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Nice Cote d'Azur from Aerosoft

Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010 - 2:21
Staff reviewer Jon Murchison takes us on a tour of Aerosoft's Nice Cote d'Azur. "Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (pronounced ‘niece’ as opposed to ‘nice’) is France’s second busiest airport located on the Mediterranean coast in the south of France. Nice (IATA: NCE ICAO LFMN) is also located close to Monaco. With two runways (04L/22R – 8432ft and 04R/22L – 9711ft) Nice can comfortably handle 50 movements an hour and has the capacity to handle 13 million passengers a year using two terminals."

"It appears to me that Nice is a mixture of both classic and modern architecture that spreads across the expansive area it fills with a natural flow that doesn’t require airport charts to help you figure out where you are. The airport space is dominated by two large terminals and the control tower. The level of detail is very high with the Terminals distinctive angled roof captured perfectly."

"The quality of the scenery items remains high across all the areas and attention has been paid to the details, right down to the large ‘Rock man’ (my name for it) that sits in the middle of a round-about near one of the entrances. The Nice ramp area has plenty of static scenery items such as buses, push back tugs, vans, cars and the other kinds of paraphernalia you would expect to find at any large airport. In the middle of the ramp area are a number of aircraft parks and plenty of blast fences, and sitting here is the red airport fire services building."

"Nice sits atop hi-resolution photo’s which cover the airport and surrounds. The textures themselves provide a good deal of detail and create a very realistic environment. I particularly liked the effect achieved with the taxiway and runway textures that also have signs and 3D lights across them. For those wanting to fly precision approaches, Nice has fully operational ILS approaches and various other accurate real world navigational aids to assist you. The AFCAD file included is very well done with all the gates and ramp parks utilized. Both runways operate and on a few occasions when I was flying ILS approaches, I shared the approach with an AI aircraft landing on the parallel runway."

"I feel Aerosoft has added another excellent airport scenery add-on to their collection that performs well. From the included charts to the fantastic night lighting and detailed buildings, there is a lot to like about Nice and plenty to explore around the airport and beyond the perimeter fence as well."

Eos Single Cockpit

Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010 - 0:56
Eos has developed a fully integrated procedure trainer for flying schools as well for individuals wanting to improve their flying skills.

It includes double linked controls based on real aircraft mechanism. The elevator and rudder trims are mechanical and center the controls (yokes and rudder pedals) for a Zero Force resistance when the aircraft is properly trimmed. Instructor can even teach basic stick and rudder skills. This trainer is intended to automate the actions and to learn to move, to locate and scan the instruments.

A fully functional instrument panel and a complete radiostack perfectly replicate a real trainer aircraft instrumentation.
Seats and fibreglass shell come as standard with the package. Complete details and a list of features can be found on the Eos Sim website.

Captain Sim in Space

Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010 - 0:53
The Captain Sim logo has been delivered to the International Space Station by Soyuz TMA-15 commander Roman Romanenko. Check out the cool picture of their logo'ed T-shirt floating inside the ISS.

Guadalajara International Airport For FS9

Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 14:43
Taxi2Gate have released Guadalajara International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara) for FS 2004.
MMGL opened in 1966 and is located 16 km from the city centre of Guadalajara, in 2008 the airport handled 7,193,200 passengers, making it is Mexico's third busiest airport.

Visit Taxi2Gate for a look at this release.

RailSim/Railworks A4 Pacific Class

Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 14:39
Just Trains announces, "you can now put Sir Nigel Gresley's awesome A4 Pacific Class locomotives through their paces in RailWorks and Rail Simulator."

First run in 1935, the 4-6-2 A4 Pacific Class of streamlined locomotives were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and represent the pinnacle of British steam trains. The record breaking Mallard is probably the best known steam train in the world and it is joined by the Bittern, Silver Link, Sir Nigel Gresley and Union of South Africa in this fantastic package.

A4 Pacific Class is officially licensed by the National Railway Museum and features four classic locomotives in six different liveries along with six scenarios. Enjoy superb animations, an accurate sound package, working lights, accurately animated running gear and much more. Get behind the controls Some of the most beautiful steam locomotives ever built!

EZdok Camera (EZCA) for FSX

Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 14:12
Flight One Software, in partnership with EZdok Software, is excited to announce the wide availability of EZdok Camera for Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

EZdok Camera (EZCA) is a camera and effects system and manager that greatly enhances the pilot experience in FSX. One of the main and most exciting features of EZCA are the effects exerted on the pilot, immersing the virtual pilot in a more realistic physical simulation of aviation.

