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Bear's Cave
The world of Flight Simulators
short reviews by Steve "Bear" Cartwright
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The number and quality of uploaded freeware files into the AVSIM library increases every month and June was chock full of some really unusual and truly unique aircraft and several very high quality scenery files. In addition to the number of original files (aircraft) there were also a huge number of repaints for just about everything that's been released or developed previously as well. Checking out the AVSIM library will prove to you that Freeware is not dead, but it is alive and kicking—why even Microsoft got into the act during June with their release of some really terrific scenery of the EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh, WI. I spent a great deal of time weeding through the hundreds of uploaded files for June, and once again I have found another whole batch of unique and outstanding gems for you enjoyment; so here are my 20 top picks for last month!
GeeBee R-2
by Tom Eads
gbr2v3.zip
uploaded 2-June-2002
2,450Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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One of the most recognized air racers of all times is of course the Granville Brothers famous GeeBee R-2 air racer painted the bright red and white colors of Jimmy Doolittle's championship winning aircraft. Several years ago, Delmar Benjamin built a flying replica of this 1932 cross-country airracer and Delmar is a regular flight demonstrator at the annual Reno National Championship Air Races. Tom Eads has done an outstanding job of duplicating the Delmar Benjamin built flying replica of this most famous of the GeeBee racers for FS2002.
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Ironically, I personally had a very minor role during the construction of the replica that Delmar built (Hobby Field at Creswell, Oregon) and so I have a more than small interest in flying a FS version of it. Using FSDS, Tom Eads has developed a very nice aircraft, that holds true to its original design origins and includes a custom panel, some really terrific custom sounds, and a virtual panel (though it is non-dynamic). Tom worked a great deal at getting the airfile as good as he could and I personally found that flying this aircraft to be a great deal of fun—and like its real world counterpart, it is very fast (300+ mph on the flat)! Check it out, if you haven't done so! ...Bear!
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Over the last few months, Rick Sasala has been uploading one FS aircraft after another, each being equally outstanding examples of various military aircraft (most often designs depicting various US Navy aircraft). In June, Rick continued with 2 new uploaded versions of his excellent Lockheed P-3 Orion (the original file was uploaded in May), this time one showing the P-3 Sentinal as used by the US Custom Agency and another depicting the WP-3D Orions of the NOAA Storm-Hunter (weather) aircraft. Both of these aircraft include a custom designed panel and a dynamic virtual panel.
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In a bit of a change of aircraft designs, Rick has also uploaded a completely new version of the Learjet 45, in that this is a totally new design and not a simple make over of the default FS 2000/2002 Learjet 45. Using the Gmax tool, Rick's switch to designing civilian aircraft was accomplished by building a new version of the Lear 45 as compared to the default Lear 45 (which was simply brought over from the FS2000 model by Microsoft), but in Rick's version he has included a custom (dynamic) virtual panel and virtual cockpit along with unique night-lighting and opening doors/stairs. In addition Rick has also included thrust-reversers along with the other design features I've mentioned. I don't know about the airfile, but my experience with flying the default version of this aircraft, Rick's Lear 45 provides a feel that is noticeably more stable than Microsoft's version, so I must assume that Rick has upgraded this as well. In barely over two weeks, there have been in excess of 2,300 downloads of this aircraft from the AVSIM library, so it seems I am not alone in having discovered this gem of a Lear 45 from Rick Sasala! ...Bear!
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Mustang Landing
by Michael Carr
mland.zip
uploaded 12-June-2002
4,656Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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Michael Carr has offered a couple of scenery designs before, but his latest is actually quite interesting, as it depicts a fictional field that specializies in North American P-51 Mustangs (among other vintage, antique, or classic aircraft). Mustang Landing is located on the edge of Oxnard, CA (North Los Angeles County) and it is a short flight, either to LAX or up to Santa Barbara from here.
Having several custom designed hangers with custom textures and night-lighting, along with the abundance of static aircraft, including even a hot air balloon, Michael has a very nice little scenery package here. ...Bear!
