AVSIM Aircraft Reviews

This Page was last updated: Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Welcome to the AVSIM Aircraft Reviews. Here we provide reviews of aircraft for your perusal.

Aircraft Reviewed

2009

Lockheed Constellation by Just Flight. (November 18, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen goes nostalgic with her look at Just FLight's Lockheed Constellation C69/L-049A. "The prototype Constellation NX25800 (msn1961) completed its maiden flight in January 1943. Although both TWA and Pan American had placed orders for the aircraft, the small number (22) then produced were quickly pressed into military service, as the C-69, for the war effort." "The cockpit is a mix between digitalized material and their own created handles, levers or other components not available for making. However, all is done in a way that’s a pleasure to look at in the cockpit and to fly with it, since that’s what everybody wants. These oldies are not for every flight simmer. Not because of the price, not because of the quality, which is good, but purely because it doesn’t offer modern equipment and it doesn’t fly fast when compared to the modern jets. For its day, it was a spacious environment, with a flight engineers panel and a radio/navigator location. All of this is well simulated and created in this JF model." Angelique tells the story of the Connie from the first person (aircraft's) perspective, which creates a unique perspective of this review. She does a walk around of the aircraft and explains all of "her" parts. Then takes the plane up for a flight across the English Channel and reports on "her" perfomance. The sepia thumbnail screenshots adds to this unique review presentation. "Just Flight's three Constellation models are fun and great to fly. It flies as real as it gets within the boundaries of FSX. This aircraft is worth having the model in your hanger and especially when you weant to revisit old times when uncomplicated flights where the norm."

727 Captain by Captain Sim. (November 7, 2009): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston climbs aboard a 3-engined favourite, with Captain Sim's 727 Captain. "The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner. The 727's sales record for the most jet airliners ever sold was broken in the early 1990s by its younger stable mate, the Boeing 737." "There are two variants of the 727. The 727-100 was launched in 1960 and placed into service in February 1964. The 727-200 was launched in 1965 and placed into service in December 1967. There was also an advanced version produced as well as a freighter. The exterior model of all four versions is superb, with every detail of the real thing superbly replicated." "The cockpit or Flight Deck is superbly detailed, and is a very accurate reproduction of any well worn, much used Boeing 727 Aircraft. A full instrument suite is laid out exactly as the 727 would be, and the Flight Engineers panel is a very worthy addition and is also constructed in every respect in line with the real thing. The Engines, which are basically Pratt and Whitney designed P&W JT8D-7, -17R&S are well engineered by the sound team to sound realistic, and noisy, which of course they still are." "Captain Sim's 727 Captain has a huge choice of liveries (300) Wow! and plenty of examples of 100 series, 200 series and Freighters for everyone, makes this a must have for Boeing classic passenger transport enthusiasts, and anyone else who appreciates a sturdy and popular Boeing product of the late 1960’s."

DC-9 Series by Sky Simulations. (November 5, 2009): Staff reviewer Roger Curtiss takes at look a an aircraft that we've all prbably flown on, the DC-9 Series from Sky Simulations. "The DC-9 is one of the last of the true “pilot’s airplanes”. It was designed and built in the 1960s when jet aircraft were still a relatively new concept and there were no such things as flight management systems, VNAV, LNAV or GPS navigation." "Attention to detail abounds with this offering. You get five different variations of the DC-9, the original -10 model, -21, 31, 41 and 51. Differences amongst the models relate mostly to size. It took me three sessions before I could manage to get all the switches in the correct positions in order to start the engines…and truth be told, even though I followed the checklist instructions as closely as I could, I had to cheat and use CTRL+E." "The 2D panel provided me the best overview of most of the instruments. I found the virtual cockpit, while beautifully detailed, does not allow panning with ease to see needed dials and switches. The instructions for cockpit setup are thorough and demanding but once engine start can be achieved, the reward is a terrific sound mix." "Aircraft handling was all too quirky for my appreciation. I had considerable difficulty in attempting to maintain level flight at airspeeds of 180 kts or less even with flaps extended. Pitch control movement at that configuration would result in airspeed changes and level flight could only be maintained through constant power adjustments. I was also having a problem with stabilizer trim repeatedly resetting itself to full nose down. This necessitated having to keep the throttle pedestal window opened when using the 2D cockpit." "If you want to experience 1960s era jet flight in a realistic setting then Sky Simulations' DC-9 Series is an excellent choice. This airplane must be piloted and flown throughout every phase of flight and if nothing else it teaches the importance of strict adherence to checklists. This is going to be an airplane that will need to be learned to be operated with any degree of precision and being able to do so will be a reward for the computer pilot as this is anything but a push button airplane and its operation is very much a reflection of the pilot’s ability."

Predator UAV by First Class Simulations / Abacus. (October 22, 2009): Staff reviewer Mark Kolo takes to the skies from the comfort of his desk, just like some in the real world, as he looks at First Class Simulations' Predator UAV. "It is now possible for a Predator pilot and systems operator to go out on a mission over Iraq, support coalition ground troops, then make it home in time for dinner! The subjects of this review are the RQ-1 and MQ-1 variants of the Predator A" "The basic layout is for two separate stations for the pilot and sensor operator, each with two large screens on the top and two smaller screens for systems monitoring on the bottom, with a small desk with the switches, keyboard, and flight controls for the aircraft. The overall feel of the Predator operator’s station is kept, but it isn’t 100% accurate to the real thing. The textures are very plain and low resolution except for on the control desk (Keyboard and switch labels are all fully readable). The upper navigational map screen uses the default FSX Garmin 500, which does the job adequately, but does not really resemble the screen on the real Predator. The lower right screen is very useful providing information regarding operation of the aircraft’s engine and flight path." "Thanks to the graphics advances offered in FSX, the 2D panel is becoming obsolete, though it is a godsend for people running smaller monitors or lower end computers. I personally used the 3D Operator’s station (can’t call it a cockpit) for 95% of my flying, but for the sake of the review I used the 2D panel and popups and was somewhat surprised. I did find that when using the 3D panel over unfamiliar terrain, it was very helpful to open the top (navigation) screen in a separate window to park in the corner and help get me where I was going." "Overall, the look and feel of the real MQ-1 is captured rather well with some pleasant surprises such as a moving sensor pod that follows your control inputs in an effort to keep the bad guys locked up. Seeing very believable renditions of the Hellfire missiles under each wing (not on every model) added a touch of ferocity to the otherwise harmless UAV, and helped drive home the point that the aircraft is much more than an unmanned spy plane. taxiing was a rather difficult, though a fun aspect of flying the Predator, and it took a little while to master the unique sights and challenges that involving controlling an aircraft from a screen shown on another screen." "One added benefit to this package (for FSX users only) was the inclusion of eight missions. The missions take place in locations ranging from the northwest part of the US, to the coast of the Netherlands, to Iceland and involve some real world scenarios for the Predator." "I feel that the Predator is still worth a look by any simmer who is interested in the real world UAV. Its combination of frame rate performance and a huge fun factor make it an enjoyable aircraft to fly. Even though the systems are not modeled as in real life and there are small flaws in the model and textures, the positives (great sound set, the included missions, a decent though not perfect model) seem to outweigh the negatives in my book."

Propliner Collection by Aerosim. (October 18, 2009): Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt continues with another chapter in Aerosim's collection of aircraft. This time it's their Propliner Collection. "This has been released after Classic Liners Volume 2, and so you may understand my extreme curiosity. Will it be similar to the other packages? Will it be even better than the Volume 2 package? I don’t expect detailed systems, but I’m profoundly interested in the quality of the exterior and interior modeling. It includes the Dash 8, the DHC-6, and the Saab 340." "The Aerosim model of the Dash-8 is quite successful. The iconic nose looks well modeled, and so does the signature T-tail. The way the engines are shaped looks pretty good too and overall I’m pleased with what I’m seeing here. The Dash-8 has a modern, glass cockpit. Various CRT screens are placed on the main instrument panel, and convey navigation and engine information. The rendition we get from Aerosim is relatively nice. The Dash-8 is the only aircraft here that even has a FMS however, the entire 2D representation of the Dash-8 panel is lacking in comparison to the other two aircraft." "The Aerosim model of the DHC-6 is a series 300 model as can be concluded from the cone-shaped nose and the relatively short rows of windows on both sides of the fuselage. I like the attention to detail. Despite the textured issues around the engines and the untextured luggage compartments, I think this is a very handsome exterior model. I think this is a prime example of the abilities of Aerosim. This interior model is one of the finest I have seen to date in any of their products, and the cabin with wing views makes it even better. "In general, the Saab 340 model looks very convincing. Certainly from a distance, the plane looks well modeled and well textured, and I like the fact that you can look into the passenger cabin. Flaps, control surfaces, prop animation, and gear movement is all the way you’d expect it. The Saab 340 VC is indeed the most detailed cockpit of the three. It’s detailed enough to like it and sit in it once in a while, but it’s not as great as the DHC-6. The Saab 340 seems to be more advanced in its system simulation." Benjamin takes all three aircraft of this Propliner Collection for test flights and performs a few "touch and go's" to see how they handle. He concludes, "the DHC-6 is a star, an absolute jewel of a plane. As long as you keep an eye on the condition levers, ground handling is a no brainer and the plane performs very well in the air too. The VC is the best out there for FS2004 DHC-6 models, with accurate details and sublime texturing of most of the cockpit. The Saab 340 is a very fun to fly aircraft that handles well on the ground. Its exterior model is great, and it’s a nice aircraft to look at, with good animations. The VC is of lesser quality, but the texturing makes it an interesting cockpit to fly from. The Dash-8 is not so good. While the exterior looks very good, the VC is rather weak because of weak texturing, despite the fact that it has a detailed overhead panel, with numerous switches and buttons."

Me-262 by Flight Replicas. (September 28, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at Flight Replicas Me-262. "The Me-262 began life in 1938, when Willy Messerschmitt was called upon to design a new fighter to be powered by two gas turbine engines. The configuration eventually chosen featured a sleek streamlined fuselage with the two podded engines carried beneath a low-mounted wing." "The Flight Replicas Me-262 comes in the following models; standard (whatever this may be), R4M rocket equipped launcher, Jabo fighter/bomber and a 2-seater. The model’s external look and detail is pretty good. Some parts are not that impressive but other parts, like the main landing gear wheels and then especially the tires, look great. On the models you find everywhere lines of panels and unfortunately, it stays as a line so there’s no possibility to open a specific panel." "This time only one cockpit version and then as expected, only the Virtual Cockpit. I don’t know about other military fighters and what they are offering but thinking about it, it’s a relatively small cockpit area with one or two seats and not too many complicated instruments. This makes it possible to fly - without frame rate reduction – an easy VC. This time only one cockpit version and then as expected, only the Virtual Cockpit. I don’t know about other military fighters and what they are offering but thinking about it, it’s a relatively small cockpit area with one or two seats and not too many complicated instruments. This makes it possible to fly - without frame rate reduction – an easy VC." After taking the aircraft up and puting it through its paces, Angelique concludes with, "You only get an FSX model of the Me-262 specially designed to work with FSX SP2 or the Acceleration Pack. You don’t get the FS2004 version included with this package."

Cessna 172 1958 (FSX) by SimFlight3D. (September 23, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen reviews the FSX version of SimFlight's Cessna 172 1958. "According to the website, the developer has more than 15 years experience as a 3D modeler/animator in the video games industry. With this background and skill he started to create his own Cessna 172 from the year/model 1958." "I must admit that the external model looks nice and is something different than we have seen before. The simulated model comes in four different flavors – a Springfield Flying Service (red/blue) painting, a green/yellow striped version, a striped orange model and finally a green layout. Looking at the entire simulated light units like navigation, tail and the strobe light on the top of the vertical fin, it all looks very nice but above all very realistic. One last note especially for the landing and taxi lights. These lights are mounted within the left hand wing leading edge and the way it’s integrated into this looks great. I must be honest with you; the complete external model expresses a highly crafted 3D looking replica of the 1958 Cessna 172." "Flying from within the VC is much more fun than from the old fashioned 2D cockpit. The basic virtual cockpit option allows you to swing and move though the cockpit and covers all predefined settings. Apart from the default instruments, it also offers the default GPS equipment, which was not available in these models in those days. For me the 2D panel is not fun to look at. The digitalized static images on the RH side of the panel are not the same as on this 2D panel. There’s no pop-up window available for showing some simcons that allows you to request additional sub-panels except that via the FSX menu Views – Instrument Panel, you’re able to select the GPS (and of course the Main Panel) panel." "I assume that the airfile is new and thus unique for this 1958 model. Taxiing doesn’t go that easy but this could be due to many things not related to the aircraft. Constant corrections are needed to keep it level or to fly on a certain heading unless there is no wind at all. Altogether I liked the flight, but I can’t judge if the flight dynamics are the same or close to the real 1958 Cessna." "The external Simflight3D Cessna 172 1958 looks very nice. The cockpit panels are very basic however, that’s the reality from this Cessna model of these days so there’s no reason for me to complain but the fact that some default FSX instruments are used, because of this, I may complain. The sound file(s) – except for one – are used from the default FSX C172 Skyhawk. When you’re looking for a completely different Cessna 172 aircraft model, then Simflight 3D offers it."

Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II by Carenado. (September 19, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke looks at another GA aircraft from Carenado, the Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II. "The Seneca was developed as a twin-engine version of the Piper Cherokee Six. The prototype was a Cherokee Six that had wing-mounted engines installed, retaining its nose engine. This is the first twin to be released by Carenado, who have a reputation for releasing well built GA single engine add-on aircraft." "I really enjoyed flying the Seneca. The cockpit is in the “well worn” style with none of the “straight from the factory” looks, and this immediately caused me to look in my avionics grab bag for some upgrades from the 70s instruments that are part of the package. If you have a less powerful system, the Carenado Seneca may be worth a try, since it requires less horsepower to run." "This Seneca has a very well done exterior with all the bits and pieces you might want. The control surfaces move, the pilot is nicely animated, and the little antenna vibrates and moves in the wind. The cockpit is nicely done, with rounded corners and nice textures wherever you look. A click removes the yoke which I appreciate. The night lighting is quite pleasing. With both the dome light and the instrument lighting on, it creates a nice subdued lighting effect which does not take away from the ambient lighting in the scenery." "The Carenado Seneca is a really well built FSX add-on. It looks like a real life 1970s Seneca, scratches, dents and all. The instruments are the original units, but can be replaced if the owner wants to do an avionics upgrade. This is an airplane I'll be flying often."

Fly The Boeing 787 Dreamliner by Abacus. (September 18, 2009): Staff reviewer Tim Capps climbs aboard the newest airliner from Boeing with Abacus' Fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. "The real Boeing 787 has yet to fly. The 787 was originally supposed to fly way back in 2007, but that has been delayed five times now, the last coming just after Boeing officially announced at the Paris Air Show that it would fly July 1st, 2009." "If you have been following the 787 saga, you have a pretty good idea what to look for. Swept wings with raked tips, a smoothly tapered nose that is much less blunt than the cigar-like 767, and scalloped engine nacelles meant to reduce noise. Abacus got the nose badly wrong, giving the whole airplane a much more conventional look. The skin is smooth as extruded plastic, and polished to a high shine." "Inside, there is a cabin that is long enough to give a sense of what a ride in the Dreamliner might look like. The visual details, such as first-class seating, are pretty basic. The flight deck itself captures the Star Trek: Next Generation aesthetic of the real 787. The seats are white pod-like affairs, and the overhead, though vastly simplified, retains the curved lines of the new airplane." "The cockpit of the real 787 has twice as much glass as the 777, with five 12 x 9 inch screens. This is one you will probably want to fly from the 2D panel, even if you normally prefer the virtual cockpit. The head-up display is extremely basic, but has the virtue of being removable from the 2D panel with the click of a button. The virtual cockpit is, in this reviewer’s opinion, not eye-pleasing once you take your seat." "This is a basic aircraft best started up with ctl+E, as trying to use realistic start procedures will only be confusing. Gear up seems to be the cue for your wings to flex, and results in something pretty special in the air. Overall, flying was satisfactory once a few automated flight quirks were learned." "Abacus' Boeing 787 looks very much like a real 787 from many angles, although the nose in profile is best avoided. The graceful flexed wings are particularly well-done and unusual in flight, regardless of how they may look on the ground. The 2D panel appears to be a serious effort to accurately represent the big screens of the 787. With some work on the external 3D model, this aircraft could be more worthwhile for many simmers interested in the 787."

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise by X-Scenery (X-Aviation). (September 15, 2009): Senior contributing reviewer Gene Davis leaves the world of MSFS and jumps into an X-Plane add-on. Namely X-Scenery/X-Aviation's Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise. "This aircraft is literally the next generation of X-Plane aircraft as it is rich in detail and is not only tough to fly, but also features a realistic cockpit environment that competes well against many MSFS products." "I was amazed when I first looked on at the MU-2. Visually the MU-2 for X-Plane is simply gorgeous and is one the most detailed aircraft I have seen to date for this sim. The MU-2 uses a series of plug-ins to give the aircraft its additional functions, such as opening doors and other external eye candy. What is most impressive is that the 3D model is seamless, it doesn’t have parts that don’t fit right or there aren’t parts that leave a big hole in the external model plus all the parts move fluidly giving the aircraft a realistic look and feel." "Flying the MU-2 will require the pilot to use the 3D cockpit mode in X-Plane giving the user a full virtual cockpit experience, which is something that has been significantly absent in most aircraft in X-Plane. All of the switches, rocker switches, dials and instruments function via mouse clicks rather than having to use keyboard commands or even switching to and from a 2D panel." "The MU-2 in X-Plane is a complex and different aircraft and the real plane has often been called one of the most complicated aircraft in the world to fly. This actually carries over into the X-Plane model and I have to say that my first time out was less than successful. An important factor when flying the MU-2 is to knowing your way around the cockpit!" "The MU-2 has a definite “real” feeling to it and its model, to put it mildly, is simply gorgeous! It is definitely a hard plane to fly and requires the simmer to really put effort into his or her flight given its design and complex model. This is one plane that you will definitely need to at least look at the tutorial, if not the ops manual, just to get the most out of it." "I have to say that if the MU-2 is a sign of things to come for X-Plane. I definitely recommend this plane! The MU-2 is by far the best aircraft add-on for X-Plane."

F4U Corsair by Aircraft Factory (A2A Simulations). (September 12, 2009): Senior contributing reviewer Alexis Esguerra climbs aboard a WWII classic with Aircraft Factory's F4U Corsair. "The Corsair, one of the more advanced aircraft designs to be borne out of the hostilities in the Pacific, was an excellent combat machine in both the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles." "The detailing is excellent, right down to the rivets and panel lines that provide the right amount of depth without going into overkill. The textures of the exterior model, from the 18-cylinder R2800 Wasp engine up front to the tip of the arrestor gear hook all the way aft, is extremely well done, crisp to where individual parts are easily identifiable from a distance. The cockpit, unmistakably circa-40 in its appearance, also deserves praise. The layout of the panel is very much correct, and the controls and switches present are excellent in their rendering. As for animations, we’ve got accurate gear movement (a ninety degree pivot of the mains before they fold up into the wings), engine smoke on startup, wing-fold, a tail hook that works (more than you realize; more on that later), and a pilot that seems to pay attention to his surroundings." "Corsair flies as one would expect in terms of pure speed. At 20,000 ft with War Emergency Power engaged, I had 360-ish kts on the GPS groundspeed, which is very much in the ballpark of what is listed in the more reliable references for this plane. In a dive, 400 kts is easily attained with the over speed alarm finally kicking at approximately 450 kts. This is a plane that will leave many of its contemporaries struggling to keep up. Landings are pretty typical for this conventional gear plane. Fly the approach at about 95 kts, smoothly reduce throttle while pulling back on the stick once you’re over the threshold, and she’ll kiss the pavement in three-point posture; anything faster, and expect a float, a bounce, or both." "For their first-time release, Aircraft Factory really has a great thing here in the Corsair. Its rendering does its namesake proud, and the flight model lives up to historical reference. Overall, this is perhaps the best Corsair out there for FSX."

Tupolev Tu-154M by FS ProTeam. (September 7, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen relates to her own personal experiences with a look at a freeware aircraft from FS ProTeam, the Tupolev Tu-154M. "While I worked for Lufthansa Technical Training, I traveled several times to Russia and Kazakhstan. Sometimes I flew in a Russian model with Siberia Airlines and that was the Tu-154M." "The external model with all its details and I also mean “tiny” details, looks awesome. I must conclude that the overall quality of the model reflects the same or even a higher quality than some add-on payware models, so these guys did a great job!" "The available cockpits are looking good and very realistic as far as I can judge, but there’s no virtual cabin, except for the very small cabin area related to the movable passenger doors. Normally a 2D cockpit doesn’t offer anything more then a few sub-panels however, this Pro Team Tupolev offers lots of panels. Certain instruments look familiar to me because of the instrument look and its lay-out, but others like light switches or even connecting APU or External Power, is suddenly more difficult since I don’t understand what’s written on the panel itself. Don’t compare this Tu-154M with an Airbus A320, 737NG, 777, 747-400, MD-11 or Fokker 100 or whatever. It’s basically an older model with old fashioned systems and instruments." "Based on the available gauge programming, the Virtual Cockpit looks good! What’s a little less and without any depth are the flight engineer’s and third (behind the pedestal) seat supports. I’m very enthusiastic about the simulated aircraft systems." Angelique goes into the flight dynamics as she takes this bird on a routine flight. Her main comment about flying this aircraft is, "you really need to read the manual!" "The offered quality, animations, eye for details and manuals and whatever else I’ve forgotten could be compared with payware models. I’m really impressed that many aircraft systems are simulated, even the flight engineer panel. The simulated Tu-154M is a nice plane to fly, for short and longer distances and hopefully the Pro Team group comes out with a new model. "

Classic Liners: Volume 2 by Aerosim. (September 4, 2009): Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt continues his look at the Aerosim series of aircraft with Classic Liners: Volume 2. "The volume 1 package included the Boeing 737-200, Boeing 727 series, and the classic Boeing 747 models (100 through 300). The volume 2 package includes the L-1011 Tristar (L-1011-1, L-1011-500 and L-1011 ADV 500), DC-10 (DC-10-30 and -40) and DC-8 (DC-8-53 and -61): another great lineup that the flight simming community has needed for a very long time." Benjamin goes into a detailed description of the exterior, interior, panels and sounds of the 3 featured aircraft. He then takes each up for a flight and backs his account with a multitude of screenshots. "With this package, you get 9 adventures to play with, 3 for each aircraft. These adventures are fun to do and very helpful. They basically are an extra to the tutorials in the manual that only show you the workings of the FMS and the INS, and nothing about other procedures. The adventures give you the option of learning how to successfully land each of these aircraft, which is extremely helpful, especially for those that have no idea how to do an IFR approach." "I myself am finding this package a good value for your money ($35, without VAT), much more so than the Volume 1 package was. You get three more detailed aircraft. In the end, you have to make up your own mind on this one. I know I have been greatly enjoying reviewing Classic Liners: Volume 2 and I’ll be recommending it to anybody interested in flying aircraft from the sixties and seventies. The relative simplicity of these aircraft is great in that you can easily manipulate them by adding third party panels and sounds."

Beechcraft Duchess by Just Flight. (August 28, 2009): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl goes to his local "Flying Club" to hop into Just Flight's Beechcraft Duchess. "Now here’s an aircraft I’ve wanted in FS for a long time. First flown in 1974 as a prototype developed for economical twin engine flight training, and as competition for the light twin engine market, the Duchess has proved fairly successful. It was developed from the very similar single engine Beechcraft Musketeer, and some of the similarities in the fuselage are clearly noticeable. Production began in 1977, and initial deliveries went to flight schools." "The 2D panel area of any aircraft package is excellent for the 2D panel fans. Very well represented 2D main panels are included, along with a slew of heavily detailed sub-panels. Every sub-panel actually is functional, and has use. I don’t quite know where to start with the virtual cockpit. I could say it’s one of the best; I could say it’s one of my favorites; I could say you‘re most likely going to really like it. Everything here is seamlessly represented, and you can’t seem to find any mistakes in it." "I have one word for the external model: Gorgeous. I can’t think of any imaginable detail that the development team missed on this model. We have tons of great stuff like weathering stains, extremely sharp and real lines, great and believable prop textures, and little modeled details like actual fuel caps. Five texture sets are included, and they all look simple yet stunning. I found you can add a custom tail number to these without having to do any paint kid modding. A nice option for those who want to fly their own tail number. I must add that there are some neat FSX-only features on the external model." "My first impression of the flight dynamics was during taxi. I noticed it was a bit labored during turning, using differential brakes. I thought this was great, as the nose wheel in most of these nose wheel aircraft do not have power steering. It felt like I had to really use those pedals, instead of just gently nudging them. I noticed a similar effect once airborne; all of the controls seemed a bit ‘heavy’. That’s the only word I can use to describe it, but it’s close. Same thing with the rudder input, as you need a good amount of rudder to coordinate the turns. Some might see this as a negative point, but like my flight instructor told me, "Fly the airplane, don’t let it fly you. What I noticed about how the Duchess flies was its seemingly amazing speed." "Final words on the Beechcraft Duchess? Buy it! I’ve not seen so many bangs for your buck in years. I can’t say I’ve flown such a seamless aircraft in a while; it’s just the light twin I’ve always wanted. There are many high quality add-ons out there and this one sits just right. If you like light GA and twin engine aircraft, or the just Duchess itself, get it. You won’t be disappointed."

International Fighters by Abacus. (August 25, 2009): Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt looks at 11 International Fighters from Abacus. "The package offers you a selection of 11 military aircraft from various countries in various paints, namely the AS 565 Panther, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-111 Aardvark, F-117 Nighthawk, F-15C Eagle, F-35 Lightning II, MiG-29A Fulcrum, Mirage 2000, Saab JA-37 Viggen, SU-33 Flanker and V-22 Osprey." Benjamin goes through the Exterior, Interior, Panels, Sounds, and Flight Performance of each aircraft individually. "The exteriors are good, the interiors vary from “easy to forget” to “quite nice”, the sounds are the default sounds with some additions, the FDE is very simple and so is the panel. This profile is like that of the default planes, but with better exteriors. A good summary of this package would therefore be: an entry package for the beginner, interested in military planes, who wants more than the default planes but does not wish more complexity." "Abacus' International Fighters is a very good deal, especially for those in the beginning stages of flight-simming. Do you want to fly fast? Do you want a lot of aircraft? You don’t want more procedures than the default planes? If the answer to all these question is “yes”, then this package is for you."

L-39 "Albatros" by Lotus Simulations. (August 23, 2009): Another contributed review. This time it's a lok at Lotus Simulations' L-39 Albatros. "The L39 is a smart choice to showcase the very cool multiplayer features in FSX. One of the best features most often overlooked is shared cockpit mode. The L39 was designed to “simulate” failures from the rear cockpit facilitating the training of emergency procedures and boldface checklist items. The front seat pilot has a hood to block his external view to simulate instrument flight conditions as the rear seat instructor can induce failures to train the pilot. Even simulating failures of the pitot and / or static side of the pressure instrumentation." "So you are thinking, if this L-39 is so fast, it must have cut some corners, right? Something had to be given up in the complex shapes like the inlet splitter and sculpting around the jet pipe. No, the shape is beautiful, and smooth. At one point in the model’s design it was substantially revised based on measurements and notes taken when L39 owners (who are fans of Mike Johnson’s work) invited him to spend time crawling all over the airplane, taking measurements and notes. Some of the design cues in the airplane could have only come from a more “intimate” view that mere pictures and plan form drawings can provide." "The flight model of Lotus Simulation’s L39 is exceptional, reminding me on first impression of past favorites like Real Air’s SF260. But this one might be even better. The real L39 is not an overpowered aircraft and external tanks and a pair of pilots can load the aircraft up to the point where consideration is needed to depart a relatively short runway at high altitude fields on hot days. Aerobatics in the L39C, like any clean low powered aircraft, is all about managing your energy. You have to think at least one or two maneuvers ahead when putting on impromptu air shows." "As with the rest of the Lotus Simulation L39, the Virtual Cockpits have been designed with speed and low overhead in mind. The gauges and instrumentation are 3D, which not only reduces the drag of 2D draw calls, but which also has depth that can be particularly appreciated in the Airspeed / Mach indicator and Radio Magnetic Indicator / Vertical Card Compass / Course Deviation Indicator instruments. An advantage of 3D instrumentation is the way it lights up. Also, the Virtual Cockpit loads with this model. There is no stutter, or pause, as the cockpit loads, it is already there. This L39 Albatros is an instant classic"

1958 Cessna 172 by Real Air Simulations. (August 18, 2009): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl steps back 50 years to review an aircraft that is still going strong today. "The Cessna 172 is one of the most widely produced airframes, and one of the most popular training aircraft on Earth. The "Fastback" or "Straight-tail" 172 is something FS had been missing for quite some time, and it doesn't matter which of those nicknames you use, we finally have ourselves a nice little rendition of it from SimFlight 3D with their 1958 version." "One would expect a somewhat basic and modern Cessna panel, but we are looking at the grandparent of the modern 172’s we’re all acquainted with. This panel will be very different to you if you’re used to the modern Cessna in either the sim or real life. It’s not as cramped, and definitely looks like the much older panel of the Cessna 120 I learned to fly in. Bottom line, I don’t think this VC will disappoint. If you’re an early Cessna fan, or just really like the early ‘Fastback’ 172’s, then you’ll really love it." "The attention to small texture and modeling details shows that the developer actually worked closely with this Cessna, and I love when developers construct a ship they‘re close to for the sim. Small pitot and intake tubes, great weathering effects, or that straight-up tail that looks real; it just has tons of great external detail. Four paint schemes are included, one which represents the ship that the developer of this package actually flew." "It does fly very closely to the specifications and as many 172 owners and pilots have said, cruise speed is a little optimistic in the book. This ship won't go too fast, but then again, it's a trainer not a touring aircraft. Taking off is pretty much what you'd expect if you've ever touched the default Cessna’s or any other Cessna simulations. Landing follows this pattern as well, but the ground effect seems a little more realistic here than with other sim aircraft." "SimFlight3D's 1958 Cessna 172 really held its own nicely, in my opinion. It does have some flaws, however, as nothing is ever perfect. For a first aircraft from this developer, it isn’t bad at all."

Beechcraft 60 Duke by Real Air Simulations. (August 14, 2009): Staff reviewer Mark Kolo flies Real Air Simulations' Beechcraft 60 Duke. "The Beechcraft Duke is a light pressurized piston twin built between 1968 and 1982. The aircraft has retractable landing gear and turbocharged engines and some of the later models have winglets. The Duke is reputed to be a great performing aircraft, but its complicated systems and technologies demanded high maintenance costs, which hurt the sales of the aircraft. Many Dukes are still flying to this day, and are well liked by their owners despite high costs." "Having reviewed a RealAir product in the past, I was already aware of the high quality, and frame rate friendly models. The Duke is no different, with lines faithful to the real aircraft down to the 15 static dischargers on the trailing edges of the wings and tail assemblies. The highly swept rudder and the horizontal stabilizers are very accurate down to the black de-icing boots on the leading edges. No polygons have been spared on the cowlings or engines, as all the vents are three dimensional. The landing gear, flaps and control surfaces are also very detailed and lend to the overall high quality of the model." "Stepping inside the Duke revealed an interior that is faithful to the original. The four passenger seats are very detailed, as is the animated fold out table on the right side of the cabin. The cockpit of the Duke is one of the finest and most realistic renditions that I have ever seen in Flight Simulator. As most Dukes are in the hands of private owners, they generally have relatively low hours and are well cared for. This is reflected in the texturing of the VC, as there are very few signs of wear and tear that you may expect to see on an aircraft approaching its 30th birthday. RealAir has equipped the panel with a more modern Bendix-King radio stack, combined with the King KFC-255 autopilot. The KFC-255 is designed for single pilot operations and is a three axis autopilot (lateral, vertical, and yaw)." "RealAir Simulations is best known for their highly accurate flight dynamics programming, and the Duke is no exception. As with all RealAir releases, the Duke features not only an accurate standard flight model, but also has accurate stalls and spins. I found the Duke to have effective flight controls with plenty of authority to keep the aircraft flying well, though I admit that my first few landings weren’t pretty. Thanks to twin turbocharged engines, the Duke has very respectable climb performance after takeoff and can keep relatively high climb rates all the way up to FL280." "Thanks to a combination of a great 3D model, high quality textures, a beautiful virtual cockpit, incredible sounds, and an extremely realistic airfile, I found that the RealAir Simulations Duke is one of the finest add-ons that I have ever had the pleasure of flying. With all the attention paid to the accuracy of the flight model, the Duke is a great aircraft for just about any virtual pilot due to its appeal as a personal airliner, complete with a pressurized cabin and high speed cruise."

Piper PA-28RT201 Arrow IV by Carenado. (August 13, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke flies a well known training aircraft, the Piper PA-28RT201 Arrow IV from Carenado. "The Piper PA-28 series of aircraft was launched in early 1960 as the Piper Cherokee. On 19 June 1967 Piper announced the first retractable undercarriage variant of the Cherokee, namely the PA-28R Arrow. It was powered by a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-360-A2A engine driving a constant speed propeller. The undercarriage was electro-hydraulically operated, and the Arrow was certified on 8 June 1967. The Arrow II was powered by the Lycoming IO-360-CC engine. In 1979, Piper made a design decision, opting to equip many of its airplanes with trendy, fashionable T-tails. The Arrow was no exception, and the resulting machine was the PA-28RT201 Arrow IV, with its distinctive "T" tail. More than 30,000 PA-28’s have been built to date." "First time I took off, I was surprised by the effort it took to get the Arrow to rotate and lift off the runway. I’ve read that the T-tail has less elevator authority at low speeds and that may have something to do with it, but after risking running off the far end of the runway the first time, I now give the yoke a good pull at 90 kts to get the plane in the air. In all fairness, the documentation does specifically state: “Back pressure to rotate to climb attitude”, so I guess that is part of the learning experience. Other than that, the plane flies smoothly and the full function autopilot is a great help." "The cockpit is nicely done, with rounded corners and nice textures wherever you look. A click removes the yoke which I appreciate. The outside is lovely, with smooth skin and lots of detail. The night lighting is quite pleasing. With both the dome light and the instrument lighting on, it creates a nice subdued lighting effect which does not take away from the ambient lighting in the scenery. As is now expected, all the moving surfaces are animated, including the elevator trim tab. It is fun just looking around the aircraft and admire the level of detail. The landing gear, in particular has every detail modeled. Another nice detail is the little antenna towards the back that moves in the breeze." "Carenado has a distinctive style that captures the era of these airplanes. They look like well loved aircraft that have seen some real use and no longer have that “straight from the factory” appearance. If you are looking for a Piper PA28, you can have a lot of fun with this T-tail, retractable gear version."

Boeing B-40 by Golden Age Simulations. (August 10, 2009): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury takes us back to the age of wooden airplanes with a look at Golden Age Simulations' Boeing B-40. "The level of importance Mr Boeing placed on the B-40 was not mere nostalgia. The B-40 was instrumental in the company’s expansion and success; it was a stepping stone that put Pratt and Whitney at the forefront of aero engine manufacturing too. To put it bluntly, the B-40 was one of the most significant aircraft in the whole of aviation history, yet if you ask the average aviation buff about it, the chances are they will only be vaguely aware of it." After a short history lesson, Alan describes this unique aircraft. "The external model on this particular add-on airliner has perhaps more significance than most other airliners in that you can see a lot of it even when you are sat in the cockpit. The 3D modeling itself is very good indeed and is indicative of what can be done with FSDS, which is the software used to make this model, as opposed to the more common G-Max you tend to find being used with commercial add-ons. Detail is not over the top, it is apparent that polygons have wisely been kept under control in order to provide some speedy frames per second, but not to any real visual detriment." "Upon loading up the cockpit, you can see that this is a very different proposition from the average Boeing airliner. Whilst it is not as spartan as other aircraft of 1920’s vintage, navigational aids are at a minimum with what would nowadays be considered adequate only for VFR excursions in good weather. But it is an accurate representation of the equipment the first pioneering airline pilots found themselves using and is bound to instill a sense of admiration in those early flyers." "The cockpit is not the only interior part of this aircraft – it was a passenger airliner after all – the passenger compartment is fully modeled too. I have read that B-40 cabins were lined with metal, although to be fair I have also seen pictures of them lined with wood. What we have here is the latter option which to be fair, seems more evocative of the period and it is all properly laid out with the staggered seating of the original." "Cranking the thing up is a treat to the ears in either FS9 or FSX. The engine sounds and particularly the whine of the starter mechanism is one that will have you turning the volume up. There’s a fair old bit of smoke when you start with an impressive gout of flame out of the exhausts too, and it all promises a lot of fun in store. The sound is in fact one of the major plus points of this aircraft in FS; with performance similar to a Cessna or Piper in terms of speed - about 140 knots flat out - but the lovely burbling sound of that Wasp radial as opposed to the drone of a Lycoming flat four, the B-40’s soundtrack as you cruise over the countryside is one to savor." "Like the real thing, it does need a steady hand to keep it on course and the turbulence of FSX makes this more work than is the case in FS9. All of the control surfaces seem believable in both sim versions though, with a ponderous roll rate in spite of the dual ailerons and it creates a good impression of inertia befitting its size. Notwithstanding the general ease with which it flies, if you take it for granted it can still jump up and bite you, especially where engine management is concerned on the C variant. Abuse or ignore the cylinder head temperatures and you’ll be looking at an engine fire." "Beyond simply the challenge of getting there in one piece, the Golden Age Simulations B-40 boasts a good many things to recommend about it, not least of which are the sounds, the effects and the lovely modeling job. It’s true the textures could do with a little TLC but that is by no means an insurmountable issue and merely an observation of my own preferences more than anything else. I do recommend the B-40 because above all, it is great fun to fly. "

Boeing 737-900ER X2 by Ariane Design. (July 14, 2009): Get ready for some reading as staff reviewer Alan Bradbury give an in-depth (and I mean in-depth) review of Ariane Design's Boeing 737-900ER X2. "Ariane is a hot topic amongst simmers for sure, but those of you who followed the recent thread on Avsim’s forums will know that I decided to try and cut through all the rumors and hearsay, in order to find out just what the truth is, and more importantly, to answer the question; just how good is Ariane’s FSX 737 NG?" "With the base package for the Ariane 737-900ER, you get two texture schemes, these being the current Boeing Commercial Aircraft (BCA) multi-toned blue livery, and an ‘unpainted’ look, which shows off the various components and materials used in the construction of modern aircraft to good effect." "All the various details such as pitot tubes, antennas, static wicks, vortex generators and all the other ‘sticky out bits’ you’d find on a real 900ER are present and correct, and all in the correct locations. Even obscure stuff like the vortex generators under the slats and in front of the APU air intake and the rear fuselage turbulators are millimeter-perfect. Inside the Ariane 737, the audio and visual treats continue. Right away you can see that the virtual cockpit is something pretty special on this model, and not just in terms of looks, it’s great on frame rates too. This is just as well to be honest, because it’s the only cockpit you get." This is just a taste of the review's contents as Alan takes on a complete flight from a cold dark cockpit, through take off, in flight, landing and putting this bird to bed. In the end he says, "The simple truth is that I really like Ariane's 737-900ER for all the positive things it has, which may indeed be a ‘glass half full’ way of looking at things. Nevertheless, that’s how I feel about it." Be prepared for a long read as this review is as detailed as they come.