EZCA incorporates effects that are exerted on both the pilot and the virtual camera. The effects can be caused by varying aircraft accelerations, ground surfaces, and air turbulence. This technology makes flying in Flight Simulator more immersive and realistic due to the fact that instead of a stationary computer in front of you, your desktop comes alive with realistic representations of being in the flying environment. EZCA also provides an all new, greatly enhanced view control system for easy navigation throughout the virtual cockpit and cabin, around the aircraft, and around the Flight Simulator world, giving the aviator the ability to experience their flying from almost every viewpoint imaginable. This is all handled through aircraft presets, or through the main EZCA tool that allows pilots to create their own views and save them for quick access during their flights.

EZCA is also a great tool that can be used by flight sim movie making enthusiasts to make their videos more exciting, for complete details visit the EZCA Product Page .

Thursday's Traffic On The Scopes

Posted: Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 13:06
Flight Simulator X - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications
US Navy VFA-146 Blue Diamonds F/A-18 by Lars Domen / McPhat Studios
Delta A330-200 by Rabee Jibren

Flight Simulator X - AI Flight Plans
Sudan Airways Cargo flight plans by Antoine Calleja,globusworld.net

Flight Simulator X - Flight Plans
Sudan Airways 2010 flight plans by Antoine Calleja,globusworld.net

Flight Simulator X - Scenery
gibraltar by pips perez
Astypalaia Airport (LGPL) - Greece by Manuel Seiwald

Flight Simulator X - Utilities
AircraftTweak v1.2 by Dave Nunez

Flight Simulator 2004 - Original Aircraft
PWDT Let L-410FG by Bence Benedek, Tibor Kokai, Jiri Brozek, Jiri Masnik
Let L-410 UVP-E by Bence Benedek, Tibor Kokai, Jiri Brozek, Jiri Masnik
Zlin Z-43 by Bence Benedek, Tibor Kokai, Jiri Brozek, Jiri Masnik

Flight Simulator 2004 - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications
Surinam Airways MD-80 by Benjamin van Soldt; Leonardo SH
Sikorsky S-55 / Los Angeles Airways N735A by Midnight Aviation
TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) Hurkus - Freebird, Texan T-6 by Ahmet Mehmetbeyoglu
Buecker Bu 181 Bestmann, D-EKYF current livery by Markus Hellwig

Flight Simulator 2004 - AI Aircraft
Fars Air Qeshm Yak42D by Philippe Tabatchnik
Cityjet BAe 146-200/ RJ85 EI-RJT by Philippe Tabatchnik
Thai Boeing 747-400 retrojet HS-TGP by Philippe Tabatchnik
Albanian Airlines BAe146-200 new colours by Juergen Baumbusch
Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 Retro (50th anniversary) by Juergen Baumbusch

Flight Simulator 2004 - AI Flight Plans
Air Botswana - Summer 2010 by Christian Hegewald
Air Ivoire - Summer 2010 by Christian Hegewald
ASKY Airlines - Summer 2010 by Christian Hegewald
Interair South Africa - Summer 2010 by Christian Hegewald

Flight Simulator 2004 - Scenery
Catalonia version II by Toni Agramont

Flight Simulator 2004 - Miscellaneous Files
Brazilian SID & STAR Boeing 767 1003 Cycle by Leandro Braun

Contrails Pro V 1.02

Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 14:01
A new update for Contrails Pro is now available from FlightSimTools.com. The update improves corrects a few problems and offers more customization options. Contrails Pro is a module for FSX and FS9 that adds realistic contrails to AI aircraft. It allows displaying contrails in unprecedented detail while keeping high frame rates. Just like in the real world, contrails will slowly dissipate in the air and will glow in red during sunrise or sunset. There are excellent customization options allowing you to specify the contrail length, density, dispersion and a few other settings. For more information and a free demo version, please visit their Product Page .

UK Flight Simulator Convention

Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 13:55
The Weston Flight Simulator Convention will be held on the 15th, 16th of May at The Helicopter Museum, Weston-Super-Mare, UK. The Museum is a fantastic venue and last year the FSC WESTON 2009, had 902 people come through the doors, and with this years theme of the Battle of Britain, it will be another amazing event. The FSC is for all flight sim and real world aviation enthusiasts, everyone is welcome to exhibit, or pop along to visit. All proceeds go to our local Air Ambulance's. More info can be found at the The FSC WESTON 2010 Homepage

FS Book Report - LROPS 767 Systems - Book I

Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 1:43
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen looks at LROPS' new book 767 Systems - Book I. "Writing instructional/technical content is a gift or better yet, a skill. It's the same as painting an aircraft; everybody can do it, but the differences could be huge. The same for developing a 2D panel design and/or the gauges. Those who have the skills, they survive."

LROPS states, "Those of you that have read our products before will be fully aware of the level of detail into which we go. The Systems series is no exception to this rule, while keeping everything written relevant to the Flight Simulator pilot and easy to understand. The Systems book isn't written blindly of what is already out there: LROPS is fully aware of the information that is provided to you with your purchase of a complex aircraft. There is, however, a gap in what the publishers can tell you about the real thing and what is simulated in their systems, and how to use it in the most realistic and effective ways."

