FLIGHT SIMULATOR X GOLD
22 new aircraft
Fly one of 22 new aircraft, from the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver floatplane and Grumman G-21A Goose to the AirCreation 582SL Ultralight and Maule M7-260C Orion with wheels and skis. You'll be amazed at the details, such as shaded rivets, reflective paint, and glint from glass and chrome. FSX Deluxe contains an Airbus for the first time with an accurate A321A! Fancy the glider in FS but can''t stand that there is no tow plane? FSX will also has that tow plane accurately represented with accurate tension modeling for realism.
55 detailed airports
The airport database has been upgraded and improved. FSX contains 24,000 airports internationally, with 1,200 being highly detailed due to their popularity. Each airport features artificial intelligence-controlled jetways, fuel trucks and moving baggage carts, allowing you to explore your hometown or venture to a favorite far-off city. The FSX design team emphasised their goal of expanding the realism seen in many of the stock North American airports to other parts of the world.
Weather
The sky has been greatly improved, with more realistic weather and graphics. Weather data was painstakingly collected from over 5,000 weather stations worldwide to accurately reproduce regional behavior. There are also five separate seasonal textures with 23 environmental zones that change depending on your specific location on the globe. This means not only will snow be on the ground in Montreal during the winter time, but you will only see appropriate foliage and vegetation on the ground as well. Rain effects have also improved - not only has the rain on the windshield improved during flight, but the glaze effects on roads and taxiways are impressive as well.
Also for the first time, star gazing/navigation will be possible. The FSX team has accurately placed over 10,000 stars in their correct locations. These stars will also be easy to see, considering the maximum viewing altitude has been increased to 18,000 miles high.
Scenery
24 million roads have been accurately modeled in the FSX scenery database. Much of the ground elevation, roads and textures have been pulled from imaging collected from the space shuttle itself! On these roads, you will notice traffic for the first time. The effect is brilliant - not only will the vehicles move down the road, they will also change lanes and use signal indicators. At night, each vehicle has a pair of headlights and taillights. If you are flying over water, you will notice a complete new assortment of boats which follow their own accurate paths internationally. This means that you will be able to see oil tankers and cruise ships on those long Trans-Atlantic flights.
In addition, animals and their patterns will be represented in extraordinary detail. From giraffes and lions in Africa, to whales in the ocean, you can track each animal and its movements from the ground or the sky.
Missions
With more than 50 new missions to choose from, aviators can build their skill levels and engage in even more stimulating game play than before. Players can choose to compete in the Red Bull air race, land on a moving school bus, race a jet-propelled truck racer, rescue workers off an exploding oil rig, or bring relief materiel to the Congo, while being able to keep track of their progress on each mission. In addition to the mission layout and database being greatly improved, there are also rewards for good technique and goals achieved.
'Shared Skies'
Through increased online gameplay capabilities, FSX offers players a connected world where they can choose whom they want to be, from air traffic controller to pilot or co-pilot, as they interact with other aviators around the globe by chatting in real time via headset and keyboard. The new "Shared Skies' capability enables two users to connect on separate computers to fly a single aircraft together. This has limitless simulation possibilities, and when you connect through the multiplayer mode, you can pass control of the airplane to each other. Instructors can also instruct trainees how to fly, while keeping a constant watch on the controls if anything goes wrong.
FLIGHT SIMULATOR X - ACCELERATION
This Expansion Pack from Microsoft provides a host of new features:
- Three all-new aircraft - the F/A-18A Hornet, EH-101 helicopter and P-51D Mustang
- 20 new missions - including being a NASA test pilot, performing Search & Rescue ops on an ocean liner, navigating a whiteout in a blizzard and more
- Multiplayer Racing Mode - the new multiplayer racing mode that allows you to compete against friends with four types of racing, including real-world and fictional Red Bull Air Race courses, the unlimited Reno National Championship course, as well as cross country, competition sailplane courses and fictional courses like the Hoop and Jet Canyon course.
Test your skills in three different levels of difficulty, from simple pylon racing to racing very challenging courses in a variety of weather conditions. - DirectX 10 - Flight Simulator X: Acceleration takes advantage of Windows Vista and DirectX 10 to deliver breathtaking graphics and dynamic environments for a truly immersive experience. Use of DX10 graphics is optional.
- Connected World - race against friends online as they interact with other aviators from around the globe by chatting in real-time via headset and keyboard.