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DHC-4 Caribou/C7 and Beechcraft 1900D
by Mike Stone
sdhc42.zip
sb1900d2.zip
uploaded 5/22-June-2002
701Kb/493Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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I seems that I am beginning to sound like a broken record concerning Mike Stone and his growing list of outstanding freeware FS aircraft! Mike released two new FS aircraft designs during the month of June and his Beechcraft 1900D has lead to a whole batch of custom repaints.
First up, Mike uploaded a de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou/C7, which comes in three versions (in the single download), there is a USAF C7, a RAAF Caribou, and a Caribou painted in private ownership colors. Even though this package is lacking a custom panel or custom sounds, this upload is still worth a looksee.
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It is Mike's upload of the Beechcraft 1900D twin-turboprop that has prompted me to give Mike my Bear Approved Stamp. This latest version of the Beech 1900D comes in 5 liveries (Air France, US Air, Impulse Air, Air New Zealand, and Air Alliance) and being as it was designed using Gmax, all 5 liveries include those wonderful reflective textures. Not relying on the default panel, Mike has also included a custom designed panel for his version of the 1900D, though the sounds are default King Air. Based on the number of downloads and the number of repaints that have become available for this aircraft, I'm not alone in my high opinion of Mike's Beechcraft 1900D design! ...Bear!
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Fuji Film & Skyship 600 Blimps
by Bill Lyons
fuji2002.zip
skyshipd.zip
uploaded 10-June-2002
2,180Kb/2,101Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Over the last few years, Bill Lyons has become a name associated with one high quality FS aircraft after another—and Bill has never been one to follow the normal chain of design thinking that seems to inhibit others. To the best of my knowledge, Bill Lyons was the first to introduce a dynamic 3D virtual panel with his Cessna 120s released for FS2000 (nearly 2 years ahead of Microsoft). Then, just when all the airfile gurus were saying that you could not accurately model the characteristics of a hot air balloon in Flight Simulator, Bill quietly uploads his balloon set, the WindRiders, and guess what? They fly precisely like the real thing! With many of Bill's designs, he often includes some unusual items, like a custom vintage scenery pack or a custom designed car (the '49 Caddy with working convertible top that came with his Cessna Bobcats comes to mind). There have been many individual and groups of individuals that have designed some really terrific jetliners or modern day general aviation aircraft, but Bill has stuck with the classic or unusual and his designs have always been unique, interesting, and a great deal of fun. Working with a group of friends that call their website "The Golden Eagle Squadron," Bill continues to release aircraft that are always of interest to most of us fellow simmers.
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Now Bill has come along and uploaded two more lighter than air blimps, the Fuji Film Skyship 600 and the European based Inter-Discount Skyship 600, of which both blimps are the product of the Global Skyship Industries of Kissimmee, Florida. These blimps, following his (Bill's) release of the Goodyear Blimp "Defender" earlier this year, continue with a highly accurate 2D panel and a dynamic 3D virtual panel and a virtual cockpit/passenger interior. Simply put, Bill gets my Bear Gold Award once again, which seems to be a standard policy with all of Bill's designs! ...Bear!
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Edward F. Knapp State Airport
by Brian Gladden
kmpv_02.zip
uploaded 2-June-2002
1,010Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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Brian Gladden has been designing aircraft for Flight Simulator since the early days of FS2000 and his designs have often been of the GA types; often they are depictions of homebuilt or kit type aircraft. Brian had tried his hand at scenery design before with the Edward F. Knapp State Airport for FS2000—and now he has totally reworked his earlier release and upgraded it for use in FS2002.
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Brian's rework now includes more custom macros (some are from Nova), static aircraft, enhanced ramps and taxiways, and Brian has also included some FSSE (Lago's Flight Simulator Scenery Enhancer) files as well. The Edward F. Knapp State Airport is located in Berlin, Vermont and is Brian's homebase airport (only 3 miles from his house) for plane spotting. Though this airport is not serviced by any airline, many GA and GA business aircraft fly into or out of here, so this would be a fun airport to visit. This is a nice piece of work and I'm sure a nice change of pace for Brian from his normal routine of FS aircraft design, so you might just want to take a look at Brian's handy work at scenery designing! ...Bear!
