PTaylor's WebLog

New Job, New Blog

2008-10-16T02:03:00Z

I opened the doors on a new blog here so that this blog remains clean and FS focused.

The new blog will primarily be about graphics, GPUs, gaming, architecture, and whatever else strikes me as relevant.

Besides the first obligatory Intro post, I have posted a brief history of DirectX releases.

Hopefully some of you will find it useful.

Heads up, PTaylor leaving the building

2008-09-25T18:32:00Z

Sometimes you run across an opportunity that is so big, so cool, that you just have to take it.

Intel has offered me a position on the Larrabee team helping deliver the Larrabee launch titles.

Having been involved with the last two big PC graphics transitions ( software renderering to the 1st 3D hardware, fixed function 3D hardware to programmable 3D hardware with shaders ) I just cannot refuse to participate in what could be the third sea change in PC graphics.

Indeed, Larrabee has the potential to not only change the face of PC graphics, but ultimately the shape of the PC architecture as well.

This is something that, if I turned it down, I would be muttering into my coffee over for the next 10 years. So I have to go give it a go.

Just to be crystal clear - this is not a statement about Aces, Trains2, FSvNext, or ESP. This is a reflection of the opportunity. So please don't read anything into it other than what it is, that I am transitioning to a great opportunity. I fully expect great things out of Aces over the next several years.

Enjoy FSX in the meantime, and stay tuned to what Aces has planned.

The Flight Sim community is full of talented people, to those few that I got to personally interact with, I really appreciate being part of the community for the 2+ years I was here. Thank you!

And who knows, Larrabee will likely be interested in FS11 so I may get to interact with Aces and all of you all over again. Which would be just great from my perspective.

My last day in Aces is Friday, September 26th.

Good luck and good flying!

Phil

Cool Scenery Index site

2008-09-21T04:36:00Z

which lists available scenery worldwide, at

http://walhalla.mine.nu/fsx.php

very useful to bookmark.

KJFK by FSDreamTeam released

2008-09-20T05:02:00Z

Newly released and looking impressive. At

http://www.fsdreamteam.com

with a few interesting FSX-only features.

Available North American GA airports

2008-09-17T21:05:00Z

79) Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=122773

that is a mix of FSX freeware and payware but mostly freeware. These at least these are not labeled FS2004/FSX I could add to the list if I included those.

and that is with a couple of hours or so of looking. and I noticed that the list of Kansas fields has grown since I put this list together, it is hard to keep on top of these. of course, that is a good problem to have.

and I skipped a lot of international scenery and paid attention to NA and Caribbean.

it looks to me like there is plenty of GA airport scenery for FSX available, with searching. for instance OrbX has a huge amount of GA for Australia, there are German and UK airfields, etc.

so there is a lot out there if you search. you just are not going to find what you looking for by staying on a single site and expecting it to come to you, the Flight Sim community is way too dispersed now.

have fun flying!

Another list of great places to visit

2008-09-08T19:39:00Z

To complement my list of high-detail airports and cities here

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2008/06/25/high-detail-feature-list-and-then-some.aspx

SimTours is a great place to know about. Check it out here

http://www.simtours.net/

Not only do they have places with custom objects, they also list places with "anomalies". Great stuff.

Happy flying!

FSX Gold

2008-09-07T07:53:00Z

showing available from

EB Games here ( on 9/30 )

http://www.ebgames.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=72573

and Amazon here ( on 9/19 )

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Simulator-X-Gold-PC/dp/B001E95V5K/ref=pd_sxp_f_i/026-3989278-7823637

and Play.com here ( also on 9/19 )

http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/6460165/Flight-Simulator-X-Gold-Edition/Product.html

Sim-Outhouse already called this out here

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?t=77634

so I am not breaking any news that isnt already broken :-). I'd take the dates with a grain of salt, it could be either of those or just a little later.

Basically this is a bundle of Deluxe+Acceleration, you get both sets of disks and install Deluxe and then Acceleration. Just to remind folks what is what:

Wikipedia lists what is new in FSX here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Flight_Simulator_X

and I list what is in Acceleration here

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2008/06/24/what-is-fsx-acceleration-what-does-it-contain-and-is-it-worth-it.aspx

Gold is convenient and cheaper for those who havent already purchased.

