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Bear's Cave
The world of Flight Simulators
short reviews by Steve "Bear" Cartwright
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May was another banner month of outstanding files uploaded into the AVSIM library, including an abundance of repaints for previously uploaded aircraft. There have also been many updates or add-ons covering everything from airport taxiway signs to AI aircraft routes. On the other hand there were a couple of files that showed promise, but because of some seemingly minor error concerning the included gauge files, I was unable to install and test either of them. I might suggest that any author that has spent many hours designing a terrific new aircraft for Flight Simulator, may want to have a couple of their friends try it out first (sort of a beta test), before uploading it into the AVSIM library. It just might save you some headaches down the road when others attempt to enjoy the fruits of all your hard work, but are unable to because of a minor gauge error message. I wrote to the authors of the two files that I am referring to, but unfortunately I was unable to get any response and I know that others that downloaded either of these two aircraft experienced the same problem I did.
I did attempt to restrict my picks to the top 10, but once again I just could not justify, to myself, doing this because of the many excellent choices offered as freeware for all of us to enjoy. So, instead of the top 10 picks, here are my top 15 picks for May!
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It seems that Rick Sasala has been designing one outstanding aircraft after another (almost always of the military variety) for each version of flight simulator and like flight simulator itself, Rick's aircraft improve with each new version as well. During the month of May, Rick uploaded 4 different US Navy aircraft, each having been designed using the design tool Gmax and each including its own custom designed 2D panel and a dynamic 3D virtual panel.
Rick's May uploaded aircraft included: USN A-6E Intruder, USN EA-6B Prowler, USN E-2C Hawkeye, and a USN P-3C Orion anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Each of Rick's designs include opening/closing canopies, folding wings and extendable tailhooks (were applicable), rolling wheels, steerable nose gears, rotating radar dome (Hawkeye), and his P-3C even has an opening door with the on-board stairs extending, unfolding, and dropping into place. Outstanding attention to detail.
There are no undue surprises with his airfiles either, as each and everyone of these aircraft fly quite well and performing carrier operations with the 3 carrier based aircraft can be handled with ease. I even shot a landing into Kai Tak (with a 10 knot crosswind thrown in) using Rick's P-3C and my first attempt was more than successful without breaking a sweat.
It is because of Rick's uploading of 4 different aircraft, each displaying extensive visual detail features, custom designed 2D panels, dynamic 3D virtual cockpit/panels, and stable airfiles that I am not just awarding him my "Bear Approved" stamp, but I am giving Rick Sasala my "Bear Gold Award" as well. Excellent work Rick, keep it up! ...Bear!
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De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
by Steven Grant
dhc6v31.zip
uploaded 1-May-2002
1,947Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Steven Grant has been designing FS aircraft since the days of FS98 and his designs have often included various models from the de Havilland aircraft company. So it follows that this is not Steven's first version of the de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter he has designed, but it is the first version that I have selected as one of my picks. Stated as version 3.1, Steven's Otter comes in two liveries; British Airways (1990s), plus Loginair (1980s), and each includes a panel by Fred Choate updated for FS2002.
In addition, Steven has included a small program called LOAD OTTER by Scott MacMillan, which allows you to preset the passenger and baggage loading prior to take-off.
Overall this is a nice package of the de Havilland Twin Otter and I recommend you take a look at it, if flying medium sized twin turboprops—particularly twin turboprops designed for operations into and out of the less improved airstrips, are your bag of tea! ...Bear!
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Lately quite few excellent examples of the Boeing 707 have become available, particularly those FS aircraft designed by the Historic Jetliner Group (HJG), but as an alternative Lou Volland has designed up an excellent version of the world's first successful jetliner, the Boeing 707 and Lou has designed his jetliners using Gmax.
The original file, painted in colors representing the demonstrator model of the 707, is a required download (g70732v1.zip), with all of the additional files being texture updates for various airline liveries (Continental, Western, American, Lufthansa, Trans World Airlines, and Pan American) to that file. I particularly liked having the demonstrator colors on the initial file download as this is the aircraft that Boeing test pilot "Tex" Nelson made famous after he performed a barrel role over Lake Washington, directly in front of those attending the Unlimited Boat races there. Mr. Nelson (or so he claimed later) felt that the crowd wasn't all that excited about seeing the 707 he was flying while making simple low-level passes over the Lake, so he thought that maybe the sight of a large jetliner performing an aerobatic manuever might wake-up the crowds lining the shoreline of the lake that day, it did!
