Software Reviews

White Knuckle Crop Dusting Fun: Piper PA-36 Pawnee Brave 375 for FSX/Prepar3D.  You drop in low over the field of neat rows of soybeans waiting patiently. A crosswind is threatening to take you off course. Pulling your eyes up from the instrument panel, you take a deep breath and remind yourself to trust your instincts. This isn't like flying a jumbo jet into a giant airport. This is crop dusting, one of the last frontiers of seat-of-the-pants flying. The low passes and sharp turns demand exacting flying skills. Many jumbo jet pilots can’t handle it.

It’s bonanza time for flight simulation fans--there has never been so many different products to play with!  The new Microsoft Flight, X-Plane 10, Prepar3D…

Wait. Prepar..what?

PMDG’s 747-400 add-on may be the best-titled add-on in Microsoft Flight Simulator history! The reason? Well, the 747-400 truly was the “Queen of the Skies,” and PMDG has captured her majesty.

X-Plane has been considered by many to be the number one alternative to Microsoft Flight Simulator, which boasts a market share of over 90%.  Now, Flight Simulator has made its final landing and retired, handing the yoke to the new Microsoft Flight. Can X-Plane 10 take advantage of the shift in the marketplace and capture the crown?

When Microsoft removed the Concorde SSTSIM from the Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft line-up, fans cried out, “Where For Art Thou, Concorde? We Miss Thee So!”

This PC Train Simulator software is the successor of Railworks 2, released well ahead before 2012, available as a Deluxe Pack, which can only be purchased as a downloadable at Steam.com.  (Owners of Railworks 2 must be aware that Train Simulator 2012 will automatically install itself over their old version).

This PC Train Simulator software was original called Railsimulator, then changed into Railworks and nowadays called RailWorks2.  The CD-box version comes with impressive documentation with Quick Install, Driver manual, Keyboard & Signal Guide and even a Creator Manual to create your own add-on’s.  To install you need first to register for an (free) account with Steam.com. Steam will then take care of a smooth  installation of the game, all updates available and free add-on’s.

Just Flight, in partnership with the geniuses at Commercial Level Simulations have brought to us a beautiful add on for Microsoft Flight Simulator X.  Airbus’ long haul A-340 has been duplicated in many of its earlier versions in freeware.  Quality add-ons are available up to the –300 series.  Just Flight and CLS have brought to market for the first time, a high quality simulation for the latest versions of the airplane, the –500 and –600 series of Airbus’ major competitor to Boeing’s top selling and long lived 747 series.

Ship Simulator 2006 is available as a boxed version and by download. The reviewed boxed version comes on a single CD-ROM which installs without any problem with Windows XP SP3, on a Packard Bell desktop, Pentium Dual CPU 2.20GHz, 4Gb RAM, NVIDIA geForce 9300 GE. The program needs a 650MB of which a 359Mb is needed for the Tutorials. A product key and username is required, but after that, the CD is not required anymore to play.

With Captain Sim leading the market in terms of visual realism, who can wait to open that beautifully plastic wrapped package? I know as the days went on I became more desperate to get hold of the 727... my obsession was not thwarted as when I did get this aircraft, I continued to have a blast with it as I do now! The brilliance in detail, and the old jet smell is fantastic... consider so realistic that you can even smell the fumes coming from the old P&W JT8D-7! The 727 was the workhorse for many airlines worldwide, and continues to serve various freighter company’s and of course the infamous Donald Trump! So without further adieu I introduce you to the Boeing 727 Pro pack... enjoy!

Bristol International Airport was the 9th busiest airport in the UK in 2009, handling over 5.5 million passengers. The airport is currently doing scheduled flights to Newark in the US with Continental Airlines, but as of 7th November 2010, these flights will stop. Recently, the airport has been rebranded ‘Bristol Airport’, gaining a new logo and a new slogan ‘Amazing Journeys Start Here’. The largest aircraft that can currently be accommodated at Bristol Airport – due to runway length – is a 767, which Thomson Airlines currently use on flights in and out of Bristol Airport.

I’ve owned a wide variety of software for both FS9 and FSX. I’ve seen the vast variation in the “not so real” category and the “I can’t believe it’s not a real airplane” category... all jokes aside this product so very well fits into the highest category of realism! The MD-11 has been in development for over four years as the major FS9 to FSX transition was made. PMDG has always put their best foot forward in every single product they make. Along with Flight One, and Captain Sim, Aerosoft to mention a few.

