Project Airbus releases A319

Today was the day that Project Airbus adds the sister to their awesome A320 model with the release of their Airbus A319 model!  Read the announcement here. Available in two liveries, SAS and Cypress Airways, available from their site or from avsim.

I will post more after I have the chance to take some screenshots and put some virtual jetA fuel through its engines!  I will take a look at FSX compatibility, but their A320 did well, so should the A319.

 

Cheers!

A Cool Shed Office Conversion

After bringing your attention to Shedworking, a blog for living and working in small places, I had to post this link to an article I stumbled upon over at LifeHacker.  One of their readers, Brian DeHamer, solved his lack of office space in his house by constructing a toolshed behind his garage and converting it to a state of the art office!  The office is fully insulated and complete with multiple monitors, carpet, track lighting, and plenty of storage space. Check it out.

This is very inspiring for my own shed living project.  My plan was to have one of three shed units be a combined sleeping, office space.  One thing I really like about the design above is the ability to isolate yourself from the rest of the living space.  In my current living arrangements, my office and sleeping space is combined, which can make it difficult to work while the wife is trying to sleep.  It might be time to rethink the office/sleeping unit.

Project Opensky Releases FSX 737 Model Updates

Project Opensky has recently released model updates for their Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 models.  These models have a sweet looking Virtual cockpit that looks stunning. Unfortunately, their download server is busy, so I will share more information when I get a chance to load it in FSX and put it through its paces!

In the meantime, you can check out the announcement > here < .

Update 6/27/08 - Servers are still busy, but I managed to download the 737-700 model.  After loading it in FSX, all I have to say is that it rocks.  The FSX engine and enhancements only compliment this model.  My one concern is that the frame rates take a hit with this model.  One thing I really like is the wing shadow on the fuselage. 

I still have not had chance to load the virtual cockpit model.  From the screenshots in POSKY’s forum, it is certainly something to look forward to.  

One other note, when installing the FS2004 version in FSX, make sure you change the alias in both the sound.cfg and panel.cfg to the 737_800 defualt.  Otherwise, the model will not show in FSX. 

The United Express Brasilia, Brilliant for FS9!

Living on the central coast, I often find myself using Santa Maria or Santa Barbara airports as an alternative to LAX or BUR when I travel. With that said, I have spent many hours as a passenger on the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop airliner. There is something exciting about watching the engines start, feeling the vibration of props, and the close quarters of the seating arrangements. Yes, riding in a “puddle-jumper” is not for everyone.

For many years, the flightsim community survived without a decent model of the Brasilia. There was Project ERJ for FS2002, but that model lacked something. Then came the now defunct Online Simulations Solutions (OSS) that planned on releasing a basic freeware model and a more inclusive package for FS9, designed by the wonderful Erick Cantu of Vistaliners. While the outstanding freeware model was released, there were very few liveries available due to OSS’s strict repaint policy. But then OSS went under and Erick released his model as freeware as part of the Vistaliner’s collection of flightsim models. To this day, Erick’s Brasilia is still one of the most brilliant models available for FS9.

With the model out, I anxiously awaited painters to fulfill my dream of virtually flying the SkyWest liveries from destinations on the central coast to LAX. Slowly they came and I was satisfied, but then United debuted a new livery in 2004 and I have been patiently awaiting since for the United Express NC Brasilia to come available. I can remember the day I drove by SBA and saw one of these on the tarmac… I was so impressed with how this livery complemented the classic lines of the Brasilia. I really, really wanted to fly it in flightsim, but a quality paint was not availble.

That is until now, thanks to the superb work of Jeffrey Bryner. Available to the flightsim community is N293SW, a Skywest Brasilia wearing the new colors of United Express (pic above). The quality is very high, with superb window representations, excellent detail placement, and those wonderful metal texture engine nacelles. So far, I flew this bird from LAX to SBA and back and am just can’t tell you all how giddy I am to have such a great repaint in my sim. After a good night’s sleep tonight, I will be flying the Santa Maria - LAX route and San Jose - Santa Barbara route. Thanks Jeffrey!

Author: Jeffrey S. Bryner
Filename: skw_n293sw_emb120.zip (avsim)
Size: 2.5MB
Model by: Vistaliners (Erick Cantu)

Shedworking: A Great New Small Living Blog

For those of you who have been following the painfully slow development of my tool-shed living slash dog-trot paper model, you would know that I am fascinated by living efficiently in small spaces and have set a goal to own 200 acres, but live in a sub 1,000 square foot structure.   One day, I did a google search on small living, or something similar and stumbled upon Shedworking, A lifestyle guide for shedworkers.  While focused on those that work in sheds in the UK, the author offers a fascinating collection of “sheds” and the community that surrounds them.

