computer pilot 2007-12

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2007USA $7.95

CANADA $9.95AUSTRALIA $9.85 (INC. GST)

A PC AVIATOR PUBLICATION

A Dream A Dream Come TrueCome True Fighter Pilot for a Day Fighter Pilot for a Day

GOOGLE EARTH GOOGLE EARTH FLIGHT SIMULATORFLIGHT SIMULATOR The Future of Virtual Aviation? The Future of Virtual Aviation?

VFR FLYING IN THE VFR FLYING IN THE WATER WONDERLANDWATER WONDERLAND Part III of the Airborne Adventure! Part III of the Airborne Adventure!

ISLAND ISLAND IN THE SKYIN THE SKY Recreating the Classic Movie... Recreating the Classic Movie...

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Your Flight Simulator Scenery World Is Now

COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AT WWW.MEGASCENERY.COM

Say goodbye to boring default scenery forever! MegaSceneryX transforms your Microsoft Flight Simulator X Scenery World from artificial to REAL! MegaSceneryX is created from high resolution aerial photos. What you get is not just a recreation of the real world but instead the actual real world ported into Microsoft Flight Simulator X for simulated flight over a world thats so real youll be amazed!

MegaSceneryX lets you experience all the landmarks and features of the area covered and enables you to fly real VFR Day and Night.

Heres what you get when youre flying MegaSceneryX.

Hyper-realistic scenery at 1.19 meters per pixel recreated from 1 and 2 feet per pixel aerial photos. Its the real world teleported into Flight Simulator Scenery. 1.19 meters meters per pixel means that you can even see the rooftop on your own house and sand traps on golf courses. Fly VFR like youve never flown it before on a PC simulator.

Day and Night Scenery. Soar and explore the real world - during the day and at night!

Hi-resolution DEM (mesh). While MegaScenery is so realistic that you dont need hi-res mesh - our recent releases incorporate hi-res mesh at 10 meters per pixel.

Faster Framerates! Yes, your Flight Simulator, with hyper-realistic MegaScenery, will run smoother and faster than the default artificial scenery.

Developed specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator X

Printed full color aeronautical charts, bound printed instrument charts and a sizeable manual

A total value packed, realism transforming scenery product For Microsoft Flight Simulator X that you wouldnt think was possible for such a low price!

NEAR PALM SPRINGS. MT SAN JACINTO RENDERED IN DOWN-TO-THE ROCK DETAIL.

MAKE HAWAII YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATIONAND SOAR ABOVE THE ISLAND OF OAHU.

HYPER-REA

L AERIAL PHOTO

SCENERY FOR MICROSOFT

2007 PC Aviator Inc. Aerosoft Australia Pty Ltd. Aerial photography for these products is AirphotoUSA


5MEGASCENERYX SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA18,000 square miles of SoCal including Los Angeles and San Diego and

surrounding area. Includes Color Los Angeles and San Diego Visual Terminal Charts and 230 Instrument Charts.

$39.95 DVD Media.

MEGASCENERYX DALLAS/FORT WORTH8,000 square miles of Dallas/Fort Worth & Surrounding Area. Includes Dallas/

Fort Worth Visual Terminal Charts and 110 Instrument Charts.$29.95 DVD Media.

MEGASCENERYX PHOENIX7,000 square miles of Phoenix Arizona and Surrounding Area. Includes

Phoenix Visual Terminal Charts and 100 Instrument Charts.$29.95 DVD Media.

MEGASCENERYX HAWAIIThe Hawaiian island of Oahu, spectacularly recreated.

$14.95 CD Media..

FS2004 TITLES ARE STILL AVAILABLE. PLEASE VISIT WWW.MEGASCENERY.COM FOR DETAILS

MEGASCENERY XTITLES AVAILABLE

Hyper-Real!

EXP:

FLIGHT SIMULATOR X MEGASCENERY TITLESMEGASCENERYX SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - $39.95 DVD MediaMEGASCENERYX DALLAS/FORT WORTH - $29.95 DVD MediaMEGASCENERYX PHOENIX - $29.95 DVD MediaMEGASCENERYX HAWAII - $14.95 CD Media

CALCULATING SHIPPING CHARGES: For shipping please add $3.95 for first title and 50 cents for each additional title.e.g. 3 titles add $4.95 for shipping. Shipping is by Priority Mail.

SUBTOTAL: Less 5% for Computer Pilot Subscribers: ...........................

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MEGASCENERY MAIL ORDER FORM


NEW RELEASE PRODUCTSThe latest flight simulator products in stock!

*Denotes special price for current Computer Pilot Magazine subscribers and reflects a 5% discount off the regular retail price.

SimPlates XElectronic Charts You Can Use For Most Flight Simulators!

This latest edition features over 30,000 Real World IFR Plates - far more plates and at a higher quality than ever before! Compatible with: Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002, and earlier, X-Plane, ELITE, and ASA On Top. Simplates friendly interface makes it easy to find exactly the plate or information you are looking for quickly, print it out, and have it ready for your virtual flight. Yes, SimPlates are meant to be printed, not viewed on screen. Remember, SimPlates are ACTUAL IFR PLATES! However, pilots, please avoid all temptation and DO NOT USE THEM FOR REAL WORLD FLIGHT!

Price: US$44.95 // AUD$69.95*SUB Price: US$42.70 // AUD$66.45

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Flight Simulator X: AccelerationThe Official Expansion Pack!

Flight Simulator X: Acceleration adds a wealth of new content and features, allowing gamers to race against each other in amazing, highly-detailed locations around the world. Aviators are able to test their skills and heroism in many new missions while enjoying three exciting new aircraft and the ability to share rewards, photos and videos with friends and the broader flight simulator community.

Test your flight skills in the 20 new missions, like being a NASA test pilot, performing search and rescue on an ocean liner, or navigating a whiteout blizzard in the backcountry., Included are six new scenery maps and three new aircraft - the F/A-18A Hornet, EH-101 Helicopter and P-51D Mustang!


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Flight Deck 5The Best Flight Deck Package Yet!

In the tradition of four previous versions, the new Flight Deck 5 keeps the excitement in aircraft carrier operations.

The USS Gerald R Ford is your new base where youll perform launch and recovery until youre blue in the face. The powerful catapult gets you airborne in just a few hundred feet. And during recovery, youll want your tailhook to catch the steel cable to bring your muscular aircraft to a screeching halt.

From the flight deck of the new USS Gerald R Ford, youll fly these 7 exciting aircraft: F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet, E-2C Hawkeye, S-3B Viking, SH-60 Seahawk, C-2A Greyhound, and the EA-6B Prowler!

A must-have add-on for any modern combat jet fan!


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Flight Tales 110 Thrilling Missions For Flight Sim X

Mayday, mayday! Double engine failure! - Captain, two green, one red, left main gear stuck! - Hang on, this is going to be a tough one!...

Take part in the Flight Tales 1, discover a lot of exciting flying opportunities, challenge your flight skills and earn lots of rewards. The default missions that are included in FSX are only a introduction to what missions could do, when you see these you know that the mission engine is capable of a lot more!

Features: 10 missions with different skill levels; many additional objects and details; detailed briefings; many rewards you can earn.

Flight Tales 1 is easy to install, but dont think the missions will be a piece of cake!


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NEW RELEASE PRODUCTSThe latest flight simulator titles in stock!


Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital EditionExperience Surround Graphics!

Bridge the gap between virtual reality and reality. Matrox TripleHead2Go is a small, black box that adds three monitors to your system and delivers the most immersive flight sim experience ever by offering a wider field of view. This panoramic view of the sim fully engages your peripheral vision on the side displays with the main point of focus on the center display for a more realistic flight experience.

TripleHead2Go Digital Edition delivers the ultimate surround graphics experience!


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Airbus Series Volume 2The Add-on That Delivers Even More Airbus Flavor!

Whatever your skill level, this Airbus Series is definitely for you! This package includes the following Airbus aircraft: A330-200, A330-300, A340-300, A340-600 and a bonus A330-300 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport).

Adjustable difficulty levels, from Beginner to Advanced level. Detailed interiors (economy/business class) with superb details, including seats, screens, catering, and a luxury interior for the Corporate Jetliner (ACJ). Numerous international liveries and Airbus house livery. Simulation tested and validated by active Airbus Captain and instructor. Ultra realistic FMGS. High development quality ensured by feelThere.com team and Rob Young.


