Computer Pilot 2007-12

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2007
USA $7.95
CANADA $9.95
AUSTRALIA $9.85 (INC. GST)
A PC AVIATOR PUBLICATION
A Dream Come True

Fighter Pilot for a Day
GOOGLE EARTH FLIGHT SIMULATOR
The Future of Virtual Aviation?
VFR FLYING IN THE WATER WONDERLAND
Part III of the Airborne Adventure!
ISLAND IN THE SKY
cpm1112a.indd 1
Recreating the Classic Movie...
11/19/2007 9:43:42 PM
cpm1112a.indd 2
CPM. V11I12
11/19/2007 9:43:49 PM
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11/19/2007 9:43:52 PM
Your Flight Simulator Scenery World Is Now
R
HYPE
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ROSOFT
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P HO
MAKE HAWAII YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION

AND SOAR ABOVE THE ISLAND OF OAHU.
ay 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.
NEAR PALM SPRINGS. MT SAN JACINTO RENDERED IN

DOWN-TO-THE ROCK DETAIL.
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.
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
Day and Night Scenery. Soar and explore the

real world - during the day and at night!
Printed full color aeronautical charts,

bound printed instrument charts and a
sizeable manual
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.
A total value packed, realism transforming

scenery product For Microsoft Flight
Simulator X that you wouldnt think was
possible for such a low price!
COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AT WWW.MEGASCENERY.COM
CPM. V11I12
2007 PC Aviator Inc. Aerosoft Australia Pty Ltd. Aerial photography for these products is AirphotoUSA
cpm1112a.indd 4
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Hyper-Real!
MEGASCENERY MAIL ORDER FORM

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Please Check ( ) Each Title You Wish To Purchase
OR X
FLIGHT SIMULAT
MEGASCENERY X
TITLES AVAILABLE
MEGASCENERY TITLES
MEGASCENERYX SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - $39.95 DVD Media
MEGASCENERYX DALLAS/FORT WORTH - $29.95 DVD Media
MEGASCENERYX PHOENIX - $29.95 DVD Media
MEGASCENERYX 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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Please note that these prices are in $USD. If you are ordering from our Australian office,
please call for pricing or visit www.pcaviator.com for Australian dollar pricing. If paying by
check or money order please make them payable to PC Aviator Inc
CREDIT CARD NUMBER:
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MEGASCENERYX SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
18,000 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 WORTH
8,000 square miles of Dallas/Fort Worth & Surrounding Area. Includes Dallas/
Fort Worth Visual Terminal Charts and 110 Instrument Charts.
$29.95 DVD Media.
MEGASCENERYX PHOENIX
7,000 square miles of Phoenix Arizona and Surrounding Area. Includes

Phoenix Visual Terminal Charts and 100 Instrument Charts.
$29.95 DVD Media.
SENDING YOUR ORDER: If you are ordering by mail,

please mail to... PC Aviator Inc. 839 Surfside Drive,
Surfside Beach, SC, 29575.
TO ORDER BY PHONE:
Please have your order details ready and
CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-664-0033
between 9am and 5pm Mon Fri. Outside North
America CALL +1-843-232-1160
TO ORDER BY FAX: Please fax to: 843-232-1166
TO ORDER ONLINE: WWW.MEGASCENERY.COM
MEGASCENERYX HAWAII
The Hawaiian island of Oahu, spectacularly recreated.

$14.95 CD Media..
FS2004 TITLES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.
PLEASE VISIT WWW.MEGASCENERY.COM FOR DETAILS
cpm1112a.indd 5
11/19/2007 9:44:03 PM
NEW RELEASE PRODUCTS
The latest flight simulator products in stock!
Flight Simulator X:
Acceleration
Flight Deck 5
The Best Flight Deck Package Yet!
The 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!
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!
CODE:
FSXACC
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$49.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$47.45
SimPlates X
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$44.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$42.70
Flight Tales 1
Electronic Charts You Can Use For

Most Flight Simulators!
10 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!...
This latest edition features over 30,000 Real World

IFR Plates - far more plates and at a higher quality
than ever before!
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!
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!
CODE:
SIMPLX
CODE:
FLTDECK5
Price:
US$44.95 // AUD$69.95
*SUB PRICE: US$42.70 // AUD$66.45
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!
CODE:
FT1MP
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$44.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$42.70
*Denotes special price for current Computer Pilot Magazine subscribers and reflects a 5% discount off the regular retail price.
NEW RELEASEThePRODUCTS
latest flight simulator titles in stock!
FSFlyingSchool
Airbus Series Volume 2
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
Whatever your skill level, this Airbus Series is

definitely for you!
Fly Like The Pros With Microsoft

Flight Simulator
The Add-on That Delivers Even More

Airbus Flavor!
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.
CODE:
FSFSCH
Price:
US$38.95 // AUD$59.95
*SUB PRICE: US$37.00 // AUD$56.95
RealAir SF260
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.
CODE:
WFABS2
Price:
US$42.95 // AUD$62.95
*SUB PRICE: US$40.80 // AUD$59.80
Matrox TripleHead2Go
Digital Edition
The Multi-Award Winning SIAI-Marchetti

SF260 - Now On CD!
Experience Surround Graphics!
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.
CODE:
RASF260
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).
Price:
US$44.95 // AUD$64.95
*SUB PRICE: US$42.70 // AUD$61.70
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!
CODE:
MTH2DG
Price:
US$329.00 // AUD$499.00
*SUB PRICE: US$312.55 // AUD$474.50
SCHEDULED ARRIVALS...
Titles just arrived or due for release shortly!
ProFlight Emulator
Deluxe
Rescue Pilot
Mission Pack
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!
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!
PFE Deluxe includes everything needed to enjoy ProFlight 2000 including a full
working copy of the original ProFlight 2000 program.
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.
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.
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.
A Classic Returns For FSX And FS2004!
CODE:
PFED
Now You Can Be The Hero!
Price:
US$44.95 // AUD$59.95
*SUB PRICE: US$42.70 // AUD$56.95
Mega Airport Brussels
One of the Worlds Busiest Airports,

Now Available In Ultra-Detail!
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.
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!
Completely designed in Gmax

Dynamic and animated objects
High resolution day- and night textures
AI compatible
Docking systems
All important buildings created with the aid of real photographs of
the airport
Taxiways, apron with realistic rendered textures
Complete apron markings
CODE:
MABRUS
Price:
US$39.95 // AUD$54.95
*SUB PRICE: US$37.95 // AUD$52.20
Mega Airport
London Heathrow
Ultra-Detailed Brussels Airport Scenery
CODE:
RESCPILMP
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 musthave scenery add-on for anyone flying in and around the UK and Europe!
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$42.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$40.80
CODE:
MAHTW
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$42.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$40.80
BEST
SELLERS
The best selling flight simulation products now available...
MegaSceneryX:
Southern California
FS Global X 2008
Hi-Resolution Terrain Mesh For The

Entire Earth On 6 DVD Discs!
The Most Amazing Scenery Youll Ever Fly!
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!
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!
CODE:
MSX-SOC
Price:
US$39.95 // AUD$59.95
*SUB PRICE: US$37.95 // AUD$56.95
Cessna Citation X
A highly recommended product offering excellent value for money!

CODE:
FSGLOB2008
Price:
US$64.95 // AUD$89.95
*SUB PRICE: US$61.70 // AUD$85.45
Microsoft Flight
Simulator X:
Deluxe Edition
The Business Jet Every Flight Simmer

Wants To Fly!
Latest Generation Flight Simulator

With Added Deluxe Edition Bonuses!
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!
CODE:
WFCITX
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!
Price:
US$44.95 // AUD$69.95
*SUB PRICE: US$42.70 // AUD$66.45
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.
CODE:
FSXDLX
Price:
US$69.95 // AUD$114.95
*SUB PRICE: US$66.45 // AUD$109.20
NEW AVIATION DVDs!
Quality aviation DVDs that Take You There!
Just Planes DVD:

Virgin Blue
Just Planes DVD:

Blue Panorama
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!
Blue Panorama operates routes throughout the

world with a fleet of Boeing 737, 757 and 767s.
Back In Production!
737-400 / 757-200 / 767-300
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 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 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.
The short haul route, on the B737-400, will take you from Bologna to Rome
via Bari (20mins).
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Running Time: 181 minutes
CODE:
DVDVIRGINBLUE
Price:
US$24.95 // AUD$38.95
*SUB PRICE: US$23.70 // AUD$37.00
CODE:
DVDBLUEPAN
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$47.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$45.55
Just Planes DVD:

Oasis B747-400
Just Planes DVD:

Alaska 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.
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.
Hong Kong Airlines
A Tribute To The 737-200
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!
CODE:
DVDOASIS
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!
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$44.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$42.70
CODE:
DVDALASKA
Price:
US$29.95 // AUD$44.95
*SUB PRICE: US$28.45 // AUD$42.70
UTILITIES & PERIPHERALS
Get the most from the sim experience with these quality products
CH Products Flight
Sim Yoke USB
CH Products Pro
Pedals USB
Our 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
CODE:
CHFSYOKEUSB
Price:
US$129.95 // AUD$259.95
*SUB PRICE: US$123.45 // AUD$246.95
GoFlight GF-TQ6
Throttle Control
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
CODE:
CHPROPEDUSB
Price:
US$129.95 // AUD$239.95
*SUB PRICE: US$123.45 // AUD$227.95
TrackIR 4
Professional
Six 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!
CODE:
GF-TQ6
Complete Your Flight Control

Setup And Master Those
Crosswind Landings!
Price:
US$399.95 // AUD$614.95
*SUB PRICE: US$379.95 // AUD$584.20
The 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.
CODE:
TRKIR4PRO
Price:
US$179.95 // AUD$254.95
*SUB PRICE: US$170.95 // AUD$242.20
PC AVIATORSInstant
DOWNLOAD
STORE
access to quality flight sim downloads!
Welcome to...
PC Aviators Download Store!
Piper Cherokee 180F

Cherokee 180F For FSX/FS2004
Buy... Download... Fly!
Four different textures with maximum details

and realistic textures!
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!
SKU:
DL-CH180
WWW.PCAVIATOR.COM/DLSTORE
F-14 Tomcat v1.5
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.
Price:
FILESIZE:
Price:
US$17.00
FILESIZE:
28Mb
FS Dreamscapes
California 10m Mesh
The F-14 Tomcat for FSX/FS2004
SKU:
DL-F14
Interactive virtual cockpit

Full 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.
US$29.95
236Mb
High 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!
SKU:
DL-TM+CA
Price:
FILESIZE:
US$10.95
629Mb
PC AVIATORSInstant
DOWNLOAD
STORE
access to quality flight sim downloads!
T-6A Texan II
Phantom FG.1
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 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.
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.
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!
Fly The T-6A Texan II Military

Trainer With FSX Or FS2004
Royal Air Force & Royal Navy F-4

Phantom FG.1 For FSX!
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.
SKU:
DL-T6TII
SKU:
DL-PHFG1X
Price:
US$39.99
FILESIZE:
86Mb
Aircraft Collection
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 website
All available via the one download!
Price:
FILESIZE:
Price:
US$29.95
FILESIZE:
74Mb
Island Scenery St Maarten-St Barth
6 High Quality General Aviation

Aircraft For FS2004
SKU:
DL-FVFRAC
An awesome looking aircraft to have in your FSX hangar!
US$30.99
119Mb
Stunning 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 island

Textures made from high quality aerial photography
Customized autogen (houses and trees) for the whole scenery
Custom and very high resolution mesh for the whole region (LOD11)
Watercoast faithfully represented and optimized with coast flattening
3 Detailed airports included with night textures
Many standard and customized 3D objects
SKU:
DL-FVFRSTM
Price:
US$21.99
FILESIZE:
57Mb
From the EDITOR

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?
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.
Subscription Managers: Australia: Adrian Lazzarotto
USA: Mark Jakubowski
Editorial Submissions: Please address editorial matter

to The Editor at editor@computerpilot.com or to the office
closest to you listed at the bottom of this page.
Dean Bielanowski
Editor
Advertising Inquiries: PC Aviator Inc.

Phone: 843-232-1160. Email: advertising@computerpilot.com
Website: www.computerpilot.com
Supplement
your reading in Computer Pilot Magazine
by visiting the Computer Pilot web site at www.computerpilot.com

As well as features for first time visitors, the web site is
designed with our readers in mind.
For subscribers
Renew your subscriptions on-line
Notify us of address changes
Join our electronic mailinglist SubscriberNews
General services include:
Direct links to web sites mentioned in our on-line article
Free monthly desktop calendar wallpapers featuring both quality
flight sim screenshots and real world aviation photographs!
On-line competitions
Computer Pilot Interactive
Much more
Bookmark our web site and visit it frequently.

It will enhance your reading of Computer Pilot Magazine.
General E-Mail: info@computerpilot.com
US Distribution: Ingram Periodicals, International

Periodical Distributors, Media Solutions
Printed By: The RL Bryan Company (USA).
Disclaimer: Any information, advice, maps, charts, tables

and other information published in this magazine is exclusively
for use with PC flight 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.
Cover Price: USA.: $7.95. Australia: $9.85*. Canada: $9.95.

Subscriptions:
Computer Pilot is published monthly
Australian Annual Subscription: AUD$79.95
Phone: 1-800-807-747
US Annual Subscription: USD$39.95
Phone: 1-800-664-0033
Other International Subscriptions
Asia/Pacific Region: Ph: +61-3-9532-8258
Rest Of The World: Ph: +1-843-232-1160
or visit www.computerpilot.com
ISSN: 1324-7336
Published by: PC Aviator The Flight Simulation Company
V11I12
http://www.computerpilot.com
Publications Mail Agreement #: 40720082
Customer #: 7056038
Return 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.
cpm1112a.indd 6
Australian Office: The PC Aviator Pty Ltd

Suite 6, 219 Balaclava Rd
North Caulfield, Vic, 3161
Ph: 03-9532-8258 Fax: 03-9532-8916
U.S. Office: PC Aviator Inc
839 Surfside Drive
Surfside Beach, SC, 29575
Ph: 843-232-1160 Fax: 843-232-1166
* Recommended Retail Price only
Computer Pilot is an international magazine, proudly

published in Australia. Printed in the United States
of America.
11/20/2007 2:54:13 PM
C
8. NEWS AND NEW RELEASES
All the latest news and new releases since our last issue.
REVIEWS
28. PC Aviators MegaSceneryX: Southern California

48. Just Planes Blue Panorama DVD
54. Aerosofts Flight Tales 1
12. ISLAND IN THE SKY
58. VFR FLYING IN THE WATER WONDERLAND

- PART III
We 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: GUATEMALA
Central 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 III
My 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.
cpm1112a.indd 7
Gwyn 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 APPROACH
By 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 TRAINING
In 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. INBOX
Your letters to us.
38. PULLOUT POSTER

Singapore 747
42. FREEWARE FRENZY
The best freeware, found and reviewed!
53. VIRTUAL AVIATOR
The search for great sim websites continues...
11/20/2007 2:54:20 PM
NEWS & NEW FLIGHT SIM RELEASES
Carenado Release FS2004 Mooney 201 M20J

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.
Custom panel and gauges Built-in Zoom

Gauges and digital readout features
Realistic light effects on gauges window
reflections 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 flight 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
Standard model includes:

Interactive virtual cockpit
Full moving parts: Ailerons, elevators,
rudders, flaps 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
reflections
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.
OzFlightSim Expo a Big Success!

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 flight sim technologies, products and
experiences currently available. Everyone
that attended was very impressed by how
the expo was organized, presented and
run. The official expo website offered an
interesting tidbit of statistics to come from
the two-day weekend event:
cpm1112a.indd 8
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 flight 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
flight 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 flight
simulation is alive and well downunder!
11/20/2007 2:54:27 PM
Just Flight Announce Rescue Pilot Mission Pack

RESCUE PILOT MISSION PACK
is the first 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
fixed 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 fly in, along with a custom
set of rescue aircraft liveries.
You will be flying missions in a variety of
both fixed wing and rotary aircraft. All the
aircraft 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 fire 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.justflight.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!

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 flight deck of the new USS Gerald
R Ford, youll fly these 7 exciting aircraft:
FSX - five great missions and 60+ mini

training missions
FSX - maverick missle
Aircraft Carrier - fly from the new USS
Gerald R Ford
Flight Deck 5 was officially released at the

recent OzFlightSim Expo and publisher
Arnie Lee had sold out of the small supply of
boxes he had brought within the first 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 flight sim retailers.
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
cpm1112a.indd 9
11/20/2007 8:25:25 PM
10
Flight Deck Solutions offer A320 MCDU

LEADING simulator hardware
manufacturer, Flight Deck Solutions, have
come to the rescue of A320 flight 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 flight management system
with tactile control and built-in LCD screen.
The only details available at present are
those listed on the official product page.
Bottom Located Power/USB Connections

(Simplified 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 flight sim
use, short of buying the real Airbus unit!