Angelique summarizes her reading experience with, "This LROPS books is, for me, more of a collection of things put together; here and there some great looking diagrams/drawings are inserted however, without any explanation. Since the Boeing 757/767 is a known flight simulator add-on product, many free items are available after Googling around."

Flight of the Kiwi

Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - 14:23
Kiwis are a bird that can't fly - - - but in 1969 Cliff Tait showed the world that one Kiwi could fly. Setting out as a one-man mission to publicize New Zealand to the world, Cliff and his New Zealand made plane ended up making history. No one had ever attempted to fly solo around the world in such a tiny one-engine plane before. Cliffs book "Flight of the Kiwi" recounts every detail of the flight that captured the attention of the whole world. On the human side, it tells of the warm generosity of those that helped Cliff, especially the world-wide brotherhood of radio "hams" operators and of the maddening obstruction of others particularly the Russian officials who denied Cliff permission to land forcing him to break his flight. Above all, this is a stirring story of one mans bravery facing immense odds and winning. Visit Cliffs Website and read his history making book... and now you can also download the Aircraft Miss Jacy.

LHS Pécs Pogány LHPP For FS9

Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010 - 15:36
LHPP for FS2004 Pécs Pogány LHPP is one of the five international airports in Hungary, located 10 km from Pécs the fifth largest city in Hungary and is located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country.

LHSimulations contacted the management of the aiport and they allowed them to visit the airport and take as many Photos as needed to create a very detailed scenery with absolute fidelity, LHPP for FS2004 is the second freeware production from LHS and they plan to continue with versions for FSX and X plane.

Ground Environment X Europe from Flight 1

Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 20:15
Staff reviewer Allen Lavigne does some landscaping with Flight 1's Ground Environment X Europe. It's hard to put environmental scenery into words when the actual product is all about the pictures (scenery). Therefore, Allen reports, "in order to suggest just how much improvement you might expect to see after going from generic FSX textures to the enhanced GEX for Europe (with and without Ultimate Traffic's landclass and roads), I am posting a limited bunch of snapshots from just a few European locations in an effort to cover most common varieties."

"Without taking snapshots of each and every modification (more than 6000 files are affected), I tried to show a representative sample of the some of the various textures I encountered while experiencing GEX for Europe. Overall, I found the textures to blend nicely from one tile to the next."

FS9 Piper Saratoga from Carenado

Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 19:14
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 from Carenado

Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 18:47
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."

Challenges Over The Rockies

Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 17:25
Just Flight has released a new pack of nine missions for FSX available by download. Put your flying skills to the test saving lives in a Search & Rescue mission, race against the clock in timed events, and execute difficult landings in challenging weather conditions.

The nine missions include many custom features, dozens of voiceover recordings, ATC and custom scenery objects such as aircraft, helicopters, fuel trucks and emergency vehicles. For complete details visit the Just Flight's Challenge over the Rockies product page and while you're there, you can try out the Demo (5.2Mb) for this latest release.

Meigs Field Released

Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 1:35
Flyscenery releases their long awaited Meigs Field Airport. The legendary airport, where it all started, has been recreated with high level of detail and consists of two scenery version eras, 1999 version and 2003 version, a first in FS.

Pacific Northwest Demo

Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 1:10
Orbx is pleased to announce the immediate availability of its free demo of FTX Pacific Northwest. The demo area covers over 7,000 square miles of the Olympic Peninsula during spring season and includes all the FTX features from the full version, including upgraded default airports, roads, rivers, coastlines, 3D night lighting, photoreal mountain peaks, custom autogen, the FTX Central tool and much more. The demo is completely time-unlimited and obligation free.

Ultimate Traffic 2 - Power Pack Released

Posted: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 0:55
Flight1 announces the official release of the Ultimate Traffic 2 Power Pack: a FREE add-on to Flight1's Ultimate Traffic 2 product for FSX. The Power Pack is an easy to use tool to that allows you to compile and import add-on schedules, create new schedules from scratch, modify or create airport identifiers, plus much more. Below you will find a few highlights of what the UT2 Power Pack provides:

Create Add-on Schedules Manually - The UT2 Power Pack includes the ability for users to manually create their own schedules from the ground up, one flight at a time. Users will be able to add smaller airlines that are not available on popular flight sim sites, special event schedules such as special military flights, charter airlines, virtual airlines, and/or use it to schedule GA traffic at your local airport. Virtual Airlines will especially find the tool to be a great utility because they can add their complete schedules to the FSX world.

Import Download Schedules - UT2 Power Pack users can import classic BGL style schedules, with the help of AIFPC or TTools, to create schedules and AI aircraft activity that is not already included with the software.

