Aerosoft Releases Monaco X

Posted: Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 0:50
If there was one product Aerosoft wanted to upgrade to FSX, it was the Monaco scenery as they knew it was perfectly suitable for FSX with the new shadows, better water effects and a LOT better helicopter flight models.

Well, it took them a while but it is done. Not only did Matt do a great job in getting it transported to FSX, but they made sure it takes full advantage of the new things FSX has to offer. So you will seen flocks of seagull on the coast (better take care not to hit those) and there are missions with full audio ATC!

Other features in the product include: Monaco/Fontvielle Heliport (LNMC )in greater detail; a Helideck on the Lady Moira, one of the biggest yachts in the world; good attention to framerates (but it IS a dense and complex scenery); Animated seagulls over the harbor; lots of ship traffic all around; and a manual in French and English, with charts.

For complete details about the release and information on acquiring the upgrade from your previous version, visit Aerosoft's webpage.

Project Open Sky Rolls Out 747v4

Posted: Friday, April 13, 2007 - 17:02
The Project Open Sky team announced it has released the "747v4" series of its 747-100/200 aircraft appropriately dubbed "Sunrise of the Wide Body era." Both models are for FS2004 and are available in passenger configuration only with numerous international liveries.

Project Open Sky formed in November 2000 and released its first version of the 747 in January 2001.

For more information and to download this freeware aircraft, please visit the Project Open Sky website.

MD-11 from Sky Simulations

Posted: Friday, April 13, 2007 - 2:00
Staff reviewer Robert Mariani fly an old favourite with Sky Simulations' MD-11. "Sky Simulations is a new company on the Flight Sim developers scene, yet the people behind it have been around for a while. They have produced the Boeing 717, as well as a freeware Boeing 727 and were part of the Vans Air Co. which made the MD-80 series of payware aircraft a while back."

Inside, "The overhead and the interior of the VC are modeled very nicely and if you like to press the buttons and pull the switches, as well as to look at various messages that are subsequently displayed on the EICAS, you are in for a treat. Lots of things happen automatically though, so for those of you who are less technically inclined, the venerable Ctrl-E still functions well. The 2D panel is done nicely and includes several sub-panels such as throttles, full overhead, primary instruments zoom panel, and several other pop-ups. The other interesting implementation is the Primary Flight Display with very smooth movement of the artificial horizon and speed and altitude tapes."

On the outside, "In this area this plane shines in all of its glory. Everything that should move or twist does so very nicely, and the service vehicle animations are smooth and very well done. The trucks and loaders don’t just appear from nowhere. Rather, they drive up from the side or behind the airplane." And for the sounds, "In addition to the engine sounds, you’ll hear the whole GPWS, whoop-whoop alarms and bells, together with that stern mechanical female voice that warns you about the take off configuration and other no-no’s."

Summing up Sky Simulations' MD-11 Robert says, "This MD-11 is a wonderful looking aircraft, with lots of potential to be an overall excellent add-on. However, the plane still lacks the essential tutorial on flight operations, adequate flight model, and a better FMC to justify its premium price. Hopefully, this MD-11 will continue to mature as well as its counterpart in the real world, and offer the simulation fans more improvements and lots of reliable and enjoying flights in the future."

FFS Is Closing Its Doors

Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 14:28
Flight Factory-Simulations sadly announces it will be closing its doors. This is due to the lack of time commitments that their personnel have as well as other reasons beyond their control. FFS would like to thank all their customers for their patronage over the past few years.

FFS recommendeds that if you need a backup copy of any software, you should log into your account and download them in order to save them to a backup source. They have reset all download counters so that you can download your products.

FSX SP1 To Take Advantage Of Multi-Core Support

Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:20
On the day Intel Corporation introduced its Core™ 2 Extreme processor QX6800, the company's twelfth quad-core processor offering, ACES' Phil Taylor announced the FSX Service Pack 1 (SP1), due out later this month, is expected to take full advantage of multi-core support.