Flight Deck solutions offers several other
A320 specific parts on their website too,
so it might be worth a look. Head on over
to http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/
to check out the A320 MCDU hardware or
other aircraft modules in their product line.
These are as follows:

PRO-M Series MCDU w/ Built In
LCD Display.
Take your setup to a new level of fidelity!
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 Software V1.77 Now Available

GOFLIGHT, manufacturers of plug and
play aircraft panel modules, have made
available version 1.77 of their configuration,
setup and compatibility software (they call
it Module Support software). This version
supports all GoFlight modules and adds
some long-awaited compatibility updates for
specific, popular sim add-ons.
This release (v1.77) includes the following
updates:
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 firmware
bug that causes gear indicators
to display amber color. Brightness is
forced to full (level 15) to
avoid the amber indicator output.
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
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.
cpm1112a.indd 10
You can find the GoFlight site at

www.goflightinc.com
The direct download page for the software
is at http://www.goflightinc.com/support.
shtml
11/20/2007 2:54:32 PM
cpm1112a.indd 11
11
11/20/2007 2:54:35 PM
Island in the Sky

Recreating the Movie
BY HAROLD FARMBOYZIM ZIMMER
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 film
is based on a true story of a flight back in February
of 1943. Gann also served as technical director for
the film. William A. Wellman directed the movie, and
was a veteran of aviation film making, winning an
Academy Award for an earlier aviation oriented film
called Wings back in 1928. Wellman also narrated
some parts in the movie. When Island in the Sky
was finished, it, along with the film 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.
12
cpm1112a.indd 12
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
flying scenes. Both of these men had been praised for the outstanding
work they did with the film, and you will easily see why! The flying
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 film, Lloyd Nolan,
James Arness (of Gunsmoke fame), Andy Devine (youre sure to
recognize this character!) and Harry Carey Jr., who has appeared in
many films with John Wayne.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:54:37 PM
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 flying
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
film for yourself. It is a film where the outcome of some events
that take place will surprise you.
THATLL BE HARD TO START!
Captain Dooley and his crews find 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 find 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 finally 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
find a level stretch. It looked to me as if they actually flew 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!
THE MAN HIMSELF, JOHN WAYNE.
LETS SEE, IT SAYS TO GRIND THE COFFEE BEANS BY TURNING THIS CRANK.
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 find out for yourself how the
landing went) the radioman tries to make contact so that
another station or perhaps another aircraft might get a fix
on them. Since they cant get the engines to crank over
because of the cold, the batteries weaken and finally go
kaput, which leaves them with the emergency handcranked radio that only has a short transmitting range.
DID ANYBODY BRING TOILET PAPER?
cpm1112a.indd 13
13
11/20/2007 2:54:38 PM
DANGEROUS TERRAIN.
MARSHMALLOWS! I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING!
SMILE!
IT WOULD BE TOUGH LUCK TO LAND HERE!
14
cpm1112a.indd 14
HERE THEY COME!
DOWN HERE!
NOW THERES A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES!
CAPT. DOOLEY AND COPILOT IN

MAAM-SIMS C47
KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR A CLEAR SPOT!
THEY SAID THEY WERE NEAR A LAKE! WHICH ONE!
THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD!
NO BLUE UP THERE!
NOT MUCH CHANCE OF LANDING HERE!
WELL, SO MUCH FOR SEEING THE GROUND!
AT LEAST WE CAN SEE THE GROUND!
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:54:41 PM
GOING DOWN TO TRIM SOME TREES!
MADE IT!
GLAD I SAW THAT MOUNTAINSIDE!
DEFINITELY SOME INCLEMENT WEATHER
SHE LOOKS MENACING
SHOTS FROM THE MOVIE, MAAMSIM C47,

CENTER STAGE.
ITS BEAUTIFUL HEREIF YOURE CAMPING!
IT SEEMS TO GO ON FOREVER!
LETS GO FIND THEM!
LAKES TO THE LEFT OF ME
FELLOW PILOTS ON THE SEARCH.
LAKES TO THE RIGHT OF ME!
WEATHER IS NOT LOOKING GOOD!
CROSS YOUR FINGERS, HERE WE GO!
GIVE ME FULL FLAPS!
cpm1112a.indd 15
15
11/20/2007 2:54:51 PM
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 find 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 C47s 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 flying 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 definitely 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 flight operations of the C-47, as can be
seen by the occasional trim wheel adjustments, proper
flap 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 first 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
flaws 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
flying 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 Sim

The 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 flew on. If you look close, you
16
cpm1112a.indd 16
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 fly 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 find 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 find 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 flew in for the screenshots for the article was in
the northeastern part of the United States, and over into Quebec. I
flew 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 fly 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 fly with yourself! Its pretty neat and easy to use. Basically,
you record one of your flights, and then play it back as AI traffic that
you can fly alongside of. Very cool!
I stumbled upon so many sceneries for this region that it would
probably fill 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 airfields 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 flight simming
and flight sim development. Its not hard to get side tracked and
find 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 fly by the use of ADF, this file 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 fly 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 find your
way by using the old ways. It will also give you an appreciation
of how these guys had to find 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 flight, and dont forget the popcorn! 4
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:02 PM
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
Subject:
bo
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ILOT
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J
R
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Jer
COMP NSION!
H
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12 MOPTION/EXTE
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SUBSC
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].
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 is
build 9.00 40901. You need the correct version of FS2004.
Hope you can assist me thanks.
John Fowles
Perth, Western Australia
[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].
Write To Computer Pilot INBOX

If you have something you want to share with fellow flight 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: inbox@computerpilot.com
17
cpm1112a.indd 17
11/20/2007 2:55:03 PM
Flying with the Quetzals: Guatemala

BY DR DAVID SMITH
entral 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 flying.
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 finally 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.
18
cpm1112a.indd 18
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 first
driver to sound his klaxon had right of way. To emphasise the point
you flash 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 flung around
the floor of the bus. Its chaotic, its a cacophony of noise and its the
essence of travel in Central America.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:08 PM
Y 01
GUATEMALA RW
UP FRONT IN THE DC3
CLOUD BUILDING, MOUNTAINS AHEAD
PUERTO
BARRIOS
So much for the buses, what would the aircraft be like in

Guatemala? We were soon to find out. We took a cab from Guatemala
City to La Aurora airport (MGGT) and booked our flight 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
flight should take about 45 minutes. That was the plan.
LIFTOFF OVER GUATEMALA
The simulated flight

Having been virtual flying quite a bit recently in the amazing
MegaScenery packages developed by PC Aviator, I had high
expectations for recreating a flight Id taken many years ago in
Guatemala. As it turns out, my expectations were too high.
To fly this trip in FSX I searched many websites for a Convair 240
but couldnt find one, and so decided to use the ex-military DC3 to try
and match the Aviateca mood. In my real flight wed gone directly to
the small airfield at the ruins, Tikal Airport (TKM). In the simulated
flight I decided to visit the island city of Flores to do some sightseeing
in a helicopter, before flying 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.
OVER 1
ST NDB
19
cpm1112a.indd 19
11/20/2007 2:55:08 PM
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 flight to visit
the Mayan ruins just didnt work out. However the real flight was an
adventure in itself.
The real flight
RUGGED TERRAI
N AND LAKES
Our Convair was named the Tikal and we climbed up the steps and
took our seats. The door to the flight deck was open and I wandered
up and took a photo. The door stayed open throughout the flight. My
seat was a window seat, just behind the starboard wing. I watched as
the ground crew filled 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 fire up but after several failed
attempts it too roared to life.
ALMOST AT 11,000 FEET
STEEP CLIF
FS - NO PL
ACE TO DIT
CH
DEPARTING FLORES
20
cpm1112a.indd 20
CONVAIR COCKPIT
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:11 PM
AVIATECA AIRCRAFT AT TIKAL
THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE 1
AIR NAKUN
THE RELIABLE CONV
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 flames belched from the exhaust of the
starboard engine, which began to misfire badly. My wife looked past
me and asked Are those flames 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!
THE ASTO
NISHING
GREAT PL
AZA AND
CENTRAL
ACROPOLI
S
And so we did. We swapped our plane for one called Nakun and it
was in better condition, taking off without a hitch and flying steadily
towards Flores and then Tikal.
As we approached the strip at Tikal (TKM) we flew 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 ruins

Set 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, flourished, 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 sacrifice.
LE
MAYAN RUINS EMERGING FROM THE JUNG
21
cpm1112a.indd 21
11/20/2007 2:55:15 PM
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 floor is amazing. Whereas the designs in South
America and Mexico tended to be very linear, those in Guatemala
were complex flowing 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 City

Our 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 figured that it had flown 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 difficulty starting the starboard engine.
He eventually got it to idle but it wasnt happy and as we roared down
the runway it again started misfiring and belching a ten-foot streamer
of flame 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.
MONUMENT WITH HIEROGLYPHS
E
FIGUR
BOUND
H
IT
W
ALTAR
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!
22
cpm1112a.indd 22
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 misfire alarmingly. He would bring it down a
bit and the engines would smooth out, then hed try climbing and the
misfiring would start again. Basically we couldnt fly 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 flight 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 fitted. 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 flavor 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,
filming documentaries and DVDs on medical and environmental
themes. He can be contacted via www.imaginACTION.net.au 4
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:27 PM
23
cpm1112a.indd 23
11/20/2007 2:55:36 PM
Spice Up Your Sim

BY JOHN ACHOR
hen 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 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.
As we go along here, Ill talk about cross-country flying, fantasy
flights and more. I am not talking about science fiction, but rather
turning your imagination loose.
24
cpm1112a.indd 24
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:38 PM
Cross-Country Flights
How Is Your Instrument Work, Ace?
You 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 flying
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 Official Strategy Guide,
by Nick Dargahi and put out by Prima Publishing; the other one is
Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95, Inside Moves, by Gary
M. Meredith and printed by Microsoft Press (I told you I was older
than dirt). Check the internet for new or used editions of these books.
Many of this type of after-market products are also available for later
versions of Flight Simulator.
One of the toughest, most challenging, exacting and demanding

aspects of flying is instrument work (IFR). It can be a real sweaty
palm experience. At the same time, it is one of the most exhilarating
and satisfying accomplishments. Youll find excellent background
in magazines like this one. Take a look at The Art of Desktop
Instrument Flying in the October issue of Computer Pilot.
Dont overlook the built-in instrument training in the Flying
Lessons section within Microsoft Flight Simulator. Good IFR skills
will keep you alive in the real world where there is no Replay Last
Mission button.
I found it best to stick to VOR (VHF Omni-directional Range) or

VOR-DME (VOR with Distance Measuring Equipment, sometimes
called VORTAC) stations at the cities I picked. The NDBs (Non
Directional Beacons) have a shorter range so I tended to stay away
from them.
If road maps are not of interest, give the internet a try. On the
Flightsim Aviation Zone, you will find a free flight planner at: http://
www.flightsimaviation.com/_flight_planner.html
Next, working from the atlas, I measured the distances between
navaids and eyeballed headings. I completed a flight plan, then I flew
the cross-country and refined the distances, headings and times. Ive
planned several I may never fly, for example New York to Los Angeles.
I have a feeling that 3,000 miles in a Cessna or even the Lear is more
than my old backside could handle. Remember though, that you can
always save a flight at any mid-point and return to it later.
Ive found the easiest way to flight plan is to use a software tool
like FSNavigator (FSN). While this is payware, it is well worth the
$45 USD they charge (look for them at www.fsnavigator.com). The
software facilitates the planning process and acts as a moving map
while flying the route. A small airplane outline moves along the flight
path and keeps you up to date on your current location. For more of
a challenge, click the airplane icon on the right side legend and the
moving plane disappears. Now all you have is a moving map. As
of this writing, the developers are working on the FSX version, but
FSNavigator for earlier flight sim versions is available.
Combine Cross-Country Flights and IFR

You make an ITO (instrument takeoff) in zero-zero weather,
and find yourself in the soup all the way to your destination. You
finally break out of the overcast and see the runway at the minimum
approach altitude. IFR conditions are available through the flight
simulator menu system and are extremely realistic. An easier way to
go on instruments anytime you want, is to create my handy-dandy
IFR Hood. I simulate the vision restricting visor (hood) that is used to
practice instrument flying with a single piece of 8 1/2 by 11 paper.
Fold the paper along the 11-inch axis and drape it over the top front
edge of your monitor. Adjust the fold so it covers your outside the
cockpit view leaving the instrument panel visible below it.
Fantasy Flights
I think these may be the most fun of all. Here I can turn my
imagination loose and design missions that challenge me time after
time. This first one is a tour around the San Francisco bay area. Youll
get to accomplish touch-and-go landings, complete a pylon-8 at
Telegraph Hill, fly through a hangar and make a carrier landing. I got
the idea from a gentleman in the Dallas, Texas area.
Once Around the San Francisco Bay Area

I suggest you copy this one somewhere so you can separate the
various legs to make it easier to follow. These instructions cover FS9
and FSX. You may find minor differences in earlier flight simulator
versions. Setup: pick a small, single engine airplane, e.g., the Cessna
172/182 and position yourself at KSFO airport (San Francisco,
California, USA) any runway will do. Tune Oakland VOR (116.8)
in NAV 2 and set the OBS to 140 degrees. Tune San Francisco VOR
(115.8) in NAV 1. All altitudes are MSL (mean sea level); all airport
elevations are around 20 feet except for the carrier which is closer to
100 feet.
After takeoff, climb to 500 feet, turn to a 090 degree heading and
continue the climb to 1500 feet. Intercept and fly outbound on the
Oakland 140 degree radial. At about 13 miles DME from Oakland
you will pass over a bridge with Palo Alto Airport on your right.
Continue on this heading until Moffett Naval Air Station (NAS) is
in sight. Aim for runway 14R and you will see two large hangars to
the left of the runways (in FSX there is a hangar on the right side as
well). Begin a descent and line up for the runway (14R). Use half to
three-quarters flaps for your crash and dash for you guys and gals
who make smoother landings than I do, thats a touch-and-go landing.
Complete the touch-and-go, climb to 300 feet and clean up the bird.
Fly one minute past the end of the runway and make a 200 degree
turn to the left. That should line you up with the hangars to the east of
the Moffett NAS runways take your pick. When clear of the city
buildings, drop to 100 feet and test your nerves as you fly through one
of the hangars.
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11/20/2007 2:55:39 PM
Flying For A Medical Charter Airline

You are based in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). The scenario
requires you to take off from Boston, pick up a doctor at Marthas
Vineyard, an island south of Boston and deliver him and medical
supplies to Block Island, which is west of Marthas Vineyard. Keep in
mind there is a dying patient on Block Island.
This second fantasy flight puts you in the left seat of a LearJet
on medical alert at Bostons Logan Airport (KBOS). Set up: park
your LearJet on the ramp with the engines shut down (CONTROL +
SHIFT + F1) and the entrance door open (toggle command, SHIFT
+ E). You will be flying against the clock and should be able to make
this entire flight in a half-hour or so. Tune your VOR-2 to Boston
VORTAC (112.7) with the OBS set to 175 degrees and VOR-1 to
Marthas Vineyard ILS (108.7, final heading 240). Due to variations
of the radio stack, juggling the frequencies is easier in FSX version of
the flight sim although it is certainly possible in FS9.
As you clear the hangars, climb to 800 feet and turn left to a
heading of about 280 degrees. Palo Alto Airport should be visible.
No hangars here so you can relax. Line up for a touch-and-go landing
on Runway 31. After the takeoff, clean up the plane again and climb
to 1700 feet. Track inbound to San Francisco VOR on a heading of
290 degrees. Passing over the SFO runways, dial 320 in the VOR-1
OBS and track outbound on the 320 degree radial for 7 nautical miles.
See that big red and white tripod tower coming up? Fly to the right
of it and make a tight 360 degree left turn around it. After that, take a
heading of approximately 260 degrees and descend to 800 feet.
When the DME (SFO VOR) reads about 11 nm, you will see
an aircraft carrier at your 12 oclock position. Cross the bow of
the carrier and enter a left downwind (240 degrees) for the carrier
runway, 060 degrees. Turn base leg and then final and complete
another touch-and-go landing on the carrier deck.
After takeoff, hold an altitude of 100 feet and a heading of 040
degrees. Keep a steady hand on the yoke and fly under the Golden
Gate bridge. Climb to 1200 feet on a heading of 140 degrees. San
Francisco airport is just ahead. Land on any available runway, shut
down the engine, get out of the plane and run like the devil so the
FAA flight inspectors dont catch you!
26
cpm1112a.indd 26
There is a man seriously ill on Block Island and a doctor is

available on Marthas Vineyard. You are priority traffic and are
cleared to fly the entire flight at or below 2,500 feet. Dont forget the
250 knot airspeed restriction below 10,000 feet.
Start your stop watch crank engines (CONTROL + E) and close
the door. You are cleared to the nearest runway for takeoff. When
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:40 PM
airborne, intercept and track outbound on the 175 degree radial of

BOS VOR. You will intercept Marthas Vineyard localizer around
the BOS VOR 57 DME. Look sharp because youll turn final about 5
nautical miles out from the runway. Land on Runway 24 and taxi to
the far end where youll make a 180 degree turn on the runway.
Shut down the left engine, open the door and wait one minute
(simulate the doctor getting on board). While you are waiting, tune
Marthas Vineyard VOR (114.5) in NAV 1 with the OBS set to 263
degrees. Reset the trim and flaps for takeoff.
After the one minute delay, shut the door and restart the left engine.
Take off on Runway 6 and make a turn at 500 feet to intercept the
263 degree radial outbound from Marthas Vineyard VOR. You will
locate Block Island at the 45 nm DME out. Set NAV 2 to Sandy Point
VOR (Block Island, 117.8) and the OBS set to 280 degrees. Intercept
the 280 degree heading to Block Island to put you on a 11 nm final
for Runway 28. You are cleared straight in, so set up for a short field
landing on the 2500 foot long runway. Taxi to the ramp and park in
front of the administration building. Shut down engines, open the
door and stop the clock. How did you do on time? Did you beat 30
minutes? I just flew this mission and it took me 39 minutes I must
be getting rusty.
If you are looking for additional flying time, simulate a stabilized
patient, fly back to Marthas Vineyard to drop the doctor and then
return the patient to KBOS.
One Last Idea

I dont have the space to give you an entire flight, so heres the
down and dirty. In the setup, you are picked to fly a Very Important
Person (VIP) from a vacation spot this would be somewhere out in
the boondocks back to the seat of government. There is a worldwide emergency of some sort and all navigation aids have been turned
off. This one works best if flown at a low altitude (3000 to 5000 feet)
and uses only low frequency radio aids, Non Directional Beacons
(NDB) or Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) stations. Complete a
flight plan, headings, times, etc., and print it out.
Heres the kicker. As you fly the route, each navigation aid will
only be on the air for ten minutes five minutes prior to your
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) until five minutes after that. To
simulate this, you are not allowed to tune the desired frequency until
5 minutes prior to each ETA. This one is a real challenge of your
flying and navigation skills.
Other Challenges
I havent even touched on Multi-Player flying. Picture yourself
sitting on the ramp, with a half-dozen similar planes visible around you
and youre in visual and audio contact with each of them. Now follow
the aircraft stream and line up for takeoff for a hop to another airport.
If this sounds interesting, I suggest you join a Virtual Airline that offers
this kind of fun. There are probably many who do and among them, I
can recommend DC-3 Airways (www.dc3airways.com) where youll
find many pilots who will give you a hand learning the how tos of
multi-player flying.
If you just want to go fast, install high performance jet fighters into
your flight simulator. I have an excellent freeware F/A-18E, Super
Hornet in Royal Australian Air Force liveries. You should be able to find
this one and others at either flightsim.com or avsim.com. In addition, if
you have the new Flight Simulator X: Acceleration add-on, that includes
an F-18 model which looks pretty good! After launching from the deck
of a carrier, head vertical and see how high you go. If you have never
been above 50,000 feet in the simulator, you are in for some really
nice surprises. The FS world looks great at these altitudes and you can
literally touch the lower reaches of space (if you make it that high!).
Flight Sims And Guns

I enjoy flying combat flight simulators like IL-2 Sturmovik and Wings
Over Vietnam among others, but I dont have to have a gun to enjoy
the flying and challenges I can find in a standard flight simulator. Ive
logged over 4000 real-life flight hours in planes from T-6G Texans
to the military equivalent of Boeing 707s. Ive flown in all sorts of
weather and conditions like sitting 50 miles off the Soviet coast and
Hiaphong Harbor, and yet, I can still get sweaty palms flying a low
visibility approach in a flight simulator. Immerse yourself in the sim
and it can feel as real as it gets. 4
27
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11/20/2007 2:55:43 PM
MEGASCENERY
X
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
4
REVIEW BY GENE DAVIS