757 Captain by Captain Sim. (July 6, 2009): New staff reviewer Tim Capps takes a look at the latest rendering of the Captain Sim's 757 Captain. "Captain Sim have made available a “757 Captain Pro Line” version that supersedes various “Express Line Blocks” that came before. It comes in a base “Pro Pack” version that contains the 757-200, with expansions for the –300 and Freighter available at extra charge. This is the third AVSIM Review of a Captain Sim 757. This one reflects the mature product at a time when relatively modest, but up-to-date computers can catch everything Captain Sim throws and run – or at least walk briskly – with it." "Everyone should enjoy the lush artwork. It is modeled as an old workhorse. The 2D panel and VC share the same aesthetic, but the latter is the star of the show. With the possible exception of other Captain Sim products, it is the best I have ever seen. In short, although one cannot quantify it, or adequately explain it, and some may be unable to appreciate it, the 757 Captain is dripping with character." "The Freight Expansion adds a third model that replaces the passenger cabin with a full-length cavernous cargo bay. The lavatory and galley remain, and, just forward the cargo netting, a couple of uncomfortable-looking seats. You get the familiar brown livery of UPS and DHL’s striking red on yellow. I have never been a freight dog. But for the first time, I knew the purpose for all those cargo ramps I have been scrolling past looking for Gate A-11 Medium." "The Captain Sim 757 has been around for awhile in its previous collectible block format, as has Captain Sim itself. While the new Pro Line version updated to 4.3 is different enough to warrant a new review, there is no escaping that many will have already made up their minds on the basis of previous versions. I like to have three high-quality add-ons I use frequently enough to maintain proficiency: a short hauler, a go-far and something in between. The 757 Captain admirably fills this last role. If a flight simulator add-on can be a work of art, this 757 is. It is a near-perfect marriage of beauty and function that deserves iconic status in the world of FSX that the 757 never achieved in reality."

F/A-18E "Superbug" by Vertical Reality Simulations. (June 27, 2009): Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt checks out Vertical Reality Simulations' F/A-18E "Superbug" "Vertical Reality Simulations (hereafter to be called VRS) has modeled this multipurpose jetfighter, and I’ll be giving it a close inspection. More specifically, the model in the VRS “Superbug” package, is of the F/A-18E: the youngest of the F/A-18 series. It is a drastically redesigned aircraft with a 25% larger airframe, more CRT screens and generally updated systems." "On first inspection, the amount of detail on the exterior model really is extraordinary. This plane’s exterior model, with its wide range of repaints of a lot of F/A-18E squadrons out there, truly is a remarkable piece of designing. It’s up there with PMDG’s MD11 and 747, it’s as great as Captain Sim’s 757 and recently released 727 for FSX." "Inside, 90% of the buttons you see are 3D, and in this plane, when they are 3D, you can usually move them. This gives you a load of buttons to play with, all nicely textured, at the right size, at the right position. Heck, you can even use the ejector seat handle, and the handle to eject the canopy, if the need arises. The main panels show us multiple CRT displays: the UFCD (middle upper display), two DDIs (LDDI and RDDI) (The two big displays on the left and right), EFD (smaller screen in the lower left) and MPCD (The big screen, in the middle bottom). Then there are some switches to control these, some analog instruments, with the control yoke prominently placed in front of the pilot. Finally, we see the HUD. This aircraft also offers a 2D cockpit." Benjamin goes into detail about the Navigation systems, Weapons and Radar, Failure Checking, Autopilot, Communications and Engine information and the HUD as it is displayed and utilized from the driver's seat. He then takes us through a tutorial flight which uses all of these available tools. There is also a section on air-to-air refuelling as well as carrier ops. Near the end of the review, Benjamin interviews the developers of this title. "Let’s look back at the F/A-18E "Superbug": the beautiful exterior model, the very impressive interior, the absolutely great panel, carrier and air refueling operations and the tutorial flight. Besides that, we have a very versatile ACM to manage your aircraft, a lot of combinations of weapons to hang under it, the ability to shoot missiles and hit something, the ability to drop bombs and fuel tanks, the fact that you can eject from your plane, the incredible and comprehensive set of possible failures. My final opinion on this product and my advice: if you like military aircraft in any way, the F/A-18E "Superbug" is a must-have, like the Level-D 767 is a must-have for airliner fans and Carenado is a legend for turboprop fans.

Quest Kodiak by Lionheart Creations. (June 26, 2009): Staff reviewer Jason McKee heads into some rough terrain to test fly Lionheart Creations' Quest Kodiak. "The Quest Kodiak is a new generation of bush aircraft, designed to get in and out of some of the most difficult strips around the world. The Kodiak is a tough, rugged and powerful aircraft. The beast of the aircraft is the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turbine engine." "First thing that you notice when you walk up to the aircraft is that it is not a small aircraft, it’s almost the same size as a Cessna Caravan. Firing up the PT-6 Turboprop is a simple affair, not as complex as some more advanced aircraft. Simply run through the pre-start checklists, ensure the prop is clear, turn the fuel on and crank the starter, the PT-6 will fire, add fuel via the condition lever and the engine will stabilize in its normal idle position." "The layout depicted with this add-on is of a general three glass panel layout for two pilot operations. The real aircraft allows customization of the panel. There is a high definition texture pack for the cockpit. This gives you a higher resolution for the panel and allows for crisper writing and makes it easier to read. The interiors are well done and look the part." "The outside model looks good, and if you have a machine that allows you to run light bloom and all the advanced features of FSX you can produce some stunningly realistic screenshots. You would be hard pressed to find issues with the model, it looks just like the real one, and with the FSX bump maps and lighting effects, you could be mistaken for looking at a picture of the real one." "It would take a Kodiak pilot to confirm what I think, but the aircraft flies and handles like a modern turbo prop should, with realistic engine behavior and convincing flight characteristics. Going from the supplied numbers on the Quest website and figures included in the readme files, this aircraft flies exactly by the numbers published." "The Quest Kodiak fills a niche in the market. There are no really good Caravan sized aircraft for FSX. If you like bush flying and have been craving something a little bigger that a PC-6, then this will fit the bill. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good stable aircraft that flies as it should but gives you a lot of versatility."

PBY Catalina by Aerosoft. (June 16, 2009): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura looks at a WWII workhorse that was in production for the whole duration of the war and served over three oceans in various capacities: scout, sub-killer, search-and-rescue; the PBY Catalina from Aerosoft. "The package comes with six basic models, with some types having additional variants. In addition to various types, there are also multiple liveries, not to mention user-contributed repaints. A lot of care has obviously gone into bump mapping the plane’s surface and weathering the textures." "The chief modeler on this project was Stefan Hofmann, who’s Hughes Racer I reviewed about this same time last year. The Catalina has a larger, more complicated interior; but if anything, it looks even sharper than the Racer -- and it still gets high frame rates. Another feature that’s new in this model is an interactive checklist." "The real Catalina was slow: slow cruising, slow climbing, and slow turning. All of this is reflected in the flight model. Also reflected are the influence of floats and cowl gills on drag. Frame rates for this product are on the high side: somewhat lower than the defaults, but higher than most payware, and very high for a model of this size and complexity." "If you don’t mind slow -- and I’m referring to cruise speed, not frame rates -- the PBY Catalina is a very attractive package. What sets it apart isn’t any one feature but the combination of features and performance. It looks sharp, especially in the VC; it’s smart about trading detail for frame rates; and it ’s affordable."

Classic Liners Vol 1 by Aerosim. (June 9, 2009): New staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt takes a look at the Boeing series as presented in Aerosim's Classic Liners Vol 1. "The Vol.1 package contains the following aircraft: Boeing 727-100 and -200, 737-200ADV, Boeing 747-100, -200B, -200C, -200F and -300. The scenery included is one of the old Osaka International Airport. The adventure included is a tutorial that lets you fly the Osaka approach." Benjamin breaks down each section of the review into the 727, 737 and 747. "I flew the Tinmouse 2 737-200ADV, Ready For Pushback (RFP) 747-200, the Dreamfleet 727 and Captain Sim 727 offerings, so I’ll be using them as my reference." He then goes on to describe the various aircraft's exterior, interior and panel configurations. "I have been enjoying myself immensely with Aerosim's Classic Liners Vol 1, and I’ve had many very nice flights. Out of the box, this is a beginner’s package. With simplified systems, a simplified though relatively accurate flight model, it is ideal for beginners. The planes of this package have a great potential, because there is something very nice about simple FS aircraft: they are extremely easy to manipulate. Overall, everything about this package can be termed “decent”. So if you are into classic Boeings and would like a VC, this package is your only option."

FW 190A: The Early Variants by Classics Hangar. (June 3, 2009): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura looks at Classics Hanger's FW 190A: The Early Variants. "This particular specimen, before and after it was repainted in RAF colors, is represented here along with 8 other models and 32 additional liveries. The package ships with a paint kit and, in the weeks since it has come out, customers have uploaded at least a dozen repaints with more promised on the way." "Let me answer the obvious and possibly most important question: yes, this is a native-FSX model, not a port-over. Like most of the high-end payware titles that I have reviewed in the last couple of years, this package does not include a 2D cockpit; the virtual cockpit (VC) is all you have, and all you need to have, to fly the plane. This one is first-class. The engine sounds are credited to Steve “Lawdog” Buchanan. To my ear they are indistinguishable from the excellent sounds that he released as freeware in 2005 and 2006." "A verifiable fact: each of the nine variants in this package comes with its own flight model. Unlike the Me 109, which took me a lot of practice, the Fw 190 is not hard to land; this is partly because of the wider gear stance. Despite all of the detail, frame rates on these models are high: right up there with the RealAir Spitfire and A2A Thunderbolt." "Classics Hangar’s next project will be the later variants of the Fw 190A, followed by another World War II-era fighter, the twin-engine Me 110 Zerstoerer. It’s hard work to establish a new brand, but with the Fw 190A, Classics Hangar is well on its way."

J3 Cub by Flight Replicas. (May 11, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke takes to the air in a familiar aircraft to most simmers, but this time it's Flight Replicas' version of the Piper Cub. "Well, after spending some time with this recently released add-on, I must say: “This one beats the default, hands down.”" "My first impression was that the yellow Cub was pretty much like the FSX Cub, until I started to examine the details. More importantly, inside the cockpit you notice the high resolution panel and gauges, the moving brake pedals, complete with cables and pushrods, and the impression that everything that is present in the real airplane is modeled, and in full detail." "The plane handles really well with a great “seat of the pants” feeling. You’ve got lots of time to find the airport and adjust your landing approach since you are descending at 50 mph when coming in on final. After a few take-offs, the plane begins to feel very comfortable. It goes where you want it to, and it has this wonderful lighter than air feel which makes it all a lot of fun." "The Flight Replicas J-3 Cub is a nice package. Moreover, the view from the back seat is spot on and it really feels like flying! Although FSX comes with a nice Cub as part of the default hangar, this one is clearly superior in every way."

P-47 with Accu-Sim by A2A Simulations. (May 7, 2009): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura looks at a WWII warbird with A2A Simulations' P-47 with a feature called Accu-Sim. "This is the second time that A2A has modeled a P-47 Thunderbolt. Stocky, a slow climber, and with limited range, the “Jug” seems like an also-ran compared with the sleeker and more glamorous P-51 Mustang." "The ovoid shape of the noise is well captured, and there are three different propeller types. In addition to the usual animations, there are several cooler flaps (which, if you fly with Accu-Sim, you will actually need to open and close). But what gets and holds our attention, I think, is not the lines of the model so much as the textures, which are tack-sharp, and hold their sharpness even up close." "The quality of the best virtual cockpits (VCs) is now very high indeed. The Thunderbolt’s VC is in the same class. A 2D mini-panel is available but, like most newer models, the Thunderbolt is meant to be flown from the VC. There are, however, several 2D panels that make flying easier and, if you purchase Accu-Sim, enable you to perform engine maintenance." "In flight, the Thunderbolt feels as a heavy as it looks. Like many fighters from this era, it has a long engine cowling that obscures the pilot’s forward vision in climbs and on final. You can roll the Thunderbolt, but it’s a slow climber, so I wouldn’t want to loop it. With one notch of flaps, drag is high enough that you have to worry about keeping the engine cool -- and that, in my book, is really cool." "A2A Simulations' P-47 is what the jewelers call a diamond of the first water. Without Accu-Sim, it’s cheaper but still not cheap; and while you still have exquisite textures, bump mapping, and a good-looking virtual cockpit, you don’t get in-depth engine and drag modeling, or the extra sounds that go with them. In my view, these are what set this product apart from all of the prop fighter models that have come before."

Bell Agusta 609 "Tilt Rotor" by Wilco Publishing. (May 3, 2009): Staff reviewer Etienne Martin gets 2 aircraft for one with Wilco's Bell 609 Tilt Rotor. "The Bell Agusta Aerospace Company 609 is marketed as the first civilian tilt-rotor of its kind. The aircraft flies like an airplane and lands like a helicopter thanks to two nacelle mounted Pratt & Wittney PT6 turbo shaft engines delivering almost 2,000 HP each." "The package includes 11 different liveries and several models tied to the specific function (luxury, ambulance, search/rescue and military). The visuals are very pleasing at any distance with smooth curvatures and lines, and no notable polygon problems. The reflections, especially with the self shadow feature enabled in FSX, make for a realistic look. A trip to the texture folder indicates we have an FSX model here complete with bump-maps and FSX specific rendering." "The Tilt Rotor does not include a 2D cockpit, although several secondary panels can be displayed as pop-ups in that view. The aircraft is designed to be flown solely from the virtual cockpit (VC). The VC had little impact on frame rates on my system, so I don’t expect that many will have issues running this VC." "The panel includes the standard avionics and three glass displays. If you are familiar with glass cockpits, everything is where it is supposed to be. In fact, the simplicity of the cockpit as implemented helps compensate for a huge learning curve associated with tilt rotor operations." "The tilt rotor as Wilco implemented it in this release is very responsive, dare I say almost too responsive. This trait makes it very difficult to fly in VTOL mode. It darts forward and climbs like a rocket, slows down very quickly (by rotating the nacelles) and is relatively docile when on the ground in helicopter mode in full vertical mode." "The Wilco Tilt Rotor has easily taken the top spot in my hangar as the most flexible aircraft. This bird can go just about anywhere except land on water, it has good range and gets there at the speed of a twin engine turbo-prop with all the benefits of a helicopter. For short to medium haul missions or just to explore scenery, it is a terrific aircraft to fly. The Wilco Bell 609 Tilt Rotor is a novel product providing a truly unique experience in the world of Flight Simulator."

Wellington by First Class Simulations. (April 28, 2009): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston takes a look at a venerable historic WWII aircraft, the Vickers Wellington as presented by First Class Simulations. "The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s. It was widely used as a night-time bomber in the early years of World War II." "The external views of the Vickers Wellington are very nicely produced with colour schemes and details neatly finished and detailed to the extent that after my recent viewing the Wellington in the museum at RAF Hendon in the UK, I was able to confirm the authenticity of the simulated aircraft. Four versions of the Vickers Wellington are available and a total of six beautifully painted and finished aircraft are waiting to be flown. " "The instrumentation is very accurately reproduced in the simulation as can be verified by the Pilots Notes for the Wellington, and it all works very well indeed. The sound team at First Class Simulations has done a great job on the Bristol Hercules sound set, and having heard a lot of Hercules engines over a period of time, in my opinion they have the sounds copied perfectly. " "There are two missions are titled as follows: Coastal command, and Winter Warrior. Before embarking on the missions it is necessary to install the “RAF Driffield” scenery, only available for FSX and after that you can start a mission. " "The First Class Simulations Wellington really is a first class product.This simulation is rich in content and detail. It has superb paint jobs and the addition of RAF Driffield is an added bonus, although only for FSX users. I have to recommend this simulation as one of the best I have reviewed and is a good quality product with a good choice of planes. "

Cessna 182 Skylane RG II by Carenado. (April 23, 2009): Senior contributing reviewer Alexis Esguerra looks at the FSX version of Carenado's Cessna 182 Skylane RG II. "I heard somewhere that Carenado has some of the best looking GA add-ons for Flight Simulator. And in regards to the Skylane RG, I can state from my experience with this plane, that the boast is pretty well-deserved." "In the scrutinizing of the external model of this RG182, it is a practical clone; it really appears as if the developers didn’t miss a single thing. Every item that I looked for was found and looked just right, rendered in properly scale and textures that are exquisitely real. Propeller, visible engine components, the fasteners on the cowl… I could go on and on, but I think I made my point clear. This is one excellently-rendered external model. Inside, it doesn’t stop." "The sound set for the Skylane RG deserves praise as well. The representation of the O-540 powerplant is plenty convincing, with no discernable audible looping of the sound files." "Carenado's Cessna 182 Skylane RG II holds very true to it’s inspiration in terms of visual and audible details, and the flight model is supremely spot on. For anyone out there wanting to look a little closer into the retractable and/or complex world of aviation, I’d recommend Carenado’s Skylane RG without hesitation."

Cessna C172N by Carenado. (April 14, 2009): Staff reviewer Jason McKee looks at a venerable workhorse of the flight training world with Carenado's Cessna C172N. "The 172N was introduced in 1977, it was also known as the 172 Skyhawk/100 by Cessna." "With the 172N from Carenado you get two models, one with spats and one without. You also get three liveries with the two options and one livery which is a 50th anniversary special. The default 172 cannot compare to this add-on as it is night and day comparing the two. The default looks small and underdeveloped compared to Carenado's version." "The interior model looks stunning. The cockpit is based on a base model 172N, with the standard fitment of radios and instruments. There is no texture issues inside the cockpit and all the panels fit together well with no gaps or texture differences in any of them. The virtual cockpit looks great and is nice and smooth to pan around in. All the gauges are smooth and fluid with no stutters or glitches. Flight yokes and throttle controls all move smoothly through their full range of movement. The 2D cockpit is good as well, almost as good as the virtual cockpit, but it doesn’t flow as well as the virtual cockpit." "This aircraft performs as good, if not better, than the default 172. This aircraft also works flawlessly in Direct X 10. All the features of DX10, like the cockpit shadows and advanced bloom effects, make this model look simply stunning. The aircraft flies as per the numbers listed in the reference PDF. Overall, I enjoyed flying this aircraft. I highly recommend Carenado's Cessna 172N."

Apache Longbow by AlphaSim. (April 10, 2009): Staff reviewer Arjun Murthy climbs aboard AlphaSim's Longbow Apache. "Alphasim has done an excellent job in recreating the virtual version of this wonderful aircraft. It flies through the skies like an eagle. The handling, realism of flight dynamics and gauges, exterior views are all overwhelming in this version of the Apache Longbow." "The exterior model of the Apache looks absolutely fantastic. It gives the feel of a real military helicopter with all the weapons set up. Also, the unique shape of the Apache makes it something extraordinary to take to the skies in. The interior model of the Apache Longbow is something out of the ordinary. A gunner's seat up front with the pilot's seat in the rear situated higher, this is obviously something unique. The sounds for Alphasim’s Apache Longbow are powered by Turbine Sound Studios, and they are one of a kind." "The flight dynamics of this aircraft are quite realistic. Ground dynamics on the Longbow is also interesting. Very little collective has to be used in order to get it to move without flying. Very small and precise movements have to be made for successful flight. Overall, AlphaSim's Apache Longbow is a very entertaining and ‘good feeling’ aircraft to fly."

Maddog 2008 Professional by Leonardo SH. (April 5, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen, with the assistance of a real world MD-88 pilot, looks at Leonardo SH's Maddog 2008 Professional. "The Maddog 2008 Professional is based on the Maddog 2006 and that one on the Maddog 2004 but still there’s a lot what can’t be found with others." "This Maddog version offers three different cockpits. Ok, they all offer the same EFIS instruments, but then you’ve got many possibilities. You like the ordinary FMS, you got it. No, you prefer the old style engine instruments with old fashioned annunciator panel, you the man. Oh no, you prefer the CMA900 with the PMS; no problem, it’s also available." Angelique and her associate go into great detail as to what is included in The Maddog 2008 Professional package. In particular the external and internal model, the 2D and VC cockpits, flight characteristics, sounds and the tutorial flight. As mentioned in the review summary, "The fantastic flight model and perfect systems integration makes this an airplane that is worth it."

AVSO CF-105 "Arrow" by Xtreme Prototypes. (March 9, 2009): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston goes supersonic from the past with Xtreme Prototype's CF-105 "Arrow". "The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow is a delta wing, high altitude interceptor, designed and built by Avro Aircraft Limited (Canada) in Malton, Ontario, Canada, as the culmination of a design study that began in 1953. Considered to be both an advanced technical and aerodynamic achievement for the Canadian aviation industry, the CF-105 held the promise of Mach 2 speeds at 50,000 ft+ altitude, and was intended to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force's interceptor for the 1960's and beyond." Laurie goes through the exterior and interior descriptions and put's the CF-105 through its paces while exploring this extreme prototype. "The aircraft is beautifully streamlined, and not that heavy as interceptors go. So, with two good power plants putting out a huge amount of thrust, speed is excellent, and going through Mach 1.0 is as easy as slipping on an icy path from the house to the garage. At high altitude, where this aircraft is in its element, it runs straight and true with neat contrails being streamed behind the ship and high speed turns creating vortices that are a joy to observe."

MD-11 (FS9) by PMDG. (March 7, 2009): Staff reviewer Marlon Carter revisits PMDG's MD-11 and gives you a look at the FS9 version of this aircraft. "After doing a brief walk around of the aircraft, the detail is simply amazing. Almost mind boggling how PMDG managed to cover every inch of this aircraft with accurate textures and precise detail. The model features 100% moving surfaces." "The cockpit can only be described as the best that I have come across from PMDG. This gives a true pilot's view of the cockpit. The displays on the panel are very clear and precise in terms of operations; it still is amazing how complex this panel and all of the systems are. Another feature that was very original, is the lighting effects on the 2D and virtual cockpit panel." "This isn’t your normal FS add-on aircraft. If you don’t setup the aircraft correctly, your flying experience will not be what you expect it to be, "please read the manual". The sound of the PW and GE engines are truly amazing. First officer callouts and AP warning sounds are also great." "I must admit that I was simply stunned with how great the performance of PMDG's MD-11 was on my low end system. I just barely made the minimum requirements for this product and it works almost as great as the default FS9 aircraft. This aircraft is truly amazing given the fact that it is a high end product and I am sure it will blow you away."

Boeing 747-200/300/200F by Just Flight. (February 28, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen goes heavy with the Just Flight (CLS)Boeing 747-200/300 and -200F. "You need to start with the base package, also known as “747-200/300 Series”. For those who want to expand their 747 fleet even further, three upgrade packages are available. The available packages are: Classic Liveries Upgrade Pack; Cargo Upgrade Pack; and Passenger & Combi Upgrade Pack" "In general, the external “clean” Aluminum is so realistic that CLS definitely used digitalized images to create this which isn’t a problem at all. Looking to some close-ups of the engines and it doesn’t matter if this is a General Electric, Pratt & Whitney or Rolls Royce, this is so real." "The VC itself without the gauges is really awesome. It looks so real that it’s almost the same as when you’re sitting in a real 747-200/300. This is true since the cockpit creation is based on a real KLM 747-300. The 2D cockpit is not as impressive as the VC version and not all the sub panels are based on digitalized images. While looking to the captain's and additional co-pilot's panels, I must say that this artist did a nice job." "When you choose to fly a FMS based model, there’s not too much to configure. The only thing you need to do is make a flight plan with, for example, the help of the default MSFS planner. When you plan to use an INS based airplane, then a little more must be done. The EZ dynamics gives the aircraft a more default MSFS character, but is indeed intended for those who really need to start flying these big jets." "The external model of the Just Flight (CLS)Boeing 747-200/300is really great. I’ve hardly seen external models with that many details as this JF/CLS aircraft. When you don’t want to dig into comprehensive manuals and want an easy to handle aircraft, I think this is a very good choice."

Northop Gamma by Icarusgold. (February 14, 2009): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura looks at another vintage aircraft from the golden age of aviation, Icarusgold's Northrop Gamma. "The Northrop Gamma was developed in the early 1930s to carry mail, and it was adapted by the U.S. Army to act as a light bomber. What made it famous, however, was a trio of records: two transcontinental speed records (including one by Howard Hughes, while his own racer was being modified) and what supposed to be the first flight across Antarctica (it had 25 miles to go when it ran out of fuel)." "There is one livery, Texaco Sky Chief, and one visual model. The model is FSX-native. The Gamma comes with a 2D mini-panel, but is meant to be flown from the virtual cockpit (VC). The gauges here are mostly from the default Douglas DC-3 and the default Lockheed Vega." "On the ground, it’s relatively docile for a tail dragger, but corrections need to be made gently if you want to avoid fishtailing. In the air, the Gamma is a fast climber and responds easily to the stick. In spite of its heavy looks – a consequence of the massive wheel pants – the Gamma turns out to be rather dexterous. " "The Gamma doesn’t break new ground like the Hughes Racer that I reviewed six months ago: you can run the engine at the highest settings for as long as you please with no consequences. But this model costs less and it comes with scenery."

MD-11/MD10 by Sky Simulations. (February 3, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes a look at another version of the MD-11/MD-10, this time from Sky Simulations. "I'll combine the external model, animations and textures (FSX and FS9) together. Ok, first the animations. Wow! So many things to simulate like opening most of the passenger- - ok, not strange - and cargo doors, tail cone for the necessary maintenance inspections and APU, all kind of cargo loaders in position, a pushback truck, even a ground engineer with headset! The overall look of the models is good, including the more detailed items but not every part, like the MLG (Main Landing Gear) and NLG (Nose Landing Gear), is offering very sharp textures." "After spending several hours in the MD-11/MD-10 flight deck, I'm coming to the following conclusion; the external model with simulations looks good, although certain textures seems to be missing like the inside of the tail cone and thrust reversers of all engines. While spending hours and hours in the 2D and VC cockpits I can only say these are uncomplicated flight decks. You can start, taxi and fly away, but in-depth simulation of the real aircraft and auto flight systems, you won't find here. Therefore, don't compare it with the recently released PMDG MD-11. " "With all the things I found during my ground and flight hours in the Sky Simulations cockpits and external model, I think it's not difficult to say that this model can't compete with the PMDG model. Can it compete with another add-on payware model? The only vendor who I can think of that can compete with it is the CLS Douglas DC-10 collection, brought to you by Just Flight." The Sky Simulations MD11/MD-10 review goes into great detail so you can judge for yourself who's version of this aircraft is right for you."

Super 80 Professional By Coolsky. (December 29, 2008): Staff reviewer Peter Clemenko kicks off the new year with an updated submittion of the Super 80 Professional from Flight 1/Coolsky. "The Super 80 Professional by Coolsky is a rendition of a modernized MD-80, with a glass cockpit. The MD-80 is a spin off of the DC-9." "The external model is very well done and are pleasant to look at. You can even see the reverse thrust in action when you activate it because the reverse thruster doors activate and move. If you want variety, you got it, as this aircraft comes out of the box with 23 liveries. Some liveries look like a fresh coat of paint and others look weathered and worn." "I love that the 2D panel and the major textures are sharp and it is easy to read the labels. The thing that really kills it for me is that the 3D virtual cockpit isn’t all that 3D. On the plus side though, I have to say that the avionics are very complex. The avionics are those of the modernized MD-80. This includes the glass cockpit, FMS, and various other digital goodies. Overall, the panel is very well detailed and the procedures to work with these avionics are highly detailed as well." Peter sums up the Super 80 Professional review with, "All in all, the Coolsky Super 80 Professional is certainly a very complex and nice add-on. While it isn’t for everyone, it is worth the money if you enjoy the MD-80 and you are willing to read a big manual. I personally recommend that if you can settle with a low detail 3D cockpit and a couple of glitches you should go for it."

2008

P-47D "Thunderbolt" By A2A Simulations. (December 29, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston climbs aboard a WWII classic as he looks at Shockwave/A2A Simulations P-47D "Thunderbolt". "The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the “Jug” (Juggernaut?) was the largest single engine fighter of its day, thanks largely to the huge Pratt and Whitney Double banked Radial version of the Wasp. Fully armed and loaded, the weight of this aircraft could reach 8 tonnes." "The aircraft is displayed very nicely with a lot of detail to the exterior. There is only one paint job, with none available on the A2A forums either, but I did find one on the Avsim website. This airplane is not pretty, but the big radial engine at the front end is so neat in its design and display." "Climbing into the cockpit of this monster and lowering myself into the seat, the first thing I notice is the lack of a forward view. Then I start to look around me, and the wealth of detail comes into view. Instrumentation is very detailed and works perfectly in every respect. Panels to the left and right of the seat give control switches for radios etc, and on the right hand side of the cockpit, partly obscured by the air diluter and demand ducting for oxygen, is the all important tail wheel lock lever." "After running up and getting lined up, it is time to lock the tail wheel before opening up this huge powerful engine. Using rudder to counteract torque, you feel with the elevator to get the nose down to the horizontal before building up enough speed to ease back and start to climb away. Dive speed and high altitude performance is good, but low altitude performance is not so good, although introducing water injection helps during the rate of climb phase, and the turning rate could be better at low altitude, but the elliptical wing helps with roll control somewhat." Summing up this rendition of the P-47 Thunderbolt, Laurie says, "A nice big aircraft with lots of attitude. I like it a lot. It looks very good in the air and the detail is something to be seen. Therefore, for the price of this add-on, it is a fair buy."

F16 Fighting Falcon X By Aerosoft. (December 21, 2008): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura takes to the skies in Aerosoft's F-16 Fighting Falcon X. "The F-16 Fighting Falcon, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, has been in production now for three decades and is expected to remain in service for at least two more. Fast, light-weight, and versatile, it can fire missiles and launch bombs in numerous configurations; this package simulates about twenty of them. Developed by Aerosoft, the visual model is said to be “the most detailed aircraft ever designed for FSX.”" "According to the product web page, the Falcon ships with 21 different external models and 61 different liveries. This package includes three variants -- the A, AM, and C models -- with two different engines -- General Electric F110-GE-100 and Pratt & Whitney F100-P-220 -- and fourteen different external loads. The two engines differ in weight, fuel consumption, and thrust -- variations that are reflected in the various flight models. But no matter which engine you fly, the engine you hear will be a Pratt & Whitney F100." "FSX is better at simulating fly-by-wire systems than previous versions of Flight Simulator, but it’s not all the way there. In the Aerosoft Falcon, you need to use more trim than you would in the real F-16, but I put this down to a limitation of the simulator engine, not a defect in the flight model. This model is not for borderline hardware. Another thing I notice is that switching back to cockpit view from one of the external views is very fast: there’s no waiting while the cockpit redraws, as there is (for example) in some higher-fps models." David concludes Aerosoft's F-16 Fighting Falcon X with, "This aircraft is fun. A lot of the fun is just power: you can climb very fast, dive even faster, roll over on your belly, zip around the deck, and if you get into trouble, just turn up the heat. Detail is high, frame rates are flyable, there’s a wide variety of configurations and liveries, and the heads-up display is more realistic (and therefore more useful) than any we’ve seen before in Flight Simulator. Start-up time is minimal and, with no FMC to program, you can be on your way in about a minute."

MD-11 (FSX) By PMDG. (December 20, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen with the hep of another staff reviewer co-author an intense, in-depth, descriptive look at PMDG's MD-11. Be prepared for a long read, but it's not as dry as reading an operating manual. Angelique and Tom say, "Let’s put it simply, we think this product raises the standard by which Flight Simulator add-on products will be judged in the future. PMDG offers a huge list of liveries, which is growing weekly. Both aircraft types – passenger and freighters – are offered including the two types of engines." "Aircraft systems are thoroughly simulated in-depth, which really gives you the feeling that you are sitting in the captain's or co-pilot's seat of this magnificent PMDG MD-11. The 2D cockpit is already stunning with all its options but don’t forget the VC. Nice frame rates make it a pleasure to sit back, relax and enjoy this model. The PDMG MD11 is more expensive than most add-on models, however, its depth and quality make this production a good value for your money. Many add-on products could be considered toys - we consider this product a useful tool. "

F86 Sabre By Section F8. (December 7, 2008): Senior contributing reviewer Alexis Esguerra looks at a Korean War icon, the F86 Sabre, as presented as a freeware product from Section F8. "Generally considered America’s first successful combat jet fighter, the single engine F-86 established a whole new set of standards in its day." "There are two Sabres that come with the baseline F-86E/F package, both of them the more common E-variant. The reflective texture qualities are great and festooned with stencil and panel details that, while not crisp when looked at close up, give the plane a convincing appeal, especially when viewed from a distance. In cold and dark mode with the canopy opened, you’ll find chocks in place, an engine exhaust cover plugged in, flags covering pitot tubes that actually flutter in the wind, and the pilot gone." "Inside, the cockpit is decidedly old tech. The 2D panels of the Sabre was reminiscent of that real-world bird. The VC cockpit is similarly old and beat up, and one step better in terms of rendering; the textures are much sharper here that what I found outside and the legibility of the gauges and placards are extremely good. Accuracy-wise, both 2D and VC cockpits are very close to the researched material." "Outside of the engine, there is the usual garden-variety sound set - the whine of the landing gear, switch clicks, the ticking when a dial is spun. All are realistic in their rendition, not overdone, but not underdone either. In maneuvers, this Sabre handles just as I would expect. The F-86 has a respectable ability to maintain its energy for most of what I asked of it, but it did remind me at times that its performance envelope is that of a 50’s era fighter." "I cannot stress enough that we are talking about a freeware product that is scoring at minimum on par with the payware competition. In my book, that puts Section F8's F86 Sabre in an entirely different class. F-86 Sabre is a testament to the efforts of the developers, and proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that the best things in life can indeed be had for free."

Cessna 152 II By Carenado. (November 24, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen relives her life during her PPL training as she takes Carenado's Cessna 152 II out to see if it flies as she remembers. "One moment I’m sitting in the complex flight deck of the PMDG McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and next, I’m going back to my PPL roots, playing around in a Cessna 152 II from Carenado." "Is it real or is it a FSX model? Every tiny detail is there. Is there then nothing missing? That depends what you miss. This Cessna 152 is full of details and offers a very high realistic look, even when looking through the window from the outside." "The 2D cockpit a good looking and fully functional cockpit. The main instrument panel comes together with only one additional sub panel; the RPM and amp indicators. The VC looks very good and realistic. Front window reflection from the glare shield, or reflection on the size windows from the seats, moveable sun visors and ashtrays, passenger doors with open/closing lock sound, glove compartment on the right hand side of the instrument panel opening/closing and movable fresh air controls and finally, the instrument panel shade depends on the sun angle entrance." Angelique takes her 152 on a cross country flight in Florida. While airborne, she puts the aircraft through its paces as one would during a checkride. She describes this in detail and the accompanying screenshots tell a great story. Her conclusion... "great, lots of fun and what more do you want? The external model itself, its details, the 2D cockpit, and especially the VC, are highly realistic and really gives you the feeling you’re sitting in and enjoying a flight in a real Cessna 152 II. The many FSX features , as well as the highly realistic flight dynamics, increase the flight feeling and sensation."

Kaman SH-2 Seasprite By AlphaSim. (November 1, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis takes to the air in his favourite genre of aircraft, a helicopter. This time its the Kaman SH-2 SeaSprite from AlphaSim. "Alphasim has the biggest selection of helicopters available for FSX and with each new release, each one just seems to get better and better!" "The Kaman Seasprite from Alphasim is probably one of the most beautiful looking choppers to come out for FSX and is, in my opinion, one of the most detailed choppers available to date from Alphasim. Once the product installation is complete you will find five different model variants along with six different texture sets of the Seasprite installed." "Externally, this is one of the best helicopters available for FSX, it is so highly detailed that sometimes you forget that you are not looking at a picture of the real thing. Features like bump-mapping, self shadowing, and some of the best night lighting I have seen to date makes this a must have for any helo-pilot in FSX!" "The cockpit is where this chopper takes a massive leap.Out of all of the choppers I have flown for FSX and FS9 for that matter, I found that the Kaman, though considerably more complicated, offered the best feeling of flight and gives the pilot a true to life feel for the overall helicopter and how it flies. The virtual cockpit is not only functional, but it also offers accurate gauges and systems that are used in the real Kaman Seasprite." "Do I like the Kaman Seasprite? A wholeheartedly yes and I think it is one of the best helicopters to come from Alphasim to date! Do you like flying helicopters in FSX? Or are you contemplating your first helicopter add-on? If you are, then you owe it to yourself to get this one and I think it is safe to say that you will not regret it. I certainly haven't!"

Fokker 70/100 (with SP1) By Digital Aviation. (October 25, 2008): Staff reviewer Etienne Martin takes a closer, more in-depth updated (SP1) look at the Fokker 70/100 from Digital Aviation which is available from Flight 1. "The Digital Aviation Fokker 70/100 package provides an excellent glass cockpit experience in a regional aircraft package. The choice of a Fokker aircraft is intriguing and uncommon. While the VC is missed, the 2D panel system is robust and one of the better implementations on the market today. All major systems are modeled in depth including options like the weather and terrain radar. A multi-crew capability is also included in the package." "I found that DA’s simulation in its SP1 form, delivers an engaging an immersive experience in manual or automatic flight modes. The Fokker 70/100 continues DA’s reputation for delivering in-depth treatments of the aircraft they model."

Cessna U206G Stationair By Carenado. (October 20, 2008): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura takes the FSX version of Carenado's Cessna U206G Stationair out for a test flight. "The Cessna 206 was introduced in 1964 as the “Super Skywagon.” It was supposed to be the station wagon of the air: a family-size vehicle, suitable for carrying cargo as well as people. In 1970, Cessna renamed it the “Stationair,” and that is the name it still carries." "Carenado’s Stationair comes in three different models, with two variations for each model: Standard, with wheel pants and without; Cargo pod, with wheel pants and without; and Amphibian, configured either for bush flying or for extreme sports. The Stationair gauges look about thirty years older than the default gauges -- which is about right, given the age of the planes being modeled -- and they’re noticeably crisper. This is a fun plane for VFR, but it’s also a solid platform for IFR." "The cabin behind the cockpit is outfitted with red seats; in the cargo version, you can click on these and the passenger seating will be replaced with crates. There are also three exits that can be opened and closed separately: the front cockpit door, the rear cabin door, and (in the cargo version) a pod door under the plane, which opens to reveal more crates and boxes." "Judging from the .air file’s date stamp, 9 November 2005, the Stationair’s flight model does not seem to have been updated. Engine performance and fuel consumption have been calibrated to match the numbers in the pilot’s operating handbook (POH). Frame rates are at least as good as the default Caravan, even though the model is more detailed." Putting Carenado's Cessna U206G Stationair back into the hangar, David comments, "From the developer’s point of view, this probably counts as an overhaul, because the model had to be recreated using new tools. From a customer’s point of view, the changes will seem incremental. All of the old repaints are usable, the engine sound is still full, and the frame rates are still high."

Fokker 100/70 By Digital Aviation. (October 17, 2008): Staff reviewer kicks off his first review for AVSIM with a look at the Fokker 100/70 developed by Digital Aviation and distributed by Flight 1. "The development of the Fokker 100 began in 1981, when collaboration attempts failed with McDonnell Douglas." "Digital Aviation has provided two tutorial flights for you to learn all the basics in being able to successfully complete a flight without any tie ups. In the first, you will learn how to operate the aircraft under normal conditions. The next tutorial goes much deeper into explaining the different types of approaches and just being able to fly the aircraft as close to real as possible." "The panel is just simply amazing. If you are looking for an aircraft that provides the most realism possible, look no further. Digital Aviation has modeled just about every switch that’s in the cockpit. I would say that about 95% of the panel works." "Digital Aviation has done an amazing job in making a re-creation of the Fokker 70 and the Fokker 100 variants. The aircraft systems have been modeled to perfection and are extremely in depth. They have provided great manuals so you can really get the feel of how the real aircraft works. It has been a joy to fly and something totally different from the Boeing or Airbus."

