Historic Jetliners Group October Update

The talented modelers at Historic Jetliners Group (HJG) continue to crank out outstanding work that bring historic, jet-powered aircraft to life in flightsim.   I’ve been a huge fan of theirs since I began flying in FS2000. Their DC-8′s and Convairs are two of my favorite aircraft that see regular flight time.

Updated on October 26th, their website contains some new goodies for us to enjoy:

1. New 727-200 textures that include Eastern Airlines, AVENSA, and Blue 1
2. DC-9 textures including various SAS registrations and recent Ameristar colours
3. The DC-9′s also receive updated base packs and panel packages.

It is without a doubt that you must head over and immediately grab these files <HJG home>.  Your eyes, your heart, your joystick, and that inner aviator inside you will thank you!

Cheers!

A Beautiful Italian for X-Plane

Italians are known for their sense of design.  Edgy, curvy, modern, and flowing all can be used to describe Italian designs in furniture, cars, and even aircraft. The Piaggio P.180 Avanti is an aircraft that will make everyone stop in their tracks.  The canard design and low drag, curvy lines of the fuselage screams performance.  The Avanti II is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6 engines which gives it a cruise speed of 320 knots and a range of 1,400 nm.  In fact, it does this while using 40% less fuel than similar sized jets. <wikipedia> <Piaggio Aero>

Climbing out over Catalina

Available for X-Plane since the beginning of 2010 and updated very recently, the Avanti Alterna has been beautifully modeled by Vic Kabernique.  Featuring full instrumentation, clickable panels, an incredible livery, and a very realistic sound set makes this model a must for any X-Plane pilot.

I had the chance to fly this baby on a test flight from KSAN to KSBA recently.  The only word that comes to mind is impressive.  The level of detail put into the eye candy, the flight dynamics, and the sound are on par with modellers charging $30+ and Vic offers his model as freeware.  Add in the fact that you get a COMPLETE set of 28 liveries with the download and this package sets a new standard by which all other freeware for X-Plane will be measured.

So, stop reading and head over to X-Plane.org and get this baby for your hangar.  If you don’t, you are so missing out!

Aircraft: Piaggio P.180 Avanti
Author: Vic Kabernique
Download Link: X-Plane.org
File Size: 62.15 mb

Boeing’s Different Beast for FS9

There are certain releases in the flight simulator community that just shock me.  Either the release was unexpected (at least by me) or the quality of the aircraft was so good, I wonder how it could possibly be released as freeware.   Another one of these shocking releases happened.

Boeing’s 797 is a fictitious double deck, blended wing airliner with seating for 1,000 passengers.  Capable of flying 8,800 nm, the 797 can move a lot of people around the world efficiently.  Whether or not the 797 is actually real, or ever will be real has been a debate for quite a while, with rumors and discussions popping up across the internet.

Lionheart Creations has taken the 797 design and made it a reality for the Microsoft Flight Simulator family, FSX & FS9.  William Ortis left no detail behind when he created this monster.  The windows, landing gear, engines, virtual cockpit, and stairs are of superb quality. Flying this distinct looking bird around the virtual skies is an experience that you will never forget.

The only drawback is the size of the model.  Not only is it a 65mb download, but the model itself contains 32-bit textures and tips the rendering scales at 65,000 polygons.   While the user can improve frame rates by converting to DXT-3, the sheer size of this model will leave low-end systems stuttering.  Still, the flying experience is worth it.

Head on over to Simviation.com and download this rather different beast.<direct download>  As of Aug 19, you can also download it from AVsim’s library as well. <Avsim download>

Cheers!

The Project Airbus A380 Release 24hrs Later!

I am a Business Analyst.  Numbers fascinate me!  Patterns fascinate me!

When I was taking a look at the Avsim File Library this evening, I decided to take a look at “Yesterday’s Hot Files,” I was not surprised to see the Project Airbus A380 dominating the downloads.

Clear Winner!

What did surprise me was the popularity of the different paints.  For some reason I was expecting Emirates to be on top.  I was wrong, Air France was tops by over 300 downloads (total 1351). Number two was Singapore at 1,023.  Next was the House Colors at under 968. Both Emirates liveries ranked last…  boy was I wrong.

Where does your favorite A380 livery rank? (click for larger image)

Note that the third and sixth ranking download is not a Project Airbus A380, but the wonderful Enigma Simulations BAe ATP packs.  If you haven’t flown either of these aircraft, download them and fly them ASAP!

