simFlight.COM Flight Simulation News Source

FlightAware has released Version 2.0 of their popular on-line flight tracker and flight planner website. meanwhile 150.000 pilots (and flightsimmers) are members of FlightAware and have been giving input over the past year for improvements. Check out the free site here.

Basically, isn’t that what brings YOU here too? We are all passionate about flying, aviation and/or airplanes in one way or other. And that’s why I think you will just LOVE the short video about the Tiger Boys and Girl that’s available from the WhyFly.aero website that was recently opened. Check out the Tiger Boys and Girl article here and DO run that video. There are lots more interesting stories by interesting people there and I think a subscription is more than worth it. Give them a try and click here for more information.

Duxford (Imperial War Museum) reports that admission tickets are now available to buy online for the following Air Shows at IWM Duxford: the Spring Air Show, Sunday 16 May; The Battle of Britain Air Show, 4 and 5 September; and the Autumn Air Show, Sunday 10 October. Tickets for the Flying Legends Air Show, 10-11 July, will be on sale shortly….”. For information on all Air Shows and special event days visit Air Shows on the IWM web site.

Cessna has informed its (potential) customers that the delivery of their new SkyCatcher has been delayed with some 6 to 10 months. Apparently the factory in Shenyang, China, needs to be retooled after changes in the design of the aircraft have been made. The SkyCatcher (or Cessna 162) is a new Light Sport Aircraft and was involved in two spin accidents prior to the changes being made now. More info to be found at AOPA.

A brand new, on-line, commercial ‘web-zine’ has been born. Conceived, designed and ultimately produced and launched by some friends (Glenn Norman and Michelle Goodeve) and people many of us know (Hal Bryan and Mike Singer, both fromer MSFS gurus)! It is called Why Fly and is all about WHY we/you love FLYING (and aviation). “

……  Glenn and Michelle fell in love with each other—and the sky—while they were still in their teens. After getting their start as aviation writers, they’ve spent the past 25 years working as actors, screenwriters, story editors and producers on numerous TV shows. But as most of their stories were about flying, the couple decided to combine their skills and create Why Fly in partnership with their friends Hal Bryan and Mike Singer….”.

You can see the FREE initial version by going here ! I know you’ll like what you see, so get a subscription and make sure the mag takes off into a wonderful future, serving us all with great stories about flying !

Just Planes released their Iberia A340-600 (Airbus) video on simMarket today. “….. Iberia, one of the Top 10 largest airlines in Europe, becomes the 220th airline to join the World Air Routes series. Fly in the cockpit of the A340-600 from the airline’s hub at Madrid. For the 1st time in the series we fly to Peru where you will land and takeoff at Lima…..”. Check out the video on simMarket here.

Trev Morson reports on the 75th anniversary of the DC-3 (like we also did already in respect to the meet at Oskosh this year). “….. The 75th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3, and the last time you will EVER be able to see and hear 35 or more or these iconic aircraft together in formation flight ever again. Our friends over at The DC-3 Hangar have all the  information on this mass DC-3 formation historic event…..”.

It is dangerous now to have a diarrhea and stay in a plane’s lavatory for too long. A passenger was dragged from the stool  and arrested by crew and fellow passengers last Sunday, because he stayed on the lavatory for an hour!  Truth be told, this was on a flight from Northwest Airlines from Amsterdam to Detroit and the man was a Nigerian….. like the would-be terrorist that was apprehended a few days earlier on the same flight! Note to self: better stay with flight simulation or just take the car!

China does a lot more than manufacture cheap toys, as you may have gathered by now. “….. China will deliver eight domestically designed private business aircraft to Laos next year, in its latest effort to find a niche in the international aviation market.
The Xiaoying 500, or “Eaglet 500,” passed dynamic tests of seat and restraint systems Monday, indicating the first China-made light aircraft had met international standards and was ready for export, said sources with the designer in Xi’an, capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province….”. Read the entire press release here.

The designer and developer of the famous Learjet has died at the age of 81, December 14th. For those of you interested to learn more about this interesting man, who many considered as a pioneer of the business jets, Bill Lear wrote a biography entitled “Fly Fast … Sin Boldly; Flying, Spying and Surviving”. You can find it on his blog.

