Computer Pilot 2010-0203

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010

USA $7.95CANADA $9.95

AUSTRALIA $9.85 (INC. GST)A PC AVIATOR PUBLICATION

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Choose=>Buy=>Download=>Fly!Imagine.... being able to pick and choose any areas of the world that you want to fly

in photo-real detail with Microsoft Flight Simulator X.Imagine.... being able order those parts of the world, here and now, for less than 1 cent per square mile.Imagine.... being able to download that area immediately after purchase, installing it and then flying that

scenery within the hour.Imagine.... that technology being available right here and now....

Well, you no longer need to imagine... it is here and now... and its MegaSceneryEarth!

Go To The MegaSceneryEarth Website Right Now To Start Choosing Your Favorite Places To Fly In HyperReal Detail!

www.megasceneryearth.com

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WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 ISSUE!

I didnt get a chance to say it earlier but Happy New Year to all! Hopefully there was some nice holiday gifts in the form of flight sim gear or software that came your way?

I managed to upgrade my PC here in my usual two year cycle, although this time I think it was more like 3 years, at least it felt like that. Flight Simulator X was struggling a little on my Pentium D (the first dual core processor made) on an older motherboard with 2Gb DDR memory and a 9800GT video card.

The new system, which is still slowly coming together now has an Intel Core i5-750 CPU, a new P55 chipset motherboard and 4Gb of DDR3 RAM. I still have the 9800GT video card in use while the new Radeon 5850 is enroute. I must say that even with the processor, motherboard and memory change alone, FSX is a totally new flight simulator. I can actually set most things to near maximum and still get framerates well into the 40s and 50s in dense urban areas, with detailed clouds and plenty of AI air, land and sea traffic enabled. I must admit I didnt expect such a large boost with a CPU and memory upgrade alone, but obviously FSX thrives on multi-core processors, especially quad-core CPUs like the Core i5 and similar. And the Core i5 is not even the fastest processor out there, with the Core i7 being top of the pops (at present). And all this for well under $900 Australian Dollars (including the video card). Not bad.

Of course, now that I have this nice new system which runs FSX very well, I am putting many more hours into the logbook and finally getting to some of those more detailed missions that couldnt be easily flown before because of poor performance. It is amazing how a boost in system speed makes flight simming exponentially more fun and enjoyable.

Consider an upgrade if you are getting frustrated with FS performance on your older machine. It is well worth it. And to help with that, this issue we have another edition of Doug Hortons FSX Benchmarking series to help you decide what to look for and what to buy! Enjoy this issue now back to FSX missions for me and figuring out why the Tokyo Executive Helo mission wont seem to kick start itself once loaded?

Dean BielanowskiEditor

From the EDITOR

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Computer Pilot Volume 14 issue 2, February/March 2010 (ISSN 1324-7336) is published bi-monthly byPC Aviator, inc., 1485 Colts Neck Road, Loris, SC 29569-6775.Periodicals postage is paid at Loris, SC and additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to PO BOX 15907, Surfside Beach, SC 29587

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Publisher: Robert Ferraro

Editor: Dean Bielanowski

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Contributors In This Issue: Dean Bielanowski, John Achor, Chuck Bodeen, Rob Scott, Gene Davis, David Wilson-Okamura, Roger Curtiss, Doug Horton, Mike Ray, Al Pelletier

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Copyright: Copyright 2010 The PC Aviator Pty Ltd Incorporating PC Aviator Inc. All rights reserved. None of the information in this magazine may be reproduced in any form or stored via any electronic means without the express permission of the publisher.

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16. NEWS AND NEW RELEASESALL THE LATEST NEWS AND NEW RELEASES SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE. MINI REVIEWS

29 MEGA AIRPORT LISBON X65 UH-1 HUEY

MAXI REVIEWS37 LOTUS SIM L-39 ALBATROS46 JUST FLIGHTS FLYING CLUB 258 FIRST CLASS SIMULATIONS EUROFIGHTER & EUROCOPTER

20 FUN & CHALLENGING NIGHT AIRPORTSIF YOU DONT HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING AND THE CAPABILITY OF INSTRUMENT FLYING, YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS OUT THERE AT NIGHT. WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, LETS CHECK OUT A NUMBER OF RUNWAYS AROUND THE WORLD AND HOW THEY LOOK FROM THE AIR AT NIGHT.30 AUSTRALIAN AIR ADVENTURES PART IIWELCOME BACK TO THE FINAL INSTALMENT OF MY AUSSIE ADVENTURE USING THE FTX SCENERY. AS BEFORE, I WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH SOME FLIGHTS THAT I THINK YOU WILL FIND ENJOYABLE AND WILL SHOW OFF THIS SCENERY. I HOPE THAT THE OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN THE TWO INSTALMENTS HAS GIVEN YOU AMPLE TIME TO COMPLETE THE PREVIOUS FLIGHTS, AND MAYBE EVEN FIND A FEW OF YOUR OWN ALONG THE WAY.

42 ENHANCED GOOGLE EARTHTHERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO USE THE NOW-FAMOUS GOOGLE EARTH TO ENLARGE UPON YOUR PLEASURE OF FLIGHT SIMULATION. OFF-THE-SHELF GOOGLE EARTH COMES WITH SATELLITE WEATHER, WEATHER RADAR, HURRICANES, CURRENT CONDITIONS, AND FORECASTS - THESE FEATURES CAN BE TURNED ON OR OFF AT WILL. AND THERES MORE!54 VIRTUAL AIRLINE REVIEW PACIFIC AIRWAYSAFTER FLYING AROUND IN FS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS MANY YEARS AGO, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I WAS ONLY FLYING THE SAME FEW ROUTES IN THE SAME AIRCRAFT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I NEEDED SOMETHING NEW I CAME ACROSS PACIFIC AIRWAYS, AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, WAS HISTORY!66 BENCHMARKING FSX - PART IIIWITH A VARIETY OF HARDWARE, SETTINGS, AND FSX CONFIGURATIONS, INCLUDING MANY REPEATED TESTS, DOUG HORTON CONDUCTED OVER 150 FSXMARK07 TEST RUNS TO FIND OUT WHAT HARDWARE COMBINATIONS GIVE THE BEST RESULTS IN FSX.74 HORTONS HINTS FOR FSX DOUBLE FEATUREITS ANOTHER DAILY DOUBLE AS DOUG HORTON SEARCHES OUT THE BEST AND COOLEST TIPS, TRICKS AND HINTS FOR FLIGHT SIMULATOR X FANS. GET THE MOST OUT YOUR SIMULATOR WITH THIS HANDY EXTENDED FEATURE. 82 UP, UP & AWAY! FLIGHT PLANNING FOR EXCITEMENTLETS FACE IT, AFTER A WHILE FLYING TO THE SAME AIRPORTS CAN BECOME A BIT TIRESOME. PERHAPS THERE IS TOO MUCH PREDICTABILITY TO THE WHOLE THING. IN ORDER TO SHAKE THINGS UP A BIT YOU MAY NEED TO PUT FORTH SOME EFFORT AND WORK AT IT A BIT. OUR INTENT IS TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS TO SPICE UP YOUR FLYING.86 THE RADAR ALTIMETERMIKE RAY OFFERS A UNIQUE LOOK AT THE FUNCTION AND USE OF THE RADAR ALTIMETER SYSTEM AND GAUGE IN USE IN MANY COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS.90 ROUND ROBIN ADVENTURESTHIS MONTH WE ARE FLYING FOR DHL (OR ANY OTHER CARGO COMPANY). WE ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME WINE FROM PORTUGAL TO THE ISLANDS OF MADEIRA, THEN SOUTH TO THE GRAND CANARIA ISLAND, AND COME BACK WITH A FULL LOAD OF FRUIT FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS.REGULAR FEATURES: 50 PULLOUT POSTER

ANSETT B727 RETRO SCHEME

62 FREEWARE FRENZYTHE BEST FREEWARE, FOUND AND REVIEWED!

73 INBOXYOUR LETTERS AND COMMENTS.

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSNTENTS TENTS CONTENTSCONTENTSTENTTENTTENTTENT

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NEWSFlight Simmers with a few years of sim experience under their belts will likely be very familiar with the city of Chicago, having been the host startup airport city for Microsoft Flight Simulator for many releases. Now, courtesy of Aerosoft Germany, Chicago gets its most realistic makeover ever with the release of US Cities X: Chicago for Flight Simulator X.

This scenery will bring you Chicago with as much detail as you never have seen before. In this scenery there are hints to the past as it includes Merrill C Meigs field and (optional) a glimpse of the future as you are able to see the Chicago Spire, a skyscraper in development that will put Chicago back at the top of skyscraper cities. Based on an extensive aerial image it will have all the major buildings and landmarks plus all the airports and heliports that are inside the covered areas.

It is clearly intended to fill the gap between the default scenery and very high dense city scenery such as Manhattan X, London VFR or Venice X.

FEATURES: Aerial imagery coverage. More than 2000 major buildings included. About 210,000 autogen buildings placed realistically. Retro style version of Meigs Field that was sadly demolished in 2003. Major airports in and around the city are covered with new high res

ground images (no new building structures added) - Chicago OHare (including new runway layout). - Chicago Midway. - Chicago Executive (formerly known as Palwaukee Mun). - Schaumburg Regional. - Brookeridge Airpark (where homes are next to the runway). 9 heliports as start locations. Sound effects like downtown- and highway traffic, gulls... Traffic on most major roads. Low price, very good value for money. Includes a separate Scenery Density tool.