According to Taylor's blog, "Our multi-core support will take advantage of both two and four cores today and more cores in the future when they become available via a config setting. This is for both Intel and AMD processors." Taylor added that single core users will also see performance improvements with the release of SP1.

For more information and discussion on the upcoming SP1, please visit the AVSIM FSX Forum.

Wilco/feelThere.com Airbus Series Vol.1

Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:07
Airbus Series Vol.1 (A318 - A319 - A320 - A321 - ACJ) is now available as Regular and Deluxe DVD-ROM versions. With advanced functionalities such as user selectable difficulty level, Flight Simulator X viewpoints, Fuel Planner & Load Editor, the Airbus Series Vol.1 features the most recent aircraft technology along with all systems simulation and a complete flight computer. Fly over to the Wilco Publishing website for all the details.

Carenado Website Redesigned

Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:02
Carenado announces that it has redesigned its website and allows an easier navigation through it. The new design presents a different picture of their s aircraft every time you enter the site. Each picture was taken from within flight simulator. Carenado invites the FS community to take a look at it.

Seev Kahn Has Passed Away

Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 22:53
Seev Kahn was the creator of many Israeli scenery files, the RWY12 ObjectPlacer software and many object libraries. Seev was also a very creative cockpit builder who amazed us with his inventions and unique ideas. A thorough, dedicated, honourable person who will be sorely missed by his family, his friends and the flightsim community. Have a look at what is available of Seev right here at AVSIM or visit the RWY12 website.

FlightSim Commander Upgrades To V8.1

Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 12:14
Sascha Felix and Volker Heine have just released version 8.1 of FlightSim Commander. Some of the new features are:

- Extended IVAO and VATSIM support
- Connection to IVAO Teamspeak server
- Start parameters for FS 2004 and FSX

The list goes on, make sure you have version 8.0 properly installed in order to use the upgrade file. For more information you can visit the FlightSim Commander website.

XClass Australia & Canada from FSCloud9

Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 2:03
FSCloud9 covers Australia and Canada with their XClass series, and staff reviewer Fred Clark covers these releases. "What the X-Class series does is “render a better visualization…of the terrain making it more close to reality…adding many more small urban areas and recreates more faithfully the big urban areas”"

"After an hour or so over an area, the change was noticeable. In particular the industrial zones. These were greatly cut down on, and I found them in more appropriate places. FSX seems to use the industrial style ground textures too much, including in the middle of cities. After X Class was installed, they began to appear in more appropriate locations, such as on approach to an airport. Not only this but all texture areas were of a much more believable size."

"It’s all very well and good taking a quick look at areas, but how does it feel to actually fly over areas of newly reshaped terrain? Well first of all, flat open areas are no longer lifeless. Especially in the far north of Canada. There is far more ruggedness to the surroundings and it is far more believable. It's also far easier to fly VFR. Instead of having to spot towns by kinks in the road, it is now possible (in the majority of places) to spot them by buildings and in some cases even the layout! Although in many places I actually noticed more autogen after the X-Class install, there is no frame rate impact."

Concluding this review of FSCloud9's XClass Australia and XClass Canada, Fred says, "Is it worth buying? Well, at the moment I would say yes. What it does is something that should have, in all honestly, been done in the original Microsoft release. There is very little difference to be seen at 33,000 ft, on the other hand, if you love flying VFR in FSX (as I do) then this will make your experience even more complete."

Code Signer Pro V1.3 Released

Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - 2:01
Code Signer Pro is a development tool designed to help FSX developers. Vista and FSX developers are encouraged to digitally sign their code as a security precaution also to help ensure that end-users can be certain of the software publisher’s identity. Code Signer Pro makes signing large volumes of files very easy and quick. For more information please visit the Cat3 Software homepage.

