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The quality of any aircraft designed by Project Opensky is no secret to those that use Flight Simulator and POSKY continues their professional/expert approach to FS aircraft design with their release of the older/early model Boeing 747 in the 100/200 series. The fellows over at Project Opensky are true freeware FS aircraft designers, as they obviously enjoy making some of the finest aircraft available to other hobbyist for repainting and uploading (with permission of course). I'm hoping that my Ralph Tofflemire 747-200 panel will soon be updated for FS2002, but in the meantime there are a few 100/200 series panels out there available for use with this beautifully designed aircraft (just do a search in the various libraries as I did).
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This FS aircraft has it all, 3D gear bays, animated; gear, spoilers, flaps, slats, etc.; tilted wheel buggies, transparent cockpit, 3D pilots, well, you know the rest as well as I do. Another outstanding FS aircraft from the folks at Project Opensky and this one is most certainly "Bear" Approved!
...Bear!
It's interesting that the majority of initial FS2002 dedicated aircraft to hit the libraries have been predominately "bush" type or style of aircraft and Steven Grant/Fred Choate along with Golden Eagles Squadron (Bill Lyons) have been leading the way. The latest from Steven and Fred are a series or variations of the Aviat A1-B Husky, with a taildragger, ski-equipped, and amphibious available now. There is also a minor download that contains a fix so that the taildragger version gets a repair done on the tail-wheel.
Each version sports a custom panel, animated parts, rolling wheels, and a custom airfile by Steven. The amphibian also has retractable float-gear, making it a true amphib and also another favorite among my growing list of installed float/amphibians on my harddrive. I'm not only impressed by Steven and Fred continuing excellent work, I'm equally impressed that they also continue to provide their work as freeware, thanks guys, nice work!
...Bear!
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24-December-2001
Twin Beech Model 18
by Fred Choate
b18_n348yb.zip
uploaded 13-Dec-2001
949Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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Fred has taken an original FS aircraft design by Michael Schurz (with a Steve Small airfile) and has completely redesigned the panel plus has applied an all new exterior paint scheme. The end result is an excellent (and complete) Beechcraft D18 twin with a custom panel designed specifically for FS2002.
With an aircraft that figures in between (by size and weight) the DC-3 and a Beechcraft Baron, you have the classic D18! Fred has also included updated navigation lighting along with a weight and balance section with aircraft loading instructions. So, if downloading a complete package is up your alley (FS2002 aircraft with; custom panel, custom sounds, airfile by Steve Small, and a nice paint rework), then Fred's latest release is a must have. Once again, beautiful work from Fred Choate of one of my all-time favorite aircraft! ...Bear!
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22-December-2001
C-17 Globemaster
by Project Opensky/repainter Bryan Payne-Kobal
ups_c17.zip
fe_c17.zip
uploaded 16/18-Dec-2001
2,150Kb/2,246Kb
FS2002 Aircraft
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For the second time this month (December) Project Opensky has introduced another outstanding aircraft, but they changed their direction a bit with their release of the military version of the Globemaster. Bryan Payne-Kobal has applied his expert painting ability to the POSKY C-17 and has offered them up in both a UPS paint scheme and the FedEx paint.
Of course the FedEx and UPS liveries of the C-17 Globemaster are fictional, Bryan has captured the look of either if this were to come to be, after-all, who knows?
Not to sound too much like a broken record, the fellows at Project Opensky are simply some of the best FS aircraft designers I can think of, both from the past or presently, and they continue their tradition once again with another outstanding FS aircraft. ...Bear!
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22-December-2001
Samedan, Switzerland (LSZS)
by Andreas Hegi
lszs1.1.zip
uploaded 17-Dec-2001
1,604Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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I'm personally not familiar with any of Andreas Hegi's prior scenery work, but his download file for enhancing the airport at Samedan, Switzerland is one of those little gems that I'm afraid many may have missed.
Keeping it simple, Andreas has developed a nice little scenery package that includes photorealistic buildings, static aircraft, and static cars. From the accurate signage on the perimeter fencing to the subtle night-lighting, this scenery add-on blends in beautifully with the default scenery of FS2002. I like it very much and you might wish to check it out yourself!
...Bear!
