Today's Headlines

The AVSIM Online News:

Saturday's Files Ready To Board

Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 3:51
Flight Simulator X - Original Aircraft
Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 XWB V2 by Camil Valiquette

Flight Simulator X - Missions
The Most Dangerous Airports: Madeira by Robbie Albers

Flight Simulator X - Scenery
Alf's UK airfields update. Popham EGHP version 2 by Alf Denham

Flight Simulator 2004 - Original Aircraft
Vietnam Airlines Airbus A350-900 XWB V2 by Camil Valiquette

Flight Simulator 2004 - Aircraft Repaints, Textures and Modifications
Air France Airbus A380 by Stephane DAVRANGE
TUIfly Nordic Boeing 767 SE-RFS by Matt Wood
Finnair Boeing 757-2Q8 repaint Circa 2007 by David Sweetman

Flight Simulator 2004 - AI Aircraft
World of AI Gates Learjet 35 GA package Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI British Aerospace Hawker XP800 GA Package Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI Gates Learjet 25 GA package Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI Cessna 421C GA Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI Ultimate GA Cessna 402 Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI Ultimate GA King Air F90 Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI Ultimate GA Learjet 40 Complete AI Package by World of AI
World of AI Ultimate GA Learjet 45 Complete AI Package by World of AI

Flight Simulator 2004 - AI Flight Plans
Air Bagan Winter 09-10 by Dimitri Tousmanof
Air Mandalay Winter 09-10 by Dimitri Tousmanof

Flight Simulator 2004 - Gauges
iFly 747-400 Joystick\autopilot conflict solver by Mario Noriega

Civil Flight Simulators - X-Plane
Swiss Stinson L5 Sentinel 'HB-TRY' by Leen "Flybike" de Jager

Just Trains Gets Heavy With A New Freight Package

Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 0:53
This fantastic expansion for RailWorks and Rail Simulator is built around the Class 60, which was the last mainline diesel locomotive built in the UK. The Class 60 is partnered with the Cargowaggon IWB, the workhorse of the rails, and the YGB Seacow that spends its time carrying stone and ballast up and down the network.

Everything is modelled with careful attention to detail and comes with a great set of 26 liveries - ten for the Class 60 and eight for each Cargowaggon. The custom-built scenarios will keep you hauling and the authentic sounds add to the amazing sense of realism. Just Trains' Simon Martin explained: "Class 60 & Freight Wagons is the best possible way for virtual rail enthusiasts to enter the world of heavy haulage. It's a complete package."

Abacus FSRepaint2 v 2.22 update

Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009 - 13:05
Abacus has released an update to the popular FSRepaint!

Check the version you are using in the Help | About menu. If you are a registered user of version 2 and are using a version lower than version 2.22, you can download and install the new version over top of your current version.

Registered users can download FSRepaint 2.22 from the Abacus FSRepaint FAQ page and enter their registration key/serial number they have in order to install it.

Updated in version 2.22:
ADDED: Better support for Windows Vista and Window 7
FIXED: DDS textures showed upside-down in aircraft when using DirectX 10 or 11

Just Flight Adds Carenado's Saratoga

Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009 - 1:06
Just Flight is very pleased to announce that another fabulous aircraft from the hugely popular Carenado range is now available from the Just Flight website. The Carenado PA-32R 301 Saratoga SP (FOR FSX) is available to download (87Mb) from the Just Flight website.

As is always the case with Carenado aircraft, you can guarantee superb quality throughout, excellent flight dynamics and beautiful modelling that makes full use of all the visual capabilities of FSX. Full product detail and ordering details can be found at the Just Flight website.

Free E-Magazine from Greeksim

Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 18:08
Greeksim publications released the latest editon of their . The current edition features some interesting reviews and also a step by step start-up tutorial about the INS system and articles on helicopter maneuvers, dealing with hovering. Lot more educational articles and the latest news from the online FS community.

For more information vist their Home Page

Captain Sim Announces Expansion for 767-300

Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 18:02
Captain Sim has now released the E-767 AWACS Expansion Model. This is an addition to their range of Boeing 767-300 base back.

For further details visit their Product Page

Aerosoft USA Now Open

Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 17:52
Aerosoft has opened a subsidiary in the USA, with immediate effect. The office will process all American boxed orders, which means faster and lower-cost shipping for their customers. It will also drive new sales efforts and open up new retail channels for their products.

According to Aerosoft, thiw will not only be a gain for their loyal direct customers, but also a positive step to ensure a good and more intensive relationship with their US and Canadian dealers and stores. Wolfgang Burchhardt will be heading the office.