What It Does!
f there was one thing that FSX was designed

for I think it has to be its ability to accept
third party scenery add-ons like the stuff we
have come to know and love from the folks over at
MegaScenery. This being my second title to look at
it in the MegaSceneryX product line, I have to say
that I am starting to get a feeling that this is what I
want to see and use when I fly Flight Simulator X.
28
cpm1112a.indd 28
Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have some
knowledge of what MegaScenery is and what it does. I have
always been happy with the overall experience the scenery titles
have offered, but as we all know with the FS2004 products, these
titles were almost always plagued with blurry textures and slow
load times when flying your virtual plane at higher speeds over the
photorealistic environment below. This was by no means an issue
with the scenery titles but an issue with Flight Simulator 2004. Its
design and ability to utilize such products was not exactly up to
par. It simply didnt matter how big of a video card you had or how
up to date your computer was, the end result was always the same,
blurry textures and very slow loading times unless you flew really
slow aircraft.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:44 PM
REVIEW
So, what we have is an all new animal that is FSX, and it seems
to have been designed for scenery products like MegaScenery.
With quicker load times and an almost non-existent issue with
blurry textures, MegaScenery fits nicely into the virtual FSX
world.
By now we have all looked at Google Earth and there has
always been a deep down desire to take our Flight Sim world into
that of Google Earth. Well with the MegaScenery titles one has
been given that type of flying environment with high resolution
textures and intense graphic detail all in one great scenery package.
With an area of coverage of over 18,000 square miles from San
Diego to Los Angeles, MegaSceneryX Southern California takes
high resolution aerial photography and translates that information
at an impressive 1 foot per pixel resolution to produce compatible
texture tiles usable in Flight Simulator. The end result is an ultra
realistic set of ground textures that offers detail so good you can
make out individual cars or even your own house if you live in
that area. The detail is so good that you can almost get away
without using the autogen within FSX.
No matter where you choose to fly, whether it be near Los
Angeles or its surrounding citys and towns, or San Diego and the
mountains that sit out on the outskirts of the cities edge, the end
result will be the same, an almost picture perfect world designed
for Flight Simulator X, and the ultimate VFR experience for the
virtual pilot.
Installation and Documentation
CLIMBING OUT OVER SAN DIEGO
Mega Scenery X Southern California ships with four DVDs,

a printed 176-page manual with approach charts, SIDS and
STARS, airport diagrams for all of the surrounding airports,
as well as a full-colored VFR chart for both the Los Angeles
and San Diego areas. Those of you with the earlier titles for
FS2004 will definitely recognize them. These charts have all
been updated and reflect any new changes that may have been
made over the last year or so.
Installation was a bit of a bear; at least it was for me. First
off, realistically, the install process should take about 30-40
minutes and requires roughly 30GB of hard drive space. Yup,
30 gigs, and that is not a close exaggeration either. When
I first installed the product it took me well over 6.5 hours
to complete. As it turned out this was not an issue with the
scenery, but an issue with my motherboard and the controller
on my motherboard for the DVD drive. For some reason or
another if I forget to turn off the sound or pipe it through
a USB controlled set of headphones it creates some pretty
weird issues with my DVD player/ writer. Of course, on a
properly running system, installation will be much faster, and
definitely under 40 minutes in normal cases.
The other issue I had was making sure I had enough space
for the scenery. I do not keep my MegaScenery titles on the
same hard drive as my Flight Sim programs. Access seems to
be better by keeping the two different products separate from
each other on different hard drives and makes regular hard
drive maintenance much easier when it comes to defragging. I
have got to tell you that when I saw the space requirement on
the box my eyes just about bugged out of my head. I did come to
a new realization though; when the next scenery product comes
out I am going to have to add another hard drive if I want to use
THE CROWDED HILLS OF SAN DIEGO
cpm1112a.indd 29
29
11/20/2007 2:55:45 PM
CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF?
LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS SAN DIEGO
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cpm1112a.indd 30
INCREDIBLY REALISTIC LOOK!
CLIMBING OUT OF VAN NUYS!
LOOKING TOWARD LAX
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:47 PM
REVIEW
INCREDIBLY REALISTIC NIGHT LIGHTING
NICE DAY FOR A FLIGHT
I AM GOING TO DISNEY LAND!
MORE NIGHT SHOTS
DETAILED HILLS
cpm1112a.indd 31
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11/20/2007 2:55:53 PM
it, and all I can say is thank you for the new easy-to-install
SATA drives! To enjoy this type of scenery though, there
isnt any way around the space requirement issue. It is just
the nature of the beast.
The install program will ask you if you want your settings
optimized for the scenery package. I strongly recommend
that you just hold off on those adjustments until you get a
chance to try the scenery out. If you are like me and have
spent a lot of time trying to get FSX to that perfect setting
I would definitely just tell the program no and make the
adjustments manually later on because you will find yourself
going back and having to readjust everything again when
you go to fly in other parts of the world. However, what you
can do in FSX is save your current scenery settings to a file
within the FSX scenery options. This will allow you to revert
back to your saved settings later, so if you wanted to let the
Megascenery installer adjust your settings for best visual
display and performance when using the scenery, be sure
to save your current settings to a file before installing the
MegaScenery title.
Flying over MegasceneryX
LOOKING TOWARDS EL DORADO PARK
I am going to recommend that you take your first flight

slow and low. I started out with the Razbam Banshee and
found that I missed a lot of what the scenery had to offer
because I was too busy zooming around the crowded skies
of San Diego and Los Angeles and this scenery is meant to
be appreciated. Because I chose an aircraft that was fast,
my initial opinion of this product was a negative one and
once I switched to something a little slower I came to
really appreciate it, and you really do notice the intense
detail of the world below.
I ultimately chose to the new T-6 Texan from Iris
Simulations. Its speed and high visibility made it an
excellent choice for touring the California skies. Of
course, the default Cessnas or other smaller aircraft
in FSX work just as well too. As I toured the vast
city landscape of Los Angeles I found that the ground
textures were intense and gave off a very realistic look,
in many cases the block to block textures looked almost
3-Dimensional from the air and this is where the option
to turn off the autogen came in; with textures so good
who needs the autogen.
As you fly east of Los Angeles, and better yet,
east of San Diego, the scenery just gets better and
better. With its own terrain mesh files included the
mountainous areas give off a very realistic look. In fact
the screenshots I took out of San Diego where taken
with real world weather from ActiveSky X incorporated
and I have to tell you I was really impressed with the
way it all went together. For the first time in months I
felt totally sold on FSX.
Performance and FSX

Having had some time with Megascenery X Phoenix
I did find some issues with Southern California, though
little, they are noticeable. The biggest issue was that of
scenery objects doubling up in certain locations, mainly
the aircraft carrier in San Diego; there are two ships there,
one sitting right on top of the other.
32
cpm1112a.indd 32
IT LOOKS SO CROWDED DOWN THERE!
Computer Pilot Magazine V11I12
11/20/2007 2:55:58 PM
REVIEW
When it came time to take some screenshots I increased
my screen resolution to 1400 x 900 and found that the end
result was rather fascinating as my performance increased
by about 10 FPS, where as when I first started I had my
resolution originally set at 1200 x 900 and was only getting
frame rates in and around 19 and 20. At the increased
resolution I average right around 30 now!
In all though as I fly over the crowded terrain that is
Southern California I am still amazed at how well the
product does perform given the amount of detail that is being
shown at any one time. I have also found that flying the
default planes, or better yet a third party aircraft designed for
FSX, is the best choice as they take full advantage of the new
flight sim engine and perform optimally.
Making a Non-PhotoReal User into a

PhotoReal User!
Since MegaScenery became available I have always used
them, and like a lot of things they only get better with age.
When this product was released I purchased it right away,
so when I was asked to review it for Computer Pilot I went
ahead and accepted it figuring I would give my extra copy to
my Dad.
With FS9, I could never get my Dad to really like any
kind of PhotoReal product line, he just couldnt see what
the big deal was and as far as he was concerned it was just
something else that took up more hard drive space.
Last year, with the release of FSX we decided to build
him a new computer and when I gave him my extra copy of
Southern Cal it sat on his desk for almost two weeks until he
just happened upon my desktop one day and wanted to know
what scenery it was, I told him!
No sooner did he see my computer running Southern Cal,
he went back and installed his copy. The end result was that
he is now a believer in PhotoReal scenery!
In The End
Given some of the shortcomings of the default terrain
textures in FSX, these types of products give the user a very
beautiful world to fly in. If you have ever wanted to give
Mega Scenery a chance this is the product for you as it will
literally transform your virtual flying into an ultra-realistic
VFR flying environment that transcends everything you have
used before.
With quicker load times and higher resolution textures this
product will give you a sense of detail that you have never
experienced with any product of this type. Flying your virtual
aircraft through the virtual skies of FSX takes on a whole
new meaning.
For existing users of the Southern California scenery from
Megascenery you can get MegaSceneryX at a reduced price
see www.megascenery.com, but for those who dont own the
original this package will cost you US$39.95 and believe you
me it is well worth it. MegaSceneryX: Southern California
is available from PC Aviator www.pcaviator.com, the
MegaScenery website
www.megascenery.com, or from good flight sim retailers. 4
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11/20/2007 2:56:00 PM
The Google Earth Flight Simulator

BY CHUCK BODEEN
t has been some time since I visited Google

Earth. A few months ago I used it to find my
house, then take a trip to the Pyramids in Egypt,
and look at the simple extruded buildings in New
York City and Las Vegas. Since then GE has been
vastly improved. The controls are easier to use.
Many buildings in large cities all over the world
have realistically shaped roof areas and the sides

are painted faithfully. The Great Pyramids and the
Sphinx are 3D, as are the Luxor Hotel and the Sphinx
replica in Las Vegas. 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.
GOOGLE EARTH BUILDINGS AND LANDMARKS NOW HAVE MUCH BETTER SHAPES AND PAINTING.
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CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:56:02 PM
In truth, this is still a very crude sim, but it certainly has better
scenery than FSX or X-Plane. The scenery is REAL - the same
spectacular globe you see in plain old GE except now you can fly
over it. You have a choice of only two airplanes: the F-16 fighter and
the SR-22 prop plane from Cirrus Design. 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 are no instrument panels and no outside views. Flying can be
done with a combination of mouse, keyboard, and joystick as explained
below. Im a Windows guy, but the system works with OSX and Linux.
If you have not done so already, the first thing you want to do is go
to http://earth.google.com/ and download the latest free version
(4.2 at this writing) of Google Earth. At the top of the screen, click
on Tools and then on Enter Flight Simulator. At this point you
can select either the F16 or the SR22 to fly. There is a short list
of international airports, 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.
Now its time to be absolutely honest with you and tell you that,
for me on my Windows XP machine at least, sometimes the joystick
does not work at all and sometimes the mouse control is intermittent.
There must be a bug somewhere between GE FS and the operating
system, the existence of which is well documented in the blog links
at the end of this article. The keyboard controls, on the other hand,
almost always work, so lets get a good understanding of them. I say
almost always because I find that the throttle will not stay at full for
more than five or six seconds it prefers to be at 50%. If you click on
Help / User Guide or Help / Keyboard Shortcuts you will bring
up the same single page list of controls, many of which are redundant
duplicates there is more than one way to do several things. Since
there are two headings, perhaps Google has a more elaborate User
Guide in mind for later releases. The keyboard drawing here shows
the easiest set to use. If you have a Mac or a notebook the keyboard
might look a little different.
LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES ARE NECESSARY FOR TAXIING. TOGGLING

PAUSE, HUD, AND GEAR ARE BASICALLY KEYBOARD FUNCTIONS. YOU
MAY BE ABLE TO USE YOUR JOYSTICK AND/OR THE MOUSE FOR MOST
OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS
Flying with the Keyboard
THE OPENING SCREEN FOR THE GOOGLE EARTH FLIGHT SIMULATOR
Since the keyboard controls are reliable and must be used for
some purposes, lets take the first flight using them and the SR22.
Push Page Up to advance the throttle. As you are rolling down the
runway, work gently with the comma and period keys to steer using
the left and right brakes. Like most single prop planes, the SR22
wants to turn left, but the F-16 tends to go straight down the runway.
Num pad 0 and Num pad Enter move the rudder, but these
controls are much touchier than the brakes. The ship will lift off at
somewhere between 90 and 100 knots. Although you can control
pitch with the up and down arrow keys, the Home and End keys
for the elevator trim are less sensitive. If you use direct control of the
ailerons or rudder, tap these keys lightly and be prepared to reverse
your stroke if you go too far.
Once you are in the air, you can look around by using Alt or
Ctrl with the left and right arrow keys. The V key will return to
the front view, and the C key will center ailerons and rudder. Ill
leave it up to you experienced sim pilots to find the runway and get
back to it for a landing. While you are in the air, remember that this is
REAL scenery not a simulated 3D environment. Those numbers on
the runways are actually satellite photos of the real ones!
Understanding the Heads Up Display
HERE YOU ARE AT KATHMANDU WITH THE HIMALAYAS IN THE

BACKGROUND. THE HEADS UP DISPLAY MAY BE DIM IN THIS SHOT, BUT
IT IS CLARIFIED IN ILLUSTRATIONS
Anyone who flies X-Plane is familiar with the HUD. Some third
party planes for FSX also emulate this device which is designed to
keep the pilots eyes looking straight ahead rather than down at the
flight instruments. As I said, the HUD is the only instrument you are
going to see in this simulator.
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11/20/2007 2:56:04 PM
The object with triangular wings is called the boresight and

points in the direction of the nose of the ship. The bore sight is
always in the center of the screen. The inverted T is the Flight Path
Vector and points in the direction of flight which is NOT always
the way the nose points.
There is a fixed, upward pointing triangle at the top which shows

the degree of roll. Under it is a small box that can slide from side to
side. This is like the ball in the turn indicator which tells you if your
turn is coordinated.
You will want to pay attention to the lower left corner of the HUD.
That part is not a standard feature of real HUDs. This is the only place
where you can find positive feedback for the positions of throttle,
ailerons, rudder, and elevator. Whether you are using the keyboard,
mouse, or joystick, these scales will tell you if the controls are
working properly.
Using the Mouse

Try to keep the mouse relatively close to the flight path vector
marker. Small movements around this point are all that is necessary to
control the ship. If you get very far away you will no longer be able
to guide the plane and will probably crash. If you do crash and select
Resume Flight you will be placed at 5,000 AGL over the point you
hit, headed in the direction of the crash, and at a speed determined by
data in the acf file for that airplane.
HERE ARE THE GOOGLE EARTH HEADS UP DISPLAY (HUD) AND AN

INSTRUMENT PANEL FROM X-PLANE FOR THE SAME CLIMBING, ROLLING
MANEUVER. ALTITUDE IS 2050 FEET MSL, VERTICAL SPEED IS 1050 FEET
PER MINUTE, SPEED IS 82 (KNOTS PRESUMABLY). THE BANK ANGLE
IS 22 DEGREE TO THE RIGHT. PITCH IS EIGHT DEGREES UP AND ANGLE
OF ATTACK IS ABOUT THREE DEGREES. THE THROTTLE IS SET AT ABOUT
60%; THE STICK IS BEING PULLED BACK AND PUSHED TO THE RIGHT.
HEADING IS ABOUT 255 DEGREES GEOGRAPHIC.
KEEP THE MOUSE (WHITE CROSS CURSOR) CLOSE TO THE FLIGHT PATH
VECTOR. IN THIS WAY YOU CAN THINK OF YOUR MOUSE AS A JOYSTICK
The Joystick if it works for you...

My Saitek X52 joystick and throttle work fine with the Google
Earth sim if and when the system lets them. I have tried in vain to
determine what the problem is, but have failed. Let me say that when
things are running well I have complete control over pitch, roll, yaw,
and throttle. Some folks on the blogs (see below) report that throttle
and yaw are switched for their systems. Ill let you wade your way
through these to find out how you can edit specific ini files in the
Program files \ Google \ Google Earth \ res \ flightsim \ controllers
folder where you can even add button functions.
Using Airports not on the List

EXCEPT FOR THE MOUSE CURSOR AND THE INDICATORS FOR THROTTLE,
ELEVATOR, AILERONS, AND RUDDER, THE GOOGLE EARTH HUD IS
PRETTY MUCH LIKE ONE YOU WOULD FIND ON ANY SIMULATOR
OR EVEN ON A REAL AIRPLANE. THIS TURN WAS MADE WITHOUT
RUDDER CONTROL. THE SLIP IS INDICATED BY THE HORIZONTAL
DISPLACEMENT OF THE FLIGHT PATH VECTOR WITH RESPECT TO THE
BORESIGHT. A REAL PILOT CAN FEEL SLIP IN THE SEAT OF HIS PANTS,
SO SIMMERS ARE LUCKY THAT MOST HUDS OVER EMPHASIZE THE
INDICATION OF SIDEWAYS MOVEMENT
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You can go to any airport in the world by navigating to it in the

normal (not flight sim) mode. Find a place on a ramp, taxiway, or end
of a runway where you would like to place your ship. Zoom in until
the eye alt will not go any lower. Click on Tools / Enter Flight
Simulator and check the Current View as your starting position.
The airplane you have selected will be placed at that spot facing in
the direction at the top of the Navigation Ring. You can then use the
throttle and wheel brakes to turn and taxi to face down the runway for
your takeoff.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:56:06 PM
Changes you can make

There are ini configuration files in the Program files \ Google \
Google Earth \ res \ flightsim folder which, if you are clever enough,
can be modified to change many aspects of the simulator.
You can add airports and runways! Use a text editor to add lines
in the file flightsim.ini under the takeoff locations heading. You
will need to supply the IATA code, a name for the airport, a name
for the runway, the latitude and longitude of the place you want to
start (usually at the end) and the geographic heading of the runway.
Latitude and longitude must be in decimal format. The names are
single quoted strings. It is probably good practice to insert the line
at the correct place in the alphabetical listing so you can find it later.
EXAMPLES:
http://marco-za.blogspot.com/2007/08/google-earth-flightsimulator.html
http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2007/08/flight_
simulator_mod.html
http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2007/09/flight_
simulator_hud_display_guide.html
One blogger suggested that X-Plane and Google Earth get together.
Austin Meyer, author of X-Plane, thinks this might be a good idea
but in the future. 4
KLAS Las Vegas 25R 36.0763806 -115.121472 269.94

KEDW Edwards AFB 04 34.894962 -117.904330 58.12
I obtained the runway headings from the apt.dat file in X-Plane, but
you need not be so precise. These numbers are used only to align the
plane with the runway. If you are off by a few degrees you can fix that
as you begin your takeoff run.
THE HIMALAYAS AS SEEN FROM GOOGLE EARTH FLIGHT SIMULATOR
The flightsim.ini file contains the line: agl_limit = 10. That means
that if you zoom in so that the eye alt is less than 10 meters (33
feet) above the local elevation, the flight simulator will start you on
the ground. This number can be changed to any value you want.
You can modify the two airplane files, but they must still be
named f16.acf and sr22.acf. These files are located in Program
files \ Google \ Google Earth \ res \ flightsim\aircraft and can be
changed with a text editor. They are documented internally with %
comments. The HUD ini files are not well documented, but the names
of the variables can give you some hints if you really want to move
things around on the screen.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Google Earth Sketchup 6 is a 3D modeling program that either

comes with GE or can be downloaded for free. You can use it to make
models of structures and there are ways to place them on the Earth
model. There is also a 3D Warehouse for sharing objects. Just do a
Google search on Sketchup to find the details.
Things you cant do

Among the features that are not available, many will be
permanently missing because of their nature:
No night flight all the satellite photos were taken in daylight.
No control of weather as far as possible there are no clouds, and
even if there are, the images would be on the ground. Clear skies
and no turbulence.
No choice of airplanes although you can alter some of the
characteristics of the two that are presented, you can still have only
two planes at this point in time.
No other airplanes visible you cant even see your own.
No nav aids use this sim only for VFR.
No official obstacles there are tall buildings, but no TV towers.
No replay or flight analysis.
TAHITI, IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN
More Information
The more you investigate this new product, the more you are going
to like it despite its present limitations. You can find more details
about using the Google Earth flight simulator at these and other
Internet sites by doing a Google search yourself.
THE GOLD COAST HINTERLAND, AUSTRALIA
37
cpm1112a.indd 37
11/20/2007 2:56:08 PM
38
cpm1112a.indd 38
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:56:10 PM
REVIEW
Singapore 747
Photograph by Rick Bryan
39
cpm1112a.indd 39
11/20/2007 2:56:14 PM
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FREEWAREFRENZY
Top Downloads at a Price that is Hard To Beat!
FREEWARE EXPLORERS THIS ISSUE: DAVID WILSON-OKAMURA
y popular demand, Freeware Frenzy has returned to Computer Pilot magazine!