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FSFlyingSchoolFly Like The Pros With Microsoft Flight Simulator

With FSFlyingSchool, youll never have to fly alone again! Imagine your personal instructor evaluating every aspect of your flying technique and scoring each phase of flight with information you can use to fly better

Imagine a comprehensive log book recording the good and bad points of each flight. Imagine competing with the rest of the Web to prove your flying skills are the best of the best. A team of Flight Instructors who talk to you, giving you immediate, detailed advice on your flying technique. Unique scoring system rates all phases of flight: taxi, take off, cruise, approach, landing and much more.

Focuses on airmanship and recording your achievements. Track your progress as you improve - take satisfaction from doing difficult things correctly.


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RealAir SF260The Multi-Award Winning SIAI-Marchetti SF260 - Now On CD!

This is the FSX/FS2004 version of the multi-award winning SIAI-Marchetti SF260, featuring a VC created from the ground up to take advantage of the new features made possible by FSX. It includes an improved version of our popular Smooth Gauge Technology, an improved flight model with the ability to accurately spin and side-slip, plus much more.

The challenge when designing this aircraft was not only to create an aerobatic, lively and highly entertaining machine, but to also make sure this SF260 was completely smooth, controllable and able to cruise superbly well. You will find the controls very responsive, but at the same time allowing a very fine degree of control to be applied to all stages of flight.


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SCHEDULED ARRIVALS...Titles just arrived or due for release shortly!


ProFlight Emulator DeluxeA Classic Returns For FSX And FS2004!

Pro Flight Emulator Deluxe brings back the all time favourite Flight Simulator ATC program for FS2004 and FSX. Namely Pro Flight 2000. Picking up on this great program and adding new features to it makes it a perfect stand alone tool for an exciting ATC adventure within Microsoft Flight Simulator. Offline Air Traffic Control has never been this realistic!

PFE Deluxe includes everything needed to enjoy ProFlight 2000 including a full working copy of the original ProFlight 2000 program.

PFE basically uses the flight plan data generated by ProFlight 2000 and the original localized voice sets too. For the user, it will be just like running a ProFlight 2000 adventure but with the most recent Flight Simulator version.


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Mega Airport London Heathrow One of the Worlds Busiest Airports, Now Available In Ultra-Detail!

There is no doubt this product is one of the most detailed and precise major airport scenery projects ever undertaken (still with excellent frames), but as Simwings have shown in the past, it is not only these technical details that make a great scenery, it is also the fact that they make an airport come to life in the simulator. If you like big airports this is one you simply cant miss! Features include: Airport layout based on official 2008 maps; New T5 buildings, accurate taxiway layout; Hundreds of taxiway signs and RWY details; AI-Traffic compatible. Docking guidance systems; Dynamic scenery. High resolution ground and object textures, and much more! Mega Airport London Heathrow is a must-have scenery add-on for anyone flying in and around the UK and Europe!


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Rescue Pilot Mission PackNow You Can Be The Hero!

You are a pilot of an air rescue medical service based in the UK and have to respond to emergency calls to your home base. You might need to airlift a injured person from a car accident, pick up a stranded mountaineer, provide a high-speed courier service for a vital organ transplant - and more besides! Your duties will always be a challenge!

You will be called to display your piloting skills to the maximum in a variety of fixed wing and rotary aircraft but Rescue Pilot also offers you a choice of settings to match your skill levels.

The 12 authentic missions - with realistic ATC and convincing scenarios - create a great atmosphere to fly in, along with a custom set of rescue aircraft liveries.


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Mega Airport BrusselsUltra-Detailed Brussels Airport Scenery

Mega Airport Brussels, the hub of the capital of the EU, now for Microsoft FSX and FS2004. Developed by the Design-Team, DreamFactory, this scenery represents an absolute realistic recreation of the complete real airport.

Completely designed in Gmax Dynamic and animated objectsHigh resolution day- and night texturesAI compatibleDocking systemsAll important buildings created with the aid of real photographs of the airportTaxiways, apron with realistic rendered texturesComplete apron markings

BEST SELLERSThe best selling flight simulation products now available...


Cessna Citation X The Business Jet Every Flight Simmer Wants To Fly!

No business jet gets you to your destination faster than the Citation X. This amazing software brings highly sophisticated Jet Set flavour into your preferred simulator!

Once onboard, whichever your piloting knowledge level is, you will be astonished by its elegantly furnished cabin while comfortably flying at nearly supersonic speed over the oceans. Jump back in the Pilot seat and you will be amazed by all latest aeronautical technologies embedded in the cockpit. Some of these dont even exist in the simulation world yet.

Special animations and features, combined with high quality graphics and detailed systems simulation make this the business jet add-on of the year!


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FS Global X 2008Hi-Resolution Terrain Mesh For The Entire Earth On 6 DVD Discs!

FS Global 2008 is a new product. It uses the NEWEST SRTM data (released by NASA in late 2006). Resolution in some parts has been improved to 19m. This is 4 times better than FS Global 2005 and up to 63 times better than FS itself!

FS Global 2008 comes in two versions in one box. One version is for FS 2004 and one for FSX. The new scenery concepts in FSX provide a more detailed and realistic far-distance view, textures adapt better to the mesh, the FSX default scenery is more precise and causes less (optical) conflicts. This results in some of the best looking mountain detail ever seen in the simulator!

A highly recommended product offering excellent value for money!

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Deluxe EditionLatest Generation Flight Simulator With Added Deluxe Edition Bonuses!

Flight Simulator X is the culmination of nearly 25 years of the landmark Flight Simulator franchise and the most significant addition to date. Flight Simulator X presents players with a wide array of new aircraft to fly in a beautifully rich and believable world which contains greater detail than past entries in the franchise. Players will be able to experience what it is like to be a pilot and have real distractions, to shade their eyes from the glare of reflective paint and the glint from glass and chrome. Players will enjoy the opportunity to fly their dream aircraft, from classic seaplanes like the de Havilland Beaver and Grumman Goose to the Cessna 172 there is a plane for every terrain and every player.


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MegaSceneryX: Southern CaliforniaThe Most Amazing Scenery Youll Ever Fly!

At 18,000 square miles this new title for Flight Simulator X displays scenery at 1.19 meters per pixel - 16 times the resolution of Flight Simulator 2004. MegaSceneryX for FSX is now hyper-real and FINALLY gives you the scenery world youve dreamed of flying on your PC.... that is, a scenery world that is pretty much as real as real life itself!

Famous Places Covered: Los Angeles; San Diego; Palm Springs; San Gabriel;San Bernadino; Santa Ana Mountains; Big Bear, Arrowhead and Salton lakes; And everything else in between! 50 Instrument Equipped Airports & Numerous Non Instrument Major Airports 2 Scenery Products in One - Day and Night gives you 36,000 sq miles of unique scenery!


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NEW AVIATION DVDs!Quality aviation DVDs that Take You There!



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Just Planes DVD: Oasis B747-400Hong Kong Airlines

In the cockpit of the B747-400 you will fly the airlines maiden route from Hong Kong to London and back.After a company presentation by the CEO, Flight Ops and Ground Ops Managers youll descend from the mountain to CLK Airport in the cable car for some amazing views of the Airport. We then meet the crew who brief us on the flight are ready for takeoff in the cockpit of the 747-400.

Both Captains give a very extensive presentation of the aircraft, the route, the operation and many other details pertaining to the airline and last, but certainly not least, we take to the sky for the first ever air to air footage of a 747 over the English coast!

Running Time: 200 minutes


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Just Planes DVD: Alaska AirlinesA Tribute To The 737-200

Climb on board in the cockpit for a series of flights from Anchorage to Bethel, Dillingham, King Salmon, the remove island of Adak and a special charter to Red Dog Mine.

You will follow the pilots at work as they prepare and operate the aircraft. They give you continuous briefings about the flights, their duties and some very interesting stories theyve experienced!

A bonus DVD The Spirit of the 737-200 is included in this package at no additional charge!



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Just Planes DVD: Blue Panorama737-400 / 757-200 / 767-300

Blue Panorama operates routes throughout the world with a fleet of Boeing 737, 757 and 767s.

The long haul route, on the B767-300, will take you from Bologna and Rome to La Romana with specific focus on the oceanic crossing (70mins).

The medium haul route, on the B757-200, will take you from Bologna to Marsa Alam with cockpit presentations, walkaround and more (90mins).

The short haul route, on the B737-400, will take you from Bologna to Rome via Bari (20mins).



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Just Planes DVD: Virgin BlueBack In Production!

The Just Planes Virgin Blue DVD has been given a second life! A new production run of this best selling titles means you can get this popular DVD right now!

The program takes you on some of its major routes from Brisbane to Melbourne, to Sydney as well as to the Gold Coast and Tasmania aboard variations of the airlines Boeing 737 fleet.

