Today's Headlines

The AVSIM Online News:

Flight Dreams Releases MetricFS

Posted: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 16:34
Flight Dreams, announces the release of "metricFS v1.0.0". metricFS is a utility that you can use to observe and measure metrics from Microsoft’s Flight Simulator series and VATSIM network.

Some of the benefits of this utility include:

1. Monitor flight’s data.
2. Be a virtual tourist by observing real life pictures and info based on the aircraft’s route.
3. Organize events for VA or vACC by using the Benchmarks. (Air races, Landing competitions, VFR tours e.t.c).
4. assist in Pilot exams either as a VA or vACC.
5. Monitor and record traffic during events.
6. Monitor friends online.

For more information visit Flight Dreams Website.

Tuesday's Files on the Blocks

Posted: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 - 11:37
Flight Simulator X - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications
Paintkit for Toms Airbus A332/342 by Thomas Ruth

Flight Simulator X - AI Aircraft
United Airlines Boeing 757-200 by Eric G Hansen
United Airlines Boeing 747-400 by Eric G Hansen

Flight Simulator X - AI Flight Plans
South Airlines, Ilyushin IL-76 by Antoine Calleja, globusworld.net
Iran Air Force, Ilyushin IL-76 by Antoine Calleja, globusworld.net
Angola Air Force, Ilyushin IL-76 by Antoine Calleja, globusworld.net

Flight Simulator X - Flight Plans
East Wing, Ilyushin IL-76 by Antoine Calleja, globusworld.net
Gira Globo, Ilyushin IL-76 by Antoine Calleja, globusworld.net

Flight Simulator 2004 - Original Aircraft
Delta Air Lines Airbus A320-221 "N345NW" by Hernan Anibarro / Project Airbus

Flight Simulator 2004 - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications
Lockheed WV-2/PO2W Warning Star Prototype by Dan McManus
Lockheed L-1049 Prototype by Dan McManus
Norwegian Air Shuttle - Boeing 737-800W - LN-NOU v2 by Tom Knudsen / PMDG
Norwegian Air Shuttle - Boeing 737-800W - LN-NOU by Tom Knudsen / PMDG
Douglas A-26B Invader / "Jenny" 322282 by Midnight Aviation
Aero Olsztyn, Cessna 152 (SP-KEP) by Rafal Jarosz
North American P-51B Mustang by J.R. Lucariny
Aero Olsztyn, Cessna 152 (SP-KOE) by Rafal Jarosz
Olympic Airways Douglas DC-6B by Dan McManus
Eastern Airlines "Hockey Stick", Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation by Dan McManus
Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-221 (N860NW) by Hernan Anibarro, Project Opensky
Caspian Airlines, Tupolev Tu-154M (EP-CPS) by Kalle Heinonen, Project Tupolev

Flight Simulator 2004 - AI Flight Plans
JaboG31 Boelcke (German Air Force) REUPLOAD by Jan Vorbroecker
Marinefliegergeschwader 2 (Germany Navy) REUPLOAD by Jan Vorbroecker

Flight Simulator 2004 - Flight Plans
SIDSTAR Cycle 1002 Collection by Dan Downs

Flight Simulator 2004 - Scenery
Airport Ugolny (Anadyr) UHMA v2.0 by Sergey Permyakov
KGFL v2.2 - Winter Textures by Ed Geneer Cox
Pellston Regional Airport by Matthias Rauh
One Hundred Mile House CAV3, British Columbia, Canada by Roger Wensley
Indian Creek Farm Field CF07 near Ottawa in Ontario, Canada by Roger Wensley

New Sky Blue Radio Guests

Posted: Sunday, February 7, 2010 - 17:29
Sky Blue Radio is presenting a very special live Flight Simulator in Focus show on Saturday February 13th, 2010 at 2200z Join Jeff 'JT' Turner and special guests VATSIM Board of Governors, VP of Web Services, Mike Evans and Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Development Florian Harms as they explore the future of Flight Simulation and the place of VATSIM in the continuing development of Flight Simulation and aviation in general.