Every 2nd issue, we will track down the best freeware downloads available for a wide
variety of civilian and combat simulators. Every add-on mentioned in this column
can be yours for FREE (Internet connection required) thanks to the great community of
freeware developers devoting their time to creating awesome simulation masterpieces.
We salute you!
AI Carriers 1 - Scenery for FSX

Filename: aicarriers1.zip
Filesize: 86 kb
Author: Lamont Clark
Available from: avsim.com
One of the new features in FSX is movable aircraft carriers you can land
on. (You could land on the carriers in FS2004, but they didnt move.)
Now the only trouble is there arent enough of them. This extremely
small download fixes that, by placing copies of the default carrier in
twenty different locations around the world. There are two off the coast
of Virginia, three near Florida, three near California, one in Puget Sound,
two in Hawaii, one near Japan, one near Pakistan, one near Italy, one near
Spain, two near France, and three scattered around the United Kingdom.
The instructions will tell you where to look for the carriers, and a Google
Earth overlay is included to show where they travel. (The path of each
carrier is indicated in red.)
This still leaves the challenge of landing on a short deck. Unless you are
flying a helicopter or something with extremely good STOL characteristics
(such as the Fieseler Storch featured in last months Freeware Frenzy), you
will need an arrestor cable. This isnt built-in to Flight Simulator (though
it is part of the new Acceleration add-on pack). A freeware solution is FSX
Carrier Operation Package V3.0 by Rob Barendregt and Doug Dawson;
look for rcbco-30.zip in the AVSIM file library. This is more complicated
to install than the moving carriers, but it will enable you to perform both
cable-arrested landings and catapult takeoffs.
AI CARRIERS 1
Utah Complete - Scenery for FSX

Filenames: utahcomplete_v1_0.zip and uc_update_1_1.zip Filesize: 4 mb
Author: James Udall Available from: avsim.com, flightsim.com
The Utah of my imagination is a desert, and as a rule deserts in Flight
Simulator are not very interesting. Well, forget all of that. Having installed
this package, I am now convinced that Utah is a majestic environment for
virtual flying. The main problem was landclass: if you believe the default
scenery, the surface of Utah really is a featureless blank. A lot of towns are
missing, and a lot of things that arent desert in real life (such as mountains
and crop fields) are painted as desert in the sim. James Udall has fixed this,
and much more besides. Buildings, such as the state capitol, which were
misplaced in the sim have been restored to their proper location. Ski trails
have been added to mountains. So-called Y Mountain is now adorned with
the Y monogram of Brigham Young University (BYU). Mountains are red,
as they should be in Utah, and golf courses are green. The Bonneville Salt
Flats look more like themselves. Finally, Udall has revised the layout of
sixteen different Utah airports, to make them more accurate and interesting.
Most of this work has been focused on Salt Lake City International
(KSLC), where Udall has corrected the size of the existing 3D objects and
added various new ones. But he has also worked up several smaller airports
around the state, along with the towns they serve. The effect, dare we say,
is complete.
42
cpm1112a.indd 42
UTAH COMPLETE
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:25 PM
Douglas DC-3C - Aircraft for FS2004

Filename: dc3cv1.zip Filesize: 27 mb
Author: Charles E. Owen Available from: avsim.com, flightsim.com
The story of the Douglas DC-3 has been told many times. It was the first airplane
to make most of its money carrying passengers instead of mail, and during World
War II it flew men and material all over Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. There have
been freeware versions for several years, and in FS2004 the DC-3 became one of the
default planes in Flight Simulator. So why do we need another one? There are at least
two reasons. First, while the vintage gauges in the default plane are works of art, the
textures in the virtual cockpit leave something to be desired; the ones here are much
sharper. Second, the real DC-3 was much easier to damage, not just by crashing
into the ground, but with rough handling of the engines and other systems. With this
version, you must follow the checklists, and if you dont there will be consequences.
For example, a mistreated engine will gradually lose power; or it may cut out
entirely. Altogether there about 40 things that can go wrong, including random
failures which can show up on the ground while you are running through your preflight checklist. The result is an aircraft that is harder to begin with, but perhaps more
satisfying in the long run. It comes with two panels, one with vintage gauges from
the 1940s and one with modern navigational instruments.
DOUGLAS DC-3C
Super King Air 300 - Aircraft for FS2004 and FSX

Filenames: afg300v1.zip, afgb3101.zip (update) Filesize: 43 mb and 5 mb
Author: Allied FS Group (Esa Kaihlanen, Juri Pelkonen, Ari Kaihlanen, Siegfried Schaeffer, Rui Cristina, Leon Medado)
Available from: flightsim.com, alliedfsgroup.com
Another default plane that can be improved with freeware is the Beechcraft King
Air. The stock plane flies well, but the virtual cockpit is rough-looking, and isnt
something you want to stare at for a long flight. Thats too bad, because the King
Air is a fast and capable workhorse. But with AFGs version, you can have speed
and good looks at the same time. Textures are cleaner, inside and out, and modeling
is more detailed. Sounds are more nuanced as well. And for long flights, theres a
virtual cabin where you can go back and relax with the passengers.
If youre using FS2004, youll need two files to get started: the main file and an
update (which fixes the flight model and includes an additional livery). So far, the
authors dont guarantee that the plane will work in FSX, but user and fan Thomas
Perry has assembled a set of files that will make it fly in the new sim as well. You
can download it from flyingscool.com/files/FSX/AFGB300FSX.zip.
The paint schemes that come with the basic download are quite professionallooking. For more repaints, search the flightsim.com or avsim.com file libraries for
afg 300; that will pull up everything thats available. A paintkit is also available on
the alliedfsgroup.com website.
BEECHCRAFT B300
Meigs Field KCGX - Scenery for FSX

Filenames: meigs_field.zip
Author: John B. Loney, Jr.
Filesize: 3 mb
Available from: avsim.com
FSX has almost 800 airports that werent available in FS2004. But there have been
losses, as well, including the loss of about 60 airports. One of these was Meigs
Field. Constructed in 1948 on an artificial peninsula projecting down into Lake
Michigan, Meigs was only a few minutes from downtown Chicago, which made
it popular for commuters who worked in the city. For about twenty years, it was
also the default airport in Flight Simulator. But in 2003, Meigs Field was closed by
the mayor of Chicago; Microsoft moved its default airport to Seattle, and in FSX,
the airport is gone. I dont know how many Cessna Skyhawks I scratched on the
runway of Meigs Field, but that is the airport where I finally learned to land. Even
though the airport was small, the flights there were always scenic because the city
is right there next to it. (The larger Chicago airports, Midway and OHare, are both
in the suburbs, where you can see the famous skyscrapers only from a distance and
only in clear weather.) Now, courtesy of John B. Loney, Meigs is open again for
virtual flying. The tower is staffed, and once again AI traffic will take off and land
from the north/south runway.
If youre not running FSX, you dont need this, because in FS2004 Meigs is still a
working airport. If that bothers you, and youd like to bring the sim into conformity
with real conditions, download af2_kcgx.zip by Joshua Robertson. This will shut
down the control tower, turn off the ground lights, and paint big Xs at both end of
the runway, warning pilots not to land.
cpm1112a.indd 43
MEIGS FOR FSX
43
11/20/2007 2:57:27 PM
Caribbean SeaPlane Tours: Florida Operations - Scenery for FSX

Filename: csptf.zip Filesize: 70 mb
Author: Chris Carel Available from: avsim.com, flightsim.com
This is a collection of (mostly fictional) seaplane bases scattered around the Caribbean. All of
them have docks, and most of them have landing pads for helicopters. (Many if not all of these
pads are floating, which raises the stakes somewhat for your landings: miss the pad, and youll
take a drink.) There are animations everywhere, and lots of eye candy. At the Disney World
dock, there are flags waving in the wind, and helicopter pads shaped like Mickey Mouses
ears. There is night lighting at most airports, courtesy of tiki torches, and at Mooney Harbor,
an observation deck where you can watch birds, dolphins, and a shark. Where there are cruise
ships, you can land on them with a helicopter. At lunch-time and again at dinner-time, theres
a barbecue grill that will fire up and smoke. There is road traffic around some of the airports,
and fireworks, and a pirate wreck with buried treasureand this is just the first installment.
Still to come are more fictional seaplane bases in the Caribbean islands, Gulf states, eastern
Mexico, and Central America. Search for the authors name to see whats currently available.
If you want to join the Caribbean SeaPlane Tours charter company, the package comes with a
fictional livery, so that the logo on your airplane matches the one on the airport signs. There
are liveries for several popular floatplanes, some default and some payware. Saved flights are
also included to help you explore the scenery.
CARIBBEAN SEAPLANE TOURS,

FLORIDA OPERATIONS
Ground Vehicles and Watercraft - Vehicles for FS2004 and FSX

Author: Mitsuya Hama Hamaguchi
Available from: flightsim.com and f1.aaa.livedoor.jp/~rjnnhama/craft.htm
To get the full benefit of the Caribbean scenery described above, the author recommends
that you download some kind of ground vehicle. There are a good number to choose from,
but the king of freeware cars and boats is Mitsuya Hamaguchi. I wrote about his website
in the August 2006 Freeware Frenzy, and since then he has added several new models.
You can now drive around the Flight Simulator world in a Lexus LS430, a couple of UN
medical trucks, and a Pajero SUV. The Lexus has what is probably the nicest VC of any
Flight Simulator car that I know of, but the reason I am mentioning this site a second time
is better ground handling. Until recently all of the cars that I have ever driven in Flight
Simulator had truly terrible handling. The turn radius was always wide and the suspension
was always loose. This is no ones fault: Flight Simulator wasnt designed for driving
cars. But Hama has found a fix for this in FSX, and the result is that cars are much more
fun to drive now. Even if you already have one of his cars, I recommend that you return
to his website and see if it has been updated for FSX. While youre at it, look at the ships.
There are models here of several watercraft, large and small, passenger liners and coast
guard cutters, hovercraft and speedboats, small yachts and even the Titanic. I particularly
recommend the Riva Aquarama speedboat, which has been updated for FSX.
ASSORTED GROUND VEHICLES
HardBalls Aircraft Viewer - Utility for IL-2 Sturmovik, Pacific Fighters

Filesize: 10 mb Author: Matt Henderson
Available from: mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=325
In recent months, Computer Pilot has been running articles on virtual air combat. For
example, it has been suggested that you find out the relative capabilities of your aircraft
and your opponents, so that you can choose the right tactics. But where can you get
this information? Some of it is available in the manual, or online. But its usually not
all in one place, and there is still the task of comparing your figures with those of your
opponent. HardBalls Aircraft Viewer makes it easy. First, it gathers the data for all
flyable aircraft in the IL-2 series, including the most recent patch. It shows, among
other things, engine performance, speed at sea level, speed at altitude, turn time at
1,000 meters, climb to altitude time, maximum dive speed, and range. Second, it lets
you compare this information for two different aircraft, with the advantages on either
side marked in red. For instance, if you match up a Messerschmitt Bf-109 F-4 with a
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V C, it shows that the Spitfire will be able to turn faster and
fly longer distances, but the 109 is faster in straight flight and climbs. Knowing this, the
109 pilot would slash at his opponent in diving attacks and then extend for another pass;
he would not engage in a turning fight, because his opponent would have the advantage.
On the other hand, the well informed Spitfire pilot who gets attacked by the 109 should
not run away in straight lines, because the faster 109 will catch up with and destroy him.
Instead, he should turn faster than the 109 can follow and, if he cant turn actually around
and put himself behind the 109 for a kill-shot, he can perhaps run out the 109s fuel
supply. The same type of comparison can be made for any pair of aircraft in the game.
44
cpm1112a.indd 44
HARDBALLS AIRCRAFT VIEWER
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:28 PM
Dr Betzy Wong, Flight Sim

Therapist
Session Three
BY BILL SMITH
4
Third Session: September 18, 2004.
y 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. It
was late in the afternoon and the tiny waiting area
was deserted. There was no sound to be heard from
behind the door to her private consulting room.
I knocked, gently at first and then again more vigorously. When the
door opened Betzys face had the unmistakable look of someone
who had just woken from a deep sleep.
Ah , Michael! she said.
Her voice, although loud, betrayed the throaty burble of a voice
box that was just waking up.
Im just preparing for my next simulator session she lied, looking at
her watch. But I can spare you a few minutes of my time if its urgent.
45
cpm1112a.indd 45
11/20/2007 2:57:29 PM
She put her shoes on as she motioned me to sit at her desk. I

noticed that the air conditioner that had died last month had been
removed from the window, which was now wide open. The breeze
was nice but the noise of the traffic eight floors below was quite
intrusive.
So, Michael hows your father? I tried to call him at home while
you and your mother were overseas. Maybe your father gave me
the wrong number? she suggested, taking off her glasses to wipe
the lenses.
Telling lies was an entirely new craft to me at that time so I was
not yet very accomplished at it. But I figured that if I got my big
lie out of the way first up, while she was still half-asleep, I might
get away with it.
Her face fell as I spun her a story about how my dads insurance
company had failed to pay up in spite of his confirmed permanent
disability. I could tell that she was not feeling sorry for my dad,
she was just disappointed that there was no point in her targeting
him to sign into her very expensive, barely legal pyramid style
selling scheme. With a poker face I told her that we could no
longer afford a telephone now that my family was only just
making ends meet from my meager income. I convinced her that
I had been forced to go to work as a part time cleaner at the ferry
terminal.
without a toilet or meal break was more than I could stand but I
did not want to increase the simulation speed because I thought
that this was entirely unrealistic.
Oh thats easy she said. When ATC asks you to contact
frequency 126.70 or whatever, you acknowledge, change to that
frequency, but dont contact them. You can go to the toilet, or
go shopping or go to off work and when you get back to your
computer, your IFR flightplan is still active. Just make sure that
you reestablish radio contact before you reach the top of your
descent.
Oh thats good, Ill try that.
Anything else?
Yes, when I get to my cruise altitude, sometimes ATC

tells me that I am 300 ft above or 600 ft below my
assigned altitude, but according to my altimeter Im at
the correct height. There is no way for me to respond
and eventually, they cancel my IFR flight plan. Its
very frustrating.
So youve never flown FS at high altitude before now Michael?
No
But dont worry, I have brought your fee for todays consultation
I said trying hard to look pitiful as I handed over a bag full of
coins.
She unhesitatingly reached out to take the bag, swiftly emptying
its contents into the top drawer of her desk.
Oh thats too bad, you know that if hed signed into

