AVSIM Aircraft Reviews

This Page was last updated: Monday, January 23, 2012

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

Aircraft Reviewed

2012

B377 Captain of the Ship by A2A Simulations. (January 29, 2012): Staff reviewer Ted Gold gives us a detailed review of A2A Simulations' B377 Captain of the Ship while taking it on a trans-Atlantic multi-leg flight. "Included in the package are liveries featuring Aero Spacelines for the “Guppy”, Pan Am, BOAC, Northwest, AOA, and a dedicated A2A paint job." "The B377 navigation systems (or lack thereof!) assume the pilot is capable of handling basic VOR-VOR and NDB navigation principles. There is no GPS but not to worry….your navigator has a full chart suite at his disposal to assist you. The autopilot is incredibly simple - essentially you can turn right, left, pitch up, pitch down, and hold current altitude. No RNAV, no VNAV….the PIC needs to navigate via the instruments and map position (or ATC instruction) and this will take practice for those entirely too used to “flying the magenta line” and punching buttons on your FMS." "I am pleased to report that regardless of the A2A B377 COTS complexity and immersive depth, the model has absolutely ZERO impact on frames. The performance is actually extraordinary and I can state unequivocally it is the best flying experience I have EVER had within FSX. Frankly, I am blown away. Every flight was a pleasure to make and a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience. The A2A B377 COTS is, simply put, the very definition of what flying in FSX should be all about. I loved it….and so will you."

Cessna 340 II by Carenado. (January 23, 2012): Staff reviewer Mike Cameron straps on a twin as he takes Carenado's Cessna 340 II for a test flight. "Cessna borrowed the wing design from the 414 and the undercarriage & tail unit from the 310 but introduced an all-new pressurized cabin with the 340. The Cessna 340 joined the Beechcraft Duke as the only pressurized six seat piston twin engine aircraft produced by a major manufacturer." "Carenado has always made aircraft with great looking textures and the Cessna 340II continues that tradition. Everything from the creases in the leather seats and the folding table in the passenger area to small things like the headset ports all looks great. The Cessna 340II has a very nice panel with instruments that are very easy to read. All knobs, switches, buttons and dials are all three dimensional and labeling is also very readable without anything being out of focus. Besides the Virtual Cockpit view, there are eight alternate views and a no panel view with the pop-up window key assignments." "Four paint schemes and an all-white aircraft are included with the package. All of the exterior textures are just as great looking as the interior textures. Other great looking exterior details include: detailed landing gear, readable signage, wingtip lights, static elements (pitot cover, wheel chocks & caution cones) and many other things." "If you are a new twin engine virtual aviator then this Cessna 340 II will make a nice addition to your hangar. I thought that it was a nice aircraft to fly and was very forgiving."

Vickers Viscount Legends of Flight by Just Flight. (January 18, 2012): Staff reviewer Peter Hayes looks at Just Flight's Viscount: Legends of Flight, a classic multi-engined commercial airliner. "JF have produced a dedicated FSX design, encompassing a highly detailed exterior model in which you get 12 highly detailed super-resolution repaints, and fantastic animations coupled with Hi-Fi sound for the Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines. The repaints or more accurate liveries cover Great Britain, Europe, Canada and Australia." "JF have produced quite a highly detailed stretch fuselage with nice smooth lines and reflections due to good specular and bump mapping. There is a single VC layout for the 12 liveries/repaints and there are no 2D panels. The VC depicts fairly realistically the pre-modern "Glass Cockpit" avionics/navigation instruments and shows a very crowded design of analogue instruments." "This is a nice plane to fly and it is a nice plane to look at. You can travel long distances in a fairly short time and due the JF Flight dynamics, this is an easygoing experience. So if you are into noisy vintage FSX airplanes where you can almost smell the kerosene then this is the plane for you."

Cessna T210M Centurion II by Carenado. (January 8, 2012): Contributing reviewer Ray Marshall gives us his in-depth view of Carenado's Cessna T210M Centurion II. "The Cessna 210 is at the top of a short list of high wing retractable single engine aircraft that will actually takeoff with all 6 seats occupied, full fuel and overnight luggage." "The flight instruments have been upgraded to the new 3D version which are probably smoother and more accurate than the Cessna round instruments of 1978. All are bright, clear, and operate very smoothly. The VC is crystal clear, the aircraft is generally modeled correctly, it has great sounds, it is easy to fly and it looks good. Being the top of the line for Cessna singles, once you master this one, the only step up will be one of the Cessna twins if you desire to stay in the family." "Go get it. Fly High, fly fast, fly often."

2011

Boeing 737-100/200 External Model by Captain Sim. (November 26, 2011): Staff reviewer Aaron Graham looks at the External Model of the Boeing 737-100/200 as presented by Captain Sim. "Captain Sim is known for making high quality products. They normally make classic Boeing aircraft. All of their aircraft have top notch visual models coupled with good flight dynamics and systems. When Captain Sim is developing aircraft they will release the external model first which includes no sounds, flight dynamics or virtual cockpit. There is only an external model; everything else is based upon the default 737-800."

Cessna 337H Skymaster by Carenado. (November 26, 2011): Contributing reviewer Ray Marshall gets pushed and pulled at the same time as he explores Carenado's Cessna 337H Skymaster. "This one is part of Carenado’s new HD series and comes with 2048 x2048 textures (4X standard), 3D gauges, digital stereo sounds, and the best quality animated pilots that I have seen in any simulation." "I think this is the best add-on to come out of the Carenado shop to date and I have many of their most popular ones for comparison. I don’t see any downside for this add-on. It looks good, flies good, has a large roomy cabin, outstanding visibility, a sim pilots dream with flight director, autopilot, advanced GPS, full IFR capability, dual most everything including engines, exceptional new night lighting, HD exterior and interior textures. Marvelous sounds inside and out. Spot on modeling, good looking pilots and frame rate friendly."

Airbus A321 Jetliner by Just Flight. (November 25, 2011):Staff reviewer Aaron Graham lifts off in Just Flight's Airbus A321 Jetliner. "The A321 is a stretched and first derivative of the standard A320. Compared with the A320, the A321's major change is the stretched fuselage, which is lengthened by 6.94 meters (22 ft 9 in) which makes the A321 the largest among the A320 family." "The virtual cockpit is made up of high resolution bitmaps. The cockpit includes an array of 3D switches and knobs. The Just Flight A321 Jetliner comes with a 2D Panel, which is good as they are of a dying breed. The gauges appear very similar to the default A321 but on closer inspection they are much more advanced and detailed. The external model is of an extremely high quality. There are 4 high quality liveries included." "The aircraft is good. The frame rates are outstanding. The sounds are remarkably accurate and the flight model is great. If you want a decent simulation of the A321 get this one, just remember that it’s an F-Lite version."

de Havilland Comet by Just Flight. (November 14, 2011): Staff reviewer Aaron Graham looks at the lead aircraft of the commercial jet aviation industry with Just Flight's de Havilland Comet. The Comet Jetliner has an identity crisis. The manual suggests buying a real Comet manual so I followed the advice only to find a large chunk of the systems are simplified or don’t function. The aircraft doesn’t know whether it is an F-Lite aircraft or a full simulation. In my view it should be part of the F-Lite series. If you are a fan of classic airliners get it, but don’t expect it to blow you away."

iFLY 737NG by Flight 1 . (November 14, 2011): Staff reviewer Roger Curtiss looks at another version of the 737NG, this time from Flight 1 with their release of iFLY 737NG. "The 737NG was more than a simple tweaking of the 737 Classic (-300/400/500) family, incorporating a 25% increase in wing area, 16’ greater span, 30% more fuel capacity, and upgraded CFM56-7B engines resulting in an increase of the aircraft’s range by 900nm and a larger cabin. iFLY chose to include seven models of the 737NG: the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, BBJ, BBJ2, and BBJ3." "This is a most impressive product and it is apparent that the iFLY team has embarked upon a labor of love. This is a complex aircraft and serious aficionados of the 737 will enjoy the level of detail inherent in this rendering and the fact that proper operation of the aircraft and its systems is very much dependent on following the correct procedures. With seven different model variations it is a great value. Even if all you did was sit in the cockpit, program the FMC and flip switches on the various panels you would probably not be disappointed - but of course, there is the fact that you get to fly it too and I can tell you that I will be flying this one quite often."

Wilga X by Aerosoft. (November 10, 2011): Staff reviewer Aaron Graham looks at a unique STOL aircraft, Aerosoft's Wilga X. "The production line of the Wilga started in 1962 and runs to this very day. It was designed for use in sports and civil aviation with a strong emphasis on glider-towing and parachute training." "The Virtual Cockpit is made up of high definition photo textures. All switches and knobs are 3D and even the ones that don’t have any effect on the aircraft. The aircraft includes no 2D panels although you won’t miss them because it has a fantastic virtual cockpit. The external model is great. The textures on the external model are crisp and sharp. The entire model is highly detailed." "The Aerosoft Wilga X add-on is a great aircraft for many GA fans to add to their hanger."

American Aerolites Falcon by Aerosoft. (November 5, 2011): Staff reviewer Drew Sikora looks at a lightweight from Aerosoft, namely the American Aerolites Falcon. "How cool must it have been to buy an aircraft, hop in and fly out of your backyard (assuming you had the 200 feet of no obstacle takeoff roll) without needing any sort of certification or license? That was the idea behind the Falcon when it debuted back in the mid-80's." "The attention to detail lavished on the interior is carried over to the exterior model as well - which is a good thing because unlike most aircraft, you're looking at a good deal of it while you fly. There are five main variants to the exterior aircraft mode. The default FSX UltraLight is a simplified aircraft. If you're looking for an ultra light with more complexity and realism in its operation, then the Falcon is an option for you to consider." "The American Aerolites Falcon is, if nothing else, a unique aircraft in its design - both aesthetically and aerodynamically. The model builder and texture artist both did a fabulous job capturing this aspect of the aircraft."

737 NGX by PMDG. (November 4, 2011): Avsim senior staff member Chase Kreznor asked to take an in-depth look at PMDG's 737 NGX. After a preview report was posted, this aircraft deserved an complete look. "Precision Manuals Development Group (PMDG) released their Boeing 737-800/900 Next Generation (NGX) add-on models for Microsoft Flight Simulator X in early August 2011. The PMDG NGX took over three years of research, design, and coding to develop. Over the course of three years, PMDG received expert input from real NG crew, maintenance advisers and the Boeing Corporation." "I have to admit this add-on made me a little nervous from the get-go on how it was going to handle on my aging computer equipment. I was very impressed to find the NGX isn’t as resource demanding as I anticipated. PMDG did a very good job keeping performance high up even with all the amazing visuals and systems simulations." "In the virtual cockpit, every texture, gauge, placard, annunciator and switch comes to life in one big collage of realism. In my opinion, this high level of detail and precision is unprecedented in MSFS and its various add-ons that I’ve experienced. The exterior model boasts a ton of eye candy. Overall, the exterior model was highly presentable and textured just right. I was impressed by both the interior and exterior model and gave these area full points." "I find PMDG's 737 NGX to be above any other that I’ve ever had the experience of flying in FSX. PMDG has not only exceeded past any other in visual quality, but also in their definition of simulation. It feels as though PMDG has built this plane piece by piece as the plane would have been constructed at the factory in real life."

Northrop T-38A Talon - Jet Trainer by MilViz. (September 17, 2011): Staff reviewer Peter Hayes straps on MilViz's T-38A Talon and puts himself through a test-flight, training program. "The T38-A is possibly one of the most evocative jet trainers used by the USAF, and it has been faithfully reproduced by Milviz. We have an historic aircraft well loved by all who trained in her and brought to the FSX table in vivid detail coupled with accurate flight characteristics, plus having the added bonus that real world Talon pilots had quite a lot of input." "The POH contains a lovely diagram on how to carry out an exterior inspection, so I used this as my template to report on the external physical attributes on this fine model. An excellent exterior in all aspects." "The VC, like the rest of the plane, is excellent befitting the description; " high quality 3D VC". All of the instruments are clear and suitably aged. The night lighting of the instruments is excellent and these can be dimmed or have the intensity increased using rotary switches in the VC." "The MilVix T-38A Talon is an excellent, accurate, lovely reproduction of a two set jet trainer. It is very fast, it's fun and it isn’t too pricey and it gives you a thrill a minute. The detail is just outstanding and unlike many planes, the interior looks like they have been used and then used some more. The exteriors are crisp and clean and they look good from all angles. A nice jet to install in your virtual military hangar."

737 NGX by PMDG. (August 27, 2011): AVSIM's Editor-at-Large Maurice Pratt climbs aboard his new 737 NGX from PMDG. "PMDG's just-released 737NGX is an exceptional achievement in flight simulation realism. As fidelity to real-world aircraft advances, computer system's performance can be an issue as well. Can any add-on product, especially an exquisitely modeled commercial transport aircraft, meet all these expectations? I believe PMDG has done just that with this product." "Speaking as a hobbyist rather than as a professional pilot, I can't say more about this product's fidelity to the actual 737 NG flight and performance characteristics than that it "just feels right" when flown by hand. Under autopilot control its performance is precise, exactly following parameters as entered in the computer display unit and MCP." "I believe flight simmers seeking realistic air transport operation will find the PMDG 737NGX product offers an experience level never before seen in our hobby."

Texans Vol 2 (Revisited) by Sky Unlimited. (August 25, 2011): New staff reviewer Drew Sikora revisits Sky Unlimited's Texans Vol 2 and adds to the comments of Reviewer Peter Hayes. "I strongly suggest you read Peter's review first as I will not be covering as many details of this product as he did. While I read through Peter's review and have nothing to contradict, there were some additional issues I noted with this product that he and I agreed should be published.". "Based solely on the performance of the aircraft and their operation, I have very mixed feelings about this product. While my remarks reveal that coming to fully understand and appreciate this plane can be a bit of a rough road, it can also be worth the journey as the flight modeling is superb and she really is a fun aircraft to get around in. If you're an old warbird fanatic looking to expand your library, then you'll no doubt enjoy this bird despite its quirks."

Cessna T182T Skylane by Flight 1. (August 23, 2011): Staff reviewer Peter Hayes looks at Flight 1's Cessna T182T Skylane. "Descriptive wise the T182T is a four seat light (GA) aircraft with fixed landing gear, powered by a single turbocharged and fuel-injected piston engine, built with an aluminum metal skin. It has excellent visibility and stability is enhanced by the high wing design with externally braced dual-spar wings plus conical camber wing tips. Basically it is that Turbo option which gives the plane just that bit more oomph so that it can carry more and fly a little faster." "Another excellent FSX plane from the Flight 1 stables. To me this is the GA variant of the Flight 1 Cessna Mustang and is up there with the A2A Accusim, Eaglesoft, and Real Air renditions of similar types of planes. It is a great GA plane and it can be used for fast touring as well as lazy speed grand touring. This is an excellent plane and one that you would want to include in the premium part of your virtual hangar."

Grumman Duck by IcarusGold. (August 8, 2011): Staff reviewer Peter Hayes looks at a vintage WWII aircraft with a unique design, the Grumman Duck from IcarusGold. "The "Duck" is a single engine amphibious bi-plane or flying boat that could also land on land-based airfields due to its having main retractable gear and being fitted with a tail wheel." "In this package there are 7 Models/variants, based around the Grumman JF2-4-5-6 series, plus there are 18 historically accurate re-paints. Included in the package are, 7 flights/missions/sceneries, 4 x WWII airfields which we are told include >50 new FSX specific objects." "This is a pleasant WWII vintage warplane package with lots of quality and quantity. The Duck is quite easy to fly with light controls and it is quite speedy covering the ground at a rate of knots and in the air it is extremely forgiving with very few vices. The sceneries/missions/scenarios complete this war-time package." "The Grumman Duck is a fairly well represented vintage WWII biplane and includes scenery areas that it might have flown in."

F4F Wildcat / Martlet by Just Flight/Aeroplane Heaven. (July 26, 2011): Staff reviewer Harold Zimmer jumps into the Just Flight/Aeroplane Heaven F4F Wildcat (aka Martlet) to see how it made a name for itself during World War II. "Everything looks very well modeled and has smooth lines as well. This aircraft model does the F4F and Martlet justice. Variations of the aircraft include models with and without extra fuel tanks. Details of wear and tear, exhaust, and other minute items add to the realism of this model. Up close or from a distance, these paint jobs look great, and have excellent attention paid to the smallest of details." "The amount of functionality within the cockpit is impressive. Authentic looking main panels, side panels, knobs, buttons, etc., are all very well made and textured. The modeling of the main panel and general interior of the cockpit is excellent to look at and operate out of. For the realistic flying techniques that are called for, you will find that all the proper instruments are in the cockpit, in the proper location, and operational." "This aircraft certainly is no Corsair or Mustang, but it is nimble and maneuverable for its size and shape. Long flights in this aircraft are enjoyable as the F4F is fairly stable and easy to fly, even in turbulent weather. The aerodynamics described are represented within this model with a high degree of accuracy." "Aeroplane Heaven has done a very fine job recreating this World War II fighter aircraft in its early years. Excellent modeling along with a large selection of variations and liveries makes this a hard product not to own if you are a WWII aircraft fan."