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de Havilland DHC-5 Buffalo
by Joakim Aasen
dhc5.zip
uploaded 14-June-2002
1,980Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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The de Havilland aircraft company of Canada has had many designs over the years, many of which have become icons in the world of rough and ready aircraft capable of landing on short and/or unimproved runways. The DHC-5 Buffalo is basically the turboprop version of the recip powered DHC-4 Caribou and it is easily one of the most powerful aircraft in its class. The Buffalo is capable of carrying a much larger load than the Caribou, while having all of the Caribou's STOL capabilities.
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Joakim has designed his version of the DHC-5 using a combination of Gmax and FSDSPro and this FS model includes animated gear and control surfaces, rolling wheels, working suspension, and the rear cargo door opens (shift + E). Joakim has also included a custom panel, but his VC panel is frankly not worthy of mention (static and a bit rough around the edges). The sounds are all default King Air and are acceptable, but I prefer to search the sound libraries for something a little more appropriate.
Overall a nice package, excellent appearing exterior, smooth flying airfile, and a workable 2D custom panel, not bad Joakim, not bad at all! ...Bear!
Jorge Oppenheimer and Dave Paige at FFG have had the FFG Learjet 35A on the burner for sometime now and finally their outstanding work has been released. This was one aircraft that was being anticipated by many, ever since the first screenshots of their work in progress were posted in the AVSIM screenshot forums some months ago.
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The wait was well worth it, as this Lear Jet 35A is typical of FFG and their tradition of designing outstanding FS aircraft for all of us to enjoy. The Lear 35A has all the design line characteristic of the earliest Lear model, the Lear 23, and frankly it has always been one of most favored appearing GA business jets. Released by FFG in the beginning in 3 different liveries, there now have been numerous repaints uploaded into the AVSIM library since its release.
Typical of FFG FS aircraft, their Lear 35A uses the default Lear 45 panel and sounds, but by searching the AVSIM library for a panel by Ray Pennington/Jim Turner (raylear2.zip) you will find a panel more appropriate for this aircraft.
Overall, I've not pointed out or stated anything new here that everyone isn't already aware of, based on the fact that one of the liverys (green & white) had exceeded 4,400 downloads in the first 2 weeks in the AVSIM library and another 10,000+ total of the other liveries! Yes, this FS aircraft is most certainly Bear Approved! ...Bear!
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Republic SeaBee RC-3
by John Woodard, JL Stubbs, Aaron Swindle
seabee3.zip
abccb.zip (repaint/rework by Don Moser)
uploaded 19/25-June-2002
5,038Kb/5,192Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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I've been in love with the design lines of the Republic SeaBee ever since I saw James Bond flying one in "The Man With A Golden Gun" and I've been wondering if I would ever see a high quality version appear for FS2000 or FS2002. Using FSDS, John Woodward has designed a truly outstanding example of the little SeaBee and this is one little aircraft that is a great little flyer in the bush! Being fully amphibious, the SeaBee RC-3 is equally at home on the smaller airfields, lakes, or rivers of either Europe or North America and I found both the ground and flight handling of this FS aircraft to be quite good!
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With JL Stubb's highly accurate 2D panel and Aaron Swindle sounds, this is one FS aircraft I find myself flying quite often. It is lacking a dynamic 3D virtual panel, but JL Stubb's 2D panel makes up quite well for that oversight. I did find that I had a small problem of missing starboard textures (I believe it was an isolated problem to me) with John's original upload, but Don Moser's repaint and remodeling (done with the permission of John) is my preferred livery anyway and I experienced no missing textures with that version.
If you happen to be standing at your favorite bush field up in Canada or Alaska and a white and orange SeaBee RC-3 suddenly appears, barely clearing the trees overhead, that is probably me and you can be assured that there is one very big smile on my face!