Not much going on these last few days before Christmas, so let me give you a link to one of the things close to my heart in the real aviation: mountain flying. Hans Fuchs of Switzerland posted some great photos on his blog of a recent ‘outing’ to one of the glaciers high up in the Alps. We’re having a VERY cold winter already in Europe. Check out Hans’ great photos here.

DC-3’s birthday this week. It flew first time on December 17th 1935 in southern California and will turn 75 next year. There will be a major celebration at Oshkosh 2010, organized by the EAA, to that fact. It will include special programming throughout the Oshkosh event to honor this very special aircraft that managed to stay around for so long ! Read more about it here.

The Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham, WA, is working on the F-89J project. The F-89J  (Scorpion) was one of the US Air Force’s main jet fighters in the early cold war era and the first equipped with nuclear tipped air-to-air missiles. The one being restored currently has been based on Iceland to fend off the expected waves of Bear bombers no doubt. The HFM has opened a special blog for the project! They also publish a nice newsletter, check it out here.

The EAA, organizer of Oshkosh, reports about their plans to hold the world’s largest and probably final DC-3 meet on their premises next year. “…. What could be the largest Douglas DC-3/C-47 gathering in more than 60 years will be a centerpiece of the aviation activities at EAA AirVenture 2010, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. EAA is working with a large group of owners and operators of the venerable aircraft, which commemorates its 75th anniversary in 2010, to bring their airplanes and join the reunion at Oshkosh. The event is being organized under the theme “The Last Time…” as it likely will be the final time that more than 25 of these airplanes will be seen together, including formation flights. It will also mark the final major reunion for scores of pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, crew chiefs and passengers that flew, operated and traveled in these aircraft….”. Read the full article at the EAA web site here.

A new DVD with a documentary on the Dubrovnik Airlines companny. “…. Dubrovnilk Airline becomes the 218th airline to join the World Air Routes series and first from Croatia! This very friendly airline welcomes you on its fleet of Douglas MD82s and 83s for flights in the cockpit from Croatia’s Airports of Dubrovnik, Pula and Split to 7 destinations across Europe. Pilots will give you explanations and presentations about the airline, the MD80, the routes, the cockpit plus a walkaround and much more… 
This 3 and a half hour program is packed with great views from the cockpit during takeoffs and landings with pilots handling the aircraft and a ton of great scenery!…”. 
Available now here from simMarket.

Justplanes released a DVD with a collection of film from the past 15 years, showing the activities at Spain’s 5 most busy airports. You’ll see operations at Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Las Palmas, showing a variety of over 250 airlines and providing you with more than 4 hours of action! Available at simMarket now.

Just a reminder for those of you living in Florida, or having the means to easily get there. Instead of going to the world’s biggest FS event, you could also visit the Roar ‘n Soar weekend on November 7 and 8, organised in Polk City, FL, on the premises of Kermit Week’s Fantasy of Flight airfield ! There’ll be fast cars, fast boats, and above all, vintage aircraft ! More  info here.

Here’s a story about a guy who spent $ 50.000 on building a simulator in his garage. Now, obviously we are stinking jealous, since 99% of all readers and writers on simFlight and beyond will not HAVE 50K to spend on their hobby….. or at ALL….. But it gets better! Not only is this dude loaded (or was) and must have the most understanding wife in the universe, he did NOT build a cockpit. Oh no…. he built a copy of a First Class PanAm Cabin !!! Do I hear a few people throw up????? Check the amazing story here.

Lets not forget the world’s biggest flight simulator show and meeting ! Only two weeks to go until we all meet again at the Dutch Aviation Museum Aviodrome at Lelystad, The Netherlands! At this TWO DAY SHOW you’ll not only find ALL the important cockpit instruments manufacturers and most of Holland’s very active flightsim clubs, but also quite a few developers (such as FSAddon Publishing), all flightsim enthusiasts, AND you get to see one of Europe’s finest aircraft collections for the same entrance fee!

Check out the site at www.fsweekend.com and mark your agenda for November 7 and/or 8 !!!

Venue: Saturday, October 3rd at Shoreham Airport. It’s not too late to register for the Flight1 Open Day, and now we have even more reasons for you to come along in the form of a goody bag and a visit from “Marinell” – a beautifully restored WWII P51 Mustang. Full details can be found at the Flight1 Open Day webpage, with the latest highlights below.
See you next week!
The Flight1 Crew

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