Airport Modification - UT2 Power Pack features an airport modification tool that will allow users, who have add-on airports that were not included originally with the FSX release, to add/modify these airports so UT2 can handle the AI Traffic scheduled to them.

Share Add-on Schedules - The UT2 Power Pack enables users in the Ultimate Traffic 2 community to share newly created schedules with others.

British Airways Virtual General Conference Meeting

Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010 - 18:13
2010, sees one of the Internet's Premier Virtual Airlines, British Airways Virtual , celebrate 10 years in existence! The only UK virtual airline to be formally ratified by it's real world counterpart, British Airways Virtual are holding their first General Conference Meeting (GCM) in late May .

Members are attending from as far away as Lima in Peru, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Spain and Finland, and at least three attending are serving line pilots with their respective real world airlines, all meeting face-to-face with the pilot members over three-course banquet dinner and an after-dinner entertainment event, including an awards ceremony and speeches from some very Special Guests invited to speak at the event.

Ultra Light Challenge from Roussillon Aero

Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 15:30
Roussillon Aero Simulation, presents its latest Ultra Light challenge. Fly onboard the Aircreation ultra-light from Millau to Carcassonne in Southern France. The top three pilots stand to win a prize.

For more information on this challenge visit Roussillon Aero Simulation's website.

X-1 from Xtreme Prototypes

Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 1:59
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."

Instant Mission Maker Update

Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 0:33
Flight 1 is pleased to announce an update for Instant Mission Maker to version 1.03. The update contains several new features and bugfixes. Instant Mission Maker is an easy to use tool for making Flight Simulator X missions. It offers a very intuitive GUI, live preview and editing of many mission objects directly in FSX, and can also instantly generate random missions.

Falco For X-Plane Released

Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 14:56
X-Aviation is proud to announce the release of the most complete GA single simulation in X-Plane and we believe you will find it to be an enjoyable and immersive experience. If you enjoy GA flying or need a good GA to practice scanning skills on while working the radios and other controls, then this Falco needs to be in your flight sim folder.

Their version of the Falco is on the cutting edge of X-Plane technology, offering the first 100% fully interactive cockpit in 3D. Every knob, button and switch is manipulatable in 3D and 98% of the aircraft functions exactly as it does in reality....even the circuit breakers might trip under certain circumstances! Also included is another x-plane first, a simulation of the Garmin GTX330 transponder to make your online flying experiences more realistic than could be done previously. You can even download the manual from the Garmin website to learn to operate it...it's that realistic. There is a full complement of IFR instrumentation and a full-featured autopilot to make things easier on those long cross-country flights.

Most x-plane users have gotten so used to the inaccurate idiosyncracies of X-Plane, that they do not even know what they're missing....well it's time to get things right! We've highlighted a lot of these features in a tour video. If you're looking to just get started with X-Plane, this it the plane to do it with.

Flight1 Software Ultimate Traffic 2 – Boxed Edition

Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 13:21
Ultimate Traffic 2 is now boarding..., Re-designed from the ground up, Ultimate Traffic 2 provides Microsoft Flight Simulator X users the definitive AI-traffic upgrade, and still is the only package out there that provides computer traffic based on real airlines, flying on real schedules and now using realistic routings too!
There are over 1 million flight hours of commercial traffic and a further 2.5 million flight hours of general aviation flights– with vast flexibility and customisation on what you see and where. The all-new DX10 aircraft models give unparalleled frame-rates compared to other packages and you can even select a flight from the departure board and fly it yourself if you want!
So now you don’t just have to watch out for traffic, you can BE the traffic!
Ultimate Traffic 2 boxed edition is available from all good retailers, from the local hobby shop to high street chain stores. The boxed version and the download version (using Flight1’s popular e-commerce system) are also both available direct from Flight One Software .

It's Your Plane - Part 2

Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 1:32
Staff reviewer Roger Curtiss wraps up his look at Pacific Feelings Media's "It's Your Plane". "In Part 1 of my review of Its Your Plane (IYP), I mentioned that there were too many features to be covered in one review and that this would be a multi-part treatment of the product."

"It's Your Plane also offers many additional enhancements. Specifically mentioned were: Interactive Help; 3 ATC Modes; SmartStart; and Come Fly with Me." This is a remarkable product that provides great value for the investment and has so much to offer that anyone is bound to find at least one aspect (beyond the fact that your keyboard becomes obsolete while flying with IYP) that will substantially add to the flight simulation experience.

Help Wanted - Sky Blue Radio

Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - 0:45
Sky Blue Radio needs your help with some beta testing with the next generation of Wee Tune Beastie! Wee Tune Beastie is one avenue for listening to the station either stand alone or via your cockpit com2 radio on 123.450. We need the first 20 people that send an email to info@skyblueradio.com with their Sky Blue Radio registration address will be eligible for the final beta testing before release candidate 1… Sky Blue Radio, Sounding GREAT at any altitude.