Premier I By Eaglesoft Development Group. (October 12, 2008): Staff reviewer Marlon Carter takes his personal BizJet, the Permier I from Eaglesoft, on a short jaunt. "The Premier I is constructed with a high-strength composite carbon fiber/epoxy honeycomb fuselage. The Premier I and IA can be certified as light aircraft for operation by a single pilot. The powerplants are Williams International FJ44-2A engines. Though traditionally add-on aircraft focused on medium size to heavy jets, this is a most welcome addition to anyone’s hangar." "The exterior model was created quite accurately. The Premier 1 has a unique look and Eaglesoft did a great job capturing it virtually. Textures used on the 9 liveries are also of a high quality and add to the detail of this product. Moving on to the interior of the aircraft, again the cabin is very detailed with good quality textures." "The quality of the main panel was slightly disappointing. The layout of the panel was done accurately and gives a just representation of the real thing. Systems wise, the team at Eaglesoft did a good job in modeling the avionics." "After starting the engines and taxiing to the active, one will easily notice that this aircraft does not require large amounts of thrust to get rolling. Also, try to avoid high speed turns as the aircraft will get a bit difficult to control. When applying takeoff thrust, the Premier 1 shoots off like a rocket and takes off with ease. On landing, users better get use to not having reverse thrust because this aircraft relies heavily on anti-skid braking and lift dumping functions." Marlon concludes his short trip in the Premier I with, "There aren’t many developers out there who produce high quality business jets, but Eaglesoft did a good job on this one. Considering this is a back by popular demand aircraft means that many other simmers have taken a liking to this aircraft and though not many changes have been made, it is still enjoyable. Even though it’s not a full systems simulation of the real aircraft, this spunky business jet is worth the cost, even more so if the developers continue to make upgrades and improvements. Hats off to Eaglesoft, keep those business jets coming. "

Me-262 By Flight Replicas. (October 10, 2008): Staff reviewer Nicholas Mathews kicks off his first review with a look at Flight Replicas' Me-262. "The Schwalbe (Swallow); the Sturmvogel (Stormbird); the Turbo. Quite a sleek and swift looking aeroplane with graceful lines, slightly swept wings, unusually mid-mounted horizontal stabilizer, and of course, those low slung under-wing mounted jet engines. What many say to be the first jet powered aircraft." "The exterior is quite good overall, and the level of detail is rather impressive. Included in the package are the 262A-1a, 262A-1b, 262A-2a, and 262B trainer. There are six different textures included in the package." "There is no 2D panel provided with the aircraft. I quote the product’s website, “This aircraft has a beautifully rendered [virtual] cockpit that is designed to be flown in at all times. For this reason no 2D panel is included at this time.” The virtual cockpit models are impressively detailed; lots of things to grab your eye and attention. The textures inside the virtual cockpit are good; they please me." Nicholas goes into detail about this aircraft with the developer and a lot of detailed questions are answered. "What’s my final say?" asks Nicholas, "Overall, Flight Replicas’ Messerschmitt Me-262 package gives a good feel and idea of what it is like to pilot the Me-262. I quite liked the substantial immersion provided by the aircraft histories, detailed virtual cockpit, detailed exterior and noteworthy air-file."

A380v2 By Wilco Publishing. (October 1, 2008): Staff reviewer Jon Murchison takes a look at the Airbus A380 from Wilco Publishing> and takes it from it's home base and landing it at Aerosoft's HannoverX. "Hannover International Airport comes to flightsim, and specifically FSX, courtesy of the team who created the original German Airports series and who are now behind the development of German Airports 2; with HannoverX being the first release in this new series designed with the advancements both FS2004 and FSX have to offer in mind. The A380 is no different, with various versions from both the freeware community and payware developers coming online over the past few years. I wanted to learn more about this aircraft, so I was keen to see what Wilco have come up with in their version of the A380. " Jon has produced an extensive, detailed combination review of this aircraft and scenery. It is well worth your while to read the complete details of both these titles. While putting the A380 through a test flight while enroute from its homebase in Toulouse, France to Hannover, Germany, Jon has merged the presentation of these two titles. His final comments of each read, "The Wilco A380 is a mixture of high aspirations but average implementation, with many ‘faults’ that should never have got past the beta testers. While I was impressed with the functionality of the 2D cockpit, the VC really doesn’t stack up to what you expect from payware products these days. Externally, the model is very good, yes it’s let down by some poor animation in the leading edge slats and strange emissive qualities on cargo doors, but overall the sheer size of this aircraft and its shape have been captured well. I’m not convinced the flight dynamics are where they need to be, she flies heavy and that seems to contradict what pilots are saying and what I have seen in video footage of the aircraft's ability to respond quickly. Overall, I was disappointed with the A380, particularly when the majority of the issues it has could have been so easily fixed prior to release. It's still worth a look if you’re an Airbus fan, but there are other options if your keen to own an A380." "HannoverX is a great scenery package. While it doesn’t use the FSX SDK to its full potential (no animated jetways is a pet peeve for me and a few reflective windows would be nice) it certainly doesn’t detract from what is a comprehensive and highly detailed representation of this airport. The level of detail is excellent, the development is sensible in regards to what appears in your field of view to maximize performance, and the photoreal nature of the buildings and ground textures gives you a realistic experience. The developers of German Airports are clearly back. If they keep producing scenery of this calibre, German and European simmers who operate in this part of the world will find little reason to leave the homeland." So take a tour of Wilco Publishing's A380; inside and out, from the flightdeck to the passenger cabin. Then step outside as you arrive in Hannover and tour Aerosoft's HannoverX in all its detail.

Boeing 757 Pro Pack By Captain Sim. (September 24, 2008): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen climbs aboard Captain Sim's 757 variants with a detailed look at the Pro Pack. "The 757 is a twin-engine, new technology jet airplane designed for low fuel burn and short-to-medium range operations. This airplane uses new aerodynamics, materials, structures, and systems to fill market requirements that cannot be efficiently provided by existing equipment or derivatives." "This is really the first MSFS model I’ve ever seen creating an external model which reflects, within the boundaries of MSFS, an almost perfect model. What makes this CS 757 Series so much different than all the other MSFS aircraft or competitive 757’s? It's not only those tiny details, which are available on CS models, it’s also the painting and above all, the aircraft maintenance state in which you can configure this aircraft. Via a handy floating menu, you’re able to change so many things." "How realistic is the Captain Sim Virtual Cockpit (CS VC) in relation to the real 757 cockpit or flight deck? It will be very difficult to tell the difference since the CS VC is based on digitalized photo images. The overall view of the cockpit is very good and highly realistic, even close-up shots are still impressive. Indicators are still sharp and so realistic that you hardly believe it’s a MSFS simulated model. The external aircraft model and the 2D/VC cockpits are all awesome" "“I’m not a real 757 pilot, so I don’t have any real 757 flight experience” is becoming a standard expression in reviews and thus judging the flight characteristics or dynamics of such an airplane is not that easy." So Angelique took the aircraft on a terst flight and put the 757 through its paces. The details of which are extensive and informative. Concluding this very detailed review of Captain Sim's Boeing 757 Pro Pack, Angelique summerizes with, "I’ve seen many add-on aircraft, but this is one of a very limited group who have created a model of very high quality, in my personal opinion. It comes with comprehensive and clearly written manuals. You get great looking 2D and VC cockpits and for the external model, The external model; I can’t find any other word for it than “awesome”. Well done Captain Sim."

UH-60 Blackhawk By AlphaSim. (September 19, 2008): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl climbs aboard AlphaSim's UH-60 Blackhawk. "In 1972, the United States Army decided it needed a new helicopter fitting the UTTAS or Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System. This new aircraft would replace the venerable, though imperfect, UH-1 'Huey'." "Right off the bat, the visual model is just stunning. All of the lines, little animations, and effects really come together to immerse you. Included are 9 different variants, with different model and paint configurations. All the little details on this detail-heavy Blackhawk have been faithfully modeled, and each model type shows this with small but noticeable differences." "The virtual cockpit included with Alphasim's Blackhawk is quite exquisite. No shortage of detail or beautiful crafting, and almost all of the important controls are functional. Included in the VC is a neat MFD, or Multi Function Display panel. This panel will give you nice flight directors and horizontal situation indicators, a functioning hover gauge, and other useful information." "Flying the Alphasim Blackhawk is similar to flying any other FS Helicopter. It does take a little getting used to, but after a little bit of flight time, I had things ironed out nicely. The helicopter does tend to want to sink or climb unless you stay right on top of it every second. Another stunning achievement with this package is the sound, done by Turbine Sound Studios." Summing up his ride in AlphaSim's Blackhawk, Chris comments, "Flying the Blackhawk is great, if you are an avid fan of Military Aircraft/Helicopters, you can't miss this one. The aircraft's lines themselves are worth it, the sounds are above and beyond, and the VC does not disappoint."

Mosquito By Just Flight / Aeroplane Heaven. (September 17, 2008): New staff reviewer Tom Dilbeck jumps aboard Just Flight's Mosquito, fully equipped with the additional add-ons Special Op Pack and Photo-Recon Pack. "This product was designed by Aeroplane Heaven, a group of designers headquartered in Australia. Just Flight markets the product, bringing it to market cost effectively and providing friendly and expert product support." Tom give a listing of all the versions and liveries included with this "3 Pack". He continues with, "the Mosquito’s visual models are astonishing for their detail, accuracy and correct perspective. The level of panel detail is incredible. The approximately 60 gauges and switches in custom designed housings operate smoothly and do not have any impact on system stability. The navigational tools are historically accurate for the period, meaning you are flying a 300 knot aircraft by spending a lot of time looking out the window and some time trying to home in on radio sources on a Directional Finder." "The Mosquito model includes sound files for the Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 engines. The sound files reinforce the character of the airplane - it is dominated by engines and propellers. Aeroplane Heaven may have taken a little liberty in reaching the Mosquito’s performance specifications while leaving out some of the handling traits that would leave customers frustrated just trying to find their way to the runway. The Mosquito is easy to fly and not in need of excessive amounts of trim. Just like the real airplane, speed control in the pattern is critical and there is a noticeable difference in the flight characteristics with heavy equipment installed in the nose." "There is a lot of product included with your purchase of this Mosquito. This is a product that will provide hours of enjoyment just viewing the features of the various aircraft and even more hours as you learn to fly the aircraft and deploy their unique abilities. The Mosquito, Special Operations Pack and Photo Recon Pack, will appeal to Flight Sim enthusiasts, aviation fanatics with an eye for detail and history buffs alike."

GB Super Sportster By AlphaSim. (September 12, 2008): Avsim's Gabe Logan submits his first review, Alphasim's GB Super Sportster. "Dubbed by cynics: “The Flying Silo” and: “The Killer”, the Granville brothers (after whom the aircraft was named) pushed the limits of aerodynamics to leave a colorful legacy that would influence aircraft design for decades to come. The Sportster R–1 and R–2 were, arguably, the most successful of all the Gee Bee models." "The high attention to detail is immediately evident with everything from individual rivets to the exquisite engine detail being modeled in 3D. With highly-reflective and high-poly textures, the external models are simply excellent! Performance too is startling, especially when you consider how many polygons are actually drawn at typical zoom levels, with typical frame rates around 80-85% those of default GA aircraft." "Although there is a 2D panel, Alphasim admit that, although included, it’s not really designed to be used. The VC is perfectly capable of standing on its own and in terms of performance, boasts frame rates only 10-15% lower than those of default GA aircraft. Lighting is authentic: unfortunately this means virtually, non-existent. Although the R–1 had no lighting at all, the R–2 was equipped with fixed red and green navigation lights, yet the cockpit remained a very dark place to be." "TSS (Turbine Sound Studios) was recruited by Alphasim to create the sound package – and, it rocks! Sound is often overlooked by developers, yet I feel that for these aircraft, the throaty engine sounds really are the icing on the cake. Moreover, the subtle yet discernible changes in tone provide an additional and welcome source of information as to the aircraft’s performance." After putting Alphasim's GB Super Sportsters through their paces, Gabe concludes, "Alphasim have produced a more than decent aircraft that is both fun and challenging to fly. The high-poly external model is extremely impressive and while there are a few niggles, the VC is, on the whole, more than acceptable with smooth gauges, pleasant night-lighting and attention to detail. The Gee Bee is still a high-quality add-on that certainly doesn’t disappoint."

BAe Hawk T1 By SkySim. (September 9, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston goes aerobatic with SkySim's BAe Hawk T1. "The British Aerospace Hawk T Mk1 is a British all-metal, low wing, tandem seat, flight training and weapon training aircraft. The Red Arrows Royal Air Force Aerobatic team took delivery of the BAe Hawk T1 in the winter of 1979/1980." "The aircraft looks excellent; with maintenance steps and chocks, pins and blanks fitted in all the right places all the way around the plane. It is finished in the 2007 RAF paint scheme allocated to the team, and from the front or “sharp” end of the plane, right to the back end, it looks exactly right in every detail, and this includes the landing gear, doors, panels, smoke emitters and tail pipe." "Having studied the real Red Arrow Hawk interior, I have to say that this simulation is first class, with every dial, switch and button faithfully re-produced. I couldn’t fault it, although it is true that some of the “eye candy” is just that. However, all the instruments that are required for flight do just what they are supposed to, and the CWS (Central Warning System) panel reads correctly and tests too. The Radios are functional and there is enough information to keep most people happy most of the time. And this goes for the front cockpit and the rear cockpit too." "The Rolls Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk.861 Turbofan has been re-produced very effectively, starts realistically, and idles correctly so it stands to reason that feeding power in is also going to sound great, and it does!" "This model has it all, and it has been very carefully created to be as near to a real Hawk as I can imagine it. The aircraft looks very nice, flies perfectly and reacts well to its environment. As this is an aerobatic jet trainer and team performer, I give it full marks for all of that. The SkySim Hawk has the honor of being my favorite package and may well be for years to come. This BAe Hawk T1 “RED ARROW” by SkySim is a true winner."

P-38 Lightning By Just Flight/Aeroplane Heaven. (September 1, 2008): New staff reviewer Colin McFadden takes the "Fork-tailed Devil" for a test flight with Just Flight/Aeroplane Heaven's version of the P-38 Lightning. "Aeroplane Heaven created a beautiful model. There is a large array of animated features on the P38 Lightning. Animated features include the window hatch (main exit), flaps, landing gear, propeller mixture, operating guns, opening gun and camera bays; this is on top of all the normal animations you would expect in any aircraft." "This add-on is a virtual cockpit only aircraft. When you finally hop in, you will see a bunch of switches and steam gauges, and of course, the always recognizable throttle quadrant. The documentation labels almost every gauge and switch inside of the virtual cockpit. It is a very well laid out cockpit, and after a couple days of familiarization, you’ll be a pro!" "After flying the flight simulator version of this aircraft, you’ll quickly find out this is no Airbus or Boeing! It takes a lot of getting used to, as many aspects of flight can be very difficult if you don’t read the documentation. For the most efficient flight, you need to manage your engine and speed according to your altitude." "The P38 Lightning by Just Flight/Aeroplane Heaven is a highly detailed, smooth, and frame rate friendly FS2004 aircraft add-on. This title could run on most systems without much lag or jerkiness. If you enjoy flying WWII aircraft, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second in telling you to get this P38 Lightning."

Bellanca Viking Collection By Lionheart Creations. (August 30, 2008): Staff reviewer Jason McKee looks at Lionheart Creations' Bellanca Viking Collection. "The Bellanca Super Viking and Turbo Viking is a throwback to older times when wood, steel tube and fabric were the main materials of choice for building fast and strong aircraft. But the aircraft are as strong and as fast as some of the more contemporary aircraft made of more exotic materials." "The aircraft looks nice and round, with no sharp edges where there should not be sharp edges. The FS2004 model has also been given the same polish, but due to the limitations of FS2004, it is slightly less polished than the FSX version. The virtual cockpit is a model in its own right and looks just like a well maintained, but well used, aircraft should." "The panels of the Super Viking and Turbo Viking are close to a factory produced aircraft with the primary instruments on the left hand side and radios on the right. You can fly the aircraft from the right, but you will be looking to the left at the primary instruments, as with most aircraft of this type. Animations abound inside the virtual cockpit." "The airfile of the Viking is a work of art. Yes, I think of airfiles as art. The airfiles of the Viking are great. It flies within the specifications as published by the manufacturer and websites I have found. The sounds of the Viking are realistic. Flaps and gear sounds are accurate and nicely add to the cockpit ambiance." "I really enjoyed flying the Viking," says Jason, "it is a smooth and fast four seater that has good short field performance. This has become one of my favorite aircraft to cruise around in. The Viking is an aircraft that would suit anyone who loves GA aircraft or those heavy metal fliers who want a bit of a change. I'd highly recommend this package to anyone."

Epic LT By Lionheart Creations. (August 23, 2008): New staff reviewer Kylan Walters kicks off his AVSIM reviewing career with Lionheart's Epic LT. "The aircraft shares many visual similarities to the C400. The aircraft has a very small wheel base, large wings, a Turbo Prop engine, aerodynamic wing tips and retractable gear. It also includes a radically new designed interior compared to the C400." "The model is well done, and very smooth and sleek. I dare you to try to spot a elevated polygon in this model, because the smoothness of the exterior is just amazing and reflects the look of the real thing spot on. I was very impressed with the general looks of the aircraft." "The VC was very refreshing. It was complete in all aspects and offered smooth gauges, including very smooth throttle controls and switches. I also noticed performance with the VC was acceptable in both FSX and FS9. Another welcomed feature was the rudder pedals and yoke move ment, both very fluid as well. The 2D panel is well implemented with a nice view of the panel while not sacrificing external visual reference." "The sounds are very nice and believable. When you push the throttle to 100% and listen to those engines spool up, it’s a very relaxing but powerful sound. The airfile exposed a few issues in terms of the Flight Dynamics of the LT. The elevator effectiveness is quite touchy in FSX only." Wrapping up Lionheart's Epic LT, Kylan comments, "For those used to flying the heavy iron or small Cessna’s, this aircraft really fulfilled all my expectations of such a beautiful, powerful, and unique aircraft. If you love GA, you’ll love the Epic, especially if you’re a fan of the Cessna 400 or the PC-12."

E-Jets Series By Wilco/feelThere. (August 22, 2008): Staff reviewer David Rogers climbs aboard several aircraft from Wilco Publishing with their E-Jets Series. "The E-Jets are narrow bodied, twin engined, medium range ‘regional jets’ comprising the E170, E175 and stretched E190 and E195 airliners." "From the outside, these aircraft do not immediately strike you as regional jets. Proportions all seem good and the aircraft looks particularly good from the outside during climb out. When you purchase E-Jets, you can buy the standard package which gives you installers for FS2004 and FSX along with a fairly small but well covered selection of liveries." "I was immediately impressed with what was in front of me in the virtual cockpit. The panel, glare shield and pedestal are all really crisp and this VC definitely seems like a marked higher level of quality compared to previous feelThere 'pits. All in all, from a visual perspective, this is nice VC." David goes into an explicitly detailed description of all of the inner workings of these aircraft. From the cold dark cockpit to the final flare over the numbers. "The systems coverage in this advanced jet are stunning and second to none, and most of the flight experience in FS is really enjoyable. For those who enjoy complex aircraft simulations, E-Jets is definitely worth buying and provides a lot of fun."

MiG-17 By Flight 1/Bear Studios. (August 20, 2008): Staff reviewer Peter Clemenko takes a Vietnam War veteran for a test flight with Flight 1's MiG-17 from Bear Studios. "The MiG was used most famously by the North Vietnamese in the Vietnam War. While it was not the most powerful or most dangerous aircraft, it was a really bad day for you if you got into a dogfight with it." "There are plenty of variants of the MiG to fly in this pack. Overall they are well done and the aircraft models are very high in poly count. The variants in this package include the trainer model, the FT-5; the various single seat Fresco models including the LiM-5P Fresco D, LiM-6Bis Fresco C, the Fresco A; the Chinese built versions; and even the radar equipped PFU version among others. While it doesn’t include every variant, there are enough to keep you busy for a while." "The model is very well done and has some very nice features to add the sense of realism everywhere. One nice thing is that the engine itself is modeled and you can use the wing fold key to expose the engine. The 3D panel is a work of art. The panel is nice and in high resolution. Most of the switches are modeled in 3D, if it were all of them it would be perfect. The 2D panel is there, and is good for people who need to conserve frame rates using less polys, or for those who just prefer the 2D cockpit." Wrapping up his look at the MiG-17, Peter comments, "If you love the MiG 17, and can’t live without it, then pick this one up. But if you can live without it, wait for a service pack or a patch."

RAF Vulcan By Just Flight. (August 13, 2008): Staff reviewer Laure Aston reviews a piece of history that is back in the air, the RAF Vulcan from Just Flight. "The Avro Vulcan’s beautiful lines and distinctive shape make it an icon of cold-war aviation. RAF Vulcan contains a total of eighteen examples in different Squadron liveries and with different model variations, including the 2K air-to-air refueling tanker variant and those carrying the Blue Steel British nuclear cruise missile, the Shrike anti-radar missile as used in the Falklands, and the ‘project cancelled’ Sky Bolt missiles." Just Flight have captured this magnificent aircraft perfectly, in all its guises and colour schemes, glistening in the sun with protrusions displayed for all to see. The bomb bay opens to reveal a cavernous internal warehouse, capable of carrying enough weaponry to destroy just about anything on earth." "The cockpit area of the Vulcan is fairly compact, and appears to be displayed faithfully by the “Just Flight” Team. The instruments that are important for flight are working properly, although not in the case of every switch and knob visible. The layout works well overall, and the views from the flight deck are exactly as per the real Vulcan, and the “Virtual Cockpit” pilot is catered for very neatly too." "The sound department at Just Flight and Phoenix has tweaked the Bristol Siddeley (now Rolls Royce) Olympus engines to perfection, and they sound great in the FS2004 or FSX versions. The power comes in at the right time when the thrust levers are moved, the gauges read well, and the aircraft responds to changes in thrust as near as I can tell quite accurately." "The RAF Vulcan is thoroughly recommended for anyone and everyone. It flies well, looks fantastic in the air or on the ground. Lay out a few well earned pennies knowing you have purchased a big piece of history, at a fraction of the price of a real Avro Vulcan, it will never let you down."

B-24 Liberator By AlphaSim. (August 4, 2008): Staff reviewer Juan Llobera goes heavy with AlphaSim's B-24 Liberator. "The design concept was quite an advance for its time. With four 14-cylinder Pratt and Whitney supercharged R-1830-65 radial engines with 1000hp each, a tricycle landing gear (it was actually the first bomber to use it) and a twin tail and rudder assembly, the Model 32 became the allied forces warhorse (most of the US Air Force propaganda of the time featured the B-24 Liberator on it)" "The exterior model looks pretty well done. Decals on the airplanes are fantastic and the nose art is really well created. Animations include landing gear, Flaps, pilots, cowl flaps, prop pitch, crew, Bombs, national flag and waist gunner can be also selected/deselected via the VLE." "The 2D panel is a piece of art on its own. The color of the panel will give you the feeling that you are in an old piece of metal from WWII. Gauges are smooth and pretty much every single thing you’ll see is clickable. The 3D panel is also well done. Everything that was clickable on the 2D panel is available for you click on the 3D version of it." "Once in the air, the Liberator is a beauty to fly. Even in its full configuration, the Liberator will respond to the control commands instantly and surprisingly it's quite a maneuverable aircraft. This particular add-on is featured with turbocharged engines, though you may love to have some extra power during your take-off, flying a turbocharged airplane will not be an easy task considering external throttle peripherals will not work. Maybe the most admirable thing about the B-24 is how easy to land this giant is." Juan closes with, "the AlphaSim B-24 Liberator could easily become one of the favourites of those simmers recreating WWII missions or looking for a new meaning in the word “heavy”.

SR-71 "Blackbird" By AlphaSim. (July 25, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk dons his spacesuit for a ride in AlphaSim's SR-71 "Blackbird". "This model stays true to the iconic look and sound of this exotic aircraft. However, the star of the show is the detailed and realistic flight model. The real Blackbird was capable of flying at over 80,000 feet and could cruise at Mach 3.2. This is not an aircraft for casual sim-pilots, but is well suited for those who are interested in finding new challenges in Flight Simulator and those who have a deep involvement with supersonic jets." "Getting the Blackbird to its operational altitude and speed is lot of work. Fortunately, the realistic cockpit has all of the instruments and autopilot devices you may need. Keeping the aircraft stable in the upper atmosphere is a real challenge. Engine unstarts, where the afterburner flames out, will occur any time you disrupt the airflow the ramjets need for Mach speed. As well, the pilot must constantly maintain proper pitch and attitude at all times, or else the aircraft will spin out of control. The Blackbird is not a fighter jet. It does not respond well to sudden control movements. The AlphaSim version can, however, be flown exactly to the specifications of the manual." "As a bonus, the FSX version of the AlphaSim SR-71 features in-flight refueling during Free Flight as well as the ability to use powerful "spy cameras" to take realistic aerial photographs during a mission. The in-flight refueling system has you choose a "tanker" aircraft from the list of computer-driven AI aircraft that are in Flight Simulator. You can pick any aircraft to use as a "tanker". If you have your own tanker model, such as a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (not included with the SR-71), you can import it into FSX for use as your tanker. Simply fly in line astern formation with your "tanker" and the SR-71 will take on fuel. You can adjust the process to make it easier or more difficult to suit your needs. A very useful fake "radar" system has been included to help you rendezvous with your tanker." "The AlphaSim SR-71 comes equipped with an array of cameras for taking pictures of ground installations. The Blackbird's primary mission was aerial espionage, so I found it thrilling to try out the cameras in FSX. The cameras can look either straight down or off at an angle to either side. They can be triggered to operate automatically when arriving at a GPS waypoint, or they can be fired off manually if you are traveling fast enough and high enough." "I do like the challenging flight model a lot. It's a real accomplishment to set up a flight plan and roar into the sky. Mid-air refueling can be tricky, and requires a sure hand on the throttle. Then, climbing up into the stratosphere and performing your speed run is spectacular. Precise piloting is required for your spy pictures to turn out well, especially if you are trying not to encroach over an "enemy" national border. Finally, returning to your home base and landing will test the mettle of any steely-eyed sim-pilot."

TBM/TBF Avenger By Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. (July 14, 2008): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl looks at MAAM's latest release, the TBM/TBF Avenger. "Leroy Grumman designed the XTBF-1, or what was to become the TBF Avenger, and the heaviest single engine aircraft of World War II. The Avenger has several unique design features including the rear facing dorsal and ventral turrets, a large torpedo bay, and a three man crew." "The external model of this ship is as expected from MAAM's development team. In one word, stunning. The attention to detail of the ship itself is remarkable. All regular and expected animations are included, and even a few unexpected 'extra' animations are included like a droppable torpedo. The regulars are very well done of course, and include great suspension modeling, flaps, and control surfaces." "This aircraft comes full of 2D panel options and many sub-panels. If you enjoy good 2D panels, this is the ship for you. Also, many sub-panels are included. These sub-panels look remarkably detailed and realistic, because they are photoreal and taken right out of the real Avenger that MAAM has restored. The Virtual Cockpit is near seamless in its representation, with nearly every switch, knob, and lever being clickable. Not to mention the amazing detail included in everything, I just feel like I'm sitting in their Avenger when I 'climb' into this ship. Everything needed for your day-to-day operations is clickable in this virtual cockpit; radios, aircraft and engine controls, and tons of little extras." "The Avenger's flight dynamics are another home run of the package. Very docile and forgiving handling characteristics make this ship an absolute joy to fly. Flight is very enjoyable, and as I said, forgiving. She'll cruise along nicely with just a bit of trim work and at a nice cruising speed. The sounds of this package are simply more of what I call the best. Recorded from the real Avenger that MAAM has, you simply cannot beat the sounds." Wrapping up his look at MAAM's Avenger Chris says, "I greatly enjoyed this highly anticipated release. It's going to be one of my regular aircraft to fly. MAAM's work to keep you immersed simply can't be beat."

American Champion Aircraft - Scout Package 2007 By Flight 1 / RealAir Simulations. (July 12, 2008): Staff reviewer Etienne Martin looks at three aircraft from RealAir Simulations put togther in a package known as American Champion Aircraft - Scout Package 2007. "this is the second release of the product from Real Air Simulations, this time updated for Flight Simulator X. In the box, we will find three tail-dragger airframes, the Citabria, the Scout and the Decathlon." "American Champion for FSX looks good, although the models are perhaps not as extremely detailed as some other products. Certainly, the trio of ACA aircrafts are not complex machines and have relatively few options on the airframe that naturally lead to extra animations and volumes of eye candy. Real Air spent time on the exterior textures. Grime and wear provide an additional immersion factor." "Real Air has actually removed most of the 2D panels found in the FS2004 product. Instead, camera views duplicate the panels found in the FS2004 version, and can be cycled via the keyboard. It remains that the VC is best enjoyed with a head tracking device, especially if you get into acrobatics, just to help with spatial references. For the virtual cockpit (VC), Real Air creates gauges in 3D. This adds a significant amount of realism to the panel, while making the gauges responsive and actually reduces the impact on FPS" "The suitability of the airframe for acrobatics is a definite plus to get away from the more mundane haul missions. The star model is, of course, the Decathlon, although through my testing, the amphibian Scout had surprisingly few problems executing the occasional loop and barrel roll, although it clearly didn’t like to stay upside down for very long. I didn’t observe any performance impact on my system, even in the VC." "American Champion Aircraft X fills a gap in the short haul, go nearly anywhere aircraft category. It provides an excellent cockpit experience combined with a realistic flight behavior that can only make the bush pilot happy. Plus there's scenery (Bear Gulch) from Bill Womack included in this package. I like to think of the trio of aircraft as the same plane available in three trims - “limited” (Citabria), “grand touring” (Scout) and “rally” (Decathlon). Real Air has packed a lot of versatility and fun into this polished and well rounded add-on."

Hughes H-1B Racer By Aerosoft. (July 9, 2008): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura revels in history as he takes Howard Hughes' H-1B Racer from Aerosoft for a spin. "In 1934, Hughes and Dick Palmer designed a metal-skinned monoplane for the purpose of taking back the air speed record from the French. Hughes did so on Friday, the thirteenth of September, 1935, when he reached a speed of 352 mph. He made seven passes then ran out of fuel and crashed in a beet field. In 1975, the year before he died, Hughes had the Racer restored and donated it to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C." "The Racer’s virtual cockpit (VC) is lovingly recreated with all-custom gauges and one of the most interesting canopy animations I have seen. A lot of the mechanics are exposed to view, so in addition to animated levers and controls, you’ll also see moving rods, chains, gears, and cables. There’s no nav gear, except a compass, but there is a radio for voice comm's. There are gauges for monitoring various engine temperatures and pressures; if you haven’t paid attention to these before, you will here." "In Flight Simulator, smooth was the default condition until a couple years ago, when bump mapping was introduced, and we started seeing 3D rivets. On this model, the rivets are intentionally not raised, except on the inside legs of the landing gear (which are not exposed in flight), where they are duly rendered in shadow-casting 3D. For in spite of Hughes’ best efforts, the surface of the Racer was not perfectly smooth, and each of the metal plates which make up its skin reflects light in a slightly irregular way. Meanwhile, the skin of the virtual Racer is fractionally more efficient, aerodynamically, than its real-world original." "FPS matter. I am happy to report that frame rates are not an issue with this product. The sound quality is in keeping with the visuals. Engine sounds are full-bodied, well balanced, and make use of the latest feature in flightsim audio, sound cones. As you move around the airplane, you can hear variations, not just in the volume of noise, but also in the character of the sound produced. I have spent approximately equal time in both versions of the Racer, and like both equally. I did find, though, that switching back and forth does not work -- at least for me. The landing speed, timing, and power settings are different enough for the two versions that learning one does not make you a master of the other. In my book, though, that is a sign something is right, because if you change the shape of your wing and it doesn’t produce a corresponding change in the airplane’s behavior, the flight model is wrong. Aerosoft's Hughes H-1B Racer is a real gem: not perfect, but singular and polished. "

F-106 Delta Dart By AlphaSim. (July 6, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston takes a look at a classic "Interceptor" from the 1950's, AlphaSim's F-16 Delta Dart. "The F106 Delta Dart is a lot of airplane, and in either simulation it looks really good." "The F106 is not an easy plane to handle, and that is no fault of AlphaSim, they have modeled it perfectly, even using original manuals to form the cockpit and panels correctly. The finish is just great in any of the displayed variant color schemes, and from any angle there is just a clean display line with no hint of deformity or deviation from the true plan form of the Delta Dart." "For both the FS2004 and FSX versions of the F-106 A/B Delta Dart, the air file is superb. It is difficult to fly at first, in my opinion, in fact it becomes a challenge, and to persevere is to win. It gives you the satisfaction of being capable of being used for the purpose it was intended for, the “ultimate” Interceptor." "Alphasim has reproduced the cockpit and instrument panels faithfully, and although not all the switches and buttons actually do work, there is enough function of the important items to keep you busy, and there is enough to do without unnecessary “eye candy” getting in the way." Summing up Alphasim's F-106 Delta Dart, "this package has everything that one would wish for, from the detailed aircraft and unit colours and markings to the simulated performance. It has sufficient challenge to test the skills of most simulator pilots, together with a choice of single seat or dual seat interceptors. There are packages on the market that may not be to everyone’s liking, but AlphaSim's F-106 A/B Delta Dart has nothing that I can see not to like. You will not be disappointed I am sure."

X-15-1 By Xtreme Prototypes. (July 1, 2008): Staff Reviewer Mark Kolo goes ballistic in Xtreme Prototypes' X-15-1. "The X-15 is one of, if not the most, recognizable of the “X-Planes”. The X-15 is widely considered to be the first manned spacecraft, as it reached altitudes as high as 354,000 feet during its test program that lasted 199 flights between 1959 and 1968." "My first impression of the X-15-1 was generally good, as I performed an exterior “walk around”. The details and overall feel of this model impressed me the most, and I was very happy to see that the real X-15 was replicated very well by the folks at XTreme Prototypes. " "The virtual cockpit of the Xtreme Prototypes X-15 is definitely a great compromise between form and function. Based on real images of the X-15’s cockpit, XTreme Prototypes did a good job of replicating this advanced research aircraft. The amount of detail in the switch areas of the panel is very high, and the 3D modeling of the switches is crisp and well executed. The main panel and numerous sub-panels completely replicate the cockpit of the X-15. The Xtreme Prototypes X-15 panel is probably one of the most complex and detailed that you will ever see in a flight simulator aircraft." "The exterior of the four versions included in X-15-1 are a very accurate copy of the real aircraft. All of the X-15’s unique exterior features are executed in a way that allow for both great detail and realism, all without compromising on sim performance. The effects on the X-15 add an immense amount of realism from the time you start the generators, to the time the last bit of fuel is jettisoned after a successful flight. I found that the sounds are both believable and add to the experience of flying the X-15." Successfully getting this "rocket" back to earth, Mark comments, "The challenges of Xtreme Prototypes' X-15-1 make it a perfect choice for the experienced simmer, or a relatively new pilot who is willing to read a LONG manual completely. The X-15 package is a unique aircraft and is a blast to fly. I would highly recommend it to any virtual pilot who has an interest in the X-planes or other high performance aircraft."

Tornado F3 By AlphaSim. (June 28, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston goes for a front seat ride in Alphasim's Tornado F3. "The Tornado F3 was selected for development from the original Tornado GR1 attack aircraft in the late 1970's as the RAF's dedicated fighter. The main visible difference from the GR1 or GR4 attack aircraft is the longer fuselage." "Walking around the Panavia Tornado F.3 reveals a plethora of “sticky-out” bits, and the detail is superb," notes Laurie as he describes his walkaround in detail. "A quick observation is that the tail area of a Tornado is always filthy with exhaust soot, thrown up when the reversers are selected on landing. The bucket doors direct engine airflow down and forward into the ground on the underside, but up and forward on the topside, which always results in a dirty tail end, streaked and stained in most cases, especially as this is an all-weather fighter." "The Tornado F.3 sports several panels, the pilot having the usual instrument and side displays and the weapons systems officer behind the pilot having his own set of instruments and specific equipment. The panels are clear and easy to read, functional in the main, but not every switch and button will work." "Well done to the sound team for achieving the ultimate in simulation, and making us all deaf in the process. The innovative use of “Airshow FX”, a new way of enhancing the Doppler sounds as experienced during a high speed low level pass at afterburner settings, adds to the whole sound package and is clearly the way forward in realizing realism at its most accurate." Putting this fighter to bed, Laurie summarizes with, "The Tornado F.3 presented by AlphaSim is a neat and tidy package. I like this aircraft very much, and AlphaSim have produced a very desirable model of the real thing. If you want a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft with a “swing-wing”, then this is the model for you. Its flying range is good, it is very maneuverable and aerobatics are easily demonstrated."

Spitfire X By RealAir Simulations. (June 27, 2008): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura once again takes on the mighty Spitfire, this time the FSX version from RealAir Simulations. "This release features a pair of Spitfires from a later period in World War II, the Mk. IX and Mk. XIV, in several variants and multiple liveries." "There is a 2D mini panel, but this product is intended to be flown exclusively from the virtual cockpit (VC), it is absolutely convincing. All of the cockpit’s interior surfaces have been modeled in 3D, down to the level of individual bolts on the canopy frame. So far as I can tell, there is no frame rate penalty for this level of detail. The instruments are the smoothest, most legible gauges I have seen anywhere, except in other products from the same developer. Crisp, fluid instruments have been a specialty of RealAir since at least FS2004, and with their FSX products, the best has gotten even better." "Landing gear and control surfaces are animated, of course, as well as the radiator flaps under each wing. High-resolution, 32-bit textures are available separately, as a free download from RealAir. A paint kit is available, and several high-quality repaints have already appeared." "In this package, there are two separate engine sounds, one for the Mk. IX Merlin and one for the Mk. XIV Griffon. When gear extends and flaps retract, it sounds like real metal. Pull too many Gs, and you’ll hear the airframe creak." "Like most taildraggers, the Spitfire is somewhat tricky on the ground, because the long engine cowling obscures your forward view. There’s a danger, if you turn too sharply, of digging your wing-tip into the ground, or if you brake too hard, of nosing forward onto your propeller. Take-offs are somewhat tricky, because at high RPMs the engine exerts a great deal of torque. To stay on the runway, you’ll need to (a) not firewall the throttle and (b) cancel out the engine torque with reverse rudder." Parking his RealAir Spitfire, David comments, "It is one of the finest flight sim products I have ever reviewed. It’s not something that you fly for a few hours until the novelty wears off and then set aside when something new comes along. Variety helps, and this package has plenty of it, but what counts in the long run is quality. Right now this is the best model, not just of a Supermarine Spitfire, but of any prop fighter in existence."