Utah Wholesome Health just two years ago, hed
already have his retirement nest egg by now. Its a
business thats growing all the time. Im on track to be
a Gold Director in a few months!
I looked around her office for any sign of her
newfound wealth, but there was none. The same old
worn-out flight sim computer sat humming on the
floor under her scruffy looking desk. She tilted her
head to look at me around the side of her 15-inch
monitor and asked
She explained the concept of a transition altitude. She said that

using Real Weather, every airport has its own local altimeter
setting according to the barometric pressure that varies from day
to day, hour by hour. Above 18,000 ft, all aircraft use a standard
barometric pressure of 29.92 inches to make sure that all traffic
flies at their assigned altitude. She showed me how to change the
barometric pressure on the altimeter. She also told me that I had to
listen to the ATIS weather broadcast during my approach in order
to reset the altimeter to local pressure.
Why didnt you ask someone about this when you were at the
Flight Sim Expo in Sydney?
I reminded her that up until the time of my first holiday outside
of Hong Kong, I had only ever flown my FS2002 planes in low
altitude VFR conditions around Hong Kong Harbour. Also, the
people I met at the FS Expo that day in August were the first flight
sim fanatics I had ever met.
Apart from me
So how can I help you today?
Yes, apart from youand Captain Sarah Simmins.
I told her, truthfully, that my first flight in a real airliner had

opened my eyes to new possibilities in flight simulation. I was no
longer content to just fly endlessly around Hong Kong Harbor.
I wanted to reenact our flight from Hong Kong to Sydney. I had
learned how to use the flight planner in the program to create an
IFR route from VHHH to YSSY. The problem was, once I was at
cruising altitude, I could not leave the cockpit long enough even
to go to the toilet, for fear of missing the radio frequency change.
I discovered that if I failed to respond to an ATC instruction to
change frequency, my IFR flight plan was cancelled and I was left
to continue in flight following mode only. Nine hours of flying
Until that day in Sydney I had no idea how popular FS was all
around the world. What I did not tell Betzy Wong was that I came
back from Sydney with a copy of FS2004 for my new computer.
There were a great many things that Betzy did not need to know.
46
cpm1112a.indd 46
She did not know that on the day before mum and I left for Sydney I
had climbed under the table to disconnect our home telephone. While
I did not think that Betzy had our home number, just to be sure I made
certain that our phone was dead while we were away. I did not really
believe that my dad would fall for the same business opportunity
twice in one lifetime but I had to be sure that Betzy couldnt contact
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:29 PM
him. I knew that with his bad back, my dad would not be able to get
down and discover the disconnection. Anyway, for the two weeks
that we were away he was quite content to spend some of his time
taxiing around Chek Lap Kok in an FS Cessna, admiring the detailed
architecture. He had to use a phone downstairs to ring us with the
good news about the lump sum pay out from the insurance company.
When we returned home, I saw the new computer that he had bought
that was powerful enough to run FS2004. He had also bought my
mum a huge new TV set. I made sure that Betzy knew nothing about
our familys newfound riches or the fact that I had stopped at the
bank on the way to my final visit to her office. I withdrew HK$250 in
small coins so that I could offer up her fee in the most pathetic way
possible. This ensured that she never again mentioned her business
opportunity in my presence.
I can remember that during my final session with her that
September afternoon just over two years ago she excused herself
briefly while she swallowed another mouthful of vitamin tonic.
That done, her left eye began twitching again and her tone became
aggressive once more. I wondered how somebody who took so
many vitamins could fall asleep in the middle of the afternoon?
She was hardly a good advertisement for the product.
The very last thing she showed me was how to download aircraft
from the internet and install them into the flight simulator. Until
then, I did not even know that it was possible to add extra aircraft
into the program or that there were so many web sites dedicated
to FS. I watched her carefully, taking notes so that I could install
more planes when I got home. I thanked her for her advice and I
never saw her after that.
Now I can tell you that for the past two years I have
been content to fly Cathay Pacific flight CX138 from
Hong Kong to Sydney Australia and flight CX139
back to Hong Kong. I have now flown that round
trip over 750 times and Ive experienced numerous
encounters with conflicting traffic in that time.
On one occasion a 747 cut right across my path at
high altitude before ATC could even warn me of
its proximity. On another, I had to make a missed
approach into Sydney, when a DC3 landed from the
wrong direction! My simulator runs 24 hours a day
now, except for Chinese New Year when I go out for
dim sum with my family. I sleep during the cruise
phase and go back to the cockpit for the approach and
landing. Using Real Weather downloaded from the
internet I find that every trip is slightly different. I
never know which runway will be in operation when I
get to Sydney, which is quite a challenge.
My dad is happy to use my old computer. He never actually got
the hang of flying an aircraft, but I downloaded and installed a
freeware ferry from flightsim.com and he is quite content to sail
back and forth across Hong Kong Harbor in FS2002 from Wan
Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui every ten minutes.
My mum still dines out on her story about her two week
Australian vacation. She likes to tell her friends how we got
lost on our way to the Sydney Opera House after our visit to the
Flight Sim Expo. Would you believe that the very first lady we
approached to ask for directions was not actually an Australian,
but a Canadian from Vancouver on a one-day stopover from
Osaka? I mean; what are the odds? I never tire of hearing her tell
that story. Sometimes when CX138 is cruising to Sydney, I sit
and watch some TV with mum. We both watch CSI because every
episode is almost identical. Thats why we like it.
Mum is now almost teetotal, only drinking when there

is something to celebrate, and just before Christmas
she had some news from Australia that lifted her
spirits. Aunt Eliza and her husband were found dead in
their Sydney home in highly suspicious circumstances.
Luckily, my mum has a solid alibi otherwise I think
that she would be the prime suspect in the police
investigation. That night she and I drank champagne
to celebrate Aunt Elizas passing and now everything
is perfect.
The End 4
47
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11/20/2007 2:57:29 PM
Just Planes Blue Panorama DVD

BY GENE DAVIS
f you are like me and your interest in aviation

has grown over time simply because of Microsoft
Flight Simulator, then you probably have a small
library of aviation videos too. If not, you are missing
out on some great footage that is not only interesting
to watch, but is very informative too! In this review
go for a ride aboard a Blue Panorama Airlines 737,
757 and 767.
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cpm1112a.indd 48
The DVD
Blue Panorama ships on a single disc in a DVD style box,
showing off the Blue Panorama 757-200 on the front cover. In total
there are 4 different flights from areas such as Bologna, Italy; Rome
Fiumicino in Italy; La Romana in the Dominican Republic; Bari,
Italy; and Marsa Alam in Egypt. Each flight features a different
aircraft and a different crew as well as extensive preflight briefings
and some rather impressive cockpit introductions.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:31 PM
REVIEW
In total there is over 181 minutes of flying and other
information on this particular DVD, making this an aviation
lovers dream. There is a lot that goes into making this a really
good DVD too No matter what part of the flight you are in this
DVD will give you a good variety of viewing angles, and offers a
birdseye view from many areas of the aircraft.
The Menu
The menu that comes on the DVD is broken down into 15
different chapters covering flights from the three aircraft included.
Though the menu gets the job done, I think it could have been
better. Blue Panoramas menu seems a little dated in appearance,
and although it is informative it seems to come up short on
the overall design. I would have really liked to have seen an
information screen on the airline included on the disc. But I guess
this type of information can be readily accessed via the internet,
assuming you have easy access.
THE DVD MENU
Navigating the menu is also a bit of a challenge. Using a

standard DVD player with a regular remote is the easiest, but if
you choose to use your computer you will find yourself double
clicking and sometimes triple clicking trying to launch some of
the chapters. As I said though, for the best results its easiest to
just use a regular standalone DVD player.
One of the biggest peeves I have with some of these videos
is the poor way the developers choose to put a main menu
together on the DVD. Quality is a big factor for me and when
the main menu comes up I am basing a lot of what I see and
think of the overall video on what I see at the initial menu
screen. This may be a little pre-emptive on my part, but
what I usually see at the main menu generally carries into
the overall video as a whole because it really boils down to
quality and shows how much care was actually put into the
overall production.
LANDING BLUE
Video and Sound Quality

The video quality for Blue Panorama, in general, is really
quite good and displays well on a standard TV. I did find
that I didnt care for the way the video shows full screen
on a widescreen monitor though. It is important to note
that this video was designed for full screen rather than
widescreen and in this day and age I think it is important to
make widescreen the onscreen standard with titles like this,
especially when you take their price into consideration.
Clarity is also critical when watching this type of video. I
was pleasantly surprised to see that the entire video remains
almost crystal clear, and the level of image quality seems
very good throughout.
BLUE PANORAMA LOGO
The sound quality is also good and remains audible

throughout the entire video presentation. The one thing
that I really liked about this particular video was that
they used microphones during the crew presentations and
briefings rather than relying on the mic from the camera
which can often be drowned out by engine or ambient
flight deck sounds.
The aircraft sound is also nicely captured throughout the
video and if you have a good sound system I think you will
enjoy both the landings and takeoffs as the sound really pulls
you into the video.
TAXI TO PARKING
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11/20/2007 2:57:32 PM
HIGH ABOVE!
GOING DOWN!
CLEARED TO LAND
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ATLANTIC CROSSING BRIEFING
THE OFFICE
CHECKING THE NOSE GEAR
COMPLETING THE WALK AROUND
NIGHT TIME TAKEOFF!
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:35 PM
REVIEW
Watching the Video!
The DVD chronicles the flights of the 737,757 and the 767 from
preflight to landing in each of the different aircraft. I would have
liked to have seen the 15 chapters broken down into sub chapters,
because some of these chapters cover almost an entire flight and it
would be nice to be able to jump around to more specific spots with
sub-menu options.
DESCENDING FOR THE APPROACH
As I watched the video the level of detail each of the crew

went into about certain aspects of the flight became evident. Most
impressive for me was the Atlantic crossing briefing. This was
very informative and interesting to see. You will also find a great
deal of information about all aspects of each and every flight. The
pre-flight walk around was also featured for both the 757 and the
767 and was well detailed and full of aviation jargon that gets any
aircraft nut excited!
There is one scene where the 767 is coming through the clouds
for landing. It literally grabbed me and kept me on the edge of my
seat right until they were on the ground. All I could say was Wow!
The camera operator spent a great deal of time getting the angles
right and what I really liked about this DVD was that there was
a good deal of out the window shots from the cockpit showing
off the surrounding terrain. I find it fascinating to see parts of the
world that I will probably never get to see in my lifetime, and it is
also fun to try and recreate these flights in Flight Simulator.
OVER EGYPT
Watching the entire video does take some time, but it is well
worth it! You will get a good insight into how the flight crews in
these aircraft function, and it also provides a good learning tool
if you are interested in becoming an airline pilot.
Taking what you learned from the DVD to

Flight Simulator
I was quick to jump into Flight Simulator right after I
watched the video as it made me want to go and try my luck
at some of these airports. My sim of choice was FS2004. I
was quick to fly into Egypt in my Level D 767 and into Rome
with my PMDG 737. The terrain matched the pictures I had
taken from the video and I was impressed with how close
both worlds matched each other. Well, we really know the sim
world is trying to match the real world of course!
BOARDING!
You will also find yourself carrying over the briefings into
your virtual world and adapting them to work for you. If you
need a good look in and around a 757 or a 767, this video will
help a lot, especially when it comes to cockpit orientation.
Much of the information that is shown is presented during a
real flight and goes into a great amount of detail.
In The End
Is this video good? Yes, it is perhaps one of the best I have
seen by this particular company and it is worth the price of
admission. Video and sound quality is very good. There are a
number of different Boeing aircraft to explore, and plenty to
see with the varied parts of the world the DVD takes you to. If
you are a fan of these particular aircraft models, or the locations
you will visit in this production, then be sure to add the Blue
Panorama to your Aviation DVD wishlist. It retails for US$29.95
and runs for 181 minutes. The Just Plane DVDs are coded region
free and available from Just Planes at www.justplanes.com or
from PC Aviator at www.pcaviator.com 4
THE CREW HARD AT WORK
cpm1112a.indd 51
51
11/20/2007 2:57:41 PM
VIRTUAL AVIATOR
ONLINE FLIGHT SIMULATION RESOURCES
BY DEAN BIELANOWSKI
ere are some more

great, informative, and
inspirational Flight
Simulation related websites we have
found online this month. Check
them out and support your hobby
community!
FSDeveloper.com
For anyone with even a passing interest in
improving, modify or further developing their
flight simulator software, a trip to FSDeveloper.
com is a definite itinerary inclusion. In the
sites own words, FS developer is a site aimed
at developers and those interested in the inner
workings of Flight Simulator. Here you will find
a large community of like-minded developers as
well as technical articles and software.
The forum is where you can meet other
developers and ask questions relating to just
about any specific topic dealing with flight sims.
There is often another interested party ready and
willing to respond to your questions and offer
advice. Sub-forums cover aircraft design, scenery
design, mission design and more, and there is
even a sub-forum for developing the tools that
allow you to develop FS add-ons.
The Wiki on the site offers a lot of information
based on similar topic sub-categories as the
forums, and makes an excellent starting point if
you wish to find further information regarding
add-on development, or to find source data and
references for your planned sim development
project. The 3-Views and Plans Reference
section is particularly interesting for aircraft
model makers.
The downloads section is where you can find

useful software tools to aid the development
process. However, it appears (at present) that
the only files available are scenery design
related utilities. The aircraft design section
is currently empty, although his may change
over time. While you are on the site, sign up
to the RSS feed to be alerted automatically
when new additions are made to the website.
Overall, a great resource for the new or
established FS developer! Check it out at
www.fsdeveloper.com
X-Plane Features Requests

Austin Meyer, author of X-Plane, is always
developing the sim and is open to user
suggestions. But you could imagine how many
emails he gets from users wanting this, that,
and everything else in the next X-Plane release!
An alternative is to use a specific discussion
group you will find on the Yahoo groups
website. The group is simply called x-planefeatures and you can find it at http://games.
groups.yahoo.com/group/x-plane-features/
You will need to register with Yahoo to gain
access to the group, but the free one time
registration will allow you to access many
other Yahoo groups for your other hobbies or
interests too. The X-plane-features group was
set up to allow users to requests new features,
as well as discuss existing features. Apparently
Austin Meyer is aware of the group and has
welcomed it as a more efficient way to receive
user requests. Here the ideas for new features
are thrown around among group members first,
and once a consensus is reached, the request
may be officially submitted to Austin via the
group members or representative. According to

the group founders;
The idea of the list is to provide a sounding
board to discuss and get feedback on ideas
before submitting them to Austin Meyer (XPlane) for consideration. Austin is aware of the
list, and appreciates the fact that ideas which
come to him having been discussed here first are
less likely to waste his time, e.g. by requesting
features which have already been implemented
but the user is unaware how to access them,
by requesting features which the majority do
not think a good idea for some reason, or by
requesting features which are impractical or just
plain stupid.
Well, that pretty much sums it up I guess! If you
are an X-Plane user and want to get in on the act
of suggesting new features or proposing ideas,
head over to the x-plane-features Yahoo group
and let your voice be known.
Homebuilt Cockpit Resources

As the website name suggests, this little bit
of cyberspace, which you will find at http://
homebuilt-cockpit.masternerd.com/ offers
information and resources for the home flight
deck builder. But dont let the masternerd
name part of the web address put you off. If
you build one of these masterpieces, you will
be anything but nerdy. In fact, you will be the
envy of flight simmers and common folk
from all around!
The site is logically organized in an order
replicating a build process of an actual home
cockpit. It begins with choosing exactly what
type of aircraft flight deck you would like to
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11/20/2007 2:57:45 PM
FSDEVELOPER.COM
LEGION HARDWARE
replicate. The Real Cockpits section offers

photos of real world flight decks you can browse
through, to either decide which one you would
like to build, or to find reference images of the
aircraft you have already chosen to build. Next
comes the planning stage, and there is some very
valuable information on offer, from hardware
requirements to future expansion options.
If you are on a budget there are a number of
handy money saving tips in the Budget Tips
section. The information site-wide appears to
be quite up to date too, mentioning some of the
latest gear available. Build Materials covers
some basic materials you should be familiar with
to build your dream project. Cockpit Elements
looks at all the elements you will need to include
in your flight deck such as multi-screen displays,
sound systems and lighting.
The Flying Tips section has a handful of links
to articles on actual flying. Lastly, there is a
Resources section with further sub-categories
covering hardware, software and various
products available to the flight deck builder. A
well put-together website that is easy to navigate
and packed with useful tidbits of information.
Legion Hardware
It seems that whenever a new Flight Simulator
release comes out, so does a swag of hardware
related emails and posts to sim forums. Is this
video card any good? Is that motherboard
going to work with this memory? What kind of
processor do I need? Where do I find reviews
of hardware?. This last question is what website
Legion Hardware attempts to answer. Like
other popular computer hardware review sites,
cpm1112a.indd 53
X-PLANE FEATURES REQUESTS
YOUTUBES FLIGHT SIM VIDEOS
Legion Hardware offers the reader reviews of

many PC hardware products, covering CPUs,
motherboards, video cards, memory modules,
hard disk drives, system cooling and more.
In addition, there is a small but very useful
selection of tech related articles that are a
great read, and very informative. Some of the
article topics titled include; Intel X38 vs P35
Chipset; Beginners Guide to GeForce 8600 GT
Overclocking; How much power is enough?;
Legions High-end PC Buying Guide; and
many more. These are the type of analytical
style tech articles that you might not find on the
pure hardware review sites.
In addition to the article and review content,
the site also offers a busy user forum covering
just about any topic computer hardware
related, from general discussions to special
tech and help forums. A great resource to
engage with other computer users, or to help
solve your own computer dilemma. You can
check out Legion Hardware by surfing to
www.legionhardware.com
YouTubes Flight Sim Videos

If you dont already know about YouTube.
com you must be living on Pluto! It is perhaps
the biggest online video site in the history of
the internet, and you can find video content on
just about every subject. Just type in Flight
Simulator and you will have hundreds
of videos waiting for you, ready to watch
(broadband connection recommended). There
is of course a dedicated sim video site at www.
simtube.com which we covered in another
edition of Virtual Aviator, but the reason I
am mentioning YouTube this time out is that
HOMEBUILT COCKPIT RESOURCES
MELBOURNE FLIGHT SIMULATORS
I came across a really great Flight Simulator X

promo video that put a huge smile on my face. It
is perhaps the best marketing video I have seen in
some time, and every flight simmer will be able
to directly relate to the video content. It is a real
hoot! Check out the video directly at http://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=4AJ1u-KHHgU (a lot of
funky characters there so be sure to type them in
carefully). Of course, if you have the Directors
bug, you can upload your own simulator video
productions and share them with the world. The
homepage is at www.youtube.com
You could spend days, months or years on this
site, but just keep an eye on your bandwidth so
you dont run out of download quota if you are
on a fixed limit internet access plan!
Melbourne Flight Simulators

And finally this month, just a quick note that
Mike Speekman of Melbourne Flight Simulators
is now retailing the SimKits line of plug and play
USB flight deck instruments in Australia. These
were on show at the recent OzFlightSim Expo
on the Gold Coast, Australia and their design and
simplicity is second to none. They allow anyone,
even without electronic, electrical or wiring
knowledge to have realistic functioning aircraft
gauges in their own home cockpit. Mike showed
us the basic kits, which can be adapted to suit
many analog aircraft instruments right out of the
box using detachable gauge faceplates. Very cool!
Melbourne Flight Simulators is located at http://
www.melbourneflightsimulators.com.au/
The SimKits homepage can be found at http://
www.simkits.com/ 4
11/20/2007 2:57:48 PM
Aerosoft Flight Tales 1

BY DEAN BIELANOWSKI
ne of the most well described new features

of Flight Simulator X has been the Missions
engine. Here simmers can engage in some
exciting role playing or simulated real world
scenarios that take your flying well beyond the
realms of monotonous circuit flying or basic button
pushing in the heavy jets. Mission add-on products
are fast becoming the top selling expansions for Flight
Simulator X. Lets take a look at one of Aerosoft
Germanys latest mission packs Flight Tales 1.
Installation is straight forward. Just follow instructions on screen
and the installer will do everything else. Once you load up Flight
Simulator X, you will find the missions listed in the Missions menu.
They do have their own sub-group too, so you can use the dropdown
menu to select the Aerosoft Missions group and view all the
missions from the add-on without them being mixed in with every
other mission available in the simulator.
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cpm1112a.indd 54
There are a total of 10 missions available, with an extra tutorial

mission, which is just to get you started really. Each mission is
supplied with a detailed briefing of the mission plan, and what
the expected outcome should be. This is what you will be trying
to achieve during the mission to make it a success. The missions
encompass a wide variety of aircraft types and flying styles, and many
of them are no push over either. Some I still have not completed
successfully after more than a dozen attempts!
Lets take a look at each specific mission. I wont give you the full
run down on each, because that would be like giving away the end of
a movie to someone who hasnt seen it before. It doesnt make you
terribly popular!
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:52 PM
REVIEW
Awakening Beaver
In this interesting mission, you must bring a beaver back to life
that has not been terribly well maintained after a recent hire dilemma.
The problem is that this float plane needs to get airborne from a dry
runway. How do you do that? With a ute of course. To successfully
complete the mission, you will need to take off from the trailer your
beaver is resting on while being dragged along by a truck down the
runway. This can be tricky at first, but after a few attempts you will
probably get airborne. This particular takeoff method has been used
in the real world in the past, and links are provided to videos in the
briefing that prove it. It sounds crazy and is definitely something
most simmers will never have attempted before, simply because
the missions technology hasnt been available to do it before! It is
challenging but great fun too.
AHH, SPOTTED A MISSION OBJECTIVE. GET A GOOD PHOTO LADIES!
Keep speed down on final though, the runway isnt terribly long.
A nice scenic mission although the female voices and accents were a
little hard to understand at times. Complete this mission and you earn
a great reward
The Great Waldo Pepper