The DVD offers some excellent footage from all parts of the aircraft as you journey to some of Australias most inhabited cities. You get the birdseye view! Also included on the DVD is an interview with the Director of Flight Operations.

Running Time: 93 Minutes

UTILITIES & PERIPHERALSGet the most from the sim experience with these quality products



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CH Products Pro Pedals USBComplete Your Flight Control Setup And Master Those Crosswind Landings!

Your ailerons are only half of the picture. Complete your authentic flight control set-up with CH Pro Pedals USB, the ultimate choice in realistic rudder pedals! CH ProPedals give you realistic fully articulating (back/forth) rudder motion and also pivot on the toes for differential toe brakes (just like a real aircraft) where supported by the simulator and hardware interface*. CH ProPedals USB also feature smooth gliding motion for precision rudder control input. With your feet sitting on a set of CH Pro Pedals youll be able to master crosswind landings, make properly balanced turns and control your aircraft during taxiing, the way it is done in real life

CH Products Flight Sim Yoke USBOur Best-Selling Flight Controller!

The CH Flight Sim Yoke USB gives you a flight yoke thats as close as you can get to the real thing without spending the many hundreds of dollars that you would on high end yokes. Now you can control your aircraft like a real pilot would with left hand on the yoke and right hand controlling your throttle, prop and mixture and managing the rest of your cockpit.

20 function buttons on your yoke support such functions as electric trim, views, gear, flaps and more!

Fully compatible with Flight Simulator X, 2004, X-Plane and other sims


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GoFlight GF-TQ6 Throttle ControlSix Axis Throttle Control!

The GF-TQ6 is designed as a stand-alone unit for the desktop and as a rack-mounted GoFlight module. The unit is shipped in the default version as a twin-engine jet throttle console. It contains (4) jet throttle levers (4) thrust reverser levers, a spoiler lever, and a flap handle. It also includes a full prop handle set including 2 throttles, 2 prop and 2 mixture for multi-engine prop flying. It is fully compatible with most flight simulators that use standard windows interfaces, like X-Plane, Flight Simulator 2002, 2004 and Flight Simulator X, and many others. It is powered by a USB connection and can be rack mounted with other GoFlight modules in a GoFlight rack system. A high quality unit that will please hard core flight simulator pilots!

TrackIR 4 ProfessionalThe Ultimate Head Tracking Accessory For Flight Simulation And Gaming, Allowing You To Realistically Pan Your View With Head Movements!

Imagine controlling your field of view in flight simulators, first person shooters, racing sims and many other types of games by simply looking around!

The trackIR uses infrared light to track your head movements in much the same way as ultra-expensive targeting systems used by the military. As you move your head, the trackIR sends a real-time stream of instructions to your computer via USB to move the mouse pointer or pan your view in game play. Compatible with many sims and games including Microsoft Flight Simulator, Lock On etc.

PC AVIATORS DOWNLOAD STOREInstant access to quality flight sim downloads!

Welcome to... PC Aviators Download Store!Buy... Download... Fly!

Our download store is now open and was established to provide you with the option to download a number of software titles and electronic products. Products are available by instant download upon successful completion of your credit card, debit card or Paypal payment.

Plus, we offer an exclusive CD-backup service, so if the product download you want is not available in a boxed version, we will put it on a CD for you (at a small additional charge) to save you the download!


WWW.PCAVIATOR.COM/DLSTORE

Piper Cherokee 180FCherokee 180F For FSX/FS2004

Four different textures with maximum details and realistic textures!

Interactive virtual cockpitFull moving parts: Ailerons, elevators, rudders, flaps, rolling wheels Lights: Navigation lights, beacons, landing lights Full dynamic effects (shines over the body and panel, nightlights) Realistic textures and original Piper paint design Custom panel and gauges. - Realistic light effects on gauges - Full checklist and reference text about the Flight Dynamics Realistic performance based on Pipers documents and experimented Pipers pilot observations Real weight and balance PDF document with more information is added to the model.

Price: US$17.00FiLeSiZe: 28Mb

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FS Dreamscapes California 10m MeshHigh Res Terrain For California

Imagine your dream to fly low level through canyons with walls so close that your wingtips only just fit. Imagine flying at low level by the seat of your pants, the adrenaline pumping as you snake and wind your way through canyons and vistas you never thought possible in a simulator. Imagine your local landscape rendered at the highest possible resolution available for the terrain, looking every bit as true to life as it does right outside your window. The 10m Mesh+ Terrain is based upon the 10 meter National Elevation Dataset (NED) produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The terrain is based upon the most current available data. This terrain is 3 times more detailed than the default FSX terrain mesh. No longer are canyons 30m wide, now you can experience true seat of the pants flying through canyons and valleys as close as 10m between walls. It makes for great flying in any aircraft!


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F-14 Tomcat v1.5The F-14 Tomcat for FSX/FS2004

The real treat for Tomcat fans in this aircraft is not just the cosmetic details, but also the inner workings of the product. Utilizing XML code in the 3DS Max model and having the talents of Rob Barendregt on board, IRIS have been able to provide you with what has been popularly deemed as the first successful modeling of a switchable wingsweep system. The wingsweep system in this F-14 can be selected by the user to work in automatic or manual mode with separate control of the flaps.

As usual, the Tomcat features a plethora of loadouts, textures and animations such as exits, boarding ladders, intake ramps, exhaust nozzles, flaps, slats, spoilers and more. Also included are a great number of effects, which are sure to please the eye. IRIS has also had the privilege to employ the sound genius of Christoffer Petersen who has provided some excellent sounds for the Tomcat.


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PC AVIATORS DOWNLOAD STOREInstant access to quality flight sim downloads!

Island Scenery - St Maarten-St BarthStunning Island Photo-Scenery For St Maarten/St Barth

The scenery covers the St-Marteen and St-Barthelemy islands with photorealistic textures, including a full and specific autogen coverage. The 3 airports include detailed building and a realistic AI traffic based on real aircraft and liveries.

Full photoscenery coverage for all the islandTextures made from high quality aerial photography Customized autogen (houses and trees) for the whole sceneryCustom and very high resolution mesh for the whole region (LOD11)Watercoast faithfully represented and optimized with coast flattening 3 Detailed airports included with night texturesMany standard and customized 3D objects


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T-6A Texan IIFly The T-6A Texan II Military Trainer With FSX Or FS2004

The IRIS Pro Series T-6/A Texan II has been designed from the ground up based on the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) Student Guide CNATRA P-872 & P873 (Rev 03-04). The two documents (approximately 400 pages each!) contain a wealth of information relating to the T-6/A Texan II, its systems and operating procedures. The avionics are taken straight from the pages of the systems guide and as such are faithful to the real aircraft and T-6 pilots have already commented on the visual accuracy of the instruments. This product includes over 15 liveries including US Air Force, US Navy with Vance, Pensacola, Randolph, Patuxent River and Laughlin Air Foce Bases and Naval Air Stations.


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Phantom FG.1Royal Air Force & Royal Navy F-4 Phantom FG.1 For FSX!

The Phantom features enhanced XML coding to accurately replicate the inner workings of the aircraft. Items of note are working auxillery intake doors on the upper and lower fuselage, pilots that disappear when the engines shut down, plus intake covers and other ancillary items that appear when you shut down the aircraft. Other features include working switches, radios, levers and other effects and silky smooth gauge refresh rates on most systems. Also included is a 2D panel which comes with a VFR view for flying fast down low, and an IFR panel popup with enlarged instruments for ease of use when navigating from place to place! Tour the world with the IRIS Phantom! An awesome looking aircraft to have in your FSX hangar!


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Aircraft Collection6 High Quality General Aviation Aircraft For FS2004

The Aircraft Collection pack from the team at FranceVFR contains the following aircraft:Beechcraft Twin Bonanza, APM20 Lionceau, De Havilland Twin Otter,Socata Rallye, Socata TB9/10/20, Stampe & Vertongen.

Aircraft Features:Detailed 2D and virtual 3D cockpit Numerous variations (engines, floats, skis) etc Numerous liveries Detailed visual documentation for every instruments of each panel Detailed checklist (French) for each aircraft Additional liveries available for free from the FranceVFR websiteAll available via the one download!


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Hi! And welcome to the December issue.

And so the sun sets on another Volume of Computer Pilot magazine! But dont worry, the sun will be rising in 2008 with another new issue in January. And it wont be just any issue it will be the magazines 100th published issue! This is definitely a great milestone in the magazines history, and in the history of flight simulation coverage. No other dedicated flight simulation print magazine has ever reached that goal as far as I know (please correct me if I am wrong), so it is indeed a cause for celebration.