F-5E Tiger II By AlphaSim. (June 23, 2008): New staff reviewer Colin Hampson takes on a familiar Cold War jet, the F-5E Tiger II from AlphaSim. "The family lineage can be traced back to the late 1950's and early 1960's when a requirement for a low-cost, low-maintenance supersonic fighter for overseas export to U.S. allies existed. Overseas customers embraced the F-5A, which led to the development and emergence of a second generation F-5. The ‘E’ model, or Tiger II, saw some structural changes with an enlarged fuselage and wing area, though the main advances were made in upgraded avionics, particularly the radar." "The external model is the real highlight of this product, taking advantage of bump mapping, self-shadowing and bloom effect. The chrome effect finish on the engine exhaust is a real treat and is further enhanced by the compatibility with DX10. ll animations are nicely modeled and include canopy and airbrake operation." "General handling characteristics are broadly similar to a number of military fast jet add-ons I have flown. There are no particular ‘gotchas’ waiting to catch you out, though the relatively high power-to-weight ratio does necessitate a fair degree of care and attention if you want to fly this jet accurately. In contrast to some of the default aircraft, the brakes are not overly effective which will mean you’ll need enough space to accommodate the more realistic prolonged landing roll." "The Virtual Cockpit (VC) is a nice place to spend some time maneuvering. To be honest, you’ll find the basic functionality is there, and that may be enough for the sort of flying most will do in this jet. The dials are mostly analogue and characteristic of the era giving an overall good ‘feel’ to the cockpit. Flying the Tiger is rewarding throughout most aspects of the flight envelope. It would be fair to say that the airfile delivers broadly what you would expect of such an aircraft." Concluding his hop in AlphaSim's F-5E Tiger II, Colin says, "If you run default FSX aircraft okay, the Tiger shouldn’t present any issues. This release is very much of the ‘kick the tyres and light the fires’ mould. The Tiger doesn’t break any new ground, but then it doesn’t really make claim to either. It does stick to a tried and tested formula that appeals to a fair portion of the flight simulation community, and therein its value lies. The F-5E Tiger II is a nice addition to any hanger."

A6 Intruder By RAZBAM. (June 8, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk looks at a recently retired warbird with RAZBAM's A6 Intruder. This review offers a unique perspective, as Jeff had the opportunity to liaise with Stephen Coonts of "Flight of the Intruder" fame. "The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a low-level all-weather jet bomber for the American military that specialized in aircraft carrier operations. Retired from official service in 1997, the A-6 lives on in legend and now as the legendary RAZBAM Intruder. The RAZBAM Intruder can be added on to FS9 or FSX SP2. If you have FSX with Acceleration, you will enjoy the widest range of options for this aircraft, including compatibility with the Acceleration carrier and custom Missions that feature dropping bombs." "The RAZBAM Intruder is a shiny, dangerous-looking aircraft that features some excellent modeling and a thrilling, realistic sound set. The flight model displays the power of the Intruder's twin engines. Due to the weight of the aircraft, if you pull too many G's, you will bleed off your airspeed and quickly discover how to stall. Stalls are gentle in the RAZBAM Intruder, and not hard to overcome. The real trick is precision flying at treetop level, in the mud where the action is. The A-6 responds quickly and fearlessly to control inputs, so you don't want to blink if you are coming in hot and low." "The RAZBAM Intruder comes with six custom-designed Missions, ranging from unrestricted bombing practice to a harrowing mid-air refueling hop to final qualifications as an Intruder pilot with a Check ride. and a bomb run. The Missions are well-designed, but be aware that they are all difficult. Although you can fly the Intruder in Free Flight, you may find that instrument navigation is difficult due to the layout of the cockpit and the partial functionality of the DIANE navigational computer. Despite being an all-weather bomber, the RAZBAM Intruder seems to be at its best under good Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions." Jeff concludes, "overall, the RAZBAM's Intruder wins a lot of points for being fun to fly. The more you learn about the Grumman A-6, the more you will come to appreciate the fine work that went into making the RAZBAM A6 Intruder."

T6 Texan/Harvard By Alphasim. (May 24, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston revisits a favourite warbird that makes many appearances at local airshows. The T6 Texan/Harvard from Alphasim. "The North American T-6 Texan was an excellent design that served as a basic transitional combat trainer in all branches of U.S. service, as well as in other countries worldwide. Approximately 17,000 of the type were built and some 350 are still airworthy." "This aircraft is a superb simulation of the real thing, and from the time you climb into the cockpit and start checking the switches, levers and instruments, to completing a walk around that has so much attention to detail and information all over the fuselage and wings in the form of placards and legends. The Texan/Harvard is very maneuverable, quick to respond to control inputs, and a real pleasure to fly." "The Instrument Panels look good and all the instruments can be read and work the way they should. The 2D panel is very readable, and the Virtual Cockpit is also laid out well, with most switches and levers being mouse-movable. The night-lighting for the panels is very well rendered, and gives a really good feel to night flying, clear without being glaring, and does not affect “night vision”." "The Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp Radial engine looks good, sounds good and performs exactly as you would expect on the simulated aircraft. The sound set provided is spot on, in my opinion, and exactly what is expected on a Texan/Harvard of this quality." Laurie ends his review of Alphasim's T6 Texan/Harvard with a straightforward comment, "This product is a great example of the Texan/Harvard. The detail is there, the paint schemes are there, the sounds are there, and the instruments are functional and fully readable. You will not be disappointed."

Fly Into The Sky! World Airlines By Overland Japan Ltd. (May 22, 2008): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes a look at the Airbus and Boeing heavies as she asks, "Ever wanted a bunch of FSX/FS2004 airplanes with 2D and VC cockpits together for the price of one? Now you can with the Overland's Fly into the Sky! World Airlines package!" This is another screenshot intensive review, as this is the best way to show you all the variations of internal and external features that are included with this bundled package. Overall, Angelique describes the interiors with, "There are so many possible cockpits available, but within a minute you will see that there are hardly any additional sub panels simulated. What I do know is that all the cockpits are of an average quality. Some are better than others or are more realistic, sub cockpit panels are very basic and for the overhead panel, it’s really disappointing. The 2D and VC cockpits are very simple, straightforward and they look in one way or the other to the default Boeing airplanes." On the outside she comments, "let’s start with the fact that the overall look of all the models is good, although certain details are missing." About the flight dynamics, Angelique comments, "I would rate the aircraft flight dynamics on a scale from 0 to 10 at about a 6. The fact my rating is not that high is probably a result of the extreme flight possibilities, which is not as real as it gets, apart from the fact that MSFS limits things like these. This package is nice and full of models, especially for the beginner who wants to try something and has all these models in house. On the other hand, the Overland package is not intended for the intermediate and expert MSFS virtual pilots who are looking for bigger challenges." Wrapping up Overland's Fly into the Sky! World Airlines, Angelique says, "Ok, what do you get for your money? You get good looking external models and average 2D and VC cockpits. Furthermore, you don’t get any manuals. It seems that I’m disappointed but I’m not. I think you need to look where it is intended for. After testing the package and models, I personally say it’s a very good start for MSFS beginners. Therefore, the Overland package is really great for new virtual pilots who want to have all the Boeing and Airbus models together with uncomplicated cockpits and can apply their basic flight knowledge.

PBY-5A Catalina By Abacus. (May 19, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston climbs aboard Abacus' PBY-5A Catalina and makes the long transition from seaborne taxi to airborne flight. "The PBY Catalina was an American flying boat which started its life in the 1930’s and was developed for the 1940’s. Even today, over 70 years after its maiden flight, the aircraft continues to fly in a demanding role as an aerial firefighting tanker in operations all over the world." "The Aircraft is very nicely detailed and finished, it flies very well and simulates its lumbering, hauling nature perfectly. It is very robust and although sensitive to roll and pitch, hauls around a 180 degree turn very sedately. The Pratt and Whitney Engines are very well depicted. The cowlings housing the Twin Wasps are perfectly formed, the propellers are correctly labeled and tipped and the retractable landing gear is a delight to watch during extend or retract mode." "The Panels are very well detailed and function well. With a choice of Either a 2D Cockpit or a Virtual Cockpit, and including at least three other stations, there is plenty to keep you busy. The 2 twin wasp P&W Radial engines sound really good, especially when the throttles are in takeoff mode, which means that the sound man has got the acoustics and realism just right. The sounds roaring off those two big engines really rumbles right through you." Floating this aircraft back onto the water's surface, Laurie summarizes Abacus' PBY-5A Catalina with, "This product is a worthy addition to anyone’s “hangar” and for versatility, it is a very useful aircraft with a steady speed range and a slow climb rate. For training purposes it is an ideal craft. For plying between the Caribbean Islands, where both water and land runways can be used, or other water covered areas of your choice, this is an ideal workhorse. This aircraft looks good, feels good and is good."

Twin Otter X By Aerosoft. (April 16, 2008): Staff reviewer Jon Murchison takes Aerosoft's Twin Otter X for some approaches and landings in Aerosoft's Lukla X scenery pack. "Lukla’s runway can only be approached from one direction due to it being snuggled up to a rather large mountain, is on a precarious 19O angle and has a 2000 foot drop at the end. So access is restricted to either Helicopter or STOL aircraft, which leads me nicely into the aircraft known as the DHC-6 Twin Otter." About the Twin Otter, Jon starts on the outside. "My initial impressions upon seeing the Twin Otter was, Aerosoft had developed a classy model. The download and boxed editions come with five versions that include the DHC-6-100 with wheels and another with skis, and feature 4 liveries depicting various military, private and airline operators. The DHC-6-300 also comes with a wheels model, one with floats for water operations, another with a skis/wheels combination and then 11 liveries across these 3 types, like the 100, these also cover a diverse range of operators." "Two panel types are provided as standard equipment but these are only in VC view, no 2D panel is included. The panel itself is well laid out. All the standard gauges are placed in front of you and given this aircraft was developed in the 60’s, all the gauges have that weathered well used look about them. Both pilots have a ‘steering wheel’ which is connected between both pilots using a Y shaped bracket that disappears into the floor in the middle of the cockpit. Most of the switches on the panel work but not all, given the level of detail included in the model it would have been cool if they all did. The interior lighting is excellent, bringing atmospheric across the panel and throughout the rear cabin." "On the taxi, I found the Twotter to be very nimble, the throttles only needed to be open slightly to get her moving and the effective brakes were used repeatedly until I got a feel for her. Once lined up and I opened the throttles I was away as the Otter really loves to fly. I did like the ability to slow my descent and approach considerably using reverse thrust in flight, which is the first time I have actually come across this in FSX. The Floatplane version of the Otter is a real bugger to taxi, you either have to control it much like you would a sail boat and use the wings to help move you into position, or, if you have a flight yoke, use separate power inputs into the engines to help assist making turns." Moving on to Lukla, "LuklaX is not just an airport scenery, nor is it improved mesh or photoreal scenery. The sum of all these parts makes up LuklaX as a whole, creating a transformation across the region with particular emphasis on Lukla Airport and Mt Everest." "The foundation of this package is its mesh and landclass. The area covered by these is a large rectangle that starts just south of Phablu in the lower left corner and extends to finish just north and east of Mt Everest. The Photoreal areas are small and limited to Lukla Village and Mt Everest itself, with the textures used being around 5m/pixel (5 meters equals 1 pixel). This certainly enhances both these areas, with Mt Everest looking particularly impressive." "The terminal facilities sit at the far end of the ramp area with various scenery items such as freight, people and another aircraft sitting on the ramp with you, all adding atmosphere and detail. The control tower is located on the other side of the runway as is the rest of Lukla village that lines the walking track that heads further up the mountains. All the buildings use what appear to be photo textures and provide suitable enough detail. The village, and in fact all buildings throughout the scenery, use purpose built autogen with textures more fitting the construction types for the region." Concluding this in depth look at Aerosoft's Lukla X and Twin Otter X Jon says, "Singularly, both packages bring enough to FSX to make them worthwhile, but put them together and you have something quite unique. There is no doubt LuklaX adds a level of detail to the region it covers that leaves the default FSX scenery in its dust. Flying in and out of Lukla brings with it enough challenge to make this a region you are likely to want to fly around in for some time. The DHC-6-100/300 Twin Otter is the best twin engine prop I have flown to date. Aerosoft has captured the aircraft's shape well, packed it full of details and wrapped it in flight models that seem to be very realistic. The quality on all aspects of the visual model show a real dedication to this aircraft. The fact different interiors and types, such as floats and skis, have been included adds real value to the product. I can certainly recommend both packages, the Otter in particular, if you are looking for a highly functional and realistic Twin prop."

Piper Arrow II By Commercial Level Simulations. (April 4, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston looks at the Piper PA28R-200 Arrow II from Commercial Level Simulations. "The Piper pedigree goes right back to the original PA-28 which was designed by John Thorpe as an all-metal home-build project, which after some tuning and alteration, became the first Cherokee. By 1994, and an abundance of Aircraft manufacturers like Cessna, Grumman, Mooney and Beech producing faster, more efficient and cheaper four seat general aviation aircraft, saw a recession across the globe which pushed Piper into bankruptcy, and it was several years before the new Piper re-established the Piper Arrow." "The download results in a Piper Arrow II in one of eight liveries, and includes a plain white finish Arrow complete with a paint kit, with which you can paint and logo finish your own Aircraft. There is no bump-mapping, no weathered look, no real panel markings; several aerials and a standard finished propeller is all that enhances a pretty casual external model. I suspect that this model of the Piper Arrow has been ported from FS2004 (FS9) as it looks very ordinary, and that’s all I can say really. Actually flying the aircraft, and I have flown both the Piper Cherokee 140 and 180 in real life, reveals that some aspects of flight performance are very good." "Looking at the interior reveals a couple of finished flight instrument panels, depending on the livery, and one of them is a ghastly blue. The instruments, to be fair, are well presented as models of the originals, together with the control yoke and rudder pedals. Some of them work really well, accurate and instant in response, but others, engine and fuel wise especially, are not to be trusted at all." "The engine, simulating the Textron-Lycoming 10-360 C1C6, actually sounds very good throughout its range of RPM, and is very much on the button as far as I can tell. Checking the Magnetos on the ground provides the necessary rocking motion on the airframe, caused by static thrust and torque effect, which is a plus point. It starts in accordance with the manual, runs well and is correctly influenced by prop and mixture controls to give best performance." "The Piper PA28R-200 Arrow II has the potential to be a really nice aircraft, and a nice addition to anybody’s fleet," says Laurie in his summary.

C130 Xperience By Captain Sim. (March 28, 2008): Staff reviewer Etienne Martin jumps into the cockpit of one of the most well known and versatile aircraft flying today, the C-130 Hercules. This is Captain Sim's version for FSX. "The Lockheed C130 Hercules is one of the success stories in aviation. The C130 easily fills the role of the “swiss army knife” aircraft. It can lift 33 metric tons (72,000 lbs) of cargo, has short takeoff/landing (stol) abilities, is robust enough to use unpaved landing strips, has a cruising speed a hair short of 300 knots/FL22 and has a service ceiling of FL33." "Ten (10) C-130 variants are included between the base pack and expansion pack I (pack II adds nine more). The liveries heavily focus on U.S. and U.K markings. Captain Sim delivers solid 3D models for each aircraft variation, along with a generous heap of eye candy. Most of the animations are found on the external model. The exterior models are sharp, even up close, with no visible polygonal issues even given the odd shapes on this aircraft. All exterior textures match the quality of the models, and in particular “join” well, meaning, there is no stretching or tearing visible, even in the usual places where FSX challenges designers." "The C130 interior carries over from model to model, the only difference being the engine instrument cluster. The VC includes the cabin, so it is possible to “walk” from the cockpit all the way back to the cargo doors. The virtual cockpit (VC) includes all major switches and knobs, and looks almost as good as the 2D equivalents. Overall, I like the VC design and the compromises made between detail and performance. The detail is included where it matters, meaning that a mid-range system should run this VC well. The 2D panels use mostly the left mouse button to increase/decrease values, whereas the 3D version use the left and right mouse. Captain Sim implements a useful control panel to manage the display of each 2D panel. This “panel navigator” makes for simple and efficient navigation between all key panels." "The C130-X projects mass and inertia in the simulator. It feels heavy, yet it is (mostly) predictable and quite forgiving. The airframe sways during turns, the suspension responds to acceleration and braking. The aircraft responds very well to reverse thrust, although I found it impossible to start reversing only on two engines, while taxiing on two engines is entirely possible. In the air, the C130 is easy to fly, much more so than many smaller aircraft. This airlifter doesn’t twitch, it responds gently and proportionally to inputs, and is generally a joy to manually handle. The simulation includes emergency engine restart in the air, a sophisticated affair, and works well." rapping up this detailed look at Captain Sim's C130 Xperience, Etienne comments, "The C130-X is an add-on that deserves a very serious look. The Hercules is a joy to operate in the virtual skies, not only because it flies well, predictably and forgives mistakes, but also because it can fly in and out of just about anywhere, from any surface, with great range (over 1,000 nm) to boot. The quality of the models is excellent, the eye-candy plentiful and attractive, and although a few visual bugs remain with this port to FSX that a service pack didn’t address completely, it is an enjoyable experience."

F-86 Sabre & Mig-15 Fagot By Alphasim & Flight 1. (March 24, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis takes a look at 2 historic aircraft and an historic airfield. The aircraft are Alphasim's F86 Sabre and Flight 1's MiG 15. The airfield, RAF Alconbury from Alphasim. "The Alphasim F-86F offers both a working FSX and FS9 model that does include some pretty nice features, but I think you will find the FSX model more to your liking, at least I did. With all of the new features in FSX, this aircraft model takes full advantage of the FSX engine. Features like self shadowing, bump mapping and bloom are fully featured. The exterior model of the F-86F is masterfully done. Every conceivable part that can be seen visually from outside the aircraft moves in a realistic manner; items such as landing gear, flaps and the air brakes." "Visually, the cockpit of the F-86 from Alphasim is one of the best I have seen from them, but again functionality is somewhat limited in the virtual cockpit mode. The gauges have a glazed over look that make them stand out more and frankly make them look more realistic and 3 dimensional. If you have used or just looked at Alphasim products of late, you will know what I am talking about." "First off, I chose RAF Alconbury as my original base of operation for the F-86, but decided after using it that it had too much of a frame rate impact on my flights in FSX with the F86. The base itself has a nice layout and all of the objects are custom designed to match that of their real world counterparts. Included in this package is a nice set of flying AI aircraft, the C130E, F-4C Phantom, and the U2-R are the ones you will see flying in and out of the base as well as parked at the many different hangers. There are also several static aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy and the F-5E Tiger as well as many static vehicles parked throughout the scenery for your viewing pleasure." "This product will work with either FS9 or FSX. This is a great base to have if you are flying any of the older military jets in FS9. Personally, I think that RAF Alconbury blends in better with the surrounding scenery in FS9, as the FSX versions looks out of place. This is not the product's fault as it is more of FSX’s fault with the texture colors surrounding the airports." "I spent quite a bit of time with the MIG in FS9 and FSX and found that the aircraft performed best in the world it was created for, FS9. This didn’t come as much of a surprise. Climbing into any one of the 53 different MIG's you can’t help but think how crazy some of these guys must have been; you're essentially riding a rocket with guns attached to it." "The Flight 1 Mig-15 is a magnificent aircraft; it features an array of moving parts and extra eye candy. Most impressive is the ability to take the aircraft apart and view the jet engine. The cockpit is 100% authentic and is fully functional, either from the 2D panel or the virtual cockpit. I was amazed that the aircraft was completely flyable from the virtual cockpit as everything is accessible, and if you turn on the cockpit tags within MSFS you won’t have to learn how to translate Russian." In his review, Gene adds a conclusive paragraph for each of these 3 products. Briefly: "The F-86F is one of the best add-ons I have seen yet from Alphasim and if you don’t have it, get it. RAF Alconbury is good and it represents an airfield that is rich in history and you have to take into account that this add-on was built from the ground up. The Mig-15 is really an oldie, but it is truly a goody! Made for FS9, this wonderful aircraft will definitely challenge even the most accomplished sim pilot. With accurate system modeling and flight management from within the cockpit you can’t go wrong. "

Pilatus PC-12 for FSX By Flight 1. (March 22, 2008): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura revisits one of his favourite aircraft, the Pilatus PC-12. This time the recently released FSX version from Flight 1. "The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop. Available in passenger, cargo, and surveillance configurations, it is designed to minimize workload in the cockpit and can be safely flown with just one pilot." "The visual model is all-new for FSX. I didn’t notice any differences in the silhouette, but the reflections are more convincing, and bump-mapping has been used selectively to give surfaces more texture. All of the standard animations are here, and all of them are smooth." "There are some new gauges but the environment of the virtual cockpit is largely unchanged -- meaning, it is still world-class. Modeling is smooth and textures are ultra-sharp, even when viewed up close. Behind the flight deck there is a virtual cabin, the contents of which vary depending on which model of PC-12 you are flying: passenger, cargo, executive transport, or surveillance. Most of the PC-12’s cockpit functionality was already present in the FS2004 version. For FSX, there are improved map and arc views on the horizontal situation indicator, and the comm radios have been upgraded." "Sounds are unchanged from the original product for FS2004. The mechanical sounds (of gear, flaps, and engine) are all factory fresh; you will notice nuances, but they’re part of a sequence, not the results of age and use. The PC-12 is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6; unlike some engines, the PT6 does not exhibit the long lag between throttle inputs and power outputs that we associate with turboprops. This behavior is reflected in the model, and makes the PC-12 easier to manage at low speeds than most other turboprops." Wrapping up this look at Flight 1's FSX version of the Pilatus PC-12, David concludes, "The PC-12 is flexible, fast, forgiving, easy to fly, and looks great in the virtual cockpit. The FSX version is just as good, and in some areas (avionics and exterior views), even better than its successful predecessor. I’m glad to have it in my hangar."

Flying Club Robinson R44 By Just Flight. (March 15, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk takes control of a versatile helo with Just Flight's latest addition to the Flying Club line, the Robinson R44. "The R44 is one of the world's most popular small helicopters. The Just Flight version provides a flight model that is extremely well suited to sightseeing hops or short passenger shuttle missions. Although the real-world R44 has variants for police work and Electronic News Gathering (ENG), unfortunately, the Just Flight aircraft only comes with the baseline passenger model. The Robinson R44 line is split into two brands: the Raven and the Clipper. The Raven has conventional landing skids, while the Clipper comes with either permanent floats or collapsed floats that inflate for emergency water landings." "The visual model for the R44 is lovely to look at with pleasingly accurate lines. The paint jobs seem to be based on a limited number of factory-style liveries, but you can jazz them up with automatically generated tail numbers from six countries, or you can try your hand at making your own colours with the AeroPaint utility included. Animations for the Just Flight R44 are competent and add to the realistic look of the product." "Do you like your aircraft loud? The Just Flight R44 is about as loud as they come. Audio quantity issues aside, the quality of the audio is superb, with authentic engine sounds, realistic blade noises, and an appealing start-up and shut down sequence." "The 2D cockpit gets my vote over the 3D cockpit, as the instruments are easier to see and operate in the 2D cockpit. Both cockpits suffer from switches and knobs that are too small to operate easily while in flight, especially for the radio. However, the 3D cockpit allows you to add or remove the control yoke, the GPS unit, and even passenger figures with the click of a mouse. The view out the front window is spectacular, which should be one of the reasons one would want to purchase an aircraft like the Robinson in the first place." "In terms of handling, the R44 seems much like the default R22, only more so. Larger, heavier, faster, and more powerful the R22, the R44 seems to handle better in windy situations, and yet is almost as nimble as the R22. Still, it is not nearly as stable as the FSX Bell Jet Ranger, so you will be kept busy with your hands and feet on the controls. The Just Flight R44 benefits from quality controllers, so those with a good joystick and throttle set as well as rudder pedals should enjoy wonderful sky-borne journeys in the R44." "Anybody who just wants to zoom into the sky and explore the world of Flight Simulator should really enjoy the features the Just Flight R44 has to offer. It provides more details than the FSX R22 without so much of the smaller craft's skittishness, yet it is also more challenging to fly than the FSX Bell Jet Ranger, which to me almost seems to fly on invisible rails. Overall, I ended up being happy with the Just Flight R44"

Hawker Hunter By AlphaSim. (March 10, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurence Aston climbs into the cockpit of AlphaSim's Hawker Hunter and puts it through its paces. "If there was ever an aircraft that displays a timeless shape and excellent aerodynamics, then the Hawker Hunter has to be the one." "In the usual 2D display or Virtual Cockpit (VC) mode, all the instruments look good and are easily visible. Pop up displays for electrics and radios etc. are installed neatly, and looking out of the working environment forward, left and right gives good views with the high seat back restricting rearward views just as it would in a real Hunter. The panel is typical of a 1950’s design. A standard flight instrument layout with all the extras required for single pilot operation. On either side of the cockpit, below the coaming, all the expected controls and switches are readily at hand. In “VC” mode, they are functional for the basic applications, like gear selection, flaps, air brake and throttle etc." "I have to say that the aircraft handles just as Sir Sydney Camm’s design intended, right through the flight envelope. From testing the brakes on taxi-out to applying full thrust at 50,000 feet plus, it is all there, and flies like the thoroughbred that the Hunter is. Even the speed brake functions correctly. Which means that with the gear up, the brake will extend below the lower fuselage to slow the aircraft down. But as soon as the gear is lowered or the aircraft is sitting on the ground, the speed brake is accurately inhibited to prevent ground strike action taking place." Putting the Hunter back in the hanger, Laurie comments, "The Hawker Hunter is to be thoroughly recommended. Although the cockpit function leaves little for one to do in flight but navigate, clock watch and keep a look out for conflicting traffic, the sheer design accuracy means that this aircraft is a must for any Hawker enthusiast."

Boeing 757 Professional By Just Flight. (March 7, 2008): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes Just Flight's Boeing 757 Professional for a test run. Her in depth analysis and comparison of this wide body aircraft includes a test flight and numerous screenshots. "The Just Flight 757 Professional for FS2004 is, let’s say for 99.9%, the original PSS (Phoenix Simulation Software) version. The offered 757 comes in different models; the -200, -300 and -200F (Freighter) with two possible engine types, the Rolls Royce RB211 Series and the P&W (Pratt & Whitney) PW2000 Series. Additional to the basic software, you’ve got 66 liveries – including the Phoenix house colors – divided over the three different models." "When FS9 is started and the JF/PSS 757 is loaded, we start with a great looking 2D panel. Apart from the main instrument panel – captain’s side – many other sub-panels are offered including two different EADIs (Electronic Attitude Direction Indicator). One without an electronic IAS (Indicated Air Speed) scale and Auto Flight mode settings at the bottom while the other EADI has an IAS scale on the left with a FMAS (Flight Mode Annunciations) on top of the display. Other sub-panels can be requested via the FS menu or directly from the JF/PSS “Panel Switch Command Bar”. Sub-panels include the overhead panel, pedestal, EADI, FMS CDU, radio stack, COM for primary communication frequencies, a DOOR panel and finally the Performance and Set-Up panel." "Creating a VC is difficult. The VC gives me a good impression of the overall cockpit lay-out, the panels with printed text, the sharpness of the individual instruments, close-ups of the pedestal and overhead panel. On the other hand, certain parts in the cockpit look cartoonish like the control wheel steering horn, the back side of the pedestal and the lower part of the captain’s and co-pilot's seats. These are just a few small details, and for some those, are not that important but for others they are." "I would like to advise you that once you’ve bought the JF 757 Professional, to read the tutorial not once but at least twice. It’s not difficult to read or understand, but during certain flight phases, you don’t have the time to read the book while flying either manually or via the Auto Pilot. Using the tutorial, you start learning how to handle all the systems. I can conclude that there’s not really a negative frame impact on the FPS. Thus resulting in good frame figures. So even for low end computers, it ’s a nice airplane to fly." After putting Just Flight's Boeing 757 back into the hangar, Angelique closes with, "JF/PSS offers a good product although certain parts could be lifted to a higher standard. I think it’s a good product since as far as I have seen and tested, the avionics offers what it should do, as well as its behavior. The JF development team is still working on this 757 Professional to make the necessary improvements and offer new service packs. I think it ’s definite worth adding to your hangar."

Spitfire By Just Flight. (March 1, 2008): Staff reviewer Laurie Aston climbs into Just Flight's latest rendition of the world famous Spitfire. "With this particular package suited not only to today's sim flyer, but it's also designed to include the users of FS2002/FS2004/FSX as well as Combat Flight Sim 2 and 3." "This package includes 39 (Thirty Nine) Aircraft, covering 14 Marks of the machine. There is a Spitfire variant for every occasion, including a Spitfire floatplane, and covers every theatre of operation. In 2D display mode, or in the increasingly popular VC mode, the instrument layout is clear and concise, differing with the various models and looking very good in either mode. Instrument readings are easily readable, switches are moveable and do what they are supposed to do, and looking around the “office” in VC mode reveals a wealth of detail all around the central seat. The Instruments are very detailed and all move in the correct sense." "The prototype is probably the slowest in performance with a two blade wooden prop, but it isn’t slouching either. Progressing through the Mks of Spitfire will provide some pleasing differences; the clipped wing models rolling quicker, the float plane is sluggish and awkward, but providing different skills to master, and increasing the pleasure obtained from such a varying package. The Trainer version gives a different view from the normal cockpit, but again adding to the variety in a very different way as you can fly from the pupil or instructor cockpit. Whichever Spitfire you opt for, the test flight is always exciting. There is no aircraft engine that can ever beat the Rolls Royce Merlin for sound, and this package expertly records that event in all phases of flight from start-up and beyond." Summing up this latest Spitfire offering Laurie says, "At the price for obtaining this package, with the huge variety of Spitfire Marks available, anyone still interested in this ageing beauty will happily pay up. I know I would. The pleasure, flying time, experimentation, visits to other airfields, and practicing flying displays will make this package one of the best you ever purchase. The Virtual Cockpit is a joy, and the traditional 2D cockpit is very good too, add to this the variety of Squadrons and countries covered, the authentic paint schemes with wear marks and scrapes, in addition to the external detail, cannon ports, gun ports, gear legs and tail wheel detail, propeller detail too, and this is a super package."

Piper PA31T Cheyenne X By Aerosoft/Digital Aviation. (February 26, 2008): Staff reviewer Etienne Martin takes a look at a completed revamped FSX aircraft, the Piper PA31T Cheyenne X. "This is the second iteration of the popular Piper Cheyenne turboprop from Digital Aviation, published by Aerosoft. Updated for Flight Simulator X (including SP2) and Windows Vista, the Cheyenne X is branded as a new product altogether." "Digital Aviation has delivered good models in the past, and the Cheyenne X is no exception. They have provided four versions of the Piper Cheyenne (I, IA, II and IIXL). Each version has its own model and flight characteristics. All liveries are high gloss and make the aircraft look spanking new out of the factory." "Based on photographs of the real aircraft, it seems the exterior model shows nearly every exterior detail, from the wing light chrome covers to the contact points on the (functional) windshield wipers. The landing gear is presented in full detail, including inside the wheel wells. The windows and windshield are particularly well done." "The Cheyenne X has a comprehensive set of 2D panels and has one of the most functional 3D environments to be found in an add-on, with almost every knob and switch functional. The 2D panels are, for the most part, unchanged from the original Cheyenne product for FS9 except for the addition of the weather radar. The 3D office in the Cheyenne X is quite the experience. As with the exterior model, the VC is very detailed and meticulously done. The Cheyenne’s cockpit is relatively small, and nearly all controls are accessible from the pilot’s seat, making the VC very relevant. I would expect very little time to be spent in the rather mundane 2D cockpit after experiencing the 3D cockpit the Cheyenne X has to offer." "Exterior lighting effects include the navigation, wing light (left wing only), tail, nose and wingtip taxi/landing lights. The interior comes to life at night and gives the Cheyenne X a very convincing, almost photo-real night light for the cockpit, instruments and cabin. The Cheyenne X includes two main new avionics features, namely a multi-mode weather radar capable of displaying navigation and log data, the other, the Trimble 1000 GPS unit. The sound included in the Cheyenne X is recorded from the actual aircraft per the product specifications. The default turboprop startup sound is gone, replaced by a much more accurate turbine spool whine and a very satisfying low rumble, especially when props are out of phase." Etienne's review contains an enormous number of screenshots to give you an in depth appreciation of this aircraft. He also gives you the low-down on it's flight characteristics as he takes it out for a spin. Concluding this review Etienne says, "Cheyenne X has the right mix of ingredients to duplicate an immersive feel of flight. Digital Aviation joins the ranks of top development teams by taking FSX to a new level with a very effective virtual cockpit and top exterior model. The aircraft itself lends itself well to casual VFR or the faster business of IFR, and as such, the Cheyenne X is a flexible high performance turboprop for anyone ’s hangar."

CH-53A Sea Stallion By Alphasim. (February 23, 2008): Staff reviewer Brian Smith has his hands and feet full of controls as he takes a look at Alphasim's CH-53A Sea Stallion. "The CH-53 is a fantastic aircraft. If you ever have the opportunity to see one, you should take it. Just the sound of its engines gives you a sense of its power." "The CH-53A from Alphasim comes with five paint schemes. The exterior textures are clear and well done as is the interior. The crew did an excellent job on the Virtual Cockpit, and it is evident they spent time getting the details right. The 2D panels in Alphasim’s helicopters are very good and are very clear and unobtrusive. The panels maintain a realistic look and feel without being overly complicated." "I was really impressed with the quality of the sound recording for this product. The engine sounds give you a sense of power that is at your command. I tested the CH-53A at high-altitude in Colorado and found that it performed as expected. I think that Alphasim got it right here as well. The airfile makes it feel massive." Summing up Alphasim's Ch-53A, Brian closes with, "Alphasim is one of the few developers in the Flight Simulator add-on market that provides quality military titles. Over the years I have purchased a number of payware CH-53 models. This one was definitely among my favorites. it will remain on my hard drive for a long time."

A-6E Intruder and EA-6B Prowler By Alphasim. (February 16, 2008): Senior contributing reviewer Alexis Esguerra takes a look at one of this Editor's favourite military aircraft, the A-6E Intruder and EA-6B Prowler from Alphasim. "They were a pair of naval warplanes born in the sixties, and yet to this day, they both remain pinnacle examples of their respective types. One maintains the bragging rights of being able to carry the heaviest weapon load off the deck of an aircraft carrier, while the other outlasted it’s competition to remain one of the military’s primary platform for its specialized kind of warfare." "The base packs give numerous variations and appearances for both planes, and an available Expansion Pack exists for A-6E. They are based off of actual squadrons and equipment/weapon load outs for each aircraft. With each base pack containing six differing variations apiece, there are certainly enough different Intruders & Prowlers to keep most simmers happy, and the existence of the Expansion pack with its additional five A-6s is surely a bonus for die-hard Intruder fans." "Detailwise, both Intruder and Prowler are on par. All major components are present, and are nicely rendered. The exterior textures are well weathered as well; considering most of these planes are twice old enough to vote and the harsh sea environment they were built to work from, the highly-used look works well. me can be said for the weapons and external tanks when they happen to be attached." "Visually, the VC cockpits for both aircraft nail down the general appearance of each plane in question. 2D-wise, I have no up-close reference material, but the panels do reflect the general feel of a plane from the late 60’s / early 70’s. Animations and special effects are also present here for both aircraft. The screenshots shows the good share of animations that are present, namely folding wings, opening canopy, and extending panels for the steps." Summing up his checkride of these two military aircraft, Alexis comments, "there is little doubt in this reviewer’s mind that Alphasim’s A-6E and EA-6B are perhaps the best representations of both types out there on the market. Assuming you are a die-hard aficionado of these two types, then I would wholly endorse the A-6E and EA-6B. They are excellent in external appearance and flight modeling (once the weights are tweaked), which to me are the prime requisites for any add-on I might purchase."

Douglas DC-2 By Flight 1. (February 9, 2008): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen reviews some aviation history with Flight 1's Douglas DC-2. This review is unique in that Angelique has used some artistic license to recreate the atmosphere of this era. You'll have to see the review to figure it out. "Inspired by the technical success of the DC-1, the DC-2 was introduced less than a year after the DC-1's first flight. The new plane was similar in shape to the DC-1 but had more powerful engines, was faster and was capable of longer flights. More importantly, it was two feet longer and could carry two more passengers." "I think they created a good looking 2D model with all its in's and out's. There are no separate sub-panels except then for the control steering wheel in view or out of view, a trim sheet and a GPS. Flying in the VC gives the user the best and most realistic experience. Except for a few items which are created by the developer, all the images of sidewalls, panels, overhead, ceiling blankets, and cargo area, all those are digitized images and thus results in a very realistic cockpit." "My first impression of the external model and victual cabin was that it looks awesome and I really mean this. The external model is so extremely detailed has everything to do with the fact that Rob Cappers worked very closely with the Aviodrome employees. I can only come to one conclusion by observing this external model and virtual cabin and that is, this model – external look and virtual cabin - is an eye-catcher." Angelique then proceeds to take the DC-2 out for a quick test ride and puts it through some simple manoeuvres to get a feel for the aircraft. "It does represent real flight dynamics, it reacts slowly when a flight control input is given and that’s enough to know. I could make more flights or a longer flight, but there’s not really a need to, since I know what this Douglas DC-2 can do." There is an exclusive interview with Rob Cappers, the developer of this software. It goes into detail of his love of the real Douglas DC-2 located at the Dutch Aviodrome Museum. Angelique wraps up her nostalgic look at the DC-2 with, "… awesome, see all the screenshots for yourself and then you be the judge. Not only is the external model almost perfect but also the 2D and VC look good and above all, very realistic. The simulated cockpit is so unbelievably real.

Mooney By Carenado. (January 20, 2008): Contributing reviewer Chris Khiel looks at Carenado's Mooney. "The Mooney M20 is known to be one of Al Mooney’s most successful designs. Aptly named as the M20 series because this was Mooney’s 20th design that has been produced for nearly fifty years in a number of different variations." "The main 2D panel and sub-panels from Carenado are always decent, and these latest panels for the Mooney are no exception. The 2D panel is very clear, concise, and looks almost exactly like its virtual counterpart. The VC is remarkably well done and detailed without heavily impacting performance. You won’t find yourself bored in this cockpit as you are able to click nearly every important flight control." "This package shines as every minute detail is represented nicely. Four texture sets are included and give you a pleasant range of very realistic Mooney's to fly. One of the four included textures is a blank white livery with no tail number; must be kind of a ‘factory fresh’ look." "The flight dynamics here are very skillfully done by people who must have some good hands-on time in a Mooney M20J, or very similar ship. Doing some advanced or flight training maneuvers, the Mooney seems to behave itself just as you would expect. The sounds included seem right on for this engine type. With a very deep and throaty sounding engine and a subtle but great prop effect at idle, it sounds like you're sitting at an airport with a Mooney taxiing by. For the level of detail, this aircraft barely hits your system harder than the default Cessna 172." Concluding his review of the Carenado Mooney, Chris says, "It’s just hard to find things wrong with any Carenado aircraft, as they’re usually “Grand Slams”. This aircraft is no exception. If you’re a die hard Mooney Fan, then I can’t imagine missing this package."

Mi-28 "Havoc" By Alphasim. (January 17, 2008): Staff reviewer Marc Radford climbs aboard another AlphaSim product, this time it's the Mi-28 "Havoc". "The Mil Mi-28 Havoc is Russia’s 2 seat armoured attack helicopter, with a primary role to accompany both the Mi-24 Hind, and Ka-50 Hokum." "AlphaSim is offering three highly detail texture models in this package, each with their own unique realistic weathering effects. AlphaSim offers a number of features you would expect from a high quality developer, but there are a few features worth noting like the animated gun turret that moves with the pilots head, animated landing lights, faint smoke trail effect, custom ground dust effect, and the infamous HUD option in the 2D Cockpit." "AlphaSim has done a great job with the Mi-28 Havoc. It is a real pleasure feeling both the speed and agility of this modern military attack helicopter. The specifications for the Mi-28 are impressive, but nothing can compare to the amazing acrobatic abilities allowing maneuvers like rolls, full back slips, vertical climbs, and changing direction on a dime." Marc takes you on a descriptive flying tour, from takeoff to landing in the Mi-28. He continues with, "In my experience, AlphaSim always delivers high quality visuals, and somehow they always run great with next to no FPS impact at all; this also includes the normally FPS hungry VC. The Mi-28 Havoc is no exception. This helicopter runs great no matter what view your using or the amount of geometry on the ground." Summing up this helo, "AlphaSim’s Mi-28 Havoc is a great helicopter. Adhering to their high quality standards and with so many nice things in this package, it's hard not to recommend it. The Mi-28 boasts so much technology and agility, it makes flying this attack helicopter, for the most part, quite easy and intuitive; however I still find the landings offer a nice rewarding challenge."