The package is available via download now from popular flight sim download stores and retails for around US$18.50. Check www.aerosoft.com for further details.

NEWSUS CITIES X: CHICAGO NOW AVAILABLE

VR AIRCRAFT OFFER MULTI-FUNCTION AVIONICS FOR SIMMERSVR Aircraft, manufacturers of quality, realistic flight controls and avionics systems for flight simulators have recently released their new AV1000 multi-function avionics panel for Flight Simulator users.

The VR Aircraft AV1000 Simulator Avionics panels offer the ultimate in realism, flexibility, mobility, and cost-effective flight training! Utilizing encoders and tactile buttons, this panel interfaces directly with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and FSX.

The AV1000 avionics panel is an all-inclusive navigation and aircraft condition panel including a full feature Garmin 1000 simulator. The unit is easily mounted in your cockpit panel, or used as a standalone unit. Requires one video output on your flight simulator computer. AV1000 includes software and instructions for an easy installation to Flight Simulator 2004 or FSX.

FEATURES: Full function G1000 Simulator. Multiple function EICAS. Single and Twin Engine configurations. Simple mounting. Includes LCD panel assembly. Full IFR training capabilities. Simple USB interface. Includes custom software package.

The AV1000 has a retail price of US$1795, but you are getting a lot of bang for your buck in this system. You can view more details and images of the AV1000, plus other VR Aircraft hardware at www.vraircraft.com


S17LLATESS

S INTEL LAUNCHES NEW INTEL 2010 CORE PROCESSOR FAMILY LINEUPCPU manufacturer, Intel, is offering a suite of new processors in 2010 designed to meet the needs of any budget, and any speed! Over 20 new processors will be offered in various forms and simmers will be able to choose from multi-core processors from the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 families for their next desktop flight simulation processor.

Smart TechnologyImagine having a processor smart enough to know when your PC needs a little more juice. Intel Turbo Boost Technology gives you speed when you need it and delivers energy efficiency when you dont. Also available on select models of the all new 2010 Intel Core processor family, Intel HD Graphics provides superb visual performance for sharper images, richer color, and life-like audio and video.

Smart SpeedWere all multitaskers. We edit photos, send email, watch video, sync our iPods*and we want to do it all at once. Now we can. Intel Hyper-threading Technology lets your processor work on two tasks at the same time.

Smart InvestmentA new PC today opens more doors tomorrow. The all new Intel Core processors adapt to your needs now and down the road. So you wont just keep up. Youll get ahead.

The Intel Core i3 desktop processors will retail starting at just US$113. The Core i5 processors have a starting price of US$176 and Core i7 embedded processors start at US$278.It is quite amazing what speed boosts you can achieve in Flight Simulator when upgrading from a single core processor to a multi-core CPU and good quality memory. Check out more information on the new Core i3, i5 and i7 lines at www.intel.com


NEWSJust Flight now offer, in boxed version, the chance to fly in a virtual airshow with their latest Flight Simulator X add-on, Airshow Pilot. How accurate is your flying? Can you keep headings, altitudes and fly near-perfect maneuvers? Nows your perfect chance to prove you are the best! Airshow Pilot is all about accurate, precision flying at air shows, whether in an aerobatic Extra, a passenger airliner or a Hawk fast jet trainer - in fact you can fly any aircraft that you have installed in FSX!

Whether you want to perform Loops, Cuban Eights, Rolls and Immelmanns in a dedicated aerobatic aircraft like the Extra, fly a fast and low display pass along the crowd line in an huge Airbus or perform in an Arrow or Diamond formation in a Hawk trainer (using a Learjet panel), Airshow Pilot is guaranteed to give you a whole new perspective on aircraft handling.

Learn via the in-built training feature, practice and then test your flying skills against AI competitors on your PC or compete online with real Airshow Pilot competitors. Refine your flying skills during a full calendar of events. Exclusive tracking software records your flights for you to review and will evaluate and rate your skills. You are also able to download other competitors flights and play them back! Competition results are ranked throughout a season and every pilot will receive a world ranking - trophies are reserved for only the best pilots in each category!

During competitions the airfield will be filled with air show crowds - people, tents, booths, cars, display aircraft and much more. You can even hear the crowd noise! Airshow Pilot also includes the tools for you to design air show aerobatic events, flight programs and even airport populations!

Airshow Pilot is available now on DVD disc format from all good flight sim retailers. It is priced at US$41.99.

NEWSNot long after we hinted at a possible new version of the Flight Deck series being released, the actual product appeared and was even ready to ship! A well-kept secret from Abacus indeed. Now Flight Deck 6 is available to purchase for around US$30 and offers a newly designed carrier flying environment for FSX and FS2004.

In the tradition of the five versions that preceded, the new Flight Deck 6 once again delivers the challenge of aircraft carrier operations. This new version comes with significant enhancements that keep the Flight Deck series one of the most compelling add-ons for both Flight Simulator FSX and FS2004.

Youll begin your jockey training in the T-34 Mentor, a sprightly turbo-prop at Pensacola.

Youll progress to the jet-powered T-45 Goshawk at Corpus Christi.

Finally, youll climb into the F/A-18C Hornet as you meet the challenge of aircraft carrier launches and recoveries from the deck of your new home base, the modern carrier - USS Harry S Truman.

Another achievement is the inclusion of missions not only for FSX but interactive, voice guided missions for FS2004 based on technology from Matthias Schill. With its powerful catapults be airborne in just a few hundred feet. For recovery, the steel cable is set to catch your tailhook to bring your aircraft to a screeching halt.

Like previous releases, Flight Deck 6 promises to be a top seller and it looks better than ever. Head to www.abacuspub.com or your favorite sim retailer and grab your copy today!

BE AN AIRSHOW PILOT!FLIGHT DECK 6 CONFIRMED AND READY TO FLY


S19LATESTTLATESTST

S DISCOVER EUROPE WITH FIRST CLASS SIMULATIONSHot on the heels of Around the World in 80 Flights and Pole to Pole, the team at First Class Simulations continue their series of highly popular flight adventure packages with the announcement of Discover Europe.

Fully included in the package is a detailed rendition of the Piper Pacer which First Class Simulations state has been carefully crafted by a team of professional enthusiasts to be the ideal accompaniment to the journey. Offering both maneuverability and benign handling characteristics the Pacer is a stable platform that is particularly well suited to the role of a sightseeing aircraft. The package invites us to take an Alpine adventure, to put our piloting skills to the test over the Pyrenees.

Following the tour affords the opportunity to visit Paris, Rome, Madrid, Venice, Prague, Warsaw, Vienna, and a whole host of countries and cities that reflect the multicultural tapestry of the continent. With a range of flights for both novice and seasoned aviators the developers hope that there is something for everyone, from challenging approaches to a leisurely Mediterranean descent into the playground resorts of the rich and famous.

The adventure is supported by lavish extras including a tourists guide to all the destinations visited, detailed pilots notes, a comprehensive briefing and a tutorial for the included Piper aircraft.

Discover Europe is compatible with FS2004 and FSX and retails for around 25 Pounds. Check www.firstclass-simulations.com or your favorite sim retailer for availability.


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I remember my fi rst night fl ight during pilot training. First, the instructors sat us down and drilled into our heads its dangerous out there when the sun goes down. They convinced us, especially about an electrical failure the engine would still be functioning, but little else would be, and when the battery ran down, it would be dark

BY JOHN ACHOR

s

and lonely up there. Internally lighted instruments were years in the future. The basic instruments had a couple of posts which held red peanut bulbs per instrument. Also available was a fl ashlight attached to the aircrafts electrical system by a coiled cord. It was about two inches in diameter and four inches long. That light remained in cockpits for decades.

Fun And Challengingtsssportsight Flying Airportsight Flying Airportsght Flying Airpght Flying Airpg y g pg y g pg y gg y g sportssg Airpg Airp


21

Having cheated death landing after hurling out bodies through the pitch black, we came to realize that there is a charm and beauty to night fl ying like no other. The fl ight simulator is forgiving, real life may not be. To this day, I believe there is no such thing as Night VFR. If you dont have a basic understanding and the capability of instrument fl ying, you have no business out there at night. If you dont believe this, watch my continuing column, I learned about fl ying from that and Ill include a war story that may change your mind.

With that out of the way, lets check out a number of runways

around the world and how they look from the air in FS2004 at night. I used default scenery throughout for this story so lets hop into our Learjet 45 and get airborne.

OUR NIGHTTIME JOURNEY BEGINSWell start on the southern California (USA) coast just north of the

border with Mexico. Arriving from the east we cross the Laguna and El Cajon mountains and drop down toward San Diego International Airport (KSAN) also known as Lindberg Field.

Ive fl own into San Diego several times on commercial fl ights,

and landing to the west (Runway 28) the fi nal approach is between buildings as high as the fl ight path. Lets take a look at FS2004 on a ten mile fi nal into KSAN at night (Figure 1).

