My, how time flies, but here is my 3rd addition of the “new” Bear Picks since we’ve re-established the Bear Cave. As with the previous weeks, we are presenting high quality files from the AVSIM library for FS2002 and FS2004, files that follow a general theme and this week we are concentrating our attention to two FS aircraft designers, John L. Woodward and the team of Lynn & Bill Lyons from over at the Golden Eagle Squadron. Between these two we have here a very wide selection of classic, unique, or vintage aircraft, several of which are of the type or configuration best applied to bush flying. There is something else that all of these aircraft have in common and that is each and every one of them have a dynamic 3D virtual cockpit. It was Bill Lyons that was the first, to the best of my knowledge, to have included a dynamic virtual cockpit-panel, even as far back as with some of his earliest designs for FS98 and here we see the same thing with his previously payware files that he and his wife Lynn have released as freeware. I’m also quite pleased with the latest FS2004 releases from John L. Woodward as two files represent upgrades from their FS2002 counterparts, and John has just released a new aircraft (Beaver) specifically for FS2004. Sit back, enjoy, and I’m sure that even the most critical or demanding of you will find something here that pleases you, as they have me. (Click on any of these file names for their Library descriptions and to download.)
John L.
Woodward has been designing General Aviation aircraft for Flight Simulator for
at least 3 or 4 years now and his Alon Ercoupe, Lake Renegade, & Republic Seabee
for FS2002 were all really terrific little aircraft, but he has now purpose
built a very fine example of the de Havilland Beaver (DHC-2). John has built his
Beaver in two configurations, wheeled and float versions, and in both cases they
share common textures so any repaints that appear will fit both models. Each
also has a dynamic 3D virtual cockpit-panel, fully animated components, and
authentic sounds (brought up from Fred Banting and Yannick’s FS2000 Beaver).
They are devoid a 2D panel, but John suggests downloading any FS2002 example if
you feel you must have one. Frankly these aircraft are designed to be flown
strictly from the virtual cockpit, so a 2D panel is really not needed.
Despite their
being very basic in their design, they still are of fairly high quality that I’m
sure will please the bush flyers out there. Check them out, as they represent
one of the most popular bush planes of all time and they’re both easy on the
frame-rates.
----Bear!
1947
Republic Seabee RC-3
Updated from
its FS2002 version, this revamped FS aircraft is one of my all time favorite
movie aircraft (used by James Bond in “The Man With A Golden Gun”) and John has
updated the virtual cockpit including a clickable panel and dynamic gauges. This
aircraft also includes a very nicely done 2D panel from J. L. Stubbs. Defaulting
to the 182S for sounds, this is still a wonderful little amphibian that is
equally adapt in the water or on land.
As will
all of John’s FS aircraft designs, this one is fully animated including
opening front door-panel. This is a great little aircraft for either the
waterways of Canada or Alaska, or you can island hop in the Caribbean if you
wish. Either way this is a good choice for this amphib designed in 1947.
----Bear!
Lake
Renegade 250
Third up for
John Woodward is the beautiful example of the Lake Renegade 250 amphibian. Like
the Republic Seabee, the Lake Renegade is a pusher, with its engine mounted atop
the main fuselage and the propeller pointed toward the rear tail section. The
Lake is rather unique in its appearance due to its mid-fuselage mounted main
wing (the Republic Seabee is a high wing aircraft).
The John
Woodward designed Lake Renegade 250 has animated components, including dual
opening doors on the starboard side and the aircraft’s nose makes for a great
place to sit while you fish all afternoon. With room for 4 average sized adults
and their luggage (just keep it light okay?), the Lake Renegade 250 is an able
performer at home anywhere there is either a strip of clear land or water
waiting for your use.
Alon
Ercoupe
Alon
Ercoupe
Classic
Globe Swift
Originally, just over 260 Swifts were built between 1946 and 1951, but
despite the low build numbers most are still flyable today.