A6 "Intruder" By Alphasim. (January 14, 2008): Senior staff reviewer straps on one of his favourite military jets as he joy rides around in Alphasim's A6 Intruder. "This aircraft saw service in the military from the early 60’s to the late 90’s and proved itself well as an integral part of the Military machine. Alphasim has once again come through as being one of the first to release a payware package of this type, personally though, I think it is a long time coming." The base package of the Intruder comes with six model variations and 4 detailed paints that include both loaded and clean models of the aircraft. Now, if you are looking at the Expansion Pack, you will get another 5 variations with four more historically accurate paints bringing your overall total to 11 different aircraft and 8 different squadron paints to choose from. The exterior model of the A-6E in both FSX and FS9 is highly detailed and looks really good in FSX. All of the traditional moving parts are visible on the aircraft as well as detailed payloads that change depending on which model you choose to fly. Another nice visual feature of this package is that the aircraft have a weathered and used look to them, not a new flashy paint job." I was really impressed the first time I climbed into the cockpit of the A-6. It had a very authentic feel and I was anxious to see what it had to offer system wise. Although it does include all of the necessary equipment to fly the bird, it doesn’t model individual systems and most of the buttons and switches in the virtual cockpit are there for aesthetic value rather than serving a purpose. I have also got to add that the 2D panel looks very good and was designed using all in XML. If you can get yourself away from the Virtual Cockpit, the 2D does deserve a look see, but I can’t imaging flying an aircraft like this without the virtual cockpit." Oh, you just got to love the sound of an A-6 Intruder! There is no other jet that seems to sound like it and I think the folks over at Alphasim have captured the exterior sound of the A-6 remarkably well. I was impressed with the sound of the aircraft from the inside as you roll down the runway for takeoff; you actually hear the components in the cockpit rattling." Wrapping up his "Flight of the Intruder", Gene comments, "This aircraft is a matter of taste. If you like flying military jets and have an affinity for the Intruder like I do, you will probably want it. Aircraft like the A-6 excel in this sim because they are designed native to FSX and this product really shows off in that environment, especially when it comes to simulating speed at low altitudes. But without the complex system modeling you really have to look at what you are getting for your buck."

747-400X By PMDG. (January 9, 2008): Staff reviewer Jon Murchison combines 2 legends of aviation in this double review. The 747-400 X from PMDG and Mega Airport London Heathrow X from Aerosoft/Simwings. "Neither the 747-400 nor London Heathrow is new to flightsim. PMDG ‘talk’ about their original intentions to ‘patch’ the 747-400 for FSX and how the project they expected to take a few weeks took 18 months. Aerosoft had already released Mega Airport London Heathrow for FS2004; the question was what would they do for FSX?" About the 747-400, Jon says, "Everything about this model is highly detailed, and I was unable to observe anything that was out of place. Clearly the attention to detail achieved in the FS2004 model has been replicated and advanced in FSX. Systems and panel wise, the 747-400X is no different than the FS2004 version, at least at face value. One of the enhancements in FSX is additional views in the VC, and close ups of the FMC, overhead panel and the throttle/comm's panel. The flight dynamics of the 400X feel great and users who are familiar with the FS2004 version will notice no difference in FSX. Personally, I found the aircraft to feel like I imagined a 747 would. It's heavy but at the same time sprightly, surprisingly so at times." Landing at London's Heathrow, Jon comments, "The quality of the buildings and other scenery objects throughout London Heathrow X is excellent. It's clear a lot of time and effort has been spent researching and then making the various airport structures, and given some are based on buildings that have yet to be completed, the final result is very effective and realistic. Simwings have included FSX effects in some of the buildings. Terminal 5 has the reflective glass effect, and at the right time of day when you catch the sun just right, the glory of bloom can be seen across most buildings. The more I explored in and around the terminals, the more the depth of the detail that has been included revealed itself, and many times I was struck by the detail that Simwings had managed to get into the scenery." There's a lot more detail about these two releases within the review. Summarizing PMDG's 747-400X and Aerosoft/Simwings' Mega Airport London Heathrow, "I come away from just over two weeks of flying the PMDG 747-400X in and out of Mega Airport London Heathrow X, and feel I have experienced two add-ons that truly start to show what FSX is capable of. The 747 is nothing short of a must buy in my view; it captures the physical presence of the 747 magnificently with an external model and VC that is truly second to none, and a sound set that puts you in the left hand seat and keeps you there. It has all the bells and whistles for those who enjoy working complex aircraft systems, but is also easy enough for the average flightsim aviator to access and get flying quickly. A very clever scenery design means you won't get many fully realized simulations of a real world airport this size that are much more FPS friendly than this. The overall quality and attention to detail are certainly highlights of this scenery, and if you can manage some AI, then its just as much fun spending a day watching as it is flying."

Columbia 400 By Eaglesoft. (January 6, 2008): Senior staff reviewer Zane Gard recreates an actual flight while reviewing Eaglesoft's Columbia 400 for FSX. "On the heels of Eaglesoft releasing its Cirrus lineup of Avidyne Entegra equipped singles, they followed with the release of the Columbia 400." "This isn’t just the FS9 version ported over to FSX, it is a full FSX SP1/SP2/DX10 compliant model utilizing FSX features. The smooth exterior lines, fluid animations, tasteful reflectivity of the exterior surfaces all make for a visual delight as you move around in spot view or use any of the included FSX external camera angles." "The interior 3D model, or virtual cabin, is also a beauty to behold. This model won’t disappoint and if you are a VC junky, as many simmers are, you are going to enjoy flying this in the sim. 2D panels is where I can say Eaglesoft has a distinct way of making their art. They are a combination of photoreal and rendered. The Eaglesoft team recorded the sound set from an actual Columbia 400. The quality of these recordings is very good, so I can’t imagine anyone not being anything but pleased with the sounds." If any of you are familiar with Flight Video Productions, you know they make videos of actual flights. In putting this aircraft through its paces, Zane recreates a flight from Bend, Oregon to Portland International and returns to Sun River, a popular resort just a few miles south of Bend. The flight goes into detail about the Columbia 400's flight characteristics. After putting the aircraft to bed, Zane comments, "Eaglesoft has another winner to add to its list of winners. I do like this plane and it will remain in my hanger."

ATR 72-500 By Flight 1. (January 5, 2008): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen climbs out of the heavy metal and jumps into her short haul aircraft, Flight 1's ATR 72-500. This time the FSX version. "After consulting Flight1, they could tell me the FSX version is only made compatible for FSX, so it’s not a fully redesigned model." "The overall look of the VC is very realistic but more important, the instruments are all easy to read, are very sharp and even the text on the panels is good. In one way or another, they created a VC which is the same as the FS2004 version. The 2D cockpit covers not just a standard captain’s cockpit view, but you can shift positions while looking at the captains, center and co-pilots panel." "The ATR comes standard with three liveries, one from the ATR factory, Air Caraïbes and Atlantic Southeast Airlines. Additionally there are a few on the CD-ROM and many others can be found in the AVSIM library. I’m impressed with the external model." As in her last review, Angelique takes the ATR 72-500 on a trip to test all the buttons, bells and whistles included with this release. You can read all the details of her trip in the review. "Conclusion, based on my feelings, not being a real ATR pilot and without having any motion like you have in a FFS (Full Flight Simulator), the ground and flight feelings/dynamics are very realistic. You can’t fly this aircraft like the default airplanes; you need to check your instruments constantly and when flying manually, external forces bring the aircraft out of its own stability. Flying the ATR is fun. It’s not that big, so you can takeoff and land at many airports where the big jets are not welcome." "What shall I say … Flight 1's ATR 72-500 is awesome. Keeping in mind that the ATR package is only made compatible for FSX and the user gets both the FS2004 and FSX models, this release offers a highly detailed 2D and VC cockpit, the external model has lots of interesting details, and it gets a good to very good frame rate performance, even in FSX. This is a good and realistic presentation of the ATR 72."

Airbus - Volume 2 By Wilco Publications. (January 3, 2008): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen continues with the next volume of the Wilco Publications' Airbus series - Volume 2. "Due to the variety of the Wilco Publishing Airbus wide-bodies – A330-200, A330-300, A340-300, A340-600 and the A330 MRTT– it’s a little too much to write down all the characteristics of these types, so therefore I guide you to the official Airbus website." "It’s always difficult when you, the reader, or I, the reviewer, wants to see what kind of 2D cockpit panel lay-out is created. Either we agree with a photorealistic panel image or we prefer to have a painted version, which looks very similar to the real A330/A340 panel. My first impression is that a lot of work was done in creating a good looking and realistic painted panel, which looks very similar to other Wilco products like the A320 Family, the 737PIC, Embraer ERJ 450, Legacy and the Cessna CitationX." "Normally, a good looking 2D panel doesn’t guarantee an impressive looking VC. But in this case, I have to admit that the VC looks very good but more important, very realistic. The overall impression and thus conclusion of the offered Airbus Volume 2 “2D and VC cockpits” is very good. I like the way they have designed the 2D cockpit and the realistic/photographic VC look." "I have the option to compare the Wilco model with the CLS (Commercial Level Simulations) A330-200/300 and A340-300 airplanes. Keeping that in mind, the overall look of both manufactured models are more or less the same. But when looking closely to certain details like rivets on any surface, panels, dirty stripes or spots, gear details, windows and many others, we do see differences in quality." Angelique goes on to conduct a test flight in an A330-200. She describes the flight from start-up, through taxi, take-off, cruise, approach and landing, and back to the cold and dark state of the cockpit. "As far as my knowledge goes and what I’ve seen during this partly manual flight, I’m very satisfied with this product. In my opinion it reflects a good simulated Airbus A330 or A340." Summing up the complete series of aircraft in Wilco Publishing's Airbus - Volume 2, she says, "I can come to only one conclusion and that is that the Wilco Publishing Airbus Volume 2 is worth your money. I think with the help of the screenshots, you have got a good idea about this product. I hope with this review you now have a good impression about the pro’s and con’s of the product."

Curtiss P-40 By Shockwave Productions. (January 1, 2008): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury kicks off the new year with an in-depth review of Shockwave's Curtiss P-40, from the Wings of Power II series. "Shockwave Productions specialize in producing add-on military aircraft for Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, although that’s certainly not all they do. You’ll find they make stuff for Combat Flight Simulator, so this developer certainly knows about combat aircraft add-ons." "Shockwave chose to include two variants of the P-40 in their package, with two paint schemes for each one, however, these are actually more than simple repaints with no other changes. Care has been taken to ensure they have the correct cockpit equipment and other details specific to the aircraft portrayed. Other differences in the models include some stuff you might easily miss. The guns are textured differently on the non-US service variants, to reflect their different armament, and it’s more than just a quick and dirty repaint-fest in the set of aircraft you get." "The VC every bit as well done as the exterior modeling, and it pans nice and smoothly too with TrackIR. Pretty much every switch works, and although some of that is limited by the capabilities of FSX into being just for show, everything is in the right place and moves in exactly the right way, having the exactly correct movement and correct amount of throw. There’s no 2D cockpit on this thing, which I can’t say I’m sorry about, because the virtual cockpit is marvelous." "Like the real thing, the P-40 is easy to handle on the ground, with – unlike most other ‘40s fighters - a comfortably wide track main gear. As a result, there’s none of that panic about scraping a wingtip that you get on WW2 fighters blessed with a narrow track landing gear when you give them some juice to turn around. I have to say that the flight model impressed me hugely, it feels very ‘right’ and yet it’s actually not that hard to keep it on the centerline of the runway while you roll along building flying speed. I can confirm that once the wheels are up the Shockwave P-40 is bang on the money as far as normal performance goes." As mentioned, Alan goes into great detail into this aircraft's performance as he puts it through its paces. He concludes his review of the P-40 with, "Shockwave has managed to bring us a true rendition of an aircraft that people most likely don’t realize was actually as good as this. It would have been easy for Shockwave to simply follow the crowd and produce a simulation of the P-40 that merely served to continue the myths of this aircraft’s poor showing, but that’s not for them, they’ve proved once again that accuracy is their hallmark. You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t check it out for yourself."

2007

Seahawk X and Jayhawk X By Aerosoft. (December 26, 2007): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura departs for sea as he test flies Aerosoft's Seahawk X and Jayhawk X. "The Sikorsky Seahawk, a version of the U.S. Army’s Blackhawk helicopter, has been used by the U.S. Navy for reconnaissance, antisubmarine warfare, search and rescue, communications relay, and transport since the early 1980s. A Coast Guard version, which performs similar tasks, is called the Jayhawk." "There’s a lot of detail here, both in the 3D modeling and in the skinning. The package comes with fourteen liveries, including one for the U.S. Coast Guard, one for the Japanese Navy, one for the Spanish Navy, one for the Greek Navy, two for the Australian Navy, and eight for the U.S. Navy. The Seahawk and Jayhawk can both be parked on ships, so to save valuable deck space, they can both fold up to about half their normal footprint." "There are other good-looking helicopters for FSX: for example, the Agusta Westland EH-101 that comes with Acceleration. To my knowledge, though, there is no other helicopter product that even comes close to this one in the department of cockpit systems and avionics. How often is it that more realistic is actually easier to fly? Not often, but apparently this is one of those times." "On the pedestal, there are two control display units (CDUs), which are similar in appearance to the FMS in a jetliner. The two units are independent, so you can display a different page of data on each one. The main instrument panel is dominated by two large LCDs, with some analogue gauges for backup. The Seahawk and Jayhawk are both heavy machines, which tends to dampen their movement and make them less skittish than, say, the default Robinson." Concluding his naval aviator tour, David says, "Personally, I’m satisfied: while it’s challenging to fly the Seahawk/Jayhawk, you can start having fun with them right away. If you have tried helicopters before, and given up because they were too hard, this one is less hard. Once you get the hang of it, there is a real feeling of accomplishment, and you can land on other platforms (such as building rooftops) with more confidence, because you’ve already mastered the more difficult skill of landing on a ship."

Piper Twin Commanche By Eaglesoft. (December 14, 2007): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen tours around the southern Florida area again, but this time in Eaglesoft's Twin Commanche. "The Piper PA-30 and PA-39 Twin Comanche are a twin-engine development of the PA-24 Comanche single-engine aircraft. The Twin Comanche is the most fuel efficient aircraft in its class." About the interior, Angelique comments, "I love the 2D view. Eaglesoft offers an IFR and VFR look. From the IFR panel, the lower part with all the switches is removed, which results in a lowering of the panel itself, so you’ve got more outside visibility and that’s then known as the VFR panel. When we start the VC, you can see it's different than the 2D panel, but looking to the quality, there’s hardly any difference. In other words, the VC startup panel looks as great and sharp as the 2D version." From the outside, "when we look at specific details of the aircraft, I’m surprised about those tiny things. For example; looking underneath the fuselage/wings, clearly can be seen the oil leak strips along the engine pylon to the wing surface. Generally, the whole look is very good, with lots of details." Angelique continues her review by putting the Twin Commanche through its paces while on a test flight. Her conclusion reads, "after I spend lots of hours flying and looking around with the Piper PA-30, I can say that it’s one of my favorites. The 2D is offered in an IFR and VFR panel although there are hardly any differences. The instruments look great, they are sharp and this is especially important for the VC model. I can advise you to buy this Eaglesoft product."

MH-53J "Pavelow" & Ka-27/32 "Helix" By AlphaSim. (December 8, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis goes east and west while flying two helos from AlphaSim, the MH-53J "Pavelow" and the Ka-27/32 "Helix". "Alphasim continues to release high quality choppers for both FSX and FS9. Here are two more well crafted models to test your flying skills in the world that is Flight Simulator." "The Alphasim Pavelow comes with 4 different military paint schemes and ships with a complete sound package. The exterior model is one of the best helicopters I have seen from the folks over at Alphasim, as well as one of the best out there on the market. The cockpit is what I have come to expect from Alphasim. It is not so complicated that you need to know where everything is and I find it to be just right for my needs, as flying a chopper of this size would require a great deal of input from both the pilot and copilot. Flying the Pavelow is fun, though it doesn’t offer a highly complicated flight model. The sounds are very good and capture the Pavelow quite remarkably." "The Helix comes packed with five different liveries that pretty much covers its worldwide use. Climbing into the Helix is impressive and reflects its Russian design throughout. I was impressed with the main cockpit except for the design of the overhead panel. Flying the Helix is a trip in FSX, both sim’s for that matter, but it really does perform well in FSX. Its ease of flight and ability to get the feeling of what the chopper is doing in FSX is really what makes this a great add-on. Russian choppers have a sound all their own and this particular add-on really does reflect a nicely designed sound package." Concluding this dual review of the Pavelow and the Helix, Gene comments, "Alphasim has been at the forefront of military aircraft design and we have seen an increased development of helicopter add-ons from them. If you’re a rotor head junkie like I am, you definitely have to have these."

Heinkel He-111H By AlphaSim. (December 4, 2007): Staff reviewer Marc Radford reviews another of AlphaSim's releases. This time the Heinkel He-111H medium bomber. "The Heinkel He 111 H variant saw more action then any other version during WWII, however it did not take long for the plane's performance to be superceded by the enemy." "What we get are three unique models and four texture schemes. The models are quite impressive visually which is what you would expect from AlphaSim. After seeing many screen shots of AlphaSim products before, and reviewing two of them, I know to expect a high quality model just like the Hienkel He 111." "I love a plane which my first attempts of taking off results in numerous crashes; this way I feel that the dynamics and attention to the check list are important, which is always a thumbs up for me. The historical information of the Heinkel He 111 always pointed to an aircraft that was underpowered, in this simulation it is no different, requiring very sensitive inputs to both yoke and trim on initial takeoff and climb; this is both initially frustrating and rewarding when you finally get the hang of it." "As expected from AlphaSim, the fps performance is great in both 2D Cockpit and VC Cockpit views, my fps rarely dropped below the 25 fps. Given my very average machine specification, I think this runs excellent on my machine and looks great also." Marc concludes his review and test flights of the Heinkel He-111 with, "If you are familiar with AlphaSim products already, the Heinkel He 111 is a great piece of work all around and would make a nice addition to your hangers. The Heinkel He-111 really is a quality plane in visuals and flight dynamics, and if you are looking for a quality representation of that bird, here it is from AlphaSim."

Super/Turbo Viking By Lionheart Creations. (December 2, 2007): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen returns from a short break with a look at Lionheart Creations Super/Turbo Viking. "This is the famous American 'Corvette' of General Aviation in the USA, the Bellanca Super Viking. Equipped in both regular fuel aspiration, and in turbocharged, this aircraft could cruise at 250 MPH." "When you see the different 2D panels you could think; that’s a simple and straightforward design. Well, the real cockpit is also very simple, straightforward and not equipped with all those funny things you will see with Beechcraft or modern Cessna models. In general, although there’s always something to find, when I compare this cockpit with real pictures, it looks very real." "What’s applicable for the 2D cockpit panels – black, grey, wood and dark green – is, of course, also applicable for the VC look. The VC panels look great. It’s so sharp, I've never seen instruments and other numbers/text that sharp. The only thing that looks a little cartoonish are some knobs and selectors on the lower brown (wood) instrument panel." "When looking at the external model, my first impression was not that positive. I didn’t see any rivets or ribs on, for example, the wings. But after contacting Lionheart Creations I was informed that the real Viking looks like that. One of the reasons for the high performance of this aircraft." "When I consulted Lionheart Creations, I was informed that a real pilot joined the team, tested the MSFS model and compared it with his real Super Viking experience. With that in mind, and the size of the aircraft in complexity compared to large commercial aircraft, I think the result is very real." At this point, Angelique conducts a detailed test flight of the aircraft and really puts it through its paces. She wraps up this review with, "when I take everything into account including the flight dynamics I can only say, the Lionheart Creations Super Viking models represent the real aircraft as close as possible."

MAAM's B25J Mitchell By Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. (November 30, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Alexis Esguerra revisits an aircraft that has been updated for FS2004. Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's B-25J "Briefing Time". "Back in 2003, MAAM presented the flightsim community with a flyable rendition of ‘Briefing Time’, a package that earned its own accolades for excellence. Four years later, ‘Briefing Time’ is back on the market, all complete and ready to load onto FS2004." "‘ Briefing Time’, when released, caused quite a stir when she came to the hard drive’s of our PC’s. In this reviewer’s humble opinion, there has been no MSFS equal to the venerable Mitchell medium bomber. Of course, it does kind of help during the development of any software package to have unlimited access to the real McCoy. With ‘Briefing Time’ at their disposal, MAAM was able to explore every square inch, every sound, and every nuance of the plane they were creating for MSFS." "While somewhat dated by today’s standards, the visuals are still amazing in their detail and accuracy. This is especially true of the olive-drab version, against which there is no shortage of reference material to compare against. Inside and out, ‘Briefing Time’ simply takes your breath away. The engine sound set is outstanding. We’re talking a virtual clone of what you’d hear from the Pennsylvania based Mitchell, from startup to shutdown." "I expected a medium bomber to be somewhat heavy, but still have the ability to be thrown about the sky, and it showed in ‘Briefing Time’. It says a lot about the simulated flight model when you can mimic the real-life aero braking maneuver MAAM pilots uses in the real thing." In summation, "‘Briefing Time’ transitions nicely to FS2004, and shouldn’t disappoint those who haven’t yet found this beautiful gem of an add-on. Despite it’s age, ‘Briefing Time’ still posses tremendous strength in every aspect that counts. No other Mitchell package that I’m aware of can touch it in terms of visual and audio accuracy, and I’m fairly confidant (considering the source) that the same can be said about the flight model."

Super 80 By Flight 1/CoolSky. (November 28, 2007): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen reflects on her real life experiences in her review of Flight 1/CoolSky's Super 80. "The MD-80 was not an entirely new aircraft. It was, in effect, an extension of the DC-9 line of aircraft." "Normally, additional or sub-panels are small sized except for the overhead panel. With this product, most of the sub-panels are huge, which makes them clear and very easy to read. All the instruments, switches, knobs, handles etc. are well created and simulated. The fact that the aircraft doesn’t have a FMS is simply because this first series of the Super 80 did not have one." "I’m satisfied when I see the quality of the VC. t's important to mention that all the instruments, text, switches and knobs are well designed and are very readable. The Coolsky VC is, apart from a few things, good and great to fly." "Since we don’t have many FSX MD80 models to compare, except the Maddog 2006, the discussion of the external model is – of course - mainly based on the Coolsky model. Looking back to the good old FS2004, we had the wonderful JCA (Jet City Aircraft) models. My conclusion of the external look; I am very satisfied about the renewed Super 80, especially for FSX." "I have tested the flight dynamics (F1_MD80.air) or in normal English, how the aircraft really flies, with the help of the Coolsky FS2004 flight tutorial. At VR, I gentle pull back on the stick and as expected, the aircraft starts to raise its nose. Not like a GA airplane, but with some resistance. Once the Super 80 is in a stable condition, I added some elevator before bringing the aircraft into a bank of 45 degrees. As expected, it is not that difficult to keep it in this bank position but pitch is really needed. Conclusion, I got a good impression of the Super 80 simulated flight dynamics." Angelique concludes her "checkride" of the Flight1/Coolsky Super 80 with, "I’m impressed with this FSX model. I loved the FS2004 Coolsky Super 80 already because of its old-fashioned ADI and HSI including the operational Omega, the good frames, and the realistic external model including the air file."

Messerschmitt bf109E By Shockwave Productions. (November 24, 2007): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury looks at a WWII classic in Shockwave Productions Messerschmitt bf109E. "Shockwave Productions specialize in producing add-on military aircraft for Flight Simulator, they have a reputation for obsessive accuracy that few other developers can rival." "Upon installation in Flight Simulator, you get three very different bf109E models. First, a bf109E-3, sporting an early Luftwaffe splinter camouflage scheme in the markings of JG53’s technical officer, Erich Mix. Next, you’ll find an E-4 variant wearing typical 1940’s war paint and the markings of JG53’s second gruppe kommodore. Finally you get an E-4 tropical variant in early Luftwaffe desert camouflage typical of service in North Africa." "As is the norm with Shockwave, pretty much every screw and rivet puts in an appearance on the textures, these being sharp, accurate in color, placement and, for the most part, demonstrating good historical research. It has to be said that the virtual cockpit is just about as accurate as one could possibly desire, demonstrating great research and intelligent modeling choices. The dials and switches all look very nice, they work smoothly and the controls move well too, with even the minimal lateral deflection of the control column being modeled." "Running the engine up on the Shockwave version reveals that some great DB601 engine sounds have been modeled, these being nicely positioned levels-wise, with the audio shifting convincingly as you turn your head and look about. Upon initially opening up the throttle, the Shockwave bf109E wants to go to the right for a second, which kind of catches you out. However, as the power comes on, it begins to develop the familiar swing to the left common to most single-engine props. Of note, it is entirely possible to belly land the Shockwave bf109E intact, even with full damage and realism options selected in FS. It might seem a little odd to praise such a feature, but since pilots of the real thing sometimes had to do this, it is nice that you can try it too. Overall, the Shockwave bf109E flight model is pretty close in most respects." Summing up the bf109E, Alan remarks, "The texturing is great, the virtual cockpit is great, the sound is great, the effects are great, and the flight model - despite some of my, admittedly, rivet-counting reservations - is also great. Oddly enough, with all that going on, the frame rates are great too, even with the graphics card whistles and bells on full throttle. If you want to know exactly what tasks have to be met in learning how to fly a powerful piston prop warplane, the Shockwave bf109E offers you that opportunity."

Me262 & F-104 Starfighter By Flight Replica/AlphaSim. (November 21, 2007): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury does a double review of two renown Luftwaffe aircraft presented by AlphaSim - the Me262 and the F-104 Starfighter. While the F-104 was also flown by various allied Air Forces, it is the German link that brought about this combined review. Be prepared for a read, as this review is "in-depth". "In every sense of the word, the Messerschmitt 262 is a classic. Enigmatic, occasionally troublesome, and incredibly advanced. It was the first operational combat jet fighter, the culmination of years of research, and a brutally handsome bird too. In addition to the basic Me262A-1a Schwalbe (Swallow) fighter variant, plus a variation equipped with drop-tanks, we find the Me262A-2a Sturmvogel (Stormbird) fighter-bomber version, with bomb pylons and racks for spin-stabilized under-wing rockets. Additionally, there is the Me262A-1a/U3 reconnaissance model, with its characteristic bulged nose fairing for the twin downward-looking cameras." "On the whole textures and mapping is good, however, there are one or two very minor placement issues along the left rear of the fuselage. Both the FSX and FS9 versions of the FR Me262 eschew the 2D cockpit, so apart from an additional radio panel - available via the menu or a shortcut - which incidentally, is modern in appearance, you’re in the virtual cockpit only with this bird. And that’s a good thing, because the virtual cockpit on this aircraft is really great." "Once the engines are running, the documentation for the FR Me262 cautions us to adopt the correct procedures with regard to RPM settings, similar to the real thing. Nevertheless, apart from at take-off, and on landing approach, once you pass the 250 knots mark, the Me262 suddenly seems to come to life. When this happens, you begin to realize why German pilots ignored official names like Swallow and Stormbird - they called this thing the Turbo. The FR Me262 is easy to fly from a piloting point of view; the real thing was too." "So now it’s time to look at the simulated version of a controversial and exciting aircraft, brought to us in the form of AlphaSim’s F104 Starfighter. Upon installation, you’ll find five F-104s in your FSX hangar, two Luftwaffe G models, two Marineflieger G variants, plus an Italian Air Force S model." "Texturing on the AlphaSim F-104s is very crisp, with well researched stenciling and insignias all in the correct locations, and very clear they are too. In common with most (not all) aircraft from AlphaSim, the Starfighter’s implementation of working cockpit features is somewhat limited. You won’t find many of the switches functioning, or even moving in a dummy fashion for that matter, but what you will find is a virtual cockpit which is nevertheless nothing short of a visual treat." "Centerpiece of the F-104 office is the radar screen. If you prefer 2D cockpits, you’ll be happy to learn that, like most AlphaSim products, the F-104 Starfighter has one, and it’s pretty good too. Along with the main panel, you also get several pop-up 2D sub-panels for the radar, radios and various sub systems." "Applying the brakes and winding up the throttle for an engine test reveals that the jet turbine sounds are hugely impressive, there is even a hint of the real F-104’s characteristic howl from the inlet air vanes switching position. I was pleased to note that the AlphaSim aircraft does emulate the real F-104’s capabilities in the turning regime very closely." Concluding this double review of the Me262 and F-104, Alan comments, "the Flight Replica Me262 is certainly one of the better models around, and the virtual cockpit, even with its limited functionality, is a real winner. So there’s definitely many more plusses than minuses in the looks department. The AlphaSim F-104 Starfighter is a ‘must have’ add-on in my opinion. I think you’d be robbing yourself of a very exciting experience if you passed this one up."

Space Shuttle By Just Flight/Captain Sim. (November 17, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis goes out of this world as he pilots the Space Shuttle from Just Flight/Captain Sim back to terra firma. "The Just Flight/ Captain Sim Space Shuttle ships with the entire fleet of current space shuttles as well as those that are no longer with us. The included shuttles are the Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavor, Atlantis and of course the Enterprise." "Most impressive are the shuttle’s engines, while the detail is excruciating, I only wished they did something. As you pan your view around the Shuttle, it has an incredibly realistic look to it, almost photorealistic textures! Not only is the exterior highly detailed but as is the interior flight deck and the payload bay, you do get a certain sense of being there." "The command deck is impressive, though it really doesn’t serve much purpose as most of the displays really don’t do anything and are there just for esthetic value. Overall though, I was amazed at how much detail there is and how well modeled each station was aboard the craft. As you peruse the entire virtual cabin that is the command deck, you can’t help but appreciate the detail. Piloting the shuttle is like flying a glider, there is absolutely no power, so you are on the glide all the way down from re-entry to TAEM and then onto landing." Gene sums up his return to earth in the Space Shuttle with, "Do I like this add-on? Yes and no. For what it is it, it's unique and adds a new element to the world that is Flight Simulator. It is essentially a landing simulator and that is it; on the other hand though, it is a big part of our history and if there was anyway to add the Shuttle to MSFS, the folks over at Captain Sim have done it. If you keep an open mind and see it for what it is, then I think you will find a part of you that really likes it."

XB-70 Valkyrie By AlphaSim. (November 13, 2007): Staff reviewer Marc Radford closes in on Mach 3 as he reviews AlphaSim's XB-70 Valkyrie. "The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was designed to be a super fast, Mach 3 nuclear bomber for the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command in the 1950s." "What a beautiful looking airplane the XB-70 Valkyrie is and very unique to any other airplane. The landing gear folds down like normal in the first phase, then the whole bottom wheels turn 90 degrees straight; this over complicated landing gear caused quite a few problems during flight testing." "The 2D Cockpit looks great, a large number of old style instruments fill the panel. The throttle panel is ok, and the engine shut off switches operate as expected, however, with the more simplified procedure list you will not be using them. The autopilot also matches closer to the design of the plane. The VC Cockpit quality looks really good and is quite clear." "The most important thing to note in this review, "this plane is not for everyone". After putting in a handful of hours with the Valkyrie, I was really starting to love this plane. Aside from the engine start checklist not being used, the rest of the checklist is very important to be followed or else you will wind up taking many unexpected sky diving adventures. So what is so hands on about it? The throttle, as warned in the documentation, can easily get ahead of you and this plane does not have an airbrake, so slowing down quickly can be difficult resulting in an over speed crash." Marc sums up the Valkyrie with "the XB-70 is really a great plane to fly, I was very impressed with the amount of hands on this plane requires. My personal opinion is that this plane does align to AlphaSim’s streamlined procedure list, but there is also quite a bit of plane here to fly."

Stinson By Golden Age Simulations. (September 27, 2007): Staff reviewer Juan Llobera goes back to days gone by with his look at Golden Age Simulations' Stinson. "The Stinson A was produced until 1936, and in those three years a total of 30 airplanes were produced. The airplane became quite famous, not only because it was one of the first airline airplanes to include a lavatory on board, but also because of a series of legendary air disasters." "The exterior model is really well done, not only in the Model A version but also in the A-2W. You’ll get one livery for each model, an American Airlines livery for the Model A and the Airlines of Australia livery for the Model A-2W. The first thing you’ll notice when flying this aircraft is its power. It was once called “America’s Fastest Tri-Motor” and with three Lycoming R-680 radial engines that deliver 260HP at 2300 R.P.M , this beauty can achieve up to 180 mph at sea level. The take off procedure is similar to those required by the DC-3, and landing the Stinson Model A is actually not a difficult task." "The aircraft comes without a 2D panel, for those of you who still like the traditional 2D panel view, don’t panic because the 3D panel is really well done. In fact, it is one of the smoothest 3D panels I’ve seen. Another nice detail is the cabin views. Each model has different interiors, each one is designed in a different way so you’ll get the idea you are flying for different airlines." "Performance is excellent," say Juan concluding his review of the Stinson, "if you like flying some old-powerful pieces of metal, a prop lover or just a pilot looking for new challenges out of a glass-cockpit, then go ahead and get this one, you wont regret it."

DC 10 Series By Commercial Level Simulation / Just Flight. (September 24, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis flies on 3 engines as he reviews the classic DC-10 from Commercial Level Simulations and Just Flight. "The DC-10 was used with almost all of the major carriers in the world and although it had a rough start, it eventually became a favorite amongst pilots and passengers alike." "The Douglas DC-10 from Just Flight and CLS comes with over 38 different liveries. Everything ranging from Military, Freight, and of course, Commercial Passenger. Each is historically accurate and many of the liveries are of days gone by. Externally, the planes are simply gorgeous and the designers really didn’t leave anything to the imagination; from the landing gear wells, to that of the entire fuselage of the plane, every conceivable moving part is there." "The DC-10’s cockpit is relatively good and very easy on frame rates. Although you don’t have the access to more complicated systems, the cockpit is visually pleasing and offers an easy to use flying environment. I was impressed with the amount of actual panels that are accessible. The gauges in either the virtual cockpit or the 2D cockpit are nicely done and the gauge update seems very good during flight. Ultimately, I was very impressed with the level of detail of all of the gauges." "The F-Lite Series touts a realistic flight model and I have to say that I have spent some time with other CLS aircraft and found that their ultra-realistic flight models are somewhat questionable at times. I did find that when flying the 10 in FSX, the plane reacts remarkably well to wind and turbulence giving it a very realistic feel from inside the cockpit, not to mention that watching it from the outside is even a much better show." Summing up the DC-10, Gene says, "Out of the entire product line from CLS, I think this is definitely my favorite. With the DC-10, we have an aircraft that was developed back in the early 70’s and resembles the technology of its time. That being said, the DC-10 is really a very good add-on and if you are a fan of the Douglas DC-10, I would definitely recommend this add-on."

Piper Archer III By Dreamfleet / Flight 1. (September 22, 2007): Staff reviewer Roger Curtiss reflects on his own experiences while flying Dreamfleet's Archer III. "Represented is an actual Archer III registration N9277Q owned by Chuck Roberts of New Hampshire. The cockpit is even set up to include instrumentation that Roberts added to his aircraft to suit his needs." "The flight model provides a variety of options to the operator for aircraft presentation. It can be loaded as ‘cold and dark’ with pilot out of the cockpit and wing tie downs in place. The pilot can then conduct a thorough preflight inspection; opening the engine oil panel, wing gas caps and baggage compartment. Once the walk around is complete, the service panels can be latched and tie downs removed." "In addition to the expected dual comm radios, dual nav radios and ADF there is an S-TEC 55X autopilot which operates from two separate controls and a choice of two GPS units; the FS standard GPS500 or the more comprehensive Reality XP GN430. But in order to gain the full enjoyment of this very detailed model, there is no substitute for studying the aircraft manuals before flying. Another good reason to read the manuals is that this airplane is loaded with features that otherwise might go undetected." "The virtual cockpit is another work of art. In addition, the virtual cockpit eye point can be permanently changed without having to exit FS and then restart. The panel is outstanding. It can be displayed in a variety of configurations from full panel to landing view with just Airspeed Indicator, Artificial Horizon and Altimeter visible and even a right seat perspective." Concluding his review of the Piper Archer III, Roger says he can't find anything negative about the aircraft, but reminds the simmer that studying the operations manual is a necessity to get the most out of this release.

Citabria, Decathlon and Scout By RealAir Simulations. (September 17, 2007): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura drags his butt with this review of RealAir Simulations Taildraggers, featuring the Citabria, Decathlon and Scout aircraft designed for FSX. "Like almost all third-party aircraft that are currently available for FSX, the planes in this package were originally made for FS2004. In this case, however, the developers have taken the opportunity, not just to keep the old package going in the new sim, but to make it better and push the envelope of what’s possible." "All three aircraft share the same basic airframe, which has very simple, straightforward lines, such that you’d only notice them if something were wrong. Nothing is. The longer I look, the more I admire. Paint schemes are simple, too, but there are a lot of them: about fifty, not including third-party repaints." "A 2D panel is available, but like all of RealAir’s current models, the Citabria and its cousins are all intended to be flown from the virtual cockpit (VC). What makes the model stand out, visually, are the cockpit gauges. New here for FSX are gauges modeled in three dimensions. Before, gauge makers would simulate three dimensions with painted shadows." "Frame rates are as good as or better than default aircraft such as the Beaver or Maule. For the FSX version of the three taildraggers, Young has reinvented the flight models for each of the five aircraft types, including the pontoon and tundra tires." Getting his butt off the ground, David says of these 3 airframes, "once you have owned a thing that is finely crafted - with no excuses, and no compromises - you know what it is worth. That is how I feel about these models here. Everything looks right and (what is more important) everything feels right: right away and for as long as you fly."

Level D 767-300 ER By Flight 1. (September 16, 2007): Staff reviewer David Rogers continues on with another Level D installation with the 767-300 ER. "I think it is fair to say that this add-on needs little introduction. It is generally regarded as one of the most advanced and high quality releases to hit any version of Flight Simulator. Reviews across the internet universally praise the product and indeed AVSIM’s Maury Pratt awarded the FS2004 version of the Level D 767 with 5 stars in his review of May 2005." "The Level D 767 for FSX offers several new features and improvements to the FS2004 version. It is clear that you are not simply paying for a ‘ported’ FS2004 aircraft. Level D has not rushed to release the FSX version. It has gone through the full testing schedule and has been released as a standalone product in its own right. The two things that excited me most about this 767 release for FSX were; The enhanced flight model (The FS2004 version is already regarded as having one of the best flight models in a commercial aircraft add-on), and the FSX Camera views, which I have learned were to include a new VC ‘co-pilot’ view, as well as some tasty new wing views." "The exterior model is complemented by FSX’s “bright new world”. The supplied house livery is the only one supplied with the FSX 767. Fans of detailed models will not be disappointed with the Level D 767 for FSX. It is a treat to the eyes and is a wonderfully accurate representation of the real aircraft. As well as the level of detail, one thing that strikes me about the Level D 767 is that it appears to be perfectly in proportion. The exterior model of the LDS767 for FSX also seemed refreshingly frame rate friendly on my system, considering the level of complexity." "The Virtual Cockpit of the FS2004 Level D 767 is one of the nicest places to pass the time in the whole flight sim universe. If you sit in the VC and hit the ‘A’ key you will also see one of the new surprises that this version offers, a first officer seat position within the VC. All in all, I would say that the VC in the FSX version of Level D 767 is without a doubt the best virtual cockpit I have yet to see in any version of flight simulator." The is a lot more information with regards to this release inside the review. Summarizing David's experience with it he says, "I can reveal that the Level D 767 is a truly outstanding simulation which raises the bar in terms of function, immersion and down right fun. Level D has done a great job at presenting their baby in the bright new world of FSX. This is the finest complex aircraft add-on released for any version of flight simulator!"