Enigma Simulations Releases BAe ATP

Today is turning out to be a huge flight simulator day. Not only did Project Airbus release their long awaited Airbus A380, but Enigma Simulations released their British Aerospace ATP model for FS2004 (FS9).

I haven’t had a chance to download and install it yet, but the screenshots, documentation, and buzz surrounding the release indicates that this is one awesome bird.  It even has its own sound pack!

Check out the Enigma Simulations website for more information and download links.

Cheers!

Project Airbus A380 Released!

Short and sweet, the Airbus A380 for Microsoft Flight Simulator is out!   Check out this announcement for download!  Looks like it is also on avsim as well.

The Biggest Project Airbus To Date!

More later…  I am so going to take the day off from work for this one!  Woohoo!   Mark this day in history!

Project Airbus A380 on Final?

If you are both an Airbus fan and a fan of Microsoft Flight Simulator, you are probably already familiar with Project Airbus.  You are also probably already aware that they have been working on the best freeware A380 models for flight simulator for many, many years.

Well, I just popped over to the PA site and am wondering how near the A380 release is.  In their Preview & Announcements forum, there are some very jaw dropping screenshots of the A380 wearing Air France, Qantas, and Emirates clothing.  Head over and take a look.  But wait…

With previews appearing in their forum and a tweet on Twitter that says “cabin crew, seats for landing“, one can’t help but think that a release is near.  Of course, the actual release date is only for the wonderful developers of Project Airbus, but it is time for you and me to check their site daily… release must be near!

Cheers!

Update:  The release was very, very near.  The Airbus A380 is now released, you can grab it at Avsim.  You can also read the A Reality Of My Own announcement here.

An Improved Industry Icon Enters Flight Simulator

The 747-8F Intercontinental Freighter is the next generation freighter that brings the classic industry icon into the new century and beyond.  The popular 747 family set a new standard when it entered service in early 1970.  Its unique partial double deck design and tall stabilizer remind many of a whale, the whale that represents international travel.

With the economy on a downward spiral, commercial travel as competitive ever, and an aging platform, Boeing responded to its customers’ needs for a more efficient, larger aircraft that can haul more passengers and/or freight on less fuel, all the while being a little quieter. Enter the 747-8 Intercontinental, an extensive refresh of 747-400 with next generation engines, new wings, and an extended fuselage.

The 747-8F leaves Everett

Project Opensky has been developing models for Microsoft Flight Simulator for many, many year now.  Their focus on the Boeing family brings the mainstream, workhorse airliners, such as the 737 and 777, to our desktops. Completing the 747 family is the 747-8F which joins the AL-1, Air Force One, and the other 747 variants in POSKY’s download library.

The 747-8F is a beautiful bird and meets the high quality expectations that POSKY is known for.  My only nitpick is that the model does not include a virtual cockpit, which makes flying in FSX a little limiting.   What really impresses me is the wing flex.  Taking off from Everett, I watched in awe as the wings created lift, rose before the fuselage and then gracefully lifted the large airplane into the air!

For more information on POSKY’s release of the Boeing 747-8F, read this announcement.  It is also available for download in their library.  Note, if you intend to use this model in FSX, please download the FSX model package in addition to the base pack.

Cheers!

Sweet: A 747-8F

Being mostly all things Boeing, Project Opensky (POSKY) has been busily working away on different variants of the classic 747.  With their recent release of the AL-1 platform and development of a 787 model, the next generation long-haul freighter, the 747-8F couldn’t be far behind.   Ya know somethin’?  It really isn’t!

Recently posted in the POSKY “Official Preview” forum are some fantastic screenshots of the new model.  Check them out. While you are there, make sure to leave a comment and congratulate the team on yet another superb model for Flight Simulator 2004. If compatibility is on par with their other models, we should be able to enjoy it in FSX as well!

Cheers!

ICARO AW139 Available Now!

For the rotorheads out there, ICARO released their AW139 model for FS2004 (FS9) over at Hovercontrol.com.  Head over and download both base packs.  Included are military, VIP, and tanker models.

While I haven’t had a chance to fly it, installing it and taking a moment to walk around this model really makes me want to get to know this bird better!  A full review will be coming this weekend!

Cheers!