Captain Sim 767-300 Released, More Variants Coming

I just popped over to Captain Sim, and it seems they have officially released their 767-300! Visit the link for screenshots and features. It looks like they are using a common Navigraph database format as the 757 series, which is standard with a lot of add-on software houses across their product lines. Nice to be able to upgrade the FMS in the 767 as a standard feature right off the bat, though!

The 767-300 model is listed as the base model. Several variants have been announced as add-on expansions, to be released soon. These include:

• 767-200
• 767 Freighter
• KC-767A (military tanker)
• E-767 AWACS (updated military AWACS plane)
• 767-400 (!)

The last one is especially interesting, given the fact that the 767-400 essentially introduced a new cockpit that is similar to the 777 and the 747-400. It is listed as a "work in progress," which probably means we won't see it for a while yet. However, it could portend a nice transition to possibly some Captain Sim 777 or 747 models in the roadmap down the line.

Pricing of the base 767-300 model is fairly modest: € 39.99, which is about $56.00 in U.S. currency. In the usual Captain Sim fashion, the expansion models will require purchase of the 767-300 base model, and then be priced substantially less as subsequent purchases.

I love the Level-D 767, but I do like the fact that Captain Sim is covering the entire 767 series. Casual users of the Level-D 767 will probably not be tempted to snag this, but diehard simmers who want to try something new and different will probably want to give it a look for this reason.

Looks like I'm going to be busy doing some more mini-reviews soon...not that I mind. Things have been slow in the Flight Sim world for a while, but it looks like they may be heating up again a bit.

More on the Sky Simulations DC-9

There is a demo video of the DC-9 at YouTube.

The simMarket order page for the DC-9 has a ton of additional screenshots that were not present on the Sky Simulations site.

At least one reviewer at simMarket really likes the product, so far.

Veeeeery interesting. It's been a hot, slow summer here in Texas, so some new planes to fly are welcome news!

Sky Simulations DC-9 Released

An outfit known as Sky Simulations announced on July 6 that their DC-9 product has been released for FSX. An FS9 version is expected to follow along soon. I don't know a whole lot about Sky Simulations, other than the fact that they seem to have previously released an MD-11 add-on. The MD-11 looks okay, although I am not sure if it would top PMDG's stellar MD-11 product, feature-wise.

That said, the screenshots of the DC-9 do look rather impressive, though. I think it would be a fun plane to fly, very similar to the Captain Sim 727 series. Both the 727 and DC-9 are roughly of the same vintage, technologically speaking. Northwest Delta Airlines still flies a bunch of DC-9's around the USA to this day.

Looks like you can order the DC-9 through simMarket online. Cost is €35.70 if you happen to be in the E.U., or €30.00 for us VAT-exempt shoppers who live everywhere else. In the USA, €30.00 works out to around $42 at current exchange rates. Not a bad deal. I might grab this one next week, just to see if it's any good. Will post a mini-review here if I do.

PMDG Jetstream 4100 Goes Beta

According to this post in the PMDG support forums, the new Jetstream 4100 product has officially gone beta this week. Hooray! Looks like we will have a new plane to try out in our virtual hangars very soon. PMDG does top-notch work.

I know the Jetstream 4100 is a controversial pick among some enthusiasts, perhaps because we don't see very many of them flying in commercial service anymore on this side of the pond. I know I was bewildered by the announcement myself, at first. However, the more I thought about it, the more the idea grew on me. I know it is a labor of love for Captain Randazzo at PMDG, who used to fly them for a living. The screenshots out there already are very impressive, and I know it will be a treat to fly and master this bird. There are so few good turboprops out there, that any new ones are welcome. Flying one around in the USA will be something of an anachronism these days, but then again, so is tooling around in the Flight1 Fokker 70/100 series. Perhaps some of the most interesting planes to fly are the ones we don't see much of anymore...

If nothing else, you can always just shut your eyes and pretend you're flying a Dash-8. :-)

Captain Sim Announces 767-300 Captain

Got an interesting surprise in my inbox while ago -- Captain Sim is readying their new 767-300 Captain add-on for release soon. Check out the preview page for screenshots and a list of features.

I had not heard that Captain Sim was doing the 767-300, but honestly, it isn't a big surprise. The cockpit of the 767-300 is extremely similar to the 757, so it makes for a logical successor to the 757 product. (The Airbus A320/A330/A340 series are also much the same in this regard, which is likely why Airsimmer has long-range plans to do the A330/A340 after they get the A320 out.) It is entirely probable that the developers can reuse substantial portions of the 757 on the 767-300.

I have mixed feelings about this -- I am very happy with the Level-D 767-300, and would have preferred to see Captain Sim take on something new and different. However, being the sucker that I am, and given the fact that things elsewhere in the flight sim world are very quiet right now, I'll probably go ahead and give it a chance...

Captain Sim 727 v2.2 Available

Hot on the heels of the recent 757 v4.3 update, here comes Captain Sim again with another update for their 727, v2.2. Here is a list of fixes, copied from their site:

The 727 Captain (Pro Pack, -200 and Freighter) version 2.2 for FSX is available and includes the following new features, fixes and enhancements:

New features:

- Authentic Sound Set!
- CS Weather Radar compatibility/synchronization with VC
- Cargo Door light

Pro Pack Systems:

- Flight Director Off fix
- Flight Director Pitch Control fix
- Flight Director Mode Indication fix
- Approach Progress Display (APD) Minor fixes
- Approach Progress Display Light Test fix
- Fuel Dump Door fix
- Fuel Icing Lights fix
- Manual Engines Start fix
- N1% and N2% mini-dials fix
- Inflight Engines Start fix
- Oil Quantity Test Switch fix
- Gear Indicator lights test fix
- Systems reset after using FSX menu fix
- 'Warning' and 'No smoking' lights fix
- Pressurization System fix
- Cabin Pressure Control gauge fix
- Airspeed bugs night lighting fix
- LE FLAP in transit light fix
- Stick shaker fix
- HDG CARD off flag fix
- Pedal Brakes Animation fix
- GPWS Indication Light fix

Models and textures:

- Texture fixes
- Interior Model Geometry fixes
- Lightmap fixes

Misc:

- Freighter Load Manager fixes
- Updated Manual
- ACE fixes

If you already purchased the 727, go check in and pick up the update. If you are buying the 727 new, this update will be included in the installation package. Enjoy!

Airsimmer A320 May Progress Update

The Airsimmer folks recently posted the May progress update on the Airbus add-on, including some screenshots. Man, it looks sweet! Can't wait to fly this bird. Hopefully they are on the homestretch toward releasing it sometime soon.