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Bear's Cave
The world of Flight Simulators
short reviews by Steve "Bear" Cartwright
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Over the last week, we've been posting my weekly picks (from the month of September), a new week every couple of days. Now that we are caught up, here is the first installment covering those files uploaded into the AVSIM library from last week (Sept 29 - Oct 5). I think you will find that were some very interesting files uploaded during the week, including a couple that are just plain fun!
James Bond Autogyro "Little Nellie"
by Dave Garwood
autogyro.zip
uploaded 29-Sept-2002
2,901Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Week before last, Dave Garwood uploaded a really nice example of a Grob 115E (which is a powered aircraft by the way and not a sailplane... hehehe, Dave knows what I mean) and this week Dave has opted to share with us his really outstanding example of 'Little Nellie' from the James Bond film (when it was the real James Bond, aka: Sean Connery) 'You Only Live Twice'.
It seems that we have another FS aircraft designer that has gotten a real handle on Gmax, as his (Dave's) FS aircraft designs are very well done and Dave's latest is no exception. Fully animated and brisling with weapons, you too can buzz through the skies looking for the bad guys from SPECTRE!
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Unfortunately, the weapons don't work (fault of FS2002 not Dave), but the smoke screen generator does, so you can at least cover your trail. In this one download you do get two versions, the James Bond version and a more civil version, sans the weapons.
Dave Garwood's 'Little Nellie' flies and handles quite well and it is a lot of fun buzzing around in one of the best autogyros yet for Flight Simulator. The only suggestion I could possibly add would to have had the pilot figure wearing a tuxedo and maybe having the butt of his Walther PPK showing. ...Bear!
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C4M-Kudu
by Thinus Pretorius
c4m-kudu.zip
30-Sept-2002
1,284Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Using FSDS or similar design program, Thinus Pretorius has designed up an example of an Atlas C4M Kudu, from the South African Airforce, that includes animated components and a really interesting 'photorealistic' 2D panel.
It is the 2D panel that I found that makes this file worth downloading, because Thinus had the opportunity to photograph the real aircraft this upload depicts to form the bmp used in this very realistic panel. Covered in a soft pink color at night, the panel in this aircraft is a real standout and though I'm personally not familiar with the Atlas C4M aircraft, I did find the panel very striking. You might want to check this one out. ...Bear!
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Over the last two years, Guy F. Jutras, Rafael G. Sanchez, and the Quebec Virtual Pilots have been working at developing one of the most extensive scenery designs imaginable for the International Airport at Montreal, Canada (CYUL). Using photo-realistic ground and building textures, this team of fellows has come up with a very interesting and very accurate rendition of one of the most important airports in Canada, where each individual structure or airport feature was designed to duplicate the real world.
This being the first version, the textures only reflect 'summer', both day and night, and the ground textures have yet to be blended into the default surrounding area textures (there's a very sharp contrast between the airport grounds and the area texture default tiles), but that is promised to be corrected on later releases.
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Designed using Architect 2002 and using NOVA texture sets, these fellows have developed one of the most extensive airport designs available as freeware and I'm looking forward to their future updates for this scenery add-on. Remember though, this is one scenery package that does require you to read the included documents, so that you can enjoy it fully! There are animated hanger doors, delivery trucks you can repaint yourself, dynamic ground equipment, moving gateways, etc., and like all complex scenery or aircraft designs, it is mandatory that you read all of the included documents to the get the most out of it.
I implore all to check this scenery package out, because I don't think anyone will be disappointed at what the team of Guy F. Jutras, Rafael G. Sanchez, and the Quebec Virtual Pilots have accomplished. ...Bear!
Honorable Mention!
Two very worthwhile and notable files are the scenery package from Nick Ryall and the 707 panel from George Carty.
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Stonehengde Plus
by Nick Ryall
stonehenge.zip
uploaded 30-Sept-2002
706Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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One of the easter eggs missing from the default FS2002 was the ancient and mysterious construction of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, but Nick Ryall has corrected that oversight with a really terrific example (very realistic appearing) of the famous landmark. Also included are the Cerne Abbas Giant chalk carving and the Uffington White Horse!
George Carty has designed a beautiful example of a 707 panel, that includes a first officer's and flight engineer's panel along with the standard captain's position. Excellent documentation included as well.
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