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With Lou Volland's version of the Boeing 707, all of the expected features are there, fully animated control surfaces, rolling wheels, and reflective chrome external textures. Lou uses the default 747 panel and the default sounds from the 737, so you should search AVSIM's library for Paul Golding's extraordinary 707 panel and the appropriate sounds as well. Lou's 707 is also quite AI friendly, so this is a good install for you if using it as an AI aircraft following the original routes of these almost ageless birds! I like Lou's work, as these are very beautiful aircraft and they are very stable in flight! Thanks Lou! ...Bear!
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Shehryar is easily one of our hobby's premier airport scenery designers, considering his prior work for many USA based airports (John Wayne-Orange County and Long Beach, just to name a couple), and he continues his excellent design work by developing a scenery add-on for the smallest of the 3 New York City area airports and that is LaGuardia! Located just East of Manhattan Island, LaGuardia is the closest to downtown New York and even though Microsoft did provide a little bit above the normal with the default version of this airport, Shehryar's enhancement, as with all his prior designs, greatly improves your emersion level when you fly into here.
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To allow those with system performance issues or concerns, Shehryar has provided separate files so that it is the choice of the user to install the static aircraft or not. If you feel your system can handle it (frame rates), then by all means, download and install the static aircraft as well. In addition to the airport scenery, Shehryar has uploaded (as a separate file) the custom airport textures that will be needed to properly view this add-on.
As before, Shehryar's latest airport scenery design is at the top of the heap when it comes to high detail and real-world accuracy. Thank you once again Shehryar!
...Bear!
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Pavas & Limon/Costa Rica
by Bob Whitney
pavlio.zip
uploaded 2-May-2002
4,138Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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In the beautiful Central American country of Costa Rica and near the city of San Jose, is the airport of Tobias Bolaños or better known as "Pavas." Bob Whitney has developed his airport scenery package utilizing photoreal texturing and between the custom textures and the over 50 different custom designed hangars or airport buildings, Bob has created a very unique and highly realistic scenery add-on. The comparison of this add-on to the default is quite astonishing (as you can see from my screenshots here).
Even though Costa Rica is not generally on my regular flight routes, I found that it was well worth the effort to install Bob's scenery add-on to enjoy his work! Excellent scenery design Bob!
...Bear!
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ATR 42-300 Avianova
by F. Sánchez-Castañer
fsc_atr42_300.zip
uploaded 7-May-2002
3,400Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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When reviewing an FS aircraft (commercial) designed for Flight Simulator (FS2002), there are several basic areas that are considered separately: Aircraft Design, 2D Panel, 3D Virtual Panel, Sounds, Airfile, and Documentation. When considering or reviewing a freeware FS aircraft, we generally group all of these categories together and provide an overall rating or a generalized review.
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For me to issue my Bear Gold Award, I generally (as I have explained previously) consider the aircraft design and texturing, the 2D panel, the presentation of the virtual panel, and the airfile. If a freeware FS aircraft file includes custom sounds and extraordinary documentation then those are simply plus features (added value if you will). If you're wondering why I am restating this at this time, let me explain. This FS aircraft had everything, beautiful design and texturing, outstanding 2D panel, one of the best dynamic virtual panels since Yannick's Falcon50, and some really outstanding sound files; but the airfile, well that's a different story? This FS aircraft unfortunately, despite all of its outstanding virtues, was all but unflyable due to the instability of the airfile included with it. The airfile is easily replaced with several excellent files out there (even the default DASH8-300 file works sufficiently well enough that I can even recommend replacing the defective airfile with that file as well). Whatever you do, don't let this aircraft get by without your checking it out, because its overall features are truly outstanding. ...Bear!
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 ver1.0
by Gerald Lindell
mig-3fs.zip
uploaded 8-May-2002
1,640Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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With either Combat Flight Simulator or Flight Simulator, there have been many excellent FS aircraft designs (combat-fighter types) depicting WWII fighter aircraft from the USA, RAF, Japan, or Germany—but there really has been a bit of a shortage of accurate examples of FS aircraft designed after the many aircraft from the Soviet Union. Gerald Lindell recognized this oversight and has offered up a pretty good example of the MiG-3, which was used by the Soviet Air Forces from 1941 through the end of the war. With the basic model design by Gerald Lindell, Anthony "Gramps" Sullenger provided the texturing for two different liveries of this aircraft.
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This FS aircraft includes full animation of the gear, flaps, control surfaces, pilot, canopy, and even the cockpit controls in the virtual cockpit mode. Included also (besides the custom 2D panel) is a dynamic virtual panel. For those of you intending on using this aircraft in CFS2, Gerald added Alain Coupet's DAG weapons pack and a damage profile designed by Andre van Duin. This FS aircraft easily receives my Bear Approved stamp! ...Bear!
