FSDS - Creating Virtual Cockpits in FSX Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... Anyone who uses Flight Sim knows that a virtual cockpit is the 3D version of the aircraft cockpit. Today I am going to use FS Design Studio v3.5 to create a virtual cockpit for FSX. Not only will I make the main cockpit area, I’ll add a panel to it and show you the basics of how to get gauges onto a virtual cockpit panel. Making this tutorial simple while still coverimg all of the major details needed is difficult. So what I’ll do is use the Curtis Jenny that comes with FSDS v3.5 as a starting point. - Read On...

Making a Hard Surface and Using Attachpoints Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... One of the great new features of FSDS v3.5.1 is the ability to create hard and landable surfaces as well as using attach points to add lights. Today I’m going to create a building and add a helipad to the top of it. Then I’m going to add some lights around the helipad. - Read On...

Adding Parts Names to FSDS Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... In FS Design Studio, there are a series of standard part names that are used for animation, reference parts and so on. These part names are used when you want to animate a part. You select one of these special part names from the Part Properties dialog by clicking the Browse button by the Part Name and then select the specific part name you want. Did you know that you could customize this list? That’s right, you can add your own list of part names and even your own categories! - Read On...

FSDS - Animating Parts with a Tipped Axis Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... Previously I covered how to animate ailerons on the Cessna 172. I thought I should cover how to do something a little more complicated and show how to do animation on a part whose axis is not perfectly straight across or up and down. With that in mind, I looked through each project in the Samples folder of FSDS looking for a part that had a rudder that was not already animated for FSX and whose axis was not straight up and down. The only one I found was the Shorts 360, so I’ll use that one in this example of how to animate a rudder that has a tipped axis. - Read On...

Animation for FSX in FS Design Studio Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... Today I’d like to talk about animation. In the older versions of Flight Sim and FS Design Studio, animation was pretty easy. I could assign a part a specific name and create the model and it would be animated in Flight Sim. More modern Flight Sims like FS2004 and FSX require a bit more work to get the animation to work as desired. My hope is that this post won’t be too complicated. There are some technical terms and procedures that might sound frightening, but really aren’t that bad once you understand them. - Read On...

Aircraft Design Guide Book3 - Boolean Operation Released Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... Here I am again with many weeks (months) between posts… I have been hunkered down writing the 3rd book in the Aircraft Design Guide series - the Boolean Operation. After 6 months from releasing the first 2, I’m happy to say that the 3rd book is now complete! - Read On...

Creating Thumbnails for FSX Aircraft Category: Flight Simulator Development >> See More... I’m sure anyone who has created a new aircraft with FS Design Studio for FSX or has created a new variation of paint using FS Repaint has noticed there is no preview or thumbnail for the aircraft when you select it in FSX, or the worng one if you use FS Repaint. Today I’d like to cover a few ways that you can create your own thumbnails. - Read On...

Steve Chase Memorial Flight 2010 Category: Multiplayer Events >> See More... To commemorate & celebrate Steve's life, and his contributions to the FS community, we plan to hold a Memorial Fly-In at Blackpool, (EGNH), around Steve's Irish-Sea scenery. - Read On...

Marco Fortin-Metzgen (HC970GA) - Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Recently, Marco (HC970GA) "G-MFM" passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride, using Flight Simulator Online! - Read On...

Coaxial RC Helicopters: How Do They Work? Category: RC Helicopters >> See More... Coaxial helicopter is one of the more popular images that come to mind when people think about electric RC helicopters. And for good reasons too; these double-bladed helicopters is accredited with bringing hordes of new enthusiast into the world of RC aviation. Their popularity stems from their unequivocal stability in the air - which makes them relatively easier to master when compared to their single rotor counter part. They are also predictable enough to be flown within the compounds of one's home, securing its spot as one of the most loved indoor fliers. Being able to fly right out of the box because they are sold as RTF (Ready to Fly) kits adds to their appeal. - Read On...

Esky Honeybee 4ch Rc Helicopter Review Category: RC Helicopters >> See More... Well, where to start with this one... This has got to be one of the coolest yet frustrating things anyone has ever bought me. Let me explain... My girlfriend bought me this for Christmas from Buzzflyer.co.uk for around £110, as soon as I opened it I was like a kid at 10 years old again. On the box it said for indoor/outdoor flight so naturally the box was flung open and the battery was straight on charge ready for a bout of flying round the living room. - Read On...

Walkera 5G6 R/C Helicopter Review Category: RC Helicopters >> See More... This little helicopter is my first co-axial helicopter. I bought the Walkera with metal rotor head and the 2.4G transmitter. It’s a bit more expensive than the standard Walkera with plastic rotor head and normal 35 or 72 MHz transmitter. The Walkera 5G6 is the same size as the Walkera 4#3. The only difference is that the Walkera 5G6 have two counter rotating main rotor blades, and no tail rotor. Compared to the Walkera 4#3, the Walkera 5G6 weighs 53g, slightly heavier due to the extra main motor. As I said in my Walkera 4#3 review, Walkera’s designing engineers have done it again to put a superb little helicopter (the Walkera 5G6) out there for everyone to enjoy. - Read On...

Eric Ball (HC538ER) - Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Eric Ball (HC538ER) "erictea" has passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride. Becoming Hovercontrol's 82nd Certified Pilot! - Read On...