Airbus Series Vol 1 Evo by feelThere/Wilco. (July 19, 2011): Staff reviewer Arjun Murthy looks at the latest "Evolution" of feelThere/Wilco's Airbus Series Volume 1. "The Feelthere/Wilco Airbus Series 1 Evolution is an updated version of their initial Airbus Series 1. It includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321." "The panels and gauges in the aircraft are mostly functional and are realistic. All the aircraft from the Airbus Series 1 Evo have a functioning Flight Management Guidance Computer (FMGC). Other aircraft also contain a Flight Management Computer (FMC) or Flight Management Systems (FMS) which is very similar to the Airbus’s FMGC. A Nav Data is also upgradeable meaning you will be able to fly with the latest data. Feelthere/Wilco provides a fully functional 2D and 3D/Virtual Cockpit (VC) on all the planes in the Airbus Series 1. All buttons that work on the 2D panel work in the VC." "The aircraft of the Airbus Series 1 Evo are great to fly, with a good range of Short to Long Range aircraft. If you’re a person that thinks take off and landing are the most fun parts of the flight, the short range aircraft will suit you very well but if you like cruise procrastination, the long range aircraft would work very well."

Aerospool WT Dynamic by Lionheart Creations. (July 16, 2011): Staff reviewer Mike Cameron assembles his Lionheart Creations' Aerospool WT-9 Dynamic, a two seat light sport aircraft, and takes it out for a spin. "Lionheart Creations has done an excellent job with the interior textures. I could not find a single blurry texture. All objects, both large & small, are three dimensional looking. Everything including passenger seat belts, luggage, Emergency Locator Transmitter, maps on right side of the cockpit and signage all look great." "The exterior textures are great looking without affecting performance. The amount of detail that Lionheart Creations has included with the Dynamic is incredible. Every single nut & bolt has been modeled, including the cowling quick release screws. All exterior wording is clear and easy to read and just like the interior model, I could not find a single blurry texture." "Lionheart Creations has included an excellent 2D panel along with the VC. All of the instrumentation is easy to read. My Saitek Switch Panel works with the Dynamic which is a bonus for me." "The Lionheart Creations Aerospool WT-9 Dynamic is a wonderful little aircraft. They have taken the time to create an accurate reproduction of the real aircraft. Textures, sound effects and animations are all excellent. The Dynamic is a perfect aircraft for practicing flight procedures and taking short VFR flights in good weather."

Texans: Vol 2 by A2A Simulations. (July 7, 2011): Staff reviewer Peter Hayes heads out for a series of training flights in Sky Unlimited's Texans Vol 2, distributed by Flight 1. "The Texans or Harvards include 5 historical models; the AT6-D Harvard MkII/IV, SNJ-4C, T-6G, and LT-6G, their variants had quite different roles in WWII, so this is a nice mix to fly. The package promises 'an entire flight experience including new aircraft, vehicles, and artillery' all of which are controllable." "The exterior models are quite impressive. They have nice shiny textures with good shadow effects and from my comparisons to the real Texan, they look quite realistic. There are external differences between the variants including armament e.g. rockets and the various navigation aerials/transmitters which can be added or removed on the appropriate model." "The Texans all come with a 2-D cockpit as well as a VC. There are also pop-ups of the default navigation/communication radios and GPS 295. The cockpit depicts the instruments of the time and as they are not as sophisticated as today's glass cockpit so there is minimal impact on frame rates." "The Sky Unlimited Texans are nice planes to include in your hangar if vintage WWII warbirds is your thing."

Turbine Duke by RealAir Simulations. (July 1, 2011): Sometimes it takes 2 to review an anticipated aircraft. So senior staff reviewers Bert Pieke (a sim aviator) and Zane Gard ( a real world pilot and simmer) climb aboard RealAir Simulations' Turbine Duke and put the sim (and a real one) through its paces. "If you would like to fly the most exciting GA Twin released for FSX, and you admire a meticulously crafted aircraft, this RealAir package is for you. And if you already own the earlier (piston) version of the Duke, the upgrade is worth the money." "Since you’ll be spending a lot of time here, the “feel” of the cockpit is essential to the suspension of disbelief that makes for a fabulous FSX aircraft. As you’ll see throughout the review, RealAir has done a great job with the outside model and most certainly with the flying characteristics of this airplane. But where this airplane is a clear step above its competitors, is in the cockpit." "The sounds are very convincing and it is quite nice to have two turbines humming outside, rather than two powerful six cylinder piston engines banging away. The night-time illumination is good inside and out." Zane takes us on an adventure in a real Turbine Duke and then makes the same flight in the RealSim version. You have to read his comments to get an approciation for this airplane. "The 3D modeling of both the interior and exterior are so smooth and nicely done, the panel is a work of art and offers many variations from default GPS to dual RealityXP Garmin installations. Engine modeling is an area that RealAir did go far and above most developers." Bert concludes, "In keeping with the real world airplane that is modeled, this package was built for enthusiastic Duke owners who not only want an adrenaline rush, but also a high performance – lower maintenance ownership experience." Zane echoes with, "I give the RealAir Turbine Duke my highest recommendations as one of the most enjoyable simming aircraft ever released for FSX. Nice job, RealAir."

Boeing 707-300 by Captain Sim. (June 27, 2011): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury takes to the skies in a classic airliner with Captain Sim's 707-300. Alan gives us a history of the early 707 and it's British competitor the Comet. "You get a decent selection of paint jobs for the 707, although they are for the most part what you might call period paint jobs as opposed to the kind of thing you might see on a 707 today." "Most people will probably be aware that if CS aeroplanes are about anything, it is detailed virtual cockpits with a photo-realistic look and exterior models with every whistle and bell you can imagine, and the FSX 707 is no exception. There are literally hundreds of custom animations in the CS FSX 707, with everything from fuel dumping showing up on the external model, to the armrests in the passenger cabin being adjustable. In short, if you can put your mouse on it, regardless of what it is, it will probably function in some way or other." "I was very impressed with the way the CS 707 emulates the real thing as far as going by the book’s numbers is concerned, because I’ve done that stacks of times and it is always bang on the money. It’s true that some of the systems are not one hundred percent as per the real thing if you delve deeper, although you’d probably have to know the real aeroplane rather well to spot most of those things, so when it comes to actually simulating flying like a 707, which is the part that really matters most, it seems to be right up there with the best in terms of being faithful to the real aeroplane’s flight dynamics." "It’s been a long time coming, but this 707 really is a CS add-on which ticks all the right boxes, and it does the real aircraft proud as a fitting tribute to the jet airliner that started it all for Boeing."

Baron 58 by Carenado. (June 19, 2011): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri looks at a twin GA aircraft from Carenado, their Baron 58. "The Baron 58 is a twin engine, pressurized aircraft developed by Beechcraft and is a variant of the Bonanza." "The Baron 58 does not come with a 2D cockpit, and as the Virtual Cockpit now offers 3D gauges you do not have the usual 2D pop ups. Everything you would expect to be there is there, the circuit breakers are 3D, the lights, battery, avionics switches are all clear colored switches which are easy to see and flick. The overall quality of this cockpit is amazing," "The Baron 58 comes installed with five liveries (one white - used for repainters, four colored paints). All the repaints show the detail in the aircraft. The quality of the exterior is on par with the interior model." "The Beechcraft Baron 58 is Carenado's 3rd twin engine aircraft on the market. It is a fun aircraft to fly and perfect for more of a "lite" simmer."

Discus K by Aerosoft. (June 15, 2011): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen takes to the skies, but this time without an engine as she gets checked out in Aerosoft's Discus K glider. "A while ago, Aerosoft released their first commercial FSX glider, the “Discus X Gilder Collection”. The Discus K Glider X offers aerobatic skills. This was possible due to slight “real” and “virtual” model changes." "The skin is indeed glossy, no rivets or whatever is visible. Makes sense, since it’s a glider and any outside obstruction creates drag! The canopy itself is huge and reflects a nice shiny look. Even though the Discus K model is primarily based on the previous Discus Glider X, it is and stays a gorgeous model." "The Virtual Cockpit is a mixture between photo-real stuff and created panels like the side walls. The instrument panel itself is simple, but as real as it should be. Compared to the Discus Glider X, you’ll see a large reduction of instruments except for the basic ones. Although the yaw string looks very simple, its function is extremely important." "Whether you’re a real or virtual glider pilot, I highly recommend you take the challenge and try this Discus K and probably also their previous Discus Glider X package. Difficult or not, I’ve seen this Aerosoft glider as a challenge. I would say go for it and try to master Aerosoft’s Discus K."

Heinkel He-219 by Aircraft Factory. (June 2, 2011): Staff reviewer Peter Hayes looks at a WWII aircraft that arrived on the scene near the end of the battle, Airplane Factory's Heinkel He219. "The Heinkel He 219 Uhu aka "Eagle-Owl" was a night fighter of the Luftwaffe. ircraft Factory have included 5 HE 219 variants (6 liveries) representing its progression as it was developed." "These are all very well modeled as you would expect from A2A. Aircraft Factory state with regard to the modeling that it encompasses, "Native specular and bump mapped high-resolution lighting" and it shows in the beautifully clean lines and superb reflections. AF state that the plane is accurate down to the last rivet, and I believe them!" "In a refreshing change the AF He219 has both a VC and a 2D model. The VC cockpit is just fantastic, displaying beautiful instruments of the period, great detail in all of the knobs, switches, gauges, levers and dials. All of these are labeled in German and if they are meant to be functional then they are. The instrumentation is representative of instruments that would have been fitted during that period." "This is a very nice plane to fly; it is fast and responsive and quite agile despite its size. I noted in the manual that acrobatic flying was 'verboten' but I couldn't resist a few 'gentle' manoeuvres including flying upside down and again the He219 responded beautifully." "The He-219 is an excellent FSX rendering of a vintage WWII plane, and the 5 variants are historically correct and are facsimiles of real world planes. Aircraft Factory is the budget arm of A2A simulations so this plane may not have all of the features that you might see in their top range planes, with or without Accusim, but it is a nicely detailed, reasonably priced add-on that will give hours of pleasure."

Piper Saratoga For X-Plane by Carenado. (May 18, 2011): Staff reviewer Ted Gold takes Carenado's Piper Saratoga for a spin in the X-Plane environment. "Following hard on the heels of the Moody M20J for X-Plane, Carenado is following a specific route map for bringing their incredibly high standard of flight simulator GA models to the X-Plane world and raising the bar for future developers to follow - a good thing." "The Saratoga ships with four paint schemes and a default white canvas for repainting. Carenado has worked magic here with superb dynamic lighting effects over the fuselage and numerous details to be appreciated by any pilot. Internally the model provides more immersive features. Virtually everything within the cabin functions as expected; from the door releases and flip-top seat ashtrays, right down to the mood lighting provided by 4 individually switched reading spots over each seat." "Carenado has not just included a whole new level of custom gauges, they went ahead and ensured that every one has its own dynamic reflective model that shifts depending on eye point location and direction of lighting source. The original Collins COM and NAV radios are razor sharp and effortless in function (and nicely tied in with the GPS unit NAV/COM when tuned via the inner/outer rotary dials that stand proud from the panel)." "Generally speaking, the aircraft flies by the numbers. Trimming the aircraft and maintaining stability is easy. Takeoff’s and landings are simple to manage. The Saratoga is a “must-have” tour-de-force release for X-Plane."

F8F Bearcat by Vertigo Studios. (May 7, 2011): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at a WWII naval fighter from Vertigo Studios - the F8F Bearcat. "The Grumman F8F Bearcat (affectionately called "Bear") was an American single-engine naval fighter aircraft of the 1940s. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy and other air forces, and would be the company's final piston engine fighter aircraft. Modified versions have broken speed records for propeller planes, and it is popular among warbird collectors. The Bearcat concept was inspired by the early 1943 evaluation of a captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190 by Grumman test pilots and engineering staff." "Do you like a fighter that’s an old-fashioned model, that flies like a rocket, that can carry bombs and rockets and if needed, an additional fuel tank and you are the pilot? Then this Vertigo Studios F8F is a must! It may be a small fighter, but it’s full of tiny details and I’m wondering if I’ve seen all of them. The aircraft itself with all the “accessories” is gorgeous to look at." "I must admit Vertigo Studios told us what kind of masterpiece it is and it feels like every sentence is true. It’s really a marvelous virtual replica of the F8F. The external model looks great and it comes with a few high quality real world liveries. There may be no 2D cockpit, but what you get instead is a great looking Virtual Cockpit." "The sound is awesome and frame rates are good although “your” actual frame rates will depend on so many other computer related items. It flies and feels almost like a rocket, keeping in mind the engine performance versus aircraft model/weight. You’ll also like the acrobatics."

Huey X by Aerosoft. (April 28, 2011): New staff reviewer David Williard checks out Aerosoft's Huey X and says, "the product is put together well. It sounds like a Huey and as near as I can tell, it flies like one. The more I fly this helicopter, the more I like it." "Included are seven liveries in two different models of the Bell 205, the civilian version and the UH-1. Stepping inside the cockpit it looks like a huey cockpit but this one is much cleaner. This model is virtual cockpit only where the main panel would be there is a startup screen which gives you the option of cold and dark or ready to fly. The gauges are crisp and easy to read. The overall interior looks good. You can see the quilted pads on the walls, the rough texture of the floors and those uncomfortable looking sling seats that anyone who has ever been in the military will cringe when they see them." "If you are a Huey lover, you will fall in love with this aircraft. It has the potential to become simply the best, with a few tweaks. The likes and dislikes are purely my opinion but the bottom line is this is a wonderful aircraft worthy of its rotary wings."

Pilatus PC-12/47 by Shade Tree Micro Aviation. (April 4, 2011): AVSIM fan Ted G approached us and asked if he could write a review of a product he loves and have it published in our reviews section. So who are we to turn away a budding reviewer and exposure to another great X-Plane title. Ted introduces us to Shade Tree Micro Aviation's Pilatus PC-12/47 for X-Plane. "The PC-12 is a single-engine high performance turboprop aircraft. In researching this review I discovered that the initial development of the PC-12 program by Pilatus was a direct response to the popularity and success of the Cessna 208B. As a little historical nugget, the launch customer for the aircraft was the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia." "Visually the PC-12 looks a Corvette to the pickup-truck style C208B. Sheer performance by the PC-12 matches the looks and the 12/47 (also known as the NG) version offers up-to-date avionics, improved flight handling, crew cockpit comfort improvements, a handy left side full-size cargo door, and a significant boost to MTOW." "In Shade Tree Micro Aviation we find an already existing product base with a communicative, involved, and responsive development team. Little gems included in the package (the STMA preference window and remote control to name a couple), and a frankly excellent value for money offering in the form of the PC-12/47 airplane."

Supermarine Spitfire with Accu-Sim by A2A Simulations. (April 3, 2011): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri and Senior reviewer David Wilson-Okamura collaberate on a look at A2A Simulations' Supermarine Spitfire with Accu-Sim. While there are at least 3 payware versions of the Spitfire out there, why do we need a fourth? The reviewers agree that this is one version of the warbird you must have in your hangar. While the older versions are still creditable, A2A has surpassed the competition in sound, exterior modeling, flight modeling and the virtual cockpit.

P51 Flight Leader II by WarBirdSim. (March 17, 2011): Staff reviewer Harold Zimmer looks at WarBirdSim's P51, Flight Leader II. "Classic Hanger wanted to create Warbirdsim Flight Leader 2, a package of Mustangs that consists of the P-51B, P-51C, the Mk III Mustang, and the F-6C Reconnaissance Variant of the Mustang, to be as accurate as possible to the characteristics of the actual aircraft. A few years back, they came out with a similar package of various P-51’s." "The “bare bones” of the model is very well made with smooth construction and blended surfaces. No “blocky” looking curves or surfaces. Both large and small items are crafted with detail in this package, inside and out. The models are created in a “frame rate friendly” fashion, while still looking their best." "The liveries are all beautifully done and some are quite impressive. The paints represent a host of fighters that had served in various theaters of war. The details really make a difference in your perception of what’s “real looking”, and for the “screen shooters”, this product offers you some excellent material to work with." "Taking a peek inside reveals a very detailed and realistically laid out cockpit for this series of P-51’s. The Virtual Cockpit really is quite detailed and functional. The VC was very “Frame Rate Friendly”. You can fly this model by the checklist, but some items on that list are there only for the “realism” factor. Engine controls, such as the mix, prop, and throttle all function smoothly and efficiently, as do the switches that control various cooling functions. You can see on the gauges and feel by the performance of the aircraft, that it does, in fact matter how these controls are utilized during the stages of flight."

Douglas DC-3 by Just Flight. (February 13, 2011): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri looks at a piece of flying history with Just Flight's Douglas DC-3. "The DC-3 is a fixed-wing aircraft that changed the way air travel worked in the 1930s and 1940s - during the Great Depression and World War II. Due to the lasting impact it had on airline transportation, many regard the DC-3 as the most significant aircraft and icon man has made to date." "The Virtual Cockpit (otherwise known as the front office) for the DC-3/C-47 represents parts of what you would expect to find in an actual DC-3 or C-47. What I do like about the DC-3/C-47 cockpit is that what is modeled in 3D and looks superb - from the throttles to the switches on the overhead panel - they look great. If you were not impressed with the virtual cockpit, then you are in for a real treat with the exterior model of the DC-3/C-47. Everything is accurate." "Doing a full flight procedure is not difficult in this aircraft. Start-up smoke is included on the engines, but having a basic knowledge of the aircraft is all I really needed to operate this aircraft." "So did the JustFlight DC-3 meet my expectations? Yes and no. I was hoping for a more detailed interior cockpit, as that is where I spend most of my time. If you spend your time looking at the exterior, or in the cabin then you will be excited to know that that part of the product is amazing, and very nice looking."