Slovakia 2.5 Scenery for Condor Released

Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 10:24
Miloš Koch has just released Slovakia 2.5 for Condor: The Competition Soaring Simulator. The scenery features amongst other things 10 new realistic airports, 3d objects, more precise placement of tree-autogen etc. For more information and screenshots please visit the Condor website. If you want to download the scenery please visit the download website.

German Landmarks X from Aerosoft

Posted: Monday, April 9, 2007 - 20:00
Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne takes us on a scenic trip around Germany with Aerosoft's German Landmarks X. "I was amazed at the number of additional objects that can be placed within my flight sim environment."

"You can use the MapViewer to see just where you are in relation to all these hundreds of landmarks (it shows regular airports too) andd FSX does not have to be connected in order to use the MapViewer. When flying, the MapViewer can connect (through FSUIPC) to FSX and display your aircraft position as a small red cross on the map."

"The term “landmark” is used in the VFR navigation sense, not in any historical “tourist” context. It can be any visual aid to navigation such as a mountain, a tower, a windmill, buildings, etc… Added airfields and heliports are, for the most part, generic and are in no way meant to reproduce the actual site. There are reportedly 5000 VFR landmarks featured from more than 800 different objects. New airfields are included in the FSX GPS database and can be loaded as the “direct-to” destination. By doing a search in the airfields list for the nearest large city, it is then easy to find nearby airfields for gliders and helicopters."

"Landclass and terrain features are greatly improved over the default scenery for the entire area. Railways and railyards are properly placed and cities and towns are better represented overall. It seems that most cities have something added to them in the form of large buildings (some custom designs, some generic), port facilities (these are mostly generic with customized layouts), industrial sections, factories, railyards and rail terminals."

As far as performance goes, Allen comments, "Flights between small cities and during departures/approaches to and from them showed fps performances that were acceptable to me, but in the areas of large metropolitan cities and larger airports, it certainly was not great, as can be expected in FSX. A high-end computer is an advantage, as usual. German Landmarks X is an excellent VFR-navigation scenery enhancement best used with slow moving aircraft or helicopters. I enjoyed using this add-on and would recommend it to anyone with the right equipment. I really enjoyed playing about with this add-on."

Historic Jetliners Group Update

Posted: Sunday, April 8, 2007 - 4:03
It's 1 year ago today that new HJG 2006 was salvaged from the brink of extinction. For the past 12 months this hardworking crew have slaved to bring a selection of 1st generation clasic jetliner models, textures, panels and sounds for FREE for everyones FS enjoyment everyone. Continuing its commitment to the FS community, and in celebration of its 1st anniversary, the HISTORIC JETLINERS GROUP have the pleasure of announcing a major website update.

Released today are HJG's much anticipated modified DC8 panels. These are now "aircraft type specific" for each of the following aircraft: DC8 SHIP ONE 1958, DC8-10, DC8-20, DC8-30, DC8-40, DC8-50, DC8-61, DC8-62/63, DC8-71, and DC8-72/73. New features incorporated into these panels include: Water methanol injection system for both SHIP ONE 1958 and DC8-10; Recallibrated engine instruments; Working thrust reverser annunciation lamps; Authentic
inverter sound; Working wing slot annunciator lamps; Auto-smoke effects; Revised center pedestal bitmaps with correct flap detents; Revised park brake lamps; and better organised/simplified installation instructions.

At long last the groups entire B707/B720 inventory have now been completly upgraded as well. A new/rare short tail B720-020 model (November 1959 pre-delivery configuration) has also been included. A repaired B707-320B EARLY model has also been included. All new data is included inside each of the respective Aircraft Base Packs. Further updated/refined B707/720 Panel Manuals, and an all new B707 Fuel Management Tutorial have also just been released.

HJG's CV880/990 panel has recieved minor attention too. The new offering has been modified and repackaged. No HJG website update would be complete without a host of new repaints to compliment it. This months new textures feature: A selection of B707 liveries of Asian, European, and Middle Eastern extraction; A very rare Federal service CV880-M; A beautiful selection of extremly rare DC8's from Latin America; A very rare military DC8 from Asia; New EC135-H, EC135J models, and USAF textures; and a new USAF KC135-R texture.