For further details visit their Home Page

FSBreak Releases Latest Podcast

Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 17:45
FSBREAK has released its latest podcast. This edition features an exclusive interview with CEO of ORBX (FTX) simulations John Venema, Lead designer of the highly awaited FTX Pacific North West, Holger
Sandmann and scenery designer Bill Womack. This show also features information on the much anticipated Pacific Northwest Scenery and much more.

For more information visit their Home Page

Lockheed Constellation (FSX) from Just Flight

Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 0:53
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."

PA32R by Carenado now available at the Avsim store

Posted: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 16:15
The Piper 32R Saratoga is the latest release by Carenado and is available as an instant download.
Fans of Air Force Bases Scenery can also grab the new additions from Team SBD: CFB Cold Lake and UK Cold War fields. They come is addition to US Airfields Volume 1 and US Airfields Volume 2.


Visit the Avsim store today.

Historic Jetliner Group - New Releases and Updates

Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 2:13
Historic Jetliners Group (HJG) announce new texture packages for their stable of Boeing, Douglas, and Caravelle jets. There are new textures for the 727, 720, DC-8, and Caravelle 6R, as well as an updated model and liveries for the DC-9-40.

Check them out at Historic Jetliner Group site

Battleground Europe from Cornered Rat

Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 1:47
Staff reviewer Etienne Martin takes a step back from flying and enters the world of Combat Simulation. "Battleground Europe (BE) is a subscription based historical combat simulator for the PC and Mac platforms. It was originally released in June 2001 under the name World War II Online (WWIIOL) and has seen several enhancements over the years. As of this writing, the title has seen 30 releases. The current name is “World War II Online: Battleground Europe”. This article covers version 1.30."

"The concept is a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game with a full-fledged multi-unit simulation engine set in the Northern European war theater from 1940 to 1941. The goal is simple: find ever new ways of outsmarting your “real” player opponents, capturing the other side’s terrain using a combination of infantry, ground, air and navy assets, and probably most of all, teamwork. This is accomplished through the use of an impressive selection of no less than ninety six (96) individually modeled air, ground and navy assets appropriate for the period. Each unit type has its own historically accurate weapons, ballistics and damage model tied to a physics model."

"Above all, the game requires teamwork and good communication, which is probably where the heart of the experience is. The player community thinks in terms of “squad nights” which are preset times where squad units meet, and each member of the squad assumes unique roles based on their expertise."

"Battleground Europe is not the kind of game you can casually play, and it is not a “whiz-bang shooter”. It falls squarely in the “serious strategy” category, in a narrow historical context to boot. This will likely delight military buffs and the patient player who favors team based tactical play, planning and outsmarting a very smart opponent. It will also do for anyone looking for a good dogfight or tank battle for that matter."

SimFlight 3D's C140 For FSX Released

Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 0:10
SimFlight3D has released the FSX version of the 1947 C140 (tail dragger), a single engine, 2-seater aircraft that was produced at the end of World War II. The 85-90 horsepower, C140 aircraft comes equipped with manual flaps, fully operational cockpit (updated for IFR flight) and panel and is designed with a metal fuselage and fabric wings. Also available is the 1958 C172 (straight tail) aircraft in FSX and FS 2004 versions.

Rail Simulation's Newcastle to York - Modern

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 22:59
Travel the modern East Coast Main Line from Newcastle to York in a high quality 80-mile route expansion for RailWorks or Rail Simulator.

The default Newcastle to York route in the European version of RailWorks and Rail Simulator is based around the route as it existed in the 1970s. This all-new route brings it bang up to date with a completely re-worked track layout, overhead power masts and cables, revised speed limits, updated signalling, and appropriate modernisation of the scenery along the route. Each station incorporates modern platform allocations, and is bought to life with a wealth of atmospheric detail. With eight immersive scenarios and four new liveries for the HST, this fantastic package is a must-have for virtual rail enthusiasts.

Just Trains' Simon Martin commented: "fans of the original route for Rail Simulator have been keen to experience the journey on today's electrified system and now their wishes are answered. Darren Porter has painstakingly re-created the route as it is today and the results are an incredible work of art!"

Multiple Products Available From SimSamurai

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 22:56
A new and unique flight simulation company has just landed at SimSamurai.net. This website is definitely one to keep your eye on if you are into advanced flight simulation and home cockpit building. The website owner has created four great products for the advanced sim pilot all of which are very useful resources for the entire flight simulation community. The most exciting product offered is affordable blueprints for what appears to be the best concept for a low cost home cockpit ever seen!