Cessna 310R by Military Visualization. (January 12, 2011): Staff reviewer Mike Cameron looks at the premier FS add-on release from Military Visualization, their Cessna 310R. "It is a six seat, low wing aircraft and was Cessna’s first twin engine aircraft to be put into production after World War II. Production continued on the Cessna 310 until 1981." "Included with the installation are five high quality exterior liveries. All of the exterior textures are excellent looking with wonderful details. The interior textures are also impressive with some of the best looking fabric textures in any of the virtual aircraft that I have owned. Some of the aircraft have leather seats and these are also very good looking." "The sound effects were recorded from an actual Cessna 310R owned by one of the testers. In a word, the sound effects are awesome! All animations are included that you would expect from a high quality aircraft add-on. Everything from the control surfaces to all of the doors that can be opened (including wing cargo doors) all look very realistic. My favorite animation is the landing gear." "Unlike most flight simulator aircraft developers, MilViz has included very nice 2D panels to go along with the three different 3D Virtual panels that are included with the package. Two of the included aircraft feature 3D Analog Instruments with a Garmin GNS 430 & 530 GPS, Bendix-King KAP-140 Autopilot and Garmin GTX-330 Transponder installed. One aircraft has a Garmin G1000 glass panel system with the KAP-140 autopilot and the final two aircraft are called Free Radio and have the default FSX radios and GPS 500. All of the panels can be customized with your own instrumentation." "The MilViz Cessna 310R has realistic flight dynamics and systems, so if this is the first time flying a twin engine aircraft I advise you to read the included documentation before attempting to fly this aircraft on the most realistic settings. If you already own other complex twin engine aircraft, the learning curve for operating this aircraft will be less." "For their first general aviation aircraft, MilViz has produced an excellent product with the Cessna 310R. Everything about the product is wonderful, from the included documentation, incredible looking exterior & interior textures, and awesome sound effects to the very realistic flight model and aircraft systems."

Concorde-X by FlightSimLabs. (January 10, 2011): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen goes balistic with FlightSimLabs' Concorde-X. "The Concorde was a supersonic passenger airplane. Air France and British Airways where the only airlines who bought the Concorde. Not surprising since the French and British governments subsidized the creation of this supersonic delta wing airplane." "The 2D cockpit and the Virtual Cockpit offer a realistic look of how this supersonic aircraft was and I can tell you, it's beautiful and it looks very impressive with all those old-fashioned instruments, big switches and flight engineers panel. Not the entire virtual cabin is simulated but only the front part or to be precise, business- and/or first class. Via this area and the FWD pantry we enter the stretched cockpit. I'm aware that this is only visible when you enter the Virtual Cockpit, but when you go for the 2D cockpit, you won’t see all this." "Mentioned before; the cockpit is full with switches, switches and even more switches. You find switches on the overhead panel, on the glare shield panel, on the center instrument panel, on the side panels and the flight engineer panel and whatever else I’ve forgotten. When you're grown up with modern aircraft like Boeing or Airbus, you’ll probably find it a mess and an unorganized area, however this is how it was." Angelique studies the manual and takes this unique aircraft on a flight via the tutorial to get a real feel for it. "Remember, you are flying at higher speeds than normal and your cockpit view is totally different than you are used to compared to an ordinary Boeing or Airbus model. As long as you follow the tutorial (and please do that) you will enjoy your flight." "The Concorde is and stays in many ways, an extraordinary model. An extraordinary model because it looks and is totally different than what we’re used to. An extraordinary model because it flies supersonic and an extraordinary model because it's fair to say that this is a well simulated replica of the original Concorde. While saying this, I mean the external model, virtual cockpit in particular, the virtual business or first class cabin and not to forget the manuals including the tutorial."

2010

Gloster Gladiator by FSAddon. (December 29, 2010): Staff reviewer Harold Zimmer looks at FSAddon's Gloster Gladiator, the last bi-plane fighter of WWII. "The Gladiator was used around the world in various conflicts. It also performed in many diverse environments…from the deserts of the Middle East to the snowy, freezing weather of Europe. For a biplane, it was fairly fast, kicking up her heels at around 250 MPH. Although it was a tough old bird, it just could not compete with the performance of the monoplane-type aircraft that was being developed and delivered into service." "This package includes three models of the Gloster Gladiator and seven different liveries. All textures (this includes paint job, propeller textures, etc.) are created in a way that really reflects a note of realism to this model. The cockpit is loaded with detail. As you pan around in VC viewing mode, you may just get the feeling that you could feel comfortable sitting in a real world Gladiator." "The various panel views will offer any user one that will satisfy his or her needs. It comes equipped with a radio and a compass. The compass to help you find your way, and the radio to call for help when you can’t! No ADF, VOR, or GPS with this bird!" "The data used to configure the flight dynamics of this model were taken from original aircraft specifications and consultation with the staff at Shuttleworth Air Museum. She sure “feels” like a biplane, the way it rolls and handles." "FSAddon's Gloster Gladiator is an excellent addition to the ranks of payware models representing yesterday’s glorious old warbirds. The model reflects the developer’s intent on getting it as close to looking and behaving like the real Gladiator as possible. All flight simmers will enjoy this add-on for its flight dynamics, a challenge for your navigational piloting skills, and also, just for its looks."

A320 Jetliner by Just Flight . (December 27, 2010): Staff reviewer Robert Mariani climbs aboard Just Flight's A320 Jetliner, another offering in their F-lite series of commercial airliners. "The real Airbus A320 is the Airbus Company’s second entry into the commercial airliner fleet, and so far the 318-321 family has been the most produced of any Airbus model. Designed in the 1980’s with production continuing today, the A320 is a direct competitor to Boeing’s most successful 737." "The VC is made with sharp bitmaps and all autopilot and MCDU switches work well. One thing that you will notice is that the VC overhead is missing some sections that the 2D overhead provides, most importantly the working electrical switches. This will preclude you from flying from cold and dark to landing entirely in the VC mode. At night the cockpit light has only one panel switch and that one does the job wonderfully." "The 2D panel is well made as well, and includes several sub-panels such as throttles, full overhead panel, primary instruments zoom panels (3), and several other pop-ups. This panel is very well put together and lives up to the promise of “visually impressive”. As far as the panels go this one is good, simple, and functional." "This airplane is beautiful. The shape and size, as well as the two engine variations, detailed textures, the moving surfaces such as flaps and ailerons all combine to be one very pleasant visual experience. The A320 Jetliner comes in eleven CFM and nine IAE versions. Sounds are excellent. From start up to flap extension to spool-up, everything sounds realistic." "Overall Just Flight's A320 Jetliner is a pleasure to fly manually and on autopilot. It is docile at any speed, handles the low speeds well, climbs briskly, and ground handles fine. On rotation if you follow the speeds suggested by MCDU you will always have a perfect lift off. If you fit into that niche of people who like nice airplanes, but have no time for complex systems and very long pre-flights, then this A320 Jetliner is your ticket to fly."

Lancair IV-P by Orbx . (December 24, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Bert Peike looks at Orbx's first venture into the add-on aircraft genre with their Lancair IV-P. "Orbx has faithfully recreated the flagship model of the Lancair range, the “LANCAIR IV-P” as an FSX add-on aircraft. The build is based on VH-LLW located in Albury NSW Australia and is a recreation of the sample aircraft’s systems, avionics, layout and paint." "The virtual cockpit is nicely finished, with a small side stick to control the flying surfaces. This stick is removable to gain a better view of the engine instruments. All the gauges are custom made and 3D modeled and they are very good and legible. Panel lighting works nicely both in day and night time." "The outside views are in one word: stunning. The composite design of the airplane means rounded curves everywhere instead of the riveted aluminum skin that we know well from most general aviation aircraft." "With the great IFR instrumentation and high cruising speed, this is an aircraft to take on cross-country flights and hone your navigational skills. The sounds are well done and all the usual animations are there and work nicely. It really feels like you are sitting in the cockpit – the gauges look amazing when close up – all very crisp and life-like." "The Lancair is a noteworthy achievement by Orbx for a “first release”! A true high performance touring aircraft which is challenging to fly. The cockpit instrumentation that is provided is complete and ambitious, especially the fully coded EHSI."

Tecnam Sierra LSA by Ant's Airplanes . (December 18, 2010): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri looks at a relatively unknown developer of GA add-ons, Ant's Airplanes and their Tecnam Siera LSA. "The Tecnam Sierra LSA has a two seat configuration, low wings and is a light aircraft powered by a Rotax 912 ULS engine with maximum power of up to 5800 rpm. It has a cruise speed of 119 knots (5250 rpm) and climbs at 1200 ft/min. Though it is not an aerobatic aircraft, it has crisp control response and excellent take off, climb and turn performance. The Sierra LSA has a range of over 600nm." "The exterior model for the Sierra LSA is fantastic and represents what the real aircraft looks like. There is a control panel which can be loaded within FSX which allows you to choose whether you wish to have the nose wheel fairings, wheel covers and other choices like the wheel chocks, tie down ropes and the pitot tube covers once the aircraft is completely shut down. All the flaps, elevators, rudders and canopy work as they should in real life." "The Virtual Cockpit is no let down in quality. Everything in the Virtual Cockpit is clickable or modeled in 3D. There is no 2D cockpit included with this add-on. The night lighting included in the Virtual Cockpit is very well done, hence making it easy for the simmer to navigate their way around it without struggling to see what their instruments say." "Although the Sierra LSA is not cleared to fly aerobatics, the flying dynamics represented in this aircraft allow you to do so by performing the odd barrel roll, or doing a very sharp turn. If you're a student at a flight school learning to fly a Sierra LSA, then this aircraft should have enough complexity to help you become a better pilot and to practice the proper procedures." "The Tecnam Sierra LSA is perfect for a small flight, say a cross country flight across New Zealand or the Northern Rockies. The 3D Gauges are to die for, the sounds are to die for, the rain effects are to die for, but most importantly, the overall aircraft is to fantastic! There is no reason why any simmer should not have this little baby in their hangar."

Bell 212 & 412 by Cera Simaircraft . (December 13, 2010): Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne looks at the Bell 212 & 412 from Cera Simaircraft. "The Twin Huey as the Bell 212 is better known was first flown in 1968. The Bell 412 is a further advancement to four blades made on the Bell 212 and was first flown in 1979." "There are only three instrument pop-ups as accessed via the menu-bar/view/instruments path which are for the animation panel, the radios and the GPS (default FSX). The GPS is the default FSX GPS. The animation panel popup is very convenient as there are many doors to open/close on the Bell 212." "Cera also sells a reproduction of Bell's 412 model. It is a separate product with identical installation procedures but requiring another payment. What you get is essentially the same helicopter with higher speeds and a higher service ceiling, along with some more liveries." "Cera Simaircraft's Bell 212 and 412 are quite similar inside the VC but have different flight models which are reflected in their speeds and service ceilings. The lack of an functioning autopilot in both models was only compensated by the fact that the Bell as reproduced by Cera is easily handled and will achieve level flight without too much trouble."

E-Jets V2 by feelThere. (December 11, 2010): A new contributing reviewer, Ray Marshall, asked if he could submit a review about feelThere's E-Jets V2 as well as McPhat Studios' repaints for the same? Since AVSIM would never turn down a good review, here it is. Get yourself a cold one first as it's a detailed review. "A little more than two years ago, feelThere developed the E-Jets Series for FS9 and FSX, comprised of the Embraer 170, 190 and Lineage 1000. The Lineage 1000, a corporate jet, is basically an E-190 flight deck and body, but with only 19 seats and double the fuel. This FS add-on was exclusively marketed and is supported by Wilco Publishing. This is not an upgrade but a sequel to the E-Jets Series. It is simply a continuation of the E-Jets family with the introduction of the newer Embraer 175 and Embraer 195 models. When pressed about the v.2, seems it is best understood as Volume 2, not version 2 as one, including myself, might expect. Also, this time, feelThere is the developer, retailer, and support provider. Wilco Publishing is just one of several retailers." "You get one download with an exe file for FS9 and a second exe for FSX. The configuration utility is a standalone program that must be run prior to starting your FS. This is a combination load manager, systems setup, personal preference kind of deal with two rows of tabs." "Because you get both FS9 and FSX native versions, it really doesn’t matter which side of the fence you come down on. This one is ready to go. Those FSX simmers that seem to always be chasing a higher FPS number will be pleasantly surprised. You FS9 guys and girls are already maxed out with your sliders full right. The air files are by none other than Rob Young. If you just started simming yesterday and haven’t heard of Ron Young’s reputation in the FS world, let’s just say – it’s just about as good as it gets." "Most developers would charge extra for many of the features included. With E-jets V2, you get a ton of practical features with total integration, working today and on your desktop. This makes for a most pleasing flight simulation experience. What amazes me is all this comes in one easy package or two if you opt for the additional McPhat Studio’s optional repaints. It is like you get the whole feelThere store with both FS9 and FSX native add-ons, bonus MAP! and CALL!, audio callouts and flight attendant messages, full Right Seat capability, full VC cabin, includes 6 unique McPhat Studio paints, an absolutely top of line, new generation, full featured Flight Management System with a MCDU that seems to have no end of capabilities, real high end HUD, so easy to read, Speed and Altitude tapes, LNAV, VNAV, auto land, FADEC, animations galore, top notch sounds, full VC cockpit, widescreen 2D screens with pop-ups."

Airbus X by Aerosoft. (December 5, 2010): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri looks at Aerosoft's Airbus X. "The Airbus A320 is the European response to the widely popular American Boeing 737. The A320 family consists of four members, the A318, A319, A320 and the A321 all similar, though they are different sizes." "The Airbus A320 is the first in a series to represent a unique way in which the pilot flies; this is called Fly-By-Wire (FBW). You do not fly the aircraft; you fly the computer, which will fly the aircraft. The flight dynamics created by Aerosoft into this aircraft are very accurate to what and how the real Airbus would operate, in my opinion." "The Airbus X has one the best looking Virtual Cockpits on the market. Every little detail has been taken care of and represents what can be done with a Virtual Cockpit in terms of FSX details. Airbus X has custom night lighting included, which looks fantastic and brings your cockpit to life at night." "Aerosoft have included a fine looking exterior model of an aircraft that many will not hesitate to look at. For repainters, Aerosoft has included a large (over 700 MB) paint kit which can be downloaded to your account where you purchased Airbus X." "Although Airbus X is a simplified version, it is an easy aircraft for any simmer to operate and this aircraft has amazing graphics in the Virtual Cockpit, Exterior Model and the Night Lighting."

Leonardo SH Maddog 2010 by Fly the Maddog. (November 27, 2010): Staff reviewer Eduardo Ocampo looks at the updated version of the Leonardo SH Maddog 2010. "There are many MadDog enthusiasts out there and Leonardo realised this some years ago. They decided to produce a high fidelity hard-core MD-80 simulation and hence the MadDog 2006 was born. By the time I flew it (having spent some hours flying the real MD-80 myself) I thought it was absolutely mind-blowing. Magnificent flight dynamics, superb systems simulations and very short of a fully functional cockpit. Given the level of similarity of this 2010 version with the 2008 and 2006 versions, I will primarily differenciate what’s new in this version." "The visual model stays behind a little bit, especially in the nose section even though, in general, it is fairly well made. The same issues have existed since the 2006 version; the visual model has not been updated or changed since that version with the exception of the addition of both tail cone models, so if you are familiar with the MadDog, don’t expect something new on the visuals subject." "Therecent addition of the VC (introduced shortly after the 2008 version, if I recall correctly) is one thing the add-on surely needed, especially for those who love the VC. The virtual cockpit is only available for the full EFIS panel. It sure is a joy to fly the Dog from this view. The graphics are very smooth in their operation." "The 2D cockpit is the strongest single point in the MadDog, in my opinion. Summarised in one word: Awesome! The 2D panel is photoreal and you get the following fully functional panels: Upper overhead, lower overhead, pilot and co-pilot side consoles, throttle quadrant, pilot and co-pilot instrument panels, FMS, PMS (if applicable) and speed charts. The switches, the knobs, the indicators, the selectors, the handles, the buttons are all superbly modelled and their operation is the same as if one was seated in the actual airplane." "The airplane itself is a joy to fly. The control is soft, it requires just a fair amount of input to get the desired result, hand-flying this thing on takeoff and landing brings a smile to your face. All in all, the Leonardo SH MadDog is one of the best simulations ever created. It’s an integral add-on; cockpit, flight characteristics, systems simulations, flight planning and its additional goodies like the differed maintenance items and the failure generator, they all add up to the experience. This product is a true landmark in the flight simulation world."