Its still dark outside, so well head about 200 miles northeast to Las Vegas, Nevada (USA). The primary airport is McCarran International Airport (KLAS). Back in the day, when I went through some advanced training in the U.S. Air Force, it was called a Field. During my short lived career as a fi ghter pilot I trained across town at Nellis Air Force Base, the home of the U.S.A.F. Thunderbird demonstration team. I trained in the F-100A Super Saber, the fi rst U.S. fi ghter that was capable of going supersonic in level fl ight.

Who couldnt visit Las Vegas and not check out the Strip where

you can see many of the gambling casinos and where the casino owners are happy to separate you and your money. Runway 25R at McCarran is off the nose (Figure 4) and the Vegas Strip is visible in the distance right of the nose.

Heading for the Strip, I turn to a northerly heading for a good look

at the casinos (Figure 5).

Wave to the nice folks in those buildings in Figure 2, were

about fi ve miles from the runway and Im certainly glad its VFR out there. After an uneventful approach, in Figure 3, were about to touch down on Runway 28.

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FIGURE 1FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2FIGURE 2 FIGURE 5FIGURE 5

FIGURE 4FIGURE 4

FIGURE 3FIGURE 3


CPM. V14I222

In Figure 6, Im at the north end of the strip and make a pylon turn around the Stratosphere Tower.

I fi nish my 180 turn to the south, and in Figure 7 I head back down Las Vegas Boulevard with the Stratosphere off my left wing and the casinos along the Strip stretching out ahead of me.

WERE HEADING FOR THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S.

I decided to do a fl y-over at Chicagos OHare (KORD) airport about 1500 miles along the road from Las Vegas. Since I had the warp drive engaged, it took only seconds to arrive here. Thats OHare dead on the nose in Figure 10 and in Figure 11 Im almost over the fi eld and the terminal is visible.

The nearest casino on the right in Figure 8 is the MGM Grand. Its easy to tell this is from a few years ago the sign in front of the MGM says the headline show is Siegfried & Roy and their tiger act. Roy was attacked by one of the tigers in the act in October 2003 and only recently have they tried a comeback. The vertical searchlight just left of the nose comes from the Luxor Casino.

Figure 9 gives us our last view of Las Vegas, looking at my plane

as I turn to an easterly heading. The Strip is behind me and McCarran airport is to the right.

Im continuing my fl ight eastward and am about to go feet wet over Lake Michigan in Figure 12. How many of you can identify the airport that is above the fourth fuselage window?

Hint: This once was the default airport in Microsoft Flight Simulator for years at least until the mayor of Chicago had the runway dug up. (Answer: Meigs Field - KCGX).

FIGURE 6FIGURE 6

FIGURE 7FIGURE 7

FIGURE 8FIGURE 8

FIGURE 11FIGURE 11

FIGURE 10FIGURE 10

FIGURE 9FIGURE 9

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23

Another 300 miles along our fl ight path Im swinging over Washington Dulles (KIAD) just outside Washington D.C. (USA) in Figure 13. Wow, traveling at warp speed, Ive got plenty of fuel to make my next stop. I turn about forty-fi ve degrees to the left and head for New York City (USA).

A few miles later (Figure 15) and were over Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) and the terminal is clearly visible in Figure 16.

In Figure 14, I dropped down to about 1000 feet to give everyone

in the back a better view of the city of New York as we arrive. The Statue of Liberty is just above the right wing tip with the southern tip of Manhattan Island on the nose. The body of water running off at 10 oclock to the plane is the Hudson River. Thats where Captain Sully Sullenberger put his Airbus down on the river saving all one-hundred and fi fty-fi ve on board.

ACROSS THE WIDE ATLANTICScotty, give me all you got; Im going to need Warp 9 to make

it all the way to Orly Airport (LFPO). Paris, France is 3100 miles away. Here (Figure 17), Im nearly on top of Orly. I will maintain the same heading toward the bigger airport straight ahead. In Figure 18, you can see Le Bourget Airport (LFPB) off the left wing. Charles Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget in 1927 after his solo fl ight across the Atlantic. About fi fteen miles ahead is Charles De Gaulle Airport (LFPG).

FIGURE 12FIGURE 12

FIGURE 13FIGURE 13


FIGURE 16FIGURE 16

FIGURE 15FIGURE 15


CPM. V14I224

Charles De Gaulle Airport has four east-west runways. In Figure 19

you can see the northern pair is directly in front of the left wing tip, and the other pair is at two oclock to the plane.

Well swing right and take a closer look at the southern pair of runways. Ive lined up with Runway 08R and the terminal is visible in Figure 20.

Abeam the terminal (Figure 21); it really stands out at night. I suppose its time to head for another major airport. As we leave Paris lets take a look at a couple of sights that are familiar to almost everyone.

In Figure 22 the Arc de Triomphe is just below the nose of our Learjet (lower left in the image) while the Eiffel Tower is at two oclock to the plane.

From Paris, we turn northeast and head into Germany and toward Tempelhof Airport (EDDI). This will only be a trip of around 450 miles so warp speed wont be required. As we arrive at the airport you can see the terminal, the area just in front of a ninety-degree arc of city lights at the top of Figure 23. Wed best not try to land here; the airport was closed in October 2008. Tempelhof has its share of history. One of the more famous events was being the terminus for the Berlin Airlift when ground access was denied to the city of Berlin.

I head almost due north on the way to another Berlin airport. Five miles away at Alexanderplatz, the Berlin (Fernsehturm) Tower is clearly visible in Figure 24 bisecting the left wing. This 1200 foot tower serves the TV industry.

FIGURE 18FIGURE 18

FIGURE 19FIGURE 19

FIGURE 20FIGURE 20

FIGURE 21FIGURE 21

FIGURE 22FIGURE 22

FIGURE 23FIGURE 23

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25

Another eight miles down the road; I fl y over Tegel Airport

(EDDT). I wanted to see this unusual terminal. In Figure 25 you can see it was built in a hexagonal shape to reduce the walking distance from airplane to exit, etc. I thought I was correct, but used the internet to confi rm that a hexagon is a six-sided geometric fi gure (long time since high school Geometry).

LETS LEAVE CONTINENTAL EUROPEPicking up a westerly heading I aim our plane at London, England. I

hit the coast over the Thames River and follow it to London City Airport (EGLC). Set in downtown London, this runway provides a sporty approach and landing. Located a short distance from the north shore of the Thames River, its located in a built up area and the runway is just under 5000 feet. The runway is immediately in front of the right wing (Figure 26). The round green building off the nose is the Millennium Dome which was constructed for the year 2000 celebrations.

A few more miles down the river and a little north we fi nd probably the most well known UK airport; Heathrow/London (EGLL). I line up between the parallel east-west 12,000 foot runways as I approach the airport in Figure 27. Heathrow is twenty miles west of London. Figure 28 puts us on top of the fi eld and the immense terminal complex stands out in the night. Plans are afoot for Heathrow that include a third runway and another terminal.

A FIVE THOUSAND MILE LEGIts time to use the warp drive again. Taking a great circle route to the

southeast from the UK, we fi nd ourselves at a dot in the ocean the Indian Ocean that is. Diego Garcia Navy (FJDG) is billed at the largest atoll in the world. That said, its still a pretty small area south of India. Figure 29, a screen shot from FS Discover, shows the red airplane over Diego Garcia. The atoll is south of India and the northeast corner of Australia can be seen in the lower right of the image.

FIGURE 24FIGURE 24

FIGURE 25FIGURE 25


FIGURE 28FIGURE 28

FIGURE 27FIGURE 27


CPM. V14I226

I used the Top Down view in FS2004 to show the layout of the atoll itself in Figure 30. The runway is visible on the upper left leg of the U-shaped island.

Im passing over runway 13/31 at Diego Garcia in Figure 31. Way back in the day when I was still fl ying for the U.S. Air Force we heard whispered rumors about Diego Garcia. To this day I have no idea whether spooky things went on there or whether it was just a lousy assignment.

ANOTHER LONG OVER-WATER LEG AND MOREIm heading for the Australian Continent. It will be around 2800

miles to landfall and another twelve miles inland on the southwestern coast to arrive at Perth (YPPH) shown in Figure 32. We still have a continent to cross and its about 1700 miles to Essendon (YMEN).

Following the southern coast line of Australia, Im south of Melbourne and as I turn north, I can see the lights, lower right corner of Figure 33, defi ning the entrance to Half Moon Harbor. From 3,000 feet I can pick out the airport glow in the distance, below the left wing are the lights from the city of Melbourne.

On closer inspection, you can see in Figure 34 the airport as a dark spot in the middle of the city. I drop down to 1,500 feet for a better look at the airport.

Figure 35 gives you a better view of the airport showing how the fi eld is totally surrounded by the city itself.

FIGURE 30FIGURE 30

FIGURE 31FIGURE 31


FIGURE 34FIGURE 34

FIGURE 33FIGURE 33

26 CPM. V14I2


27

LAST LEGI take up a northeast heading and proceed to Sydney, about 360

miles away. Well do a bit of sightseeing before arriving at Kingsford-Smith International Airport (YSSY). As I approach Sydney Harbor I drop down to 125 feet and line up for a good view of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge (Figure 36). The soaring roof line of the Opera House is on the far left, while the twin towers of the bridge loom ahead on either side of the aircraft nose. Good thing the towers are well illuminated at night or I couldnt execute the next maneuver.