The Sim Samurai XS-1 Sim Station is a joy to look at as the website includes links to several videos which give details of the XS-1. It touts that it can be built by you with reasonable construction skills for less than $500.00 and the blueprints include a very detailed DIY construction manual and over 300 step-by-step build photos to guide you. If you are not so handy it is also offered as a complete ready to assemble kit for about $1600.US. which is precision cut on a CNC router machine.

What's so great about the XS-1 is that it is designed to allow you to install any instrument panel from other retailers if you want or you can use the default concept (as seen in videos) which has several LCD screens display a full cockpit worth of virtual instrumentation which is very handy for folks who still need their PC for day to day use and allows you to fly any aircraft your heart desires! The XS-1 is made for use with at least one projector for your main front view and has space to include all four left and right side views via LCD monitors so you can actually get full 180 degree panoramic viewing while still paying attention to the common space constraints of a home or office. Professional level flight simulation is finally coming home.

Other products offered are a very detailed 260 page book called Sim Samurai's Ultimate Guide to Advanced Flight Simulation. (UGTAFS) In many ways this book is the prequel to those books which teach you to fly with your sim. This tech manual inversely details all the practical computer knowledge you need to know about flight simulation starting with how to build a robust pc completely optimized for Flight Simulator 9 or FSX. Each chapter is extremely detailed and very well thought out. It has complete tutorials on config file tweaking, getting FS-Inn properly set up for VATSIM as well as chapters on advanced multi-monitor configuring, PC networking, and it finishes off with two detailed chapters on aircraft and panel config file manipulation.

All product purchases also come with a very unique item called the Globetrekker GT-1000. In short this is a multi-colored, mutli-chaptered excel spreadsheet which contains 1000 of the worlds most dangerous and most exciting airports you will ever visit in FS9 or FSX. This product is sheer fun and excitement and will sharpen your skills at every hair-raising glideslope! Sim Samurai has spent 3 years perfecting the GT-1000 into many chapters which are broken down into several large world tours which have you completely circle the globe as well as includes hundreds of unique area tours which are also linear style journeys throughout the world.

Multi Crew Experience V1.8 Released

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 22:40
The FS++ team is pleased to announce the release of Version V1.8 of their award winning add-on to both FSX and FS2004 known as Multi Crew Experience (MCE).

MCE is a speech based add-on that allows the flight simulator enthusiast to fly the heavies in a far more realistic way. This release finally gives full voice control over Level-D B767 aircraft. Almost every single switch can be supervised by co-pilot.

You can give verbal commands to co-pilot, and see them executed. You can go through the checklist interactively, like real pilots do. You can also interact with FS built-in ATC by voice. This is an alternative to VoxATC.

A fully working, time limited demo, is available for download at the MultiCrew website.

Aerosoft Releases Ibiza X

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 22:35
Ibiza X covers the whole island (plus the island of Formenta btw) in glorious high resolution images and includes the airport in high detail. An ideal destination for your flights from Europe and when you get to the island you can jump into a small aircraft to explore the complete island. See the rugged coastline (done in detailed mesh), the fields and the villages. Or explore the main city Ibiza Town with its well known nightlife from the air. This title is aasy on framerates but high on details! The manual comes in English and German.

Worldwide Dynamic and Realistic AI-Traffic

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 22:03
More than 140 aircraft models were newly designed for FSX with a never before seen detail for AI-planes and with a minimal impact on the PC resources. Nearly all current airliners, most commuter aircraft and civil freighters are included. There are additional versions of many aircraft types featuring different engines. 1600 aircraft liveries are included as well as more than 4000 different types and associated flight plans. My Traffic 2010 generates more than 800,000 flights a day, worldwide.

This enormous number also counts on the fact that My Traffic 2010 is not "very active" in North America and Western Europe - You can also explore every part of the world and find airlines you`ve never heard of before.

My Traffic 2010 goes far beyond airline traffic. Charter carriers fly to touristic places, cargo airlines carry freight, military planes fly to and from military bases and general aviation airplanes make sure you do not feel alone at thousands of airports. In some typical regions you will find newly developed water planes bobbing up and down on the waves. Over 2,000 airports were transfigured to make more space for airplanes which are at home there. Even some important airports, which were missing in FSX, are now included. For example, the big regional airports of Moscow.