A-7D & A-7E Corsair II by Razbam. (October 31, 2010): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson Okamura looks at the Vietnam-era A-7D and A-7E Corsair II from Razbam. "Early this fall the Razbam team, which specializes in naval aviation, released the first volume of an A-7 model for Flight Simulator X. It includes the A-7D, as used by the US Air Force; the A-7H, which was exported to Greece; and the A-7E, which was launched from carriers by the US Navy." "There’s lots of very fine modeling, especially around the undercarriage, and some notable animations: a massive speed break (that has to be retracted for the wheels to come down), a refueling probe, a retractable step for the pilot, leading as well as trailing edge flaps, and a small windmill that emerges from the fuselage to generate emergency power. Perhaps the notable animations are the fuel and weapons stores that can be mounted under each wing." "The virtual cockpit (VC) is just as impressive as the exterior model. The D and E versions have different layouts, but largely identical functions. Textures are detailed and sharp, not only for the gauge labels but also for the leather padding around the canopy frame. Steam gauges are modeled in 3D, not only for good looks, but also for smooth operation and higher FPS." "What I like about this model is the challenge of managing the engine. When you’re close to the water, you have to keep your speed up or you will fall into the drink. The engine spools up slowly and there’s no afterburner, so don’t count on a sudden throttle surge to get out of trouble. At the same time, you can’t run the engine at full power for more than a few seconds at a time. If you do, you’ll overheat and lose power altogether." "Razbam's A-7 Corsair II shows the craftsmanship of the external model, the in-depth systems modeling of the virtual cockpit, and the challenging realism of the flight dynamics. There is a lot here to learn about and explore, and almost all of it is fun."

Cessna C162 Skycatcher by Abacus. (October 25, 2010): Staff reviewer David Pike looks at Abacus' Cessna C162 Skycatcher, giving us a chance to fly the aircraft before most of us have even seen a Skycatcher in real life. "The cockpit of the Skycatcher is positively spartan compared to more traditional Cessnas. The panel is dominated by two Garmin 300 displays, separated by the switches, circuit breakers and radio panels. Apart from the autopilot controls to the far left, that's about it! The Abacus Skycatcher is provided with two panel variations to cater for both standard and widescreen monitors. The background image looks very realistic and is nicely rendered, and at first glance the Garmin 300 displays are very clear and easy to read. A number of sub-panels are also provided for those out-of-the-way controls." "One of the key features of the Skycatcher is the all-glass cockpit. Cessna has selected the Garmin 300, which is a development of the Garmin 1000 that is now widespread in new general aviation aircraft. Don't let the size fool you - the G300 is every bit as capable as its big brother." "If there is an area in which the Abacus Skycatcher shines, it is the flight model. A training aircraft needs to be easy to fly but rewarding when flown well, and I think Abacus have managed to achieve this with the Skycatcher." "If you are about to enrol in a flight school that has ordered a real-world Skycatcher, there may be a temptation to invest in the Abacus version to practice your procedures. However, I would say that this product is designed for entertainment rather than real-world training. The flight model is good, making the Abacus Skycatcher fun to throw around the sky."

Pasped Skylark by Lionheart Creations. (October 22, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at Lionheart Creations' Pasped Skylark. "We’re dealing with a native FSX model where all kinds of FSX features are integrated and also the model is DirectX10 Preview compatible. A quick walk-around check teaches me that the overall skin of the empennage, fuselage, wings and forward section with the single row radial engine is full with tiny details. The Pasped Skylark comes in three different flavors." "You can fly the Skylark from within a 2D cockpit or the Virtual Cockpit. Keeping the FPS in mind, just go for the VC. It’s a frame rate friendly VC and it still offers a great and realistic instrument panel, sharp and detailed instruments and much more. For those who insist to fly with the 2D office, it comes with a lot of additional panels. It offers a modified old (buttons etc.)/new (display) fashioned Bendix GPS panel, a remodeled radio panel, a mini panel that offers the main instrument panel to fly with, compass, fuel selector and a modified/old looking kneeboard." "Don’t expect a racing monster or a Cessna 150 or whatever. The Skylark is in that respect a unique flight model with own flight dynamics. The fact that the airplane never went in production doesn’t mean it wasn’t flyable. Flying this Lionheart Skylark is fun." "Without a doubt, this extraordinary old fashioned aircraft should belong in your hangar. When you like nostalgia then this is a great model. The cockpit may be simple, but it reflects the real Skylark and more important, every tiny detail is created."

Avanti II by Wilco Publishing. (October 19, 2010): Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne takes a look at a differntly looking twin-engine turbo-prop, Wilco Publishing's Avanti II. "The use of composite materials and aluminum alloys makes it both lightweight and strong. Improvements found with the Avanti II include two Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6 series turboprop engines mounted in all-composite nacelles delivering its maximum speed of 0.7 Mach." "There is only one cockpit related pop-up from the four icons at the bottom of the 2D cockpit, it is for the throttle quadrant. There are two clickable pop-ups, the PFD and the MFD glass display reproductions. The fidelity of reproduction and for the relative placement of all relevant gauges of the Avanti II in VC view is quite well done." "The Avanti's Flight Management System's display, the CDU, has 6 pages. The MFD is a dual purpose display; Engines and Navigation, with the latter having 3 separate pages available. These are rose, TCAS, and Arc modes. NAV data from VOR's are displayed on the PFD whereas "next waypoint" data is on the MFD." "I found the Avanti's response fairly good, except for the difficulty in taxiing. From the performance document supplied, rate of climb should max out at 2950 ft/min. One engine rate of climb is reported to be 950 ft/min to a ceiling of 25000 feet." "The overall outside appearances of Wilco's Avanti II reproductions are quite good. There is obviously a lot more work done here than what you would get from any freeware aircraft, but the level of sim-pilot ease of involvement and cabin texture quality is somewhat below the level found with the more expensive add-on payware products. For the low price they ask for this, it certainly is a fun aircraft to have in your hangar."

Cessna Caravan C208B by Carenado. (October 17, 2010): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri looks at Carenado's Cessna Caravan C208B for FSX. "The Cessna Grand Caravan 208B is a single engine turboprop with fixed gear for short regional flights. The aircraft can seat nine passengers with a single person crew. It can also be used as a cargo liner." "Carenado are very good at designing the exterior of their aircraft and the C208B is no exception as it is the start of the "HD" series from Carenado which features textures of 2048x2048 resolution. Carenado have included 5 paint schemes and a white scheme for repainters to make various different paints with. The Cargo Pod under the belly of the aircraft has the option of being able to be on the aircraft, or removed from it." "This is probably one of the best virtual cockpits, if not the best Carenado have released for FSX. The night lighting that Carenado have incorporated into this aircraft is terrific. Carenado have included a Weather Radar which is helpful in heavy weather to locate where the storms are and to how avoid them." "I can say this Caravan demonstrates a true feel to what the actual Caravan would fly like and with the additional SP1 released from Carenado, it improved the performance of the flying dynamics." "This is probably one of, if not the best aircraft I have flown from Carenado. The Cessna Caravan C208B will bring hours of fun to a simmer who loves to do some island hopping, bush flying or even tackling those IFR conditions."

BN-2 Islander by Flight 1. (October 11, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke checks out a multi-purpose STOL aircraft with Flight 1's Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander. "Designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom, the BN-2 Islander is a light utility aircraft, mainline airliner and cargo aircraft with two engines, up to nine passengers and one pilot." "The cockpit environment is just as one might expect a “workhorse” cockpit to look. Functional, everything within view, and with NAV radio, dual ADFs and a GPS, fully IFR capable. All the gauges and panels are 3D modeled. The KLN GPS is also very functional and can provide steering to the autopilot, so your flight can be fully automated." "The airplane is nicely finished wherever you look. A click removes the yoke. The outside is lovely, with riveted skin and lots of detail. This is a very distinctive plane and it really looks just like its real world counterpart. The night lighting is close to perfect." "If you like flying around the islands, pretty much anywhere in the world, this airplane is a great way to move half a dozen passengers with cargo. With its great flying characteristics it will get you in and out of small airstrips. The BN-2 Islander captures the feeling of a no-nonsense workhorse aircraft very well and really grows on you as you fly it more and more."

Battle of Britain by Just Flight. (September 22, 2010): In commemoration of this week's anniversary of the Battle of Britain, Senior Staff Reviewer David Wilson-Okamura looks at Just Flight's presentation of the aircraft that fought during this famous air battle. "This product, developed by Aeroplane Heaven and published by Just Flight, commemorates the planes of the Battle through a series of models for Flight Simulator X. Several types were involved, including Heinkel He-111 bombers and Junkers Ju-87 Stukas, but the objective of the battle was air superiority over southern England, as a prerequisite for seaborne invasion. This meant destroying the enemy’s fighters, and fighters (accordingly) are what this package is about: specifically, the early versions of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I, the Hawker Hurricane, and the Messerschmitt Me-109E (“Emil”)." "For the external model, the Just Flight Spitfire has twelve liveries and three separate models, representing the prototype, the early Mk. I (with two-bladed wooden propeller) and the Mk. IA (with bubble canopy and three-bladed, metal propeller). Unlike the Hurricane and Spitfire, which come in three versions each, the Me-109E only comes in one version, but ships with more liveries: seventeen, including a Soviet scheme (from the period when Germany and Russia were allies), French colors (for a 109 that the Allies captured during the Battle of France), and a Japanese livery (flown by the test pilots of Kawasaki)." "The Spitfire and the Hurricane in this package both have 3D gauges. So far, no one has produced 3D gauges for the Me-109. For clarity and sharpness, Just Flight is the winner. The 3D gauges help, but in general the textures are sharper too, and it’s easier to read the labels on the instrument panel." "On my rig, the Just Flight models took a little bit longer to load their textures, but I would put them all in the category of frame rate friendly." "The download version, if you buy all three models, is 40 pounds, 50 euros, or 60 US dollars. If you want to buy the planes individually, the price is 20 pounds, 25 euros, or 30 US dollars for each fighter (or series of fighters, for the Hurricane and Spitfire). If you want to get a series of planes, including prototypes, then Just Flight has what you need."

Stinson Model "S" Jr by Golden Age Simulations. (September 17, 2010): New staff reviewer Harold Zimmer takes a look at flying from yesterday with Golden Age Simulations' Stinson Model "S" Jr. "The Stinson Aircraft Company was formed back in 1920. Stinson started the company in Dayton Ohio, and then moved his operations to Detroit, Michigan in 1925. With the support of a local group of businessmen, the Detroit Board of Commerce's Aviation Committee, Stinson was provided with $25,000 to begin work on a new monoplane. A total of ten SM-1 Detroiter’s were sold in 1926, which led to the development of the Model S “Junior”, the SM-2, and the SM-8." "There are two versions of this product, one for FS9 and one for FSX, each is sold separately. Three models of Stinson aircraft are bundled up in this package, the Stinson Model “S” Junior, the SM-2, and the SM-8, along with a nice supply of liveries depicting some of the early roles the Stinson took part in. Although the models are similar, there are differences. These are mainly in engine type and interior layout. Nice modeling and great textures all make for interiors that are very appealing and easy to fly from. Good frame rates and a “nostalgic” look make for a smooth, old fashioned ride." "The panels are accurate for the time frame, and are very simple when it comes to the avionics that are provided. You will find only the basics when it comes to instrumentation. Everything you see should be familiar to you, and if not, it’s easy enough to figure out! All gauges and switches operated in a smooth and normal fashion. My opinion of the panel is a good one, giving you a real challenge in flying the “old-fashioned way”!" "This is definitely a “hands-on” aircraft to operate. There is no rudder trim on the panels, but you can use a joystick hat or switch programmed for this. Otherwise, do it the old fashioned way and keep your feet on the pedals for those corrections. The models trim out to a reasonable state, but you still have to keep the hands on the yoke or stick for minor altitude corrections." "I really enjoyed this Stinson model, and will continue to enjoy flying it. I highly suggest this model for newcomers to the hobby of flight sim, as it is simple to operate, yet because of its “simplicity”, there is also a bit of a challenge for those of you who have been using VOR’s and GPS’s too much! This is a fine model to get your feet back into the basics of old time flying!"

Discus X by Aerosoft. (August 20, 2010): Another new staff reviewer David Pike makes his mark by soaring into AVSIM with Aerosoft's Discus X. "Aerosoft has created the very first commercial glider add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The Discus is a high performance glider designed by the Schempp-Hirth company in Germany in the 1980s, and was the first sailplane to feature the distinctive swept-back leading edge that reduces drag." "The external model captures the graceful lines of the real aircraft wonderfully. There are several variations provided, each of which offers a different wing layout - the span varies and some are fitted with drag-reducing winglets. The model is animated, with the undercarriage, control surfaces and spoilers recreated faithfully. The wings also flex in response to the environment. In addition to the conventional glider, Aerosoft has included two powered options, the Discus BT and BM." "The Discus is not supplied with a 2D panel, so all of your time will be spent in the virtual cockpit. Aerosoft has done an excellent job with the panel which is well laid out with some surprisingly sophisticated instruments. Each model is equipped with an airspeed indicator, an altimeter and at least one vario. A vario (or variometer) is a highly sensitive vertical speed indicator with some special features. The overall effect of the cockpit is very pleasing. The textures of the instruments are crisp, even when viewed closely, and the gauges are very smooth." "Flight without power doesn’t mean flight without sound, and the Discus demonstrates this well. The package comes with over 100 custom-made sounds, controlled by a special gauge which responds to the FSX environment. From the whistle of the air flowing around the cockpit to the rumble of the wheel over a rough field, the sounds are handled exceptionally well. You can even hear the creaking of the wings as you fly through turbulence." "Gliders in MSFS have always struggled with the task of getting off the ground. Aerosoft has provided an alternative by partnering with Peter Lürkens, a German developer who has created a wonderful little piece of software called WinchX. This is designed to simulate the standard winch launching of gliders, and allows the user to select the height and speed of the tow." "I believe Aerosoft has set a very high standard, as Discus X is a superbly created aircraft. The addition of WinchX and CumulusX make this a complete package that will transform the way FSX handles gliding. The accuracy of the flight model combined with the vast amount of documentation provided means that soaring enthusiasts can finally use FSX as a serious gliding simulator, and maybe even as a trainer."

F/A-18E Super Hornet by Vertical Reality Simulations. (August 18, 2010): Staff reviewer Mark Kolo goes supersonic in Vertical Reality Simulations' F/A-18E Super Hornet. "VRS’s FS2004 version won high praise among the sim community, introducing not only high degrees of systems programming, but also introducing weapons! After a long wait, a completely new model has finally been introduced for FSX, and after some early glitches with the fly by wire system, has come of age as one of, if not the finest fighter aircraft created for FS." "Besides being seemingly 100% accurate, the VC is great for flying, with all aspects easy to see and easy to interpret. Just like the real thing, all information critical to flying and the mission is available to the pilot front and center on the HUD, and all other information and data (such as frequencies) are easy to see on the up front control directly below the HUD. Overall this VC is absolutely top notch, with the only possible complaints being it's too detailed." "Starting at the nose, the fairings for the center mounted M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon are faithfully reproduced. Moving back, the smooth transition into the beautiful bubble canopy is accurately reproduced, as are the air data sensors (Pitot tubes, AOA Probe, etc) and forward antennas. Moving back to the wings and strakes, I have always liked the way the Hornet looks, and VRS definitely captured that essence. Not only is the external aspect of this modeled, but the internal hinges and inner workings of the wing fold are modeled too." "VRS includes literally dozens (42) of beautiful textures for the F/A-18E for FSX, representing a full compliment of Super Hornets, from the flight test paint jobs with reference markings, to regular line jets for numerous line (VFA) and flight test/evaluation (VX) squadrons, and of course a few beautiful Commander and CAG schemes for some of the included squadrons, plus a fictional set of textures for Blue Angels 1-6." "My general impression of flying the Hornet was one of what I have to assume is not only accuracy, but also a challenging and fun flight model enabled by the CAS/Fly By Wire logic. Perhaps the best indication of accuracy was the fact that, using a real world airshow performer’s diagram of the 2009 Selfridge Airshow, I was able to make a reasonable effort at mimicking the maneuvers flown by the F model Hornet from the show from the low transition takeoff to the high alpha pass, to the pitch rate demo, all using the checkpoints outlined on the diagram." "The VRS team paid such attention to detail that I feel that this F/A-18E Super Hornet could probably be used as a desktop level simulator for procedures training for real world Hornet pilots. All in all I had a ton of fun flying and testing this aircraft, everything about it is top notch and goes above and beyond what is expected in FS add-ons, and will forever change my idea of what a high quality fully programmed aircraft really is."