Manufactured
by the Globe/Temco company, the Swift was considered a poor man’s P-51. An
all metal retract single, the Swift was very popular in its day and Lynn &
Bill Lyons’ version is as about as good as it gets for Flight Simulator.
First released by Lynn & Bill as a payware package under their Golden Eagle
Squadron website, but after a year since its original release, Lynn & Bill
have decided to now make it available as a freeware package. The package
includes the Swift in 4 variants, 2 classic retract versions, 1 ski equipped
model, and an amphibian, plus the file includes a custom scenery package, a
drivable Willys Jeep, and a set of adventure flights to enjoy it all. Having
a very accurate 2D panel as well as the standard
fare
fully dynamic
3D virtual cockpit (standard fare for Bill Lyons). A very cool package and
the fact that Lynn & Bill have decided to release the package as freeware to
the flight sim community is testimony to the good nature of the Lyons
family.
----Bear
Ryan STA
Classic
Another
of the Lynn & Bill Lyons former payware packages released as freeware, the
Lyons’ Classic Ryan STA is a must have package. Despite now being freeware,
the package is the same complete package as the original with 2 variations
of the Ryan (wheeled and float) with several liveries or paints, plus there
is a custom scenery, a 1930s era Garwood mahogany speedboat, a snow and ice
skater, and several adventure-flights. Among the many Lyons releases, this
is easily among my most favored to fly on a regular basis. Don’t miss this
one if flying open cockpit aircraft is to your liking. As usual, aircraft
includes 2D and fully dynamic 3D virtual cockpit, custom sounds, and even
the pilot’s scarf flickers in the air, another not to be missed package from
Lynn & Bill Lyons.
----Bear!
Piper Cub
Classic
The
default Piper Cub in FS2004 is actually very well done, one of Microsoft’s
best efforts yet, but Lynn & Bill Lyons’ Classic Club package does include 3
additional variations of the Cub that the MSFS team did not include, a Cub
with skis, floats, and a specially painted clipped-wing Cub for performing
limited aerobatics with.
Includes
the standard 2D panel along with the dynamic 3D virtual panel-cockpit, plus
all the other neat little features that are included with Lynn & Bill’s
releases. In this case, it’s a custom scenery add-on, 1934 Ford model “A”,
and a working sailboat. This classic aircraft package download has been put
together by one our hobby’s most accomplished aircraft designers.
----Bear!
Waco
Classic Biplane
Designed
after a real-world Waco biplane, classic aircraft rebuilt with modern gauges
and avionics, the Waco Classic Biplane package from Lynn & Bill Lyons is
another one of most favored aircraft. Inside and out, this a real gem of an
FS aircraft that has all the normal bells & whistles from Lynn & Bill,
including custom 2D panel, dynamic 3D virtual cockpits, several repaints,
and two variants (wheeled and float). The original Waco Classic Biplane
from Lynn & Bill was their first payware release, now they have released it
as freeware so that all can enjoy the days of flying an open cockpit
aircraft that just may be the most beautiful of all the 1930s era biplanes.
If you like classic open-cockpit aircraft in Flight Simulator, then don’t
miss this one.
----Bear!
Classic
Tiger Moth
It is
estimated that up to 90% of the Allied Air Force pilots first learned to fly
in either the Piper Cub or the de Havilland Tiger Moth. Lynn & Bill Lyons’
version of this timeless classic is simply the best I’ve ever seen for
Flight Simulator, end of story. Having several models included, the Lynn &
Bill Lyons’ Tiger Moth comes in both a wheeled and float version, several
repaints, animated features, and custom sounds.
Of course
all models include an outstanding 2D panel with a fully dynamic 3D virtual
panel-cockpit. The dynamic texture shine is also about the best I’ve seen
from any of Lynn & Bill Lyons’ releases. Truthfully, I’ve never really been
a big fan of the little de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth, but Lynn & Bill’s
version has certainly changed my mind. Absolutely outstanding FS aircraft!
----Bear!
