simFlight.COM Flight Simulation News Source

Jay Kae from Australia reports that the team over at Aussiex have released their latest freeware project, an ‘overhaul’ of the default Grumman Goose that comes with FSX. Changes include tweaking of the flight model, addition of a higher-powered engine model, repaints of the interior and 6 high-definition paint schemes. You can read all about it, and download it, from their site.

Although FSX has brought us the tug-start for glider planes, there is no way to do a winch start. Up till now, that is. On Wolfgang Piper’s website you can read all about the special gauges that allow you to re-model any glider in FSX to use a winch start! It requires some tinkering with the aircraft models, but Wolfgang explains it all very clearly on his site. This facility really adds further to the realism that FSX brings us and allows glider pilots to have their share of the fun as well. Check it out here !

Mike Cranston of HJG sent us an update on his activities:  “……Summer has arrived and the weather is warming up …. and so is the HJG website too …. with todays release of flightline full of new and upgraded files featuring high quality classic B727, DC8, DC9 textures, models, and panels/gauges for both FS2004 and FSX……”.

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Tim Gregson, aka ‘Beatle’ on the numerous FS forums, has released the first public beta of his (private) new Managed SimConnect Client SDK. This SDK can be used to build managed SimConnect clients, both desktop (Console, WinForm, WPF) and web (Silverlight). This is not an add-on to play with, but an SDK (Software Development Kit) that will let you develop things for FSX. He also states that Microsoft has nothing to do with this product. An extensive ‘readme’ is included in the download file, which you can get from Tim’s blog, here.

Dino Cattaneo, known from his excellent Goshawk, has now released the first version of his F-14D Tomcat for FSX. He writes on his blog “…..  Ok, here we go. First public release of the Tomcat. As it is partially incomplete, the release number is 0.9. For now, it will only be available for download here. The model will work with FSX:Acceleration ONLY. Please report any installation problem you may have asap. Have fun! …”. Knowing the quality of his work, fun we will have, no doubt. Mille grazie, Dino!

[update]: Holger over at simFlight.DE published a dia show of the aircraft -> CLICK

Kevin Burns has released another one of his FSX/FS2004 freeware sceneries. This time he has modeled Tucson. He writes “….. It’s actually a lot bigger than Tucson, based on the 2005 USGS Pima County orthoi magery. I’ve been doing an FSX version and decided it wouldn’t be that much more work to do an FS9 version too. The FSX version is roughly 5500 square miles. The FS9 version is a little smaller. It includes night lighting, FS water and lots of autogen. There are custom models at the airports, including Tucson Intl, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ryan Field, Marana and La Cholla Airpark, plus many of the buildings around town. The scenery ties into Megascenery Phoenix, if you own that title….”.

Tucson can be downloaded from his website here.

‘EdGeneer Cox’ has released a very nice little FS2004 freeware scenery, depicting the Virgnia Beach Airport and Museum. “…… This facility is a private airport used by the Fighter Factory to maintain, display and fly vintage and replica aircraft, mainly from the World War 2 era. The art deco building, grass landing strip, checkered water tower and hangars are home to one of the world’s largest private collection of vintage aircraft. Most objects using custom photoreal 32 bit textures designed in Gmax. Optional DTX textures included. Also includes new AFCAD file, more accurate airport grounds perimeter, area roads, animated hangar doors, and area landclass. No AI traffic included with this release….”. You can download the files here.

Javier from Spain has released his (many versions of) USS Nimitz for FSX. He writes that “…. I´ve included some new features and details since last beta. There are so many configurations that you can virtually simulate a six month deployment…”. The Nimitz will be available from the usual download sites soon, but for now you can get it here already.

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Matthias Neusinger, the author of FS Recorder, is working on his Version 2 of the popular ‘video tool’, and writes on his forum “…. although the first public release is probably still a few months away, I found it’s time to announce FS Recorder version 2. The new version is rewritten from scratch, which was necessary to make it simpler for me to integrate new features. This is also the reason why there was no new version for such a long time…..”. Find more information here.

World of AI has released a few new liveries to their collection. You can now also admire the Turkish Pegasus Airline’s aircraft and the Canadian Porter Airlines. Also recently added were some A320 and A330 Airbusses flying with the Swiss Edelweiss holiday airline. More inormation for the downloads here.

Sanjay Janglie from The Netherlands reports that Misha Grift has made a new paint for the Boeing 737-800 from Posky, depicting the Dutch ArkeFly aircraft PH-TFA. The livery is made with the High Definition technology, claiming a four times sharper image than the original Posky paints. You can download it here.

Alejandro Rojas has released a freeware version of the business jet Cessna Citation X 750, one of the modern-day bizjets that have been so much under attack in the US congress lately. In the event they all get banned some day,here’s your chance to get your very own and continue to fly it for as long as FSX will run on your PC. Available at Simviation.

Massimo from Blog of FSX in Italy reminds us of the fact that we can download a new scenery for FSX from their forum. “… This is a new little beautiful Italian photoreal scenery to download: Isola d’Elba. If you connect to our forum “Blog of FSX” you can send a request by PM to download the scenery. Next release, Sicily…”.

Vybhava Srinivasan of IVAO reports “….. We are happy to present before you the fifth edition of IVAO Virtual Sky Magazine. We have had over 88,000 cumulative downloads for which we owe our sincere thanks to all you avid readers.

We are sure you will find this 41 page edition an action packed one with a number of great articles ranging from training to future of flight simulation. Charles Wood and François A. ‘Navman’ Dumas are few authors in this edition who are renowned names in the flight simulation community.  You can download your FREE copy of the IVAO-Virtual Sky from this link….”.

FSWidgets report that they have “….. updated their free calibration utility for making GMap-compatible charts. The new version adds Vista UAC compatibility, improved memory handling and a new step-by-step, easy-to-follow tutorial on how to create a calibrated chart. The Chart Manager has built-in tools to view and overlay charts onto Google Maps in real time from within the application, easing the process of calibration. The utility is included in all editions of the freeware moving map system GMap for FSX. To download GMap for FSX go here…”.