Acceleration also includes code from both of Microsoft's Service Packs, providing you with a fully up-to-date installation.
SAITEK CYBORG V.1 FLIGHT STICK
- Ergonomic, ambidextrous stick with trigger and five buttons - all positioned for instant access in the heat of battle
- POV switch - easily change cockpit views to keep track of your enemies
- Pinkie switch - operates as a normal control or can be programmed as a 'shift button' to double up your control functions
- Powerful ST programming software - create profiles for each aircraft you fly to save different button configurations
- Throttle lever for smooth, realistic engine control
- Twist action rudder control
- Unique removable legs for easy storage
BATTLE OF BRITAIN - 70TH ANNIVERSARY
(Scroll down for details of the individual aircraft)
Features overview
- Developed exclusively for Flight Simulator X
- Highly detailed exterior models
- Extremely high-quality interactive 3D Virtual Cockpit
- Great sounds
- Canopy jettison feature
- Highly authentic liveries
- Animated pilot figure
- Visible detailed engines
- Numerous animations
- High fidelity flight models
- Detailed manual
- Engine start effects
- Gun visual and sounds effects
- Multiple viewpoints
Exterior models
- Built following the most accurate plans available to achieve highly accurate profiles and shapes
- Features modelled fabric over stringer rear fuselage
- Specular and bump mapped where appropriate
Virtual cockpit features
- Completely modelled to portray the real cockpit in full detail
- Every switch, knob and lever works, most with bespoke animation code
- Shadow textured where appropriate
Animations
- Animated canopies
- Animated pilot figure
- Canopy jettison feature
- Undercarriage
- Opening engine covers reveal fully detailed engines
- Fully animated control surfaces - flaps, rudder, elevators, ailerons, trim tabs
Special effects
- Engine start smoke effects
- Gun firing effects and sounds
Textures
- Highly detailed texture mapping without compromising frame rates
- Layered paint kit included to help create your own liveries (suitable additional paint program such as Photoshop required)
BATTLE OF BRITAIN - SPITFIRE
Spitfire Models
- First prototype
- Prototype as seen at 1936 Hendon Air Pageant
- Spitfire Mk1 with two-blade propeller
- Spitfire Mk1A
Spitfire Interior models
- Mk1 early with manual gear extension and 'ring & bead' gunsight (also used for Prototypes)
- Mk1A production type
Spitfire models feature the correct hand pump type gear extension in early versions.
Spitfire animations
- Cockpit drop-down door
- Engine starter battery trolley
- Opening radio compartment with radio set sliding out
- Animated pilot figure
- Canopy jettison feature on Mk 1A
- Sliding canopy
- Undercarriage (chassis)
- Wing top undercarriage status indicators
Included Spitfire aircraft
Spitfire Prototype K5054 -first flew on March 5, 1936. The airframe was finished in primer paint of varying colour density and the engine panels were left in bare aluminium alloy. The aircraft lacked radio equipment and carried the bare necessities for testing. Captain 'Mutt' Summers was at the controls.
Spitfire Prototype K5054 - as seen at Hendon Air Pageant in the new types park, 1936. Wheel spats had been added to the oleo struts and covered the entire well with smaller folding spats at their ends.
Spitfire 19 Squadron Mk1 K9795 with two-blade, fixed-pitch Watts wooden propeller and flat perspex canopy. Also, note the 'ring and bead' gunsight and early aerial. This was the first production Spitfire to be delivered to the RAF for operational use.
Spitfire 19 Squadron Mk1 QV-W K9854 with two-blade propeller, flown by Flt.Lt. Wilfred Clouston, October 1939.
Spitfire 65 Squadron Mk1 FZ-L K9906 with two-blade propeller, flown by Flt. Lt. Robert 'Bob' Stanford Tuck, Hornchurch, August 1939. Stanford Tuck became the first Spitfire ace over Dunkirk in May 1940.
spitfire 74 Squadron Mk1 ZP-A with two-blade propeller, flown by Flt. Lt. Adolf 'Sailor' Malan, Hornchurch, May/June 1940. It was in this aircraft that Malan eventually became an ace in several remarkable exploits. The machine was eventually destroyed in a crash in 1943.
Spitfire 19 Squadron Mk1A QV-H P9546 flown by George 'Grumpy' Unwin.
Spitfire 19 Squadron Mk1A QV-K P9386 flown by Squadron Leader Brian Lane, Fowlmere 1940.