Cessna 441 Conquest II By Flight 1. (September 1, 2007): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury looks at the updated Flight 1 Cessna 441 Conquest II. "In essence, the 441 is a pressurized Cessna 404 Titan with turboprop engines and slightly longer wings, although many think of it as the turboprop version of Cessna’s 421 Golden Eagle." "Starting from the outside, what you have is a visually pleasing aeroplane that is well modeled and looks impressively shiny for a thirty year-old bus. There’s very little to choose in appearance between the FSX and FS9 model incarnations, and what differences there are, largely come down to the simulation’s display capabilities. Frame rates are good for this model in both FS9 and FSX. This may be because there is no over-the-top modeling of every single wire and tube in the undercarriage wheel wells and most of the fuselage detail is done with excellent texturing as opposed to polygons." "Inside the cabin, the first thing you notice is that the point of view is just about perfect. With the advent of virtual cockpits, this is not always easy to achieve, but it has to be said that it most certainly has been managed here. The cockpit layout does vary slightly from the real thing, but this has been done sympathetically and with good sound reasoning behind the decision. Consequently, some things have been shifted around ever so slightly to compensate. In high-resolution flavour, the dials are crisp and work smoothly, but obviously there is more fluidity if you go with the lower resolution ones which in most instances do the job well enough. Staying in Flight Sim’s airless 3D realm for the moment, the 441 virtual cockpit is nicely done and well rendered in terms of texture placement and polygon counts, but it perhaps looks a little too crisp and clean for an aircraft of its supposed age." "Anyone who can fly a default Cessna 172 would certainly not feel overwhelmed by the instrument layout of the 441, and this is perhaps the real beauty of this aircraft over and above everything else. It really does what Cessna originally intended, in that it provides the perfect link between pistons and jets. All of which means that jet fans are going to like it because it has the kind of performance they demand, and piston fans are going to be similarly disposed because they can drive it without going to night school for a year to learn how it all works." "The FSX version definitely takes advantage of the newer sim’s improved flight modeling. And although the FS9 variant is no slouch in this department, you can tell the difference. Both variants have a pleasing flight model, and in both cases the flight model adheres faithfully to what the book says the 441 will do. With such benign handling characteristics, it should come as no surprise that the 441 should not be feared with an engine failure. Decent aileron and rudder authority, combined with nice trim controls for both, mean that it is quite possible to trim the thing to fly hands-off with an engine out, and the feathering procedure is mercifully simple too. With all that turbo power on tap, it can easily maintain height on one engine." "The Cessna 441 Conquest II does not exactly push the envelope as far as hugely complex systems go, but what it does, it does well in FS9 and FSX. For anyone who is looking to get into complex flying as painlessly as possible, it is hard to beat, and yet it has enough capability not to disappoint even the most seasoned jet veteran. I think people will like the FSX 441. To quote the original Cessna 441 manual: ‘the propjet that is going to change a lot of travel plans’."

DC-3/C-47 By MAAM. (August 25, 2007): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl goes back and revisits the latest version of MAAM's DC-3/C-47. "One of the most recognizable aircraft in Aviation history, has to be the Douglas DC-3. Even people who are not into Aviation seem to recognize it, or at least remember having seen this venerable and historic aircraft at some point." "The external model of the MAAM DC-3 looks good from nearly all distances, and all angles. I particularly like that extra attention to detail that was put in, without making the model so complex that it’s painful on the frame rates. All regular animations are included, and all seem quite seamless in their appearance. The regular eye candy is also there in the form of a very nicely done startup smoke effect; these radials just belch smoke out upon startup for a decent amount of time, just as in real life." "The 2D panels are all photoreal representations of the actual panels and sub-panels from their DC-3. There are 8 panels, each representing either a main panel, IFR panel, or a critical systems sub-panel in the plane. These system sub-panels range from cowl flaps, hydraulics, to electrical switches and radios. The level of detail in the VC still amazes me, especially for the seemingly non-existent hit on frame rates. You can look in every direction in the VC, and you see all of the 2D photoreal picture features represented; from the fan to the heating ducts, it’s all there." "Since MAAM owns a DC-3 from which this package is obviously based on, they recorded the real sounds from their real DC-3. The Startup sounds from the inside and out are very detailed, and seem to embody everything I’ve heard when a real radial of this type starts. Upon shutting the plane down, the life seems to drain from the engines, and all you’ll hear is a hollow, loud mechanical sound as the props and cylinders shudder to a halt." "I have flown a couple of tail draggers, and this DC-3 does seem to follow a few general realism factors regarding tail draggers. That mentioned, it’s just a joy to fly. The in-flight characteristics such as stalls, steep turns, and side-slipping are relatively well represented. Overall, I am very impressed with the performance of the MAAM DC-3, and it will be a long lasting aircraft in my hangar for that reason alone." Wrapping up this revisit of the MAAM DC-3/C-47, Chris comments, "Would I recommend the MAAM DC-3? Absolutely. This plane is a blast to fly, and if you’re into this historical period, it’s a grand slam. The sounds of this package are top competition for my favorite part of the package. It flies well and looks very good doing it, and you’re supporting MAAM in keeping these pieces of history flying."

Dornier Do-27 X By Digital Aviation. (August 16, 2007): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura updates us on Digital Aviation's Dornier Do-27 X. "As we’ll see, very little has changed in the new version for FSX. I am going to concentrate on issues that are specific to the new version of Microsoft Flight Simulator." "What new features do you get when you upgrade the Do-27? Two words: new views. The camera system in FSX is quite powerful, and the upgraded Do-27 takes full advantage of it. Outside of the aircraft there are wing views, nose views, and tail views. Inside the cockpit, there are dedicated views for the rear cabin, both front seats and all of the control panels, and specialized views for landing and taxi." "Why has this model, of a relatively obscure bush plane, attracted so much attention from flight simmers around the world? The variety of this package is engrossing. It comes with two basic models, A1 and B1, and eight different liveries. The youngest of these birds is forty years old now, so all of the liveries look weathered and well used. Unique details abound, and each livery has something distinctive in the cockpit: a pine-tree air freshener, an extra gauge, a missing gauge, a different-colored gauge, or a handwritten N-number on the instrument panel. After a month of flying, I am still noticing new things." David wraps up his review with, "To summarize: the FSX version of the Dornier Do-27 is almost exactly the same as the FS2004 version. There are a bunch of new camera views, and the propeller doesn’t look right in front of clouds. Other than that, the two versions are identical. Let there be no mistake: learning to fly the Do-27 is harder than other bush planes. You have to read the manual carefully, and you have to internalize a new set of rules -- rules which, if you break them, will have consequences. That is what makes it great."

SAAB JAS 39 Gripen By AlphaSim. (August 9, 2007): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl takes a look at a unique fighter aircraft, AlphaSim's SAAB JAS 39 "Gripen". "The Gripen was designed for a multitude of missions for the Swedish military in the 1980’s, as an alternative for the Swedish Military over the American F-16 fighter and other similar aircraft." "The 2D panel is a nicely detailed, all XML gauge setup. Three MFDs or Multi Functional Display panels, are located below the HUD. Three sub-panels are included, two of which are custom." "The Gripen VC is quite nice from my point of view. I enjoy the features Alphasim added, and don’t mind it’s simplicity. On to the MFD panels. These panels are excellent, and are fully configurable and clickable from the VC. You can set each of them to show a different information screen, and each of the screens can show any of the five available screens, in any order." "Alphasim’s exterior modeling is some of the best I’ve seen, and this model is no exception. Additionally, several load outs with external fuel tank and missiles are included, with a selection of nationality schemes to choose from. The tandem two-seater version is also included, and both models include detailed and animated pilot figures that can be removed on command." "Flying these delta wing with canard configuration aircraft in FS is quite fun, and Alphasim seems to have a knack for doing it right. Flying the Gripen may present you with a challenge, like keeping it stable and flying a smooth pattern. This is definitely an aircraft you should practice in, and master. I enjoy flying the Gripen, and I’m thinking you will, too. It was a bit of a challenge at first, but what fun would it be if it were not?" "The Alphasim Gripen performs quite nicely in every regard, except one. With the VC HUD disabled via a simple switch in the 2D or VC on the panel below the HUD, the frame rates are excellent. However, enabling the HUD does reduce the frame rates rather noticeably in all views. Other than that one small performance issue, the plane performed smoothly throughout my tests." Chris concludes his review of the SAAB JAS 39 "Gripen" with, "I greatly enjoyed the privilege of flying another of Alphasim’s masterfully crafted modern aircraft. FSX users will be happy to hear that the aircraft is fully FSX ready. Alphasim seems to improve things each time I see one of their aircraft. If you’re a SAAB fan, or just a collector of really intriguing modern fighters, get this package."

Lockheed Hudson By AlphaSim. (August 3, 2007): Staff reviewer Mike Wilson looks at another WWII bird, AlphaSim's Lockheed Hudson. "I imagine that Alphasim’s latest creation, the Lockheed Hudson wouldn’t be high on anybody’s list of classics, and that’s a shame because it’s symbolic in many different ways and actually has a number of ‘firsts’." "The Alphasim model represents two distinct aircraft types. The aircraft are: RAF Mk V – “OY-X” from 500 SQN 1942 AM667, RAF Mk V – “Z” from 48 SQN 1943 AM714, RAAF Mk VI – “FX-F” of 13 SQN, USAF A-29 – “T-226”. I really like the texturing, particularly of the RAF models which look as if they have done hard time at low level over the sea." "The 2D cockpit is useable with all the important gauges legible and tool tips for the remainder. It's as you’d expect since all of them have been developed and improved over a range of aircraft. The panel layout appears to be consistent with the real thing, that is to say, poorly laid out and inconvenient to use. Certainly there is no obvious “T” layout and this means that the plane is a bit of a bugger to fly, especially in the VC where the RMI is either out of sight behind the yoke, or obscured by the engine controls." "The Hudson was considered a "hot ship", and was not an easy aircraft to master compared to the docile Avro Anson it replaced. After a couple of goes, I was able to achieve a ‘normal’ tail dragger takeoff, but it’s distinctly tricky and not at all what I expected. The climb performance in FS9 is sprightly and matches Lockheed’s stated 2,500fpm." Mike flies the Hudson through various historic flight recreations to complete his overall assessment of the Lockheed Hudson. He concludes his findings with, "the Hudson fills a niche and aside from the flaws I mentioned, the model is nice. The outstanding paintwork is by far the best bit of the package. At the end of the day, the Hudson is sort of ‘ho-hum’ in FS9, but is a lot more challenging in FSX. I look forward to the updated version."

Piper Warrior v2.0 By Australian Simulation. (July 29, 2007): Staff reviewer David Swindle test flies Australian Simulation's Piper Warrior v2.0. "Compared to the older Warrior II, the Warrior III has essentially the same airframe and control system, but the cockpit has been substantially redesigned to give a more modern look. The Warrior III is also available with an Avidyne glass cockpit system, which gives the humble Warrior navigation capabilities exceeding those of some older airliners." "Both the Warrior II and III include unique 2D panels which look very good. On both Warriors, the background bitmaps are of a very high quality, with the Warrior II showing an excellent texturing effect that makes the ridges and bumps on the panel look almost 3D, while the III model has a much flatter, more modern looking panel. The Warrior II also shows some excellent weathering and wear effects on the 2D panel and pop-ups, making the panel look very much like it has seen the wear and tear of years of use." "Both the Warrior II and III have their own VC's, which are pretty much identical to the 2D panels in terms of layout and instruments. Even though the Warrior is a simple aircraft, the Aussim team has added an impressive number of features into the virtual cockpit. Almost every single switch, knob and lever in the VC is clickable, as well as smaller touches like the dome lights and sun visors being usable from the VC." "Although the Aussim Warrior package lacks some of the “bells and whistles” present in purpose-built FSX models, the aircraft still look extremely good. The 3D models themselves are of a high quality with all of the expected control animations included, and most of the small details (like the fuel caps and boarding step) being modeled as opposed to textured. Each version of the Warrior comes with three textures from various countries, and there are also a good number of repaints." "Since both the Warrior II and III share essentially the same airframe and powerplant (and therefore fly very similarly), both aircraft share the same flight model within FSX. Aside from being a joy to fly in both cruise and maneuvering flight, the Aussim Warrior is also very pleasant to fly in the traffic pattern. Because the Warrior is so stable and predictable, it is also a pleasure to hand fly on instrument approaches." David compares real world to sim world with this Piper Warrior, "having spent quite a bit of time in real world Warriors, I initially expected the Aussim Warrior to be a pretty mediocre addition to FSX, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself really enjoying the product. I would say that it is a great product for those who just want a simple, fun aircraft for FS9 or FSX."

Cessna Skyhawk 172R By Flight 1. (July 24, 2007): Staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes an old favourite, the Cessna Skyhawk 172R from Flight 1, out for a spin and puts it through its paces within FSX. "When you have flown this Cessna 172 in real life, then I can say “yes, it is really a suburb add-on with many details”. We know this Flight1 model already from FS9, and now it’s also available for FSX." "The 2D panel looks very clear. It comes with highly detailed instruments which are very readable for every screen resolution, even with settings of 1600x1200. When looking to it, you could think “that’s a simple main panel design” but remember, the old fashioned Cessna didn’t have anything more than those instruments. If you own two monitors, just undock the sub-panels you need and put them on the other monitor. But keep in mind, too many of those panels could slightly reduce your FPS." "When changing to the VC (Virtual Cockpit) and specially looking to the PF (Pilot Flying) side, we’re overwhelmed by the sharpness and details of this instrument panel and the installed instruments." "Before doing anything, it important to mention that we have to decide what kind of aircraft flight dynamics we want to have. Open the Configuration Manager and click either for a stable configuration or a more spinable dynamic. Once we’re finished the walk around, we jump into the aircraft. Put your belts on and take out the checklist. Either you do it via a paper version or you can call it up from the Panel Manager by clicking on the checklist icon." Angelique performs stall, spins, steep and shallow turns while testing this version of the C172, "completely exhausted from all manoeuvres, I think we can conclude that the Flight1 C172R Skyhawk dynamics are very realistic and worth the money for this model." Angelique concludes, "You get a good and very realistic model with highly detailed 2D and VC panels, including an excellent exterior model and few things like opening panels. But more important, you get sounds and flight characteristics that are very close to the real C172 Skyhawk model. Since there is no other add-on C172 to compare with, I still think this Flight1 model is worth the money."

Hurricane Fighters of WWII By Sky Unlimited. (July 21, 2007): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura contributes a third review of WWII era aircraft. This time it's Sky Unlimited's Hurricane Fighters of WWII. "In the Battle of Britain, there were three Hurricanes for every two Spitfires. They fought the Germans in northern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East; they fought the Italians in Greece; and they fought the Japanese in the Far East, over Burma, India, and Singapore. And that is just the RAF Hurricanes. Russians also flew Hurricanes against the Germans, and Finns flew Hurries against the Russians." "From the side and in the cockpit, the Hurricane looks a lot like the Spitfire, only more compact. Lots of attention has been lavished on the control surfaces, and you can look up in the wheel wells too and see the hydraulics. When you’re on the ground, you can remove the engine cowling to see the motor underneath, and there is even an animated step-ladder for the pilot. The pilot looks pretty good, too. Surface textures are detailed too. The very smallest writing, on fuselage and elevator, is not quite legible but you can certainly count the rivets if you are so inclined. These are combat planes, so they look weathered, but the colors are rich and there are many paint schemes to choose from." "The 2D cockpit is well laid out. The virtual cockpit (VC) has a lot of eye candy, including a lot of animation. What would spoil our day is fuzzy gauges, which you don’t find here. I did notice myself leaning in slightly to read the airspeed. There are pop-up windows with modern avionics, including GPS and even autopilot, so you can fly cross-country. Compared with other World War II-era fighters I have reviewed, the Hurricane cockpit is more detailed, with more moving parts, than either the Shockwave Spitfire or the Flight Replicas Me 109." "Hurricane Fighters of WWII is now compatible with FSX. The scenery hasn’t been converted, but the planes fly and there are some new views. Compared with the Spitfire and Me 109, the Hurricane is less powerful, so it’s slower in climbs and straight-away's. On the other hand, it’s less prone to stalls and spins. I don’t consider myself a crack pilot, but I’ve found that I can fly the Hurricane very aggressively, even at low altitudes." Putting Hurricane Fighters of WWII back on the ground, David says, "Hurricane Fighters of WWII sells for $26 (US). There’s little here that is not well done. In a model with lots of moving parts, you'd expect a slowdown. I didn’t experience that on my main system and on my laptop (which is several years old now) the fighter was still fun to fly."

VLJ Business Jet By Just Flight/CLS. (July 14, 2007): Staff reviewer Fred Clark flies with the rich and famous with the VLJ Business Jet from Just Flight/CLS. "The private jet, no matter how large, is the ultimate statement of wealth and/or power. The dream of owing a personal jet for your own private use became more possible than many imagined recently with the concept of the VLJ, or Very Light Jet." "I was very impressed with the external model. It is clearly based on a real world VLJ, the Eclipse 500, and I would happily say that it is a very accurate representation. As is usual with CLS products, the model comes with a number of animations to bring the aircraft to life when it is on the ground. Animations are very smooth, and the spoilers and gear retract and extend in a fluid motion. Many different paint schemes are included, whatever your taste may be, and if you don’t have a particular favorite an all-white paint kit is provided for you to create your own." "Because this aircraft is far from the size on an A380, the aircraft is extremely small inside. There is a very small amount of space between the pilot and the co-pilot and the cabin, filled with 6 seats, is not one that you can get up and walk about in. In its appearance, the VC is very clean and tidy. There are no random panels dotted about, and the ease of use is reflected completely. The central console houses trim knobs, spoilers and flaps, and the overhead panel houses the engine start switches. Everything else is on the main panel. Control comes airbus style – two side sticks for the pilot and copilot." "What makes this aircraft really fun to fly though are the PFD and the MFD. These systems, based on the FlightMax Entegra and EX5000 and including a fully integrated Garmin G500 (the default GPS) make the aircraft fun to fly for those who love pushing buttons, and for those who just want to bang open the throttles and go. Pop-up’s of the 2 main glass panel sections are available, and I used them frequently when flying. The engines are based on the same engines powering the Eclipse 500 – the Pratt and Whitney PW610F. Developing 950 lb of thrust each, they offer the aircraft the ability to fly from very short strips – 2500ft to be exact." "Although 1900lbs of thrust is not much in comparison to a Boeing 777, the thrust to weight ratio, even at MTOW, will cause you to be pinned back in your virtual seat. Once in the air, the aircraft remains as much fun to fly as it was to takeoff. Flying the aircraft will not throw you any unexpected surprises and I found myself flying this aircraft by hand quite often." Fred closes his review of this BizJet with, "CLS have done a wonderful job and despite a few things that could, and should, be added (mach indicator, clock and labeled MFD buttons) this aircraft is fantastic fun to fly. If you are a simmer who loading up the sim and likes banging the throttles open, then this aircraft will make like its flight dynamics and shoot right to the top of your favorite aircraft list."

TU-22 "Blinder" and CF-105 "Arrow" By AlphaSim. (July 8, 2007): Staff reviewer Trevor Clark takes us back to those daunting days of the Cold War with his presentation of AlphaSim's TU-22 "Blinder" and the CF-105 "Arrow". "The Tu-22 served as a supersonic bomber and ECM aircraft for many years. While the Avro Arrow is widely thought to be one of the finest projects sent to the scrap yard without a fair trial." "I was quite surprised to discover the CF-105 Arrow as a rather basic looking model; not dissimilar to the AlphaSim models of two or three years ago. A little internet investigation told me the modeling team had in fact done a pretty good job; the real aircraft is indeed a simple and rather slab sided machine. The Tu-22 is a far more imposing creature! A dull metal color, it almost looks like it has been carved from a giant solid metal ingot. The intricate contouring of the fuselage has been done very well, giving the aircraft an almost ‘prehistoric predator’ stance." "The inside of the Canadian aircraft is almost as simple as the outside! I am not sure whether this interior is anything like the original; the use of ‘stock’ period AlphaSim gauges gives it an authentic look, but I am assuming a lot of this cockpit is conjecture rather than fact. The TU-22 aircraft is far more complex inside. Infamous amongst Soviet pilots for its appallingly uncomfortable seats and difficult cockpit layout, I can now vouch for the truth of the latter at least! A quick look around the internet for internal cockpit shots confirmed the fact; the interior is as real as it looks." "The CF-105 Arrow Mk2 had a reputation of being a real ‘pilot's aircraft’. The Arrow is a high performance, delta wing aircraft with no trailing wing flaps or conventional horizontal tail plane; this alone makes it difficult to model within the simulator restrictions detailed above. Add to this large (1950s vintage) engines with slow response times and poor cockpit visibility; you are looking at a lot of trouble, particularly when landing. Few TU-22 pilots were very complementary about the Blinder; the AlphaSim team has done a superb job into making this aircraft one of the trickiest FS machines I have ever flown! Because of the design of this aircraft, longitudinal stability was always an issue and I can vouch for that in this model too! For some reason, Tupolev neglected to fit any spoilers or air brakes to the Blinder, so controlling approach speeds, angles of attack and rates of descent can cause a great amount of stress; even without any emergencies or cross-winds." Summing up these Cold War classics, Trevor concludes, "These aircraft may not be as fully detailed or functional as some high-end projects, but they do come with a very high ‘fun factor’! Obscure types like this will never be truly authentic; but within the restrictions of the simulation platforms, one can still get a flavor of flying these types of aircraft. They can even get a little addictive."

Cessna Citation X By Wilco/Feelthere. (July 4, 2007): New staff reviewer Kevin Boydston looks at a 2nd release of the Cessna Citation X by Wilco/Feelthere. "The Feelthere team decided to revisit the Citation X, and introduce their in-depth system simulations into this one of a kind Bizjet." "All the systems in the panel are modeled within the VC, including Flight Information displays throughout the cabin. Displays are very smooth and easy to read, the night lighting is also very good. All the MFD functions are modeled correctly." "Two models are offered in the menu. One is the entire simulation with no cutbacks, and the second is a ‘no candy’ model offering better performance for lower end systems. The model looks fantastic, animations are smooth and the model is detailed and proportioned correctly. The aircraft is just fantastic in the air. It’s very easy to control, and offers a realistic experience." Summing up Wilco/Feelthere's Citation X Kevin says, "All around, this is an excellent simulation of the Citation X, with enjoyable flight dynamics and a jet-setting appearance, coupled with in-depth system simulations, weather radar, and wonderful sounds."

Messerschmitt Bf 109-G By Flight Replicas/Sky Unlimited. (July 1, 2007): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura continues his look at WWII aircraft with the Messerschmitt Bf 109-G from Flight Replicas/Sky Unlimited. "This famous fighter was forever known by two names, both of them correct, and both of them in use throughout the war: Bf 109 and Me 109." David comments about the model, "I’ve been pouring over photographs and paintings of the real thing. I haven’t noticed any errors. The contours are correct, even small structures are modeled with care, and the colors are well researched. Six subtypes have been reproduced in this package, some of them in more than one version, so that there are a total of thirteen visual models, and fourteen different liveries. By design, the Me 109 had a relatively small wing, to maximize performance at high speeds. For low speeds, the 109 had slats on the wing’s leading edge that would open and shut automatically, depending on whether the wing needed more or less surface area." Inside the cockpit, "All models are flown from the virtual cockpit, of which there are two versions. What makes a good virtual cockpit? Here are some things I look for: a friendly panel layout, readability of individual gauges, and (if it’s a vintage aircraft) authenticity. This one scores well in all three categories. Pilots on both sides of the war commented on the intuitive way that gauges were arranged on the instrument panel, and Flight Replicas' has preserved that." How about in FSX? "According to the product web page, the Flight Replicas Gustav “flies nicely in FSX.” That’s a good way of putting it. Almost all of my testing was in FSX, and I never noticed any anomalies. I would not recommend this model for pilots with low-end hardware. For mid-range hardware and above, frame rates are lower than one might wish for in a fighter, but still good." A short, to the point conclusion about this rendition of the Messerschmitt Bf 109-G, "I’ve mentioned some things I would like to see fixed in an update, but what we have now is good-looking, serviceable, and authentic. I look forward to flying the next model from Flight Replicas."

AH-1W Super Cobra, CH-46 Sea Knight, Sikorsky S-55 By AlphaSim. (June 28, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis goes into the hover as he looks at 3 offerings from AlphaSim; The AH-1W Super Cobra, the CH-46 Sea Knight and the Sikorsky S-55. "If there is one constant in the universe, it is that of AlphaSim and its wide array of Flight Simulator add-ons. It doesn’t matter what you want to fly, there just seems to be an outlet there for it." "AH1-W Super Cobra - All I can say about this chopper is - Wow! If you had a chance to fly the Apache Gunship from AlphaSim, then you will more than likely want this one. Done with the same attention to detail, the Cobra is a real beauty. You will find that there is a lot of extra eye candy, such as an opening canopy, animated crew, animated TADS and chin gun." "CH-46 Sea Knight - If you have ever seen a CH-46 in flight, it is a site that you will never forget. The exterior modeling of this chopper is again on the same level as that of the Cobra, it has a very realistic look to it right down to the textures used to make the windshield. Along with a beautiful exterior model, you will find all of the added extra features; working ramp, functioning winch and cable (FS9 only), as well as highly detailed crewman. I really liked the lighting effects from both inside and outside the aircraft, especially the night lighting." "Sikorksy S-55/ Westland Whirlwind - I have got to tell you, when I first saw this helicopter I was really surprised. It just stood out as being ugly to me, but I found this particular chopper to be one of the easiest to fly. It also makes for an excellent training chopper. The AlphaSim model is totally accurate and represents an age of Choppers that helped muster in a new generation of helicopters like the Merlin or the Cobra for that matter. Climbing into the cockpit is almost a culture shock. Only one side of the cockpit has instruments and because the cockpit sits at the top of the frame, it sits high above the ground." Summing up this AlphaSim trio Gene states, "Do I like these choppers? Yes I do! If you have been looking at getting into the world of flying helicopters, I suggest you try out at least one of these, or better yet, all three. You won’t regret it!"

B17 By Shockwave Productions. (June 23, 2007): Staff reviewer Michael "DocW" Wehner reviews a WWII classic from Shockwave Productions, the B17 from their Wings of Power series. "There are only a few airplanes around with such an affectionate appeal as the B17." "Bump-mapped rivets? Paint chipping? Exhaust stains? Hatches? All sorts of small cooling rips and neat little other exhaust-like-thingies? 3D modeled valve shafts? 3D modeled ignition cables? Readable prop placards? Guns, guns, guns with textured cooling holes and ammo belts? A bombardier’s office with a Norden bombsight visible through a reflecting Plexiglas nose cone? Name it on the exterior, and Shockwave has done it when it comes to the exterior." "I know many of my AVSIM fellow simmers prefer flying in the 2D cockpit, but if you look for another argument of your transition over to VC flying and TrackIR using, the WOP B17 II VC is a most striking one: You can real ALL the placards, textures and gauges and you will hardly find a lever or knob that won’t work. The VC is a visual orgy and to the extent that FSX allows to simulate systems; the dials and levers all have functions." "I felt somewhat challenged by the “Ultimate Realism” tag. So I decided to conduct some takeoff runs measured on the numbers. But apart from the numbers, does it feel right? Yes, it feels ok. The flight model makes you feel like you're actually fly the plane. All in all, I conclude that the flight modeling is about on par with the visuals." In DocW's conclusions he says, "the plane continues Shockwave's tradition of graphically high detailed, faithfully modeled WWII aircraft. In fact, they did not just continue it; they raised the bar even a little further. With the right weather settings at an English grass field, you can achieve that “almost there ” feeling."

Spitfire Mk IA By Shockwave Productions. (June 12, 2007): Staff reviewer climbs into one of the most famous cockpits of WWII, the Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA from Shockwave Productions. "This is the aircraft that, with the Hawker Hurricane, won the Battle of Britain. Later versions of the Spitfire were faster, more agile, and better armed. But if you are trying to put yourself in the mind set of a British pilot in 1940, when the invasion of his homeland was a real possibility, then the Mk. I is your airplane." "The visual model is outstanding. While working on this review I’ve looked at a lot of photographs, and when I go back to the sim version, everything is in the right place with the right dimensions and proportion. As good as the modeling is, the surface textures are even better. The Shockwave Spitfire comes with only one livery, but that one livery is superb." "The inside looks just as good as the outside, however, the 2D cockpit is minimal. The cockpit in this aircraft is a work of art. The colors are rich, the curves are clean, and the animations are smooth. The sounds are just as rich as the visuals. The deep, reliable thrumming of the powerful Merlin engine, the protracted hiss of retracting flaps, the solid clank of landing gear locking in place, the high-pitched whirr of gyroscopes spinning up to speed, the shriek of ignition: all of them are here" "So how does it fly? I can tell you that at high speed the early Spitfires had sluggish ailerons. Shockwave read the same report because if you wind up the airspeed indicator past 350 miles per hour, the controls on this model will become unresponsive. I also know that the Merlin engine, manufactured by Rolls Royce, lost power when flying inverted. Shockwave got this one right too: roll over and the engine plays dead until you flip back." "There are several options for flightsim pilots who want to fly Spitfires. Shockwave Productions' Spitfire Mk IA does things well, with substance and style. If you are interested in comparing the Spitfire with other fighters from the same period, Shockwave also has Wings of Power II: WWII Fighters which also includes the Bf 109E, the P-47, the P-51 and the Zero."

Piper Navajo/Panther By FSD International. (June 10, 2007): Staff reviewer David Swindle returns from a hiatus and presents FSD International's Piper Navajo/Panther. "Development of the PA-31 Navajo began in the 1960's when William T Piper noticed that there was a need for a medium sized, twin engined aircraft for the corporate world, small cargo carrier and feeder airline market, and decided that Piper could produce an aircraft to fill that gap." "Although FSX has advanced virtual cockpits to the point where 2D panels are almost unneeded, FSD has included a very impressive 2D panel with the Navajo\Panther package that is actually very useful within FSX. Like other FSD panels, clicking on the primary flight instruments brings up larger versions of them. The gauges are large and sharp enough in the normal panel view that the pop-up gauges probably won't be used much, except on very small monitors. One of the biggest advantages that FSX holds over FS9, is the improvement in virtual cockpit instruments. Despite being a slightly older design, the Navajo/Panther have VC's that hold up very well even when compared to aircraft designed specifically for FSX." "“Out of the box”, the Panther and Navajo only come with one texture each, but there are quite a few available for free from the FSD website that use auto-installers and the load manager to make installation very simple. The textures cover a wide variety of paint schemes, from well worn cargo carriers to elaborate private schemes, and all are of a uniformly high quality." "If there is one area that FSD is best known for, it's their ability to create amazingly realistic flight dynamics, especially in the area of twin engine aircraft. The Navajo and Panther really show off FSD's expertise in flight modeling. On both the Navajo and Panther, take off is pretty straightforward due to counter-rotating propellers, and even though both aircraft rotate at about the same speed, the Panther is noticeably quicker to get to rotation speed thanks to the four bladed propellers. In addition to having excellent hand-flying characteristics, FSD have also done a very impressive job with the engine out handling of the Navajo and Panther." David concludes his review of FSD International's Piper Navajo/Panther with, "My opinion is that the package is indeed worth the money, with two aircraft being represented, each with their own set of superb flight dynamics. Although the Navajo and Porter don't contain all of the bells and whistles that are starting to appear in newer, purpose designed FSX aircraft, they still look extremely good, and the excellent flight dynamics, sounds, and VC more than compensate for any lack of eye candy present in the models."

Traffic PlusPak - Military 2 and Jet Airliner 1 By Just Flight. (May 21, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis makes the crowded skies even busier with Just Flight's Traffic Plus Pack - Military 2 and Jet Airliners 1. "Traffic, traffic and more traffic! When does enough become enough?" "I use Traffic 2005, now just called Traffic, with both FS9 and FSX so if you read my last review about the Military 1 package there are some steps that have to be taken to make the AI work within FSX; FS9 is straightforward and works flawlessly!" "The included military aircraft are: C17 Globemaster, VC10 Tanker, IL 76, Tornado F3/ADV, F-16, SU27, Euro fighter Typhoon, 2 versions of the C130, and the AS365 Dauphin Helicopter. This is a pretty good list as it adds the much needed transports to the virtual world of Traffic as well as throwing in some other varieties when it comes to fighters and such. All of the aircraft have some sort of 3D animation. I was also impressed that the fighters no longer fly alone; they fly in formation with other fighters." "The included Jet Airliners are: Boeing 737-500, 737-600 & -700 NG and the -700 with winglets, 757-300, 777-300, 727-100, 747 SP, EMB 170/5, Tri-Star 500 and finally the MD-90. Along with liveries for already existing airlines, this package ships with 25 new airlines from all over the world. This gives the user a grand total of about 100 different aircraft to use for your AI fleet." "The planes in these packages were created using GMAX, which ultimately gives the end user a frame rate friendly and moderately detailed aircraft to view. The aircraft themselves are not on the same level of quality as say a flyable commercial product, but they do perform well and do fit the bill when it comes to filling the virtual skies with AI planes. One could only imagine the performance hit we would have if we had our virtual skies filled with highly detailed AI aircraft." "Do I like Just Flight's Traffic Plus Pack - Military 2 and Jet Airliners 1? Yes, they offer a lot to an already well rounded AI add-on. Whether you choose to use Traffic, or use something other than Traffic, these aircraft are very easy to implement in whatever kind of setup you are using. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to add more AI to your Flight Simulator world, this is an easy way to go about it. These two add-ons, coupled with the Traffic compiler, makes it very simple."

Airbus Volume 1 By Wilco/FeelThere. (May 11, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Paul Middleton takes Wilco/FeelThere's Airbus Volume 1 for a test fly. "From the outside, the aircraft looks good. For the amount of time that most people will spend on the outside looking in, it's a very convincing representation of that Airbus characteristic shape, with good detail and the right amount of reflection. Without being excessive, all the necessary animations are there, from reverse thrust on the engine to all the passenger doors opening. There is a number of liveries available at the Wilco site, and currently 74 more in the AVSIM library." "The 2D panel manages to fit the most important instruments and controls on the main panel. The overall appearance of the panel is both realistic and usable, so on a screen with a decent resolution there should be no problems in reading captions and finding what you are looking for. The VC is very good to sit in, it's a realistic representation and very readable. However it doesn't work as well as the 2D panel and if, like me, you like to spend all your time in the VC, you're going to need to flip back to the 2D to do certain things." "Cleared for takeoff, we push the throttles forward, hearing the "click" as they go through the detentes, until we have takeoff thrust set. Feelthere have developed an excellent version of "Fly-by-wire", something not easy to do in an MSFS built around direct connections between pilot controls and flying surfaces. So in the climb, we use our joystick to move the little dot on the screen to where the Flight Director is indicating. No trimming, no maintaining the pressure on the controls to hold the bank angle, it just sticks more or less where you point it." Summarizing the Wilco/Feelthere Arbus Volume 1 release, Paul says, "The Airbus is a very different aircraft in its avionics, throttle system and particularly "fly-by-wire", so it was a challenging task to build, and this is an extremely convincing simulation that they have produced. It is certainly flyable, and enjoyable, and I've already spent many happy hours in it. However, it may not be a sufficiently complete product to tempt across pilots flying some of the excellent Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft out there."

BeaverX By Aerosoft. (May 7, 2007): Staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk takes a venerable old bird out for a spin in FS-X, Aerosoft's DHC-2 Beaver. "The DHC-2 Beaver was the first bush plane to come out of the deHavilland (Canada) factory, following on the success of the DHC-1 Chipmunk, a post-war pilot training aircraft. A bush plane is intended to operate in remote locations, such as the African savannah, the Australian outback, and of course, northern Canada and Alaska. Aerosoft proudly displays the slogan "Half A Ton, Anytime, Anywhere" on the front page of the Beaver manual." "Overall, though, the BeaverX experience is positive. The deHavilland Beaver is renowned for its rugged simplicity in terms of flight and maintenance, and this FSX version copies that design faithfully. Aerosoft's BeaverX 2.30 comes with an incredible 47 different airframes from which to choose. Basic characteristics of the real-world deHavilland Beaver hold true for the BeaverX." "The Aerosoft BeaverX comes with basically one cockpit, and it has many features that you would not find in a DHC-2 fresh from the deHavilland factory. Given that real-world DHC-2 Beavers tend to be heavily modernized and modified, the BeaverX represents the type of plane you would find in today's air and marine ports. It does not replicate any one particular Beaver model, but rather represents a range of the better options you could reasonably afford if you were a bush pilot." "Warts and all, Aerosoft does an excellent job of the visual models for the BeaverX. Every rivet is lovingly bump-mapped into a realistic, shiny fuselage. The BeaverX takes good advantage of the visual advancements that FSX has to offer: 3DsMax modeling, self-shadowing, reflective paint, and bump-mapped textures. Animations in BeaverX display some high quality in their design. The deHavilland Beaver is intended to be a solid, simple aircraft to fly, so there aren't many complicated pieces that move around a lot." "With its single radial engine as a power plant, the deHavilland Beaver trades off technical finesse for simple brute force. Even from the ground, it is a distinctively noisy aircraft. It makes sense that the Aerosoft BeaverX should come equipped with a thunderous sound set. An interesting feature that comes with the BeaverX is a new interactive audio checklist. It comes in the form of a note taped to the edge of the dashboard. If you want a reminder of a phase of your checklist, you click on that item on the note paper, and a voice will read out your checklist items." Jeff sums up his flights in Aerosoft's BeaverX with, "Flying the BeaverX is fun, simple, and above all, loud. The visual models are excellent, and take full advantage of the graphical advancements available in FSX. The BeaverX, I think, represents an excellent effort to re-create the classic style of adventure one finds when flying in a real DHC-2 Beaver."