Hello my Name is William. I am currently a student pilot starting my climb to a career in the Aerospace industry. Ever since I was a toddler I was fascinated with aviation. I one day plan to go into space at least once. I would also like to fly very large aircraft. I was asked to review the Airbus A400 created by Wilco publishing so without further waiting I give you the A400 REVIEW!  The most unique thing about the A400 is the Virtual cockpit. It is absolutely HUGE! With the Cockpit the crew rest area behind the cockpit door the main stairway and behind that is the HUGE cargo/pax hold. Here are a few pictures of the various compartments of the A400 VC.

Your probably asking what the he'll is phpVMS and why do I want to know what it is? Well if so let me break it down for you, phpvms is a content management system specifically designed for virtual airlines. It is an extremely helpful system and I wouldn't recommend any payware cms over it.

One of our newest members of the team, William Nonya has written a detailed review of the new Super 80 Professional from Flight1.  The review starts... Hello my name is William I am currently a student pilot working my way up the aviation ladder to get to the left seat in a large airliner. I also wish to fly as commander on one of the moon missions.  These are all of course opportunity I tend to take. With all that said my interest in aviation as you can tell is quite strong. I have flown a piper archer, Cessna 172, Cessna 182, I have completed my solo and continue to advance my aeronautical knowledge.  Click on Read More to read the full review.

One of our forum members, TomTheTank has accepted the offer to review Around the World in 80 Flights by First Class Simulations.  This is only the second review by one of our forum members.  The review starts: I first flew FS98 and was hooked.  With each new Flight simulator release,I became a flight sim addict.  FS2004 was at first a huge dissapointment.  Click here to read the full review and check out the screenshots.

One of our forum members, cheekytrolly has recently reviewed a copy of Project Canarias 2006 and posted it on our forums - I decided to post it on the home page for all to see.  The review goes: I recently downloaded the payware scenery for “La Reunion Island” by Francesim, and have to say, it combines everything I could have ever wanted from a flight simulator scenic package.   Click on Read More for the full review.

One of our most loyal forum members, TomTheTank accepted the offer to review one of JustFlight's latest releases, 737 Pilot in Command. This is the first review written by a forum member, we usually write all of our reviews in-house. Review starts: A quick bit about me and my flightsim history; I bought MSFS98 and was instantly hooked. With each release of MSFS things just got better and better, visuals and sounds... Click here or Read More to read the full review and high quality screenshots of this stunning package from JustFlight.  Click here to purchase 737 Pilot in Command.

One of our forum members, cheekytrolly has recently reviewed a copy of Project Canarias 2006 and posted it on our forums - I decided to post it on the home page for all to see.  The review goes: Well I know it has been a month already since this freeware scenery package was released, but after no one else wrote a review of Project Canarias, I decided that it was time I tested it out for myself!  Click on Read More for the full review.

OSS is a scenery design group that develop add-ons for the Microsoft Flight Simulator Range.  OSS's previous scenery package, London City 2003 boasted some great scenery add-ons, lots of little details that makes their packages special - as is their latest release, London Gatwick 2004!  Developed over many months using the latest in GMAX technology, and lovingly hand textured,  OSS are sure you will get many hours of enjoyment from flying in this ultra realistic scenery environment.  Click here to read the full review of London Gatwick 2004.

To celebrate one hundred years of powered flight, and the release of the new Microsoft flight simulator, Lago released their all new add-on for flight sim 2004. The Roaring Thirties, includes two brilliantly detailed aircraft.  The highly desirable Beech Staggerwing, and the incredible Stinson Gullwing are two masterpieces, both brilliantly modelled- the screenshots in this review speak for themselves! Both aircraft are available with many different paint schemes, and are equipped with stunning virtual cockpits, which are fully interactive. It is getting to be a habit now.. Lago always stick to their high quality standards, examples of this in FS Falcon, Tornado! & the Roaring Thirties.  Click here to read Stuart Johnston's review of Roaring Thirties.

Here’s a review on Lago’s previous scenery project, the great GeoRender5! I have never had the slightest interest in scenery for the flight sim. I believe that scenery available is not really worth the money. After buying one area of scenery, you fly around it, very pretty, but after a few flights, you begin to get bored of it. Eventually you just get sick and tired of it, and place it up on your old dusty shelf. The shelf of no return.  Lago’s GeoRender5 is completely different, and has earned my seal of approval, which many of you know by now, is not easily obtained. GeoRender5 sits proudly on my top five of recent add-ons. So lets take a look, to see what makes GeoRender5 stand out from the crowd.  Click here to read Stuart Johnston's complete review of GeoRender5.