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28-December-2001
Boeing 707 (panel)
by Paul Golding
pg7072k2.zip
uploaded 20-Dec-2001
6,673Kb
FS2002 Panel
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Paul Golding is quickly becoming an icon among the FS users when it comes to beautifully designed freeware jetliner panels (prior releases have included panels for the MD-80 and MD-87)—and now Paul has given all of us something rather extraordinary for use with the HJG (Historic Jetliner Group) Boeing 707s! An all new design 707 panel, including 3 panel views, normal-landing-pilot (activated by the CTRL + Numerical Pad keys 8/5/2). I personally have had a problem concerning my not being able to get anything other than the normal mode or normal panel view, but based on everyone in the MSFS Forums, it's apparently just a problem with my own system or me and has nothing to do with Paul's panel.
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I personally like the night-lighting that Paul has included along with the near-photorealistic appearance of the panel bitmap. All gauges are functional and do include the FS2002 GPS along with an authentic autopilot. For some time now the only choice we have had for a panel was the excellent panel (CARP707) from Chris Arrington & Richard Probst, but that panel was originally designed for FS98 and even with the many updated versions that had been released by other authors, Paul's release is a rather refreshing new and original design! Absolutely another outstanding panel from Paul! More than deserving of my "Bear Approved" stamp! ...Bear!
[Editor's Note: Also see Bryan York's' full review posted December 28.]
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28-December-2001
Cessna T-50 Bobcat Series and Flying Crown Ranch Scenery
by Bill Lyons/JL Stubbs (Golden Eagles Squadron)
skyking2.zip
uploaded 23-Dec-2001
6,600Kb
FS2000 Aircraft/Scenery
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Bill Lyons has been a real friend of the FS Community for some time now, with prior releases of several extraordinary general aviation aircraft, period sceneries, and adventures. Just to name some, there was the Cessna 120 (wheeled-ski-float) for FS2000, that also included a functional virtual cockpit and dynamic water splashing with the float version. There also was the infamous Cannibal Queen Boeing Stearman along with the California VFR ground textures for FS2000—but then, only 5 or 6 days after the release of FS2002, Bill Lyons and the Golden Eagles Squadron released the Cannuck80 aircraft (wheeled and float) that were the first freeware FS aircraft dedicated to FS2002!
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Now, Bill and JL have completely outdone even themselves, with their latest upload of the Cessna T-50 Bobcat Series of aircraft and the original Flying Crown Ranch (Skyking's home) located in Northwestern Arizona! Also included are additional sceneries in Oregon (Columbia River Cabin) and across the pond in England (Land's End Aero Services). Then, as if this wasn't enough, they've thrown in a rather neat 1949 Caddy convertible complete with functional virtual dashboard as well. To tie these 4 different aircraft, 3 unique sceneries, and one cool daddy caddy, there's about a dozen adventure flights/drives to go along with it all. Believe me, this is one very outstanding and most complete freeware downloads I've seen in the AVSIM library or anywhere else for that matter! (By the way, the reason or reference to "Skyking" is that before the Cessna 320, Skyking flew a Cessna T-50 Bobcat!)
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If you haven't downloaded this package, then I highly suggest you do; if you have downloaded it, but haven't flown or drove in it yet, then what are you waiting for? I've loved every aircraft that Bill Lyons has designed and now that he and JL Stubbs – plus all the other ole' timers over at the Golden Eagle Squadron are loose – we're all in for a treat of that I'm very sure, though I don't know how they can top this? This package is not only deserving of my "Bear Approved" stamp, I'm awarding Bill, JL, and the whole group at Golden Eagle Squadron my "Bear Gold Award" for one of the most outstanding freeware FS packages in 2001!
...Bear!
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30-December-2001
Alaskan Docks 2: Aleutian Islands
by Dave Erickson
akdk2.zip
uploaded 29-Dec-2001
2,770KbKb
FS2002 Scenery
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Tom Fica, Don Moser, Naji Chehabeddine, Jure Dolanec, Frank Betts, and Dave Erickson all contributed to the AVSIM library with many outstanding bush sceneries during the month of December. From all of these scenery uploads, I've choosen Dave Erickson's latest; Alaskan Docks 2, as one of my picks.