Sounds like a circus act doesnt it? Well, basically it is, only in
this act you fly the aircraft to perform death-defying stunts of pure
aerobatic genius (or more likely pure insanity). As the Great Waldo
Pepper, you are the most well-known stunt pilot in the world. In this
mission, you will take the Piper Cub and perform some close passing
maneuvers with other aircraft before entering a simulated dogfight.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF FROM THE TRAILER IN THE BEAVER
Black Forest Rally

In this mission you take to the southern German skies in the
default Baron. You are carrying two female friends equipped with
cameras hoping to spot and photograph some flying objects in the
mountainous areas. In fact there are several pilots flying with you.
Good friends whos idea of the rally was apparently concocted over
one too many alcoholic beverages! Take the photographers to the
intended target. Let them snap away and head to land at Frieberg,
a nice little town nestled on the other side of the mountain range.
THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER (THATS YOU) PERFORMING

A DEATH-DEFYING CLOSE MID-AIR PASS!
Then you can rescue a person off the back of a moving pickup,
before going on to perform some other insane stunt before the famous
Oshkosh airshow crowds eyes. This one isnt easy, but the airport
and surrounds offer some great visuals as you throw the world upside
down. It took me a good dozen attempts before I had the mission
figured out.
Bright Skies
BEAUTIFUL GERMAN SCENERY IN THE BLACK FOREST RALLY MISSION
The Bright Skies mission is an open-ended (no real time limit)

mission that puts you in the seat of the default glider (with a cool
paint scheme) and sends you off into the Australian countryside in
search of thermals. The nearby mountain range provides most of
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11/20/2007 2:57:53 PM
French Distraction
Let me explain this particular mission with some text from the
mission briefing screen. It reads: After 5000 hours in the cockpit
of the A321 theres not much that can surprise you. Hundreds and
hundreds of smooth landings, but every pilot knows that some day
something will happen. Now this day seems to have decided to
present you with one of those tales you can tell your grandchildren on
long winter nights when your flying days are over. But lets not jump
to the end of this tale as it only all begins.
You are flying an A321 on approach to Nice, France, which, on a
good day can be a challenging approach in itself. But this is no good
day. Something will happen that will require all of your skills to save
your crew and the passengers onboard. Prepare to sweat this one out
from start to finish. Im not saying anything more!
ON THE WAY TO THE THERMALS IN THE BRIGHT SKIES MISSION
those and you can soar with other AI gliders in the area. If you
soar for long enough, you can enjoy a fantastic sunset. However,
there are a few little extras thrown in. In the distance a hot air
balloon floats in the sky. In it is an observer and he wants to see
you pull off a full, quality loop (some rough, poor executed loop
wont cut it) and a full barrel roll in your glider. The loop wasnt
too hard but the barrel roll can be challenging. To complete the
mission, you need to perform these two tasks then land safely
back at the airfield.
Birthday Surprise
Its your nephews 16th birthday and you are invited to the party.
And of course, since you have your pilots license, you are flying to
the gig. The location is the Swiss Alps and its a perfect day for flying.
Your buddy is coming along with you and hes keen for a good flight.
Monaco Trophy
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE LOOKS GOOD SO FAR (GULP!)
ABOUT TO REACH THE START LINE IN THE

MONACO TROPHY COMPETITION
As you weave through the mountains, you suddenly get the feeling
this will be no ordinary flight. Lets just say the weather changes
somewhat. I didnt complete the mission at all. Something happened
to the aircraft. I am not sure what but the controls became stuck in a
nose down position. I hit the ground like a lawn dart. Perhaps we got
hit by lightning?
Anchorage Postman
Its racing time, and you are competing for the coveted Monaco
Trophy. Only the best of the best are invited to this special oneon-one air race in the home of the rich and famous. You fly the
aerobatic Extra aircraft, only feet from the waves as you buzz
by at high speed. You fly for a team and the goal is to make it
through the straight pass course in the shortest time possible.
This is a pure speed event. And you will have to time your start
accurately come race start. You fly against very competitive AI
aircraft, but first you have to qualify for the event. Too slow and
you wont even make the race. The mission is designed for full
effect in tandem use with Aerosofts Monaco X scenery add-on,
but it works fine with default scenery too.
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cpm1112a.indd 56
Anchorage Postman is an exercise in short field operations

in Alaska. You begin by selecting either the Cessna Caravan or
Grumman Goose from a menu option, then take off in search of half
a dozen or so small strips where you must pick up mail on your way
to your destination. During the flight you can flick through some
radio channels (automated sound file but it adds interest). I chose
the Goose and had a great experience with this aircraft. Even though
it is a default aircraft, it is a great model and great fun to fly. There is
a good mix of small strips to test your skills in this mission and some
nice scenery objects. The sun is fading fast though and you will have
some issues to deal with at certain strips. This mission was one of
my favorites.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:57:56 PM
REVIEW
POSTAGE MUST BE EXPENSIVE AROUND HERE!
I HAVE TO FLY THIS, IN THE RAIN, IN PERU!
Only 60 Minutes
It may only be 60 Minutes but this hour will be one of the
longest in your virtual sim life. You are flying a JetRanger and have
to search for a container ship that is in trouble. Its exact whereabouts
is unknown, but you have a general idea of the location. Fly to
the location, find the ship and report on the situation. If you feel
courageous enough, you can even attempt a rescue, but without a
winch, this will mean some precise, and somewhat inventive flying!
THE FIRST MAIL PICKUP OF THE DAY

(ANCHORAGE POSTMAN MISSION).
HEADING TO THE SEARCH AREA IN THE ONLY 60 MINUTES MISSION
This mission is offered in two versions, an intermediate and an expert

version. The intermediate is challenging enough, thank you!
A WATER LANDING WAS THE BEST OPTION AT THIS STRIP
Peruvian Rain
You are a pilot flying the DC-3 on a mission to drop important
supplies to isolated areas in Peru. The weather is set in so it is going to
be a wet ride. Deliver the supplies to the camps but watch out for the
rough strip landings. You might also need to airdrop supplies if landing
in not suitable, and given the heavy rain, this could be a likely outcome!
But be sure to nail that cargo drop. Its tough and the first few times
might result in the goods being dropped a long way from your target!
Conclusion
So there you go, 10 very interesting and different missions to
further enhance FSX. Overall the quality of the missions is excellent
with custom scenery, custom audio and voices and very few mission
glitches to be found. The best aspect in my mind however, is that
it forces you to fly a variety of great aircraft and in locations (and
weather) you normally may never fly. This opens up the FSX world
and allows you to experience its full potential. Flight Tales 1 is
available on boxed CD-ROM from all good flight simulator retailers.
It will set you back US$29.95 but consider it more an investment in
some excellent FSX missions! 4
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11/20/2007 2:57:58 PM
VFR Flying in the Water Wonderland

Part III
BY TOM KURTZ
hope you are enjoying the VFR flight over

Michigan as much as I am. This is a beautiful
state and there is much to see and do here. We
landed at Gogebic County Airport (aka Ironwood,
KIWD) when we finished the last flight. So that is
where we are starting from today.
I said we would fly the west coast tour in the Grumman Goose
G-21A. The Goose is a default aircraft in FSX with several different
paint jobs. I chose the Executive paint scheme for this flight, but I
usually fly the U.S. Navy version. If you dont have FSX you can fly
this VFR on FS2004 and download a Goose from most any of the
flight simulation websites. Ok, we have permission to taxi so while
we are doing that and getting cleared for takeoff lets look at the specs
of the Goose.
First the Goose is rugged, roomy, powerful, and amphibian. This
airplane can go just about anywhere. It is widely used in Alaska and
Western Canada. The Goose has been around for more than 70 years
(not that they are all that old!) and is still a favorite. The default FSX
has a really good virtual cockpit with most all of the switches and
buttons operable.
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Cruise Speed: 165 KIAS (Usually I cruise at 140 KIAS and 1700
RPM and lean the mixture at altitude)
Engines: 2 Pratt &Whitney R-985-AN-1 Radials
Props: 2 Hartzell 3-Blade constant speed
Maximum Range: 556 nm (However, with careful fuel use the
range may be increased)
Service Ceiling: 21300 ft.
Fuel Capacity: 95 US Gallons
Empty Wt: 2850 lbs
Maximum gross Wt: 5425 lbs
Length: 38 ft 6 in
Wingspan: 49 ft
Height: 16 ft 2 in
Seating: 7 Passengers
Useful Load: 1595 lbs
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:01 PM
KSAW is just ahead. K.I. Sawyer was featured in the movie The
McConnell Story filmed here in 1954. It was the story of Captain
Joe McConnell, the top jet Ace of the Korean War. I wrote about the
movie in Part II. Ok, heres KSAW.
VC PANEL
Ok, we are cleared for takeoff, our destination will be Charlevoix,

Michigan. I will use the flight planner and set up a flight that will
take us over some of the ground we covered in Part II and the
northern tip of Lake Michigan. If you want to navigate via VOR tune
the Nav 1 radio for 117.10 MHZ for the Sawyer Airport (KSAW)
VOR then after passing KSAW tune in 110.40 for the Manistique
Airport (KISQ) VOR. After passing Manistique tune the ADF to the
Charlevoix NDB frequency of 392.0 (CVX). You should be able to
pick it up right away. If not continue to fly about 112 degrees until
you are in range of the NDB.
PASSING OVER K. I. SAWYER AIRPORT
Theres State Route 28 below. If you are touring by motor vehicle

the route will take you into Manistique and close to the northern tip
of Lake Gogebic. Lake Gogebic is Michigans largest inland lake
measuring 13,380 acres of prime fishing water. The lake had bass,
northern pike, walleye (my favorite), jumbo perch, and white fish.
The area is a vacation paradise. In the winter snowmobiling is the top
sport. Lake Gogebic boasts the best snowmobile trail system in the
country. Here we are over the lake now.
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF AT IRONWOOD (KIWD)

OVER LAKE GOGEBIC
We will be flying over the Ottawa National Forest. It is one of the

prime deer hunting locations in upper Michigan and very beautiful in
the fall.
OVER THE OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST
Take a look below, theres State Route 64 that follows the Lake
Gogebic shoreline all the way to the town of Marenisco. There is a
small landing strip just north of the town.
ROUTE 64 BELOW FOLLOWS GOGEBIC LAKESHORE
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11/20/2007 2:58:01 PM
Well be over the Escanaba State Forest in a few minutes. We can

get look at Little Lake, which isnt really so little, and Bass Lake.
Then we will cross Indian Lake just before flying over the Manistique
Airport. All of these lakes are an important to the economy of upper
Michigan. The lakes and forests bring in much of the income for the
local communities from the tourists and sportsmen. Now you are
beginning to know why Michigan is the Water Wonderland.
MANISTIQUE AIRPORT AND LAKE MICHIGAN AHEAD.
OVER THE ESCANABA STATE FOREST
Ok, heres another big lake, Indian Lake (aka Kitch-iti-kipi,

meaning Big Spring in the Chippewa language). The lake is the
fourth largest inland lake in the state. It is 5 miles long and 3 miles
wide. It is a shallow lake with good fishing, but you have to have a
boat to get out where the water is deep enough to fish. The Thompson
Fish Hatchery is a point of interest. Millions of trout, walleye, and
salmon call the hatchery home until they are large enough to be
released in the lakes and streams of the state.
Ok, Charlevoix here we come!

Many years ago, I think, there was an Air Taxi Service between
Charlevoix and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. They flew the Ford TriMotor. The service continued into the 1970s.
Charlevoix is a great place to vacation. I have spent some good
times there camping and fishing. Charlevoixs beautiful splendor is
unmatched anywhere. Four bodies of water, Lake Michigan, Lake
Charlevoix, Round Lake, and the Pine River Channel surround the
town. I fished for brown trout in the river. There is much to do in
town with the quaint shops and restaurants available. There is also a
ferry to Beaver Island about 25 miles NW of Charlevoix. Well take a
look at Beaver Island later.
Charlevoix has a Venetian Festival, Apple Fest, and three superb
art fairs during the year. There is also a Christmas Regatta in the early
fall when boaters decorate their boats for Christmas. Charlevoix is a
world apart.
Ok, theres the airport below.
CHARLEVOIX AIRPORT, KVCX
Lets swing over the lake then make a water landing and wash
some of the dirt off this plane.
CROSSING INDIAN LAKE
Manistique Airport (KISQ) is just ahead, then we will fly over the
northern tip of Lake Michigan. The storms that sometimes occur on
Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are as fierce as any encountered on
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Many ships have been lost in these
lakes. One of the most famous is the Edmond Fitzgerald, lost with all
hands in a storm in November 1975.
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OVER LAKE CHARLEVOIX
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:04 PM
Ok, give me some flaps while I get lined up for the landing. Now
lets pull back the throttle, lower the wing tip floats and settle down
like a Canadian goose. I love water landings!
I love the cherries. When I was working in the Traverse City area
back in the 90s doing field engineering for GE I bought a bag of
cherries at every roadside stand we happened to find. My crew and I
were putting in Public Safety Radio Systems at the time.
WATER LANDING LAKE CHARLEVOIX

LANDED AT TRAVERSE CITY
Ok, that was fun and now lets take off and land at the airport for
some fuel and a pit stop.
When we take off Ill fly over Sleeping Bear Dunes before we head
to Frankfort.
Looks like some kids are playing on the dunes today.
Frankfort, Michigan is another great vacation spot on Lake
Michigan. The biggest attraction for me is fishing in the Betsie River
for salmon when they are running. We wont stop at Frankfort today,
but Ill fly over the Frankfort Lighthouse that was built in 1873 and is
now a tourist attraction.
LANDED AT CHARLEVOIX
We have clearance to taxi and take off. After we get airborne Ill
swing over the Charlevoix Lighthouse and Beaver Island before we
head to Traverse City.
Beaver Island was once connected to the mainland about 4,000
years ago when Lake Michigan was very low. When the lake began
to raise again the island was formed. What caused the water level to
increase? Maybe it was a period of global warming. Who knows?
Beaver Island is a community that offers peace and quiet to the people
living there. It has an airport, KSJX, but we wont land there today.
Actually, Beaver Island is the largest island of an archipelago of nine
islands in Charlevoix County. Trout Island is one of the smallest, but
it has an airstrip. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has
several wildlife research stations on the islands.
Lets turn SE and head for Traverse City Airport, KTVC. We can
follow the lakeshore to Traverse City, after all this is VFR.
Traverse City is the self-proclaimed Cherry Capital of the World
holding a week-long Cherry Festival the first full week in July to
celebrate. Besides cherries, the surrounding Tuscany-like countryside
produces grapes, and is one of the centers of wine production in the
Midwest. Tourism, both summer and winter, is another key industry.
Freshwater beaches, a mild summer climate, upscale golf resorts, a
prodigious snowfall, and nearby ski resorts make it a very popular area.
Next stop is Manistee, Michigan. Well land at Manistee CountyBlacker Airport, KMBL. The airport is about three miles east of the
town. We can grab an airport taxi and go into town for a bite of lunch.
Theres a little restaurant called the Captains table that serves the
best New England clam chowder in bread bowls. You may eat the
soup and the bowl. I hope you try some.
Manistee County was also one of my Public Safety Radio projects
in the 90s. It is also my favorite deer hunting area. The best hunting
is in the Udell Hills just south of state route 55 about ten miles east
of town. The Manistee River is the best Steelhead fishing in the state.
For those of you that arent fishermen, the Steelhead is really just a
very large rainbow trout in the 8 to 10 pound class. Very good eating.
Ok, heres Manistee.
OVER MANISTEE, MICHIGAN
That was a great lunch stop. Lets take off and head for Ludington,
Michigan, another great place on the west coast of Michigan.
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11/20/2007 2:58:05 PM
Theres the Muskegon Airport. Lets get in the pattern and land.
DEPARTING MANISTEE AIRPORT, KMBL
Ludington, Michigan is where the mouth of the Pere Marquette

River empties into Lake Michigan. It is also the location of the largest
Gus Macker Basketball Tournaments. The tournaments are held in
June or July and attract more than 25,000 people. My grandson was a
participant in the tournaments when he was in high school. He won a
college scholarship for his outstanding basketball skills.
June is also the time for the running of the Lakeside Half
Marathon which is another big attraction. Marathons are not my
thing (I am too old). However, one pastime of the local populous
is watching the SS Badger Ferry Boat return to port in the summer
evenings. Now watching the SS Badger is my kind of sport. The
ferry runs between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin all
summer. Ok, heres Ludington.
OVER LUDINGTON
Ok, lets take off and go to Muskegon, Michigan.
DEPARTING LUDINGTON
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MUSKEGON AIRPORT, KMKG
There is much to do in Muskegon. It is a naturall playground for

sailing, boating, golf, camping, and winter sports; like most of the
west coast.
Muskegon was once the Oil Capital of Michigan. Oil was
discovered only 1,675 feet underground on a local farm. It was
December 27, 1927 when the oil boom started. Soon 70 drilling rigs
sprouted up like daises in the spring. The oil operations reached a
peak in 1928 then Standard Oil decided to lower the price of crude
oil from a $1.25 to 50 cents a barrel and things started to slide
down. February 1929 saw a major decline in the business. However,
some refineries making gasoline continued for several more years
making a profit.
One attraction we have to see while we are here is the USS
Silversides, SS236. It is the most decorated submarine of World
War II having sunk more than 23 enemy ships in the Pacific
Theater of Operations. It was awarded the Presidential Unit
Citation (PUC). Members of the crew at the time the award was
won may wear the PUC. The PUC is the equivalent of the Navy
Cross that is awarded to individuals. The USS Silversides is
docked at the Pere Marquette Park.
Another attraction worth the visit is the Monet Gardens. It is a
replica of the Monet Gardens in France that honors the famous French
artist Claude Monet.
Well lets take off and go to a real jewel of the west coast, Grand
Haven, Michigan.
DEPARTING MUSKEGON
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:07 PM
Grand Haven is wonderful. If I had to pick a place to spend a week

of vacation on Michigans west coast it would be Grand Haven. We
are there already.
HEADING FOR GRAND HAVEN AIRPORT
LANDED AT GRAND HAVEN
GRAND HAVEN AIRPORT AHEAD
Lets take a spin over toward the Grand River before we land.
GRAND RIVER AT GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN
There are a couple of sights I want you to see before we leave. The
Musical Fountain and the Grand Haven pier. It is almost sunset and
the best time to see these attractions.
Tomorrow well take off and take a side trip from the coast and
visit Grand Rapids, Michigan.
DEPARTING GRAND HAVEN
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11/20/2007 2:58:09 PM
This side trip to Grand Rapids is not really on the west coast, but it
is the home of President Gerald R. Ford and worth the visit.
Grand Rapids is the second largest city in the state and principal
city of West Michigan. Grand Rapids is the world leader in the
production of office furniture. It is the home of the founders of the
Amway Corporation.
Astronauts Jack Lousma and Roger B. Chaffee were from Grand
Rapids.
There is a Pirate Island Windmill were you may meet the ghost of
an old Dutch sea captain and look for hidden treasures. Then there
is also Windmill Island that is a small Netherlands village with a
working windmill that is centuries old.
Ok, we are now over the city.
Lets land and take a break and get some of that good Dutch food.
OVER GERALD R. FORD AIRPORT, KGRR
Since this is just a side trip we wont land, but just fly around and
look at the city before heading to Holland, Michigan.
LANDED AT HOLLAND TULIP CITY AIRPORT, KBIV
Speaking of tulips they are the big attraction every year in the city.
You might say Holland is the Tulip Capital of Michigan. There is an
annual tulip festival (my wife and I attended it one year) that begins
on the first Saturday in May. The people dress in traditional Dutch
costumes and have a festival.
Well its about time to finish this VFR flight of the west coast
of Michigan. Lets take off and head for our last stop, Benton
Harbor, Michigan.
GRAND RIVER, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
Ok, lets follow the lakeshore south to a fun place, Holland,