In Figure 37, you can see Im lined up with the middle of the bridge span and well scoot under it. I bet we rocked the boat as I passed over the top of that schooner just below us.

Whew! Under the bridge and didnt scoop up any water from the Harbour. I pop up to 1500 feet, turn to a southerly heading and aim for the airport about fi ve miles ahead (Figure 38). The runways at Kingsford-Smith are just visible in the top left corner of the image.

The parallel north-south runways (16/34) and a single east-west (07/25) are visible in Figure 39. Im over runway 16R and 16L is at the left side of the image. The twin terminal areas also show quite nicely against the darkness.

I received clearance for a closed left traffi c pattern back to runway 16R and Im on fi nal in Figure 40. Oops. Im pretty close to touchdown, better lower the landing gear.

In Figure 41, gear and fl aps down, Im coming over the threshold for a full stop landing.

FIGURE 36FIGURE 36

FIGURE 37FIGURE 37


CPM. V14I228

Im landing to the south, so the Domestic terminal is left of the plane (Figure 42)

The International terminal is to my right (Figure 43).

I taxi back north to the west ramp and park our Learjet at the Qantas Freight terminal (Figure 44). No authorities are there to greet us, so I may escape any penalties for the bridge stunt.

A FINAL WORDIve only scratched the surface looking at a few airports around the

world at night. I still enjoy night time scenery and often set the fl ight simulator Time feature to hours of darkness. Its also fun to set the time just before sunset or just before sunrise and watch the scenery change. Check out the views of stars and the moon when fl ying at night. Take a look at the spooky night time hours and decide for yourself whether you get satisfaction from hurtling through the pitch black. 4

FIGURE 38FIGURE 38

FIGURE 39FIGURE 39

FIGURE 40FIGURE 40

FIGURE 41FIGURE 41

FIGURE 44FIGURE 44

FIGURE 43FIGURE 43

FIGURE 42FIGURE 42

28 CPM. V14I2


29

Lisbon airport is one of the largest airports in Southern Europe and serves as the main base-hub of the national Portuguese airline TAP-Air Portugal. In 2007 it handled over 13 million passengers and 80,000 tonnes of cargo. Aerosoft have now brought this airport to FSX in stunning high detail as a 200mb download (420mb installed). After downloading the scenery, installation is a breeze and you will be up and running in a matter of minutes. The airport is the latest in the Mega Airport range and stands up well against some of the other more detailed Mega Airports despite it being a smaller airport. This is good news for simmers on a lower spec PC as frame rates are excellent, even when the airport is fully populated with AI traffic. The airport ground textures are based upon a high detail aerial image and all the buildings, taxiways, lighting, docking systems etc of the real airport have been recreated with exacting detail. The textures on the buildings

and vehicles are all photo-realistic. Scattered around the airport are lots of additional objects such as baggage carts, vehicles and road signs. These may not seem very significant but when they are all combined with the AI aircraft and static aircraft (which can be deactivated) the airport really comes to life. Exploring the airport will reveal details which may not be noticed straight away; hiding away in the TAP-Air Portugal hangar is an aircraft being serviced; on the outside of the airport are the road signs leading up to the terminal entrance and the car parks are populated with vehicles. All these small details add up to create a fantastic and atmospheric airport.

If you enjoy the airport during the day, you are in for a treat at night. This is one of the few airports which I prefer flying into at night; the lighting effects and textures are stunning. The night lighting is spot on and creates that strange atmosphere that an airport gives off at night; its

neither too bright not too dark. The advantage of flying at night is that the frame rates are even higher than during the day, but you dont lose any of the detail. Owners of Ultimate Terrain Europe and Aerosofts AES will be pleased to know that the airport is fully compatible with both products.

The one minor fault I encountered when using this scenery was that the aircraft sometimes bounced around on the taxiway. Whilst not a major problem this is something that I have not encountered with other Mega Airport titles.

I enjoyed using this scenery and it is another fantastic addition to the Mega Airport range. Aerosoft has set some high standards over the last few months and this package continues that trend.

FS9 users who own the download version of Lisbon 2008 (via Aerosofts online shop) are eligible for a free FSX download. Also available in boxed DVD format for US$29.99.

AEROSOFT MEGA AIRPORT LISBON X

BY ROB SCOTT

MINI-REVIEW

29


CPM. V14I230

Australian Air AdventuresBY ROB SCOTT

PART TWO

Welcome back to the final installment of my Aussie Adventure using the FTX scenery. As before, I will guide you through some flights that I think you will find enjoyable and will show off this scenery. I hope that the time between the two installments has given you ample time to complete the previous flights, and maybe even find a few of your own

along the way. If you have installed the OZx freeware airfields then you will have already discovered some fantastic places to fly in and out of; why not send in some of your favorite flights to Computer Pilot? The majority of the population live along the coast, so its not surprising that these areas are the most built up, but the areas which are not populated are fantastic to explore by air....


31

FLIGHT 1: THE GREAT BARRIER REEFThe Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage listed site and one of the most famous

tourist attractions in Australia. The best way to explore the Barrier Reef is underwater, but you can still have a lot of fun exploring it from above where you can appreciate how large it is. This fl ight departs from Cooktown and arrives at Hamilton Island and is just over 350 miles. The fl ight plan is not included in the downloads section and I fl ew direct as this took me straight down the coast passing over Cairns and Townsville along the way. I opted to use the Piper Seneca for this fl ight as its quick cruise speed would cover the distance in just under two hours. Navigation for this fl ight is as easy as it gets, after departing from Cooktown turn towards the coast and head south. Dont forget to pay attention to the other scenery along the way as soon after departure you will be able to see the Black Mountain National Park as you fl y down past Rossville, Bloomfi eld and Wonga. Even though the main purpose of this fl ight is to explore the Great Barrier Reef, dont neglect the scenery on the other side of the aircraft and feel free to make frequent detours to explore the beaches and ports along the coastline. Before you know it, Cairns will pop up out of the greenery. If you are enjoying the fl ight take time to fl y a few circuits around the area and take some (virtual) snaps. After Cairns, the coastline begins to curve a little and move away from the Barrier Reef. The next decision is up to you; either follow the coastline or head out over the sea to follow the Barrier Reef. If you take the coast road youll be able to view the Hinchinbrook Island National Park as you follow the Bruce Highway south towards Hamilton Island. Next up on the list of big cities to fl y over is Townsville, try and pick out the Dairy Farmers Stadium where the North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League team play. After Townsville its not far until our destination comes into view. There are a couple of ways to handle this approach. You can opt for the boring straight in or take some more time to explore the little islands surrounding the airfi eld and pick your way through them before you land. Ill leave it up to you!

LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ONE

BARRIER REEF

PICKING MY WAY THROUGH THE ISLANDSPICKING MY WAY THROUGH THE ISLANDS

BATTLING THE ELEMENTSBATTLING THE ELEMENTS

MURKY WATERS LEADING TO THE SEAMURKY WATERS LEADING TO THE SEA


CPM. V14I232

FLIGHT 2: GEORGE TOWN HOBARTThis fl ight will allow you to explore Tasmania which lies off the coast of Melbourne.

The fl ight will take you south towards Hobart over the green low-lying areas and the mountainous areas in the middle of the island. The fl ight distance is approximately 120 miles and I opted to use the Cessna 182RG as I wanted to fl y this one nice and slow to take in the scenery. After departure, follow the river which runs inland as this will lead you to the fi rst waypoint of Launceston. Climb to 5500 feet to give you enough clearance over the mountainous terrain up ahead. As you approach Launceston you will be able to see the Ben Lomond National Park at your 11 oclock and the mountains will begin to rise on your right. After leaving Launceston fl y due south over Cramps Bay, Morass Bay and Lake Sorell. The three lakes are all close together so you shouldnt have much trouble picking them out. Before long you will be able to see the coastline, so contact Hobart ATC and begin to descend to land once you are clear of the higher terrain. After landing, why not try the Hobart-Lake Pedder fl ight from the last issue again?

AMAZING LANDSCAPEAMAZING LANDSCAPE

THIS AREA IS BETTER WHEN THE SUN IS UPTHIS AREA IS BETTER WHEN THE SUN IS UP

WATCH THOSE HILLSWATCH THOSE HILLS

WHERE TO NEXT?WHERE TO NEXT?


33

FLIGHT 3: AVALON PHILLIP ISLAND

This fl ight was probably one of my favorites. I departed just as the sun was rising and zig-zagged my way through the Melbourne airspace before making a landing on the gravel strip at Phillip Island. The fl ight is only 120 miles and I used the Mooney Bravo just to make sure I had enough speed to keep out of the way of the heavies fl ying into Melbourne. I would strongly recommend fl ying this fl ight at dawn so that you can enjoy the way the colours of the scenery change as the sun rises. The fi rst part of the fl ight is nice and easy; just follow the bay around until you are near Tyabb airfi eld. If you get lost, tune into the Cowes NDB on 275.0 which is very close to your destination. Once you have passed Tyabb youll be able to see the French Island National Park. Fly around it and as you turn back towards the sea, you should be able to see the airport. Be careful that you pick out the gravel strip to land on and not the road which runs close to the airport.

