Recently Saitek has been releasing a wide variety of reasonably
priced avionics and control hardware that works with Flight Simulator.
In this review, Nigel C. Martin examines the Pro Flight Multi
Panel that includes autopilot, auto throttle, flaps and trim
and can make your flying much more realistic. Learn more by reading the
complete review
here.
Where In The World #26?
Ron Blehm returns to present a new geography challenge for flightsimmers.
The last one proved easy for most participates, but this one won't be,
with not nearly as much information to go on.
Are you up to the challenge?
Read all about it
here.
Review: Tilt Rotor From Wilco
Wilco's Tilt Rotor is based on a real Bell/Agusta Aerospace
aircraft that is under development. This amazing craft takes off and lands
like a helicopter then tilts the rotors and flys like an airplane. It makes
for a great flight experience, as reviewer William Nonya describes in his
article
here.
Final Argosy 3: The Mercury Part 2
American Airlines captain Tony Vallillo continues the story of his
final flights in charge of the big jets. This story is one of a historic
flight, American Airlines flight One, "The Mercury", from JFK to LAX.
Tony delves into the history of early airplane travel, and this route
in particular, and then shares his own experience commanding the flight.
Read all about it
here.
Review: RAF Scampton Scenery
Team SDB has made a specialty of creating air force bases and in this
review Nigel Martin examines their version of the base RAF Scampton in
the UK. For a very low price, the scenery offers lots of exciting
detail. Learn more by reading Nigel's complete review
here.
Review: Switzerland Professional X For FSX/FS2004
In the real world, the mountains of Switzerland offer some of the most
spectacular aerial views to be found. In the default flightsim scenery...not
so much. But with Aerosoft's Switzerland Professional X you
get all new and accurate mesh terrain combined with detailed photographic
images so now the entire country looks just right. Learn more by reading
Kevin Glover's complete review
here.
Review: Boeing B737NG Deluxe Panel
NPSimPanel specializes in highly realistic panels for jetliners.
One of their latest covers the four Boeing 737 Next Generation models.
The package is more than just panels, though, as flyable 737 aircraft
are included. Perhaps best of all, it includes a real manual with lots
of information that would be useful to any 737 pilot. Learn more by
reading Bill Stack's complete review
here.
Freeware Focus: David Eckert
Recently FlightSim.Com had the chance to interview well regarded aircraft
designer David Eckert. Best known for his award winning FS2004
Stearman, Eckert has now designed around 25 add-ons, both freeware and
payware, even though such development is still only a part time task.
And despite the added challenge of designing for FSX he is not through yet.
Read the full interview
here.
Looking For A Cat
Once again reviewer Alejandro Hurtado goes looking for an aircraft for his
flightsim hangar. This time he's looking for amphibians, which in general
are not well represented in the flightsim offerings. Specifically, though,
the search is for the famous Consolidated PBY Catalina and for that the
search is a success. Read more
here.
Review: Newport Scenery Photo Real Melbourne
Newport Scenery's Photo Real Melbourne brings accurate
satellite imagery scenery to one of Australia's major cities. The detail
brings the city to life while having no effect on frame rates. Learn more
by reading Bill Stack's review
here.
737-400 Simulator - British Airways Cranebank
As good as our home flightsims are, the pros have simulators that are far
better. Several airlines now let anyone who is interested book time in
their sims and get a taste of what flying a real jetliner is like. Recently
Jonny Caldwell flew British Airways' Boeing 737-400 at Cranebank and tells
the story of what it was like
here.
Review: Captain Sim 727 Captain For FSX
Captain Sim has once again released a very high quality jetliner for FSX
pilots. This time it is the classic Boeing 727 and it comes as a three
part pack. The main 727-100 Pro Pack includes several
variants of the basic 727-100 model, which additional packs offer a
freight expansion and a 727-200 expansion. Learn more by reading Kevin
Glover's complete review
here.
Review: Freedom Sim's RAF Mount Pleasant
Freedom Sim is a new scenery developer whose first product is an FSX
add-on that includes many of the locations from the 1982 Falkland
Island's war. The Mount Pleasant base is a main feature along with
several battle areas. Learn more about this unusual scenery by reading
Bill Stack's complete review
here.
The Corner #48: As The Worm Turns
Chip Barber has been reluctant to embrace FSX and like many has continued
to favor FS2004 or even look for fun in other genres of software. But the
great thing about Flight Simulator is that there are always new add-ons
coming that can renew interest and turn the sim into a whole new "game".
