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Bear's Cave
The world of Flight Simulators
short reviews by Steve "Bear" Cartwright
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Well, it's been two weeks already and once again we've got some really terrific files to take a look at from the AVSIM library! The bush scenery guys have all been busy, with some excellent uploads from Jim Faircloth, Dale Baker, and once again Naji Chehabeddine, plus there have been any number of aircraft repaints and such, but here are my 5 picks that you just might want to take a bit of a closer gander at!
8-October-2001
Canadair CL-215/415
by Massimo Taccoli
cl_215_cf.zip
cl_415_pci.zip uploaded 24-Sept-2001
1,961Kb/1,476Kb
FS2000 Aircraft
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Massimo Taccoli has given all of us flight simmers many many outstanding FS aircraft in the past and he continues again with his design of two versions of the Canadair CL forest fire fighting aircraft, the 215 model and the 415 model. The first being powered by two Pratt & Whitney R2800 radial recips and the latter having twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123 Turboprops. Each model contains an airfile designed by Andrea Cini and seems to be appropriate for these aircraft sizes and/or weight, plus Massimo has also included a pretty extensive document file (lots of info on the real thing along with real world photos). Included with each are custom designed panels and virtual cockpits as well, over all these are both pretty terrific FS aircraft. Even though both aircraft use default sounds, Massimo does point you in a couple of directions for his recommendations on more correct and accurate sounds.
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Overall these aircraft are very well designed, very accurate as to the real thing, contain a pretty fair airfile and panels, and with the appropriate sounds (I installed some PBY sounds from Mike Hambly into the 215 and I followed Massimo's recommendations for the 415).
I feel that once again Massimo Taccoli has given all of us a real pair of winners here! Check them out as soon as you can! ...Bear!
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1-October-2001
Las Americas Jose Fco. Pena Gomez Intl V1.1
by Ricardo G. Morillo
mdsd.zip uploaded 29-Sept-2001
2,870Kb
FS2000 Scenery
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Though I missed Ricardo's version 1.0 of the Las Americas Jose Fco. Pena Gomez International Airport, his latest version did catch my eye when it appeared in the AVSIM library. Pena Gomez International is the main airport at Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic (Caribbean) and several US, European, and South American air-carriers service this airport, which lies along the very inviting appearing ocean beaches of Santo Domingo.
Ricardo, using photorealistic textures, has rendered the main terminal along with the cargo hanger nearby, perimeter trees, new runway and taxiway textures, and a new tarmac concrete texture that I really liked. In addition there are various airport equipment and static aircraft scattered about. Overall Ricardo has done a very nice job and you just might want to take a look at his work! Nice Job Ricardo! ...Bear!
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6-October-2001
A-6E Intruder
by Rick Sasala
intruder.zip
uploaded 4-Oct-2001
577Kb
FS2000 Aircraft
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I believe I've noted several FS aircraft from Rick Sasala in the past and this here is his latest design using the Abacus FSDSPro design program. This particular FS aircraft depicts a USN A-6E Intruder of the VA-115 carrier based air group. The real A-6E served the US Navy for nearly 3 decades as an all-weather, two-seat, subsonic, attack/bomber aircraft that was based on America's aircraft carriers around the world. The A-6 Intruders first served as a Navy Bomber in Vietnam and they finished up their service when many saw action in the Gulf War. Capable of carrying nearly 8 tons of ordinance to targets in all weather conditions, this aircraft fulfilled the Navy's needs and its requirements very well indeed.
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Rick's version here is typical of what kind of quality we've been seeing right along from FSDSPro designed aircraft, including animated parts, steerable nosewheel, pilots in the cockpit, and this FS aircraft is fully carrier landable! Even though Rick did not include a custom panel or sounds (of which I'm sure can be found at one of the various FS website libraries), the rest of the aircraft is quite nice and most certainly is the best A-6 Intruder I've run across for FS2000! ...Bear!
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7-October-2001
Brian Gladden Aircraft
cmdr2kv1.zip Commander 114 TC
lanciv-p.zip Lancair IV-P Homebuilt Kit Plane
mu-2bg.zip Mitsubishi MU-2N 'Marquise'
pa22_2k.zip Piper PA-22 Tripacer
pacer_15.zip Piper PA-22/20 Pacer
vnsrv6a.zip Vans RV-6A Homebuilt Sport Aircraft
zen801_1.5.zip Zenith CH 801 STOL Hombuilt Kit Aircraft
zen801fl.zip Zenith CH 801 STOL Hombuilt Kit Aircraft On Floats
all uploaded 5-Oct-2001
432Kb/850Kb/633Kb/377Kb/534Kb/899Kb/793/1,220Kb
FS2000 Aircraft
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I have been using and truly enjoying the aircraft from Brian Gladden's hanger for some time now, and finally, after a bit of gentle prodding on my part, Brian has been kind enough to share his excellent work to those looking into our library here at AVSIM.
In some cases Brian has included a custom panel, or with those he hasn't, he does give recommendations as to where you can find a good example for his aircraft. There are some examples of his (Brian's) work where he received assistance from Michael Verlin and others on some of the airfiles and the like.
Many many times I've stated that Brian is one of favorite Freeware aircraft designers and he has also (recently) posted screenshots on some of his next projects, but before then, I suggest you download all of his aircraft and you too will see why I like his aircraft so much! ...Bear!
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8-October-2001
Hellas 2001 Scenery for Athens Intl Airport Eleftherios Venizelos
by George Dorkofikis & Ted Katranas
lgav2001.zip
lgav2001.zip (patch)
uploaded 7-Oct-2001
12,120Kb
FS2000 Scenery
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On March 28th of this year (2001) the Eleftherios Venizelos airport (LGAV) opened as the replacement airport (commercial traffic) for the old Athens (Greece) Hellenikon Airport (LGAT). In keeping with this significant change over, the Hellas2001 Scenery Project group has now released their latest work with the Eleftherios Venizelos airport scenery upload.
This latest airport design sports photorealistic buildings, gates, runways, taxiways, tarmacs, control tower, and does include very realistic appearing airport ground/grass textures. Of course all other airport items, such as: taxiway centerlines, taxiway edges, night-lighting, well, everything is just about as accurate as one could hope for.
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Overall there is an obvious lack of any airport equipment or static aircraft, but that can be corrected with the use of FSTraffic, if you just happen to have that excellent program. So, if adding on of the major (and minor) airports for Greece are in your FS scenery build plans, then you must take a serious look at the latest from George and Ted! ...Bear!
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