Battle of Britain 2 “Wings of Victory” recreates the fierce and famous air battles southern England in 1940. It allows the player to either act as the supreme commander of either side, or simply click “fly” and let your generals manage the war below.
As commander, you can control the war down to a single aircraft or building in a world where thousands upon thousands battle for supremacy. Thousands of targets including every plane, factory, airfield, and radar station have a specific role and impact on the progress of the war below.
As the enormous campaign plays out below, you will observe both allied and enemy flights carrying out their daily missions. You can take your commanders hat off and jump in the cockpit of the British Hurricane, Spitfire, German Messerschmitt, Stuka dive bomber, or man the gunstations of the Dornier Do17, Heinkel He111, and Ju-88 level bombers. As a pilot, all you need to do is destroy the enemy when you can and get you and your comrades home alive.
Whatever you choose, you will be amidst the relentless and endless waves of German aircraft, taking part in the most authentic historical re-creations of these amazing battles. Get ready to strap yourself in for the fight of your life.
See the screenshots and read the details at the gmxmedia website.
For those of you who may not have heard of it, FlightGear is a complete open source Flight Simulator program that is available for download totally free of charge.The project was started by those who became disillusioned with modern commercial software and decided the time was right to develop a free alternative.
This latest version includes support for many platforms including Windows, Max OS X,Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris and sgi. Features include real time weather downloads via the internet, 3D virtual cockpits and over 20,000 airports world-wide all free and all open coded.
To check out a full list of features, see screenshots or download the entire project, visit the FlightGear website here
Home cockpit enthusiasts can now look forward to a new line of products combining the great panelware of DakenSkys with the powerful yet user-friendly new Photon USB interface from Integrated Flight Systems. The first release will be a complete B747 MCP which will consist of the following:
DakenSkys MCP panel with all switches, knobs, leds and digit displays installed.
IFS Photon USB interface - fully connected.
IFS FSCockpit software.
Power supply.
Simply install the software, plug the unit into a USB port and fly! absolutely no construction, wiring or programming is needed.
The MCP is fully compatible with Project Magenta and MSFS and will easily adapt to future third party add-ons. The software is already set up for the user but easily configurable if needed via mouse-driven menus. The unit forms the core of a family of easily integrated cockpit systems that will be forthcoming including EFIS, Radio Panels and Overhead (compatible with pmSystems).
Additional aircraft models will also be available including B737, B767, B777 and A320. Each unit is crafted with the same quality enthusiasts have come to expect from DakenSkys.Although final pricing is yet to be determined, both companies have a policy of producing quality products at competitive prices and their latest press release quotes prices “significantly lower than existing alternatives”. Product release is expected to begin in early Spring 2005, visit the Daken-Skys website at here for more details.
Richard Stefan has released the latest data in NAVData Airac 0501. The NAVData-Service was founded in the year 1999. The database contains datas of a merge between DAFIF (Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File) and real world datas in ARINC424 format. The size of all of the databases are about 130 megabyte and are stored in an Oracle9i database. The converter is a Visual Basic tool, which export the datas into the several addon formats. In order to update your FS add-ons navigation database, just download it for free here. The site includes files for users of Microsoft Flight Simulator addons like Flightmanager, FS-Navigator 4.x, EFIS98, FS-Build, PMDG 737NG, 767-Pilot in Command, A320-Pilot in Command, PSS Airbus/Boeing/Dash8, Dreamfleet B737, Eurowings Professional, FeelThere CRJ, Aviograsf A340, Flight1 ATR72-500, Squawkbox or Navdash 2.5.
Eric Rosebrock thought you might enjoy taking a look at his Cessna Flight Simulator that he has built using a real Cessna Fuselage and SimKits: He lists in detail each step of the simulator building and gives some insight where to find simulator parts, as well as, some of the hassles. He has tons of pictures located in the Gallery. For the full story click here.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride the infamous NASA “Vomit Comet”? Are you one who has dreamed of rocketing into space or someone who just want a new roller-coaster-type flight? Now you can do it aboard a modified jetliner that gives passengers the sense of walking on the moon and the ability to fly like Superman. The ride can last up to two hours. Zero Gravity Corp., based in Dania Beach, Fl, is the first company to receive government approval to offer these acrobatic flights in the United States. G-Force One flies out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The cost is $2,950 per person or you can rent the entire plane is $79,500. To rent the plane from an airport other than Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International is $6,000 an hour to cover travel costs, plus regular ticket prices. The next regularly scheduled flights take place in mid-February. For more, visit them here.