Fly The Maddog 2006 By Leonardo. (April 25, 2007): Staff reviewer David Rogers revisits the MD-80 with "Fly The Maddog - 2006". "Few aircraft attract as much of an individual following and fan base in the FS and real aviation worlds, as the McDonnell Douglas MD-80. Whether in its original 1979 “MD-81” form or a later variant, whether under the original MD banner or under Boeing’s wing, this is an aircraft with few peers." "So what do you get for your pennies? Well, you obviously get the aircraft, you also get a user manual, and Flight Operations Manual, Landing Speed Charts, a Control Manager utility, and a Set-up Manager. In this respect you get a good package for your money. Now, I must say up front that what you don’t get, is a Virtual Cockpit." "On first seeing the Maddog 2006 exterior model I was immediately impressed by the quality of the textures and features. This is the most stunning MD80 visual model I have seen to date and in my opinion, slightly surpasses the Flight 1 offering. On first sight of the 2D panel, my impressions were that the textures were perhaps not as sharp as those featured in the Maddog 2004 panel. I also felt they were slightly behind those of the panel in the Flight 1 product too. However, to dismiss this as a poor panel would be hugely unjust- there are a lot of positives." "An excellent tutorial is included with the Maddog 2006 package, however, this review is based on a flight other than the included tutorial flight. The set-up utility allows 3 options for the starting state of your MD-82 flight – Dark & Cold, Ready to Start, and previous. Let me say absolutely up front that Maddog 2006 has the best flight dynamics I have come across in any FS add-on. In hand flying, aileron, elevator and rudder movements feel perfect and well balanced and reinforce the feeling of flying a ‘heavy’ piece of metal. The way the plane responds to changes in slat and flap movements is also stunningly realistic. Throughout all phases of flight, I observed excellent and realistic behaviours of the aircraft, whether using vertical speed mode, speed based climbing and descent modes, Altitude capture, Heading select, Nav Track arming and capturing, and of course Localizer and glideslope capture and progression." "It is not possible to cover every angle of a package as complex as this one, especially in a review that needs to appeal to all simmers. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my 13 hours of flight testing with the MADDOG 2006. This is a highly complex simulation. It is designed to offer a high level of realism in the simulation of this popular and somewhat enigmatic aircraft. If, like me, you love complex airliner simulations, then I would highly recommend MADDOG 2006."

Seneca V By FSD International. (April 14, 2007): Staff reviewer Adam Volcek takes FSD International's Seneca V out for a trial flight. "The Seneca V has been Piper’s personal/business twin for a decade now. It is now one of the few production light twins available and the only US production aircraft with counter-rotating propellers." "The external model is immaculate, with finely detailed parts and a plethora of animated ones. The cockpit and cabin are superbly done and the detail on the outside is mirrored on the inside. There was no holding back and the extreme detail in things such as hinges and latches, which actually move when the doors are opened, proves that a lot of time was spent on the model." "There are two options for the panel. First is with the old standard steam type instruments, and the second is the new glass cockpit version equipped with the Avidyne Entegra Flight Deck. Both panels are an excellent representation of its real world counterpart. Even the color of the panel has been recreated. The placement of the instruments has been done nearly identical to where it is located on the real airplane." "Working at an airport, I have heard several Seneca’s and the sounds included by FSD have a familiar tone to them. While most of those that I have heard have been older models, it doesn’t matter much since all Seneca’s are essentially the same. The sounds are very representative and give an excellent feel for the light twin." Summing up his review of FSD International's Seneca V, Adam closes with, "Overall, I found the Piper Seneca V v2 by FSD International a very pleasing experience. The airplane is an awesome light twin with decent performance and good handling, and the panel made flying a pleasure in both VMC and IMC. If light twins are your cup of tea, it’s well worth the money."

T-37 "Tweet" By Microsimulations. (April 13, 2007): New staff reviewer Michael "DocW" Wehner submits his first review with a look at Microsimulator's T37 "Tweet". "The Cessna T37 is a basic tandem USAF trainer that entered service in 1956 with the T37-A model. Microsim’s T37 features the “T” (training) variants 37A and the 37C." "The aircraft comes with 11 liveries. All textures are photorealistic with readable decals. Some are highly reflective with impressive effects. The 3D model is up to date and features rotating fan blades and moving trim tabs. The gear has hoses and the gear wells are textured inside. The underside of the speed brake is also textured. The overall appearance is pleasant and will almost certainly draw some muttered “wow” comments from the user." "Every switch is clickable in the 2D cockpit and in the 3D cockpit as well. Working switch caps are modeled. All levers and instruments are 3D. All of the instrument's textures are crisp and highly readable. The panels and levers are appropriately weathered and add a lot to the immersion of sitting in a heavily used air force trainer. The 2D panel has a sound 3D appearance. As you can guess by the described quality of the VC, it fell short of nothing. The model installs with 79 sound files. The T37 had a deafening, annoying high-pitch engine noise which gave her the nickname “Tweety bird”." "The plane feels exactly like an agile little jet trainer with muscle powered flight controls and comparatively weak turbines. Once everything has spooled up, it’s a joy to fly. Flying approaches by the book is very satisfying with this plane, especially at night." Wrapping up this review of Micrsimulations' T37, Michael concludes, "Microsim’s T37 appears to be quite a unique blend between shear, glowing enthusiasm and professionalism. It has an outstanding manual and a very detailed plane with a high immersion factor. I am quite sure I will be flying it for some time in the future."

MD-11 By Sky Simulations. (April 12, 2007): Staff reviewer Robert Mariani fly an old favourite with Sky Simulations' MD-11. "Sky Simulations is a new company on the Flight Sim developers scene, yet the people behind it have been around for a while. They have produced the Boeing 717, as well as a freeware Boeing 727 and were part of the Vans Air Co. which made the MD-80 series of payware aircraft a while back." Inside, "The overhead and the interior of the VC are modeled very nicely and if you like to press the buttons and pull the switches, as well as to look at various messages that are subsequently displayed on the EICAS, you are in for a treat. Lots of things happen automatically though, so for those of you who are less technically inclined, the venerable Ctrl-E still functions well. The 2D panel is done nicely and includes several sub-panels such as throttles, full overhead, primary instruments zoom panel, and several other pop-ups. The other interesting implementation is the Primary Flight Display with very smooth movement of the artificial horizon and speed and altitude tapes." On the outside, "In this area this plane shines in all of its glory. Everything that should move or twist does so very nicely, and the service vehicle animations are smooth and very well done. The trucks and loaders don’t just appear from nowhere. Rather, they drive up from the side or behind the airplane." And for the sounds, "In addition to the engine sounds, you’ll hear the whole GPWS, whoop-whoop alarms and bells, together with that stern mechanical female voice that warns you about the take off configuration and other no-no ’s." Summing up Sky Simulations' MD-11 Robert says, "This MD-11 is a wonderful looking aircraft, with lots of potential to be an overall excellent add-on. However, the plane still lacks the essential tutorial on flight operations, adequate flight model, and a better FMC to justify its premium price. Hopefully, this MD-11 will continue to mature as well as its counterpart in the real world, and offer the simulation fans more improvements and lots of reliable and enjoying flights in the future."

Fly the A380 V2 By Abacus. (April 7, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Brian Fletcher takes Abacus' version of the A380 for a test flight. "This package includes four models of the Airbus A380, a host of liveries, and an enhanced version of the Toulouse Blagnac International Airport, compatible with FS9 and FSX." "The designer modeled this version of the A380 in four different models, the 700, 800, 800F (8F) and 900, three of which share the same liveries. The exterior modeling is marginally satisfactory by my standards, but lacks the in-depth detail that I was hoping for. The texturing, with the exception of the windows, looks decent to me, although a few of the liveries could have shown more indication of normal wear. If you’re into eye candy, then you may be pleased to know that the exterior model includes a variety of ground equipment that can be seen when activated via the “stairs” button on a sub panel or by use of the wing fold key command." On the flight deck Brian remarks, "The panel included in this package is rather noncomplex with not a whole lot in the way of user interaction. It consists primarily of a PFD, MFD, ND, EICAS, and an autopilot panel. All of the instrumentation, including the autopilot panel, is mostly clear and legible even if zoomed out a bit, and every switch, toggle, etc. is spaced from one another with plenty of room to negotiate the panel. The rest of the flight deck is wide open with little in the way of animation or excessive detailing. There are four sub panels included in this package, one of which is the default Garmin 500 GPS, as well as an electrical/overhead panel, a throttle quadrant/radio stack, and an FMC, which is also available on the panel (display window only) and on both sides of the virtual cockpit." "The airfile is big, and it acts like it…most of the time. This rendition of the A380 is just about as sluggish as I would expect such a massive aircraft to be. While inflight, I got exactly what I expected out of this aircraft. It is indeed a sluggish, slow to respond behemoth, which reflects its size and control surface area well." Brian concludes his test flight of the Abacus A380 with, "While there are aspects about this package that I like, all in all, it is not my cup of tea and I doubt that the discriminating simmers will feel any different. The exterior model is actually fairly decent in my view, but the panel and virtual cockpit don’t seem to raise the bar set by the FS9 default aircraft. One thing I am almost certain of is that those of you addicted to the premium quality aircraft will understand very quickly why I lack any enthusiasm for this package. I am well aware that this particular package is directed more to those who are looking for a good cost-value, but I would advise you to shop around before diving into this offering."

AH-64A Apache By AlphaSim. (April 6, 2007): Staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura flies low-level in AlphaSim's AH-64A Apache attack helicopter. "In addition to being well armed, the Apache attack helicopter is one of the fastest, most agile helicopters anyone can fly." "The visual modeling is first-rate and, in the FSX version, takes advantage of several new features. The contours are exact, the textures are sharp, and the animation is smooth. Crew doors open and, of course, you can see the rotors spin. But the best animations are the crew. This seems to be an AlphaSim specialty." "The panel textures in the 2D cockpit are all sharp as a tack. There are pop-up panels for GPS and tuning the radios, but nothing exotic. (This is the A-model Apache) In their heart of hearts, helicopters want to be flown from the virtual cockpit (VC), preferably with TrackIR. The VC in this helicopter looks great, but doesn’t have a lot of clickable switches. The big news is: this helicopter has two virtual cockpits, one for the pilot and one for the gunner." "When a model has as much detail as this one, you worry about low frame rates. In this case, there’s no cause for anxiety. From what other users have reported, frame rates. in this aircraft are not an issue. This was my experience as well -- and I did most of my flying in FSX. Unlike every other helicopter that I have flown in Flight Simulator, the Apache does not mind sudden movements. If you get up enough speed -- and the Apache is meant to go fast -- you can do rolls and even loops. In flight, the Apache handles like a sports car." Putting AlphaSim's AH-64A Apache back on the ground, David closes with, "The visuals are outstanding, frame rates. are high, and you can fly from both cockpits although the sound package is minimal. But for seat-of-the-pants, turn-and-burn, light-the-fires-and-kick-the-tires helo action, the Apache is very satisfying."

T-6 Texan/Harvard By AlphaSim. (April 4, 2007): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl takes up for a training flight that is familiar to many vets in AlphaSim's T6 Texan/Harvard. "Many of the greatest pilots of America during the war learned to do advanced flying in a Texan. In addition, many British pilots would learn the same flying skills in what would become the Harvard." "The aircraft portions, fuselage, empennage, and wings all look remarkably accurate. Alphasim’s lines and modeling do this plane justice and simply doesn’t fall short in the fine detail department. The R-1340 Wasp Radial engine is, as usual, my favorite part on any aircraft equipped with a radial. It’s modeling needs to be done well to make a complex yet simple engine believable. This radial engine modeling is beautifully done with enough detail to satisfy most, while still maintaining a simplicity of modeling to avoid harming frame rates. The Fuselage also captures very effectively, both from profile and other angles, that trademark appearance of the Texan. From a large, though still well proportioned forward area and engine cowling; through to the canopy section which seems to sit very high up from the wing; to the tail section which is very sleek and terminates at that Triangle Tail that you can’t miss." "All crucial gauges in the 2D cockpit for VFR flying are present and very easily read, including a few switches. Several sub-panels, which match their VC counterparts, are also included. The VC does not disappoint. You can easily ‘grab’ all engine management controls, ‘flip’ any of the several switches, and even open the front canopy via a click spot on the handle. You won’t even need to switch to a sub-panel, because everything needed is clickable. If you’re into Trainers, which I most certainly am, you’ll appreciate the realism of dual cockpits. Yes, Alphasim has decided to include a fully functional rear cockpit, and I mean everything back there is functional." "The Texan was an Advanced Fighter Trainer. It doesn’t go the 400 MPH that a P-51 or Corsair can do, but this is what got a pilot ready for that. She can easily streak across the skies at almost 200 MPH, and up to 250 MPH in a dive. Having a tough and heavy airframe, the Texan is also capable of pulling G’s. Landing this plane is easily accomplished with little practice, once you have a feel for setting the approach up." Wrapping up this training adventure in the T-6 Texan, Chris comments, "I have thoroughly enjoyed flying Alphasim’s top-notch rendition of the Texan. I believe this package is very well rounded, incorporating good things on every level. A very sharp model and virtual cockpit that have no noticeable effect on frame rates; and a very well done flight model that is challenging though very rewarding as well as a sound package that you will enjoy from startup to shutdown. I would easily recommend this package to anyone who enjoys World War II era tail draggers."

Tu160 Blackjack By AlphaSim. (March 28, 2007): Sr staff reviewer Gene Davis goes supersonic with the TU160 "Blackjack" from AlphaSim. "The Tu-160 Blackjack from Alphasim is a monster and one can’t help but draw comparisons to that of the B-1B Lancer, in fact, if you put the two aircraft side by side their resemblance is almost uncanny." "When you get into the plane in either FSX or FS9, you will be a pleasantly surprised at the attention to detail that the developers chose to adhere to when creating this plane. From the engines to the cockpit there is so much to see and the detail is very evident. Once installed you will find three different planes added to your virtual hanger, one being the prototype, another being a real life Russian military paint and the third being a fictional paint that is all in black." "Climbing into the cockpit of the Tu-160 is a relative culture shock and requires a general understanding of the Russian language as everything is in Russian. This is not really a big issue if you know your way around a cockpit and this not being a complex simulation of the real thing helps immensely. The main 2D panel and its subsequent secondary panels are where you will spend a great deal of time while flying this plane. The virtual cockpit is impressive as all of the gauges have been totally reworked and give off a very authentic flare. Though many of the systems are not accessible from the VC, the critical ones are and it is possible to fly from the virtual view." "This product comes with both versions for whatever version of Flight Simulator you wish to use. Performance wise the plane was great; I experienced decent frame rates and absolutely no blurry textures during my flight in FSX. In FS9 everything works fine, however with limitations of FS9 and the speed of this aircraft, you tend to notice more scenery blurriness when at the higher speeds and altitudes. The sound is incredible and really adds to the look and feel of this massive plane." Bringing the Tu160 Blackjack back down to earth, Gene closes with, "I really enjoyed this plane as it adds something to FSX for me besides General Aviation aircraft. The TU160, did not disappoint. This plane has been totally reworked and upgraded to look and perform the part in FSX and even looks better in FS9."

Civil Air Patrol: Search and Rescue By Abacus. (March 26, 2007): New staff reviewer Adam Volcek answers the call of an ELT and takes us for a ride with Abacus' Civil Air Patrol: Search and Rescue. "Abacus has created Civil Air Patrol: Search and Rescue. It is an offshoot of CAP: Pilot released a while back. Civil Air Patrol: Search and Rescue takes the old CAP: Pilot and builds upon it a bit, creating two new aircraft and expanding upon the mission capability." "The visual model of the Cessna C182T overall isn’t too bad, but it does have some quirks. Some attention was given to detail and many of the antennae and other various protrusions found on the C182T are modeled and look good. As a whole the textures aren’t too bad. Each aircraft comes in two different flavors of CAP paint, one old style that you probably won’t see in very many places, and the new current style that will really catch your eye if you ever see one on your ramp. Each style is done nicely and includes some good detail like the many rivet lines and inspection plates that are found on the real bird. The main panel bitmap has a crude, untextured look to it, with a lot of empty space that could have been better utilized. To get at the rest of the instruments, multiple panels can be brought up with the use of mini-icons. In order to fully enjoy the aircraft you’ll have to fly it in the virtual cockpit that is done a lot better than it’s 2D counterpart." "The Maule aircraft is famous for it’s STOL capability and the CAP currently has 7 in its inventory. I became very confused as to exactly what aircraft Abacus was trying to simulate. As it stands there is not an MX-260, as Abacus advertises as the model made by Maule, but there is a 260HP version but goes under one of three types. A M-7-260 and M-7-260C, both tail-draggers with the difference being spring aluminum or oleo strut gear, or the tricycle MT-7-260. Looking at the textures, like the model comparison of the C182T and MX-260, the MX-260’s textures are lacking the detail that I observed with the C182T. Unlike the Cessna, the Maule 2D panel is actually flyable for me. It is still far from what I expect from something that I pay for, but after the Cessna panel, you really can only get better." "If this package has a bright spot, it is with the mission builder and four custom gauges included in the aircraft. One quick disclaimer, which Abacus explains as well, the mission builder does not create missions for use with the built-in mission capability of FSX. It is a WYSIWYG editor that I found to be very intuitive. When you finish up creating the mission you have options to view and print a summary and worksheet to take with you in the simulator, save the flight plan for use with the included GPS and set the conditions for completing the mission. Click the “Fly Now!” button and off you go to find what you just created." Wrapping up Civil Air Patrol: Search and Rescue, Adam notes, "The only thing that really caused a hit on frame rates was the use of the G1000 Cessna 182T, of which numbers were cut in half. Everything else was right near default aircraft rates, but considering the lack of detail and extensive use of default material this wasn’t a surprise at all. The nicest thing I can seem to say about this product is that it has potential. Fix the small things with the mission editor, renovate the aircraft, and you would have a completely different package that would be worthy of purchase. It wouldn’t hurt to try and integrate the FSX style missions into the product as well."

Diamond Katana By Aerosoft. (March 17, 2007): Staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura takes us for a ride in the updated version of the Diamond Katana from Aerosoft and developed by Digital Aviation. "Small with big views, skinny with long wings, runs on unleaded gasoline, made in Canada: that’s the Diamond Aviation 20, Katana to its friends. The Katana is a trainer, not a commuter. In this role, its main competitor is the Cessna 150 and 152. Both aircraft are slow, both are small, and both are forgiving of student errors. But while the 152 looks, from the outside at least, like it could have been built any time in the last sixty years, the Katana looks new, even futuristic." "When the FS9 version came out, almost three years ago, what grabbed most people’s attention was the detailed virtual cockpit. There aren’t a lot of gauges in the real plane, but the ones here are all big and clear. The various surfaces are rendered crisply as well. On a more practical level, the VC also features a number of conveniently placed hot-spots. When clicked, these hot-spots will bring up additional screens and panels." "The Katana has very distinctive curves, especially in the fuselage. Even though it doesn’t handle like a sports car (you wouldn’t want that in a trainer anyway), it looks like one. There aren’t a lot of items projecting from the real Katana’s surface, so the modeler’s main challenge is to get the curves right and make them look smooth. If he succeeds, you won’t notice; it’s only when the curves look stiff that you even remember there is a modeler, at which point he has failed. This model succeeds." "More detail usually means lower frame rates. So, what if any impact do all these nice touches have on performance? My experience was positive; frame rates were not an issue and I was using the high-resolution canopy texture. If you already own the FS9 version, the update to FSX will cost 8 euros, but there is only new feature that I know of: taking advantage of the new camera system, you can now cycle through four views in the virtual cockpit, and four views outside the plane. This is genuinely useful, not only for making screenshots, but also for interacting with the instrument panel. The Katana was a very good aircraft for FS9, and it is still a good aircraft in FSX." David notes, "If you’re training with the Diamond Katana in real life, this is probably a small investment (even if your real-life Katana has a different engine). And if you’re not actively engaged in flight training? It looks sporty, it’s easy to manage, and the bubble canopy makes it excellent for sightseeing."

F11F-1 Tiger By AlphaSim. (March 13, 2007): Staff reviewer Trevor Clark takes us back to the hectic days of fighter development with AlphaSim's F11F-1 Tiger. "The F11F Tiger entered service with the US Navy in 1956 and less than 4 short years later was relegated to training duties, thanks (in part) to the speed of aircraft development in the late 1950s." "Many artists will tell you it helps to have an attractive model when creating a portrait; the same rule can apply in computer 3D modeling and the designers at AlphaSim have used this to their advantage. In real life, the Tiger was a classic beauty; simple lines and sweeping curves, this model captures this elegance perfectly. The aircraft comes with three default paint schemes, the Blue Angels aircraft #6 in clean configuration; an operational fighter armed with 4 sidewinders and an auxiliary fuel tank equipped aircraft which comes with its own (less agile) flight model." "On entering the cockpit, one first notices the wonderful reflections on the instrument faces, these look very realistic indeed. All the normal advanced cockpit animations (including moving levers and switches) are present, enabling the aircraft to be flown entirely from the virtual cockpit. After spending a few hours in the virtual cockpit, I can easily see why this aircraft served the Blue Angels so well and for so long. If you enjoy performance aircraft of this period (like the F100 or Hawker Hunter), you will love flying the Tiger." Wrapping up the review of AlphaSim's F11F Tiger, Trevor notes, "Over the past few years I have bought a lot of AlphaSim products; they have always given me enjoyment. With the recent improvement in modeling apparent in the Tiger, I find myself keeping a very close lookout for AlphaSim's regular releases. This is not the perfect aircraft for everyone that flies in MSFS, but if you love the Grumman Tiger or aircraft from this era, I suggest you pop over and visit AlphaSim."

Yak-40 By Suprunov Design. (March 6, 2007): New staff reviewer Viktor Lakatos takes to the sky with some Russian steel, Suprunov Design's Yak-40. "The first regional jet of the world – 30 years prior to the popular Embraer jets and others – has a unique feature: she is the only tri-jet with middle engine thrust reverse to be able to land even on extremely short runways." "Inside the 2D cockpit we can see a very nice layout with classic ‘steam’ gauges. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful 2D cockpits ever made. Well detailed and requires real pilot skills to be familiar and control all the gauges. The gauges, switches, texts and warning lights have sharp edges and are clearly visible. The VC is a nice point of view, if somebody likes flying in this view, you will find all the needed functions to operate the Yak-40. The Deck Navigator subpanel can be used to jump to different crew stations. This subpanel offers easy access to all panels with a simple mouse click and choosing between Russian or International indications. So, don't worry about Russian characters. It is an awesome feature that the entire cockpit is made in these two variants to help both English and Russian speaking pilots." "The external model is the exact replica of the Yak-40 classic passenger version with 4400kgs fuel tanks. It is as well designed as any other part of the product with lots of moving parts. Engine blades rotate and the unique middle-engine reverser can be observed. The massive landing gear (useful at landing on ‘ad-hoc’ runways) is simple, they look like they do in real life and the flexing wings look great." "No doubt, Suprunov Design team has the know how to simulate this aircraft to touch the reality. Flying their product is as easy as in real life. It is a challenge and you might sweat at first, but you will enjoy all the success you get, step by step. When you are airborne, you should pay attention to keeping all flight data within the acceptable limits. You can exceed the recommended speed and any other important factors, but do not be surprised when the aircraft begins shaking and you need to use your muscles to keep the aircraft under control." Viktor wraps up his first review, the Yak-40, with, "Suprunov Design is working continuously on product updates. Many minor bugs are being fixed and improved. The Yak-40 is the result of an intensive two-year development. Five real Yak-40 type rated pilots assisted to achieve this very high level of simulation. If somebody tries out this add-on as being experienced in present Western technologies, this simulation will change his thoughts about aviation and the pilot job. Overall, a wonderful combination of functionality and visuality."

Traffic PlusPak - Military 1 and Commuter 1 By Just Flight. (February 21, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis flies the crowded AI skies while looking at 2 new releases from Just Flight, their Traffic PlusPak Commuter Aircraft 1 and Military Aircraft 1. "With the advent and release of FSX, we have seen a lot of add-on titles get re-released with the FSX logo on them. With this release, Justflight has chosen to rename their AI package to just Traffic, rather than Traffic 2005." "Prior to the release of the Military 1 package, I was able to find freeware AI, but I was limited to the region it was designed for. The Military Aircraft package comes with 10 new military aircraft all with different variations and they represent whatever country's flag they are flying for. Just Flight has also included military variations for existing aircraft that came with Traffic 2005." "After spending a great deal of time with Traffic 2005, I noticed that there weren’t really a lot of commuter type aircraft in the core program. So, this is where this little add-on comes in handy as it offers up a nice selection of new aircraft to add to your AI lineup. Along with the 10 extra aircraft you will also get liveries for over 49 different airlines with a combined total of more than 100 aircraft." "Both aircraft packages were created using GMAX, thus giving the user frame rate friendly aircraft. You will also notice that the designers went out of their way to produce real world liveries from different parts of the world. Included with both packages are updated airport config files that offer much more coverage than that of the original Traffic core product." "Wrapping up Commuter Aircraft 1 and Military Aircraft 1, Gene concludes, "Military Aircraft 1 and Commuter Aircraft 1 are very nice add-ons and offer a lot to the AI world of both simulations. I have to say that I personally like what Justflight has done and will probably keep this as my AI package of choice."

Fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner By Abacus. (February 12, 2007): New staff reviewer Robert Mariani explores a "paper airplane", in that it hasn't been flown in real life yet. Boeing's 787 as presented by Abacus. "2007 looks promising for Boeing as the next generation of twin aisle, twin-engine airplanes is about to take to the skies." "The exterior of the plane is modeled based on the drawings, since the real plane is still some time from being “glued” together. If one compares the artist’s renderings of the Boeing from their official web site, to what you get in the flight sim, the exterior model is spot on. All surfaces are nicely textured, and while the windows did seem a bit large at first, the real Boeing will have the largest windows of any airliner in production today. In addition, the flaps, ailerons, stabilizers, gear and doors all open or move as you would expect, but the spoilers seemed to move quite abruptly when deployed. On the inside, ABACUS' model comes with everything you would expect from an FS airplane today. There is a 2D cockpit, Virtual Cockpit, and passenger cabin." "The 2D panel looks a bit different in the two versions. In FS2004, the gauges are big yet they belong to the FS2002 era if not older. Hardly a way to treat a brand new plane. In the FSX version things are different, but not necessarily better, although again the panel is not FPS hungry. The MFD and ND are borrowed from the 737 and the EICAS comes straight from the CRJ. In the FS2004 VC, the HUD frame is there but there is no display on it. All buttons are clickable and adjustable, although the overhead needs a better 3D appearance for lights switches." "I found out that if you load the 787 to its Max.-Take-Off-Weight, it will take some time to get up to speed. You can forget about those 5000+ fpm climbs we sometimes saw in 737’s. Designers at ABACUS could only guess here and I found that the performance is different from the default airplanes and requires some planning. The wing also created extra lift on approach, which caused me to float, and float, and float…but that is what the wing is supposed to do. If they just gave the virtual pilots some numbers to fly by, this flight model could just turn out OK – otherwise it's a guessing game." Concluding this review of the 787 Dreamliner, Robert says, "Some of us like complex airliner add-ons that are as close to the real thing so that even a certified pilot has to use the manual to start it up, let alone fly it by the numbers. Some of us prefer to just go flying and find joy in other aspects of this great hobby. And for some of us, it just depends on the day of the week and the mood we are in. If you are looking for a nice visual model, and don’t mind changing or customizing the panel gauges, this could be your ticket. To the contrary, if you are looking for a detailed FMC, panels integration and systems simulation, you better save your cookie money, add it to the price of this plane, and purchase something more to your liking in future."

Tiger Moth By Just Flight & Aeroplane Heaven. (January 27, 2007): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis takes us back to the days of wooden planes and cloth wings with his look at the Tiger Moth from Just Flight and Aeroplane Heaven. Powered by a single de Havilland Gipsy Major I with an inverted 4 cylinder 130hp inline engine, the Tiger Moth was considered fast for its time with a maximum speed of 109 mph and a maximum range of 302 miles. "Once the installation process is complete, you will find an array of Moths in your hanger. They include the D.H. 82A Trainer (4 Liveries), D.H. 82A Civilian (4 liveries), and the D.H. 82C Canadian (1 Livery). Internally and externally this is a very nice plane and resembles that of its real world counterpart. Along with all of the traditional slew of moving parts, you will also notice that many of the control features of this aircraft have been modeled. For example, if you move the flight stick you can watch the control wires move underneath the cockpit. Flying the aircraft is a relative treat. The plane seems to just want to fly and is very manageable, and after putting the plane into a couple maneuvers I was hooked!" "The add-on ships with both a 2D cockpit and a virtual cockpit, but in my opinion there is absolutely no need for a 2D cockpit with this product. It is meant to be flown from the virtual cockpit and I wouldn’t want it any other way! Gauge layout in a Moth is rather simplistic compared to aircraft of this day and age, and Aeroplane Heaven delivers on an authentic cockpit from that time period and is one of the most convincing I have seen to date, especially the gauge sets. What you need to understand about the Moth is that it is a VFR aircraft, there is no real instrumentation except for a total of 10 instruments that adorn the cockpit." Wrapping up the Tiger Moth review, Gene remarks, "This product is a true honor to the men who flew these planes and also to the ones who designed them so long ago. It is only fitting that we, as armchair pilots, hop into our plush seats and experience something as wonderful as this, the flight of the Tiger Moth! Do I like this add-on? Yes, it is a masterful piece of work and it is ideal for FS9 and will be really good in FSX if they can patch it to work better."

P-38 Lightning By SkyUnlimited. (January 12, 2007): Another classic warbird reviewed. This time it's the P-38 Lightning from SkyUnlimited as presented by contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl. "Say P-38 to any WWII or big aircraft fan, and they immediately picture this odd, though very beautiful, plane." "The modeling done on this P-38 is some very decent work. Four different P-38 models are included in the ‘Late’ P-38’s Volume I and they are the P-38J, P-38K, P-38L, and the F-5 photo recon aircraft. The main detail I noticed was, all of the smooth curves and edges on the real P-38s are modeled very faithfully on this craft. Looking at the intercooler bulges on the sides of the booms/nacelles, it just looks dead-on accurate to the real thing." "The 2D panel in the P-38 package is relatively functional more than anything, still possessing a quality of making you feel as if you are in the real deal. All regular and required gauges are present, most being default or common gauges. The sub-panels included are simplified or default panels for radios, autopilot, and engine controls. The virtual cockpit incorporates most everything you’ll need for a wide range of different flight types, and just about everything is clickable. The virtual cockpits are nearly identical for all P-38 models included, aside of the photo recon VC, which includes a small panel with camera shutter controls just to the left of the mags." "Flying this P-38 is a whole new set of challenges and pleasures, and as with any new aircraft that flies realistically, it will take some adjusting time. You will find takeoffs are wonderfully easy in this plane, the counter rotating props simply eliminate that takeoff ‘swing’. The P-38 can make it to 20,000 ft in around 6.5 to 7 minutes, so you can imagine the kind of power strapped to your back." In summary of SkyUnlimited's P-38, Chris says, "The SkyUnlimited P-38 Vol. It definitely fills a realism gap, they’re simply what I call the best P-38’s for the FS world. If you’re a WWII Warbird or P-38 fan, this is simply right up your alley. If not, consider giving it a try, you might find warbirds to be more to your liking than you thought."

Mig 15 By Bear Studios. (January 5, 2007): New staff reviewer Brian Smith explores his interest in classic fighters with Bear Studios' Mig 15, available from Flight 1. "The Mig-15, nicknamed the Fagot by NATO, is one of the most successful jet-fighters ever produced. It was one of the earliest swept wing designs, and out-performed anything the western world produced until the introduction of the F-86 during the Korean Conflict." "Clearly, the creator of the Bear Studios Mig-15 intended for it to be flown from the Virtual Cockpit. The virtual cockpit is very well done, but I had a few issues with the 2D panel. For instance, many of the functions of the plane cannot be accessed except through the Virtual Cockpit. The sub-panels are nicely done, they show wear and tear and they give a consistent feel to the cockpit, but they are not the best panels in a 2D cockpit that I have seen. The virtual cockpit gives you good visibility, access to all the switches and knobs, and is really well done. Those with FSX or who want an excellent add-on in Flight Sim 9, should demand this level of quality in your virtual cockpit." "The package has quite a few models of the Mig-15, reflecting the history of its development. The models are excellent, and there is a lot to look at in terms of eye candy for those who want the immersion. The models have working drop tanks, a break-away canopy and ejection seat, and guns. The guns produce tracers out of each gun and a muzzle flash for each barrel. There is also a great smoke trail as the guns fire; and you can see the shells spewing from the plane as the MIG-15 spits lead across the sky." "All of the textures displayed crisply and clearly, and I experienced no fuzziness at all. I can say that the number of models and textures really surprised me. It is a rarity these days to see a developer spend so much time on the plane, especially on a military model. The MIG was made so the engines could be completely removed and overhauled on a frequent basis. If you ‘Fold Wings’ when you are parked, you can see the body of the Mig-15 separate. The tail is removed, and you can see a detailed rendering of the engine in the Mig-15." Summing up his first review, Brian notes about the Mig 15, "the quality of the virtual cockpit, the models, and the textures, and frankly, just the sheer number of variations, make the package a good one. If you enjoy early fighter aircraft, flying Soviet aircraft, are a history buff, or if you would just like to try something new that has a deeper sense of immersion than most add-on aircraft, this is probably a good match for you."

2006

Glasair III By Australian Simulation. (December 29, 2006): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke returns from a short break and reviews a sporty little kit-plane, the Glassair III from Australian Simulations. "The Glasair III is the latest addition to this family of aircraft and has the highest performance, this aircraft is a kit builders dream." Describing the inside and outside of this 2-seater Bert says, "the virtual cockpit is nicely finished and matches the 2D cockpit in every detail. All the gauges are custom made by Australian Simulation and by and large they are very good. I especially liked the smooth instruments in the VC, something only a few add-on aircraft provide. The exterior model is nicely detailed and gives a good representation of what a composite structure airplane looks like, with slightly curved shapes instead of the riveted aluminum skin that we know well from most general aviation aircraft." Taking it up for a spin, bert comments, "this airplane comes with a lot of power in a very light airframe and the performance is nothing short of spectacular. Never having flown the real thing, I cannot say how close to reality the flight model is, but I can say that it handles very well and is a blast to fly. With the great IFR instrumentation, this is an aircraft to take on cross-country flights and hone your navigational skills." In summary of the Glasair III, "this is a nice change from the many look-alike aircraft out there. A true high performance touring aircraft, which is fun to fly. If you are serious about this aircraft, I would highly recommend to go all the way and upgrade with Reality XP gauges, it makes a real difference."

Schweizer S300 By Just Flight. (December 26, 2006): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl hops around in Just Flight's Schweizer S300C. "The new Schweizer 300CBi from Just Flight is an excellent rendition of this light utility helicopter and is something to be seen." "The external model on this aircraft is great and the level of detail on this helicopter is amazing. From being able to see fine control wires, the classic orange engine air ducts, to the engine and transmission drive belt; the realism of the detail is shocking. You can also clearly see the Lycoming four cylinder engine, if you know what you're looking for. It seems so immaculately done that you literally believe you are looking at a real life Schweizer 300CBi." As far as the cockpit goes, Chris says, "the 2D panel is extremely well done and very easy to use. The gauges on it are very crisp and have a smooth update to them. All of your important and useful flight information and switches are present here, and almost every switch or knob is clickable. The virtual cockpit gives an insane amount of immersion. From every angle in the virtual cockpit, it looks very convincingly real. The cockpit seems so sharp and believable, and the sounds seem to come alive on my speakers and subwoofers. All of the gauges are clear, crisp, and very legible at 1.00 zoom, and some of the smaller ones become hard to read at 0.75 zoom. Simply an excellent VC." "The flight dynamics are done with extreme high fidelity. This helicopter handles almost exactly within the parameters stated in the manual, faithfully recreating speeds and handling nuances. Once you're used to how a simulator helicopter handles, this will come more easily. You will find this helicopter is easily managed after gently lifting off and getting airborne, and flying it will fine tune your helicopter skills." Chris' summary of the Schweizer S300 is brief and to the point, "This helicopter is a great addition. Overall I simply enjoyed this ‘whirlybird’. If you're a helicopter fan, this is for you."

Boeing 757 By Phoenix Software Solutions. (December 17, 2006): Staff reviewer Joe Ellwood gets some assistance from a real world 757 pilot (Kris Heslop) in his review of Phoenix Software Simulations' Boeing 757. "The external model is finely done, and it’s quickly evident that this is a great looking plane. Everything you’d expect from PSS is there. As with almost all models these days, everything opens and moves respectively. The PSS B757 flight-deck comes in two flavours. For those with older systems, you can load just the 2D panel and those with monster systems can load the 2D cockpit along with having the Virtual Cockpit sitting in the background for use as required. This arrangement allows the users of the older machines to avoid the frame rate sapping VC sitting in the background simply consuming resources. " "PSS have tried to model as many systems as possible, so expect to have to seriously read the manuals and tutorial flights, as almost all of the overhead panel works (the only exceptions being the HF radio panels). The FMC is based on the more modern Pegasus model, more commonly found in the B767, although many B757’s have been retrofitted with this unit to improve the navigational performance of the aircraft." "Often the biggest failure of a developer when producing a big jet add-on is to not build in a ‘big’ feeling to the way the aircraft flies. PSS have embraced this and so far this is the closest I have seen an add-on come to actually ‘feeling’ like the real thing. The PSS model really gives the positive crisp feel to the controls while at the same time giving the sluggish feel you’d expect from something of that size." The conclusion to PSS' 757 is from both reviewer's perspective. Kris says, "the PSS aircraft is actually a pretty good package. Its accuracy depends on what you want from it. Personally I like it and I will use it for the lead up to my recurrent sim training and check flights." While Joe comments, "Some parts I enjoyed, while others I didn’t. If I had a better system, or if this add-on was less performance hungry, I would have enjoyed it much more. The systems are there, but as Kris mentioned, not 100% there."

Gloster Javelin By AlphaSim. (December 16, 2006): Sr staff reviewer Brian Fletcher takes a look at a British Cold War Classic, the Gloster Javelin from AlphaSim. "One of AlphaSim’s newest releases is the V1.1 update to the Gloster Javelin, which adds the FAW.5 and FAW.9R variants to the existing FAW.9 variants included in the original package." "AlphaSim’s Gloster Javelin package includes 5 aircraft representing the FAW.5, FAW.9, and FAW.9R, all of which are the same T-tailed delta wing design. You will notice a difference between the exhaust on the FAW.5 and FAW.9 models, the addition of a fuel probe on the FAW.9R model, and a difference in the under-wing payload amongst the aircraft. The aircraft do not have a very worn look to them, but on the other hand they do not look like they just rolled out of the paint shop either. I got the impression that AlphaSim was going for the look of an aircraft with some hours on it, but not exactly aged just yet." "If you prefer flying from the Javelin’s virtual cockpit you should be pleased with the convenience of having both of the side consoles within easy reach, and a panel that is fairly clear and legible. The texturing throughout the virtual cockpit looks pretty good to me, of course outside of the panel, consoles, and seat, there is not much room for anything else. The Javelin’s panel has a decent 3D appearance, a fairly uninhibited view outside, and is definitely user-friendly." "I believe that the flight dynamics in this package have been given special attention, and though I have struggled to master the art of landing this bird, I am more than satisfied that AlphaSim has provided an authentic airfile, or at least as close as FS9 and FSX will allow. While the Javelin is fairly maneuverable, it is not as responsive to control surface commands as I had expected. One unique feature of the Javelin’s airfile is the manner in which the aircraft responds to reheating the afterburners. The afterburners are used at high altitudes and high cruise speeds, and should not be reheated below mach 0.6." Brian lands his Gloster Javelin and comments, "I think that AlphaSim has provided an aircraft that should continue to remain worthy of my virtual world for a long time to come, though each simmers experience may vary from my own. If you have an interest in this package than I would highly consider asking your fellow simmers in the Avsim forum for their take on things."