I can still remember the day I took over as Editor of the publication, taking the reigns from Robert Ferraro, magazine founder, original Editor, and still the current publisher. It seems just like yesterday. But the next thought takes me straight back to the many all-nighters spent in front of the PC sifting through, reading, editing and collating all the articles that appear in every issue to meet the tight deadlines. There was enough stress there to sink the Titanic! But it has all been worthwhile, and we have never missed a monthly issue since converting from bi-monthly to monthly magazine issues back with Volume 7 Issue 1 some four years ago now.

Today the magazine retains much of its early flavor with content covering a broad spectrum of simulation and aviation topics. Some columns have hung around, some have come and gone, and others have been re-introduced, but perhaps the biggest achievement we can lay claim to is having been a text and graphical archive of the development of flight simulation from 1996 (when the first issue was published) until the present day. A lot has changed in this time!

So for those who have been involved in flight simulation for as long as we have, think back and remember what we had then, and what we have to play with now Lets leave it at that shall we.

Enjoy the 99th issue of Computer Pilot, and I look forward to presenting the 100th issue in January, 2008. By the way, what would you call a 100th anniversary? Weddings only go to the 60th I believe (diamond anniversary). A centenary issue perhaps?

Dean BielanowskiEditor

From the EDITOR

Publications Mail Agreement #: 40720082Customer #: 7056038Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:PC Aviator, inc., PO Box 15907, Surfside Beach, SC 29587, U.S.A.

Computer Pilot Volume 11 Issue 12, December 2007 (ISSN 1324-7336) is published monthly by PC Aviator, inc., 839 Surfside Drive, SC 29575.Periodicals postage is paid at Myrtle Beach, SC and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 15907, Surfside Beach, SC 29587.

V11

I12

Publisher: Robert Ferraro

Editor: Dean Bielanowski

Layout & Design: Tony Liatos

Contributors In This Issue: Dean Bielanowski, Harold Zimmer, David Smith, John Achor, Gene Davis, Bill Smith, David Wilson-Okamura, Doug Horton, Tom Kurtz, Chuck Bodeen, Gwynn Perrett, Jonathan Stern, John Shankland, Rick Bryan.

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Disclaimer: Any information, advice, maps, charts, tables and other information published in this magazine is exclusively for use with PC fl ight simulations. The publisher does not accept any liability for any accident or incident arising from any information conveyed or implied in this publication.

Copyright: Copyright 2007 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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CGwyn Perrett gets the opportunity of a lifetime as he becomes a Fighter Pilot for the Day aboard a Chinese Nangchang fighter!70. THE ART OF INSTRUMENT FLYING - THE INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM APPROACHBy now, youve learned the skills necessary to navigate from VOR to VOR. The instrument landing system, or ILS, approach is the approach of choice when the ceiling or visibility is low. Unlike the VOR approach, the ILS provides an electronic glideslope, and the lateral precision is four times that of the VOR.76. VOR TO VOR NAVIGATION TRAININGIn this article, John Shankland will explain how to navigate through the virtual skies using VORs. He will use real sectional charts to show you how to create flight plans.REGULAR COLUMNS: 17. INBOXYour letters to us.

38. PULLOUT POSTER Singapore 747

42. FREEWARE FRENZYThe best freeware, found and reviewed!

53. VIRTUAL AVIATORThe search for great sim websites continues...

58. VFR FLYING IN THE WATER WONDERLAND - PART IIIWe landed at Gogebic County Airport (aka Ironwood, KIWD) when we finished the last flight. So that is where we are starting from today. Tom Kurtz completes his tour of Michigan.

66. FIGHTER PILOT FOR A DAY

Island in the Sky was released in 1953 by Warner Brothers in black and white, and was based on the book of the same name by Ernest K. Gann. Join Harold Zimmer as he recreates these classic movie flying tales in Flight Simulator!

18. FLYING WITH THE QUETZALS: GUATEMALACentral America is noted for its spectacular geography and especially its rugged mountain chains, which make for hair-raising bus journeys and, as we discovered, equally perilous flying.

24. SPICE UP YOUR SIM!The catalyst to develop these ideas began with the comments of a newspaper columnist. This is not an exact quote, however, referring to Microsoft Flight Simulator, he said: The flight sim is good, but what do you do after you takeoff and land? It needs a gun so you can shoot at something. I offered the reviewer a number of suggestions, but never got a response. Guess thats his loss. Even without a gun, Ive found a lot to do beyond landings and takeoffs.

34. GOOGLE EARTH - THE FLIGHT SIMULATOR!What a surprise to open Google Earth and see that it now comes with the beginnings of what could easily become a fantastic flight simulator. Chuck Bodeen reports.

45. DR BETZY WONG, FLIGHT SIM THERAPIST - SESSION IIIMy desperate need of advice on the operation of ATC communications eventually won out over my sworn commitment to never again meet up with Betzy Wong. I had not phoned for an appointment before arriving at her office. This was a deliberate tactic devised to add authenticity to my cover story that our home telephone had been disconnected due to my familys reduced financial circumstances.

8. NEWS AND NEW RELEASESAll the latest news and new releases since our last issue.

REVIEWS28. PC Aviators MegaSceneryX: Southern California48. Just Planes Blue Panorama DVD54. Aerosofts Flight Tales 1

12. ISLAND IN THE SKY


8 NEWS & NEW FLIGHT SIM RELEASES

CARENADO is well-known for producing quality light aircraft models for Flight Simulator. Their latest offering is the Mooney M20J for Flight Simulator 2004. A Flight Simulator X version will follow later according to the group, however, there will not be an update path for purchasers of the FS2004 model.

This aircraft has superior textures (internal and external) than any other Carenado aircraft. The 3D model has a better relationship between details and polygons; aircraft curves are softer improving the quality of the visual model. FPS was not harmed.

Standard model includes:

Interactive virtual cockpit Full moving parts: Ailerons, elevators,

rudders, fl aps and trim tab, Animated Cowl Flaps RAM air operative - Rolling wheels Opening doors Animated Sun Visor

FS2004 lights: Navigation lights, beacons, landing lights Full dynamic effects (shines over the body and panel, nightlights) Dynamic shine and refl ections

Custom Mooneys Sounds Transparent windows 3D modeled full pilots animation and cockpit area Real Propeller

Many details: pitot pressure chamber, antennas, chocks, fuel caps, pitot tube cover, Control Lock, Baggage Area etc.

THE FIRST OZFLIGHTSIM EXPO held on the Gold Coast in October has proved to be a great success. Despite a few teething issues here and there (to be expected), the expo ran surprisingly smoothly, and being situated on the world-famous Gold Coast, the backdrop and facilities close by were excellent. The expo drew sizeable crowds for an inaugural event and the exhibitors put on a very professional display of the latest fl ight sim technologies, products and experiences currently available. Everyone that attended was very impressed by how the expo was organized, presented and run. The offi cial expo website offered an interesting tidbit of statistics to come from the two-day weekend event:

Custom panel and gauges Built-in Zoom Gauges and digital readout features Realistic light effects on gauges window refl ections Nightlight effects on panel Yoke Toggle yoke at VC

Panel Manager Extra Keypad Normal Checklist Emergency Checklist Performance information.

Realistic performance based on Mooneys documents and experimented Mooneys pilot observations and our own experience on real fl ight and MFS

Similar behavior compared with the actual airplane Real weight and balance - PDF document with information is added to the model.

The M20J for FS2004 retails for USD$22.95 and is available now via download/purchase from the Carenado website www.carenado.com

Carenado Release FS2004 Mooney 201 M20J

The Oz Flight Sim Expo gets results! Commercial businesses at the Oz Flight Sim Expo 2007 generated A$3.1 Million dollars worth of sales. 1200 people attended the event, and over 4.5 million people from around the World tuned into the live broadcast from the Expo on Sky Blue Radio. If you have a fl ight simulation product or service, the Oz Flight Sim Expo is the only way to get your product or service noticed!The success of this years expo has ensured it will now be an annual event on the Australian fl ight sim community calendar. Planning for the 2008 event is already underway and it should be even bigger and better than this years event. It just proves that fl ight simulation is alive and well downunder!

OzFlightSim Expo a Big Success!


NEWS & NEW FLIGHT SIM RELEASES 9

RESCUE PILOT MISSION PACK is the fi rst of a series of releases from publisher Just Flight designed to help virtual pilots enjoy the challenging world made possible by the all-new mission system in Flight Simulator X. You are a pilot of an air rescue medical service based in the UK and have to respond to emergency calls to your home base. You might need to airlift a injured person from a car accident, pick up a stranded mountaineer, provide a high-speed courier service for a vital organ transplant - and more besides! Your duties will always be a challenge!