Force Dynamics has launched the 301, a personal and professional motion simulator. Small enough to fit in a trailer (or game room) and running off 110AC. At the moment the 301 supports the racing simulations like Live For Speed and NASCAR 2003. Force Dynamics also plans on supporting flight simulation software such as X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator. The 301 with controls and a 50” DLP projection screen retails for $24,000 in the US. So if you have some spare cash and are looking for that ultimate add-on, click here.
Now available from Shockwave Productions is their Wings of Power model of the famous fighter, the P-51 Mustang. Included are the -D and -H versions of this legendary WWII aircraft. Extremely high visual detail is combined with incredibly realistic flight modeling. The performance characteristics were developed from real flight test data and actual pilot operating manuals (which are also available for purchase). Sounds are also highly realistic including that of the Roll-Royce Merlin engine. There are special effects in lighting for night-time visuals, startup procedures and belly landing physics behavior. For more details visit here.
FS2Crew’s Bryan York mentioned that Service Release 2 is now available. SR-2 allows PMDG 800/900 Update owners to use their 600/700 models with FS2Crew. A few other enhancements are also included. SR-2 is available for download on the FS2Crew website.
Stefan Schaefer mentions that PILOT’S Boeing B314 - The Clipper accompanied the presentation of Martin Scorseses movie “The Aviator” in Germany last week. This movie tells the story of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), the eccentric billionaire and Hollywood film mogul, famous for romancing some of the world’s most beautiful women.
Being home at the same age of history our Boeing B314 Flying Boat was the ideal companion for this movie presentation. If it hadn’t for Boeing, who knows, the innovative aircraft designer and test pilot might have constructed it himself. Fly this Add-On and put yourself back in the times of Howard Hughes! There’s more about the movie and the participation of PILOT’S Boeing B314 - The Clipper at their Clipper website.
ATCsimulator2 features a photorealistic simulation of an ARTS-IIIa terminal, and a STARS (Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System) mode of operation.
The long awaited ATC-SDK (Sector Development Kit) will be released in February 2005. The ATC-SDK will allow the user to create airspace of their own design, that “special” area. But it will also allow the user to edit/update existing terminal areas that come with ATCsimulator2.
The ATC-SDK will be provided free as a download to existing ATCsimulator2 users, and will become standard with the ATCsimulator2 package. Visit the ATCsimulator website for sample screen shots and more information.
RMT announces the development of Sky Routes 2005 Massive Multiplayer, designed to replace generated Microsoft Flight Simulator AI traffic with data retrieved from the Internet covering the real world in a live feed.
The forthcoming subscription service will cover all airspace in North America, providing live flight data around the clock — both airborne and ground traffic. Furthermore, concurrent users of the service will be able to communicate with each other via voice, receive ATC instructions, and feature in a pilot statistic and ranking system. The aim of the project is, according to the developers, to “[merge the] real traffic experience in [one] massive multiplayer world environment full of other flight enthusiasts”.
For more information, visit Sky Routes.
We don’t normally report doings in the real world of aviation, but this one caught our attention. Boeing is going to kill the 717 program! One of the favorites of flight simmers, especially those dedicated Boeing fans, the 717 was the short haul favorite for the future. You can read the entire story here.
Version 3.06 of the Dynamic Campaign Generator for IL-2 Sturmovik is now available for download. New for campaign builders is the enabling of “test runways”,”kamikaze” missions, and static carriers. Other improvements include better escort rendevous, target selection for tank/truck/train busting and anti-shipping strikes, briefing sounds and a fix for the plane/pilot count bug for dogfight campaigns using FBDaemon. For more information and to download click here.