...Bear!
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EP-3E Aries II Surveillance Aircraft
by Jim Bennett
aries.zip
uploaded 20-June-2002
1,014Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Shane Osborn may not be a name that triggers a memory for most, but on April 1st, 2001, Lt Shane Osborn USN, successfully landed his crippled EP-3E ARIES US Navy Electronic Surveillance aircraft after having been rammed by a Chinese F-8 near Hainan Island in China. Though the Chinese government claimed the EP-3E rammed the highly manuverable F-8, they only managed to tell the world of their ignorance and stupidity by making those claims. Lt Shane Osborne successfully made an emergency landing at Hainan Island, despite the severe damage his aircraft had sustained and though no one was injured on the EP-3E, the pilot (Comm. Wong Wey) flying the Chinese F-8 was lost.
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Jim Bennett, using FSDS and AA, has designed up an authentic example of this aircraft for all of us to enjoy and Jim has even managed to include a custom designed panel as well. Recently we have all been subject to a number of very well designed variants of the Lockheed P-3 Orion and here is yet another very well designed version of the P-3. ...Bear!
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Hawaiian Airport Sceneries
by Bill Melichar
lih.zip
kona.zip
honolu.zip
uploaded 7/16/24-June-2002
1,615Kb/1,860Kb/392Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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Bill Melichar has been quite busy at producing sceneries for each of the major airports in the Hawaiian Islands, as last month (May) he uploaded his scenery for the Kahului International Airport (Maui) and he continued in June with scenery add-ons for Honolulu, Lihue, and Kona airports. Bill's work, as I have noted before, is truly outstanding and if flying in or around the "Sandwich Islands" is your thing, then Bill's scenery is an absolutely must have!
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Each of Bill's scenery packages includes indigenous vegetation, gates or stairs as applicable, accurately designed terminals in a Hawaiian hut style, extraordinary night lighting, etc.. I haven't spent as much time flying in Hawaii as I would have liked, but now I am beginning to make a point of it and that is almost entirely due to Bill's beautiful freeware scenery add-ons. The best time for viewing these sceneries is at or near dusk, as the warm and soft lighting, combined with the palm trees gives a very strong feeling of being in the Islands.
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As I mentioned, Bill uploaded his scenery for the Kahului International Airport on Maui (kahu.zip) in May and already in July he has uploaded additional scenery packages for the Hilo International Airport (hilo.zip) and Lanai Aiport (lanai.zip). It is because of this collective work on Bill's part, with his very beautiful scenery add-ons, that I am awarding him my Bear Gold Award! Outstanding work Bill, I know that I and whole host of other fellow flight simmers really love your work! ...Bear!
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Ford Trimotor 5-AT-C
by Pierino Primavesi
ford5atc.zip
uploaded 25-June-2002
7,370Kb Aircraft
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The Ford Trimotor or "Tin Goose" was one of the very first successful passenger liners built in the US and it was the first "all-metal" passenger liner built here as well, hence the nickname "Tin goose." There hasn't been a freeware FS version of the Tin Goose since FS98 and being as I am an easy mark for anything of a classic or vintage nature, it is only natural that I would like this aircraft. Frankly though, my appreciation for this FS aircraft goes far beyond the word "like," as Pierino Prmavesi has designed a FS2002 version of this aircraft that is not a simple remake of any earlier versions, but is a totally new FS design. Containing two complete models (one wheeled and one float) this FS aircraft represents the Ford 5-ATC-C model, which was a De-Luxe Club Model, having increased performance, cowlings, and wheel-pant options installed. Designed with 1024 x 1024 textures, true tri-motor sounds, 2D panel, fully dynamic 3D panel-cockpit, smoke effects, animated gear and control surfaces, FS2002 style lighting, and Pierino has even included the original strut mounted engine gauges (fully functional) for the port and starboard wing mounted engines.