You will be called to display your piloting skills to the maximum in a variety of fi xed wing and rotary aircraft but Rescue Pilot also offers you a choice of settings to match your skill levels. The twelve authentic missions - with realistic ATC and convincing scenarios - create a great atmosphere to fl y in, along with a custom set of rescue aircraft liveries.

You will be fl ying missions in a variety of both fi xed wing and rotary aircraft. All the

PUT THOSE SHOTGUN ROUNDS AWAY! We dont want you going out shooting real cats! The cats we are talking about are the catapults on the deck of the USS Gerald R Ford, which you will be shooting with Abacus Publishings new release, Flight Deck 5! The Flight Deck series has been a top selling add-on for the company, and one of the only series of add-ons to allow simulated carrier operations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. From the fl ight deck of the new USS Gerald R Ford, youll fl y these 7 exciting aircraft:

F/A-18C HornetTM F/A-18E Super HornetTM E-2C Hawkeye S-3B Viking SH-60 Seahawk C-2A Greyhound EA-6B Prowler

The new features in this release include: FSX - moving carrier - youll takeoff and

land from a moving surface FSX - super-accurate launch and recovery

using 3WireX technology

Just Flight Announce Rescue Pilot Mission Packaircraft are supplied in authentic custom rescue liveries with three base paint schemes to choose from, and a paint tool lets you create additional liveries. The aircraft include:

Helicopter: Bell 206 Jet Ranger Single-engined propeller aircraft: C172 Multi-engined propeller aircraft: King Air Multi-engined jet aircraft: Learjet

The missions include custom objects, sounds and effects. The mission settings (the environment of each mission) are custom built, with special effects such as fi re and explosions as well as new and animated objects. The aim is to give you the feeling of being there.

A single mission from the product can be downloaded free of charge from the Just Flight website so you can trial the product www.justfl ight.com

Rescue Pilot will be available soon for US$39.99 in download and boxed versions. Check your local sim retailers for boxed version availability.

Shoot the Cat! FSX - fi ve great missions and 60+ mini

training missions FSX - maverick missle Aircraft Carrier - fl y from the new USS

Gerald R Ford

Flight Deck 5 was offi cially released at the recent OzFlightSim Expo and publisher Arnie Lee had sold out of the small supply of boxes he had brought within the fi rst hour or two! Flight Deck has always been a popular

add-on for carrier operation fans, and it looks like Flight Deck 5 will successfully continue the legacy. Flight Deck 5 is compatible with both Flight Simulator X and FS2004, although some features and all missions will not work in FS2004. It is available now for US$29.95 from all good fl ight sim retailers.


10 NEWS & NEW FLIGHT SIM RELEASES

LEADING simulator hardware manufacturer, Flight Deck Solutions, have come to the rescue of A320 fl ight deck builders or A320 sim fans with a replica A320 MCDU hardware module. This USB module will allow life-like control of your Airbus aircrafts fl ight management system with tactile control and built-in LCD screen. The only details available at present are those listed on the offi cial product page.

These are as follows:PRO-M Series MCDU w/ Built In LCD Display. Take your setup to a new level of fi delity!

Features:

One piece Precision Machined Bezel (Body)

Individually Illuminated Switches PRO-M Level Tactile Feel Switching Plug and Play/USB. New Interface with

multiple setup options Built-In Composite LCD (Integrated

design, no assembly required!) Full Screen Visual (No large empty screen

areas!) LCD Mounting is Top Mounted (No gap) Up to Four Message Tags (Software

dependant)

GOFLIGHT, manufacturers of plug and play aircraft panel modules, have made available version 1.77 of their confi guration, setup and compatibility software (they call it Module Support software). This version supports all GoFlight modules and adds some long-awaited compatibility updates for specifi c, popular sim add-ons.This release (v1.77) includes the following updates:

Software support for the Project Magenta Boeing Glass Cockpit and MCP

when used with Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

Level-D support for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 has been updated

for compatibility with Level-D Service Pack 3.

Level-D for Flight Simulator X support has been added.

GF-MCP Pro Vertical Speed readout now

Bottom Located Power/USB Connections (Simplifi ed Mounting)

Fully Assembled, not a kit.

Realism like this does come at a cost of course. The unit retails for $995 Canadian Dollars, but it is perhaps one of the few A320 MCDU units available for fl ight sim

use, short of buying the real Airbus unit! Flight Deck solutions offers several other A320 specifi c parts on their website too, so it might be worth a look. Head on over to http://www.fl ightdecksolutions.com/ to check out the A320 MCDU hardware or other aircraft modules in their product line.

shows all digits when used with Level-D. Displays and indicators on all GoFlight

modules are now turned off when exiting Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Workaround for a GF-LGT v1.03 fi rmware

bug that causes gear indicators to display amber color. Brightness is

forced to full (level 15) to avoid the amber indicator output.

If you own any GoFlight modules, be sure to head to their website to grab the latest software version. Not only does it add new features, but the bugs are progressively ironed out with each new release as well.

You can fi nd the GoFlight site at www.gofl ightinc.com The direct download page for the software is at http://www.gofl ightinc.com/support.shtml

GoFlight Software V1.77 Now Available

Flight Deck Solutions offer A320 MCDU


NEWS & NEW FLIGHT SIM RELEASES 11


CPM. V11I1212 CPM. V11I12

4

I would wager that most of you simmers out there enjoy a good aviation related movie. Id like to give you the heads-up on an oldie, but a goodie. Island in the Sky was released in 1953 by Warner Brothers in black and white, and was based on the book of the same name by Ernest K. Gann. The fi lm is based on a true story of a fl ight back in February of 1943. Gann also served as technical director for the fi lm. William A. Wellman directed the movie, and was a veteran of aviation fi lm making, winning an Academy Award for an earlier aviation oriented fi lm called Wings back in 1928. Wellman also narrated some parts in the movie. When Island in the Sky was fi nished, it, along with the fi lm The High and the Mighty which was made in 1954, (another Wellman/Wayne project) was not released to the public for over twenty years due to legal reasons.

Although the movie is in Black and White (B&W), the cinematography was superb! Archie Stout handled the regular scenes of the movie, and William H. Clothier ran the cinematography of the fl ying scenes. Both of these men had been praised for the outstanding work they did with the fi lm, and you will easily see why! The fl ying scenes are absolutely awesome, with some breathtaking shots of the C-47s with snow capped mountains in the immediate background. I still think that some movies look great in B&W, as is the case with Island in the Sky. It brings the harshness of the cold north really to heart with the contrast between the snow, machines and the men.

This is a highly entertaining movie with an outstanding cast of actors and runs for 109 minutes. Topping the list of actors is John The Duke Wayne who co-produced the fi lm, Lloyd Nolan, James Arness (of Gunsmoke fame), Andy Devine (youre sure to recognize this character!) and Harry Carey Jr., who has appeared in many fi lms with John Wayne.

Island in the SkyRecreating the Movie

BY HAROLD FARMBOYZIM ZIMMER


13

THATLL BE HARD TO START! THATLL BE HARD TO START!

THE MAN HIMSELF, JOHN WAYNE.THE MAN HIMSELF, JOHN WAYNE.

LETS SEE, IT SAYS TO GRIND THE COFFEE BEANS BY TURNING THIS CRANK. LETS SEE, IT SAYS TO GRIND THE COFFEE BEANS BY TURNING THIS CRANK.

DID ANYBODY BRING TOILET PAPER?DID ANYBODY BRING TOILET PAPER?

Back in World War II, the United States Government contracted civilian airline pilots to transport much needed supplies to our allies in Great Britain. These pilots were not active military personnel, but retained their civilian status. Their boss just happened to be the US Government. These guys had to be good, since fl ying the northern Arctic route demanded a high degree of skill. Island in the Sky is a movie where the saying When it rains, it pours really applies!

Now, I dont want to give the movie away by telling you too much, but I think I can give you a general idea of what transpired, just enough to get you hooked and want to see the fi lm for yourself. It is a fi lm where the outcome of some events that take place will surprise you.

Captain Dooley and his crews fi nd themselves somewhere near the coast of Labrador, in the middle of a snowstorm, with low visibility and severe icing. The only navigation aid that they had at that time was the good old ADF, or Automatic Direction Finder, which relied on a signal being sent and homed in on by the receiving aircraft in order to establish course and position. This is only the start of more trouble to come. Unable to get a good signal due to interference from the Northern Lights and other factors, they are unable to determine just where they are.