Aerosoft Online has just released “Life in…” - Island of Elba by Cloud9. This rendering of the Italian island includes a small airport that invites you to spend some time there. The prees release states that the product has, “superb mesh, hundreds of objects, a detailed coastline, a whole set of animations, Landclass, Afcad files and a lot more, all that you expect in a high-end scenery product these days.” Elba is a suitable as a destination for medium and small jets from most of European airports but also a superb base for bush flights in small aircraft. Check out the Product Page here.
Aerosoft has also released FS Flight Keeper Virtual Airline edition. This reduced price (yet FULLY functional) version of FSFK is aimed at Virtual Airlines. Many of the biggest Virtual Airlines have already seen the power of FSFK and are implementing it. To get the reduced price version your VA needs to have an agreement with Aerosoft Online, but that is a matter of just one email we are told. Visit the here for all the information.
VoxATC’s Paul Carter sent us a note to say “We are sorry to announce that flight simulation just got a whole lot tougher. One of the biggest joys of flight simulation as compared to real flying is being able to readback the most complex of clearances or make the most involved ATC requests with just a key press. Flying offline there was no other way. But now along comes VoxATC to spoil the party. Now you have to speak using standard phraseology. Now you have to listen, understand and readback correctly. Now you not only have to decide what you want from ATC, but how to ask for it. Will you manage the new level of cockpit workload?” Find out more at the VoxATC website.
Lovers of David Maltby’s Classic British Airliners, may like to know that he has just added some new repaints to his BAC 1-11 series and some modified airfiles to the very popular Vickers VC-10 range. If you want to check these out these new additions or have not seen these award winning freeware models before, why not pay his site here a visit, you will not be disappointed.
France VFR announce the release of their new scenery for Rennes St-Jacques Airport, the first volume of their Regional Airports collection. Features of the new scenery include around 600 sq.km. of photorealistic VFR scenery around the city of Rennes, high resolution textures for the airport area (covering 40 sq.km.), photo-textured buildings, night textures, VFR navigation landmarks and much more.
You can find more information, and a multimedia preview, at France VFR.
A new combat sim appears to be in development and coming to the combat flight sim market soon. This new sim is entitled “Jet Thunder” and is described by the development team this way; “Jet Thunder (working title) is a project to create a realistic flight simulator based in the air war in the South Atlantic, in 1982 - the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. It’s being developed by a group of military aviation enthusiasts, mainly based in South America. As we’re getting organized as a development studio, under the name Thunderworks, more info on ourselves and our goals will be available online, in an institutional website that will follow soon at this same webspace.” You can read more about the development of this sim and see screenshots here.
Combat simmers flying Third Wire Productions “Strike Fighters: Project 1″ and “Wings Over Vietnam” will want to check out the newly revamped and just launched Third Wire website. You can see it here
VARO has reopened and is ready to race. As of January 1st, VARO(Virtual Air Racing Online) is gearing up for another racing season. To usher in the new year they have rebuilt their web site from the ground up. They have also completely rewritten their rule book to make thing easier on new pilots. Through these changes they hope to interest more pilots in the various classes of racing which include: F1,T-6,Unlimited and Jet. They are also adding new types of racing which will include Point to Point cross country racing as well as aerobatic racing. Pylon racing begins in February but practice starts this weekend so for all interested pilots please visit here.
The International Virtual Aviation Organisation, IVAO, has announced the release of the 2005 world tours to all members. They encourage you to discover whole new areas while flying the new tours on the IVAO network. The IVAO VFR World Tour 2005 will bring you around the world in six different continental tours. Each tour will bring you to a completely different area in the world. Take the time you need, to fly your twin or single propeller plane to airports you have never been too before. The first tour, called the “Oceanian Tour”, will bring you to exotic places in the southern hemisphere, including New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia. Discover the world-famous Great Barrier Reef from the air or have a rest on one of the beautiful islands of French Polynesia. The IVAO IFR World Tour 2005 takes you to 36 different islands around the world. Interesting approaches over water, short runways on small islands and beautiful beaches are waiting to be discovered. The tour is a combination of short, medium and long legs, adding more changes and excitement to the tour. These new tours are available at the IVAO main website here.