Hopefully something there for everyone and best of all it's all available "FREE" from the people at Historic Jetliners Group. HJG would like to thank the FS community for all its generous support and encouragement over these past 12 months. They hope everyone has enjoyed their products as much as they have enjoyed bringing them to you.

Instant Scenery Released

Posted: Sunday, April 8, 2007 - 3:49
Flight 1 Software announces their latest release, Instant Scenery. From the developer that brought you FSDiscover!, the new Instant Scenery add-on is a tool for adding 3D objects to Flight Simulator X and 2004 scenery in a very simple way. Easily add, move and delete objects and see the results of your actions directly in the Flight Simulator view without having to reload scenery every time. Flight Simulator comes with 1000's of models that can be used for scenery objects. These include buildings, vehicles, landmarks, obstacles etc. Instant Scenery allows you to use all these models to create new sceneries anywhere in the FS world.

The easy and intuitive user interface, while being simple and occupying little screen space, allows you to set many parameters for every object, including heading, scale, elevation and the scenery complexity level. The scenery you create with Instant Scenery can be easily shared with other Flight Simulator users. They do not have to own Instant Scenery in order to enjoy it.

For more information, screenshots, and to download this new utility, visit the Instant Scenery product page.

Fly The A380 V2 from Abacus

Posted: Saturday, April 7, 2007 - 17:50
Senior staff reviewer Brian Fletcher takes Abacus' version 2 of the A380 for a test flight. "This package includes four models of the Airbus A380, a host of liveries, and an enhanced version of the Toulouse Blagnac International Airport, compatible with FS9 and FSX."

"The designer modeled this version of the A380 in four different models, the 700, 800, 800F (8F) and 900, three of which share the same liveries. The exterior modeling is marginally satisfactory by my standards, but lacks the in-depth detail that I was hoping for. The texturing, with the exception of the windows, looks decent to me, although a few of the liveries could have shown more indication of normal wear. If you’re into eye candy, then you may be pleased to know that the exterior model includes a variety of ground equipment that can be seen when activated via the “stairs” button on a sub panel or by use of the wing fold key command."

On the flight deck Brian remarks, "The panel included in this package is rather noncomplex with not a whole lot in the way of user interaction. It consists primarily of a PFD, MFD, ND, EICAS, and an autopilot panel. All of the instrumentation, including the autopilot panel, is mostly clear and legible even if zoomed out a bit, and every switch, toggle, etc. is spaced from one another with plenty of room to negotiate the panel. The rest of the flight deck is wide open with little in the way of animation or excessive detailing. There are four sub panels included in this package, one of which is the default Garmin 500 GPS, as well as an electrical/overhead panel, a throttle quadrant/radio stack, and an FMC, which is also available on the panel (display window only) and on both sides of the virtual cockpit."

"The airfile is big, and it acts like it…most of the time. This rendition of the A380 is just about as sluggish as I would expect such a massive aircraft to be. While inflight, I got exactly what I expected out of this aircraft. It is indeed a sluggish, slow to respond behemoth, which reflects its size and control surface area well."

Brian concludes his test flight of the Abacus A380 V2 with, "While there are aspects about this package that I like, all in all, it is not my cup of tea and I doubt that the discriminating simmers will feel any different. The exterior model is actually fairly decent in my view, but the panel and virtual cockpit don’t seem to raise the bar set by the FS9 default aircraft. One thing I am almost certain of is that those of you addicted to the premium quality aircraft will understand very quickly why I lack any enthusiasm for this package. I am well aware that this particular package is directed more to those who are looking for a good cost-value, but I would advise you to shop around before diving into this offering."