Icing on the aircraft is a major problem. One of the special effects of the movie shows just how severe icing can be, when the build up on the props and the aircraft itself starts to weigh the aircraft down and altitude is lost. Chunks are seen from an outside view of the aircraft as pieces of ice break off and slam against the fuselage of the plane, sounding like someone with a sledge hammer trying to beat their way into the aircraft. No amount of alcohol being pumped can keep the ice at bay, and Dooley and his crew fi nd themselves not only lost, but loosing altitude rapidly, with visibility so bad that the co-pilot has to stick his head out the window to look for a break in the clouds. Brrrr!

The crew fi nally gets site of the ground, but the terrain is not exactly user-friendly for an aircraft the size of a C-47, but they do fi nd a level stretch. It looked to me as if they actually fl ew the C-47 in for a landing in this tree and snow covered terrain. Some of the footage from outside of the aircraft as it comes in for the landing is absolutely fantastic for its time! As the plane descends for a landing, the co-pilot gives Dooley a rather concerned look as the Captain calls for Gear Down. Dooley wanted the option of taking off again I suppose. The entire crew crowded up front to watch as Dooley made his emergency landing. No strapping in, putting the head between the legs, kissing their butts goodbye for this crew!

John Waynes portrayal of Captain Dooley, experienced airline pilot with over 15,000 hours, is riveting. This is a role that is not really typical for John Wayne. Yes, he is the Duke out and out, but in this role he shows both strength and self-doubt. John Wayne does not display his usual tough cowboy persona in this role, and being a fan, this was riveting all unto itself. One of Captain Dooleys sayings was If you take care of your own neck, your crew and passengers would be safe as well. Makes sense to me!

Once down (Ill let you fi nd out for yourself how the landing went) the radioman tries to make contact so that another station or perhaps another aircraft might get a fi x on them. Since they cant get the engines to crank over because of the cold, the batteries weaken and fi nally go kaput, which leaves them with the emergency hand-cranked radio that only has a short transmitting range.


CPM. V11I1214AT LEAST WE CAN SEE THE GROUND!AT LEAST WE CAN SEE THE GROUND!WELL, SO MUCH FOR SEEING THE GROUND!WELL, SO MUCH FOR SEEING THE GROUND!HERE THEY COME!HERE THEY COME!

NOT MUCH CHANCE OF LANDING HERE!NOT MUCH CHANCE OF LANDING HERE!NO BLUE UP THERE!NO BLUE UP THERE! IT WOULD BE TOUGH LUCK TO LAND HERE! IT WOULD BE TOUGH LUCK TO LAND HERE!

THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD! THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD!SMILE!SMILE!

NOW THERES A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES!NOW THERES A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES!

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A CLEAR SPOT!KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A CLEAR SPOT!DOWN HERE!DOWN HERE! DANGEROUS TERRAIN. DANGEROUS TERRAIN.

MARSHMALLOWS! I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING!MARSHMALLOWS! I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING!

CAPT. DOOLEY AND COPILOT IN CAPT. DOOLEY AND COPILOT IN MAAM-SIMS C47MAAM-SIMS C47

THEY SAID THEY WERE NEAR A LAKE! WHICH ONE!THEY SAID THEY WERE NEAR A LAKE! WHICH ONE!


15WEATHER IS NOT LOOKING GOOD!WEATHER IS NOT LOOKING GOOD!LAKES TO THE RIGHT OF ME!LAKES TO THE RIGHT OF ME!GIVE ME FULL FLAPS!GIVE ME FULL FLAPS!

FELLOW PILOTS ON THE SEARCH.FELLOW PILOTS ON THE SEARCH.LAKES TO THE LEFT OF MELAKES TO THE LEFT OF MECROSS YOUR FINGERS, HERE WE GO!CROSS YOUR FINGERS, HERE WE GO!

LETS GO FIND THEM!LETS GO FIND THEM!IT SEEMS TO GO ON FOREVER!IT SEEMS TO GO ON FOREVER!ITS BEAUTIFUL HEREIF YOURE CAMPING!ITS BEAUTIFUL HEREIF YOURE CAMPING!

SHOTS FROM THE MOVIE, MAAMSIM C47, SHOTS FROM THE MOVIE, MAAMSIM C47, CENTER STAGE.CENTER STAGE.SHE LOOKS MENACINGSHE LOOKS MENACINGDEFINITELY SOME INCLEMENT WEATHERDEFINITELY SOME INCLEMENT WEATHER

GLAD I SAW THAT MOUNTAINSIDE!GLAD I SAW THAT MOUNTAINSIDE!MADE IT!MADE IT!GOING DOWN TO TRIM SOME TREES!GOING DOWN TO TRIM SOME TREES!



Short on food, water, and the cold taking its toll, the physical and mental limits of the crew are taken to the extremes. I got cold just watching these guys trying to survive! There are times in the movie when you might fi nd yourself frustrated, exasperated, and on the edge of your seat. These are ingredients for a top-notch movie. But theres more to the movie than just the downed crew. Flights of C-47s are organized for search parties, and the actors playing the parts of these pilots did a great job of displaying a sense of camaraderie and devotion that is shared among pilots, even to this day.

Two of my favorite characters, other than the Duke of course, are Andy Devine and James Arness who play pilots of two of the other C-47s that are involved with the search. Andy Devine does a fantastic job portraying Willie Moon, pilot, who likes to minimize any and all tasks. As an example of this, you will see Devine fl ying along and reach into his jacket, pulling out one of those grab-it gizmos on the end of a short rod. He uses this to reach up to tune the radio and make other adjustments to the aircrafts instruments. He also uses a clothes pin in a unique way as a cigarette holder clipped to the trim wheel. One other thing, Devine is a candy eating machine, and you will see why in the movie! James Arness gets my vote for the best way to deal with someone waking you up! He gives the innkeeper a toss out the window into a snowdrift. Yep, I can defi nitely relate!

There were many things that I enjoyed about this movie. Among them was the fact that the actors that were playing the parts of the pilots were evidently advised in the fl ight operations of the C-47, as can be seen by the occasional trim wheel adjustments, proper fl ap callouts, and use of alcohol to keep the icing at bay etc. I was rather impressed by all this. Adding realistic touches was not only utilized in the air operations but throughout the movie. You can see such things as the ice pick being used to crack the ice on the wash basin water fi rst thing in the morning! Once again, Brrrrr!

Sooo in my humble opinion, if you like aviation, John Wayne, and classic old movies, I think youll really enjoy this one. I would venture to guess that most of you C-47 jockeys out there have probably seen it already, but in case you havent, check it out! Itll motivate you to log some hours on the old Sky Train. About the only thing in the movie that I found was the least appealing was Andy Devine in a swim suit! Other than that, there really was not much not to like! Sure, there were some fl aws with the cosmetics of the aircraft, as Mark Beaumont, repainter at large over at Mid-Atlantic Air Museum Simulation (MAAMSIM) pointed out to me, such as parts of the plane changing in appearance from one shot to the next, or the fact that the United States Air Force did not, in fact, take part in World War II, as the livery on the C-47 in the movie suggests. It was the United States Army Air Force at the time. Sharp eyes like Marks will pick up on these things, but to be honest, they really do not detract from the movie at all. All who enjoy fl ying will enjoy this movie I would think, and if you are a John Wayne fan, you are in for a treat! The Duke performs this role in a very convincing manner, as does the rest of the cast.

Recreating the Adventure in Flight SimThe folks over at the Simulation branch of Mid-Atlantic Air

Museum (MAAMSIM) were kind enough to not only provide the beautiful and widely used model of the Douglas C-47, Mark went on to offer to do a custom paint job, just for this article, representing the aircraft that Capt. Dooley and his crew fl ew on. If you look close, you

can even see the Duke sitting in the pilots seat checking things out.Thanks to Bill Rambow (another member of MAAMSIM) and Mark Beaumont for a great and fun model to fl y and a beauty of a paint job. Let me add here that you should really check these folks out, for the proceeds that they receive from the sales of the C-47 go directly to the Mid Atlantic Air Museum for further maintenance and restoration of historic aircraft. Certainly a worthy cause most of us simmers can relate to. Youll fi nd theres quite a lot to see over at their site.

As far as freeware goes, theres that default C-47 sitting there already in your hangar, and if you do a search, there are loads of repaints for it as well. You will also fi nd some freeware models out there of the C-47 with some enhancements, such as one being equipped with the old Radio Range system, (dc3cv1.zip), which also happens to include a livery of the Virtual Airlines I belong to, DC-3 Airways.