Listeners will also have a chance to put their questions and/or comments to either Mike or Florian via the Sky Blue Radio website. If you have a question you would like to send in now for the show then please email your question with your name and location to fsinfocus (at) skyblueradio (dot) com Tune in with Wee Tune Beastie in your cockpit com2 radio on 123.45, through the Sky Blue Radio website or through the Sky Blue Radio link in the Vroute software.

FS Global 2010 X from Pilot's

Posted: Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 21:52
Staff reviewer Etienne Martin transforms the world with Pilot's FS Global 2010 X. "FS Global 2010 X is a worldwide terrain mesh product for Flight Simulator 2004 / FSX. It adds 20 gigabytes of high resolution terrain elevation data to augment the fidelity of the virtual landscape features."

"Like its predecessor, FS Global 2010 adds detail to the visible (above water) landscape features such as mountain ranges, fjords, peaks, gorges and other geographical points of visual interest. The product includes coverage the entire world (based on available data) in one package."

"During flight, I noticed my hard disk was getting a workout, especially as I was flying low with a fast aircraft – a visual experience that simply cannot be passed up with this product. Of course, that always gives the hard drive a workout, FSG or not. I didn’t see any difference in FPS between FSX scenery only and FSG 2010 only. All I can say is that FSG was transparent to the FPS on my test system and didn’t register the type of FPS hit I see with certain aircraft or scenery add-ons."

"FS Global 2010 X is an improvement over its predecessor in many areas. Using recently improved data sources means more areas of coverage worldwide, most notably at latitudes nearing the poles were good data sources were unavailable before, or areas where improve source data is now available. A clear benefit of FSG 2010 is its all inclusive nature. No purchase of separate continents or area necessary, you get it all. I find it a solid and complete product, and FS Global brings the flight simulator experience ever closer to the real thing."

FS2Crew for Maddog 2008

Posted: Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 14:02
FS2Crew for the Leonardo Maddog 2008 is now available, the Maddog version of FS2Crew is a realistic airline crew simulation that uses voice control and is probably one of the most technically accurate FS2Crew's we've ever done.

Bryan York of FS2Crew writes: We have a real-world Maddog FO on staff, and he was very active during the development to ensure all the nuances of the Maddog were captured from the perspective of multi-crew flying in a SOP driven environment. In addition to offering a large international voice set for the First Officer position -US, UK, Finnish, German, Dutch, Irish, Spanish and French- we also have the very first female First Officer voice in an FS2Crew product. She's French. Moreover, two of our voice artists (Finnish and United States) are real-world Maddog pilots.

All Leonardo Maddog pilot are cleared via direct to FS2Crew's Homepage .

Boston from Fly Tampa

Posted: Saturday, February 6, 2010 - 0:13
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen comes to America to check out Fly Tampa's Boston. "Boston International is wrong but General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is correct (IATA: BOS, ICAO: KBOS). It lies in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States (and partly in the Town of Winthrop, Massachusetts), and is one of the 20 busiest airports in the United States with over 26 million passengers a year."

Ángelique first takes us on a tour of the airport grounds to get us acquainted with its layout and features. "We’ve stopped at gate C40. This means we’re standing at the end of terminal C. It seems nothing is forgotten and every tiny detail is there like the mobile heating/cooling (airco) unit, the wires, the jetway skin, the ground light units, the fire extinguisher on the airco unit, and where applicable, the hose between the airco unit and the airplane, of course the stairs."

"Not only are the taxiways looking good, but also all the other things we’re automatically dealing with like the taxi lights, the signs, the text on the signs and taxiways and runways, and the lawns around us. I’m impressed about how it’s made and the eye for details, even here far away from the terminal buildings."

Angelique has added Aerosoft's AES to this airport and describes all the additional items that can be found at this airport when using this utility. "While driving around on the platform, hovering at a normal altitude and seeing how every detail is simulated as well as the coast lines and the water surface around it, it all fits perfectly in its designated place with lots of tiny things added to make it a little more attractive."