CLS Releases DC10 Tutorial

Posted: Saturday, April 7, 2007 - 16:07
Commercial Level Simulation, CLS, is pleased to announce the release of their McDonnell Douglas DC10 Flight Tutorial. The tutorial will guide you for a complete flight, giving all information you need to perform a good flight. The tutorial, consisting of 84 pages, is free and available from the CLS website.

FScene Makes FSX Updates

Posted: Saturday, April 7, 2007 - 16:05
FScene has reworked the textures to make them better suited in FSX. FScene writes, "Because of the many changes in Microsoft's new flight simulator X, the use of previous FScene versions was very disappointing. Ugly "gaps" in the terrain, due to many FSX textures not being replaced by FScene. Moreover the difference in color between FSX and FScene shows very prominently (try and see). So one might safely conclude FSX is not backward compatible as far as FScene is concerned."

Ruud Faber has rearranged his FScene textures to fit in FSX and left many advantages of FSX intact, thus combining the best of two worlds. It's not all new, so for those who wish to relive the FScene days, the first pack (Europe, all seasons) has been released and it's available at a very low price. For those who use FS2004 (FS9), the good news is that in this FScene4X pack the complete set for use in FS9 is included as a bonus. See FScene for screen shots and more details.

AlphaSim Handley-Page Hampden

Posted: Saturday, April 7, 2007 - 16:00
AlphaSim Handley-Page Hampden is out now. AlphaSim recreates this favorite; three variants of the B.Mk.1 included: an early 'short-exhaust' 1939 version is joined by the later long-pipe version with the more usual Bomber Command scheme and an attractive grey/white Coastal Command version. All three texture schemes have that 'war-worn' look.

The realism extends to a high quality sound set which depicts the throaty rumble of the 2 Bristol Pegasus engines. The panel and v-c recreate the typical early-WW2 ambiance, with realistic glass-effect gauges based on photos of the real Hampden panel and several very useful pop-up panels. The animations include both front and rear canopies (separate key presses), bomb bay doors, ventral access hatch, cowl flaps and toggled crew figures. The flight dynamics are taken from the published specs and accurately reflect the real-life handling of the Hampden. An illustrated checklist is included. For more information, visit the AlphaSim Site.

AH-64A Apache from AlphaSim

Posted: Friday, April 6, 2007 - 22:13
Staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura flies low-level in AlphaSim's AH-64A Apache attack helicopter. "In addition to being well armed, the Apache attack helicopter is one of the fastest, most agile helicopters anyone can fly."

"The visual modeling is first-rate and, in the FSX version, takes advantage of several new features. The contours are exact, the textures are sharp, and the animation is smooth. Crew doors open and, of course, you can see the rotors spin. But the best animations are the crew. This seems to be an AlphaSim specialty."

"The panel textures in the 2D cockpit are all sharp as a tack. There are pop-up panels for GPS and tuning the radios, but nothing exotic. (This is the A-model Apache) In their heart of hearts, helicopters want to be flown from the virtual cockpit (VC), preferably with TrackIR. The VC in this helicopter looks great, but doesn’t have a lot of clickable switches. The big news is: this helicopter has two virtual cockpits, one for the pilot and one for the gunner."

"When a model has as much detail as this one, you worry about low framerates. In this case, there’s no cause for anxiety. From what other users have reported, framerates in this aircraft are not an issue. This was my experience as well -- and I did most of my flying in FSX. Unlike every other helicopter that I have flown in Flight Simulator, the Apache does not mind sudden movements. If you get up enough speed -- and the Apache is meant to go fast -- you can do rolls and even loops. In flight, the Apache handles like a sports car."

Putting AlphaSim's AH-64A Apache back on the ground, David closes with, "The visuals are outstanding, framerates are high, and you can fly from both cockpits although the sound package is minimal. But for seat-of-the-pants, turn-and-burn, light-the-fires-and-kick-the-tires helo action, the Apache is very satisfying."