EXPLORING THE BAYEXPLORING THE BAY

VERY SCENIC APPROACHVERY SCENIC APPROACH

FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S GETTING COLDERFEELS AS THOUGH IT'S GETTING COLDER

GREAT COLORSGREAT COLORS


CPM. V14I234

FLIGHT 4: YARRAM MANGALOREThis next fl ight departs a little further south than where you last

landed at Philip Island and will fl y over most of the same terrain, but that doesnt mean its not an enjoyable fl ight. When you depart from Yarram, assuming you have taken off from Runway 23, fl y straight ahead over Sunday Island and Le Trobe Island and make a slight left turn and follow the coastline around the headland before picking up the Meeniyan Promontory Road. Over the Corner Inlet Marine and Coastal Park, you may even fi nd another airstrip to land at if you keep your eyes peeled. Once you have left the sea behind, tune into the Melbourne VOR on 114.10 and fl y straight to it. If you have fl own the previous fl ight some of this scenery will seem familiar! After taking some time to explore the city of Melbourne, fl y towards Eildon and the Lake Eildon National Park which is easy to pick out as it is surrounded by water, rather like a moat around a castle. The lake is used for water activities such as power boating and water skiing, but be careful around the park area as deer hunting is permitted in some sections. Whilst you are exploring Lake Eildon tune in your ADF to the Mangalore NDB on 254.0 and when you are ready, begin your fi nal approach. This fl ight is just under 240 miles so you may want to consider using an aircraft which covers the ground a little quicker if you are short on time.

FIELDS, LOTS OF FIELDSFIELDS, LOTS OF FIELDS

ANYONE FOR A GAMEANYONE FOR A GAME

INTENSE COLORSINTENSE COLORS


35

FLIGHT 5: ALDINGA PORT PIRIEI like this trip because it took me from the greener

areas of Southern Australia toward the oranges and reds of Western Australia. It was great to see the colors begin to change in such a short space of time. Rather than fl y the direct route straight up the coast, I decided to depart from Aldinga and fl y towards Ardrossan, then head off over the water towards Lucky Bay and approach Port Pirie from the west. Once you have fl own past Lucky Bay you will see the colors begin to change to the fantastic oranges and reds I mentioned earlier. You might want to consider departing about 30-45 minutes before the sun sets for this fl ight. If you are following the fl ight plan you will be approaching Whyalla before you realize it, Whyallas webpage boasts that they have 300 days of sun per year and the friendly locals make it the ideal place to live. To a Pommy like me, that seems very appealing! Once you have fl own over Whyalla you will soon be able to see the airfi eld at Port Pirie, so descend down to pattern altitude and make a landing before enjoying the sunset from the bar.

OFF WE GOOFF WE GO

VERY FLAT, BUT IT STILL LOOKS GOODVERY FLAT, BUT IT STILL LOOKS GOOD

NICE PLACE TO TAKE A FLOAT PLANENICE PLACE TO TAKE A FLOAT PLANE


CPM. V14I236

RRR

Acknowledgements John Venema at Orbx for donating the FTX scenery for this article (http://www.fullterrain.com/) Just Flight for donating the following during the course of the article: Carenado Cessna U206G Stationair http://www.justfl ight.com/product.asp?pid=329 Carenado Cessna 152 http://www.justfl ight.com/product.asp?pid=366 Carenado Mooney http://www.justfl ight.com/product.asp?pid=330 Carenado Cessna 182RG http://www.justfl ight.com/product.asp?pid=327 Flying Club Duchess http://www.justfl ight.com/product.asp?pid=38 PC Aviator for donating the Carenado Piper Seneca http://www.pcaviator.com/dlstore/product.php?productid=608&cat=36&page=1 The environment textures were generated using Real Environment Extreme 2 http://www.realenvironmentxtreme.com/ OZx freeware airfi elds http://www.aussiex.org

FLIGHT 6: BUNBURY SOUTHERN CROSSThis is the fi nal fl ight of my Aussie Adventure and will take around 2 hours to complete. The

fl ight heads north toward Perth and then inland to the Southern Cross. If you are using the OZx airfi elds, Bunbury is one at the airfi elds which have been given some treatment. After departure, I kept nice and low to take a closer look of the scenery which remains pin sharp at any altitude. Heading away from Bunbury, you will pass over several racetracks and it is up to you how you get to Perth. I fl ew inland with the coastline always in sight so that I didnt get lost, and before long I could pick out the sprawling urbanization of Perth and was able to venture further inland. Flying up the coast you will be fl ying over lots of urban areas on the left with the fi elds and greenery on your right. As you fl y inland away from Perth towards Southern Cross, the greens become much more intense as you approach the John Forrest National Park. After passing over the national park the land becomes much fl atter and once you pass over the Narembeen NDB fi nding Southern Cross is quite easy as it is nestled between a few lakes which are laid out in a horse shoe shape.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as much as I have enjoyed writing it and exploring Australia. I have always wanted to visit Australia, and whilst I cannot get there in person just yet, FSX and FTX are the next best thing. If you want to explore Australia some more, check out the FTX forums (http://orbxsystems.com/forums) where there are lots more fl ight plans and even an adventure fl ying around Australia which stretches to nearly 200 fl ights and 20,000 miles! (http://tinyurl.com/oolfvg).

SPECTACULAR VISUALS FROM ALTITUDESPECTACULAR VISUALS FROM ALTITUDE

I THINK IM LOST!I THINK IM LOST!

ANOTHER RACE TRACKANOTHER RACE TRACK

IT'S A RACE AGAINST THE SUNIT'S A RACE AGAINST THE SUN


37

RREVIEWREVIEWIEW4IEW 4

REVIEW

The L-39 Albatros, by Lotus Simulations, is one of the most polished and innovative products I have seen yet for Flight Simulator X. First, though, a few words about the real-world aircraft that its based on. The Albatros (spelled, as here, with just one s) is a jet trainer designed in the late 1960s by the Czech company Aero Vodochody, when Czech industry was still under Soviet direction. Intended for use in all of the Warsaw Pact air forces, the L-39 became the most popular jet trainer ever produced. Today, the Soviet Union

and the Warsaw Pact are both dissolved, but forty years after the L-39 made its first test flight, in 1968, there are almost three thousand still flying. Most of these are in service as military trainers: the L-39 is now used by thirty air forces around the world, not only in former Soviet-bloc countries such as Georgia, but also in Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East. In civilian life, the Albatros competes at the annual Reno Air Races. In Europe, Breitling sponsors an L-39 aerobatics team, as does Frys Electronics in America.

L-39 AlbatrosBY DAVID WILSON-OKAMURA

37


CPM. V14I238

If you want to buy an Albatros in real life, it will cost you about US$300k up-front and then about $40k per annum for maintenance, insurance, hangar fees, and inspections. Thats on top of fuel, which the Albatros burns through at about 20 gallons per hour.

Or, for US$45, you can buy the payware model from Lotus

Simulations. Thats still on the high end of what Im usually willing to pay, but after flying the Albatros for more than a month, Im pleased with my purchase.

Installation and DocumentationThe download is about 170 Mb, and requires a license key to

unlock. An installer program copies over all the files, so run that and youre ready to fly. If youre in a hurry, you can start the L-39 with Control-E. (The real sequence, using the included checklist, takes about ninety seconds, but most of that is just waiting for the motor to spool up.) Theres no FMC to programthe real Albatros doesnt even have an autopilot, and neither does the modelbut you at least need to read p. 19 of the user manual, the section thats titled Know This Or Die. The rest of the manual, which goes to 120 pages, is written in the same light-hearted but informative style. This is one of the best add-on manuals Ive seen. Its attractively laid out, with illustrations of all the systems and gauges; color profiles of the included liveries; detailed instructions for how to join or host a multiplayer session; flight notes for take-off, cruise, approach, and landing; guidance on aerobatics; flight checklists; and emergency procedures. Unlike some manuals, which are content merely to label gauges, this one explains how to interpret what you see and what it normally reads.

In addition to the manual (which you can download free, no

purchase necessary, from the Lotus Simulations website), there is also a three-part video tutorial on YouTube. The video takes about twenty-five minutes and covers cockpit orientation, engine start-up, taxi, and take-off. More tutorials are planned, but the existing ones are more than adequate to get off the ground and show prospective customers what the virtual cockpit looks like in flight.

External ModelDespite the name, theres no mistaking the Albatros for a bird, fish,

squid, or anything organic. My favorite is the dorsal view, looking down, but thats a feature of the original plane, which is reproduced lovingly in the sim. In addition to all of the standard animations, the model sports some that are specific to the L-39. This is a jet trainer, so the instructor has his own cockpit behind the pilots, complete with separate canopy; both cockpits have retractable steps for ingress and egress. On the underside of the aircraft, there is also a ram air turbine (RAT) that you wont see unless the main power goes outin which case, the RAT will extend down and the blades will spin to generate electricity. Textures are up to, but not above, the standard for most payware. Bump mapping, though, is above average, and highlights the rivets and plates on the planes fuselage without making them stand out too much. A paint kit is available and numerous, high-quality repaints can be found at flightsim.com and sim-outhouse.com; some of them are featured in my screenshots.