Read all about it starting
here.
Review: Flight One ATR 72-500 For FSX
The ATR 72 is a popular regional turboprop airliner in the real world and
thanks to Flight One in the FSX world too. Turboprops have not been well
represented in Flight Simulator over the years, but reviewer Willian Nonya
finds that the Flight1 version fills the gap nicely. Learn more by reading
his review
here.
Now available from the UIVER design team is the Douglas DC-2. This is
a true native FSX aircraft with improved modelling, new textures,
mapping, bump maps, animations and more. For details,
read
this press release.
DC-3 World Rally Announced
The virtual airline DC-3 Airways is once again hosting its
World Rally. Invitations are extended to anyone interested
in piloting a DC-3 through ten interesting and mildly challenging flights.
For details,
read
this press release.
VATSIM November 2009 News
VATSIM, the popular online multiplayer flying service with more than
180,000 members, releases a summary of November 2009 news. Included
two lengthy interviews and lots of information on upcoming events.
For details,
read
this press release.
Virtual Cleveland Air Show
YS Air Shows are working on upgrading virtual air show technology.
For the first time in its ten year history, YSFlight is to live stream
the Virtual Cleveland National Air Show. For details,
read
this press release.
IVAO Announces FSWeekend Plans
As every year, IVAO will be in attendance at the FSWeekend event
in The Netherlands. This year IVAO will have Internet access from the event
site and will be doing live ATC right from the show. For details,
read
this press release.
Massive Scenery for FSX - The American West Released
Here's an add-on that really lives up to its name...massive scenery that
is so big it comes on a 500 gigabyte USB hard drive. Curious? Read more
here.
Flight1 Open Day At Shoreham Airport A Success
Brighton based Flight1 hosted its inaugural 'Open Day' at
Shoreham Airport UK on Saturday October 3rd. Despite windy weather that
limited the real flying, nearly 500 visitors turned out to see the
latest flightsim hardware and software as well as visiting aircraft.
for a full report,
read
this press release.
AirlineSim Expands Internationally
It has been three months since AirlineSim, the browser-based
airline simulation game, took to the international stage with its first
game world published solely in English. Since then the game and its
community have grown tremendously. Therefore, another game world is about
to be added. For details,
read
this press release.
UK Virtual Gliding Association
The UK Virtual Gliding Association (UK VGA) is effectively a
virtual equivalent of the British Gliding Association, following its
rules, competitions, badges and awards schemes. For more information,
read
this announcement.
UASO Constellation Program Set
UASO (United Aeronautics and Spaceflight Organization)
has announced that its Constellation Program is set to establish first
communications and tracking system.
For more information,
read
this press release.
Announcing Piedmont Virtual Airlines
Piedmont Virtual Airlines has recently become the latest virtual airline in
the community. Actual flight operations will begin by the end of the month.
For more information,
read
this press release.
Exclusive Halloween Sale on A2A Simulations
This weekend only, the Pilot Shop is offering eerily low prices on select
aircraft from A2A Simulations. Take a monstrous 50% off the
Aircraft Factory Corsair
plus a never-before 25% discount on the
P-47 Razorback with Accu-Sim
and the
Boeing 377
(with Accu-Sim).
Take advantage of these special treats before they are gone!
DBSim Releases Yak-40
DBS Studio and Simlandmark present Yak-40 aircraft for Flight Simulator X.
This is an advanced native FSX model with custom effects, light maps,
advanced flight model and much more. For details,
read
this announcement.
Electronic Flight Bag for FS2004 Now Available
Now available at the FS Pilot Shop is FSWidgets Electronic Flight
Bag for FS2004, v1.5. This is a system for displaying a variety
of information such as charts, approach plates, manuals, weather radar
and much more.
For more information,
read
this announcement.
TSS Releases Fokker 70/100 Sound Pack X
The latest FSX sound pack from TSS is for the Fokker 70/100 twin jet.
Recordings are taken from real Fokker jets and feature the sound cones in
FSX so you can enjoy the sound from every angle. For details,
read
this announcement.
Freedom Sim Releases Amazon Research Facility
New from Freedom Sim is Amazon Adventure scenery featuring a research
facility and chopper supply base. These offer a number of places to
explore well out in the middle of nowhere. For details,
read
this announcement.
VRinsight Announces Ship Console
Ship Console is the first product of its kind, a hardware
controller for ship simulators. It supports almost every existing boat
simulator and even works with boat add-ons in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
For details,
read
this press release.