Cessna
T-50 Bobcat Series FCR scenery
One of
favorite themes to hear on a Saturday morning, when I was very young
(1950s), was “..out of the clear blue of the western sky comes, SKYKING!”!
I’m sure there are a number of you that remember the thrill of hearing that
from, first the radio (I do), and then later on television. Earl Nightingale
was the voice of “Skyking” from the radio show, but it was Kirby Grant that
played the television version of Skyking and every weekend we enjoyed the
many exciting adventures of Skyking, along with his niece “Penny Marshall”
(played by actress Gloria Winters), flying from Sky’s Flying Crown Ranch,
located near Grover, Arizona.
Most
remember the second of the two aircraft that Skyking flew, a Cessna 310B/320
Sky Knight, but the first aircraft used on the TV show was actually a Cessna
T-50 Bobcat, so how many of you remembered that little piece of trivia?
Skyking’s Cessnas both had the name “Songbird” on the side and Bill
Lyons, in his typical fashion, presented this package, to the flight-sim
community, as a Christmas gift (December of 2001) from the Golden Eagle
Squadron.
Included
with the package are two versions of the Bobcat on floats, the original
“Songbird” on wheels, 3 scenery add-ons (Skyking’s original Arizona Flying
Crown Ranch, Land’s End in Southern England, and a Columbia River cabin in
Oregon), several flight-adventures, and Sky’s 1949 Cadillac convertible
(which is fully driveable by the way). The custom panel and gauges are by JL
Stubbs and as usual these aircraft (and the Caddy) have a fully dynamic 3D
virtual cockpit along with the standard 2D panel. This is an absolutely
wonderful FS package that truly brings back a lot of nostalgic memories for
me, as it will for a number of you out there, I’m sure!
As one
last note, I have successfully installed this package into FS2004, but there
are some minor issues related to invisible propellers and some moving parts,
but other than that, this aircraft, the Caddy, and the scenery add-ons seem
to work generally okay in FS2004/COF.
----Bear!
Classic
Goodyear Blimp: The Defender
This is a
real classic, both for FS2002 and in consideration of its real-world
counterpart. The Goodyear blimp, Defender, was built in 1929 and used for 5
years as a passenger blimp. Bill Lyons out did himself with this one as it
includes very photorealistic textures, electric Goodyear sign, 2D panel,
full 3D virtual cockpit and dynamic panel, authentic sounds, and even
includes blimp flying lessons for the newbie to lighter than air aircraft.
This is a really beautiful download that I’m sure everyone has tried at one
time or another, but I just wanted to remind everyone in the event they’re
still using FS2002.
----Bear!
Classic
Hot Air Balloon Kit
Always
having something unique to release, Bill Lyons had previously released this
outstanding example of a hot air balloon that operates and reacts probably
as close to the real thing as you could ever hope for. With authentic
sounds, 12 different liveries, 2D panel, dynamic 3D virtual cockpit, an
authentic appearing burner flame that lights the balloon canopy at night,
and a fireworks display (just hit the smoke key, “I”). Probably the best
part is how uniquely correct the airfile is considering that most respected
airfile designers had felt it wasn’t possible to develop an accurate hot air
balloon airfile for FS2002, but Bill Lyons managed to do it and he did it
quite well thank you. If you missed this on the last go around, last year,
don’t miss this opportunity to go download this unusual and unique aircraft
file from the AVSIM library.
----Bear!
Fleet
Canuck 80
Virtual
uploaded into the AVSIM library within hours of the release of FS2002 were
these wonderful pair of bush-vintage aircraft from Bill Lyons. Listed as for
FS2002 only, these are very accurately designed examples of the Fleet Canuck
80, both in wheeled and float versions.
Considering that the number of downloads for this package has exceeded
9,000, its most likely you have probably had these on your hard drive at one
time or another, but as a little reminder of just how terrific these
aircraft were I felt they deserved mentioning again. Both models have a 2D
and 3D virtual cockpit (dynamic), authentic sounds, and reflective textures.
They were also Bear Gold winners when originally released.
----Bear!
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