"Keeping in mind that Boston Version 3.0 supports Aerosoft’s AES Version 2.05 or is it the other way around ….. and the smooth integration with Flight1 products - Ultimate TerrainX USA, Ground Environment Enhanced USA and Ultimate Traffic II – makes this a great add-on."

Just Flight "Tweets"

Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010 - 23:49
There's a Just Flight Twitter page. If anyone would like to follow their news, they now have another option. They have been including news and updates there and the JF team is promising to post more news for those who just can't get enough FS news.

New from the Avsim Store: C185F Skywagon FSX by Carenado

Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010 - 17:46
The C185F Skywagon is the latest release by Carenado. It comes with 4 liveries, full virtual cockpit and all the features permitted by FSX. You can get the C185F here.
The Avsim store also carries other planes by Carenado.

Visit the Avsim store today.

Connie Service Pack Released

Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010 - 0:55
Simmers have been patiently waiting for Just Flight to supply the Service pack for their Constellation Professional, well good news, it's now available from their website.

The Service Pack (27.5Mb) is now available and provides a number of fixes for the software. Users of both the Download and the Boxed versions should install this Service Pack.

Expansion Packs - There is also a Service Pack (37.3Mb) available for Expansion Pack A and another one (65.5Mb) for Expansion Pack B. All users of the Expansion Packs should install these updates. Visit the Support section of the Just Flight website for a list of all the fixes in the Pack.

Flight 1 Releases Ultimate Alaska X

Posted: Friday, February 5, 2010 - 0:49
Flight One Software, in cooperation with Scenery Solutions, is excited to bring you a brand new type of product for FSX. Ultimate Alaska X provides a new era of scenery design that sim pilots can explore and experience in Flight Simulator X.

Alaska is one of the world's most unique scenic locations, and it is an excellent place for flight simmers to enjoy the beauty of VFR flight. With Ultimate Alaska X, you will have the most complete rendering of Alaska to date. It provides a ground up redesign of nearly every scenery aspect in Alaska. This includes more accurate water, roads, railroads, urban modeling, mesh, detailed glaciers, repositioned airports, and more.

Ultimate Alaska X is the first product to take advantage of a new technology designed by Scenery Solutions, which renders entire urban areas accurately without landclass. Normally in FSX, urban areas are displayed using generic landclass textures and autogen. Landclass is very efficient and does a good job of representing urban areas from higher altitudes. However, while city scenery boundaries can be displayed well with landclass, the accuracy of objects within those boundaries are placed at random. So instead of using landclass, Ultimate Alaska X displays houses that follow the accurate roads that are provided with this product, with each house oriented towards the nearest road.

Other buildings and objects in Ultimate Alaska X are placed in their real-world locations. Many buildings are of the same size and shape as their real-world counterparts. Over 200+ scenery areas in Alaska have been modeled using this new technology. This includes nearly every city, town, village, and seaport in Alaska.

Library Update

Posted: Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 14:27
The Staff manning our Library would like to thank the authors who have re-uploaded their works , a special thanks goes out to Peter Van der Veen from World of AI who has personally re-uploaded nearly 300 files.

It's Your Plane (Pt 1) from Pacific Feelings Media

Posted: Thursday, February 4, 2010 - 1:33
Staff reviewer Roger Curtiss get's an assist in the cockpit with Pacific Feelings Media's It's Your Plane. "Flight decks can be very busy places during most of the phases of a flight and especially in an IFR environment. There are enough tasks to occupy more than one crewmember, not to mention the niggling detail of having to fly the airplane. In an effort to ease the workload by spreading it around and make the flight sim cockpit environment more realistic, enters Robert Cezar and It’s Your Plane (IYP)."

"IYP consists of a variety of tools and enhancements to enrich the experience. The basic purpose of IYP is to allow the pilot to issue voice commands to a virtual first officer in order to accomplish various tasks. The co-pilot will run checklists, set switches, dial in radio frequencies and even assist in actually flying the airplane all in accordance with the vocal instructions of you, the pilot in command."