For 2D Panel fans

2008-09-05T22:05:00Z

SIDickDastardly has just posted about an amazing freeeware 2D Panel add-on called PanelMania that has:

1. Panels for all default FSX aircraft with fewer than 2 engines

2. A total of 24 new fullscreen panels (48 including night versions), ideal for use on a 2nd monitor or PC

3. Three additional standard 2D panels plus a minipanel for the P-51D Racer, which were missing from Acceleration

4. Fix for the "W" key issue

5. Total of 300 new or modified gauges

6. Over 70 bug-fixes and improvements to the default gauges (see the PanelManiaReadMe for more details).

7. Modified version of the GPS which displays the screen only (ideal for use on a small TFT).

8. Very simple installation process

9. All default panels remain accessible after PanelMania is installed

10. Once installed, the PanelMania fullscreen 5:4 panel for each aircraft can be displayed by pressing SHIFT+8, or SHIFT+9 for the 4:3 version. They can then be repositioned to any monitor you like

This seems like a must-have for 2D Panel fans, check it out here.

And a big thanks to DD for such an amazing piece of work.

Freeware and affordable modeling tools for FSX

2008-09-04T01:44:00Z

XSI Mod Tool

There is a discussion of how to use the XSI mod tool here to create models for FSX. XSI Mod is a freeware tool from Softimage, see this page. There is clearly room for someone to take these instructions, deal with the animations issue, and make a plugin to automate this.

3D Canvas

Decapod has been making a plug-in for 3D Canvas, which is $70. You can see his work in progress here.

FSDS

See Abacus' Flight Sim Design Studio (FSDS) which is $50. It supports generating true FSX content. Even though it does not natively support all the advanced FSX rendering features, you can get the freeware FSDSxTweak to enable those in FSDS models. FSDeveloper.com has a wiki page about FSDSxTweak here.

Summary

There, 1 free and 2 reasonably priced tool alternatives to GMax.

Very cool stuff, this proves there is and will be life after GMax.

Note 1:

Thanks to Dave Nunez for pointing out the FSDS information

Another aircraft developer hints at going "FSX only"; once current projects are off the books.

2008-09-03T05:01:00Z

Team Eaglesoft, discussion here.

Ron notes the GA roster is already "FSX only", and explains why the 2 FS9 aircraft on the Corporate Aviation roster will not get the FSX treatment. Which is a totally understandable decision, BTW.

It's great to see clear communication like this, Ron is a straight shooter.

Another developer commits to going "FSX only" in the future

2008-09-03T01:26:00Z

Gary Summons, of UK2000 scenery fame, announces his intent to go "FSX only" in 2009

He discusses it here.

Available "True FSX" Freeware Aircraft Add-ons and FSX

2008-08-31T22:35:00Z

Lately the chorus of voices complaining about lack of add-ons for FSX has stopped complaining about payware add-ons because the aircraft, airports, and scenery add-ons have really multiplied in the last few months. I have linked to more than a few of these on my blog as well.

Now, the chorus seems to have focused on freeware. There have been claims there is a lack of freeware aircraft available for FSX. So let’s just look at “true” FSX freeware aircraft, where “true” is defined as “Models actually compiled with the FSX SDK”. That is a subset of what is available. These aircraft will have a number of advantages:

1) Faster frame rate
2) Full compatibility with DX10
3) FSX detail / special effects enhancements

So that is a worthy metric.

To determine if a model was built with the FSX SDK, use a file viewer or hex editor to look at the file. Near the beginning of the file, you should see the characters "MDLXMDLH" if it's an FSX model. An FS2002/2004 model will show "MDL8MDLH" or something else,

Using the thread “True FSX Planes” at Sim-Outhouse and working periodically over the Labor Day Weekend, I come up with 55 (yes more than 4 dozen) FSX freeware aircraft (See Note 1):

1) F-5A Freedom Fighter

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10427

Must have earlier zip for air file

2) Cessna 177RG

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10522

3) OV-10 Bronco

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10525

4) Hondajet

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=jets&file=HONDA_JET_FSX.zip

5) Mitsubishi T-2

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10699

6) Howard DGA-15P

http://www.fsxaddons.com/file/view/24/howard-dga-15p.aspx

7) Piper Archer-III

http://www.fsxaddons.com/file/view/240/piper-archer-iii.aspx

8) Grumman OV-1 B/C/D Mohawk

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download

9) Piper PA-28-RT Turbo Arrow III

http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=120002&CatID=fsxac

10) North American Aviation Navion

http://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=971&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

