004
Posted: Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 17:27
Classic Warbirds Design Team is proud to announce the release of the CWDT Hellcat, World War II Carrier-borne fighter for Fs9. CWDT Hellcat Features:
- 7 model set (F6f-3 Clean, F6f-3 with Drop tank, F6f-5 Clean, F5f-5 with Droptank, F6f-5 with 500lb bombs, F6f-5 with HVAR rockets, and the F6f-5N Night fighter variant).
- 9 high resolution 32-bit texture sets, including US Navy, Marines and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm schemes; all historically accurate.
- High quality soundset included by David Copley
- Specular Reflectivity on all models
- Super detailed 'virtual cockpit'
- Clickable” and mouse controlled throttle, pitch, mixture, landing gear,wingfold, flaps and cowl flap levers; and starter, magneto and tail-hook switches and many more inovations.
If WWII aircraft is your thing, why not take a flight over to the CWDT Website and read more about this exciting software release.
ScruffyDuck Releases Latest Scenery Editor
Posted: Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 17:19
ScruffyDuck Software are pleased to announce the release of the latest version of their FS9 Scenery Design Utility Library Object Manager with Scenery Maker. This version is the last beta version before the software reaches final production status. The program has been extensively upgraded since the last version. Library Object Manager has a number of enhancements and fixes and Scenery Maker has been completely re-written and extensively enhanced.
New Documentation has been created for both parts of the program (almost 200 pages in total). These are in pdf format and have bookmarking to make it easier to find things.
Library Object Manager is a utility to manage your collection of FS9 Library Objects. It can import information from a number of sources including library files, SBuilder, RWY12 and EZ-Scenery. It can export information about objects to SBuilder, EZ-Scenery, RWY12 and other Secnery Design Programs.
You can catalog objects by libary, user defined category and author. If you have a lot of objects then LOM makes using them in your scenery very much easier. Scenery Maker is part of LOM and tightly integrated with it. It uses the database of objects. Scenery Maker is a placement program and uses your Flight Sim aircraft position to place objects (Similar to RWY12). The placement tools are very accurate and include helpers which let you move your aircraft to an object position or place your aircraft over and object and find it in your scenery file.
These are just a few of the features available in this software. You can find our more about this softeare at the ScruffyDuck Website.
FS2Crew for Level-D 767 Reviewed
Posted: Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 4:26
Sr Staff Reviewer Paul Middleton looks at the fifth in the series of Cockpit Management simulations that operate within other FS9 aircraft, FS2Crew for Level-D 767.
"FS2Crew simulates all those people that a real-life pilot normally interacts with. The procedures that are modelled in FS2Crew are a replica of those used by a British airline," explains Paul. "There's the Ground Crew, who do such things as bring you paperwork and push you back. There are the flight attendants who do such things as tell you when the cabin is ready and bring you cups of coffee. And last but not least, there is your Flying Officer, who works most of the switches, runs through the checklists with you, and points out when you do something wrong."
"This is the second FS2Crew product that I have reviewed, and the third that I have used personally. What continues to impress me is the way in which they are improved and refined each time." Paul states in his review summary, "this is not a product for everyone. If you just like to fly a passenger jet as an essentially solitary experience, perhaps communicating with ATC, but otherwise having no-one to bother you, then you may find that FS2Crew limits your freedom of action. FS2Crew expects you to work as a team with your virtual FO, not to mention other colleagues, and this means that you need to do certain things only at certain times."
"FS2Crew for the Level-D 767 is a solid and reliable product, which mirrors accurately airline cockpit management practice, in a way that is simple to learn and become familiar with."
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