Dodosim 206 by Flight 1. (August 16, 2010): New staff reviewer Mike Cameron goes into a low hover while examining Flight 1's Dodosim 206. "The Dodosim 206 FSX is a single-engine gas turbine powered light utility helicopter based on the Bell 206 Jet Ranger." "Unlike most flight simulator aircraft developers these days that are eliminating the 2D panel in favor of just a 3D virtual cockpit, Dodosim has included both. The 2D panel is excellent and has all of the required sub-panels open that are needed for the proper start up and shut down procedures. The 2D panels are also used for the highlighted procedures during the fully automatic & manually cued startup and shutdown trainer modes. The virtual cockpit is also nice with instruments that are clear and easy to read. On the virtual panel I like that Dodosim included the Panel/Function shortcuts instead of having the pilot access these functions via menu." "The package contains four different aircraft with each painted in three different liveries and are labeled with unique registration numbers. The four different helicopters are based on the type of landing gear that is installed. These are standard low profile skids, high skids, floats and utility which is a high profile skid configuration with a belly mounted hook & wire strike kit. The exterior textures are of high quality with nice reflective paint jobs." "Dodosim has done an outstanding job with the sound effects. Besides the usual sound effects such as button clicks, warning horns, the turbine engine, starter wind up and wind down, are some helicopter specific sound effects including, blade slap, transmission whine, rotor rumble, cockpit engine & rotor sounds and mechanical failure sounds." "Dodosim did a very good thing and included five difficulty levels, so pilots of all skill levels can enjoy this wonderful aircraft. The documentation includes a chart showing the five difficulty levels and what is included as you advance to the higher difficulty levels. The tutorial is very useful in learning the proper startup and shutdown procedures and I wish other complex aircraft flight simulator developers would include some form of visual tutorial. To add to the realism level of the product, Dodosim has included wear & damage modeling and a costing system. For each variant that you fly, the software is keeping track of the costs associated with operating that aircraft using virtual dollars." "For all simulator pilots that are interested in a helicopter with realistic flight dynamics & procedures, I highly recommend the Dodosim 206 package. Having five difficulty levels and the tutorial for proper startup & shutdown procedures lets pilots of all skill levels enjoy this wonderful product. The Dodosim 206 is fun to fly; relatively easy to fly at the lowest difficulty setting yet hard to master at the higher difficulty levels."

MD81/82 by Commercial Level Simulations. (August 15, 2010): Staff reviewer Aidan Sandri looks at Commercial Level Simulations' MD81/82. "The MD-80 series is a mid-size, medium-range airliner that was introduced in the 1980's. The design was a second generation of the DC-9 with two rear fuselage-mounted turbofan engines, small, highly efficient wings, and a T-tail." "CLS have spared very little with regards to the detail of this MD-80 aircraft. Many exterior parts of the aircraft are animated like the gear, flaps, spoilers, rudders, and elevators etc. There are many paintjobs available for the MD-81/82 Jetliner, a few of them are Delta, Finnair, Iberia, JetsGo and Martinair, an American Airlines repaint is also available using the livery manager included with the aircraft." "The Virtual Cockpit is fantastic, there are a lot of 3D knobs and switches, and almost everything is clickable and does something. I had no trouble reading or clicking anything in the Virtual Cockpit. Flying at night should now be very easy as CLS has done a fantastic job with the interior lighting." "CLS has done a good job in making sure the MD81/82 performs the like the actual aircraft and not like a jet fighter. There were no major drops in FPS when I was using this aircraft. While it is not 100% like the real thing in terms of systems (FMS etc), it will be enough for beginners to learn quickly and advanced simmers to fly."

Curtiss Hawk 75 by Vertigo Simulations. (August 11, 2010): New staff reviewer Ed Green looks at another warbird from Vertigo Simulations, the Curtiss Hawk 75. "Vertigo Simulations has reproduced the Hawk Model 75A in a number of its variations to give a broad representation of this historically significant aircraft." "Overall I have to say at the beginning that I was very pleased with the performance of this add-on. The graphics design and execution are in a single word, stunning; the aircraft both inside and out is just beautiful. The external and internal modeling are sharp and crisp, the paint bright and clear and the schemes appear to be faithful to the period. Obviously a great deal of careful research has gone into the design of the simulation and the end results reflects that care and effort. This is a quality product." "This aircraft is VC only, there is no 2D panel. The instruments are readable and appear to update smoothly. Gauge response was excellent on my system and with a couple of exceptions (fuel tank selector and cowl flaps) the panel seems to work quite well. I really had no problems as far as operating the Hawk on my system." "The graphics, sounds, and computer modeling aspects of the Vertigo Simulations' Curtiss Hawk 75 are very well done. I can certainly recommend this aircraft to those who want the experience of learning and flying a historically significant aircraft."

Cessna C185F Skywagon Bush by Carenado. (August 9, 2010): Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt looks at another version of the Cessna C185F, the skywagon Bush as presented by Carenado. "The C185F Skywagon Bush is a package of variants on the C185F Skywagon. The Bush package adds a ski, float, tundra and amphibian version, with the float and ski version each having a separate variant that contains an extra lower window in the door." "At first glance, the exterior model looks very good. You can see lots of detail, but what makes it such a nice model to look at, is the great texture quality. Tiny details are textured with crispness that is great to behold. The exterior model of this plane truly shines, and with textures that are among the best out-of-the-box that I have encountered, Carenado has made a truly great exterior model." "Concerning the floats, one must appreciate the level of detail of both the modeling and texturing. All the cables have been modeled with great precision, and it is finished off with a very good layer of textures, that make the floats seem like they have been heavily used. Next is the Skywagon with skis. The big, clunky floats have been replaced, and we now face a Skywagon with normal wheels, to which skis have been attached. Of note are the intricate details of the wiring holding the skis at the right angle for operation. What I think is very good here, is the texturing of these wires: they are so detailed, so crisp and so good, even though these are some truly tiny parts. The tundra model is the least exciting variation of all. The only difference is that this model has far bigger wheels. The wheels have been modeled well: there is hardly any blockiness, and the texturing looks as good as always." "The virtual cockpit is very functional. Not all switches work, but everything you need to operate the plane and more is there, to give you the feeling of being the pilot in command. The animations of the various switches are good, but note that the various radio and navigation instruments are 2D, however 3D they look." "Taking off from land and water and landing on both, gave me a good impression of the capabilities of this variant of the C185F, and the flying itself was easy yet great fun. There is nothing difficult about this plane. This package also sports a very good sound package with some very convincing engine sounds that bring this aircraft truly to life. The C185F Skywagon Bush by Carenado is a true gem."

727 Captain (Boxed Version) by Just Flight / Captain Sim. (July 30, 2010): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury climbs into the box to look at Just Flights version of 727 Captain. "Although the aircraft are the same in this DVD edition as they are if you buy the Captain Sim downloads, the paint jobs are most definitely not the same. There are quite a few more paint jobs if you buy all the download variants, and in doing so, you also gain access to a large set of other paint jobs from the CS website if you purchase it there." " In common with most Captain Sim aircraft, this 727 comes with an aircraft configuration editor (ACE) utility. Being this is the boxed version we are examining, it has the advantage of a printed manual along with a PDF one as well, and these are not merely the same manual in two forms, they are two different things." "So to sum up what is included, you get quite a variety of models, although some of that is merely visual and the flight models are the same when they should really be different. You get a configuration utility, although it appears to be mainly a means to add an arbitrary cargo weight rather than something which can radically affect the CoG in a completely realistic fashion. You get a good few paint jobs and you get a couple of manuals that could be better, but have one or two redeeming features, in particular a good tutorial. One other thing worth noting with this add-on in terms of what the package includes, is the fact that it comes with Captain Sim’s FSX Weather Radar as part of the suite of avionics in the 727’s cockpit." "So on the whole, the CS 727 flies okay (when tweaked) and does a credible job of emulating the real thing in most respects as long as you are prepared to accept that a few broad concessions have been made to get it to work in FSX without being too bloated a product. Straight out of the box, the CS 727 definitely has more plus than minus points by a considerable margin. On the minus side, you’ll have to tweak the config file trim setting to get it manageable for hand flying (not too hard to do); there are one or two anomalies in the cockpit (which can be fixed); the panel lacks a calibrated TAT gauge for the EPR settings (again this is fixable), and the documentation could be better." "Do I recommend it? Well since there’s a bit of DIY involved to get it up to par, that definitely marks it down. So long as you are happy to tweak it, then yes, I do recommend it." This aircraft has already been reviewed from a download perspective, so some of the review comments may be redundant. However, there are a few items that are different in the boxed version, so the review will help to gain some new insight.

Pitts S-1T Special by Addictive Simulations. (July 27, 2010): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury throws his weight around the sky with Addictive Simulations' Pitts S-1T Special. "At just fifteen and a half feet long, six and a bit feet tall and less than eighteen feet wide, the Pitts Special would comfortably fit on most people’s front drive. Size clearly doesn’t matter, because the only word you can choose to describe the influence of an aircraft such as this is, massive." "Addictive Simulations (AS) is not one of the more well-known FS add-on makers, but they are certainly not new, nor indeed new to making FS add-on aircraft. The FSX and FS9 versions are not merely a simple port-over job; each one being a dedicated development for the respective sims, which is apparent in how well they look and perform." "Once installed, when you fire up FS you will find several Pitts Specials available to you. Apart from the fact that the FSX version can have self shadowing and lighting with a nice bump-mapped texture on the cockpit coaming, you can see that there’s little to split them in looks for either sim. There are also a number of rather clever animations and extra bits and pieces to be seen. The fact that the exterior model is pretty, yet manages to zip along at an impressive frame rate in either sim, even with the custom smoke effect on, is definitely a credit to the Addictive Simulation developers." "Inside the snug cockpit of the Pitts, the visual treats continue. The FSX and FS9 versions have both virtual cockpits as well as 2D panels. One thing you will need in order to get the best out of the Addictive Pitts, is either Track-IR or some well-placed left, right and rear view buttons on your joystick, because in any aerobatic aircraft it is vital to constantly look either side. The Addictive Pitts cockpit is reasonably well tricked out for an aerobatic aircraft in terms of avionics and such, with a GPS and fairly comprehensive radio stack." "Once you’ve fired up that simulated Lycoming, which incidentally can be done exactly as per the real thing if you so desire, you are greeted with a very convincing and typically Pitts buzzing engine sound. Once up to a decent height, a tentative move of the stick confirms that it has the twitchy, fairly rapid roll rate of the real thing, yet it still manages to sit nice and level if you want it to. In spite of the fact that the roll rate is high, it feels well balanced and is easy to keep coordinated in a leisurely turn." "I’ve been mightily impressed by the Addictive Simulations Pitts on pretty much all fronts. Go to the Pitts product website and buy it before they come to their senses and realize they should be charging far more for the thing. Is it worth it? You bet your ass it is. This one is thoroughly recommended. "

Beechcraft Bonanza F33A by Carenado. (July 25, 2010): Staff reviewer Jason McKee looks at Carenado's latest FSX release, the Beechcraft Bonanza F33A. "The F33A has a 285hp engine and was produced with two layouts, one had a long cabin with room for two full seats in the rear and a larger cargo door, with the other version being the bog standard no frills version. " "Carenado are experts at building flight sim visual models that look just right, this aircraft is no exception, everything is in its place. The dimensions look spot on, and visually it looks exactly like the Bonanza should. There are four paint jobs included with the package, all representing the F33A Bonanza. There is a plain white version as well for all you budding repainters out there. Animations are well covered with this aircraft, from the aerial moving in the breeze to the exhaust vibrating while then engine is running. " "There is no 2D cockpit per se, there is an option to display the instruments but this is in no way anything like the real aircraft, it is more so you can fly the aircraft. Having said that, the VC is stunning with the attention to detail being seen everywhere you look. The instruments are smooth and fluid, and most importantly easy to read. The textures are crisp and look just right. This aircraft package sounds like the real thing too. From start up to shut down the sounds are spot on." "Going from published flight data I could find, the F33A handled slightly different with the different models. But there were no major differences in flight characteristics. The F33A flew by the numbers and felt like an aircraft this size should." "Carenado have got another successful aircraft here, it is an easy to fly aircraft that will reward you on long flights. If you want something a bit different from the usual Cessna offering, this could very well be the aircraft for you."

Curtiss P-36 Hawk by Vertigo Studios. (July 23, 2010): New staff reviewer Aidan Sandri takes a look at another Vertigo Simulations warbird, the Curtiss P-36 Hawk. "The (Curtiss) P-36 Hawk - otherwise known as Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was a US fighter model built in the 1930s and 1940s and it was one of a new generation of fighter aircraft. The P-36 Hawk is a sleek monoplane making extensive use of metal in its construction and is powered by a powerful piston engine." "Vertigo Studio's have raised the bar once again with this highly detailed model that they have designed. This aircraft features 8 repaints, which are all of the highest quality. The Hawk has one Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp air-cooled engine, which produces 1,050 horsepower. Vertigo Studios have magically remade this engine’s sound, using their 3D ‘Sound Cone’ Technology." "This aircraft has a fantastic flight deck. If you mainly fly in the virtual cockpit then you will absolutely fall in love with this aircraft as this one is by far the best in terms of detail. I have put the aircraft through a series of flight tests and I found the flying dynamics of this aircraft are for the casual flyer and not the "hard core" simmer group. Vertigo Studios has made a great effort in keeping this aircraft at a safe FPS level." "Vertigo Studio's have done a great job with their Curtiss P-36 Hawk. Though this aircraft is not perfect, it indeed is a fantastic aircraft."

SBD Dauntless by Vertigo Studios. (July 17, 2010): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura continues his love of warbirds with a review of Vertical Studios' SBD Dauntless. "The most famous dive bomber of World War II is probably the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. But the Stuka did not win any major battles; the only dive bombers that can make that claim are the Japanese Aichi D3A (“Val” to the Allies), which hit eighty percent of its targets in the Indian Ocean raid of 1942, and the American SBD Dauntless, which disabled or sank four Japanese carriers in 1942 and won the Battle of Midway -- by most accounts, the turning point of the war in the Pacific." "The external model is a piece of real craftsmanship. The lines are true and the details are fine. Rivet-counters will not be disappointed. In addition to the usual animations for carrier-based warbirds -- control surfaces, dive flaps, cowl flaps, tail hook, landing gear, canopy, and prop -- there are also several animations that deserve special notice. One of these is the drop-down landing light; colored identification lights that can also be selected separately." "The comm radios are tunable, but only through a 2D popup (borrowed from the default DC-3). This item doesn’t break my heart, but I mention it here so that readers know what they’re getting. Taking the VC as a whole, this is a work of art. Like all of the best models that I’ve reviewed in the last year or two, it has 3D gauges -- which not only look better than 2D gauges, but move more smoothly and have better frame rates." "The Dauntless’s sounds are licensed from Iris Simulations. Iris has used FSX’s sound cone feature to define where sounds come from. In addition to the normal sounds (of engine, flaps, canopy, and wheels), the Vertigo model also includes ambient sounds for ground operations, the most noticeable of which is another Dauntless passing overhead. That’s a nice touch." "Compared with other carrier-borne types from the same era, the Dauntless is very stable: a useful quality in a bombing platform. For a tail dragger, it also has good visibility in the landing attitude. Compared with the F4U Corsair, the Dauntless is easy to position on a runway or carrier deck. Engine modeling is somewhat more sophisticated than the defaults." "Overall, Vertigo Studios' SBD Dauntless is a strong package and well priced. Framerates are good, it’s easy to fly, and it makes great screenshots."

PA-28 Archer II by Carenado. (July 14, 2010): Staff reviewer Peter Clemenko III looks at another beautiful GA aircraft from Carenado - the PA-28 Archer II. "The Piper PA-28-181 Archer II is a easily distinguishable GA aircraft which has become one of the more recognizable GA aircraft in the world. As a direct competitor to the Cessna 172, the PA-28-181 Archer II is a single engine, GA aircraft, with the standard design of the fuselage over the wings." "The agility of this aircraft is pretty good. It feels like it has mass and inertia, which is not something to take lightly. The flight controls seemed to be fairly stable, and not overly twitchy. After a few flights, I wound up determining that the flight model is relatively perfect based on published specifications." "I immediately decided to fly the Piper in 3D panel and I found something that made me happy immediately. There are tons of cool things to click and play with that aren’t flight related. Items like the moving the seats back and forth and flipping down the visor. This cocpit get’s a pass in the 3D department, as it seems as though everything is 3D modeled. Furthermore, the gauges all seem to be custom, with the exception of the GPS, which appears as if it’s default FSX." "The sounds all appear to be custom, and that is something worth noting as it’s important to have a full immersion experience, including audio. The engine sound varies based on the mixture and the throttle settings, which is a good touch of realism." "Carenado delivers big time on the PA-28 Archer II, and I applaud them for their work on this."

Ultimate 757 Collection - Redux by Quality Wings. (July 10, 2010): A 2nd look at Quality Wings' Ultimate 757 Collection. This time for the FSX perspective. “ Complexity… simplified!” is the motto of Quality Wings, whose debut product is unabashedly named “The Ultimate 757 Collection.” Quality Wings has aimed for a crowd-pleasing middle ground better described as a “medium” offering. Complexity Simplified indeed. "The external modeling is excellent. Details like antennae pylons have not been forgotten. The paint jobs are a bit mushy up close, but from any distance you are likely to view them from, they are beautiful. Particularly noteworthy are the “metal” liveries which look convincingly shiny despite being a clever painter’s illusion. It is hard to overstate the luxury of being able to download any or all of 125 liveries right out of the box. There are no bump maps, but they are hardly missed." "The visual quality carries through to the virtual cockpit, which is quite nice in a rubbed up sort of way. You have a choice between the original display and the glass retrofit, which is a nice touch." "The flight characteristics are among the best this reviewer has experienced. Once you get this bird steady, you can take your hands off the yoke and let her fly herself. Manual landings are like coming in on rails. I really can’t say enough good things about hand-flying this airplane. So what is sacrificed in the quest to simplify complexity? The FMC lacks some functions and others are presented in shortcut fashion. This airplane may not be the smartest in the room, but it is as smart as it needs to be." "There is nothing about the Quality Wings Ultimate 757 Collection that does not live up to the name."