Exploding flares were part of the original model, but turned out

to cause problems in multiplayer. A patch is expected to restore the flares, but wont be available until after my deadline has passed; for current status, check the Lotus Simulations website.

The most innovative features of the external model are dynamic

icingin sub-zero conditions, ice accumulates visibly on the nose, tail, wings, and windscreenand custom lighting. The landing lights are similar to the 3D Lights product from A2A Simulations (which sells for US$17 and can be added to most aircraft models, default or payware). The beacon and anti-collision lights are less showy, but theyre the first ones Ive seen in Flight Simulator that dont just glow but also illuminate the ground (or, if theyre close enough, other aircraft).

DORSAL VIEWDORSAL VIEW

ON THE GROUNDON THE GROUND

INSTRUCTORS COCKPIT


39

Virtual CockpitWhat sold me on this model in the first place was the virtual

cockpit. (There is no 2D panel.) Despite the real aircraft being almost four decades old, the modeled cockpits are all clean. Those who prefer a weathered look will be disappointed, but not (I think) actually displeased. Even up close, the quality of textures and modeling is very high. In my screenshots, for example, notice the scratches and 3D bolts in the windscreen.

The L-39 was manufactured in the early 1970s, so most of the

gauges are steam. The only exceptions are the various condition lights, the retrofitted GPS (which is default), and the radio stack. The radio stack has the same functionality as the modern defaults, but looks slicker and uses the RealAir system of tuning radios: that is, you increase a frequency by dragging up on a knob, and decrease it by dragging down. This is handy, because you dont have to hover the mouse in one placesomething that can be difficult if you use TrackIR.

The remaining gauges are all recreated in 3D, as part of the

cockpit model. Thats more work for the developer, but it looks betterthe parts of each gauge are sharper and cast shadowsand, more importantly, it performs better. Frame rates are higher and gauge needles move more smoothly than 2D gauges. This is another technique that was pioneered by RealAir and is now being adopted more widely, especially for GA planes, military fighters, and some helicopters. Its not the only feature that I look for in a premium model, but its near the top of my list.

For night flying, there are two colors of gauge lighting, white and red; the red lighting is to preserve the pilots night vision. There is also a cockpit flood light.

The Albatros was designed for use by Soviet-bloc air forces so,

except for the altimeter (which registers in feet), all gauges are metric. Thinking about your airspeed in kilometers per hour (KPH), rather than knots or miles per hour, takes some getting used, but everyone who tries it seems to manage all right. Dividing KPH by two will give a rough idea of your airspeed in knots, which is useful so long as you keep in mind that it is a rough idea. But since all of the checklist speeds are given in KPH as well, you end up thinking in KPH anyway. Another feature of the Soviet-style instrument panel is an artificial horizon that displays pitch and bank separately. According to the manual, this is more convenient for aerobatics. Im not enough of an aerobat to judge, but it does make the panel more exotic, without making it less functional.

My favorite VC feature, apart from the smooth 3D gauges, is

canopy icing and animated raindrops. We had raindrops in FS2004, but they were supposed to be impossible in FSX. Apparently thats not so, but to date this is the only model that has them.

ON THE GROUND

CANOPIES OPEN, STAIRS DOWNCANOPIES OPEN, STAIRS DOWN

INSTRUCTORS COCKPITINSTRUCTORS COCKPIT

PILOT AND INSTRUCTORPILOT AND INSTRUCTOR

39


CPM. V14I240

SoundThe sounds in this model were provided by Christoffer Petersen

of Turbine Sound Studios and Douglas S. Dawson. In addition to the flaps, jet engine, and landing gear, they include some special effects in the cockpit. The canopy opens and closes in stereo (so that you can hear the hinge on the right, followed by the lock on the left), and when it seals you can hear the hiss of pressurized air. In tight maneuvers you can hear the pilots G-suit expanding; and if you forget to turn on the oxygen, you will begin to hear your own labored breathing.

Flight and Systems ModelingAs much as was practical for a plane that can be flown in shared

cockpit modesomething well comment on in a minuteall of the L-39s original systems have been modeled here, including the Saphir starter turbine, the ram air turbine (for emergency power), backup hydraulics for the landing gear and flaps, retractable barber poles on nose and wings (to indicate gear and flap status), flap speed limits (the slats will retract automatically if you exceed 300 KPH), engine temperature limits (the power plant will automatically shut down if it gets too hot; or, if you disable that safeguard, melt), and oxygen for the pilot. If you fly above 18,000 feet and forget to turn on the oxygen, you will black out after three minutes and crash. This is realistic in one wayyou do need oxygen up therebut unrealistic in anotheran aircraft that has been trimmed for level flight wont go into a dive as soon as the pilot falls asleep; and when you descend into denser air, its even possible that you might wake up in time to save the ship! On balance, though, I prefer an excess of (simulated) danger to no danger at all.

Im not a real pilot of anything, so my comments on the flight model will be descriptive rather than evaluative. The virtual Albatros, like its real-world counterpart, is capable of all the standard aerobatic maneuvers, except flying upside down (which it can only do for 20 seconds before the engine flames out). In climb and at cruise, the Albatros is a joy to fly; and its not difficult to land, so long as you keep your speed up. This means planning ahead: the low-thrust engine spools up slowly, so the only way to build up speed right away is to (a) point the nose at the ground, which you cant very well do if youre already getting ready to land, or (b) retract the air brake (if you had the foresight to extend it in the first place). In a trainer, this kind of behavior should count as a bug, no? But in a model (which is what were judging here), it counts as a feature, because its characteristic of the real aircraft.

WING VIEWS FOR SCENERYWING VIEWS FOR SCENERY

NIGHT LIGHTINGNIGHT LIGHTING

SPEED BRAKES OUT ON FINAL APPROACH

SPEED BRAKES OUT ON FINAL APPROACH

ICE ACCUMULATIONS

40 CPM. V14I2


41

WING VIEWS FOR SCENERY

MultiplayerExcept for the sounds, everything in this product was modeled

by one person: Mike Johnson. According to the Lotus Simulations website, Johnson never flies FSX unless hes flying in multiplayer, especially racing and aerobatics. This influenced the design specifications in two ways.

First, the model had to produce high frame rates. On my rig (an

Intel quad-core running at 2.4 GHz with four gigs of RAM and Nvidia 8800GT graphics card), its smoother than most of the payware Ive reviewed, but less smooth than the single-engine models produced by RealAir, the Classics Hangar Fw-190, or the A2A P-47. If you need more smoothness, theres a special multiplayer model that will trade visual detail for extra frame rates.

Second, the model had to be flyable in shared-cockpit mode: a

feature of the default aircraft in FSX but not of most payware. The real Albatros is a trainer, so the modeled Albatros has two cockpits: one for the pilot and one for the instructor. In some versions, the pilots cockpit has an animated hood, for IFR practice, and the instructors cockpit has an extra panel to simulate instrument failures.

ConclusionLotus is a new developer and this product, its first at-bat, is a grand

slam. Theres nothing in the model that isnt polished; and there are several features that, so far as I know, are unique in FSX. Some, such as raindrops on the canopy, are cosmetic; others, such as icing and dual cockpits, have obvious and immediate applications for pilot training. Dont buy it for bush flying (the engine spools up too slowly) or for long hauls (it burns through its fuel supply too quickly). But the model is a good balance of eye candy and frame rates, with speed for racing, nimbleness for aerobatics, and premium gauges for IFR. Its also fun. 4TEXTURE DETAIL AN

D BUMP MAPPING

TEXTURE DETAIL AND

BUMP MAPPING

ICE ACCUMULATIONSICE ACCUMULATIONS

41


CPM. V14I242

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS TO USE THE NOW-FAMOUS GOOGLE EARTH TO ENLARGE UPON YOUR PLEASURE OF FLIGHT SIMULATION. OFF-THE-SHELF GOOGLE EARTH (WWW.EARTH.GOOGLE.COM) COMES WITH SATELLITE WEATHER, WEATHER RADAR, HURRICANES, CURRENT CONDITIONS, AND FORECASTS - THESE FEATURES CAN BE TURNED ON OR OFF AT WILL. IF USING REAL WEATHER WITH FSX OR X-PLANE AND YOU CANT FIND A BAD STORM, JUST LOOK AT GOOGLE EARTH AND YOU CAN FIND WHAT YOU WANT ANYWHERE ON EARTH.

ENHANCED GOOGLE EARTHBY CHUCK BODEEN


43

GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE DAY THAT I WAS WRITING THIS ARTICLE SHOWS BAD WEATHER ACROSS MOST OF THE SOUTHEAST. THE DAY BEFORE, THE SPACE SHUTTLE WAS FORCED TO LAND AT EDWARDS AFB RATHER THAN AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.

Charts and Route Planning From www.gelib.com/maps/Sectionals/Aero_Charts_nl.kml you can, at no cost, load United States sectionals, terminal area charts, fl yways, and 3D controlled airspace into Google Earth just by clicking on the link. Only one of these may be shown at a time. The airspace images are very good you can see under and over the layers. When you mouse click on an area within a controlled space a balloon pops up showing the ATC frequency, the fl oor, and the ceiling. Unfortunately, there are many areas where the numeric values shown are in error. Atlanta (KATL) is, perhaps, one of the worst examples. While a few of the numerical values for fl oors are correct, most are marked as 10,000 feet even for the core at the center of the fi eld where it should be SFC. This and all other sources of controlled airspace for Google Earth use a DAFIF* database.