"The IYP program is available in a free version (with, of course, some limitations to its abilities) for demonstration purposes and a fully functional registered version that is payware. This is a great program, period. It is worth having just to free you from the necessity of opening up sub-panels to find switches and yet it offers a variety of other features well beyond that."

Editor's Note: There are so many main features included in this package (approx 15), that this will be a multi-part review.

Screenshot Contest from Flight1

Posted: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 13:59
Flight1 is holding a screenshot contest for Mustang pilots during the month of February.

Flight1's registered forum users can submit their best screenshot to the Flight1 Cessna Citation Mustang Screenshots and Videos forum here.

Flight1 Software, with support from CH Products, will be offering prizes for three lucky screenshot winners. First Place Winner will receive a new CH Products Flight Sim Yoke USB and a choice of a Flight1 Software CD Title (SRP $185.90). Second Place will get their choice of two Flight1 CD titles (SRP $109.90), and Third Place will receive their choice of one Flight1 CD title (SRP $54.95).

For more information visit Flight1 Contest Forum.

Photoreal scenery for American East Coast

Posted: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 13:54
Sim-Savvy announces release of FSX Photoreal scenery for American East Coast. It contains 23 states of Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. The 23 states have been divided upto 5 sectional areas.

The first section will be shipped from February 15th. As of now, the completed state of Rhode Island is available as a free sample for download.

For more information visit Sim-Savvy's website.

Just Flight Announces 767 Aircraft Add-on

Posted: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 13:46
Just Flight has announced the release of 767-200/300 Series, the latest airliner expansion for FSX and FS2004 in its widely acclaimed F-Lite series.

Developed by the award-winning team at CLS, it features the -200 and -300 in passenger and cargo variants with four engine configurations spread across 24 different liveries. Some features are:


1. 2D and 3D interactive cockpits, wingview, pushback truck, doors, thrust reversers… and much, much more!

2. Choice of engines – Pratt & Witney, General Electric and Rolls-Royce variants are included with appropriate sound packs

3. Special effects including tyre/wet runway water effects, engine start and touchdown tyre smoke, wingflex and underbelly spark effects!

4. Layered paint kit to create own liveries.

5. Detailed manual including flight tutorial and all the information virtual pilots will need for transcontinental flight.


For more information visit Just Flight's Product Page.

VATSIM's new Website

Posted: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 - 13:40
VATSIM announces release of its new website. The new look website marks the first of many exhilarating changes and program of growth forecast for VATSIM during 2010.

The new website is built around a content management system, (CMS), providing VATSIM with a stable and secure platform to grow from.

VATSIM has also announced its official Twitter and Facebook groups. @vatsim_news to tweet with them or to VATSIM Comms on Facebook.

For more information visit VATSIM's website.

Back to Flying School for Free!!

Posted: Monday, February 1, 2010 - 11:14
Angle of Attack. productions has announced the start of a 90 day basic virtual flight training course called "Aviator 90". This is a 90 days course with upto 45 lessons and is free to everyone.

For more informaton where and to learn more and watch this training series unfold visit Angle of Attack's Blog.

PMDG Releases PMDG 747-8i/F Model Extension

Posted: Sunday, January 31, 2010 - 8:46
PMDG announces the release of the new PMDG 747-8i/F Model Extension for use with the PMDG 747-400X.

This new product allows users to add new, high resolution 747-8 models to their existing PMDG 747-400X installation, along with a new GEnx engine sound package created just for the 747-8! Created with technical input from Boeing, the PMDG 747-8i/F Model Extension installs easily over-top of your existing PMDG 747-400X and uses the existing simulation to let you give you the opportunity to fly Boeing's latest 747.

Fully 3D engine fan/cores, all new flight controls, transparent passenger windows, visible passenger cabin, hi-resolution textures and updated animations are just some of the features showcased by this new product. Up for a new challenge? With a longer wheelbase, the 747-8 will challenge even seasoned 747-400 pilots on standard sized taxiways!

For more information visit PMDG's website.