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I don't know which part of this aircraft is my favorite feature, but at least two of them are the very authentic engine sounds during startup (each engine pops and backfires in a highly realistic manner) and the airfiles! Being very stable in pitch yet responsive to your control inputs, these aircraft are a real joy to fly, so I suppose you can probably tell, I really really like this aircraft!
I have absolutely no hesitation in giving Pierino Primavesi my highest award for his terrific pair of aircraft, so Prierino, you receive my Bear Gold Award for your outstanding work, of which you've been kind enough to share with us all! Thank you! ...Bear!
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A-10A Thunderbolt II
by Filipe Fonseca - José Campos
a10a.zip
uploaded 25-June-2002
11,737Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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The A-10 Thunderbolt II is one of the most intriguing combat aircraft that has ever been produced for the US Air Force. Called the Warthog by its pilots, the A-10 was, due to the end of the Cold-War, destined to the aircraft boneyards until the outbreak of the Gulf war. Though the A-10 is slow and unsophisticated, it proved itself combat ready and very combat effective against enemy armor or hardened targets during Operation Desert Storm. Having an empty weight of 12,000 lbs, the Warthog is capable of an ordinance loadout of 16,000 lbs, including its 30mm AU-8 Gattling Gun firing shells made up of 1-1/2 lbs of depleted uranium.
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There have been a number of very excellently designed A-10s for Flight Simulator and now Filipe Fonseca and José Campos have joined in with their latest version that gives you two complete aircraft (one has an airfile depicting a lightly loaded A-10 and the other is a fully loaded version). Each version is complete with Mike Hambly sounds, a very accurate 2D panel, a dynamic virtual panel/cockpit, and fully animated components (gear, flaps, rolling wheels, etc.) so typical today of FS aircraft for FS2002. Painted in the camouflage colors of dark green and dark gray these aircraft are well designed and well thought out, so here are yet two more combat aircraft to add to your military aircraft folder! ...Bear!
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Ilyushin IL-18
by H Schleef
il-18.zip
uploaded 28-June-2002
877Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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H. Schleef has designed an Aeroflot (1960s version) Ilyushin IL-18 long-range passenger turboprop airliner using a combination of photorealistic and chrome reflective textures that are very very realistic in their appearance. Add to this opening passenger doorways, working suspension, rolling tires, fully animated gear, flaps, and control surfaces, 3D flightdeck crew, and one of the best airfiles for an FS aircraft of this type and we have another freeware aircraft that is a sure winner!
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This aircraft was lacking in custom sounds or panel, so I did a quick search of the AVISM library and found a terrific panel (scds_panel_il18_v1-1.zip by Igor Suprunov, Dmitry Prosko, and Stepan Gritsevsky), but I am still looking for those perfect sounds!
You combine H. Schleef's excellent IL-18 with the boys (Igor, Dmitry, and Stepan) from Russia's outstanding panel, this is an FS aircraft (FS2002 only) that you may just want to take a second look at! This FS aircraft is most certainly Bear Approved!
...Bear!
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Savannah ICP Serres Aero Club Aircraft
by Maximos Sevastopoulos
icp740.zip
uploaded 28-June-2002
2,992Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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The Savannah is a very small aircraft powered by a Rotax912 80HP engine and fits into the catagory of ultra-light or homebuilt aircraft. This FS version was designed by Maximos Sevastopoulos from a Massimo Taccoli original. Maximos designed this FS aircraft after an actual Savannah that he personally flies, which also belongs to the Serres Aero Club and is based at a small airfield in Makedonia. This FS aircraft is as easy to fly as its real world counterpart, so even the most inexperienced of flight simmer should find their experience at flying the Savannah a satisfying one.
From the Massimo Taccoli original, Maximos has added a 2D custom panel, static virtual panel, custom exterior textures, custom airfile, and custom sounds and it is a lot of fun to fly! Give it a try, you shouldn't be disappointed! ...Bear!