The region I fl ew in for the screenshots for the article was in the northeastern part of the United States, and over into Quebec. I fl ew out of Goose Bay (CYYR), Newfoundland, and Presque Isle, Northern Maine Regional, (KPQI), in Maine, USA, for the majority of the shots you see here. This is a beautiful region to fl y in, but the default world in FS leaves a little to be desired. The great montage of shots from the movie and MAAM-SIMs C-47 sporting the Corsair livery was done by Mark Beaumont, as well as some still shots of the movie. A neat little utility I used for some of the shots was the Recorder Module 1.3 (recorder_1-3.zip) which enables you to literally fl y with yourself! Its pretty neat and easy to use. Basically, you record one of your fl ights, and then play it back as AI traffi c that you can fl y alongside of. Very cool!

I stumbled upon so many sceneries for this region that it would probably fi ll this magazine from cover to cover with whats available. One of my favorites though was some of the Quebec Short Hop Series of sceneries by Lon Louis. These depict small, bush type airfi elds situated out in the boonies and are really meant for the VFR-minded simmer. Not really meant for the C-47, but some of these are set in really beautiful areas and offer some pretty neat eye candy. Most of this stuff has been out there for some time, and is a credit to the devotion to the hobby of fl ight simming and fl ight sim development. Its not hard to get side tracked and fi nd some really neat freeware add-ons when one is looking for something in particular. Thats how I found these Quebec Short Hops sceneries. There are loads of terrain enhancements and land class enhancements as well. I popped Quebec into the search box over in the Avsim library and came up with 14 pages of various freeware, easy as that.

Theres a neat little package by Hugues Caron called am_radio.zip. If you want to fl y by the use of ADF, this fi le will place 37 Alaska, 2 Yukon, and 84 Quebec AM radio frequency stations in the stated regions for even more navaids to follow. This was easily installed and all who fl y in the sim should try, at least once, navigating by the use of ADF only. Its not as hard as you may think and really gives you a feeling of accomplishment when you are able to fi nd your way by using the old ways. It will also give you an appreciation of how these guys had to fi nd their way in some of the most adverse conditions on the globe.

I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did, and still do. Have a great fl ight, and dont forget the popcorn! 4


17

Write To Computer Pilot INBOXIf you have something you want to share with fellow fl ight simulator enthusiasts, then Computer Pilot INBOX is the place to be heard. Each issue, well choose the best letter as the letter of the month and reward that reader with a prize!The easiest and quickest way to submit your letters is by e-mail to: [email protected]

Jerry F. Jarembo

WINS 12 MONT

H COMPUTER PI

LOT

SUBSCRIPTION

/EXTENSION!

Subject: Apple Mac Pro compatibility with Windows and FSX

Dear Computer Pilot: To start right out, allow me to thank Computer Pilot for making one good magazine available for the flight sim community. I always look forward for the next issue to arrive in my mailbox full of beautiful graphics and interesting articles. Keep up the good work! In October, 2008 Ill be shopping for a new computer to run Microsoft FSX. Im already carefully considering all my purchase options and I would like to get your input on a couple of items. Recently, while surfing the internet, I found that the Apple Mac Pro computer with an Intel chip will run both Mac OS X and Windows operating systems. This should interest all flight simmers and Computer Pilot readers alike. Might you imagine the potential?

The following questions are probably obvious. Will the Mac run FSX on Windows Vista at a decent FPS either as good as or maybe even better than a windows PC machine (example: Dell) given comparable RAM, Video Card, etc? Would there be any known issues with the Mac operating under these circumstances? Have you heard anything else regarding this matter? Where would a flight simmer go for additional info, other than to the Apple manufacturer? Faithfully yours, Jerry F. Jarembo

[Jerry, thanks for your email and interesting questions! Firstly, I am no Mac expert. Never owned one, occasionally used one, but never a dual operating system type, so dont take any of the following as gospel! Firstly, if the system is running Windows Vista, I cant foresee any possible issues with running FSX on it. It should work the same as any PC running the same operating system and software. As for decent performance, this pretty much comes down to the hardware onboard. I had a look at the Mac Pro specs (at time of writing they may change) and the multi-core processor is definitely needed. There seems scope to put as much RAM as you want in there (at least 2Gb recommended for FSX) and you have

[John This error message usually means there is an incompatibility between the version of FSUIPC that you have, and the version of FS2004 you are running. Heres what to do. Firstly, make sure you have the version 9.1 patch for FS2004 downloaded and installed. You can get this from the Microsoft FS website. Next, make sure you have a later version of FSUIPC downloaded and installed (the one that is compatible with FS2004 with the 9.1 update patch installed). Once you have both these installed, you should find FS2004 starts up and gives no problems Ed].

a choice of three video card options. This is perhaps where the Mac Pro might have an issue. While the video cards on offer are good, they are perhaps not the best available for running FSX. What you really want as minimum is a GeForce 8800 GTS/GTX or higher graphics card. These cards really transform sim performance once installed, and I have had many readers email me saying the same. When paired with a dual or quad core system and plenty of memory, FSX really runs like it was designed to run. I noted the Mac Pro is also available with double quad-core processors. You might want to take a look at David Smiths article on this matter in the November 2007 issue where he discovered problems with running FSX and dual-Quad core systems. As for comparing the same PC running FSX and the same spec Mac running FSX under Windows, performance should be identical as far as I know. The only resource I can suggest is a web search on FSX Mac Pro and see what you come up with. This is an area we will need to look at more closely in a future issue though, because dual operating system Mac systems will no doubt grow in popularity! I hope I have offered some insight on the matter for you Ed].

Subject: FSUIPC Problem

Hi Ed,

Can you help me with this problem? When I load fS2004 into my computer the following message appears

The version of FS2004 is not compatible with this version of FSUIPC. It isbuild 9.00 40901. You need the correct version of FS2004.

Hope you can assist me thanks.

John Fowles Perth, Western Australia



Central America is noted for its spectacular geography and especially its rugged mountain chains, which make for hair-raising bus journeys and, as I discovered, equally perilous fl ying. I had long had a fascination with the native cultures of South and Central America and one destination I really wanted to visit was Tikal in the Republic of Guatemala. More than 2,500 years ago, a particular hill in the jungles of northern Guatemala was settled by a group of people who would go on to create one of the most remarkable civilizations ever seen on earth, the Mayans. Their civilization lasted from the 4th to 10th centuries and was fi nally vanquished by the Spaniards in 1697 but the remains of the complex and beautiful city of Tikal are still in place and I wanted to visit them and see for myself this high-point of Mayan civilzsation.

Firstly, a word about travel in Central and South America. Reliability is not exactly a watchword in these parts. Local buses travel lengthy journeys every day, seemingly without recourse to repairs. So breakdowns are common. The roads are mostly narrow and of variable quality and mountainous regions are littered with the carcasses of buses that didnt make it round the bend. Gringos have no rights at all and are usually relegated to the back seats where the overhang gives you views over the cliff edges that are either spectacular or terrifying depending on your frame of mind and faith in the local gods. Theres invariably a little statuette of the Virgin Mary on the dashboard God help you if her light bulb goes out!

Our bus took us through the high mountain passes on the highway from Puerto Barrios on the southern coast northwards to Guatemala City. We soon discovered that, although the road was barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass, the rule seemed to be that the fi rst driver to sound his klaxon had right of way. To emphasise the point you fl ash your lights furiously and accelerate. Braking in these situations is frowned upon! At night most drivers negotiate the road by following the tail lights of the bus or truck in front. This makes for absolutely terrifying views from the gringo seats down the back, and the chickens and piglets squawk and squeal as theyre fl ung around the fl oor of the bus. Its chaotic, its a cacophony of noise and its the essence of travel in Central America.

Flying with the Quetzals: GuatemalaBY DR DAVID SMITH

4


1919

So much for the buses, what would the aircraft be like in Guatemala? We were soon to fi nd out. We took a cab from Guatemala City to La Aurora airport (MGGT) and booked our fl ight to Tikal with Aviateca. There were several aircraft waiting on the apron, including a DC3 and a couple of Convair 240 airliners. These were pressurized and carried forty passengers. Tikal is about 190 miles north northeast of Guatemala City so with a cruising speed of around 280 mph the fl ight should take about 45 minutes. That was the plan.

The simulated flightHaving been virtual fl ying quite a bit recently in the amazing

MegaScenery packages developed by PC Aviator, I had high expectations for recreating a fl ight Id taken many years ago in Guatemala. As it turns out, my expectations were too high.

