Review: A2A Piper Cherokee

• • Addons, Aircraft, Payware, Reviews
A2A_cherokee

You can never have enough reviews of payware aircraft especially when they’re of models that are detailed, sophisticated, and as a result a little pricier than the average garden publication. Anything from a vendor like A2A however is a safe bet, it’s just a matter of how much pocket money you have. Nice review here this week then of their Piper Cherokee

It is hard to sum up this gem in few words but I can say that it is an experience to fly, fun and forgiving. A2A has carved out a niche in the high demanding flight sim world and the A2A Cherokee is a sure hit. The plane is easy on the frames (I averaged 30fps) and is certainly easy on the eyes. With a price of $49.99 US it is a great plane for the price. From budding aviator to armchair pilot, this plane has a lot to offer as well a giving an inside taste of getting the real aircraft off the ground and maintaining it’s day to day operations.

see: Review Page

Dovetail Games’ Licensing Deal With Microsoft Takes Flight

• • Payware
DoveTail

Well I guess I couldn’t not post something about this story, even if it really is splattered all over the simming communities so be surprised if you don’t know about it already. After a couple of months of speculation it turns out the mystery licensee of the MS Flight platform is DoveTail, the creators of Train Simulator. Going to be interesting to see if there are any practical synergies between the two platforms or if it’s more of an investment thing where they essentially market them as two completely separate products. Either way you’d have to say it’s a positive thing for the community to see a little life breathed back into Flight. Also of interest is their agreement to distribute FSX via Steam so going to be some pretty interesting DLC options on the horizon I expect…

The award-winning creators of the best-selling Train Simulator franchise have today announced a global licensing deal with Microsoft, granting them the rights to develop and publish all-new flight products based on Microsoft’s genre-defining flight technology. The company is currently investigating new concepts in this area and is expecting to bring a release to market in 2015.

In addition to this licensing agreement, Dovetail Games is pleased to announce that it has also acquired the rights to distribute the multi-award winning Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition via Valve’s popular digital retail channel, Steam

see the DoveTail press release

Diamond DA40 released by Alabeo

• • Addons, Aircraft, FSX, P3D, Payware
AlabeoDiamondDA40

Yet another drop dead gorgeous release from the Alabaeo guys, this time the single-engined Diamond DA40. Popular with private GA owners and training companies around the world, there are a few of these on the Pacific registers so repaint options abound. I never tired of these Alabeo releases, or the Carenado stuff for that matter. Sure sometimes they cop some flack for candy over systems trade-offs but they just look so darned good its hard to criticise.

Features: Vision Microsystems VM 1000 Engine Instrument, Superb material shines and reflections, Volumetric side view prop effect, Gauges reflections, Windows scratches and Blades shines, High quality 3D model and textures, Blank texture for creating your own designs, Realistic behavior

Checkout the Alabeo product page for more info