In late 2006 public access to any updated fi les was removed, so the 3D images and the errors in numerical values cannot be changed. But with a current sectional or TAC superimposed over the terrain you can see the fl oors and ceilings without the numerical errors.Footnote: *Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File maintained by NGA (National Geospatia- Intelligence Agency)

THE SECTIONAL FOR THE AREA AROUND KATL CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE FLOORS OF THE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE HAVE VARYING VALUES. YET IN THE GOOGLE EARTH IMAGES, THE FLOORS OF ALL SECTIONS ARE MARKED 10000 FEET. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE IN THAT THE CENTER SECTION OF EVERY CLASS B AIRSPACE SHOULD BE MARKED SFC FOR SURFACE.

THIS GELIB.COM FLYWAY CHART FOR KLAS IS SUPERIMPOSED DIRECTLY OVER THE GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE OF THE LAS VEGAS AIRPORT. THE DOTTED LINES WITH AIRPLANES REPRESENT THE PATHS INTO AND OUT OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE.

A multitude of services which include the ability to plot a fl ight route on Google Earth can be found at www.aeroplanner.com. Five levels of membership ranging in cost from free to $249.95 per year provide different degrees of access. The GoogleTicks, as they are called, are free to the two highest levels and cost about $5 each for Basic and EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) members. A GoogleTick includes:

A line showing the route. All airfi elds, navaids and waypoints close to the route. NOTAMs close to the route.

Any of these may be turned on or off.

WITH AEROPLANNER, STEP (1) IS TO DESCRIBE THE ROUTE. HERE IT IS FROM KJFK TO KMVY VIA TWO FIXES. IN STEP (2) THE ROUTE IS PLOTTED, SHOWING THE SIX AREAS THAT WILL BE OVERLAID. THE RESULT (3) IN GOOGLE EARTH SHOWS THE ORIGIN, DESTINATION, THE TWO FIXES, AND THE ROUTE. IN THIS CASE, I ALSO ASKED FOR ANY AIRPORT WITHIN 10 NM OF THE ROUTE THAT HAS A RUNWAY LONGER THAN 5000 FEET.


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Routes are set up easily using Flight Explorer at www.pilotsandweather.com. This is a free service, but you must register with your email address and a password. Once the route is established, you ask for a briefi ng and there is an option to send information to Google Earth where the fl ight path, waypoints, and NOTAMs within 25nm of the route can be displayed.

the default being Kathmandu (VNKT) Runway 02. You can scroll to another airport if you like. If you have a joystick, leave it enabled, and then click Start Flight. You will find yourself on the selected runway ready to take off.

If you delay your launch of the fl ight sim, you can actually go to any airport in the world by locating it in G.E. and then rotating the view so that the runway you want is vertical on the screen. Get the runway numbers centered and then zoom in until the eye height is as low as it will go. Finally, enter the fl ight simulator. You will be ready for takeoff.

USING FLIGHT EXPLORER FROM PILOTSANDWEATEHR.COM YOU CAN SET UP A FLIGHT FROM KRIC TO KLGA SPECIFYING FIXES AND VECTOR ROUTES TO BE FOLLOWED ALONG THE WAY. SEVERAL FIXES THAT HAPPEN TO BE ON V229 AND V44 ARE ADDED IN THE INFORMATION THAT IS SENT TO GOOGLE EARTH ALTHOUGH YOU MAY TURN OFF ANY OF THESE.

Another source of sectionals and TACs that can be used with Google Earth is from www.chartgeek.com where a single chart costs $3.95 or a whole set sells for $29.95 on DVD. If you want to keep up with all the FAA changes, the DVD with a years updates will set you back $99.95.

Each of the concepts described above may be used simultaneously. Furthermore, rather than just exploring Google Earth by moving your viewpoint there are ways you can fl y through the enhanced view using the Google Earth fl ight simulator, X-Plane, or FSX.

Google Earth Flight SimulatorAt the top of the Google Earth screen, click on Tools and then on Enter Flight Simulator. At this point you can select either the F-16 or the Cirrus SR-22 to fly. Except for the speed and climb rate, you wouldnt really know what airplane you have because your view is limited to straight ahead with a HUD ( Heads Up Display). There is a short list of international airports,

IN THE GOOGLE EARTH FLIGHT SIMULATOR THE SR-22 IS APPROACHING THE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AT ATLANTIC CITY (KACY) AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1366 MSL. THE GROUND UNDER THE PLANE IS AT 71 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. THE CEILING OF THE AIRSPACE IS AT 4100 FEET AND THE FLOOR OF THE OUTSIDE RING IS AT 1300 FEET A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE AIRPLANE. THE MAGENTA LINE IS THE ROUTE PLANNED FROM KRIC TO KLGA.

FSXLuciano Napolitanos FS Earth is an interface between Flight Simulator X and Google Earth. You can follow the fl ights of your plane as well as those of AI and multiplayer aircraft in real time. Flight plans created by FSX or other means can be shown. Course predictions for the next period of time are also shown. The program works on a single computer running FSX and Google Earth together, or, on two networked computers running respectively FSX (master) and Google Earth (slave). Many options are available for fi ne tuning the performance. Luciano says FS Earth is very useful for scenery designers to cross-check the position of scenery objects against Google Earths satellite images. A version for Flight Simulator 2004 is available also.

The free trial version works only around Anchorage, Alaska, (PANC / ANC) for a maximum of fi ve minutes per fl ight session. A serial number may be purchased for US$16.95 from http://www.wideview.it/ which will allow the program to be used for the entire world, for unlimited time.

IN PREPARATION TO FLY THE GOOGLE EARTH SIMULATOR, FIRST FIND THE RUNWAY. ON THE LEFT THE EYE ALTITUDE IS 2439 FEET. ON THE RIGHT IT IS 2311 FEET. THE AIRPORT ELEVATION IS 2282, BUT GOOGLE EARTH WONT TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY DOWN. START THE SIMULATOR AND YOURE READY TO TAKE OFF. YOU CAN ALSO START IN THE AIR AT ANY POINT AND AT ANY ALTITUDE IF YOU LIKE.

FS EARTH ALLOWS BOTH ROUTES AND FLIGHT PATHS TO BE SEEN ON GOOGLE EARTH FOR YOUR PLANE AS WELL AS FOR AI AND MULTIPLAYER SHIPS. WHEN YOU SWITCH TO THE VIEW FROM THE COCKPIT YOU SEE GOOGLE EARTH SCENERY.


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Jrgen Haible has created MyFsGoogleEarth, a program similar to FS Earth but for MSFS 2004. Go to http://www.elbiah.de/fl usi/ from which you can download MyFsTools-1-4.zip, MyFsGoogleEarth-1-0-1.zip, and the documentation for both. There are other MSFS enhancing downloads there as well. You can see the current position of your aircraft and of the surrounding AI traffi c. There are several steps you need to install the free product and get it running. Haible explains all of this on his web site. The discussion covers the initial setup of the system on a single computer, but you can also read about using multiple machines. The process may seem to be rather lengthy, but it is well worth the effort.

X-PlaneXplage by Chris Kern, allows the X-Plane fl ight simulator to be linked to Google Earth. You can fi nd it at www.chriskern.net/code/xplaneToGoogleEarth.html. Xplage sends two KML fi les to Google Earth one for the top-down and one for a perspective view in which the eye may be thought of as being right in front of the airplane and pointing slightly downward. The system requires a bit of time for setup, but you should fi nd no confl ict between the KML fi les it sends to G.E. and those from the route generators or the 3D controlled space images. The program is freeware.

ON THE TOP IS A GOOGLE EARTH FLIGHT IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO FROM SOCORRO (KONM) TO SANTA FE (KSAF) VIA THREE OTHER AIRPORTS. THE GREEN AREAS ARE RESTRICTED AIRSPACE. ON THE BOTTOM IN X-PLANE WE ARE ABOVE THE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AROUND KABQ, AND BELOW THE PLANNED ROUTE. I ADDED ARROWS TO THE ROUTE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO SEE THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.

Now you know how you can have the wonderful Google Earth satellite images for scenery and fl y with your favorite simulator.

QUICK REVIEWIn order to fl y in controlled airspace you must have clearance or contact with ATC. The defi nitions of the different kinds of controlled space vary from country to country. In the U.S., Class B is around large airports, Class C is around medium sized airports, and Class D is for smaller facilities as long as there is a tower.

The FAA likes to say that controlled airspace around an airport resembles a wedding cake stacked upside down and centered on an airport. Typically, the outer ring for Class B airspace may have a radius of 20 to 30 nm. There may be extensions or cut-outs of any ring due to local terrain, traffi c patterns, or other nearby or overlapping airports. The best wedding cake example is at KCLE, Cleveland, Ohio, but even there, a small notch in the center layer allows traffi c at a private use airport, Gilbert (49OH), to avoid having to contact the ATC at KCLE. Perhaps the least like a wedding cake is at KSAN, San Diego, California.