Michigan. Holland is an all American city with a Dutch accent. They
have several annual events like dressing in Dutch costumes and
cleaning the streets just like in Europe. Yes, they wear the traditional
wooden shoes. There is a Parade of Lights near the Christmas
holidays and a Sinterklass parade. Sinterklass is the Dutch version
of Santa Claus. The Dutch celebrate the arrival of Sinterklass on
December 5th rather than Christmas Eve. No gifts are exchanged on
Christmas day, families just get together and eat a wonderful dinner.
If you want some great Dutch food you have to put Holland on your
list of visits.
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DEPARTING HOLLAND
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:11 PM
Benton Harbor is a great place to fish for jumbo perch in Lake

Michigan. If you ever get to Michigan in June and want to catch and
eat some great tasting fish Benton Harbor is the place to go.
Well, theres the airport coming up ahead.
LANDED AT BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN
SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL TERMINAL
PARKED... THATS ALL FOLKS
I hope you enjoyed the flight as much as I did and I hope you
learned something about the Water Wonderland.
The beauty of flying along with these stories in your own sim is
that you get to explore the virtual world in some unique aircraft! I
thank Wikipedia for the historical facts.
MAIN EXIT OPENED
Happy Landings,
Tom Kurtz 4
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11/20/2007 2:58:12 PM
A fighter pilot for the day

BY GWYN PERRETT
appy Fathers Day my wife proclaimed

as she covered the mouth piece of
the phone. Who was she talking to
I thought? I had been home from work for about
twenty minutes and all of that time she had been
engrossed in a telephone conversation. This is not
unusual for my wife and after all, its in her genes!
I have booked a simulated combat ride for you in a Chinese
Nangchang Fighter plane and Im talking to the owner of Fighter
Combat International, Mr. Drew Searle. I was going to surprise
you with the gift certificate but Drew wants to talk to you. My head
was spinning, is this true? My wife has just spent nearly five hundred
Aussie dollars on a half hour plane ride and Im going to take part in a
simulated dogfight, awesome! In a couple of weeks time I was to Be a
fighter pilot for the day, as the Fighter Combat Institute slogan goes.
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The Red Bull Air Race

Hi Gwyn, Im Drew Searle co-owner of www.fciwa.com, your
wife has just been telling me that you have built a 737 cockpit
simulator in your home and Ive been browsing through your website
whilst chatting to her, (http://aerosimsolutions.googlepages.
com/home) I must say that Im most impressed and I want you
to display your simulator at the Red Bull Air Race in November.
Drew revealed that he was the Race Director and one of the major
organizers of the Red Bull Air Race for all rounds of the event
worldwide. Wow, Im talking to the main man here! At the time of
writing nothing is confirmed but Im hoping to display my sim. It
would be a great opportunity to promote Computer Pilot magazine,
www.mycockpit.org and my own fledgling sim parts business,
Aerosim Solutions. I would love to get some pics of the famous Red
Bull pilots in my simulator.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:14 PM
The big day arrives
SHOP
THE TOY
I awoke on Friday the 14th of September and was instantly alert

with the realization that it was fighter combat day. I was advised
to have a very light breakfast and did so. I arrived at Jandakot
airport and parked my squeaky old work van next to Grants $65,000
V8 Holden Monaro hoping my rust wouldnt leap the 3 foot gap
to contaminate his car! The weather was looking foul and I really
didnt expect to fly this day. We entered the Fighter Combat Institute,
this building absolutely gleams. The reception area is neat as a pin
and the receptionist wow! I picked my jaw up from the floor to
announce who we were and we were welcomed and guided through
to the waiting lounge which is in the main hangar. This is a very
new structure and you can just about see the reflection of your face
on the glistening epoxy resin floor. I felt the need to wipe my feet
before entering this hangar which is packed with the ultimate in big
boys toys. Theres one of the Nangchangs, a two seat Extra 300, a
Super Decathalon, a very sexy looking twin engine Magister Fuga jet
fighter, a ski boat and a very hot looking car. I was informed that the
Fighter Combat Institute has two Magister Fuga fighters and they will
soon be joining the line up for fighter combat. Grant and I decided
that we will be doing jets next summer, Id better start saving now!
Drew also told me that he is an ex Royal Australian Air Force pilot

with a squillion hours and has also flown B747s for airlines. Thats
nothing mate I replied, I have logged over 80 hours of flying in
three different types of aircraft over a three year period and never ever
crashed! We pilots tend to brag a bit when we gather to chat and
exchange stories which reminds me of an old pilot joke, How do you
know when a pilots arrived at your party? Hell tell you! I told Drew
that some of my flying experience included a few hours of aerobatics
and he said he would let me have a fly of the Nangchang fighter
trainer, sweet! The next piece of information I received was that the
simulated combat would only happen if there was another passenger
available to hire another plane so I then took steps to make that
happen. I called my usual FS buddies who share my simulator and
I didnt get any takers, maybe they feared my flying skills and were
afraid of being shot down, who knows! As well as being obsessed
with aviation, I happen to be an experienced musician. I was playing
keyboards in bands back in 1999 to fund my flying lessons. One night
I was talking on the phone to muso mate Grant about the upcoming
fighter ride and he put his hand up, Ill come flying with you mate,
that will be a blast. Grant subsequently booked his flight in number
two plane.
CJ-6A IN
FLIGHT
The briefing
BRIEFING AREA
Captain Ian Gonsill welcomed us to the briefing area and issued our
fighter combat overalls and we got dressed up to party. We filled out
the obligatory If I die today, I promise not to sue forms. A flying
adventure like this is obviously not without danger and taking part
is done so entirely at your own risk - understandable. Gonz is an
ex RAAF pilot and a current B747 Captain with a Hong Kong based
airline, he owns one of the Nangchang aircraft and will be my pilot
today. My thoughts drifted to the Top Gun movie and I wondered if
I too should have nickname like Maverick or Iceman but before
I had penned a name, it was clear that Gonz had already nicknamed
me mate. The briefing entailed a detailed description of what we
were about to do as the rain crashed onto the hangar roof. Safety
procedures were explained and we were given instructions on how to
stop the aerobatics if we needed a break. The important air sickness
bags were issued and we were presented with some nicely embroided
FCI Velcro patches to stick on our uniforms. These are souvenirs to
take home and mine are now proudly displayed on the roof lining of
my simulator next to the overhead panel.
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11/20/2007 2:58:15 PM
side by side, my aircraft slightly behind Grants plane. There was

about 6 foot between our left wingtip and the horizontal stabilizer
of the other aircraft as we commenced the take off roll. The power
was eased on very slowly and after about 20 seconds both aircraft
were airborne and still only 6 feet apart with the noisy pneumatics
retracting our undercarriage. It was remarkable to watch an aircraft
take off from such a close vantage point. On the downwind leg of the
circuit at 1000 feet it became obvious that we wouldnt be combat
fighting today and Gonz announced our imminent return to the planet,
the weather had won. My pilot sincerely apologized but I was quite
pleased, we were re-booked for the following Friday and we had just
flown a free circuit in the Nangchang.
COCKPIT
The sortie begins

We were escorted out of the front of the hangar where our two
perfectly aligned fighters are parked and we were assisted into
the rear seats of the cockpits and strapped in. The cockpit is quite
comfortable with plenty of elbow room which was surprising. Whilst
Gonz is going through his checklist I survey my work station. A large
joystick in front of me with gun buttons and levers, a big swinging
rudder bar with foot grips and a large cluster of Chinese gauges
adorned with instantly recognizable Chinese characters Beef
and black bean, Sweet and sour pork, no wait a minute that cant
be right. I choose to trust the Dymo labels in English fitted in the
appropriate places. The artificial horizon instrument has a strange
peculiarity, it is upside down. This Chinese instrument has the blue
on the bottom and the brown on the top, I mused whether it was a
Northern hemisphere thing.
The weather looked to be getting even worse when Gonz and
Jeremy (the pilot of Grants plane), cranked the big 285HP radial
engines in precise unison. The engines obediently burst into life at
the same moment sending a pair of white smoke clouds and petrol
fumes rearwards past our open canopies. I cant believe we are
actually flying today, if it was one of my planned flying days, I would
have never left home. We taxied out and lined up on runway 06L
NANGCHANG CJ
-6A
GA
GISTER FU
THE MA
Sortie number two
WINGMAN
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Seven days pass, we suit up and were off into the wild blue yonder
with many big puffy white clouds at 4000 feet and the wind is calm.
The Nangchangs power uphill side by side with ease and we head
west to the site of the impending battle over the ocean at a place
called Safety Bay; was this meant to bring comfort? I was fantasizing
about what it would have been like approaching Pearl Harbor in a
Zero fighter when Gonz snapped me back to reality telling me we
would be breaking formation shortly and then he will let me have
a fly. Both pilots countdown to the formation break and we peel
off right into a knife edge hard turn pulling 4G which forces my
hands and almost my head into my lap and the next few minutes we
commence a series of high G aerobatic maneuvers in this fantastic
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:19 PM
THE AUTHOR!
nimble machine. Are you OK mate? asked my pilot, Sure mate,

Im fine I bravely replied still wondering if I was telling the truth!
You have control said Gonz, I have control, I replied and I
banked the Nangchang left 45 degrees and pulled back on the stick
and managed to maintain altitude in the turn, I then did the same to
the right and was applauded for my efforts so my confidence soared.
Sticking my neck out a bit, I asked my captain if I could barrel
roll the beast and permission was given. Under instruction I did a
shallow dive watching the metric air speed indicator. At 250kmh I
pulled the nose up about twenty five degrees above the horizon and
swung the stick left to its limit with a little left rudder, the roll was
absolutely glorious and I got to do it a second time, I just want a
Nangchang fighter!
The battle begins
THE FLEET
We spotted the enemy further out to sea and our pilots aimed their
aircraft at each other with a 500 km/h rate of closure. Grants plane
passed to the right about 20 metres away and I heard the scream of
its engine as it flew past. For the next ten minutes we tried to get on
the tail of the other plane with the enemy attempting to do the same.
The Nangchang creaked and groaned with the high G stresses and a
couple of times we shuddered in accelerated stalls due to turning so
hard. Most of the time I could keep my eyes on the other plane but I
lost it a few times and wondered how Gonz knew where it had gone.
This was extreme entertainment and I couldnt stop laughing out loud,
it was incredible but it ended far too quickly. After the dogfight was
declared a draw we cruised back to Jandakot and landed side by side
on 06L, again 6 feet apart and then taxied back to the hangar.
The debrief
DAY 1, NASTY WEATH

ER
It was all high fives and handshakes after departing the aircraft
and we spent the next 20 minutes discussing the experience with our
Fighter Ace pilots. Well done Grant, a non flyer who held on to his
breakfast. What an unbelievable day, the expense was no longer an
issue. It was a great thrill and worth every cent, Ill be back if they
let me have a steer of that Magister jet. Thank you Fighter Combat
International, awesome fun and highly recommended! 4
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THE ART OF DESKTOP

INSTRUMENTFLYING
The Instrument Landing System Approach
Skill Level: Intermediate. Instructor.... Jonathan M. Stern
y 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.
The ILS approach consists of several components:

1. The localizer, which provides course guidance by transmitting
a beam between three and six degrees wide (adjusted to
provide for a 700 width at the runway threshold).
2. The glideslope, which transmits an angular beam of 1.4
from top to bottom and provides glidepath guidance. The
antenna is sited to provide a threshold crossing height of
approximately 55 feet.
3. Marker beacons, which provide range information.
There also are specialized runway lighting systems associated with
the ILS and, in some cases, DMEs. See Figure 1.
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CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:30 PM
THE ART OF DESKTOP INSTRUMENT FLYING
FIGURE 1. THE ILS SYSTEM PROVIDES COURSE GUIDANCE, GLIDEPATH GUIDANCE, AND RANGE INFORMATION
There are three categories of ILS approaches, each with a

different minimum height above touchdown. Table 1 shows the
different categories and associated minima. Although availability
is not widespread, the Category III(a) approach permits landing in
visibilities 700 feet or above and regardless of ceiling. This type of
ILS approach requires specialized equipment in the aircraft as well as
specialized pilot certification.
The most commonplace ILS approach is the Category I, which
permits descent to as low as 200 feet above the runway before having
the runway environment in sight and visibility as low as 2,400 feet.
TABLE 1
ILS Approaches
ILS
Minimum Visibility
Minimum Height
Above Touchdown
Category I
Category II
Category III(a)
Category III(b)
Category III(c)
2400 feet
1200 feet
700 feet
150 feet
0
200 feet
100 feet
0
0
0
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11/20/2007 2:58:31 PM
FIGURE 2. THE LOCALIZER BECOMES MORE SENSITIVE AS THE AIRCRAFT FIGURE 2. GETS CLOSER TO THE ANTENNA
The localizer is a ground-based transmitter that provides course

guidance for the pilot. The localizer antenna is situated at the departure
end (the far end) of the primary runway that it serves. As with a VOR,
the localizer is most sensitive when the receiver is close to the antenna.
The sensitivity is depicted in Figure 2, which shows the sensitivity
differential between the outer marker and the middle marker. If you
execute a missed approach that takes you down the runway, the
localizer becomes more and more sensitive to slight deviations until
you pass the antenna, at which point the sensitivity begins to decrease.
An ILS approach utilizes what is called the front course of the

localizer. In Figure 2, the front course, which serves runway nine, is
depicted by the yellow and blue feathers. At some airports, there also
is an instrument approach procedure that utilizes the back course of
the localizer with what is called a localizer back course approach. If
the airport depicted in Figure 2 had a back course, it would provide
approach guidance to runway 27. When the back course is flown, the
course deviation indicator, or CDI, has reverse sensing unless special
equipment is available in the aircraft (an HSI or back course switch).
Not infrequently, a given runway is served by an ILS approach to

each end. In some cases, both ILS approaches are assigned the same
frequency. In such a case, the ILS systems at each end of the runway
are not operated simultaneously. In real life, ATC maintains control
over which ILS is active. When a change is made, it is announced over
the appropriate frequency or frequencies so that pilots are promptly
made aware of which ILS is active. With Flight Simulator, the ILS at
the runway end closest to the airplane when the frequency is tuned is
automatically selected. In some situations, it may be necessary for you
to select the correct ILS by retuning the frequency.
Unlike a VOR, the localizer has only one fixed course; it does not
vary by turning the OBS. Whereas full scale needle deflection from
center to either side is 10 when tracking a VOR, the same amount
of deflection when tuned to a localizer is only 2 . When tracking
inbound on an ILS IAP, course corrections are made in the direction
of the needle. See Figure 3.
DEAD ON THE LOCALIZER AND GLIDESLOPE FOR

LANDING AT SAN FRANCISCO INTL
72
cpm1112a.indd 72
When tracking outbound on the front course, however, course

corrections are made away from the needle, as is the case with a VOR
if you were tracking inbound with a FROM indication.
ILS APPROACH TO NANTUCKET AIRPORT, USA
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:33 PM
FIGURE 3. THE LOCALIZER NEEDLE

REPRESENTS THE COURSE WHEN
TRACKING INBOUND ON THE
FRONT COURSE
73
cpm1112a.indd 73
11/20/2007 2:58:34 PM
FIGURE 4. THE HORIZONTAL NEEDLE REPRESENTS THE GLIDESLOPE
Although the OBS has no effect on the ILS, I recommend that

you set the OBS to the inbound course as a reminder of the inbound
heading. Unlike a VOR, when you fly over the localizer transmitter,
there is no indication, other than changes in sensitivity, that you have
passed it.
transmitters that transmit an elliptical pattern displayed in the

cockpit as the airplane passes over the antenna. Category I ILSs
employ an outer marker and a middle marker. The outer marker
marks the approximate position where an aircraft at the initial
approach altitude intercepts the glideslope.
The glideslope is easy to understand if you imagine a localizer

transmitter rotated 90 degrees onto its side and transmitting a single
course upward at a three-degree angle. The glideslope is shown in the
cockpit by a horizontal needle on the navigation display. See Figure 4.
The initial approach altitude on the ILS Rwy 23 IAP is 2600 feet.
The glideslope intercept point is just to the right of (before) MEEKY on
the profile view. The glideslope crosses MEEKY at 2357 feet MSL, as
is indicated by the notation 2357 just above the Maltese Cross.
If the glideslope needle moves above center, the airplane is below

the glideslope; if the glideslope needle moves below center, the
aircraft is above the glideslope.
The middle marker indicates the approximate position on a