Cessna 140 by SimFlight 3D. (July 5, 2010): Staff reviewer Philip Wilson takes a look at SimFlight 3D's Cessna 140. "The Cessna 140 was originally equipped with an 85 or 90 horsepower Continental engine. This model has a metal fuselage and fabric wings with metal control surfaces. The final variant of the Cessna 140 introduced in 1949 was the 140A which had a standard Continental C90 engine producing 90hp, aluminum covered wings and a single strut replacing the dual "V" struts and jury struts fitted on earlier models." "The aircraft modeling is good and gives a true representation of the real aircraft. I feel there are areas where the model could have been a bit better, such as the interior door handles and all window frames, but given the low cost of this package, it’s an acceptable sacrifice. The textures are “photo realistic” and as such offer some good results and some not so good results. Performance on all models was excellent and I didn’t see a single drop in FPS due to the aircraft." "One area that was very disappointing was the panel. Although it’s “photo realistic”, it doesn’t look good at all. Both 2D and 3D panels were well below what I would consider acceptable for a commercial product. The panel contains default FSX primary gauges with a few non functioning static gauge images from the original photo used to make the panel. While the aircraft includes the traditional "six pack" and basic FSX radio, the text descriptions on the panel for buttons and such are unreadable. The lower quality gives you higher performance, but I would rather sacrifice a few fps for a higher quality panel than have a substandard panel as we have here." "The SimFlight 3D C-140 is a basic aircraft title within financial reach by nearly everyone. It is truly fun to fly and looks good in the air. For those simmers who don’t care about hard core by the book flying and want a great representation of the classic C-140, then this product is for you."

Falco F.8L for X-Plane by X-Scenery/X-Aviation. (July 4, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at another X-Plane product. This time it's X-Scenery/X-Aviation's Falco F.8L. "A great looking General Aviation model that not only looks great, it comes standard with a 2D cockpit and a Virtual Cockpit or 3D cockpit. The overall package is not just the Falco F.8L software. It’s a little more than that." "This external model looks really gorgeous. During daylight operations no tiny detail has been forgotten. My first impression was and still is “I don’t see any rivets, dents, bolts or other non aerodynamic protrusions”. Believe me, more real is not possible. This X-Aviation model is as real as it gets! The Falco is mainly made of wood. This means that the wing, horizontal and vertical stabilizer are composed, as done in the good old days; of a mixture from wooden ribs with a plywood skin. This applies also for the wooden fuselage frames with again a plywood skin and worth mentioning; the firewall (separation between the engine and fuselage/cockpit compartment) which is also made of wood." "The simulated Falco comes with a 2D and 3D or Virtual Cockpit (VC). Keeping the frame rates in mind, just go for the VC and by the way, there’s hardly any difference between the 2D and 3D panel or at least, I haven’t seen it. Most important, the VC is really a pleasure to fly and sit in. Even the simulation of the control stick is a pleasure to look at. With the AP engaged, you still see the small corrections that are made because of external influences." "I can tell you; when you like GA airplanes, this model is an absolute must for your GA collection. The model is gorgeous and then I don’t mean the external model or the cockpit panel. It’s the Falco itself that offers all what a GA lover likes. The recorded sound is a pleasure to listen to as long as you’re not in a stall or spin. Overall, this X-Scenery Falco F.8L seems “almost” the perfect match! Sequoia Falco F.8L …. It’s really a Ferrari in the Air!"

A380 for X-Plane by Peters Aircraft. (July 1, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at the A380 for X-Plane. "This model of the A380 comes with a highly detailed and animated exterior 3-D model. The panel has almost 1.700 objects, and roughly 1.600 working hours went into it, although some systems from the A340 could be used." "The shape and the sizes of the individual airplane parts like the fuselage, tail, wing, landing gear are of the correct size. Flaps/slat extension/retraction goes unbelievable smooth, which is the same for the GEAR extension/retraction. Because of the size, the cockpit or I should say the aircraft, is fitted with external camera's, helping the pilots while taxiing on the airport. This is not new or unusual, since it was already introduced with the A340-500/600. Anyway, following this camera guidance system works very well." "Peter told me that the panel instruments and flight models are as realistic as they can be, within the limits of X-Plane. Peter Hager can offer A380 customers special plugins like this for the A380 model. Plugins that will become available in the near and far future, are for example first a mini plugin that automates the throttle configuration. A more complex plugin is under development. We (Peters Aircraft) already have the codes for a custom A/THR, AP and full Fly-by-Wire plugin." After taking the A380 for a test flight, Angelique comments, "I still can’t read some of the panels or displays. It’s so tiny that guessing is the result. I’ve also the idea that the FMA (Flight Mode Annunciator) on top of the PFD is not completely conforming to reality. It was a good flight keeping in mind the X-Plane limitations." "My overall impression is that this X-Plane A380 model should be a part of your collection. I’m aware that there will never be a Virtual Cockpit included. Peter has explained why he doesn’t want that or why he’s not spending the time creating one. That’s something you and I have to respect. The offered detailed manual is a pleasure to read. All what you want to know about the A380 is there."

Ultimate 757 Collection by Quality Wings Simulations. (June 13, 2010): Staff reviewer Marlon Carter stuffs his hangar with aircraft after loading Quality Wings Simulations' Ultimate 757 Collection. "The 757 is an amazing aircraft. The model is unique and by far one of the most widely used aircraft in the skies today. The Boeing 757 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a conventional tail unit with a single fin and rudder. The wing is swept at 25 degrees, and the aircraft is optimized for a cruising speed of Mach 0.8." "Quality Wings has done an amazing job at modeling all variants of the 757. Over the years I have seen many 757 models both freeware and payware, I think at this point I can safely say that this is by far one of the best models I have seen. What makes this one of the best add-on packages is that you get not just 1 or 2 models, but up to 15 models with many features! All of these models come equiped with choice of either 2D or virtual cockpits along with an option for retrofitted ISS EFIS displays." "The 757 by Quality Sim is not an in depth systems simulation, but the sound package that comes with this aircraft is nothing short of amazing. These sound files were recorded during actual engine run ups both inside and outside of the aircraft not just for one engine type, but for both RR and PW variants." "QW has made it very clear on their website that this product is not meant to be a full systems simulation. With a motto as “Complexity Simplified” I think it sends a clear message that this is not a product that should be held on par with products that come from PMDG. However, this does not mean that the QW757 is not accurate in terms of the systems that are available. QualityWings has created an aircraft that simply gives you what you need to carry out a realistic flight from point A and B with some functions being carried out automatically e.g.: engine start fuel leveler, almost as if you had a virtual First Officer." "I can say without any reservation that this product is one of the best deals I have seen in many years. You not only get a high quality mid level simulation product, but you also get the very best and exclusive sound package along with 15 of the highest quality 757 models."

Sea Fury by SimFlight3D. (June 5, 2010): Staff reviewer Philip Wilson looks at a WWII warbird that some of you might have seen at the Reno Air races. SimFlight3D's Sea Fury. "The Hawker Fury was an evolutionary successor to the successful Hawker Typhoon and Tempest fighters and fighter-bombers of World War II. In 1943, the design was modified to meet a Royal Navy request (N.7/43) for a carrier-based fighter. Boulton-Paul Aircraft was to make the conversion while Hawker continued work on the Air Force design." "The Sea Fury modeling is fairly accurate and any shortcomings in this area are relatively minor. What you will not see is cutting edge high resolution modeling, and for performance this works out great. The textures of both aircraft are “photo realistic”, and are somewhat of a mixed bag." "The cockpit is all military. No fancy leather seats here, just grey metal surfaces and man sized controls. Most features are modeled and include a working tail wheel lock, stick mounted push to talk button (activates the ATC dialog window), and map window to name a few. The cockpit uses the same “photo textures” as the rest of the aircraft but they don’t look too bad in the small confined cockpit. The aircraft is easily flown from the VC." "The SimFlight 3D Sea Fury is fun to fly, and there are differences in the “feel” of the aircraft across the performance envelope, but it’s akin to selecting the “easy” flight model. The flight model is for the casual flyer and not the hard core group." "The SimFlight 3D Sea Fury comes in below the current crop of FSX releases in quality and flight dynamics. For the casual armchair military pilot types, it’s a great, fun to fly aircraft."

Epic Victory by Lionheart Creations. (May 29, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke looks at a unique aircraft that may or may not get off the ground in the commercial world. The Epic Victory released by Lionheart Creations. "This aircraft is classified as a VLJ type aircraft, short for ‘Very Light Jet’. Built for ‘ease of use’ jet flight commuting, this aircraft can take its passengers comfortably from location to location at speeds of 320 KTAS and at altitudes of up to 28,000 feet and with comfort." "The details are really nicely finished and there is so much to admire, for such a small airplane. Once you get inside, the visual experience continues. The virtual cockpit is beautiful and the seating position makes it feel as if you are sitting in the real thing!" "The airplane comes with Garmin G1000 avionics, which are very functional and a pleasure to use. The autopilot was new to me, so I spent some time with the manual and also watched a Youtube video recorded by Bill Ortis to learn how to adjust the altitude and set the unit up for an ILS intercept." "Taking into account that this is an Experimental Aircraft without published flight envelope numbers, it is hard to say with any authority whether this plane flies close to the real thing or not. The Epic Aircraft Factory was involved in the design and provided engineering drawings, so I guess it is truly “as real as it gets”." "The Epic Victory is a lot of fun to fly and continues to please with its good looks and awesome performance. I love taking it for a city to city flight at double the speed of my piston aircraft and at three times the altitude. The instrumentation is great for IFR. Some airplanes are interesting for a while and then fade away – this one is staying around as one of my personal favorites!"

767-200ER/300ER by Commercial Level Simulations. (April 20, 2010): Staff reviewer Eduardo Ocampo climbs aboard Commercial Level Simulations' 767-200ER/300ER. "After the A300 (the first commercially successful wide body twin), it’s the most important aircraft of its type and paved the way to a whole new market niche: Long range twin engine jets." "This is where the 767 made by CLS stands out. The shape of the airframe has been reproduced with fidelity. The quality of the textures that CLS has created is remarkable and they definitely scores points for the team; they are clear, crisp and have great definition in their lines. “Attention to detail” are the keywords to define these texture sets." "The panel is nicely done, showing some very nice graphics. It is perfectly readable and the bitmaps are very crisp. CLS clearly states this is a “lite” product, so it doesn’t have full systems implementation. The virtual cockpit overall, looks very good but I found the gauges a bit hard to read, particularly the EICAS (Engine Indications and Crew Alert System). The VC is easy on PC resources and is also fully clickable." "The strong points in this CLS aircraft are the visuals, the animations and the aircraft model. For those who were looking to find a medium 767 simulation, something not as “hard” as the Level-D 767, I will sadly say “keep looking”. However, for those who like to get up in the air immediately with no complex procedures, this is your aircraft. The expansion packs for the 767 were released officially the 28th of January. AWACS, tanker, cargo, wingleted pax and wingleted cargo aircraft models are the contents of the pack; they also include 13 new liveries."

A300 by Aerosoft / SimCheck. (April 19, 2010): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury looks at the original Airbus with SimCheck's A300. "Now this may not be the Airbus you’ve been desperately waiting for, but just think about this: It’s an Airbus, but it has a cockpit that is about halfway between how a Boeing and an Airbus are equipped, so there is a conventional yoke and steam gauges, but a clever computer to help you fly it too, pleasing both camps." "Upon installation, it very soon becomes apparent that you get a lot of bang for your bucks. For a kick off, you get both the A300B2-200 and the B4-200 variants, the main differences between these being MTOW, fuel capacity and range, and as a consequence, a very slight variance in placard speeds. You also get a lot of paint jobs, 23 to be precise, and since there is also a paint kit there are likely to be plenty more kicking about on the ‘net’ before too long." "Most of the interior of the SimCheck A300 is modeled, but despite there being passenger variants in the repaint selections, the only interiors are cargo variants and these are fairly detailed. Once seated in the cockpit, a quick glance around reveals that most of the switches are operable in the VC including the INS, I could only fine one operable switch requiring the use of a 2D panel. Not every single system is simulated, but to be fair, it comes pretty close and is certainly more sophisticated than a lot of fancy add-on FS airliners out there." "With an array of computer-aided gizmos, an INS navigation system and full auto land capability, like the real deal, you could theoretically barely touch the yoke and get the SimCheck A300 from A to B. It has a genuine ‘heavy’ feel to it when flown manually, with lots of inertia, yet manages to also seem sure-footed thanks to a very faithful emulation of the real aircraft’s superior aerodynamics. Or to put it another way, it’s pretty damn convincing and great fun to fly." "The SimCheck A300 is really rather hardcore when you look at how realistic the systems simulation is, but because it is a simulation of an airliner that was meant to be easier to fly than its contemporaries, in practice hardcore does not mean hard to do. Thanks to the great tutorial documentation it ends up being something that is just different enough and just challenging enough to be entertaining and an important aircraft that is kind of the missing link between all the old steam gauge airliners and the glass cockpit wonders of today. In short, this is a really great add-on for FSX."

P-51D Mustang by Flight 1/Aeroplane Heaven. (April 3, 2010): Staff reviewer Philip Wilson looks at a classic warbird with Flight 1's P-51D Mustang. "If there were ever an aircraft that didn’t need an introduction, it’s the legendary Mustang. The silhouette of a P-51 is iconic from any angle and its Packard built Rolls Royce Merlin 1,695 HP engine is soul stirring." "Flight1 has been kind enough to provide you with not only 12 textures, but 7 payload variations to choose from and a paint kit. Flight1 has also included a few pieces of eye candy as well. When the engine is being checked, the engine cover comes off and leans against the fuselage. The wing covers open so you can inspect the ammunition and you can also eject the canopy if you feel the need to get out quick." "The front office is all about business. No cushy leather captain’s chairs here; only total control over 1,695hp. The aircraft was designed to be flown from the VC. Although there is a minimal 2D instrument cluster, the virtual cockpit is nearly flawless and can easily be used for nearly every mission. The sound package is wonderful. Recorded from the actual aircraft, it is the unmistakable sound of the Merlin V12 engine." "The Flight1 Mustang airfile is an area where only real Mustang pilots can comment on its accuracy. The Mustang air file has been closely critiqued, modified where applicable, and blessed the real pilots who fly the P-51. Keep in mind it’s as accurate as possible within the confines of FSX." "The Flight1/Aeroplane Heaven P-51D Mustang is a truly fun to fly aircraft that will leave a huge smile on your face. From the first class documentation to the multiple high quality textures, weapon payload choices and realistic flight model, it is without a doubt a must have product."

Lear 20 Series by Xtreme Prototypes. (April 1, 2010): Contributing reviewer Proflig8tor takes several models of Xtreme Prototypes' Lear 20 Series out for a test drive. "The 20 Series Learjets are icons of high performance, status and pure sex appeal. Driven by two diminutive but powerful General Electric CJ610 engines the lightweight, yet very strong, airframe was a screamer. This is was an airplane which looked like a personal jet fighter and it performed like one." "The Xtreme Prototypes Lear 20 Series jets are modeled very well, with a sense that things are well proportioned to scale. Complex curves, like the supercritical winglets on the Model 28 are elegant. The aircraft are pleasing to look at and there are lots of details here. The interiors are model correct, which is important given the changes between the models 24 and 25 were to accommodate additional seating. It is also an indication of their level of modeling that they got the aileron servo tabs, control linkages, static wicks and attachment fittings spot on perfect. This is one of those models that you like more and more as you spend time with it." "The flight model is good, with accurate roll and pitch response for the 20 Series Learjet. The aircraft is easy to fly and land, although ground handling may be difficult for those not used to using a little differential power and braking. The aircraft is stable on approach and landings are easy to judge." "The Xtreme Protypes Lear 20 Series uses only a Virtual Cockpit. Thankfully, the Virtual Cockpit is well laid out, nicely to scale and very simple to use. The throttles are particularly well shaped. Clicking on the opposite side yoke will remove the onside yoke, allowing an unrestricted view of the forward panel. The developer makes a point of their work to create a fully 3D gauge cockpit, but a user really has to look close to tell that this is not the old refresh rate eating 2D indicators." "Xtreme Prototypes has produced a most pleasing add-on Lear 20 Series jet. The design is a compromise that will be easy for new users to enjoy and has sufficient detail that more experienced users will not find it boring, or toy like. The Xtreme Protoypes Lear 20 Series is a lot of fun to fly."