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Alaska Lighthouses
by Bob Langendorfer-Ed Neuhauser
aklights02.zip
uploaded 8-May-2002
8,966Kb
FS2002 Scenery8,966Kb
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Bob and Ed state in their readme file that this is a "...small scenery..." add-on, but frankly I don't think I would call anything about this scenery package as "small!" Using photorealistic-like textures, Bob & Ed have designed 13 lighthouses (as they appeared in real-life) up and down the Alaska coastline. In addition to locating each accurately designed lighthouse and immediate surrounding structures at their original locations, Bob & Ed have added an NDB (non-directional beacon) set at each of the 13 lighthouses (frequency of 801 for all). The documentation includes an area map displaying each lighthouse location, plus you can find them listed as start points in your add-on scenery menu (FS2002). After sunset, the highly realistic rotating beacons from each lighthouse are visible for several miles, as you approach each from either the air or sea.
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While sitting in the water with one of my float planes at the beach next to the BFU North (Bush Flyers Unlimited) base, I happened to notice the overhead flash from one of these lighthouse beacons, even though the lighthouse turned out to be nearly 10 miles away—pretty cool effect!
In real-life, most of these lighthouses are gone, but it adds a very romantic and nostalgic touch to flying Alaska's coastline in FS2002 having them all restored back to active duty, and I highly recommend everyone consider downloading and installing this well-designed scenery add-on from Bob Langendorfer and Ed Neuhauser. ...Bear!
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Fouga CM170 Magister Finnish Air Force
by Kari Virtanen, Mike Hambly, Brahim Rhoul, and Mikko Maliniemi
foufinn1.zip
uploaded 15-May-2002
24,683Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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There have been and are several famous Finnish individuals, mostly associated with sports (Olympic athletes and Auto Race drivers immediately come to mind), but I think it is time that we start including FS designers to that growing list of famous Finns! Mikko Maliniemi is quickly becoming a household name (among all of us flight simmers) because of his outstanding work at designing GA aircraft (particularly his aerobatic aircraft designs) and now we have to include Kari Virtanen and Brahim Rhoul (I am of course assuming they are both countrymen of Mikko's). Mike Hambly (this FS aircraft design group's English connection) has already established his reputation for having provided sound files over the last few years, so the adding of his expertise to this project gives just a hint to how extraordinarily good it is.
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From one end to the other, this aircraft is FS design art at its finest, coming in 3 liveries (all depicting the Finnish Air Force), a photorealistic 2D panel, dynamic 3D virtual panel, full and robust sounds, fully animated parts, and exhibiting the best in reflective textures so common now to FS2002—this is simply a must have FS aircraft! ...Bear!
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Tupolev Tu-95 "Bear"
by Sam Dim
tu-95_bear.zip
uploaded 19-May-2002
1,452Kb
FS2000/FS2002 Aircraft
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If the Boeing B-52 is considered the icon best representing the United States during the cold war, then the Soviet Tu-95 Bear would in all likelihood be the icon that represented the Soviet Union during that same period. There have only been a couple of FS examples of the Bear developed and both of those were designed for FS98, so it is about time someone produced a version for FS2002, a design which takes advantages of the many features available in Microsoft's latest Flight Simulator.
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Ironically, like the B-52, the Russian Tu-95 Bear is still in service and Sam's version is quite accurate in its general design and it does have fully animated parts, counter-rotating propellers, and rolling wheels. Designed using FSDS Pro, Sam has a very realistic appearing and stable flying aircraft. Sam did rely on default sounds and a default panel, so a search of the various flight sim libraries will be necessary to find a suitable panel and sound replacement (which I highly recommend), but despite this I still recommend you check out Sam's work! ...Bear!
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Bell UH-1H Huey
by Jordan Moore
belluh1h.zip
uploaded 19-May-2002
3,145Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Though designed by Jordan Moore, he does give credit to Olle Kauppi for his very accurate Huey sounds and Ian Standfast for proving that less is more in helicopter design. Jordan states (in his readme file) that it was his intent to design this helicopter set for his dad (Sam Moore) and Father's Day. Apparently Jordan's dad, Sam, has had an extensive career flying the Bell UH-1H Huey, both in combat and in civilian rescue.