With the My Traffic editor you can program flight plans to your liking. The principle of My Traffic 2010 is the simplicity. After the installation, the everyday user can just go flying, nothing more - with the virtual world around him becoming more real than ever before. Also included is the My Traffic 2004 Version 4.1 for FS2004 (Box/CD-Version only)

For complete details and to view some screenshots, divert you present course to have a look at My Traffic 2010.

Latest News From Captain Sim

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 21:48
KC-767 Tanker Expansion Model - comes with 2 animated wing pods, a centerline unit, an animated boom and animated receiver. Japanese and Italian Air Force plus other liveries are included.
767 Captain - part I of the manual has been updated.
727 Captain - a repaint kit is now available.
Complete details about these and other products from Captain Sim are available on their website.

X Plane 9 MBB/Kawasaki BK 117

Posted: Friday, November 13, 2009 - 16:41
ND Art & Technology release the MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 medium twin engine utility and transport helicopter for X Plane 9. Features include Super detailed fully functional 3D cockpit, custom systems, including autopilot, trim, SAS, engine control, GPS and more.
Perform realistic startups and shutdowns and enjoy the unique dynamic cockpit lighting, the detailed interior and exterior and high resolution textures and advanced animation of all moving parts, including rotor heads.
The model features realistic flight characteristics and has been flight tested by real BK-117 crew members. Used for a variety of missions the BK-117 is best known in it's Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) role, and is released in this configuration.
Learn more at ND Art & Technology .

Beagle Mission - Rio de Janeiro

Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2009 - 14:11
FScene releases its third 'Beagle' Mission - Rio de Janeiro, in this 3rd mission you fly the vintage Douglas DC-3 N47D and visit 3 airports in the Rio De Janeiro region. The missions are all Inspired by a recently started 35-part Radio/TV series of VPRO, a Dutch Radio/TV station, to celebrate Charles Darwin's 200th birth year and the 150th anniversary of his publication of "On the Origin of Species".
The first 2 missions are waiting for you. Download them and get connected to the project at the FScene website . not only for experienced players the missions are meant as 'Just for fun' challenges, though this 3rd one is a bit more difficult to fly.

Cuzco from LatinVFR

Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 2:01
Senior staff reviewer Angelique van Campen heads to Peru in South America to visit Latin VFR's Cuzco. "The real airport is located in the city of Cuzco, a city in southeastern Peru. Cuzco, a principal tourist attraction in Latin America, receives various domestic flights as well as some international flights. Currently, it operates at a limited capacity due to its precarious location near the city's center."

"The FSX Cuzco airport offers outside of the fences approximately a 1.5m quality, while within the fences it’s less than 1.0 m. For FS9 it’s slightly different; it’s approximately 10.0m per pixel outside the fences and 1.0m pixel within the fences. Angelique describes the sceneries from different approach angles and compares this scenery with the default MSFS scenery with words and screenshots."

"Compared to the default FSX scenery, Latin VFR's Cuzco does dramatically change the old look into something highly realistic. Thus I think I’ve proven this by being on the same longitude/latitude location and making a screenshot from the default FSX scenery and then when Cuzco is activated. Only looking at those screenshots and seeing the huge differences, do I think it’s worth every Euro/cent. It’s 200% better than the default Cuzco."

AirSimmer A320 Basic Edition

Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 1:06
AirSimmer is pleased to announce the launch of their new A320 Basic Edition product for MSFS2004. The A320 Basic Edition features a fully functional Fly-by-Wire system, a feature-rich FMGS, an interactive weight and fuel performance calculator, tons of liveries, an immense and functional cockpit and everything you need for a normal operations flight.

"We felt that during development it was necessary to generate growth in the company to sustain our dream of the ultimate Airbus simulation. At some point it became apparent during development that we had a competitive product, which would serve as a simulator 'lite' for those interested in the Airbus concepts, but not necessarily concerned with every facet of the Airbus systems. By releasing the Basic Edition we are hitting two birds with one stone: we are offering a lite version to those not so interested in the intimate details of the Airbus systems, while remaining extremely competitive, and expediting development of the much-awaited Advanced version," says Zoya Spivakovsky, CEO of Oyster Bay Media.

AirSimmer is also launching, as part of the product, the Tablet PC, which is a revolutionary way to interact with the simulator and the aircraft and is also a useful tool for getting the latest updates and product news. To learn more about the AirSimmer A320 Basic Edition, head over to the AirSimmer website.