Piper PA-32 Saratoga by Carenado. (March 14, 2010): Staff reviewer Chris Kiehl looks at the FS9 version of Carenado's Piper PA-32 Saratoga. "Piper is a name that just about any aviation enthusiast knows. Why? The famous and historic line of aircraft ranges from the venerable Cubs and Super Cubs, to the Archers and Warriors, to the Arrows and Saratogas." "The 2D panel here is different than anything I’ve seen. There is no main 2D panel when you first use the aircraft, but only a black rectangle at the top center of the screen with three subpanel options. You can also bring up 2D versions of each main gauge, like the six-pack gauges. With this aircraft, we have a huge winner in nearly every virtual cockpit regard. Most every gauge is legible and crisp, and just about every switch or gauge knob or flight control you could play with is clickable, and has actual functionality." "One word to describe the external model. Exquisite. I can’t see a single missed detail, and the lines are crisp and convincing. Several textures are included, and there is probably something for everyone in that department. This is another part of the Saratoga that deserves high praise due to the texture detail." "Flying the Saratoga was a joy. Flying the Saratoga is like flying, well, a Piper. Not that’s it’s a boring plane to fly, but Pipers are known for being relatively forgiving. If the Saratoga’s purpose fits your need, then you won’t mind how she flies one bit. Performance is stellar, as it always is with Carenado creations. Very low impact on frame rates." "Carenado's Saratoga is definitely a winner of a package, you can’t steer wrong going with another Carenado Piper to add to your fleet. I’m recommending this plane to any GA fan, and for Piper fans it is a must."

Cessna 185F Skywagon by Carenado. (March 13, 2010): Staff reviewer Philip Wilson looks at Carenado's Cessna 185F Skywagon. "The Skywagon was a move to upgrade the 180 to put it in a class by itself — which was redundant because that's where it was already. Initially when introduced in 1961, the six-place 185 had 260 hp but, by 1966, the Continental 0-470 had been heaved out in favor of an 0-520 of 300 horses. The airplane was produced until 1981." "While trying to come up with the correct words to describe the models and textures, words like Completely Amazing, or Breathtakingly Accurate didn’t seem quite adequate. Although true, the aircraft are so much more. It’s funny how the smallest details make the greatest difference, and it seems as though Carenado didn’t miss a single thing. The external textures are another fine example of high quality workmanship which has become a Carenado trademark. From any angle, the different models are truly beautiful." "The Skywagon is a workhorse, and earns its keep in some of the most rugged country in the world. Carenado’s models are indeed working class machines and don’t have the latest in glass cockpits, nor should they have. What you do get is a highly accurate panel that is perfect for back country flying. The interior comes in different colors and material, meaning cloth and leather. I really like the fact the seats were worn and stained in places, much like real bush planes. The panels are well designed and realistic to look at, with gauges and placards legible and clear up close." "The sound file for this aircraft was recorded from actual C-185’s, which is to say it doesn’t get any more real. I can say with confidence Carenado got the airfile right. Whether you’re hanging by the prop climbing out of a narrow ravine, or carefully winding your way down to a postage stamp size landing area, it feels right." "The Carenado C-185F is without a doubt the most realistic and highest quality rendition of this venerable aircraft to date. I highly recommend this package; it’s a must have for any bush plane enthusiasts."

X-1 by Xtreme Prototypes. (March 10, 2010): Staff reviewer Xavier Noche reaches for the stars with Xtreme Prototypes X-1. "Xtreme Prototypes proposes the second generation of Bell Aircrafts X1 rocket planes. This aircraft came after the first generation that broke mach 1, with the aim to reach beyond mach 2 and 90 000ft. The real aircraft reached Mach 2.44 and 90 440 ft. 3 of these airplanes X-1A, B and D were build and the 4th one X-1C was planned but never built." "The X-1 SG from Xtreme Prototypes simulates all 4 models: X-1A or D without launch Boeing B-29, X-1A or D with launch B-29, X-1B without B-29 and X-1C without B-29. The X-1A and D models are the same. The X-1B is not very different from A and D. All the models are nice and full of details. " "The panel is technically unique as all the gauge shapes are in the interior model, not in the panel. This aircraft has a true 3D panel, meaning 3D gauges, not flat 2D gauges projected on a 3D panel: every single switch, nut, screw or washer is modeled in 3D! Even the needles of the gauges are 3D! The result is just astounding. " "The X-1 can be either classically started by taking off from the ground, though that only happened once in 42 flights, or dropped from a B-29 at an altitude above 40 000 ft. On top of this, several pre-defined flights start at a high altitude without drop. he B-29 only appears when the drop switch is armed (middle position). This B-29 exterior is fairly detailed in the exterior. The next level of challenge, after controlling the aircraft in all flight phases in normal operations, is to master the emergency situations. " "Xtreme Prototypes X-1 is a beautiful aircraft with unique performance and an amazing full 3D panel; a challenge to control in most phases of flight (but what else would you expect from an extreme prototype?). It pushes the limits of both your skills and FS capabilities. "

O-1/L-19 Bird Dog by SibWings Lab. (March 2, 2010): Staff reviewer Colin Hampson looks at a workhorse of the Vietnam War era, SibWings Lab's Cessna O-1/L-19 Bird Dog. "With the manual safely stowed and the sim up and running, you'll be the proud recipient of four new individual aircraft models to your collection. The four models include three land-based variants, the main differences characterised by fixed-pitch propeller, retractable ski, and constant-speed variable pitch propeller versions respectively. The final variant comes with a set of floats, essentially giving you a Bird Dog for all seasons. This really is a serious and rugged bush aeroplane which will be most at home in the more inhospitable of environments." "All four models benefit from all the usual FSX features such as bump, reflection and specular mapping, and dynamic self shadows and the end result is impressive. The textures are both detailed and crisp; the Bird Dog is festooned with rivets which showcase the modelling work particularly well. The exterior model simply oozes quality, so don't be surprised if your pre-flight walk-around becomes an ever more lengthy affair." "The Bird Dog's virtual cockpit is one of the most immersive VCs out there. There are a number of features that make the Bird Dog's VC so good, the gauges are smooth and clear, the textures are appropriately subtle, the switches are easily clickable. True to form, the four variants each come with their own virtual cockpit, each with their own unique scratches and idiosyncrasies." "I think what SibWings Bird Dog has achieved is a real triumph. If good old-fashioned stick n’ rudder, ‘seat of your pants’ bush flying is your thing, this aeroplane is simply a ‘must have’."

Citation X by Eaglesoft. (February 23, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Bert Pieke and staff reviewer Marlon Carter team up to fly Eaglesoft's Citation X. The result,a Gold Star Award. The Cessna Citation X is a long range, medium size business jet aircraft. The X is the fastest operative civilian jet with a top speed of Mach 0.92, making it the fastest business jet in history." "Eaglesoft did a fantastic job in modeling this aircraft. From almost every angle there are very few if any inaccuracies and even though it looks close to version 1.0, the CX2.0 is a total rebuild of the Citation X. The model comes with many new features, including winglets which can be added without having to load a totally new aircraft from the aircraft menu. The Eaglesoft Citation X 2.0 also has an animated Pilot, First Officer and Female VIP passenger, along with engine and pitot tube covers and a host of other “hidden” features in the interior cabin. First impression upon loading the Citation X is that it truly looks like the real thing, inside and out." "The FMS setup is a no compromise situation, you have to set up the FMS by the book or you WILL run into problems. Flying the Citation X was a joy. It’s not often you find a complex aircraft with so many features and flying characteristics that are so accurate and unique. The biggest surprise to me, is how easy this airplane is to fly by hand. It is very well behaved, and once you get past the overwhelming level of information provided via the PFD and MFD screens and just look out the window, you can make a perfect landing every time." "I can honestly say is that the Citation X has been the best aircraft I have flown for the FS platform all year (2009). The Citation X 2.0 sets a standard that other developers may have a hard time catching up to. I found the Eaglesoft Citation X V2 to be a well crafted package with a lot of content. In my books, The Eaglesoft Citation X V2 is a winner."

Embraer Regional Jets Version 2 by Wilco / feelThere. (January 26, 2010): Staff reviewer Marlon Carter looks at the Embraer Regional Jets Version 2 as presented by Wilco/feelThere. "The Embraer RJ family has become quite common place within regional travel. The introduction of Version 2 of the ERJ family comes as a result of many dedicated users requesting a more up to date simulation of the ERJ." "feelThere has done a marvelous job on recreating the ERJ family. The models are very detailed and from every angle you can find something to appreciate in the time and hard work that has been put into these models. The textures produced by Mcphatstudios are second to none when it comes to high definition aircraft textures. The high quality repaints that come along with this package takes the ERJ family to another level of quality that is rarely seen." "After comparing pictures of the ERJ V1 cockpit panel and the ERJ V2, it’s clear to see that even the panel and VC have received a makeover. The textures are very high quality and they almost give a new but slightly “weathered” look to the 2D cockpit. The virtual cockpit is also very detailed, from navigation charts to soda cans, it seems like nothing has been missed. feelThere has provided a high quality virtual cabin with textures created by Mcphatstudios. These textures are very detailed and almost transport you from your living room into the real aircraft." "My overall summary relates to all versions provided in this package and from the very start I was quite impressed by the dynamics of the aircraft on the ground. Turns are smooth and braking action is spot on. The takeoff felt very natural and for the first time I felt like I actually had a heavy piece of machinery in the palm of my hands. Whether you are using the autopilot or hand flying, turning the aircraft and initiating climbs and descents are very smooth and allows the pilot or autopilot to be in full control of the aircraft at all times. With landing gear down and full flaps applied, the aircraft takes on a new feel as you can really sense the added drag on your flight yoke or joystick. Landing the ERJ was a dream, if you have ever seen or experienced a landing on a real ERJ; users will be quite pleased at how realistic the handling on landing and deceleration really is. I think feelThere did a good job in fine tuning the dynamics of these aircraft." "I have never had the chance to fly onboard an ERJ but if I did, I imagine that the experiences would be equal to what the ERJ V2 provides. The package itself is quite a bargain; you not only get the ERJ135, 145 and 145XR, but also a high quality sound package, HD aircraft textures from Mcphatstudios and CALL! This is a great aircraft, well built and a lot of hard work has gone into creating what may now be one of the best regional jets for FS9 and FSX."

FW190A: The Late Variants by Classics Hangar. (January 21, 2010): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson-Okamura continues the other half of the Classics Hangar series of the FW190A: the Late Variants. "The latest product from Classics Hangar is “Focke Wulf Fw 190 A: The Late Variants.” Using ten models, it tells the rest of “Anton’s” story, from the A-5, which debuted in 1942 (when the defeat of Germany was still uncertain), to the A-8 and the A-9, both of which were still being manufactured during the last week of the war in Europe. " "Each of the ten models in this package comes with its own virtual cockpit (VC). Most variations are minor but all of the models have an artificial horizon gauge (something that Allied planes got earlier) and the very latest Antons include a vertical speed indicator (something, again, which today we take for granted but which most German fighters did not get until late in the war). Also new to the Late Variants are nav radios and the AFN-2 radio beacon indicator. " "The flight model for this aircraft, even though it was calculated on the basis of the aircraft’s weight and dimensions, feels as rich, responsive, and ‘analogue’ as any I have owned. One improvement in the Late variants is that prop speeds are now governed by a custom gauge, which responds proportionally to input from the throttle. Engine modeling for this product is on par with the Acceleration P-51 Mustang or the RealAir Spitfire: you can burn up the engine if you push it too hard, but the state of your engine -- its health or lack of same -- is not preserved from flight to flight (as it is, for example, with A2A ’s Accu-Sim products)." "This is one of the best-looking models in my hangar, and also one of the best-performing, with frame rates on par with the default planes and the RealAir single-engines. I have a few products that I use as reference standards. Occasionally, a new product is so good that it becomes a reference standard in its own right. That doesn’t happen very often, but this is one of those times, and one of those products."

A320 by AirSimmer. (January 15, 2010): Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at AirSimmer's A320 Basic package including the V1.1 update. Be prepared for a long read as this is an extremely detailed review. "I can’t say anything else about the external model other then SUPER. Super this time means that a lot of work was put into the creation of the external model. Are you looking for some wires or hydraulic lines? I can tell you that almost every wire or hose is modeled, thus highly impressive. That’s the same with the wing surface and flaps and slats. Oops, I forget even the hydraulic actuators connected to the spoiler panels. It’s all handmade or handcrafted by the graphic designer and he or she did a perfect job." Angelique explains all the details inside the cockpit and main cabin with the assistance and breakdown of her screenshots. The VC offers without any Airbus equipment switched ON while on the ground located at and in combination with a powerful add-on airport active, average FPS between 60-70 FPS and that’s high. When switching ON all the electrical power thus activating the PFDs, NDs and ECAM displays, the FPS drop is more or less imperceptible but let’s say then a drop of 1-2 FPS. Some like a 2D cockpit, some don’t like it! For those who like flying a 2D cockpit, this model still offers one." Putting the aircraft through it's paces with version 1.0 and then with the updated version 1.1, Angelique goes into great depth when describing her test flights, including the various setting of the flight instruments during each phase. She concludes her review with a serious of questions and answers she posed to the developers at AirSimmer. "This A320 has a well designed flight model that looks awesome including a well shaped VC and 2D cockpit, but that isn’t enough to be a success. A single aircraft model like this AirSimmer Airbus A320 with hardly any manuals included and a flight tutorial document with pure basic information and nothing more, asks for more. With the released Service Pack, I think the airplane is doing what it is supposed to do. It’s a shame and it must be said that the initial released version 1.00 package was full of bugs and hardly flyable. The fact that the Basic model is a stripped Advanced version disappoints me. "

Piper Saratoga by Carenado. (January 14, 2010): Staff reviewer Jamie Whiting climbs aboard Carenado's Piper PA32 R-301SP Saratoga. "The Piper Saratoga, perhaps the ultimate single engined development of the basic Cherokee design of 1961. The Saratoga has been used for everything from being a fully equipped luxury touring machine that private pilots dream of, to a beaten up, worn out old work horse used in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world for its rugged reliability and versatility; carrying everything from desperately needed medical supplies to tropical fish from remote strips in South America and beyond." "The first thing is that the proportions and overall shape of the model are bang on. The aircraft is festooned with numerous small details, including most interestingly for you rivet counters out there, an actual 3D oil cooler inlet, complete with oil cooler within. Carenado have gone with a timeline theme with the supplied liveries, with one in the 70s’ style with stripes to an ultra modern 2000 themed one, giving 4 liveries in all, plus a blank white one with no registration, presumably for repainters to use as a base." "It is important to mention that this PA32 does not come with a 2D panel as such, instead it offers the user the ability to use pop-up instruments. The virtual cockpit itself is very well built, and features a host of animations in addition to the usual controls. There are no holes and the entire cabin is modeled from the flight deck to the rear baggage compartment. All of the texturing is of a very high resolution and creates the impression of an old PA32 that has been well used but looked after. The overall detail is exquisite and certainly represents the state of the art." "All of the numbers and capacities of the PA32 are accurate to real world equivalents, and it is necessary to load the aircraft realistically to within its limits, that is to say that you cannot take a full passenger load as well as another 120 pounds of baggage and still expect full tanks. Ground handling is accurately depicted. The amount to thrust required to move is right, as is engine response to throttle input." "Takeoff feel and performance is excellent. In the cruise phase the PA32 continues to impress. In the traffic circuit the Saratoga requires a firm control of airspeed to prevent things getting out of hand. All in all it has to be said that the Carenado PA32 is largely excellent when it comes to that most important area of flying." "Carenado's Saratoga is a pleasing addition to my ever swelling hangar, and occupies a useful niche in the FS market. The visuals are superb and will provide users with a considerably upgraded and more realistic impression of what many GA pilots fly around in, as we do not all dart about in brand new glass cockpit machines. If you like a fun aircraft with useable performance and good visuals you will enjoy this immensely."

Yak 40 by DBS Studio / Sim Landmark. (January 11, 2010): Staff reviewer Xavier Noche examines DBS Studio/SIM Landmarks' Yak 40. "This is an early small Eastern Europe civil airliner jet, with a capacity of 40 passengers, designed to replace the ageing thousands of prop liners Lisunov Li-2s (Soviet built DC-3s), Ilyushin Il-12s and Il-14s. It first flew in October 1966, entered production in 1967 and Aeroflot started flying it in 1968. It is now used both as a regional airliner and as a VIP transportation." "Only a 2D panel is provided but it is beautiful, in daylight and at night, dark or illuminated. It features a pure Soviet style gauges, with the exceptions of the additional radio control sub-panel and GPS. The base of the model is an enhanced AI. It has been redesigned for FSX, while remaining compatible with the previous FS9 one, thus keeping the same .bmp layout. Overall the aircraft looks good. Some parts are highly animated and detailed, such as the gear and flaps. Gear compression, whether on front or on main gear, is very well rendered." "At startup, the aircraft is some 1800 lbs above gross weight, so you first need to adjust the load or the fuel. Chock and covers for the engines and pitot tubes are in place when the parking brakes are on and all electrical systems are off. Stairs can be deployed as the main exit opens and closes. Taxi is easy; be advised the aircraft pitches sharply down upon brake action. The autopilot is very simple; and easy to learn. The sounds are aliased to the default Microsoft Learjet 45 ones. Straight from the speakers, it sounds realistic for this aircraft." "The DBS Yak-40 makes a good AI, and a decent flyable aircraft, but with some imperfections on the exterior. The nicest part is the 2D panel; beautiful and, faithful to the Soviet 1960s style and nonetheless easy to operate and fly without reading tons of documentation or learning dozens of Cyrillic letters acronyms."