Jordan's design includes two civilian paints and of course in the olive drab green of the US Army. One of the civilian liveries includes the setup for crop spraying (includes the proper smoke effect for this operation). There is no virtual panel included, but the 2D panel is photorealistic and it very dramatically resembles the real thing! For all you rotorheads out there, you don't want to miss this one! ...Bear!
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Mirage F1C
Mirage F1V2 Full Package
by Kirk Olsson
f1cv2.zip
f1v2.zip
uploaded 20-May-2002
5,866Kb/20,307Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Over the last couple of years, Kirk Olsson has been designing some really terrific military aircraft for Flight Simulator (his C-17 and MiG-21 are two of his fine FS designs from the recent past). Kirk's latest, the Mirage F1, is easily his best work to date and awarding him my Bear Gold Award was a no-brainer!
Available in two file versions; a single livery with default sounds version (to reduce the download size) and a full package version that includes custom sounds along with 3 different paint schemes.
These aircraft include a custom panel (2D), dynamic 3D virtual panel, rolling wheels, fully animated components, landing gear compression, spoilerons, and a really terrific and highly dynamic drag chute (it not only deploys but it rotates as well, quite realistic actually). One of the more realistic items is how Kirk has greatly improved the effect (appearance) of the afterburner and this just adds to this wonderful work of his (Kirk's). ...Bear!
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B33 Beech Debonair
by Geoffrey Applegate-James Eden
b33.zip
theb33patch.zip
uploaded 25-May-2002
805Kb/24,200Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Geoffrey Applegate is a regular in the AVSIM forums and his signature even includes a photo of his personal 1962 B33 Debonair. Pairing up with James Eden, Geoffrey has developed and made available a really terrific FS example of his real-world aircraft for all of us to enjoy.
The centerpoint of Geoffrey and James's FS aircraft is the photorealistic 2D panel and cockpit views included with this Beech Debonair, all taken from digital photos of Geoffrey's actual aircraft. The aircraft design was accomplished using Gmax and it too (like all FS aircraft designs of late) has those highly realistic reflective exterior textures. Now, even though this FS aircraft is lacking a 3D virtual panel, it is still a worthwhile download and I have enjoyed flying it very much. So, if you haven't already, you should seriously considering checking this Beech Debonair out! ...Bear!
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Reno Air Racing Package
by Bill Browning, Mike Hambly, Steve Small and Roger Dial
rd_p-51d.zip
uploaded 28-May-2002
9,574Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Introducing the four fellows that put this FS aircraft package together makes me feel like the stadium announcer for some kind of professional sport's "All-Star" team! You just know that if you have these four individuals join up and put together an FS aircraft package, it is going to be something terrific; and these guys did not disappoint me, that is for sure!
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When you combine my 15 years of experience at professional auto racing with the fact that I live in Reno, NV, it is only natural to assume that I have more than a passing interest in any aircraft (FS) designed for air racing! What these fellows have put together are 4 liveries of the P-51D Mustang (Cloud Dancer, Miss Kimberly, Moonbeam McSwine, and Miss America) and this is not your run of the mill FS Mustang either. Sporting an airfile and sound set representing an Unlimited class P-51D powered by a 3,600 HP Merlin V-12, you too can get the feeling of what it is like to fly the pylons at Reno while pulling 6G turns!
The exterior appearance, sounds, and airfile are absolutely near perfect and though they did not include a virtual panel, they did include a rather unique short racing panel that is quite effective and I do believe I prefer it over a virtual panel in this particular instance.
Once again I have awarded a Bear Gold Award to the four-man team of Bill Browning, Mike Hambly, Steve Small, and Roger Dial for their combined effort on designing the fastest propeller-recip driven aircraft you'll find for FS2002! ...Bear!
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Kahului International Airport, Maui, HI
by Bill Melichar
kahu.zip
uploaded 29-May-2002
1,756Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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Like most, I was quite pleased when I noticed that the MSFS Team had redone and enhanced the Hawaiian Islands in FS2002 over what they had offered in FS2000. With the increased resolution mesh scenery and water texture (freeware) add-ons installed, the experience at flying in or around the Sandwich Islands (the original name for the Hawaiian Island by early British seafarers) has been fun and exciting.
Bill's enhancement of the International Airport on Maui adds to the realism of flying these beautiful islands and Bill accomplished this by adding some simple, yet realistic airport buildings, gates (stairs), static aircraft, and an abundance of palm trees. Bill's static aircraft do not interfere with the AI aircraft and each of the static aircraft are painted in Hawaiian based liveries.
Hawaii is one of my favorite places to fly GA aircraft and Bill's scenery add-on is a terrific improvement of Maui's main airport. Nice work Bill! ...Bear!
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