Category I ILS approach at which an aircraft on glideslope is required
to continue descent for landing or execute the missed approach
procedure. An inner marker, which is not present at Yeager Airport, is
associated with a Category II ILS.
Figure 1 includes a rate of descent chart, which shows the rate of

descent to maintain for a given groundspeed and glideslope angle
to remain on the glideslope. The actual glideslope angle is shown
in the profile view of the instrument approach procedure chart.
Figure 5 shows the ILS Rwy 23 approach chart for Yeager Airport
in Charleston, West Virginia. The descent rate required to maintain
the glideslope on the ILS Rwy 23 approach for a groundspeed of 120
knots is approximately 645 feet per minute.
Distance information is provided by both DME and marker
beacons on this approach. Marker beacons are ground-based radio
74
cpm1112a.indd 74
On some ILS IAPs, there is no outer marker. In such a case, DME

may be substituted for the outer marker if it is shown on the IAP chart.
A significant difference between precision and non-precision IAPs
is that precision approaches do not have MDAs. Instead, precision
approaches are made along the glideslope to a decision height (DH).
When the airplane reaches the DH, pilots must immediately decide
whether they meet the requirements to continue the approach or
whether they must execute the missed approach procedure.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:35 PM
Shortly before reaching MEEKY you will interceptand should

start your descent alongthe glideslope. MEEKY may be identified
in several ways. First, it is at the 5.3 DME point on the localizer.
Second, it is at the HNN 132 radial. Third, it is marked by an outer
marker. The designation NoPT adjacent to GLAZE tells us that
we need not execute a procedure turn if we are using GLAZE as our
initial approach fix. Otherwise, the racetrack holding pattern would
indicate the need to execute a procedure turn at MEEKY.
FIGURE 5. APPROACH CHART FOR YEAGER AIRPORT, CHARLESTON
The requirements for continuing the approach below the DH are the
same as for descending below an MDA on a non-precision approach:
pilots must have the runway or certain elements of the runway
environment in sight and be in a position from which a normal
landing can be made. Its time to give the ILS approach a try.
Takeoff to the Northwest from the crosswind runway at Yeager
Airport and climb to 3600 while intercepting the HVQ 054 radial
outbound. GLAZE intersection (at the intersection of the HNN 116
radial) is an initial approach fix, as indicated by the IAF notation.
This means that this fix is the point at which the approach begins.
From here, fly a 155 degree heading while descending to 2600
feet. Tune your primary navigation radio to ICRW, the Runway
23 localizer. As you intercept the localizer, turn right to track the
localizer course inbound.
SHORT FINAL AT YEAGER RWY 23. THE ILS DID SEEM SLIGHTLY
MISPLACED TO THE LEFT OF RUNWAY CENTERLINE ON APPROACH IN MY
VERSION OF FSX HOWEVER?
Continue descent along the glideslope while tracking the

localizer. The decision altitude is 1181 feet. If you have the runway
or certain elements of the runway environment in sight and are
in a position from which a normal landing can be made, you may
continue the descent and land. If not, execute the missed approach
procedure, which calls for a climb straight ahead to 1800 feet
followed by a climbing right turn to 3000 feet while flying direct to
HVQ, where you then enter the published holding pattern and await
further instructions.
Youve now flown the approach of choice for low ceilings or low
visibility. Practice makes perfect, or at least better.
Figures 1 - 4 Illustration Source: U.S. Government FAA
Publications. 4
75
cpm1112a.indd 75
11/20/2007 2:58:37 PM
VOR to VOR Navigation Training

BY JOHN SHANKLAND
hen I first started aviating with flight

simulators, I would ascend into the virtual
skies and simply fly around the airport
from which I had taken off. Id practice my takeoff
and landing skills and fly around the flagpole, but
never much more than that. Oh, sure, Id venture
out further and would land at other airports, but
the airports where I landed were hardly ever my
intended destination. Thats because I didnt know
how to navigate.
Whats What
I tried reading some books on the subject (before Al Gore invented

the internet), but I felt the books and articles I had read were written
for people who already knew how to navigate. This was no help to
me, whatsoever. I called my brother who had taken flying lessons and,
with his help and considerable patience, I finally figured it out.
VOR stands for Very High Frequency Omni-directional Range.

Basically, its a ground-based radio station that emits a precise
signal in every direction. A VOR radio in your airplane picks up
these signals and modifies a panel display that provides directional
guidance while you are flying toward or away from the VOR
transmitter.
76
cpm1112a.indd 76
In this article, I will try to explain how to navigate through the

virtual skies using VORs. I will use real sectional charts to show you
how I create my flight plans. For me, using real sectional charts adds
more realism to the flight sim experience. I realize that Microsoft
Flight Sim incorporates a tool that creates a flight plan for you;
however, in my opinion, that is far from fun. So sit back, relax, and
enjoy this lesson I have the airplane.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:40 PM
This is how it works. Imagine

the VOR transmitter is the hub
of a bicycle wheel that has 360
spokes. These spokes are called
radials and each radial represents
one degree of a complete circle.
With the NAV radio you tune in
the frequency of the VOR that you
want to fly toward or away from
and then follow the specific radial
of your choice.
The VOR1 and VOR2 gauges are located on the right side of
the panel. As denoted by the illustration, a bearing ring is mounted
around the outside of the gauge. This bearing ring is not to be
confused with a Heading Indicator gauge! The purpose of the bearing
ring is to select a particular radial from the VOR transmitter, and this
selection can be adjusted with the Omni-directional Bearing Selector
(OBS) knob on each receiver.
THE VOR IN ALL ITS GLORY
For purposes of this training I will be using the default Cessna 172
in FS2004. Also, I will be using real section charts for the area where
I live. I must apologize because I live in the Midwest United States
which means its really flat and boring. No magnificent mountains
or other unique terrain features. Come to think of it this is a perfect
venue for this lesson because there are NO distinguishing features
ANYWHERE! Because the landscape is so bland, its easy to get off
course, and this is where radio navigation becomes extremely useful.
Cockpit Familiarization
As if it wasnt already hard
enough to fly and keep track of
the Big Six gauges on your
panel while flying, Im now
going to add a few more. I took
these screenshots in the 2D panel
because its easier to see; however,
if you like flying with the virtual
cockpit, these same gauges are
there as well, although it might
vary slightly from the 2D view.
Ive highlighted the instruments
we are going to use in this lesson.
We will start with the radios;
after all, we wont be flying to
any VORs if we dont use these.
On your radio stack you will have
two communication radios and
two Navigation radios. Well call
the navigation radios NAV1 and
NAV2. You will see an Ident
button on each radio. When a
VOR is tuned into the NAV1 or
NAV2 radios, you can identify the
correct VOR by pulling this Ident
knob and listening for a particular series of tones. In the real world,
if you tune in the VOR and you dont hear anything when you pull
the Ident knob theres a good chance that VOR is out of service. We
wont run into this problem in FS2004.
Along with the VOR radios well be using Distance Measuring
Equipment or DME. Its located at the top right corner of the
2D panel. This handy little display will help you a couple different
ways -- it can show how far away you are from the VOR, and it can
display your ground speed in knots. In
some aircraft, it can also indicate the
approximate flight time to arrive at the
VOR. Since you will have two different
VORs tuned into the NAV radios, there
is a knob to switch the DME between
THE DME DISPLAY. A VERY
the two radios.
HANDY DISPLAY INDEED!
CHECK THE LOCATION OF THE VOR RECEIVERS IN

RELATION TO THE BIG SIX
Creating a flight plan

The flight plan I created for this lesson was made using real
sectional charts. Well be taking off from a small airport north of
Indianapolis (KTYQ) and landing at an airport south of Chicago
(KIKK). In real life, its pretty much a straight shot, but I threw a little
jog into the flight plan to spice it up.
I create my flight plans on my laptop and then set it next to me as I

fly. This does two things for me one, it provides all the information
I need at a glance and, two, makes me feel high tech!
If youd like to create your flight plans as I do, you can purchase
sectional charts and other planning and navigation aids from your
local municipal airport.
77
cpm1112a.indd 77
11/20/2007 2:58:41 PM
Nothing happens! Why? Well, were sitting on the ground. Once

we get airborne and gain some altitude, the VOR receivers will spring
to life I promise! We now have clearance for departure on Runway
36 heading west. We check to ensure the pattern is clear, ease out onto
the runway, get lined up, ease the throttle forward, and off we go!
After establishing a positive rate of climb and retracting the flaps,
we climb out to 1500 ft. Upon reaching altitude, we turn to a heading
of 281. Soon we will see the DME display showing a readout for the
Danville VOR.
I HAVE HEADINGS, VOR RADIO FREQUENCIES AND

IDENTIFYING CODES, AND DISTANCES AT THE READY
I laid out my sectional and my navigation plotting ruler and went

to work. The first leg of my flight was from Indianapolis Executive
(KTYQ) Runway 36 to the Danville VOR. According to the sectional,
I should be flying a heading of 281. From there, I would backtrack a
little to the Boiler VOR. Notice that there is a route already established
on the chart between these two VORs. These routes are called
Victor Airways (VA) and you can see numerous VAs on a sectional
connecting various VORs. The VA in this case told me that I needed
to fly a heading of 053 from the Danville VOR to the Boiler VOR.
The final leg of our flight will take us from the Boiler VOR to Greater
Kankakee Airport (KIKK) which happens to have a VOR smack dab
in the middle of the airport! We will be landing on Runway 34.
Lets go flying!
CLIMBING OUT ON A HEADING OF 281
This is when we use the Ident button on the Nav1 radio. When the
Ident button is activated, we will hear a series of Morse Code tones.
According to our flight plan, it should be dash dot dot pause dash dot
pause dot dot dot dash. If thats what we hear, then were tuned into
the correct VOR. If not, we need to re-check our frequency settings.
As VOR1 becomes active, we can see that were on a heading of
281 and tracking the 281 radial toward the Danville VOR. In other
words, we are flying TO the VOR. We know this by looking at the
gauge itself. Notice that there is a small arrow pointing up at the
bottom of the gauge. We can fly either toward or away from a VOR.
The key is to make sure that we have the correct radial selected with
the OBS.
LINED UP AND READY TO GO!
After completing a thorough preflight check, we release the parking

brakes and taxi to Runway 36. At the Hold Short marker, we go
through the takeoff checklist and note that everything seems to be
good with the airplane. We tune the NAV1 radio to a frequency of
111.0 and set the OBS to a bearing of 281. This is for the Danville
VOR. Next, we set the NAV2 radio to 115.1 and the OBS to a bearing
of 053 for the Boiler VOR.
78
cpm1112a.indd 78
THINGS LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE VIRTUAL COCKPIT VIEW.
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:43 PM
If you have MS Flight Simulator create your flight plans for you,
it automatically selects the headings for you, but if you create flight
plans as I do, you have to be wary of which radial you select. Many
times I would put my straight edge in the center of the VOR of the
departure airport and use that radial. If you look at the route earlier in
the article, the red line from KTYQ to the center of the Danville VOR
looks like it lies on the 99 radial. Well, it is IF Im flying FROM
that particular VOR. However, if Im flying TO a VOR, I need to
use the reciprocal of the 099 radial, or 281. If you look at the VOR
diagram earlier in the article, youll see that the reciprocal heading for
270 is 090. Likewise, the reciprocal for 360 is 180.
When we took off, we assumed a heading of 281 and pretty much
hit right on the radial that we were supposed to be on. What happens
when we arent lined up exactly on the radial and we need to find it? As
long as we are flying TO the VOR, we need to fly to the line in order
to intercept the radial we need. To illustrate this, I took a little detour to
the left to get off course. The needle in the middle of the VOR1 gauge
moved to the right, indicating that we are to the left of the 281 radial
and we need to turn right to intercept it. As we get closer to the 281
radial, the needle swings back to the center as the illustrations show.
STARTING MY LEFT TURN
NOTICE THE NEEDLE ON VOR 1 HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER
COMMENCING A RIGHT TURN TO FLY TO THE LINE TO GET

BACK ON COURSE
ONCE THE NEEDLE HITS CENTER, ROLL BACK TO A HEADING

OF 281. ROLL OUT OF YOUR TURN A LITTLE EARLY SO YOU
DONT OVERSHOOT THE RADIAL
GETTING READY TO TURN ONTO THE 053 RADIAL FOR THE BOILER VOR.
NOTICE THE HEADING INDICATOR AND THE BEARING RING ON THE
VOR 2 RECEIVER. AFTER THE TURN, THEYLL BOTH READ THE SAME
79
cpm1112a.indd 79
11/20/2007 2:58:46 PM
We stay on the 281 radial until about 1.5 nautical miles from the
Danville VOR, and then we turn to a heading of 053. Since we
were so close to the Danville VOR and are now following the Victor
Airway for the Boiler VOR when we roll out of our turn, we are
exactly on the 053 radial. We switch the DME over so it starts picking
up the Boiler VOR. With a quick pull of the Ident knob, we confirm
that we have the correct VOR frequency dialed into the NAV2 radio.
When we are about one and a half nautical miles from the Boiler
VOR, we roll into a left turn and roll out onto the 311 radial for the
Kankakee VOR.
As you can see from the screenshots, this is a VERY FLAT place.
There are no landmarks, mountains, hills, rivers, or anything else for
that matter that might help us determine where were at. This is why
learning how to navigate using the VOR system can be so helpful
and fun!
About twenty miles from the Kankakee airport we make a left
turn and intercept the 340 radial. We do this because the VOR
sits smack dab in the middle of the airport and were looking to
land on Runway 34. This will give us our best chance of making
a straight-in approach. We intercept the 340 radial and follow it
in to the Greater Kankakee Airport and, sure enough, the runway
lies dead ahead! Having done the landing checklist before, its
just a matter of a few small adjustments here and there and we
can set this puppy on the ground!
RESETTING THE NAV 1 RADIO TO 111.60 AS WELL AS SETTING THE VOR

1 OBS SO IT WILL TRACK THE 311 RADIAL OUT OF KANKAKEE
At the conclusion of the turn, its time to reset the NAV1 radio
to the Kankakee VOR. We dial in the frequency of 111.60 and the
needle quickly swings into action. We know from our flight plan that
we need to fly a heading of 311 from the Boiler VOR all the way to
Kankakee, so we set the OBS to a bearing of 311.
Its relatively a short little jaunt from the Danville VOR to the
Boiler VOR. So far, everything is going according to plan.
At this point, were flying in fair weather conditions, but if it were
bad weather, we may have to change our destination airport. When
Ive done that in the past, I would get out my sectionals and re-route
my trip on the fly (no pun intended!). That is always a challenge, but
very rewarding when a potential disaster can be avoided with some
quick and cool-headed thinking.
LINED UP ON FINAL!
Bringing It In
ROLLING OUT ONTO THE 311 RADIAL. NOTICE THE DME IS STILL SET TO
THE BOILER VOR. THE HEADING INDICATOR AND THE VOR 1 BEARING
WILL READ THE SAME AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN.
80
cpm1112a.indd 80
TOUCHDOWN!
CPM. V11I12
11/20/2007 2:58:50 PM
Debrief
PROPOSED ROUTE
ACTUAL ROUTE
Now that were safely on the ground, we can compare our flight
plan with the actual route we flew. Its important to keep in mind that
I veered off course on purpose to show you how to find the radial we
were looking for. Its almost a mirror image!
Im pleased with the results of this flight. Its always fun to sit back
and review your flight and say, I did a good job on that one! or
Where the heck is this place? This airport wasnt on the flight plan!
Either way, just have fun doing it!
With everything these days moving towards new-fangled GPS
systems and so forth, I find it very exciting and rewarding to plan my
flights using real world sectionals and navigation aids. I admit that,
when I first started, I didnt think I would be able to do it; however, I
stuck with it and now I fly all over the place using the VOR system.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson and want to continue to hone your
navigation skills. If you have questions, the flight sim community is
full of helpful individuals who will gladly take the time to assist you.
The internet is also a great place to find resources on the subject
Happy flying! 4
81
cpm1112a.indd 81
11/20/2007 2:58:52 PM
COMING
UP
...
...in the January 2008 Issue
FlightSim Manager Version 2.8.0

FS2002/FS2004 Utility
Filename: fsm280.zip
Author: Rana Hossain
Available From: www.ranainside.com or www.flightsim.com
WIN!
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the
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next issue! Be sure not to miss it for your chance to win! Authors: David Eckert, Mark Smith, Dennis Seeley, Louis Sinclair
Many articles appearing in Computer Pilot magazine are a direct result
Available From: www.flightsim.com
Flying Green with Farmboyzim Bolivia
of your emails and feedback. If you have a topic you would like us to
We chilled our bones on our last Green Flight in Greenland. Time to
cover, or just have some general constructive magazine feedback, let us
The next time you feel like flying low and slow with reference to the bare
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Eckerts Stearman Kaydet. I am showing the Kaydet in Army Air Corp
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Vista Australis Tamworth High Res Overview
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Computer Pilot 2007-12

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Computer Pilot 2007-12

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VOLUME 11 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2007

A Dream Come True

ISLAND IN THE SKY

Recreating the Classic Movie...

Your Flight Simulator Scenery World Is Now

MAKE HAWAII YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION

ay goodbye to boring default scenery

NEAR PALM SPRINGS. MT SAN JACINTO RENDERED IN

Hyper-realistic scenery at 1.19 meters per

Faster Framerates! Yes, your Flight Simulator,

Day and Night Scenery. Soar and explore the

Printed full color aeronautical charts,

Hi-resolution DEM (mesh). While MegaScenery

A total value packed, realism transforming

COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AT WWW.MEGASCENERY.COM

MEGASCENERY MAIL ORDER FORM

SHIPPING: .................... ORDER TOTAL:........................

CREDIT CARD NUMBER:

MEGASCENERYX SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

MEGASCENERYX DALLAS/FORT WORTH

7,000 square miles of Phoenix Arizona and Surrounding Area. Includes

SENDING YOUR ORDER: If you are ordering by mail,

The Hawaiian island of Oahu, spectacularly recreated.

NEW RELEASE PRODUCTS

The latest flight simulator products in stock!

The Best Flight Deck Package Yet!

The Official Expansion Pack!

Flight Simulator X: Acceleration adds a wealth of new

In the tradition of four previous versions, the new

Electronic Charts You Can Use For

10 Thrilling Missions For Flight Sim X

This latest edition features over 30,000 Real World

Take part in the Flight Tales 1, discover a lot of exciting

Compatible with: Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Microsoft

Airbus Series Volume 2

With FSFlyingSchool, youll never have to fly alone

Whatever your skill level, this Airbus Series is

Fly Like The Pros With Microsoft

The Add-on That Delivers Even More

Adjustable difficulty levels, from Beginner to Advanced level. Detailed interiors

The Multi-Award Winning SIAI-Marchetti

Experience Surround Graphics!

This is the FSX/FS2004 version of the multi-award

This package includes the following Airbus aircraft:

Bridge the gap between virtual reality and reality.

Titles just arrived or due for release shortly!

Pro Flight Emulator Deluxe brings back the all time

You are a pilot of an air rescue medical service based in

A Classic Returns For FSX And FS2004!

Now You Can Be The Hero!

Mega Airport Brussels

One of the Worlds Busiest Airports,

Mega Airport Brussels, the hub of the capital of the EU,

There is no doubt this product is one of the most

Completely designed in Gmax

Ultra-Detailed Brussels Airport Scenery

Hi-Resolution Terrain Mesh For The

The Most Amazing Scenery Youll Ever Fly!

FS Global 2008 is a new product. It uses the NEWEST

At 18,000 square miles this new title for Flight

A highly recommended product offering excellent value for money!

The Business Jet Every Flight Simmer

Latest Generation Flight Simulator

No business jet gets you to your destination faster