2009

Piper J3 Cub by A2A Simulations. (December 24, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Jeff Shyluk looks at a newer rendition of the Piper Cub from A2A Simulations. "this Piper J3 Cub eclipses the default Cub found in FSX in almost every way. The A2A Cub comes with several variants, including high-quality paint jobs and exotic landing gear: floats, skis, and tundra tires. The attention to detail in the visual model is of the highest standard." "The A2A Cub flies even better than it looks. I'm beyond pleased with this product; I am in awe. This aircraft goes so far off the charts for me that I've had to come up with new charts. The Cub and Accu-Sim together cost around the same as any other good quality add-on of this class of aircraft. Accu-Sim adds a variety of details that make flying the A2A Piper Cub a true to life adventure." Jeff's highly detailed review has so much information, it can't all be put here so you need to read the review for yourself. Jeff closes with, "the A2A Simulations Piper J3 Cub is a state of the art presentation of one of the lowliest (or is it loveliest?) aircraft ever manufactured. It's also one of the most fun I've ever reviewed."

Boeing Model 75 Stearman by Golden Age Simulations. (December 21, 2009): New staff reviewer Philip Wilson writes his first review about an ageless aircraft, the Boeing Model 75 Stearman as depicted by Golden Age Simulations. "The Stearman Kaydet first flew November 26, 1934 as the model 73. The prototype for the Stearman Model 75 first flew in 1936 and Boeing built a total of 8,584 Kaydets, and enough spares to build another 2,000 aircraft." "Overall the models were excellent with the exception of the leading edge of the aileron where it connects to the wing. It’s devoid of any detail. No hinges, no anything. Considering the attention to detail everywhere else, that issue does stand out. I was pleasantly surprised to find the tail wheel operation accurately modeled. The Army versions were fitted with a steerable tail wheel, where the Navy opted for a swiveled tail wheel with a lock. They are both modeled correctly. Three of the four textures are exceptional. They are crisp, clean and look beautiful. I think the military versions should have looked a bit worn, but they are in new condition." "This package only comes with a VC and no 2D panels are included. Each panel features a custom pop-up radio stack and FSX default GPS295. Most gauges are clear and easy to read. The Turn and Bank Indicator is legible but noticeably blurry compared to the surrounding gauges. The cockpits are accurate, 99% functional and extremely clean. The detail level is low to keep the frame rates high. Additional features I really appreciated were the functionally modeled prop, carburetor heat and magneto controls." "The sound files for each individual model were created by the very talented Mike Hambley. Anyone familiar with “round” engines knows, they not only have a very distinct sound, but it also changes with each engine type, aircraft, and cowling choice. Choosing any one of the aircraft, you can sit on the ramp with the engine at 1500prm, close your eyes and feel every cylinder firing, sensing the personalities of each different engine as they all make various small, but audible signatures in your mind." "This Stearman package is fortunate enough to have air files which hide their flaws well. To the everyday user, these aircraft will be a blast to fly. The aircraft can be flown by the “book” all day long, unless you intend on doing things one shouldn’t be doing anyway." "Golden Age Simulations exceeded my expectations with features directly related to the individual models. The Model 75 Stearman is a great compromise in terms of price, detail, and performance. You get four individual “fun to fly” models, with separate sound and air files, along with excellent support. I would definitely recommend this to the everyday virtual GA pilot."

Lockheed P-38 Lightning by FlightSim Developers & SkyUnlimited. (December 14, 2009): Senior staff reviewer David Wilson Okamura climbs aboard the "twin-forked devil" to look at 2 models of the P-38 Lightning as presented by FlightSim Developers and SkyUnlimited. "The Lightning has been available in Flight Simulator for some time. What we didn’t have, until this fall, was a P-38 model that was developed specifically for FSX, using FSX tools and features. Then, all of a sudden, there were two products, from two different publishers: FlightSim Developers (FSD) and SkyUnlimited (SU)." "The exterior models for both products were both created by the same person, Kevin “Gibbage” Miller. Stephen “Stitz” Barstow recompiled the SU model for FSX, retagged the animations, converted the texture calls to use the more efficient DDS format, and added bump mapping. Miller learned new tools and honing his craft. The result is the FSD P-38. The differences can be summarized under two categories: 3D structures and textures." "Both products also include a full range of animations. On the SU model, the wheels are chocked and pitot tubes are covered when you park; if you want, there’s also an oil pan for maintenance. On the FSD model, bombs can be dropped and rockets can be launched from under the wing; you can hear the rockets from the virtual cockpit and see them race ahead of you. Both products have red/green/amber recognition lights on the fuselage belly, but only the FSD version can turn them on individually." "The SU product comes with a 2D cockpit; the FSD product doesn’t. FSD is assuming -- and I think they’re right -- that most of us fly exclusively from the virtual cockpit (VC). Both products have 3D gauges. Several of the plane’s important switches are hidden behind the yoke, so both products allow you to make the yoke disappear. Generally speaking, the FSD cockpits have more detailed 3D modeling and shinier textures. The SU cockpits are modeled with less precision; and the textures are matte green instead of glossy black." "The FSD flight model was produced by the same David Copley who did the sounds; in 2000, Copley produced a freeware model of the P-38, and the flight model in this product has evolved from that. SU’s flight model, by Jerry Beckwith, also goes back a few years, to FS2004. Both products include the L variation, with the dive flaps, and both products simulate control failure in a steep dive (but minus the violent buffeting). In the FSD planes, you can always save yourself with elevator trim. Not so in the SU versions: trim has a more subtle effect there and, once established in a steep dive, you are probably cooked." "The SU product, because it is less detailed, has better frame rates. The FSD product is more demanding. For one thing, it uses larger texture sheets: they look sharp, but they’re more work for your computer to manipulate. All products are not created equal. But in this case, both P-38's are good." "If you like it shiny, or you need modern avionics, FSD is your obvious choice. If you want to save a few bucks, or you’re worried about frames, the safe choice is SkyUnlimited. FSD has more detail, SU has more repaints. Both products have the same, rich sounds; and both products feature 3D gauges in the virtual cockpit. It’s refreshing to have a real choice."

Yak-52 by AlphaSim. (December 12, 2009): New staff reviewer Eduardo Ocampo submits his first review with a look at AlphaSim's Yak-52. "AlphaSim decided to make something that is uncommon for MSFS: A Soviet era piston engine military trainer, the Yakovlev Yak-52. This would be the eastern counter-part of the Beechcraft Mentor." "The visual aspect of the aircraft is remarkable. The animations included in this package such as gear and flaps (which are all pneumatic!), flight controls, feathering propeller, front and rear canopies, cowl flaps both below the aircraft fuselage and behind the propeller, are smooth and realistic. Bonus points for the properly simulated gear struts and shock dampers. Standing behind the aircraft will also reveal the gap between the engine cowling and the nose section of the fuselage, just as in the real Yak-52." "Well…there isn’t any 2D panel; so that leaves us only with the virtual cockpit. The gauges are nicely done and animated, easy to see and read. The pneumatic system in this aircraft is a big one; flaps, gear and engine starting are some of the functions dependent on this system. The panel is easy on computer resources; flying around in the VC doesn’t seem to show a hard impact on performance. The night lighting is superb; just what you'd expect from a Soviet airplane. One of the things I love about this product is it’s sound; TSS sound set ladies and gentleman, you can’t do better than that." "The flying experience with the AlphaSim’s Yak-52 is very nice and entertaining; the flight controls are just amazing and represent the agility of the real world Yak-52 that can roll 180º per second! The engine was designed to make the aircraft climb very steeply and to have a good vertical capability and may I say, this definitely is a faithful recreation of the Yak on those aspects. This aircraft is a military primary trainer and is also used in many air shows and competitions, so if you are a fan of aerobatic flight, this aircraft will become one of your favourites because of its handling characteristics." "I think AlphaSim's Yak-52 is great to have if you’re looking for a good time flying aerobatic maneuvers and in formation with some friends and is a great training platform for these activities. Once you take a look at the cockpit and familiarize yourself with the controls and indications, you can expect some great flights with this aircraft."

L-4 Grasshopper by Flight Replicas. (December 3, 2009): Staff reviewer Alan Bradbury checks out the military floatplane version of the Piper Cub. "The Piper J-3 Cub is known to most aviation fans, and certainly familiar to fans of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, it being one of the default aircraft that comes with FSX. Inevitably, the Piper Cub found itself in the US Army with a military role." "The Cub, or L-4 Grasshopper if you prefer, is much the same in either water or land-borne guise as far as flight characteristics go, and when inside the thing there really is very little difference at all. Unlike the land-based Cub variants, the floatplane ones can catch you out a bit. I am pleased to report all of this is correctly emulated on the Flight Replicas L-4 Grasshopper. Once up in the air, you’ll find it handles as a Cub/L-4 should, although a point worth noting here is that when flown solo, a Cub should be piloted from the rear seat, unfortunately upon starting your flight you get plonked in the front." "Flying around in the Flight Replicas L-4 Grasshopper is a pleasant and sedate affair, and it emulates the real thing well by offering the same panoramic visibility of the real thing which made it so useful as an army spotter aircraft. But worth noting here is that this is not an aircraft for those in a hurry, since it is by no means fast." "This is an FSX add-on which does what it says on the tin. Like the real L-4 Grasshopper, it is not fancy, but eminently good at what it was designed to do. For those who have the Flight Replicas L-4 in land-based form, this completes the set as it were, and for those who don’t have the land based one but would like a nice inexpensive aircraft to nip around some lakes for a bit of VFR water-based bush flying, it is a good choice.

767 Captain & Weather Radar by Captain Sim. (November 29, 2009): Staff reviewer Tim Capps climbs aboard Captain Sim's 767 complete with a new weather radar along with some of the expansion packs available. "The Captain has not provided anything approaching a “lite” airplane. You may not be able to dump your fuel, but you’re covered for normal operations. It is a beautiful airplane, and a challenging one. Captain Sim is taking this seriously. One gets the impression this is their baby, their bona fides to the top tier of developers. That is a ticket this reviewer is happy to punch -- now. It was not always so." "3D modeling and animation of the undercarriage and other movables is to the usual high Captain Sim standards. The paint jobs are crisp and slightly weathered. There are many external animations accessible via shift+3. Chocks, radome and radar, various doors and the ever-popular uniformed stewardess are just a few. Owners of Aerosoft’s AES are in for a treat: this bird looks fascinating when service vehicles are swarming over it, an engine cowling is open for a quick maintenance check, and other busy-ness is represented." "The big news is that the 767 interior does not end at first class like LOST’s Oceanic Flight 815 on a bad day. There are all sorts of animations and little graphical touches like Guinness coasters, napkins and juice boxes. It is worth exploring, and gives a good sense of the size of this aircraft. Back in the cockpit, you’ll find the same well-worn glare shield you may be familiar with from the 757. Captain Sim did an outstanding job with the textures and animations up front. Highlights and self-shading really bring out the details on knobs and fixtures in the virtual cockpit. Animations abound, from the rotate-and-flip-up detail of the fuel levers to the Famous Swinging Jacket behind you. The virtual cockpit is a true work of art." "Many virtual 767 pilots will be satisfied with nothing but the most realistic and complete airplane consumer-grade flight simulation has to offer. Captain Sim provides a lot for normal operations, although, as mentioned before, you cannot dump your fuel. The flight management computer is fully supported by Navigraph and automated flight is possible from beginning to end. Complicated procedures including conditional fixes are supported, as are holds. You have full and easy access to your FSX flight plans through the FMC, and company routes are easily saved. All in all, this airplane is a challenge to operate, rewards study and is a joy to fly." "Weather Radar is a stand-alone product that is easily installed on any aircraft. It could hardly be an easier diversion on those long cruises, and might even help you avoid simulated weather dangers. It works so well that it takes an effort to realize it is a programming illusion. FSX weather is somehow being translated into colored pixels in a 2D pop-up panel." "For most simmers, the 767 Captain (and expansions) will be challenging, satisfying and fun. Captain Sim has laid out a feast of 767 models and at least one course remains to come: the 400. Albeit, certainly not everyone will agree. Whether that means the Captain is the new champion, a contender, or pretender can be debated in the forums. "

BAe JS410 Jetstream by PMDG. (November 27, 2009): Staff reviewer Benjamin van Soldt takes to the skies in PMDG's BAe JS4100 Jetstream. "This product is not a jetliner. It’s not even FS2004 compatible, and it doesn’t have a 2D cockpit: PMDG's latest product is a turboprop not that well known and not widely used. Of the operators that operate the JS4100 (to be called J41 hereafter), only British Airways, British Midland, Eastern Airways and Southwest Airlink are the most notable." "Apparent from the start is the good overall look of the model. There are no blocky parts or sharp edges. Everything seems as smooth as should be. The reflections of the windows are very nicely executed, giving them a true 3D look. The actual dimensions of the plane seem to be spot on: length is good, width is good, and especially difficult to model parts, like the nose and tail, seem perfectly replicated. Indeed, in short, the entire fuselage is looking just great." "On our tour of the VC we see a hell of a lot of detail. The smallest details seem to be in there. All the gauges look perfect: sharp and easy to read. The modeling of the knobs, switches, buttons, seats, control yokes… it’s all just great. The texturing is also very good, even though my settings are not at their max. Just look at that copilot’s seat. The sharpness of the textures is staggering, and you’ve got to love the attention to detail that was given to the windows frames. This VC is not just 3D, it’s also textured beautifully, which makes the respective button, panel, etc., not only stand out, but also dissolve into the bigger picture." "Of PMDG we know we usually get a top notch system simulation. Their 737, 747 and MD-11 are all jam-packed with innovative features and highly realistic systems that work as they do in real life. s the J41 as heavily simulated and hard to learn as the other planes? The answer is a mixed bag: yes and no. It really depends on what you term as “complicated”, “difficult” or “hard”. In my opinion, this aircraft is not very hard to learn. Why not? Mostly because there simply isn’t a lot to know in the classic sense: this is a rather simple plane, compared to the heavies, like the Boeing 747 and MD-11." "Let me first state that just about everything in the cockpit is simulated. The biggest thing not simulated, is the weather radar on which you can only use the zoom in and zoom out buttons to zoom in or out on the main map on the EHSI. There are some knobs you can’t turn on the audio panel, but that’s about it. For the rest, just about everything can be moved, flipped or turned. I highly value a good soundest, and J41 has one. There is a great multitude of sounds, too! Not just engine sounds and the general set every add-on aircraft has these days, but also individual keys have their own sound." After taking the J41 out for a test flight, Benjamin concludes, "there is a lot to do on this plane and that’s what makes it so enjoyable. You feel like you really are piloting the aircraft, and not merely pushing buttons. Couple this to a great looking visual model with great animations (including moving pilots and passengers), a very usable and versatile Virtual Cockpit and a great soundset, and you have got yourself a winner. PMDG has done it again, people. If you are into turboprop aircraft, you will definitely want this add-on."

Cessna Mustang by Flight 1. (November 23, 2009): Senior staff reviewer Zane Gard, Jr jumps into his personal corporate jet that is represented by Flight 1's Cessna Mustang. "What marks this particular add-on as unique is that Cessna actually partnered with Flight1 for the development of this Cessna Mustang simulation. That means Flight1 had access to information and data normally inaccessible to a sim developer. It also means that Textron/Cessna had to sign off on the finished product and that there were royalties involved in the sales process that did have an effect on the final pricing. If you go to the Cessna site for the Mustang, guess what? You’ll find a link to the Flight1 version to take a virtual test flight." "You will find that there are several repaints including one of the “green” unpainted test aircraft. Depending on how you have your FSX set up you will either find yourself initially in the 2D cockpit or virtual cockpit. Both types of panel displays are included which is good for those that have a preference. The 2D representations of the Garmin displays are easier to read but that is purely a function of how many pixels are available for rendering. If you are using the 2D panels you might notice that they only include standard 4:3 ratio versions of them." "You will find that navigation of the 2D panels is very intuitive with shadowed arrows you can click on for changing 2D panel views. There is also a panel manager with icons for most of the pop-up panels which displays on the upper right or upper left side of your screen depending on whether you are viewing the pilot’s or copilot’s view." "The virtual cockpit and virtual cabin are works of pure aviation art. The 3D modeling is very smooth and try as I may, I couldn’t find the odd reflective area or shadowing that I have noticed on default aircraft and many payware add-ons." "Move to the spot view and you will find the work didn’t end on the interior. The same kind of attention to detail that has earned Flight1 its reputation continues on the exterior model. The Cessna Mustang has a very smooth looking body since it uses a ripple free bonded aluminum construction so you don’t see a bunch of rivets or lines along the body or wings, just long smooth gentle curves." After taking the Cessna Mustang for a test flight in his local area with a detailed description and a multitude of screenshots, Zane concludes, "this is a highly accurate depiction of its real world counterpart. Taken and viewed in its parts, external visual model, 2D panels, virtual cockpit, virtual cabin, sound set, flight dynamics they are all representative of the state of the art in FSX add-on aircraft. The standout feature I can report is the faithful reproduction of the G1000 avionics suite. If you don’t already have it, put it on your wish list."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2008

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2007

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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