Navigation made easier

We all use flight simulator for a bit of a mess around sometimes. And it's a pain to recognise airports, to to keep opening the map to find out which airports are which. Flight sim enthusiast Lamont Clark has constructed instructions for enabling an undocumented feature in Flight Simulator X that displays airport names above airports while you’re flying around.

Here’s how to enable the feature. Only do this if your comfortable with editing config files, you can never be too safe, so if your are going to, BACK UP YOUR FILES!

Locate the user version of the file named Standard.xml. Here are the default locations on Windows XP and Windows Vista:
Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\\application data\microsoft\fsx\controls

If you don’t see the Application Data folder, you need to turn on Show Hidden Files and Folders: tools>optins>'view' tab> then uncheck 'hide hidden files'

Windows Vista:
C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\Controls

If you don’t see the AppData folder, you need to turn on Show Hidden Files and Folders (see below).

Make a backup copy of this file and put it in a safe place in case you ever want to revert to the original file.


Open Standard.xml with Notepad or another text editor.


Add an Entry block in the Keyboard_Main area of the simcontrols.map section (at the beginning of the file), by inserting the following text as shown (note that CTRL+SHIFT+P is the suggested key combination, but you can assign it to anything you like - just verify that it isn't already in use):

CTRL+SHIFT+P
TOGGLE_AIRPORT_NAME_DISPLAY




Save the file.


Start Flight Simulator X, fly, and press Ctrl+Shift+P (or whatever you assigned it to) to toggle airport name display on and off.
You'll come across loads of new airports Oh, and if you were so devil-may-care as to ignore step two, and then find that you want to undo your changes, just delete Standard.xml, and FSX will replace it with a clean copy the next time it starts.

iFly Boeing 747-400

Available to download here

iFly 747-400 for FS2004. Features an extremly detailed cockpit with fully simulated FMC. Also features Complete TCAS simulation with audio and visual TA and RA system 90% of 3D fully operational buttons in VC mode. Th download also features 7 popular accurate liveries. This is a turely worth while download.

Ryanair open to Airbus looking for fleet expansion

Budget carrier Ryanair has looked to Airbus for a possible fleet-renewal, after failing to get suitable terms from Boeing, although neither airframer has yet offered a proposal to satisfy the airline.

While the carrier only operates Boeing 737-800s, and still has dozens of the type on order, RyanAir cheif O’Leary says Ryanair has become such a size that the benefits of a single-type fleet no longer exist.

“We’d prefer to go with whoever’s going to give us aircraft that are $10 per seat cheaper,” Rival EasyJet already operates Airbus A320 and A318 family aircraft alongside its own 737s.

Ryanair has been considering proposals with Airbus, after holding earlier talks with Boeing, but O’Leary insists that both airframers’ prices are “too high”.

Airbus increases maximum take-off weight on A350 XWB

Airbus have said that they have missed the weight target for the new twinjet by several tonnes and is increasing the aircraft's maximum take-off weights (MTOW) to compensate for their mistake. And industry sorces tell us that the aircraft's empty weight is currently around 2t behind target.

While the level of overweight confirmed by Airbus is less significant than the "8t" suggested in recent media reports, the need to increase of maximum takeoff weight is likely to affect fuel efficiency and possibly contracted performance guarantees.

Fleet opportunity missed by new Kuwait Airways chief

A need of new aircrat was admitted by the new Kuwait Airways chief, the airline's under-aircrafted fleet is threatening the airline’s ability to maintain a reliable service. “We have only 17 commercial aircraft, and the schedule is really tight,” said chairman and managing director Hamad Abdullatif Al-Falah, speaking to ATI at the IATA general meeting in Istanbul. He says the old and ageing fleet is becoming more difficult to maintain because the airline has had to cope with losing 40% of its mechanics, especially to other airlines offering higher wages.

Delivery date for Emirates first A380

Emirates is going to be un-wrapping thier first A380 on the 28th July.

They also announced that they will receive five by March 2009.

Emirates is by far the largest buyer of A380 with a massive 58 on order

Emirates plans to begin commercial A380 services on 1 October between Dubai and New York.

iFDG Air France Airbus A321-211

This is an airbus worth downloading, features animated control surfaces, wingviews, flaps, full lighting configuration, highly detailed, reflective textures, and dynamic shine. this model is close to the high quality of a payware addon, and as a free download, it's worth getting

World of AI and FS2004

We have to give praise to Mike Theisen, Peter van der Veen, Marten Weber for their contribution and efforts in making flight simulator more realistic. It seems every day that we have a new innovation designed to bridge the gap between the virtual world and reality, and most of these are about improving graphics, but Mike Theisen, Peter van der Veen, Marten Weber have developed an entire series of AI traffic for FS2004 designed to make FS2004 more enjoyable. It also seems that they have an AI package for nearly every airline, and with their installer, It makes adding AI traffic easy for everyone

FS flying lesson - basics of flight

before you can start handling huge jets, It's best to start off with a small plane like a Cessna, take some of Flight simulators standard lessons, some of the lessons however, are unnecessary, just try the turnings and landings lessons of each level.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Concorde (FS 2002 / FS 2004 addon)

Here we have something I don't reccomend. It's another one of those products you wouldn't even want to download for free, just terrible. although it has realistic panels and effects, the only thing you get for your money is 1 aircraft with 2 variants. The flight dynamics are wrong. Not reccomended.

Aerosoft Wilco 777

This addon is an extremely accurate model of the world famous 777,

Fs-reviews.com say this: "...This package is feature rich and the overall model is reasonable on frame rates on an average system. The Wilco/feelthere 777 does not require the study time necessary for many of the other payware products being currently offered in the market and will appeal to a broad range of users particularly at the beginner / intermediate level, but also would not disappoint a more experienced simmer..."

FsForums.co.uk say: "Overall, Aerosoft Wilco and Feelthere have done a pretty good job with this aircraft. The sounds and aircraft handling are realisic - tested by active pilots and the ease of use is higher than other addons. I give the Wilco 777 an 8/10, and a well done to Aerosoft, Wilco and Feelthere."

Commuter Airliners

Again, we have something worth paying for, although I only saw the FS2002 edition, if that's anything to go by, the FS2004 edition is brilliant. I live close to Stansted Airport, and I've seen it enought times to know if someone has made a poor attempt at re-creating it. But Commuter Airliners' Stansted airport was very detailed, and very accurate. the aircrafts included are also very satisfactory, and I'd definatly reccomend it!