Dave Erickson has given all of us many excellent sceneries for FS2000, particularily his Alaska Commutor series of scenery packages, but to the best of my knowledge this is the first collection of bush scenery packages dedicated to the Aleutian Islands. Dave's 9 seperate float plane facilities start up at Dutch Harbor at Unalaska and extend all the way out to the Coast Guard station at Casco Cove (the most westerly tip of Alaska is across the international dateline, making this the most Easterly point of the United States. The most Western, Eastern, and Northern points of the United States are all in Alaska, which could be a great trivia question!)
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Each of Dave's sceneries (like his prior FS2002 sceneries) have very realistic buildings-docks-fishing boats and even though Alaskan Docks 2 is intended for float planes, many of the locations also include a dirt strip for wheeled aircraft. Each of Dave's Alaskan Docks scenery locations are roughly 100 miles from the prior scenery, making this scenery package one you fly along in almost any aircraft you have available.
Standing on one of the docks, in Alaskan Docks 2 one can almost smell the salt water and the smell of freshly caught fish—sorta makes me homsick for another fishing trip to Alaska. Another winner from Dave Erickson; and I am assuming that like his Alaska Commutor series, Dave intends on continuing his Alaskan Docks series as well! Let's all hope so! Thanks Dave and once again, you've got my "Bear Approved" stamp! ...Bear!
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30-December-2001
FS2002 Autogen Conifer Tree Replacement
by Ed Truthan
conifer.zip
uploaded 28-Dec-2001
2,981Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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With all the great files, aircraft, scenery, utilities, etc. uploaded into the AVSIM library during the month of December, one might wonder why I picked this simple file that Ed Truthan uploaded; but once you try it, believe you me it'll make you wonder what the FS design team was thinking when they designed their version of a conifer tree for the Autogen program.
I think I can understand what Microsoft was thinking—in their conifer tree design, as the default trees are thick and wide, which does have a tendency to give a scenery a more filled-in look to it, particularly from a slight distance. In addition, this type of tree design most likely keeps the Autogen-generated conifers somewhat frame rate friendly. Unfortunately, those of us that have lived or do now live in those areas of the world where the conifer or evergreen tree is the dominate species, the default trees do not look very realistic.
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Ed Truthan has developed a very realistic tree that is available in either a 1024x1024 bitmap or a 512x512 bitmap (more fps friendly) and Ed has the Autogen producing them at a rate of 4 to 1 in numbers, as compared to the default conifers. Basically, the transformation that occurs, after you install Ed's trees is astonishing, it truly is! I could never go back to the defaults, though I did save the original bitmaps, but why I did I haven't quite figured out yet. Outstanding freeware upload Ed!
...Bear!
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30-December-2001
EDDW2002 - Bremen, Germany
by Oliver Pabst
eddw2k21.zip
uploaded 25-Dec-2001
3,451Kb
FS2002 Scenery
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I'm sure that like many of you reading this, you've downloaded hundreds of airports sceneries for Flight Simulator (all versions) like I have and like most of you I have really found some of these sceneries to be quite amazing. I'm telling you now though, this latest scenery from Oliver Pabst is one very astonishing piece of work! This just has to be the most detailed and most dynamic airport scenery I have ever seen.
My first experience with this scenery was following a flight from Frankfurt over to Bremen with the default 737 (repainted in Air Berlin livery) following a IFR ATC flightplan (default flight planner). Once I landed at Bremen a follow-me vehicle met me on the taxiway and then proceeded to direct me to my proper parking spot. Once I arrived at my parking spot there was an animated ground crew (quite visible from the default virtual panel position) member that gave me final parking directions with the standard hand/arm signals.
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Once I shutdown I just sat there and watched, as this is the most dynamic airport scenery I've ever seen for any version of Flight Simulator. It was amazing—there were catering and service vehicles moving about, along with very dynamic aircraft (add-on and AI default), plus there was even a bus that came out to my aircraft along with a general service vehicle. The jetways are active; there were fuel trucks pulling up to vehicles, the aircraft next to me (a Fokker F50) started up and then moved out for its scheduled run to somewhere. I mean to tell you this is the way a real airport looks, very active and very dynamic! Plus with a little add-on program that Oliver included, you can preselect the type of aircraft you will be arriving in, so that the ground vehicles (catering and service vehicles along with the jetways) will service you and fit your aircraft! This is outstanding scenery and I can't imagine the amount of work it involved to get it this realistic and detailed? Oliver's Bremen, Germany airport scenery absolutely gets my "Bear Approved" stamp for this one! ...Bear!
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