Here is another list of my picks from recent uploads into the AVSIM library and though I’m not necessarily following any particular theme this week, I felt that each of these files should be highlighted. What I have selected are 8 separate files, covering 7 outstanding aircraft/panels, and 1 scenery file. Based on the number of downloads each of these have achieved, none of these files have been particularly overlooked by anyone, but I felt that they all should be noted or highlighted somewhere here at AVSIM.

The best from the last quarter of 2003!

As you can see, I’ve picked several aircraft. There should be at least one or more for everyone out there, as there is an aerobatic, bush, turboprop, vintage prop, and a set of jetliners. In addition a scenery add-on that is a particular favorite of mine and I would guess with the majority of the staff here at AVSIM! You will also notice I have included something new, which are the new awards for freeware packages or files from the AVSIM library. These include the Bronze, the Silver, and the Gold award medals. These awards are issued based on originality, quality, completeness, and presentation, but in the end it is still based upon my own personal opinion and is most certainly not meant to be some sort of contest. Because I purposely picked 8 of the best files uploaded from the last quarter of 2003, it is only natural that all the files are going to be either silver or gold.

(Click on any file name for its Library descriptions and download link.)

First up is this really terrific freeware example of the Bellanca Super Decathlon by Kevin Lechmanski! Over the last couple of months, Kevin has uploaded two really terrific examples of the Super Decathlon and the more civil version called the Scout. Here’s the aerobatic Super Decathlon and just a like a recent payware version, Kevin’s Decathlon is also capable of spinning (just have your realism set to 100% under the drop-down menu for aircraft). Admittedly, Kevin’s Decathlon is only slightly less realistic as the payware Decathlon, which is quite a feat, considering the name of the person (Rob Young) that provided the airfile for the other one. For those of you that would like to have a Super Decathlon, but are not in the position to purchase the payware one, then never fear, as Kevin Lechmanski has produced a very good freeware model that is a real joy to fly.

----Bear!

The Bellanca “Scout” is the more civilianized version of the Super Decathlon, having the same power, but also having flaps and slightly more weight. This is a large file (at 18.5MB) and that is because there are several liveries and types (float, wheeled, tundra tire, and ski equipped) and like the Bellanca Super Decathlon, Kevin has also included a wood paneled 2D and dynamic 3D virtual panel-cockpit. Between the two (Super Decathlon & the Scout), the Scout is easily my favorite because of its backcountry capability, plus there are the choices of the float, wheeled, or ski versions. I have used the float version on several occasions, but it is the tundra tire equipped model I use most frequently. This is truly an outstanding package and like all the aircraft packages I’ve chosen here, they all tell you just how healthy the freeware designers are in our hobby!

----Bear!

There’s no secret that Project Opensky is one of our hobby’s greatest assets and their recent uploading of their FS2004 Boeing 757-200 with dynamic virtual cockpit is right up there on impressive quality. When you top it off with the 757 panel from Lonny Payne (specifically designed for the POSKY 757), this is chocolate frosting on a chocolate cake! Just about everything about this package is extraordinary, the choices of liveries, the quality of the external texturing, flight modeling, and the list goes on and on and on. Use the AVSIM library search (FS2004 original aircraft and repaints categories) word POSKY or Project Opensky and you should be presented with a whole host of various repaints and there is bound to be one of your favorites available. Considering all, this is easily the best 757 package designed specifically for FS2004.

----Bear!

David Maltby & Dave Booker have put together a very nice vintage jetliner package with the Vickers VC-10 (both standard and Super versions are included). All in all there are 4 standard models (in the liveries of Gulf Air, BOAC, Ghana, Omani Royal Flight) with the Super VC-10 in the liveries of BOAC, British Airways, and East African Air. Lacking a 3D virtual panel, the 2D panel is very realistic none the less and includes photorealistic cockpit views. Also included are authentic sounds recorded from real Rolls-Royce Conway engines. Great looking aircraft, excellent flight model, great sounds, and a really terrific 2D panel, what more could you want?

----Bear!

Within days of the release of FS2000, Dimitri Samborski and friends at FS of Russia released their beautiful example of the Antonov AN-24RV turboprop aircraft. With FS2002, there were few updates, but this version is updated for use specifically with FS2004 and it is really terrific! Having much in the way of special effects (smoke, etc.), more available liveries than you can shake a stick at, and truly one of the best 3D virtual panel-cockpits going, payware or freeware! When this aircraft is mentioned, the one major point often overlooked by reviewers, is the very excellent flight modeling which was developed with the assistance of real-world AN-24RV pilots. The only area that could use some help is with the sounds, which were really great in FS2000, but they are now too tinny sounding for my taste (almost like they’re coming from the bottom of a large barrel). No matter though, this is one Russian aircraft package, like a fine wine, has only gotten better with age.

----Bear!

Worked over by Heather Sherman, Herb Morse, and Brian Gladden, this Daisuke Yamamoto original file now includes several liveries, excellent 2D panel, a vastly improved flight model, and another outstanding 3D virtual cockpit-panel for your enjoyment. Using the default DC-3 for sounds, this is a very very excellent FS aircraft add-on package. With nearly 9,000 downloads to date, it doesn’t appear that many of you have missed this one either.

----Bear!

This is another outstanding FS aircraft from our friends in Russia and the team of Maxim A. Mysin, Tibor Kykai, Dmitry Kolesnik, and Aleksi Pennanen have put together a very complete package including documentation, authentic sounds, multiple liveries, photorealistic 2D panel, and a fully dynamic 3D panel-cockpit. At just under 52MB, this file is not for the faint hearted (or dial-up modems), but even though it required nearly 7 hours for me to download, the wait was well worth it. Considering that over 11,000 of you have also downloaded this file, it seems apparent that most agree with me on this one.

----Bear!

Bill Womack, Kenneth Weik, Charles Dayhuff, and Tony Fosler provided a wonderful Christmas gift for us all (uploaded on Christmas Eve) with their beautiful rendition of MAAM (Mid-Atlantic Air Museum) and the Reading, PA airport. Having attended the AVSIM conference held there last year, I found this scenery package to be as close to the real thing as anyone could hope for! With photorealistic buildings, opening hanger doors, AI traffic, Landclass file for the whole surrounding area, and a number of Easter eggs for everyone’s enjoyment, all in all making this is a must have file. Also included is a PDF file that provides an 8 page history of MAAM and the Reading Airport. Like all the files I’ve listed here, this scenery add-on file obviously took some time to put together and the efforts of these gentlemen should not be over-looked!

----Bear!