Spitfire 54 Squadron Mk1A KL-B P9398 flown by Squadron Leader Al Deere, Rochford 1940.
Spitfire 222 Squadron Mk1A ZD-F P9323 flown from Hornchurch in July/August 1940
Spitfire 610 Squadron Mk1A DW-O L1043 flown from Biggin Hill July 1940.
Spitfire 65 'East India' Squadron Mk1A YT-J R6775 flown from Hornchurch July 1940.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN - HURRICANE
Hurricane Models
- Hawker Hurricane Mk1 'Battle of France' period. Wooden two-bladed propeller, ring-and-bead gun sight, fabric wings
- Hawker Hurricane Mk1 'Battle of Britain' period
Hurricane Interior models
- Early Hurricane with ring-and-bead gun sight
- Mk1 Production cockpit
Hurricane models feature ring-and-bead and rReflector gun sights depending on the variant.
Hurricane animations
- Opening inspection hatches and a full detailed exterior cockpit
- Fuel tank cover can be removed to reveal tank, supply pipes and fittings
- Inspection panel on starboard side can be removed to reveal cockpit detail
- Gun hatches on wing can be removed to reveal Browning machine guns, ammunition feeders and fully modelled shells
- Animated retracting foot step and hand grabs
- Movable radiator flap
- Engine starter battery trolley
Included Hurricane aircraft
Prototype K5083 - First flown on 6th November, 1935, the prototype Hurricane differed in many ways from the production models. A retractable tailwheel (later removed) no armament or armour and a simple design of canopy and windscreen were some of the differences. This machine was steadily improved to eventual production standard.
First production Hurricane JX-H L1842 (Battle of France era) - JX-H was flown by P/O Peter 'Boy' Mould of No.1 Squadron. Mould, in this machine, shot down a Dornier Do17P on October 30th, 1939, to claim the RAF's first 'kill' in France since 1918.
First production Hurricane FT-N L1723 (Battle of France era) - FT-N was flown by F/O Patrick 'Tiger' Folkes of 43 Squadron from Ackilington, England in February 1940. It was in this machine that Folkes shot down a Heinkel He111 to score the first 'kill' in WWII over British soil.
First production Hurricane JX-G (Battle of France era) - JX-G was flown by P/O Paul Richey of 1 Squadron based at Berry-au-Bac, early in May 1940. What's notable about this airframe is the way that the squadron codes have been painted over. The coloured diamond shape on the port wing was a gas detection device - the paint changed colour when gas was present. Early in the war, the High Command believed that Germany would employ chemical weapons, as it had done in WWI.
Early production Hurricane L1584 from 1938 - During this time various squadron marking schemes were being trialled, along with camouflage. This machine has the squadron number 111 painted half in white and half in red and the squadron arms and motto carried on the tail. There was much confusion over the application of the recommended 'day-night' scheme for the undersides, and 111 machines continued with silver grey on all but the outer wing panels, which were duly finished in day-night. L1584 was flown by Squadron Leader Gillians.
Royal Yugoslav Air Force - Other countries' air forces took Hurricanes on charge from quite early on in WWII. During 1938 the Yugoslav government concluded an agreement with Hawker to purchase 12 Hurricane MkIs for the Royal Yugoslav Air Force and followed this up with an order for 12 more together with a manufacturing licence to allow production of the fighter at the Rogozarski and Zmaj factories. By the time of the German invasion of 1941 only 20 machines had actually been delivered.
Standard RAF Hurricane Mk1 GZ-L P2921 (Battle of Britain era) - GZ-L was flown by Flt. Lt. Pete Brothers.
Standard RAF Hurricane Mk1 UP-W R4118 (Battle of Britain era) - UP-W was flown by pilots of 605 Squadron. Having fought through the entire war, R4118 ended its days as an instructional airframe in India. Salvaged and restored, this venerable airframe still flies today.
Standard RAF Hurricane Mk1 KZ-W L1592 (Battle of Britain era) - KZ-W was flown by pilots of 615 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. This airframe survives and is preserved in London's Science Museum.
Standard RAF Hurricane Mk1 YB-W P3878 (Battle of Britain era) - A machine of 17 Squadron, flying form Debden in July 1940. Flown by F.O. H.A.C. Bird-Wilson, she differed from the standard schemes of the day in having a 'sky'-coloured spinner instead of the authorised black 'night' variety.