Trinidad and Tobago By Lionheart Creations. (December 2, 2006): Senior staff reviewer Paul Middleton looks at Lionheart Creations' latest GA release Trinidad and Tobago. "The TB series comprising the TB9 Tampico, TB10 Tobago and TB 20 Trinidad were designed to provide a full range of aircraft types, from a 2-seater trainer at the bottom end to the 4-seater turbo-charged retractible tourer at the top end. Lionheart Creations have chosen to model the Tobago 200GT, an updated model based on the original TB10 which at 75% power cruises at 130 KTAS for a non-stop range of 600 nautical miles; and the TB21 Trinidad GT Turbo, which is equipped with a computer-controlled turbocharger." "In real life, the Trinidad and Tobago are extremely nice-looking aircraft, and Lionheart have captured their appearance well," notes Paul, "On an Active Camera walk-round I was able to verify that all the bits that should have been there, were there, including the longitudinal strakes under the fuselage, and the small ADF aerial pod that's also underneath. As a representation of a TB 200 or a TB 21 cockpit, it's an almost perfect likeness. Believe me, from many hours sitting inside one, it's about as close as you can get to the real thing. The instrument and avionics fit in both aircraft is as it is in real life." "So how does it fly, and how does it compare to the real thing?" Paul asks. "Very well, and very well. But I mentioned that these aircraft do have their little vices. They display them on takeoff and landing, and result from their slightly unusual wing and tailplane geometry. I can honestly say that flying this virtual aircraft is as near as you can get to reality, while still sitting in front of a screen." "In my view, Lionheart's rendition of the Socata TB family is excellent," Paul says in his summary, "As virtual aircraft, they are a joy to look at, to sit in, and to fly. This is one plane that will definitely stay in my collection."

Pilatus PC-6 Porter V2.0 By FSD International. (November 27, 2006): Staff reviewer David Swindle updates us on the latest version of FSD International's Pilatus Porter. "For owners of the previous version of the Porter, the wheel and amphibious models are available at $9.00 each, and the ski model can be purchased for an extra $18.50. Each installer is about 25MB in size." "The Pilatus PC-6, better known as the Porter, may be one of the ugliest and most versatile aircraft ever created. With a fuselage, tail and wing that seem to consist only of straight lines, an absurdly long nose, and big landing gear designed to absorb huge shocks, the Porter looks both bizarre and extremely functional at the same time. The Porter has a very spartan, utilitarian panel compared to most single engine turboprops, and FSD has captured this very well, even managing to make the 2D panel look recessed behind the glareshield. The original FS2002 Porter had one of the best VC's available when it was released, and the upgraded Porter keeps the tradition very much alive. FSD did an excellent job of modeling the VC, with almost every imaginable switch being clickable and functional." "The external models themselves are extremely well rendered with all of the standard animated parts being present and moving as they should. Although the models themselves are very impressive, what really makes the Porters look good are the textures." Commenting on the flight dynamics, "Once in the air, the Porter is a delight to fly, possessing a mixture of stability and agility that make the Porter a good airplane for cross country flying as well as agile enough to squeeze in and out of tricky mountain airstrips. This stability also makes the Porter easy to fly in turbulence as well as a very good aircraft for flying instrument approaches." David concludes his review of the Pilatus Porter V2.0 with "Overall, I think the FSD Porter V2.0 is an excellent addition to FS9. The new Porter delivers an excellent mixture of realism and fun while also finding an almost perfect balance between detail and performance on mid-end PC's."

Lancaster By Aerosoft/Aeroplane Heaven. (November 23, 2006): Sr staff reviewer Gene Davis takes us onboard a WW II legend, the Lancaster from JustFlight and Aeroplane Heaven. "The Lancaster Bomber needs no real introduction and is well known all over the world as one of the most quintessential bombers of World War 2." "Once the product is installed, you will find 8 different Lancasters in your hanger, each with different models to choose from," reports Gene, "The add-on models included are the Lancaster B Mk.1, Mk. 1 Squadron 617 (Dam busters), Mk. 1 with the Grand Slam bomb, Mk. 2 with Hercules engines, Mk. 3 with the H2S radar installation, Mk. 3 Aeronavale, Battle Of Britain Memorial Lancaster and finally the Lancaster Prototype. The exterior of each bomber is relatively the same with some minor adjustments to distinguish them from one another, such as squadron markings, bomb loads and crew positions." "Internally is where this product shines. Depending on which model you choose, you will have the choice of a functioning radio and navigation station, or a functioning bombardier station with an animated front turret that actually moves from your input on the click spots provided in the aircraft model. Included with all of the models is a beautifully rendered cockpit that seems to really put you there, almost everything is functional and almost all of the aircraft systems are available. I found the gauges in this add-on to be pretty impressive, as they seem to have a very realistic flair to them." But wait, there's more. "Included with this add-on is an additional aircraft, the Mosquito Pathfinder. Visually the Mosquito is beautiful, lots of animations and an incredible virtual cockpit!" We're still not done. "Flying the Mosquito and the Lancaster would not be complete without an airfield to fly out of; this is where RAF Scampton comes in. This airbase has been built to simulate the layout of the real world Scampton circa 1940’s." In summation to this complete WWII aircraft and scenery add-on, Gene says, "This is a wonderful addition to MSFS and Golden Wings as it makes touring the English Countryside circa 1940 a little more enjoyable. Though you cannot conduct missions per say, you can attempt to recreate flights that were conducted during those turbulent times."

Dornier Do-217 By AlphaSim. (November 19, 2006): Staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamua takes us back to the war years with a look at AlphaSim's Dornier Do-217. "Beginning in 1940 the German air force used it for several tasks, as a medium bomber, a heavy bomber, a torpedo bomber, a night fighter, and (toward the end of the war) a high-altitude spotter." "This is a very good looking visual model. Contours are clean, textures are crisp," David says, describing the exterior model, "What I like best are the animations. In addition, there are also four moving crew members: a pilot, a navigator, and two gunners." About the inside, "The 2D cockpit on this aircraft is quite usable, and includes one feature that the 3D cockpit doesn’t: a removable yoke. Everywhere in the cockpit, text labels are in German, but tool tips are in English. This is a good combination: it preserves realism, without sacrificing ease of use for English-language simmers. How usable is the cockpit? Gauges are all clear, and gauge movement is smooth: not RealAir smooth, but smooth." As far as flying this aircraft gores, "On the ground and in the air, it handles like a heavier, faster, and more powerful version of the default DC-3. For ground steering, you’ll need to use differential braking or (if you’ve got them) separate throttles for right and left engine." In summation of the Dornier Do-217, "there are lots of flightsim aircraft that can fly faster than the Do 217, reach higher altitudes, and carry heavier payloads. Few of them, however, offer such wide vistas from the cockpit. Alphasim’s reproduction of the Do 217 for Flight Simulator is a solid aircraft. I wouldn’t recommend it for IFR, but for VFR the view is hard to beat."

Dornier Do-27 By Digital Aviation. (November 18, 2006): Sr staff reviewer Bert Pieke takes a look at a vintage GA aircraft from Digital Aviation, the Dornier Do-27. "The Dornier Do-27 is somewhat of a collector’s airplane and has a cult-like following by its owners. It was used by various air forces for tasks such as liaison, aerial photography, air ambulance, or as a light cargo aircraft. It is also popular as a civilian plane." "Although the configuration panel has an option to include a 2D panel, this aircraft was designed to be flown from the virtual cockpit (VC)," reports Bert, "The VC is in one word: stunning – it really re-creates this vintage aircraft with custom gauges, levers, and lots of interior detail. The exterior model is nicely detailed, with different features for the A and B model, and textures that show the wear and tear of a vintage airplane." "This plane does not need a lot of runway to get airborne, while you are still deciding if it needs some forward pressure to get the tail wheel off the ground, it lifts off and you are airborne. The plane is flown by hand, no autopilot here, but responds nicely to control inputs and trims out fine after reducing the engine revolutions to a more comfortable level." Bert concludes the Dornier Do-27 review with, "For vintage aircraft enthusiasts, this is a “must have” add-on. This plane will also work nicely for bush pilots, as it was designed to take off and land at small, remote airstrips. Overall, this is a welcome addition to FS9, which I would recommend highly to any aspiring GA pilot."

Piper Cheyenne By Aerosoft/Digital Aviation. (November 13, 2006): Sr staff reviewer Zane Gard Jr. reviews and aircraft he has real world experience on, the Piper Cheyenne as presented by Aerosoft and Digital Aviation. "I grew up flying in and around this class of aircraft so I have a very keen interest in this particular airframe and have followed the development of just about every sim version that has been released, be it freeware or payware," remarks Zane. "This thing is drop dead gorgeous… and you don’t just get one model, you get four variations of the aircraft. You can look at these from outside for hours and you won’t find a flaw. And the night lighting is also something to behold." "You’re just gonna love the fact that you have so many possibilities for viewing the panel from the pilot’s or copilot’s seat. If you can see a switch it works, if you see a knob it turns and actually does something. Move into the VC and you are going to wonder if you are still in the 2D panel view till you hit the hat switch to move around. This panel is reproduced in all its 3 dimensional glory for VC lovers. One of the decisions that Digital Aviation made in modeling the VC panel for the Cheyenne was to standardize the radio stack to something consistent with what you will find in reality." "There a handful of software magicians that can capture the flight dynamics envelope of an aircraft and break it down into numbers that actually convey the sense of what a real aircraft “feels” like when flying in the sim. This is a pilot’s airplane that conveys that sense of what it is doing or about to do that makes it a joy to fly. Each of the four variants have their own specific airfiles and tweaking of their configuration files to represent what the real aircraft is capable of." Zane sums up the Piper Cheyenne with, "In my opinion this is one of those releases that raises the bar for all aspects of aircraft simulation, exceptional visual model, exceptional panel and systems simulation, exceptional sound set, easy to use configuration manager, exceptional flight dynamics and despite all its complexity, I found it to not be a big hit on frame rates."

Stearman Model 4 By Golden Age Simulations. (November 11, 2006): Senior staff reviewer Gene Davis takes us back to a unique era in flying with his look at Golden Age Simulations' Stearman Model 4. "The included aircraft are the Junior Speedmail 4D, the Junior Speedmail 4E-SC1 and the Senior Speedmail, all developed in highly detailed aircraft models." "Each aircraft is magnificently detailed and relatively easy on system performance. Walking around the different planes you will find a multitude of compartments, the traditional slew of moving parts and an animated pilot with flapping scarf. Flying the Model 4’s is a trip, with the included sound file from Aaron Swindle that brings the 300hp and 450hp engines to life in this add-on simply needs to be heard to experience it. Starting the plane on a cold morning and turning her out onto the airstrip will take you back in time as you throttle the engines forward and the Stearman Model 4 takes to the skies. It is only fitting that the aircraft package come with a scenery set that can serve your virtual airmail plane. Transported back in time you will find yourself at Durango Airmail Services in Colorado; be sure to check out the other Speedmail planes parked there as well as the vintage cars and buildings." Read about Gene's recreation of a mail run and his description of how it must have been to fly these routes. He summarizes this review with, "I immediately found a home for this package. If you have a love for this golden age of flight, then it is a must have. You really need to take a look at this one."

A400M By Wilco Publishing and Just Flight. (November 8, 2006): Sr staff reviewer Brian Fletcher reviews an aircraft that hasn't taken to the skies yet. From Wilco Publishing and Just Flight, the A400M Airlifter. "The Airbus A400M is an aircraft still in the early assembly status, that is set to replace the aging C-130 and C-160 of some nations and introduce more economic long-range military transport to others." "The Wilco A400M comes with two models. Most of the liveries have a near show room finish with few indications of normal wear and tear, but some do have the occasional stain here and there. The exterior model itself is comprised of an obvious airlifter style fuselage, wings with a lot of surface area, and four EPI TP400-D6 turbo-prop engines with uniquely curved 8 bladed propellers." While on the inside, "The flight deck is not as detailed as many of the quality aircraft I have researched lately, but does have clean lines and reasonably authentic texturing in most areas. The panel certainly contains all that you could ever need to fly the aircraft, including a PFD, ND, E/WD, SD, and MCDU, all of which are clickable for a larger view. Also included is an audio control panel, autopilot, and NAV-COM, ADF, transponder, and other navigational and communications equipment." Brian reports on the A400's flight dynamics by saying, "Evaluating the accuracy of the flight dynamics of the A400M is a virtually impossible task at this point, after all, the real plane hasn’t even flown yet. But given the specifications of the aircraft made available to me, I am more than confident that Wilco’s version of the A400M is in the right ballpark, not perfect, but more than sufficient for Flight Simulator. If asked to compare the flight characteristics of the Wilco A400M to another aircraft, I would consider it to be fairly close, with no payload, to that of a C-130 with a full payload." Brian's conclusion to this first rendition of the A400M reads, "While I am fairly content with this offering from Wilco, I suspect that not all simmers will embrace this aircraft with enthusiasm. The panel may not find the approval of some, and though I am generally satisfied with the VC, sound set, and flight dynamics, there is plenty of room for disagreement, especially since there is not a real-world aircraft to compare this rendition to just yet. All in all, I am pleased with this product, not overwhelmed, but satisfied to the point that it will remain in my virtual hangar. The highlights, from my point of view, are the exterior modeling and texturing, reasonably suitable flight dynamics, and what I consider to be a novice to moderate simmer-friendly virtual cockpit. On the other side of the scale, I am not fond of the panel, the load manager has little purpose for me, and I am disappointed with the lack of a more inclusive manual, especially for the FMC."

Saab 340 By Flight Factory Simulations. (November 7, 2006): Sr staff reviewer Paul Middleton looks at the commuter world with Flight Factory Simulations' Saab 340. "The SAAB 340 is a two-engine turboprop aircraft that originated from a partnership between Saab and Fairchild." "From the outside, the Saab 340 looks very good. The external features have a very crisp appearance, particularly the undercarriage and stairs, and it's convincing down to the level of the rivets and the small logos on the engine nacelle and props. Overall, it's a very convincing plane in Spot View or on a walk-round." "The 2D panel of the Saab 340 comes with a number of sub-panels, as would be expected from a typically "busy" turboprop layout. Then there are a number of "pop-up" panels, that either enlarge instruments on the panel (for example the EADI), or show instruments that are not on the panel (for example the GPS or the Audio Control Panel) Turning to the VC, again it's a subjective impression but while it is marginally better than the 2D, it still has a somewhat lifeless appearance." "In terms of handling, it comes across as quite competent. On the taxiway, down the runway, in the air, it handles with the right combination of stability and responsiveness for a plane of this size and weight. It's also important to point out that the complexity of the Saab 340 systems is very well-represented." Paul sums up his impression of the Saab 340 with, "I have to say that I was disappointed with the FFS Saab 340. The outside appearance is good, and when inside, the modelling of the systems is excellent. But that's not enough. There is nothing that I've mentioned that is fundamental, that couldn't be fixed with some re-design and re-working, particularly of the panel."

Spitfire Mk XVI By Plane Design. (November 5, 2006): UK staff reviewer Gavin Hendrie fittingly reviews another offering of the classic Spitfire, this time from Plane Design. "This add-on is a rendition of the Merlin 266 engined Mk XVI (Mk 16) which was designed as a low altitude fighter and identical in almost every way to the Mk IV except for the engine (the MK IV had a Merlin 66)." Commenting on the interior of this "Spit", "The claim on the PD website is that “All virtual cockpit gauges have been created in full 3D, making them incredibly smooth and with accurate custom high resolution textures, and authentic luminous lighting effects, they are some of the best WW2 era British gauges yet seen in Flight Simulator.” The gauges are indeed very clear and easy to read and operate in a smooth manner. An often overused term around these parts is the phrase “The VC is fully functional”, but in this case it really is, right down to the gun sight. Even the adjusters for rudder pedal position can actually be operated." Continuing with the exterior, "The package comes with 10 different paint schemes, each of which is very detailed right down to the last rivet. This is possibly one of the finest 3D models around and in terms of quality, it ranks amongst the very best of the third party commercial offerings available. The sound of the Merlin engine is almost as iconic as the shape of the Spit itself and this package doesn’t disappoint in this respect. The Merlin soundset is highly authentic. The deep, throaty roar of the Merlin is well represented here and it is quite satisfying to hear when you push the throttle forward." Gavin comments about the flying characteristics of this aircraft, "Applying the throttle fairly gently and in line with the recommended take off settings still causes a lurch to the right, which opposite rudder initially fails to correct. All I can say is that it takes some getting used to and in the end I resorted to using very light differential braking, though I’m not sure how those without pedals will fair. The Flight Dynamics have been tested by some fairly esteemed pilots, any one of them is better placed than me to tell you that this aircraft flies and handles like the real deal. So if that’s what they say, who am I to argue?" "Overall, this is a nice package. The sounds are great, the VC and 2D functionality is good and the performance on my machine was most agreeable, capping out at the locked 25 fps with VFR Real Scenery and Active Sky 6 running," says Gavin in his sumation of Plane Design's Spitfire. "Correctly configured it’s an absolute joy to fly although the ground handling characteristics are a pain. It’s not for the novice that’s for sure. If you’re a genuine Spitfire fan then you’ll want it in your hangar regardless and it’s worth it for the sounds, but the flight dynamics will take some mastering."

Embraer Legacy 600 By Wilco/FeelThere. (November 5, 2006): Sr Staff Reviewer Zane Gard continues his look at the world of luxury business jets with Wilco/FeelThere's PIC Embraer Legacy 600. "The Embraer Legacy 600 is the executive version of Embraer’s ERJ135/145 series of successful regional airliners and also goes by the model name ERJ-135BJ." "The Legacy 600, their fourth release, is just as beautiful from the outside with all the smoothness and elegance the real jet has. It’s got all the animations, lighting, realistic textures and dynamic shine to keep the most dyed in the wool spot view junky happy. Open the door and step inside, the interior of the real Legacy is overflowing with jaw dropping lap of luxury. As you enter, you just stand there gawking at overstuffed leather seats, highly polished burled wood, marble countertops, a glass door galley showing off all the crystal glasses, gold inlayed trim and a walkway that winds back through three individual seating areas and it’s big… I mean BIG." Moving up front, "The Feelthere/Wilco Legacy 600 panel adds the IRS system which is used for the heads up display (HUD in 2D mode only) and a working weather radar that is usable in both the 2D panel and the VC. Both are features new to this Legacy 600 model and there are popups for the overhead display, center console, FADEC settings, pressurization controls and zooms for the EFIS’s. From the VC, the pilot’s and copilot’s displays are independent so you can fly from either position." Zane parks this luxury jet and comments, "Feelthere has produced another fabulous Embraer jet in the Legacy 600. If having a true luxury corporate jet, one you really can walk around from section to section in is to your liking, this is the one to get. If you held off on the ERJ-145 but were sorely tempted, I do like the Legacy 600 better than the ERJ-145 and highly recommend it."

757 Captain By Captain Sim. (October 18, 2006): Sr Staff Reviewer Brian Fletcher submits an in-depth review of Captain Sim's "757 Captain". "The 757 Captain is a culmination of 7 separate blocks (B,C,D,E,F,300, and Freighter) that include the 757-200, 300, freighter models, custom sound set, custom flight model, Aircraft Configuration Editor (ACE), and Advanced Systems Programming." Brian notes, "By the time you're done reading the manuals, you should be ready to go fly a real 757. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the two part manual included with this package is just about as comprehensive and all-inclusive as I have seen in a long time." Brian describes the exterior of the aircraft, " modeling of the 752 and 753 is well above par from any angle, as the modeling is as accurate as I have seen in any Sim aircraft, and the texturing is detailed in-depth. What really makes the exterior models so unique is the numerous animations that can be controlled by use of the model animation control panel." Continuing into the interior, "The virtual cockpit is included in block B and is used for both the 200 and 300 models. On one hand the VC is very authentic, fully functional, and detailed with special attention in every area, on the other hand, it is extremely resource demanding. There are four sections accessible from the interior view, including the flight deck, passenger cabin, galley, and lavatory. This aircraft is flyable from the virtual cockpit, but you may want to familiarize yourself with the user manuals before taking off." Speaking of taking off, "With assistance from a few of my fellow simmers I have compared the 757 Captain against the real-world data and with few exceptions I am very impressed. Our comparisons where done using a variety of payloads from 14,500 to 159,670 lbs and fuel quantities from 7,110 – 20,098 lbs." Bring this review in on final, Brian concludes his look at the 757 Captain with, "This aircraft is the most detailed, functional, animated, and authentic jetliner that I have ever had in my collection, and, in my opinion, one of the finest aircraft on the market. When weighing the pros and cons of the 757 Captain, the scale tilts strongly in favor of the positive aspects. When you consider the hundreds of user controlled animations, the spectacular interior and exterior modeling, the excellent sound set, and the all-around authenticity, it outweighs the less than stellar performance, which can be remedied with a few modifications. This product pushes the technological cycle to the next level and beyond, and I would say that it will likely be a “top of the line” model for quite a while to come."

Saab 91 "Safir" By SibWings Lavoratory. (October 13, 2006): Staff reviewer Hector Davila looks at a new contributor to the add-on world with SibWings' Saab 91 "Safir". "The Saab 91 is technically not an IFR aircraft. It doesn't have any type of VOR or nav-aid instruments (except for the D model); this aircraft is really meant to fly in relatively clear weather where flying is a breeze and all you have to do is enjoy the flight. The only panel you need in this add-on is the VC," reports Hector. About the outside model, "the exterior model is very nicely done, as perfect as the models are, you also need great textures to go with them, and that is exactly what Sibwings have done with this package. Each livery is done with exquisite detail; I could not find any errors or what some people call "jaggies" in the textures." Summarizing the Saab 91 "Safir", Hector says, "Simply put, this is one of the best add-ons I have ever flown. If you like flying get this add-on. The Sibwing's team did an excellent job."

B-25 By Fightertown Design Group 2. (October 5, 2006): Sr reviewer Brian Fletcher continues his warbird series from Fightertown Design Group 2 with their rendition of the B-25 Mitchell. "In many ways the FDG2 B-25 is similar to the B-17 package. Both of them are modeled to provide excellent frame rates, they both have their fair share of positive and negative aspects, and they are both priced to attract simmers who don’t want to cough up a lot of money." Looking around the aircraft as well as inside, "The FDG2 B-25 only comes with the “J” model, including two liveries; “Show Me”, and a representative of the 445th Bomber Squadron of the 321st Bomber Group. All of the gunner’s positions are modeled onto this aircraft, but only the pilot, co-pilot, and navigator are present. The interior modeling in the B-25 is what I would call acceptable. There are certain aspects of the VC that are detailed quite well, while other areas could use a little work. The VC is very functional in the sense that the vast majority of the switches are useable. You can fly this aircraft from the VC from startup to shutdown without having to switch to the 2D panel." About its handling characteristics, Brian comments, "Having my flight controls configured near perfectly for every other aircraft in my collection, I found the FDG2 B-25 pitch to be overly sensitive. Unlike the B-17, which I commented as …”taking ten minutes to complete a two minute turn”, the B-25 can cut a sharp bank, and maneuver very well." In summation, Brian makes it clear about this offering of the B-25, "This product is by no means what I would consider “premium”, it is not a top-of-the-line model, and it does not compare to other quality versions of this aircraft like found in the Maam-Sim B-25 Briefing Time package. However, it is a good quality package that makes an excellent alternative if you would like to add a good B-25 to your hangar without coughing up a lot of money. I am, for the most part, very pleased with FDG2’s rendition of the B-25J, especially when I take the price into account."

B-17 By Fightertown Design Group 2. (August 26, 2006): The "Cap'n" Brian Fletcher takes us back to the late 1930's for a ride in a classic heavy warbird, the B-17 Flying Fortress by Fightertown Design Group 2 (FDG 2). "The FDG2 B-17 package is more than just a B-17 model with a couple of liveries. Instead you will be getting 5 models, including the E, early F, late F, early G, and late G, 7 historic liveries, and 6 WWII era RAF airfields detailed to reflect the era. But perhaps the most significant aspect of this package is not what you get, but what you don’t…a loss in performance." "Beginning with the modeling, each of the B-17’s are modeled and sized very accurately to represent the near 80 feet in length, 19 feet of height, and 104 foot wingspan. The bombardier and navigator, flight engineer, and ball turret gunner positions are all modeled, as are the waist gunners and tail gunners. Complimenting each of the operators positions you will also find the operators themselves, .50 caliber guns, seats, panels, and a few small details here and there. Moving on to the animations you will come across the standard “must haves”, including four increments of flaps, animated propellers, landing gears, rolling wheels, suspension, ailerons, elevator and rudder." "I am not quite as thrilled with the interior modeling as I was with the exterior. But there are also some good things to say about the virtual cockpit, such as the fact that it is very functional and frame rate friendly. One of the best aspects of the virtual cockpit, in my opinion, is that all of the gauge dials react swiftly; in fact, they are just about as smooth as they are in the “cockpit” view. This is especially nice when it comes to the gauges that I use more frequently, such as the altimeter, IAS, and turn indicator. In many ways, the FDG2 B-17 VC’s are up to par, but some of the modeling could be improved upon." "If you really want to make your desktop rumble, then this aircraft is for you. The sound set included with this package will allow you to experience the deep and gritty rumble of the B-17 just about as authentic as I have heard. My analysis of this sound file is that it is very close to that of the real B-17 and is a perfect companion for these models." "I had expected this aircraft to be slow, sluggish, and handle like a battleship, but in reality, once you get off the ground it performs quite well. It is certainly not a jet fighter, but it doesn’t exactly fly like a battleship either. Landing is the most eventful aspect of flying the B-17, but this model does not require a whole lot of skill on the part of the simmer. It is easy to stay aligned with the runway because at slow speeds the B-17 does not bank too swiftly, making it hard to over correct." In summarizing his experience with this rendition of the B-17 Flying Fortress, Brian says, "I believe these aircraft fall into a category that is short of most of the premium payware products. On the other hand, I also believe that they are leaps and bounds beyond the default aircraft quality. Given the exceptionally reasonable price of the B-17 ($15.00), I find it to be a great alternative to the higher priced B-17 packages. If you want to add a good Flying Fortress to your collection without having to lower your scenery settings for a smooth flight, then I would recommend giving these classic birds a closer look."

744 Freighter By PMDG. (August 19, 2006): Staff reviewer Gavin Hendrie takes over where Maury left off with the continuing story of PMDG's 744 Freighter. "The 747-400 incorporates major aerodynamic improvements over earlier 747 models, including the addition of winglets to reduce drag, new avionics, as well as a new flight deck." "Apart from a totally new 3D model to reflect the different shape of the freighter, there have also been changes made to the panel in line with the real freighter variant. The main differences to the panel are the MCP readouts, which are now in a digital format. The cargo specific pneumatic systems have been modelled and the Stabiliser tanks have been removed (the -400F doesn’t have them) and as such, the reduction in fuel capacity and operational implications are also modelled." Taking a look inside and out, Gavin reports, "The Flight Deck has been given a slightly more rugged look. The same VC functionality and fluidity of gauges exists as did on the passenger version. The exterior is odelled using GMax and with textures available in either 32bit or DXT3, you will be hard pressed to find a better 3D model anywhere. The freighter model is quite obviously up to the same exceptionally high standard as the previous passenger variant and there are no disappointments. Previously, you had one choice of sound set – General Electric. Now, you have three! New sounds have been added which enhance the general ambient sound or flight deck sounds." In summation, "Despite it being a rather unique creature – an add-on FOR an add-on, 744 Freighter has actually IMPROVED upon the original (passenger) version and those improvements are automatically made to your passenger version when you install the freighter. The improvements made to the sound library and the enhancements to the Flight Model make this a worthwhile purchase if you want the most detailed rendition of a commercial aircraft ever made."

Concorde SST SIM By Flight 1. (August 16, 2006): Staff reviewer Gavin Hendrie takes us to Mach 2 with a look at Flight 1's Concorde SST SIM. Transportation has taken a step backwards when air travel did just that with the demise of the BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde. Our ability to travel in a commercial airliner beyond the speed of sound is now gone. "Concorde is a child of the 60’s and is therefore not blessed with LCD units like the latest Boeing or Airbus offerings. There is no MAP or PLAN display so no Magenta line to follow, no FMC to step through your waypoints and ensure they join a coherent line between you and your destination. Check, check and check again is the order of the day here when inputting your flight plan into the INS," comments Gavin about life in the Concorde's cockpit, "there are over 200 buttons, switches, gauges and dials are modelled and every one of them seems to do something. Concorde doesn’t have an FMC with thousands of stored waypoints, as they didn’t exist in the 1960s. Instead an Inertial Navigation System using co-ordinates of latitude and longitude to determine its position in the world is used." About the exterior, Gavin writes, "The 3D model is of a quality you’d expect from any of today’s big developers and waaaay better than the PSS model. It’s been created using GMax and the beauty of it is not to be understated, it is quite simple stunning. All three Concorde variants (Prototype, Pre-production and Production models) have been done along with a host of textures for them. Practically every rivet on the body is modelled, the nose and visor is done in an accurate way as is the landing gear. Put simply, this exterior model is without question the best rendition of a Concorde yet seen for Flight Simulation, let alone the three separate types of Concorde you get!" On the inside, "The passenger cabin is modelled in line with the carrier and also in line with the particular livery. For example, a BA Concorde pre-2001 had a grey leather interior. Post 2001 you can see the seats are blue and even a different style! The famous Concorde display on the bulkheads welcomes you aboard before departure. During flight it gives the Temperature, Ground Speed, Altitude, Distance Remaining and the all important Mach number. On arrival it thanks you for flying Concorde! " This add-ons performance has been tested by the best. "Many packages proclaim to have been tested by real-world pilots, but in this case, more people have stood on the summit of Mt Everest than have piloted Concorde. Therefore to claim to have this model tested by a real world Concorde pilot, is quite something else. In fact, no less than FIVE Concorde pilots have flown this particular add-on and have provided positive feedback on its relative performance." Gavin summarizes with a statement that this is a complex aircraft, even in the sim world. While it's not for everyone, a hardcore simmer and Concorde fanatic will definitely want to read all about this recent legendary aircraft before making an informed decision as to whether this is an add-on they want to add to their stable.

Cessna 182Q Skylane II By Carenado. (August 12, 2006): Staff reviewer Joe Mercurio takes us for a quick spin in Carenado's Cessna 182Q Skylane II. "It looks to be that Carenado was again able to maintain their reputation for outstanding quality, attention to detail, and modeling the smallest of things." Joe goes into great detail about the exterior modelling of this GA airframe. About the inside, he says, "The Virtual Cockpit and Cabin are both fully interactive and frame rate friendly, which is a biggie for the lower end computers. I recommend using Active Camera, made by AntiCyclone or Flight1, view utility. When you fly the 182Q, you really feel “there” when flying in the VC." Joe describes the 2D console, "The attractive black panel of the 182Q isn’t only for fashion. This panel is very well made. The reason being, its clickable pop-up gauges, clarity, simplicity, and user friendliness." "In order to fly this aircraft correctly, you must first understand the concept of the constant speed propeller in order to maintain proper climb, cruise, and decent operating powers. The propeller’s pitch must be changed during many stages of the flight, and not at 100% during many operations for realism's sake. Takeoff and landing is achieved like the real thing, the airfile was obviously not rushed because it performs down to real world numbers." Joe sums up with, "I have concluded that Carenado's Cessna 182Q may be the best single engine GA aircraft available. It sets itself apart from other planes when you compare detail, sounds, panel, flight model and other small but important features that makes the plane worth the money."

C-7 Caribou By AlphaSim. (August 10, 2006): Sr Staff reviewer Gene Davis looks at a classic cargo/troop aircraft from the 60's, AlphaSim's deHavilland C-7 Caribou. "The C7 was built by DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada as a twin engine STOL aircraft that was used mainly for utility transport by the military and saw a great deal of service during the South East Asian Conflict." "As you explore each aircraft, you will find that a lot of care went into the creation of this aircraft. Going from the outside to the inside is also a visual treat! The interior of the aircraft is highly detailed, right down to the circuit breakers behind the pilot’s seat. While the aircraft is well detailed it doesn’t bog down system resources and you can manage an entire flight from your virtual cockpit." "Climbing into the cockpit is a nice treat, especially if you are in the virtual cockpit. This is my personal preference for this aircraft as its interior and panel layout have been masterfully recreated right down to the reflections in the cockpit windows. The gauge layout in the aircraft is very well done and matches that of its real world counterpart and from what I can tell, the gauges have all been designed specifically for this aircraft giving it a very realistic flair and feel to the overall package of the C-7." "This is one aircraft add-on that will keep me going back for more," Gene says in his review conclusion of the Caribou, "There are no complex systems to learn, no modern avionics; it is just you and the airplane doing it the way they used to do it, the old fashioned way!"

EFA Typhoon By AlphaSim. (August 8, 2006): Contributing reviewer Chris Kiehl updates us on a modern fighter with AlphSim's EFA Typhoon. Describing the exterior and interior of this fighter, Chris reports, "The external model is of a high quality and very detailed and animated in nearly every way. The gear and tires are well modeled and textured, along with speed brakes and engine exhaust nozzles. Bright, long and translucent, the afterburner textures look very close to photos of the real thing. The Heads Up Display is very readable in the 2D cockpit view, and that's good, because most of the important flight information is posted here. Many buttons and systems are clickable on the 2D panel, increasing the fun the user can have with the plane. There are several MFD Multi Functional Displays on the 2D panel and they can be changed with a click of a button. The sharpness and detail of every line in the virtual cockpit blew me away the first time I saw it. Just about anything that can be clicked and manipulated on the 2D panel is clickable in the virtual cockpit, even the autopilot below the HUD." When it comes to flying this aircraft, Chris says, "You will surely enjoy flying this aircraft. I’ve found that extremely unique maneuvers can be pulled. The stall characteristics of the plane, considering the front mounted canards, is quite fun to play around with. The Autopilot is very well done, and functionality is great. It is easy to activate, set, and deactivate from both the 2D and virtual panels." "I like Alphasim products, they seem to put a whole lot of effort into their work," concludes Chris, "As a regular military jet fan, I didn't think the Typhoon would fit into my favorites hangar, but I'm now a permanent fan. The Typhoon does have a great immersion factor, the depth of the virtual cockpit is the biggest plus."

Bellanca Super Viking" By Lionheart Creations. (August 3, 2006): Staff reviewer Zane Gard continues his look at the Lionheart releases. This time it's the Belanca Super Viking. "William Ortis’ latest work shows even better model smoothing and I have looked all over the VC, cabin and exterior and just can’t find anything that looks out of place," comments Zane, "this is top rate modeling and animating." About the inside, Zane notes, "Scott Thomas did a full set of gauges, including radios, to give the cockpit a correct mid-1970’s look. There are pop up panels for switches, radios, engine gauges, ADF and autopilot. They are all easy to read and nicely lit at night." Zane remarks about a unique feature of this release, "This is one of the first aircraft I can think of to have animations for the oxygen mask on the pilot. Turn on the oxygen system in the VC and an oxygen mask will appear on the pilot from the exterior view." So how does it fly? "Jerry Beckwith is a name synonymous with good airfiles and he has captured the fun feel of flying the Bellanca very well. One area that Jerry was able to design into the Viking airfile is the aircraft’s tendency to pitch down on power application, which also means the reverse happens when you pull the power off." Wrapping up his detailed review of the Belanca Super Viking, Zane concludes with, "If you are after a nice, fast, four seater with good economy that hasn’t really been well modeled for FS yet, this is a good choice. You will enjoy the nicely detailed exterior model and full VC interior. Lionheart has created another winner."

Dash 8 Q300 Pro" By Majestic Software. (July 15, 2006): Staff reviewer Zane Gard takes us on a trip aboard Majestic Software's Dash 8 Q300. "This turned into a full fledged project resulting in the most complete and realistic Dash 8 simulation currently available for MSFS. It is from a pilot’s point of view as this software package is directed to unofficial cockpit systems and flight management awareness. It is not sold as a training program because it is not recognized as an official approved training program. No MSFS based simulation has that kind of approval and cannot be marketed as such. I can assure you though, it is not your jump in and hit “ctrl-e” and go fly type of simulation either." Zane reports, "If you already have been simming for some time and have Oleksiy’s freeware Dash 8 for FS2002 or Flight1’s ATR72 and are comfortable operating either of them, you are going to find yourself making a little easier transition into this aircraft. I think you’ll find the system's modeling, especially the turboprop engine simulation and autopilot, even more realistic. The purists out there… and you know who you are, are always wanting a simulated aircraft to “fly by the numbers” and this one is not going to disappoint. Fuel flow, engine temps, power settings, engine response time, stall speeds are all good representations of the published performance envelope of the real aircraft." Want to fly at minimums? "Because the Majestic Dash 8 simulation includes the HGS (Heads-up Guidance System) that can be installed in this class of turboprop. With this system, operators can perform takeoffs at approved airports with only 75 meters visibility. Cat IIIa landings are also approved for this system and can be performed with a 50’ ceiling and 200 meters visibility. If you want to test this out for yourself, I would recommend becoming completely proficient at doing the example IFR procedure given in the Quick Start guide for Augsberg, Germany (EDMA). Then set your weather for the minimums and try it with the HGS." In summation, "Oleksiy Frolov and Majestic have certainly created a very well thought out and as complete a simulation of the DHC Dash 8 Q300 as is currently possible in FS2004. I will admit the price is higher than much of what can be considered its competition, especially if you opt for the Pro edition. The Majestic Dash 8 has taken its place on my list and I really appreciate the work that has gone into providing the best simulation of a turboprop aircraft I have yet to come across."

AC-130E "Spectre" By Captain Sim. (July 6, 2006): Lock and Load, you dont hear that too much in aviation. Sr Reviewer Alexis Esguerra looks at a completely unique version of the venerable Hercules, the AC-130E "Spectre" from Captain Sim. "AC-130E joins the ranks of add-on variants for the original Legendary C-130, which include the KC-130 (Tanker), CL-130 (Floatplane), C-130T (Fat Albert), and the C-130J (6-bladed props)." Inside and out, this C-130 is different. "The external model is gorgeous, and from what I’ve been able to dredge up photo-wise from the chosen period in 509’s life, appears to be almost spot on. The changes to the fuselage, done to accommodate all the necessary equipment to support ‘Spectre’s’ new mission, were nailed in the rendering. The interior is really a piece of work in its limited scope, with all the various gunner, sensor, and rest stations for the ‘guys/gals-in-back’ redone in great form." About the Flight Model, "AC-130E includes the original and quite excellent flight model of C-130. I’ll just leave it at the fact that it really does the job of mimicking the heavy transport feel and surprising short-field performance capabilities of the Hercules. It has to be experienced to be believed. As with all previous renditions of C-130 that I’ve dealt with, AC-130E is one system friendly package" Alexis concludes with, "Just how happy AC-130E will make a user depends heavily on whether or not you own the baseline version. If you happen to be in the situation where you plan to merge this product with C-130, then I can state rather confidently that AC-130E would be an excellent addition to your Hercules collection. When I consider the details this package brings to the table and how well the baseline package mixes in, I have to admit that it may be very well next to impossible to find a finer rendition of this gunship in FS2004."

F-22 Raptor By AlphaSim. (July 1, 2006): New reviewer Joseph Ellwodd takes a look at the Air Force's newest acquisition, the F-22 Raptor from AlphaSim. "The sheer maneuverability of the F-22 is astounding." "The cockpit of Alphasim’s F-22 is well laid out and easy to use. Any intermediate simmer should take only a few minutes to master the operations of this plane," Joe comments about the office, "from the looks of things, this appears to be Alphasim’s best VC to date." Taking a look at the Raptor from the outside, "The model of the Raptor is just brilliant with lots of detail clearly evident. The F-22 is equipped with Thrust Vectoring Nozzles (TVN) to assist in pitch. The afterburners are different from what you’d expect from regular combat aircraft add-ons for this simulator, in that the effect does not actually extend beyond the thrust nozzles." Joe states in his review conclusion, "I had a blast flying this plane; it flies, looks and performs brilliantly. Any military simulation enthusiast should give this a hard look."