11) Lublin R.XIII

http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=121136?CatID=fsxac

12) Saab J-29 Tunnan

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11660

13) RWD-14 Czapla

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download

hotfix

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download

14) Curtiss Jenny

http://simhangar.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=34

To install Curtiss Jenny in Microsoft Flight Simulator X, you will need Flight Simulator 2004 version

15) RWD-8

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11776

RWD-8 expansion pack: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download

16) Boeing F4B-4

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=F4Bfx.zip

17) Bristol Beaufighter

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11831

18) Yak 141

http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=184

19) Yak 130

http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=183

20) BAC 167

http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=239

21) Curtiss Junior

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=CW1vX.zip

22) Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11834

23) Aeronca Chief

http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=250

24) RNZAF CT-4E

http://www.airforce.mil.nz/gallery/download/airtrainerdownload.htm

25) Stinson 108

http://fsnorthwest.net/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=64

26) 707-420

http://www.simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=608

27) Gee Bee Model Z "City of Springfield"

http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=922

28) Spartan Executive

http://fsnorthwest.net/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=82

29) Monsted Vincent MV1

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download

30) General Dynamics A-12 "Flying Dorito"

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft#download

must have Acceleration

31) Bristol F2-B "Biff"

http://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=bristol+f2b&CatID=fsxac&Go=Search

32) N2056's Pete ( modernized Pietenpol Aircamper )

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10199

33) Piasecki H21C

http://flightsim.filefront.com/file/Piasecki_H21C;81851

34) Fokker Dr.1

http://www.neoqb.com/fokker/Files/dr1_by_neoqb.zip

35) Dh89a Dragon Rapide

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=9238

36) PC-7

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10399

must have earlier zip for panel, etc

37) Howard 500
http://fsnorthwest.net/index.php?ind=downloads&op=section_view&idev=8

38) Cessna 310
http://www.simviation.com/simviation/?ID=61&page=1000

39) Mitsubishi F-1

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&FileType=fsx&page=downloads&Category=aircraft&ammm=15&pap=2#download

40) Cessna Citation 500

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=121612

41) Boeing P12-E

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=P12E.zip

and hotfix

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=vintage&file=P12Eudt.zip

42) OS2U Kingfisher

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10784

43) 1938 Waterman Arrowbile

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11808

44) OH-6A

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11970

45) Piper Warrior II

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=118438

46) Piper PA-44 Seminole

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=118706

47) Piper Arrow-IV, non-turbo

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=117250

48) Grumman AA-5B

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=11403

49) T-45C Goshawk

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=127112

50) DC-3

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=104181

and an article for developers on how to convert from 3DSMax to Gmax models using this aircraft as an example here.

51) Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk

http://www.simviation.com/simviation...oad.php?ID=609

52) HAIG L-15

http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/88/fsx_l15.zip?Wee8Z02A

53) Waco UPF-7 Biplane

http://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10878

54) Boeing 221A Monomail

http://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=10837

55) FSX RNZN Kaman SH-2G Seasprite
http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/90/sh2gnzv2.zip?Z8qme02m

56) Mooney Mite M-18C

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=12514

57) Seabird Seeker

http://www.aussiex.org/index/download.php?view.36

58) Westland Wyvern S.4

http://www.nazcastudios.com/sea-hawk/Wyvern_FSX.zip

59) SOKO J-20 Kraguj

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=downloads&page=info&FileID=12623

I am sure if I really put more time into this, I could find more. That is with Saturday, and Sunday morning. There really is more out there than people think, the main problem is the community is dispersed and you cannot count on going to one site and finding it all. I list 10 sites just for these 54.

In terms of pace, FSX was released in Oct 2006. That’s 22 months ago. FSX SP2 was released Dec 2007. That’s 9 months ago. Using the RTM timeframe, that’s 2+ a month. Using the SP2 timeframe, that’s 6 a month. Either way you count them, there has been a steady diet of freeware aircraft.

FSX users should read this and realize the freeware add-ons are out there.

Note 1:

Caveat: I have not downloaded each and every one of these, but quite a few. So far, all the ones marked in the Sim-Outhouse thread as “true FSX” have been, so I am trusting the rest of the data in that thread based on a representative sampling.

Note 2:

Not yet released, but worth watching for:

Aerospatiale Gazelle by Cyril Pioffet

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/gmaxflight2002/media1/Gazelle.htm

Note 3:

ModelChecker.zip at AVSim can be used to perform the model version check:

http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=114098