To fl y this trip in FSX I searched many websites for a Convair 240 but couldnt fi nd one, and so decided to use the ex-military DC3 to try and match the Aviateca mood. In my real fl ight wed gone directly to the small airfi eld at the ruins, Tikal Airport (TKM). In the simulated fl ight I decided to visit the island city of Flores to do some sightseeing in a helicopter, before fl ying the short hop of 23 nm to TKM. The international airport near Flores is Mundo Maya International (formerly Anacleto Maza Castellanos), at an elevation of just 427 feet MSL.

PUERTO BARRIOS

PUERTO BARRIOS

GUATEMALA RWY 01

GUATEMALA RWY 01

CLOUD BUILDING, MOUNTAINS AHEADCLOUD BUILDING, MOUNTAINS AHEAD

LIFTOFF OVER GUATEMALALIFTOFF OVER GUATEMALA

OVER 1ST NDBOVER 1ST NDB

UP FRONT IN THE DC3UP FRONT IN THE DC3



From the terminal, the island of Flores is just over one nm across Lago Petn Itz and I hoped to see interesting views of this city of about 16,000 people in the Petn department of Guatemala.

I was therefore very disappointed to discover that neither Flores nor Tikal itself is modelled in FSX. So the simulated fl ight to visit the Mayan ruins just didnt work out. However the real fl ight was an adventure in itself.

The real flightOur Convair was named the Tikal and we climbed up the steps and

took our seats. The door to the fl ight deck was open and I wandered up and took a photo. The door stayed open throughout the fl ight. My seat was a window seat, just behind the starboard wing. I watched as the ground crew fi lled the wing tank from a 44 gallon drum using a hand pump. The port engine started easily with the wonderful growl of a Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp radial and a cloud of smoke. The starboard engine was more reluctant to fi re up but after several failed attempts it too roared to life.

CONVAIR COCKPITCONVAIR COCKPITDEPARTING FLORESDEPARTING FLORES

STEEP CLIFFS - NO PLACE TO DITCH

STEEP CLIFFS - NO PLACE TO DITCH

ALMOST AT 11,000 FEETALMOST AT 11,000 FEET

RUGGED TERRAIN AND LAKESRUGGED TERRAIN AND LAKES


2121

We taxied down to the end of the runway and turned to line up for take-off. The runway is at 4952 feet and almost 10,000 feet long. As we roared down the runway fl ames belched from the exhaust of the starboard engine, which began to misfi re badly. My wife looked past me and asked Are those fl ames supposed to be there?

I didnt have time to answer. The pilot aborted the take-off and as we turned around to taxi back to the terminal, his voice came over the intercom in the laconic, unfussed tones typical of Central America: I think we gonna change planes!

And so we did. We swapped our plane for one called Nakun and it was in better condition, taking off without a hitch and fl ying steadily towards Flores and then Tikal.

As we approached the strip at Tikal (TKM) we fl ew low over the wreckage of a similar airliner that had crashed on take-off the previous year. This was one time we were very glad to get back on the ground!

The Mayan ruinsSet in the midst of dense jungle, the Mayan ruins at Tikal take your

breath away. Here is unmistakable evidence of a highly organized society that grew, fl ourished, then seemingly just disappeared. The pyramids are massive and the architecture stunning in its simplicity and elegance. Hieroglyphs adorn monuments and the illustrations on many of the altars hint at ritual sacrifi ce.

MAYAN RUINS EMERGING FROM THE JUNGLEMAYAN RUINS EMERGING FROM THE JUNGLE

THE ASTONISHING GREAT PLAZA AND CENTRAL ACROPOLIS

THE ASTONISHING GREAT PLAZA AND CENTRAL ACROPOLIS

THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE 1THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE 1

THE RELIABLE CONVAIR NAKUN

THE RELIABLE CONVAIR NAKUN

AVIATECA AIRCRAFT AT TIKALAVIATECA AIRCRAFT AT TIKAL



Heres a note from our travel diary:

Animal life abounds, monkeys (howler and spider), humming birds, woodpeckers (complete with red tuft) squirrels, toucans and myriads of carrier ants.

The Mayans built huge rock platforms for their city to be built on because the country is so hilly. The four reservoirs they built are still used by the native people. One has an alligator (imported) in it which killed a puma not long ago. At night the wild deer and other animals come down to drink. You do not have to make a special visit to the jungle you are in it!

The roads through Tikal are actually the original Mayan causeways. You can see the outlines of its walls through the jungle. There are still many pyramids not yet excavated its very tantalizing!

One feature we noted was the extraordinarily beautiful embroidery on the womens clothing. Their cotton dresses are pure white, with brightly coloured, almost psychedelic patterns woven into them. How they keep the dresses so white while walking on the earth of the jungle fl oor is amazing. Whereas the designs in South America and Mexico tended to be very linear, those in Guatemala were complex fl owing designs, often depicting their national emblem, the long-tailed quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno. These are a proud and artistic people and we enjoyed their friendliness and conversation in our halting Spanish.

The flight home to Guatemala CityOur stay at Tikal was over far too soon and we headed back to the

little shed that was the departure terminal. To my dismay I noticed that the only aircraft on the strip was a Convair called the Tikal, the very one that had suffered engine failure on take-off just a few days earlier. I fi gured that it had fl own out here successfully so it must have been properly repaired. I was wrong.

Once again I had a window seat looking over the starboard wing and once again the pilot had diffi culty starting the starboard engine. He eventually got it to idle but it wasnt happy and as we roared down the runway it again started misfi ring and belching a ten-foot streamer of fl ame from the exhaust. OK, were going to have to change planes again, I thought, but no, the pilot was committed and we limped into the air, once again passing over the wreckage of the earlier crash.

The pilot bravely tried to gain altitude but every time we inched beyond about 1000 feet AGL both engines, and especially the starboard one, began to misfi re alarmingly. He would bring it down a bit and the engines would smooth out, then hed try climbing and the misfi ring would start again. Basically we couldnt fl y properly above about 800 feet so we got a great and very unusual view of the terrain. This pattern was repeated all the way back to Guatemala City and after this fl ight we were extremely relieved to touch down safely!

Just a year later, in April 27 1977, a Convair 440 took off from La Aurora airport and, during the climb, suffered failure of the number one engine from oil exhaustion. According to Wikipedia, the crew tried unsuccessfully to feather the prop and attempted to land in rough terrain. They crashed, with all 6 crew and 22 passengers being killed. The Aviation Safety Network attributed the cause to faulty maintenance, with the high pressure oil hose to No 1 engine being incorrectly fi tted. This fatal crash made me ponder how close we might have been to becoming just such a statistic.

Flying in South and Central America has a fl avor all its own. Just like bus travel in these parts, it has its risks but the scenery can be stunning and makes the whole experience worthwhile. Each country has its own trove of historical treasures and these make each destination special and distinctive. You will have a wide range of sights and experiences and you will come back with some amazing stories. And as all travellers know, its the stories about things that go wrong that are the most fun to tell.

Hasta luego, y pronto tambien!

Dr David Smith runs imaginACTION pty ltd in Melbourne Australia, fi lming documentaries and DVDs on medical and environmental themes. He can be contacted via www.imaginACTION.net.au 4

ALTAR WITH BOU

ND FIGURE

ALTAR WITH BOU

ND FIGURE

MONUMENT WITH HIEROGLYPHSMONUMENT WITH HIEROGLYPHS


2323



When I sat down to write this article, I pulled together a batch of old notes. Some of them dated back to Microsoft Flight Simulator 95 (FS95). It reminded me that as much as times change, a great deal remains the same. What I will share with you here Ive used from that ancient sim version through all the later iterations. Some of the examples appeared on my computer in FS98, FS2000 (FS2K), FS2004 (FS9) and now FSX.

The catalyst to develop these ideas began with the comments of a newspaper columnist. This is not an exact quote, however, referring to Microsoft Flight Simulator, he said: The fl ight sim is good, but what do you do after you takeoff and land? It needs a gun so you can shoot at something. I offered the reviewer a number of suggestions, but never got a response. Guess thats his loss. Even without a gun, Ive found a lot to do beyond landings and takeoffs.

As we go along here, Ill talk about cross-country fl ying, fantasy fl ights and more. I am not talking about science fi ction, but rather turning your imagination loose.

Spice Up Your SimBY JOHN ACHOR

4


2525

Cross-Country FlightsYou can purchase aeronautical charts, but that runs the bill up. I

pulled out an old road atlas and went to work. Since the navigation aids (navaids) break lock at 70 to 75 nautical miles (nm) while fl ying at a fairly low altitude in the Cessna, pick cities that are no more than 150 nm apart. Now you need a listing of navaid frequencies. Here are a couple of books I dug out at nearby computer stores in those olden days: Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.1, The Offi cial Strategy Guide, by Nick Dargahi and put

computer pilot 2007-12

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