IDEAL CLASS B AIRSPACE

SAN DIEGO CLASS B AIRSPACE

The San Diego cake looks as if someone dropped it. There are 11 layers with the same fl oors and ceilings, but 21 separate areas. Most astonishing is the fact that none of the areas has any part of a circle they are all polygons with (mostly) straight sides.

Flight plans consist of departure and destination airports and a route of fl ight. The route may be a list of waypoints or a mixture of waypoints and federal airways. The waypoints are things like VORs, NDBs, and fi xes. A fi x is a point defi ned by latitude and longitude. Some fi xes are intersections of federal airways. Each federal airway is based on a centerline that extends from one navaid or intersection to another navaid or fi x. If you want a federal airway to be part of your route, you must be bounded by navaids or fi xes that are on that airway. Federal airways are noted on sectional and terminal area charts from gelib.com which you can superimpose on Google Earth. You can fi nd the navaids and fi xes on X-Plane maps. The Flight Management System instruments on X-Plane actually work so you can tell the autopilot to follow the same route you have set up for display in Google Earth. With FSX, you can set up departure and destination airports and the program will select a route for you.


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Wouldnt it be nice to have an all-in-one package offering some aircraft for both new pilots and experienced aviators as well as a home airport where you can fly without commercial activity to hem you in?

The folks at Just Flight have taken their company name to heart once again and put together something that comes pretty close to offering that environment. Flying Club 2 is, as its name suggests, a follow up tocan you guess?yep, Flying Club! That program was a combination of 5 light aircraft and an English airfield from which to enjoy them.

Flying Club 2 REVIEW

REVIEWREVBY ROGER CURTISS

ARCHER VC

46 CPM. V14I2


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Based either on the success of FC or the fact that they had a few additional aircraft models sitting around, Just Flight has released this program as an add-on for FSX and FS9. It offers three aircraft; the Piper Archer III, Beech Duchess and Robinson R44 helicopter. Beyond that, the title of Flying Club is a loose one as there really is no central theme tying the aircraft together, although the FSX version also includes a detailed Denham Aerodrome as a scenery add-on. In essence, this appears to be a collection of aircraft and a previously released scenery enhancement. Not that there is anything wrong with that. This is basically the same formula as was brought forth in Flying Club which bundled 5 aircraft and a treatment of a different small airfield.

The package is delivered as a boxed version only containing one DVD. There may be those who disdain mailed versions instead of downloads but in this case it is a good thing since the package also includes an 84 page Club Handbook that is worth a read and having it in a hard copy makes it more likely that people will do that.

Here are the minimum specifications to run the program: FSX (Acceleration, SP2 and DX 10 Preview compatible) or FS9 3.0 GHz PC or any Dual Core 1.0 Gb RAM 512Mb graphics card Windows Vista/XP 1.0Gb hard drive space

I loaded the contents into both FS9 and FSX to get a full feel for what is offered. It was a matter of a series of clicks and each version installed in less than 4 minutes. Interestingly, the R44 is the biggest component of both installations and it is over twice the size of the other two offerings in the FS9 version. The DVD includes the FSX Service Packs 1 and 2 as well as a neat video from Just Flight demonstrating the White-Waltham airfield that is available from them for purchase and provides a grass airstrip with the same countryside feel as the Denham aerodrome.

I also went to the Just Flight website and found a 14.4 Mb service pack for the Duchess which I downloaded and installed as well.

Piper Archer III

This is a beautiful rendition of the airplane with excellent external modeling and a well rendered instrument panel. All of the gauges are clear and readable. Curiously, there is a GPS unit in the radio stack that is modeled after the simplified unit that was first installed in the airplane. Turning it on activates a self-test page followed by a 3 line information page. That is all this unit does- clicking on the display calls up the default FS GPS in a separate window. I have flown Archers and this one displays most of the good mannerisms of its full-sized cousins. However, be prepared to use a healthy amount of nose down elevator trim when adding flaps as there is a strong tendency to balloon which can start to ruin a perfectly fine landing approach.

Beech DuchessI have to say this is my favorite of the package and quite a sweet

airplane as well. It handles nicely, is very responsive to the control inputs and is extremely stable. I was particularly impressed by the instrument panel. When viewing the main instrument display clicking on the glare shield cowling summons a small block dubbed the Cockpit Navigator in the windshield that allows you to select 11 sub panels to open for additional instruments and switches. Everything functions as it should except the cockpit heater blower switch does not actually do anything-but it can be flicked on and off if you so desire. One oddity on the main instrument panel is what appear to be adhesive bandages on two sides of the attitude indicator and the ADF indicator. The only function I could surmise is that they are velcro pieces to hold cover devices for partial panel instrument training. Just Flight confirmed this and I suggested they consider adding clickable covers if another update is issued.

ARCHER AT DENHAMARCHER AT DENHAM

ARCHER 2DARCHER 2D

ARCHER VC

ARCHER VC

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Robinson R44

DUCHESS PARKING ANIMATION

DUCHESS PARKING ANIMATION

DUCHESS NIGHT COCKPITDUCHESS NIGHT COCKPIT

DUCHESS AT DENHAMDUCHESS AT DENHAM

DUCHESS VCDUCHESS VC

ROBINSON R44 READY FOR TAKEOFF

ROBINSON R44 READY FOR TAKEOFF

R44 AT DENHAMR44 AT DENHAM

DENHAM

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I have never been very good at flying the helicopters in FS. Unfortunately, this model is no exception. But that is not Just Flights fault, it is simply that I am a poor rotorcraft pilot who has not yet taken the time to learn to finesse the machine. The handbook provides excellent instruction for chopper pilots including a tutorial flight narrative to introduce the new pilot to the subtleties of the R44. I plan to use this flight model to try and make me a helo driver.

SoundsEach aircraft has its own unique soundset and all are quite good.

I could say more about this but it is not necessary. If I could find one complaint it is that the landing gear extension and retraction on the Duchess could not be heard from the cockpit necessitating calling up the appropriate sub panel to confirm that the lights were 3 green or extinguished. If that is how it is in the real version then kudos to the Beechcraft engineers for making it so quiet.

The HandbookI said earlier that the handbook was a most welcome addition

and this one is pretty well edited. The 84-page book is divided into 7 useful sections with a very brief 2 pages of introduction and installation instructions. There is even a section titled How to Access the Aircraft which, aside from a few extraneous question marks, should guarantee that at least THAT question does not show up in the Just Flight forums. (And just to be sure the same instructions are reproduced twice more in the handbook-once three pages later in the Archer section and again in the R44 section).

The remainder of the handbook details the panel layouts, click spots and instructions on how to operate the radios and GPS. This handbook should answer the vast majority of questions and is quite thorough.

ConclusionFlying Club 2 would be an excellent choice for

someone who is a new flight simulator user. It can be paired with both FS9 and FSX so if one has difficulty getting FSX to perform superbly (as in-fast frame rates) it can be used in FS9 with very little reduction in the fidelity of the models save, of course the loss of a detailed EGLD. The selection of aircraft is also a great combination for a new pilot. The Archer is a bit heavier and faster than an entry level Cessna 152 or Piper Tomahawk and the Duchess and R44 cannot be beat for their suitability as introductions to multi-engine and rotor winged aircraft respectively.

The Flying Club 2 package is delivered with a purchase price of US$45.00 and with the additional bonus of the FSX Denham aerodrome that amounts to an economical way to enhance ones stable of aircraft.

Just Flight seems to have hit on a formula that works well for them (if the original FC had not been profitable one doubts they would have gone to the trouble of issuing FC2) and for us. It is not inconceivable that the series could continue- the various permutations of aircraft and scenery provide

practically an unlimited combination- and perhaps they could be persuaded to expand the airport offerings to areas beyond England.

While it is always difficult (at least for me) to attempt to predict developments in flight simulation consider the possibility that the concept could be expanded to make it truly a flying club. Perhaps a way could be found to restrict a pilot from flying the clubs twin engine planes until a certain number of hours have been logged in the singles. Or deny a pilot the opportunity to solo in a helicopter until getting a sign off from a club instructor. Im just spitballing here but there does seem to be some latitude for experimenting with the concept.

Until such a time as crazy ideas like these take hold we will have the type of flight club packages that Just Flight and others prepare for us - a compilation of aircraft and airport with no real underlying theme but as long as they are of the same high quality as FC2, future versions will certainly be welcomed.

Flying Club 2 is available from the Just Flight website and PC Aviator. 4

Denham AerodromeThe Denham airport (EGLD) is located a very few miles north of

London Heathrow and features two runways- the asphalt 6/24 and an intersecting grass runway 12/30. As stated earlier this feature is only present in the FSX version. The FS9 depiction shows the runways but lacks the added detail of hangars, vehicles, parked airplanes and people-both static and animated. The handbook offers a few suggestions on the optimum setup of the scenery control sliders to achieve full detail or better performance and there are options to enable/disable many of the effects to further customize the experience. While I am a big fan of accurate airports in FS I dont spend a lot of time sitting in the airplane while its parked or viewing the area from the external views so frankly, much of the bells and whistles of the aerodrome are lost on me but it does make it better than arriving in a ghost town and is a nice addition to the package.

EGLD has the added feature of seasonal texturing. When the FS calendar is set for December and January there will be

Computer Pilot 2010-0203

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