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Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport
by Christian Bonacic
scel-cb.zip
uploaded 10-June-2002
6,030Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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One of the more significant airports in the country of Chile is the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport near the city of Santiago. The difference between the default airport scenery and Christian's add-on scenery is quite dramatic, as you can see from screenshots here. Using custom textures for that photorealistic feel, custom taxiway night lighting, gates with an active docking system, and the AI aircraft appear to match up to the custom gates, Christian Bonacic has completed a really improved version of the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport!
This scenery add-on is also compatible with most mesh (Chile) scenery add-ons as well, so if flying in the south of the Western Hemisphere is your bag of coffee beans, then by all means, check out Christian's really outstanding scenery add-on for the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport. ...Bear!
Naji Chehabeddine is easily one of the best of the bush scenery designers in our community and besides the many bush sceneries he has designed, he also helped startup the Bush Flying Unlimited group (who's forum is hosted by AVSIM), and now Naji has offered up this unique bush scenery package dedicated to all of us at AVSIM.
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Located in Southeast Alaska (and a bit northwest of BFU North), the AVSIM Base is aplenty with many custom features, including: A paved and dirt strip, a flying school, dynamic fireplace smoke, a dock for those of us arriving in a floatplane, fireworks display once a month (in celebration of the setting up of this base), a hilltop located glider launch spot, and even a couple of local forest fires that need extinguishing. By selecting 515 Khz on your ADF, locating this out-of-the-way bush base should be no problem.
I know that everyone here at AVSIM greatly appreciates what Naji designed for AVSIM Online*—finally we now have our own homebase. Thanks Naji, it is terrific!
...Bear!
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Airport Taxiway Signs
by Barry Guttormson (TaxiwaySigns.com)
uploaded (see text below)
30Kb - 90Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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For the last 3 or 4 months, Barry Guttormson has been uploading one set of taxiway signs after another, almost all based on requests from those of us in the FS community. Barry has quietly been designing and uploading his taxiway signs and I thought it was about time that he was recognized for his outstanding and selfless work!
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To date, Barry has uploaded the taxiway signs for 36 different airports and according to his website, he has received requests to design the taxiway signs at over 300 airports!
To locate any of Barry's files, just do an extended search in the AVSIM library by using the term: TaxiwaySigns.com in the box for author! That's it. With this you will get all of the files that Barry has uploaded to date and you can pick and choose your files as you wish, or you can (like me) download them all. With Barry's signs you will have some very realistic appearing signs, that also have night-lighting textures, so you shouldn't ever be lost at your favorite airport from now on. ...Bear!
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Moncton International Airport
by Craig and Steve Mosher
cyqm_v10.zip
uploaded 15-June-2002
5,360Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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Using Gmax to create photorealistic buildings for the Moncton International Airport (NB, Canada), Craig and Steve Mosher have completed a scenery add-on that is far more true to the real-life airport than the generic scenery provided by Microsoft.
Featuring an accurately designed terminal/control tower, custom designed support buildings and hangers, static scenery, and taxiway signs, Craig and Steve have also included AFCAD import files to coordinate the new scenery with the AI aircraft. Like FSDS before, aircraft and scenery designed using the new Gmax design tool are inching ever closer to providing real-world appearing objects. This is a fairly simple, yet dramatically improved scenery add-on over its default counterpart; if flying in Canada is something you do on a regular basis, then you may just want to check out this scenery add-on package from Craig and Steve Mosher! ...Bear!
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Page Cline has been designing airport scenery since the early days of FS2000 and now Page has updated those early FS2000 files for FS2002. With some very outstanding and highly realistic versions of the airport scenery for: Austin-Bergstrom Intl Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport, and Sacramento International airport (including some of the buildings in downtown and next to the river in "Old Sacramento").
Each of these airport scenery add-ons are very well thought out and are highly realistic in their presentation. Containing concrete runways with striped asphalt shoulders, each of these airport runways, terminals, gates, static aircraft, and airport buildings are soft textured providing for that real-world appearance. I was hoping that Page would update these airport scenery add-ons, as I liked them very much in FS2000 and now we all can enjoy them in FS2002! ...Bear!
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