AVSIM Aircraft Reviews

This Page was last updated: Monday, July 14, 2008

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

Aircraft Reviewed

2008

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, MA