Standard RAF Hurricane Mk1 LE-D V7467 (Battle of Britain era) - This machine was flown by the legendary Sq.Ldr. Douglas Bader, the disabled ace who led 242 Squadron and lobbied strongly for the controversial 'big wing' theory eventually adopted by the RAF.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN - Me 109
Me 109 Models
- BF109 E4 Battle of Britain version
- BF109 E4 Tropical version
VC features specific to the Me 109
- High resolution textures and alpha mapped text (text remains sharp however much you zoom in)
- All text in correct German language
- Load-out Manager available from within VC with four load-outs (long range fuel tank, large bomb, four 'bomblets' and clean/unloaded)
Me 109 animations
- Side-hinged canopy
- Opening radio door which reveals a period correct FUG radio system
- Undercarriage
- Opening engine cover reveals an accurate Daimler Benz engine and nose guns
- Auto-slats
Included Me 109 aircraft
Me 109-E StabII/JG54 - crash-landed at Chapel Holding, Small Hythe, Tenterden, Kent, on 12th October 1940. Pilot Oblt. Bernard Malischewski was captured unhurt.
Me 109-E Tropical 1/Jg27 - The Me 109E4 was very active in the African campaigns of 1941. 'White 3' from 1/JG27 is typical of the type and displays one of the many variations of tropical camouflage trialled throughout this period. Flown by Hans Joachim Mersaille.
Me 109-E II/JG53 - Flown by Gruppenkommandeur Hptm. Freiherr Gunther von Maltzahn of II/JG 53, this machine displays the red band carried by the unit between August and October 1940.
Me 109-E Japanese evaluation aircraft - Many countries were interested in the Me 109 as a front line fighter. Japan evaluated several of Germany's aircraft and this E4 is one of five sent there for testing. History records them as being 'unarmed'.
Me 109-E Escadrila 58, Grupul 7 Vanatoare - Stalingrad, late 1942. A single victory bar has been painted forward of the cockpit of this Me 109E of Grupul 7 Vanatoare (7th FG). The Donald Duck emblem was applied only to this Group's Emils. This aircraft was often flown by Locotenent aviator Alexandru Serbanescu and it was lost at Stalingrad at the end of 1942.
Me 109-E 3.J/88, Condor Legion (Spanish Nationalists) - Pilot: Oblt. Hans Schmoller-Haldy, March 1939. Mickey Mouse 3.J/88 insignia, with personal beer mug pilot insignia (he was a member of the 'Cardinal Paff' pilots' drinking club founded in Belgium; note the 'CP' sign on the mug).
Me 109-E Russian - The Soviet Messerschmitt Me 109 is one of several supplied under the Soviet-German Pact of 1940. As the tide of war changed, it could very well be that these aircraft ended up fighting similar machines of the Luftwaffe.
Me 109-E Captured French - 'White' 6 was captured by the French just before the end of the Battle of France, in early 1940.
Me 109-E Staffel 9 Gruppe I JG27 - This machine operated in Libya, North Africa, in the Spring of 1941.
Me 109-E Staffel 9 Gruppe 2 JG27 - A JG27 machine displaying yet another tropical scheme, from Libya, 1941, Gustav Rodel was the pilot.
Me 109-E 3.JG52 - This machine carries the famous 'Horrido' emblem of the JG2 unit but little else is know about the aircraft. It is finshed in an unusually dark mottle pattern and carries no familiar JG2 shield beneath the cockpit.
Me 109-E Stab III/JG54 - Flown by Oblt. Albrecht Drehs of Stab III/JG54 this aircraft force-landed near Margate in Kent on 12 August 1940, the height of the Battle of Britain.
Me 109-E Stab 9/JG54 Yellow 13 - 'Yellow 13' crash-landed in the Netherlands in 1940. It is depicted here as it was in August 1940, flown by Lt. Joseoh Eberle.
Me 109-E Stab/JG2 heavily stippled mottle - As flown by Major Harry von Bulow-Bothkamp - Geschwader Kommodore of JG2.
Me 109-E Stab/JG26 - As flown by Pilot Major Adolf Galland, Geschwwader Kommodore of JG26. Perhaps the most photographed, modelled and painted Me109 ever, it really typifies the 'Emil' as it was flown in the Battle of Britain.
Me 109-E Stab/JG2 - As flown by Pilot ace Major Helmut Wick - Geschwwader Kommodore of JG2, 1940
Me 109-E Stab/JG3 - based at Grandvillers,France, in September 1940. Pilot: Hptm, Hans von Hahn.