Flight Simulator X

FS Addon reports that they’re working on releasing a Turbo Piper Cub for FSX and FS9:

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming this month….. a BUSH PLANE! Simon Smeiman of South Africa has built a wonderful little Turbo Piper Cub and we’re aiming to get it on the market this month !

More good news….. it flies in FSX… but also in FS2004 !

Best news….. it will NOT be very expensive……

FSX Adventures has released a set of 40 Lufthansa missions for Flight Simulator X:

• 40 set flights/missions
• Checklist speech’s
• Detail Mission Briefs
  • Google Maps™ Satellite Images of destination airports
  • Yahoo.com Weather Links
  • Wikipedia Links to Destinations
• Airport ISL Charts/Booklets
• Adopted Briefs with charts for in flight viewing via Kneeboard
• 2 set Default Aircraft with Hi res FSX Textures
  • Boeing 737 - 800
  • Airbus A321
• Real Routes

Eaglesoft are running a promotion through to the end of July, 2008, on their Cirrus SR22G2 for Flight Simulator X:

Team Eaglesoft is pleased to announce their Cirrus SR22 G2 for FSX is now available with 10% Discount Coupon through July 31, 2008! Download FSX Cirrus SR22 Discount Coupon, apply to Cirrus SR22 G2 for FSX and receive immediate 10% Discount applied to your purchase!

This is a review of Aerosoft’s Mega Airport Brussels by Jessica Bannister-Pearce.

Airports. Where would we be without them? Quite rightly, they make up half of our sim experience. In theory, as long as we have a runway to aim at and a place to park, we should be happy. I can still recall thinking how realistic it was as I lifted off from Meigs field to see the wire framed skyscrapers of Chicago appear in flight sim 4 (I was young!) And so, over the years, airports became much more realistic. Grey asphalt and concrete runways began to greet us. Patchwork fields surround the area, but airport buildings seemed to have changed little since flight sim 98. So the Add-on scenery market began to produce specific airports for us to fly in and enjoy. These days, however, the quality of add-ons are such, that the difference between the real world and the sim world is blurring. One of the best blurrers are Aerosoft. So enter Brussels National Airport, and be prepared to be blurred.

Lights, Camera, Reality

Available as a boxed set or 40+mb download, the airport is cheap and easily available. A real bonus is that if you buy the FSX version, you also get the FS2004 version for free. The box set contains every chart you’ll ever need whist the download provides links to the charts online, all of which are free.

Welcome to Europe

I’ve not been to Brussels since I was little, and even then it was via the ferry at Ostend, so I really knew little about Brussels National. Not knowing what to expect certainly made the trip interesting, especially the approach. From there you really begin to appreciate the level of detail that goes into these airport add-ons. The first thing I noticed was the raised approach lighting that gently guided you down over the threshold and on to the runway. But that’s just the start. From there you get to gaze around the beauty of the main airport.

I’m not quite as good as I’d like hitting that centre line. Still the lights look good

As with all the Mega Airport releases, you can appreciate the time and effort that’s gone in to producing such a fine add-on. For starters, the airport has been created entirely in Gmax. (My knowledge of flight sim creation is not vast, but I know that’s a good thing.) Basing the airport on real photo’s helps to blur that line even more. But the best features are not the accurate positioning and rendering of the many airport buildings. No, the devil, as they say, is in the detail. Everything from the high standing runway and taxiway lights to the working aircraft docking system to the myriad of little vehicles that trundle along the airport. Every detail, no matter how small, looks great. But does this come at a price?

From the taxiway lights to the beautiful modern terminal, Even the grass look good!

Beauty and the Beast?

With so many things scattered around the airport, you’d have to worry that the trade off would be made via the Frame Rate. Well, think again. Aerosoft use various tricks to keep the frame rates up without the loss of detail. For example, they only render things you can see around you. Anything outside of a mile is not rendered until you’re much closer. This keeps the screen moving at a flyable rate. (Just don’t expect more than 15 fps+ taxiing around)

For those who distrust the EU, Perhaps the best way to view Brussels. Bye.

Conclusion

What can I say that hasn’t already been said above. Aerosoft is quite literally redrawing the world, and the result is astounding. One by one the major airports of the world are joining us within FS, and with increases in processor and graphics card power, the real world will soon be available to us all. The lines really are blurring, and that can only be a good thing.

The FlightSim Pilot Shop are running a promotion on the Precision Aerobus - Jetstream 41 for Flight Simulator X and Flight Simulator 2004. You can purchase the add-on for only $10 (usual price is $37). Hurry though, as the offer only runs through to Wednesday, 2nd July, 2008.

Over 2 years of modeling, extensive data research and consultations by real J41 pilots. PAOB - Precisionaerobus is pleased to announce the release of the most advanced Jetstream 41 in FS world which supports FSX (including Acceleration Expansion).

Special Attention was given for both modeling and flight dynamics on this aircraft. “We try our best to include real data to the flight dynamic files.” All flight dynamics were also beta tested by many real pilots, J31 pilots and a JS41 flight test engineer from the UK. The flight model is developed by a highly standard aircraft model designer, so the exterior visual model is highly detailed and super smooth with sweet frame rates. Accurate wing root section and wing profiles are also included. Precision of fuselage, nose and cockpit windows also give you an excellent proportion of views from the virtual cockpit.

Features

• Accurate configuration on flaps, rudder, aileron, elevator, spoiler, propeller, gear compressed, steerable front gear and retractable gears
• Accurate and precise flight modeling tailor-make for FS with sweet fame rate
• Highly detailed gear and accurate moving parts
• Animated passenger door and cargo door
• Accurate wing root section and wing profile
• Reflective shiny texture
• Metallic object is really reflect with environment
• Reflective glass is really transparent and reflective
• Highly detailed windows
• The cockpit and fuselage windows are really cut
• Free download repainted liveries
• FS standard cockpit 2D panel
• Detail 3D Virtual Cockpit with panel gauges
• Gear door open
• Additional 4 Wing Views
• Right Engine Fire for single engine climb test
• Authentic sound effect created for real Jetstream 41
• Special model for Search & Rescue