I for one am inspired by the variety of designs and will use some of the ideas as inspiration as I develop my own “shed” design… something more along the lines a dog trot shed (or is its sheds, plural?).  I hope everyone else finds inspiration as well…

Happy Reading!

Meeting Art: Sketching at Work

As of late, work has been rather unexciting to me.  Pretty much all I do is sit at my computer and code reports using a combination of SQL, VBA, Mondrian, and Java.  It is very solitary and I just don’t find it exciting any more.  To make matters worse, I find myself in long meetings, listening to my co-workers duke it out for who is right, wrong or the strongest.  Ugh, after 45 minutes or so my butt starts to hurt, my mind wanders, and I start thinking about why I accepted the meeting invitation.

For a long time I would doodle during the meetings.  I would occupy myself  by drawing boxes, chasing lines with other lines, or even drawing the most lines across the top of a piece of paper.  But then I thought that I could really put some effort into these doodles and create something that I could be proud if I ever got caught.  So, I did.  They started with post-it notes. Post-it notes are the ultimate media for killing time in meetings.  I always have a stack of the small ones in my organizer as they are great for jotting down thoughts and decorating the side of my monitor.

So one day I saw the post-it note as a blank canvas, waiting for my talented fingers to guide a pencil along and make a masterpiece so incredible that Da Vinci would roll in his grave. Liking to sketch landscapes, I took inspiration from a photo I took at Crater Lake on the Cleetwood Cove Trail, I did a really quick artistic impression of what I could remember.  Wizard Island, the steep slope from the rim to the water level, the trees, the jagged rocks, and the strange wooden “wall” holding up the switchbacks.  It is an amazing doodle that highlights the features of the dramatic scene.

A second Post-It note I found while cleaning out my organizer is a very simple landscape scene.  This must have been sketched while sitting on the john at work, since it is so simple.  If I had a full meeting for this one, it would have been more complete.  I started with the river and added the mountains.  Since I usually draw houses, I think this time I took a chance with a road paralleling the river.  Overall, I don’t think this is going to impress anyone, especially not Da Vinci.

My most recent meeting art is below, inspired from a photo I found on a homesteading site.  There was something timeless, but motivating about the structure of the picture.  I ended drawing it on the back of one of my organizer sheets that I use to plan my day.  Anyway, I think it came out quite nicely, although I might go back and add some color to it with color pencils.   I did find out that three people at my end of the table watched me sketch it out.  I was a little embarrassed that they caught me, but they thought it looked great and was certainly more interesting than whatever the boss was talking about!

Happy Sketching!

Cheers!

A Beechcraft B1900D for FSX

Beechcraft has been at higher end of the aviation market for quite some time. Their original Bonanza model was a huge success. For modern business traveling pilots, the KingAir series offers incredible performance and reliability unmatched by anything else. With its first flight in 1982, the 1900C model was a heavily modified KingAir 200 model with 19 seats and more powerful engines.

The 1900D model, an improved version of the 1900C first flew in 1990. This improved version, modeled by Premier Aircraft Design (PAD) for FSX, had a taller fuselage to aid in standing up, more powerful engines (of course!), and larger doors and windows. The 1900 model has been adapted to numerous roles including military, executive, and maritime patrol. Production ended in October 2002, but many airlines still fly the 1900, including the largest operator of the type, Mesa Airlines.

PAD’s 1900D model is exquisite from nose to tail. With a full virtual cockpit and a great sound set, this baby is a great addition to your hangar. While the initial release livery is that of Air Labrador, the dark blue paint perfectly complements its curvy, but yet boxy lines. It leaves the pavement with vigor and flies like a Cirrus. I am looking forward to spending many more hours in the cockpit of this bird… not to mention more repaints!

Happy regional flying! Make sure to drop the guys at PAD a note of appreciation for this model.

 

Update 27jun08: The ERA Aviation livery has been released for both FS9 and FSX.  It is a beauty, so stop be PAD’s site and grab her.  Coming soon is a 1990’s United Express livery… 

Project Opensky’s 747-SCA Is Out!

A wonderful Sunday surprise from Project Opensky (POSKY) as they release their magnificent 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. More specifically, the model released, N905NA is a variant of the 747-100, obtained from American Airlines in 1974 and modified to carry the space shuttle orbiters on its back. Modifications include the addition of three struts and related structural enhancements, the addition of two vertical stabilizers, and the full removal of the interior aft of the no. 1 door. Of course, POSKY could have released it without an orbiter, but what fun would that be? Included is a very dirty shuttle Discovery. See the POSKY release post.

Boeing delivered a second SCA to NASA in late 1990, after modifying a Japan Airline 747-100(SR). Both of these aircraft serve the purpose of transporting the orbiters around the world. Whether ferrying an orbiter back to Kennedy Space Center from an alternative landing area or taking an orbiter around the world, the SCA is a true work horse in NASA’s fleet. Prior to final approval as an SCA, N905NA was an important aircraft in the wake vortex flights that helped the FAA study and enhance their wake turbulence procedures.

After loading this new model in FS9, I took N905NA on a flight from LAX to SFO. My two biggest reactions: 1) oh my, this is a large but beautiful model, and 2) geez, this thing is a sluggish dog (I would fly like a dog too if I had an orbiter on my back!). Climb rates are only around 400fpm, but banking is still relatively normal. I am looking forward to many more hours behind the yoke of this beast! This is better than their Dreamlifter, although it is also beautiful in its own respect.

Like the perfect couple, N905NA climbs out of LAX with Discovery

Just after leaving the asphalt at LAX

On the ramp at SFO, with cabin door and stairs.

Cheers & Happy Ferrying!

A Grand Old Lady Makes It To FSX

One of the most elegant airplanes, in my opinion, is the Douglas DC-8.  The sleek nose, rounded fuselage and swept wings represent the elegance and grace of the early jet age. The DC-8 was Douglas’s first jet aircraft and followed the Boeing 707 to market one year late, costing Douglas dearly. However, time shows the DC-8 as a worthy companion in the air, especially the later Super series, most of which have surpassed 100,000 flight hours (ref).  Something that can’t be said about most Boeing jets.   Most DC-8’s today are found in the charter market or have been converted to freighters.

With Historic Jetliner’s Group recent May web update, I decided to test their DC-8 in FSX. But, which variant? I wanted something a little more current and realistic for 2008, so I turned my attention toward the freighter variants.   While there are plenty of freight companies with attractive liveries on their aircraft, there is one that popped out of the crowd.  The Airborne Express/DHL DC-8-63F(M) (N814AX) in the current livery  not only stood out with its bright yellow and red scheme, but the lines accentuated the sexy fuselage.  Douglas delivered this aircraft to SAS airlines on February 28, 1969 and served as a valiant member of their fleet until 1991, when it was sold to its current operator, Airborne Express.  (pic, pic)

Now that I had my choice of aircraft, I simply downloaded the base pack and livery pack and loaded them into FSX.  The instructions were simple to follow and I found myself quickly at KMEM considering where my destination would be.  I recently flew to San Antonio (KSAT) and decided that would make a short, sufficient flight to check the grand old lady out. 

The power is sluggish compared to today’s modern jets, but she flew with grace and never belched at any of my control inputs.  Flying this bird really made me appreciate the old school engineering and design of this elegant aircraft. 

Flying toward San Antonio in the evening sun.

Desceding over Texas for landing at San Antonio.

While my FSX cancelled the flight while I was on final approach, this was a remarkable flight that made me appreciate the grace, elegance, and sexiness of the Douglas DC-8.  I would highly recommend this model to everyone as it deserves a space in everyone’s FSX hangar. 

Cheers! 

Note: This model is also available for FS9. 

 

Ye ‘Ol War on TV, The Simple Dollar Style

One thing I struggled with for many weeks and even months, was turning off the television and focusing my mind on other tasks.  This battle became known as “the war on tv” in my household. Some of you might remember my post, Things to Do, No TV, where I discussed some of the activities that I have done in place of tv watching.  While partially successful in the regards that I have drastically reduced the amount of time I watch TV, the war on tv became more of a reality check of priorities and the meaning of life.  Since starting the war a year ago, I continue to tell myself that TV is nothing than a marketing tool to brainwash the masses into parting with their money and wasting time.

And now, the war just heated up a bit.  The financial blog, The Simple Dollar, recently posted an article discussing the advantages of turning off the television, titled Ten Financial Reasons To Turn Off Your Television - And Ten Things To Replace It With.  The author also discusses activities to do in its place.  While my decision to go to war with the tv was not financial, The Simple Dollar points out that one can save a bundle by getting rid of the cable bill and saving electricity that the tv is no longer using, about $760/year. In addition, you’ll have more time to cook, more time with the family, and more time to devote to your business.

Overall, I found the article to be a nice refresher as to why I am trying to get totally off TV.  The financial ramifications are certainly positive and I would love to start my own side business. A little less stress would nice too.