A place to fly - Hope, British Columbia (CYHE) Category: Flight Simulator Flying >> See More... After hours of tweaking Flight Simulator X performance, installing new addon sceneries, and getting the best aircraft available for flight simulator, you might feel the urge to fly. A few nights ago, a friend from British Columbia recommended that I check out a little placed called Hope. Using Flight Simulator X with FS Genesis terrain mesh, Ground Environment X textures, and the trusty FSX Dodosim 206, I set out to explore this area. It turns out to be one of the nicest areas of terrain for flying helicopters in Flight Simulator X. - Read On...

Crater Lake Fly-in Multiplayer Event Category: Multiplayer Events >> See More... Come join us this Sunday June, 20 at 22:00UTC! We will depart from Beaver Marsh, Oregon(2S2) and head south, southwest for about 15nm. We will meet over Crater Lake then anyone willing can follow us westbound to Medford(KMFR) stopping at various airports. I'll provide some history on the various areas throughout the flight. Bring a helo that can climb because it's a big hill! See y'all Sunday! - Read On...

Welcome 2 New instructors at HC! Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... We are happy to announce two new additions to the Hovercontrol Instructor Pilot corps. Mark Self (HC265MA) and Rick Cox (HC377SU) are both well known pilots in our flight simulator multiplayer environment and have both spent significant time assisting new members, leading group flights, and being great company for those that pop in to do some flying. - Read On...

Flight Simulator X - EH101 Engine Surge Fix Category: Flight Simulator Setup >> See More... Flight Simulator X Acceleration offered a sophisticated new option with the EH-101 helicopter. However, it has frustrated many Flight Simulator X enthusiasts with its tendency to have engine surges. The following information might help members to correct the problem, or at least make it better. - Read On...

Max Torroba (HC058NV) - Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Max Torroba (HC058NV) "NVMax" has passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride. Becoming Hovercontrol's 81st Certified Pilot! - Read On...

Connor Bourque (HC610CP) - Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Recently, Connor Bourque (HC610CP) "cpbpilot" passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride, using Flight Simulator Online, to become Hovercontrol's 80th Certified Pilot! - Read On...

Flight Simulator Online Category: Multiplayer Flying >> See More... In the past 2 months we have seen a steady increase in the interest of flying Flight Simulator X online and Flight Simulator 2004 multiplayer. If you are the type that has been sitting on the sidelines and nervous to try flight simulator online, we would encourage you to get involved and to engage in flight simulator multiplayer flying with the rest of us. Once you fly flight simulator X or flight simulator 2004 online, we think you will agree that to fly any other way is really missing out. - Read On...

Flight Simulator X vs Flight Simulator 2004 Category: Flight Simulator Flying >> See More... Four years after the release of Flight Simulator X, Flight Simulator 2004 downloads remain popular. Users of Flight Simulator 2004 are still well represented in the flight simulator online environments, and it would seem that the Flight Simulator X vs Flight Simulator 2004 question will remain for at least a couple more years. What will this mean for users of Flight Simulator 2004, Flight Simulator X, and the developers of Flight Simulator downloads and expansions? - Read On...

ICARO group releases AW139 for FS2004 Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... The ICARO group has recently release their AW139 Flight Simulator Download package for Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9). It can be found in the Hovercontrol Downloads area. - Read On...

Flightsim Online Multiplayer - Great time! Category: Multiplayer Flying >> See More... Brad Moreland led a very enjoyable group flight simulator flying event this Friday evening that lead a group of 10-12 pilots from Astoria, Oregon down the Oregon coast while passing through several small regional aviation facilities. A great time was had, and we hope to see you at one of our next flights! - Read On...

Mark Self (HC265MA) - Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... This evening, Mark Self (HC265MA_Mark) passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride, to become Hovercontrol's latest CP! - Read On...

How to Choose the Right Computer Joystick Category: Flight Simulator Setup >> See More... Most PC games may be played by means of regular PC mouse and normal computer keyboard: if you are a typical, regular gamer. But if you are a grave and die-hard player , those peripherals are just not enough. That is why computer makers produced and actualized other gaming gear to offer greater enjoyment and real-life experience. A joystick belongs to those accessories. - Read On...

Flight Simulator X - Best yet to Come? Category: Flight Simulator Flying >> See More... It was a time when the possibilities were endless, the community was passitionate and imaginative, and small sub-communities of highly creative developers gave rise to an endless and dazzling array of developments for our favorite software. Is it possible that some elements of this bygone golden era in the flight simulator world are starting to come around again? - Read On...

Rick Cox (HC377SU) - Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... This evening, Rick Cox (HC377SU_Sundog) passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride, using Flight Simulator Online, to become Hovercontrol's latest CP! - Read On...

Flight Simulator Online - 28K Hours Flown Here! Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... With Hovercontrol's initiative this year regarding "Flying First", it brings us a lot of happiness to announce that our community has logged 28,000 flight hours on the Hovercontrol multiplayer server. - Read On...

Mark Self (HC265MA) - 1000+ Flight Hours Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Congratulations to Mark Self (HC265MA) on reaching 1000+ flight hours at Hovercontrol. - Read On...

Bill G. (HC808TA) - New Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Member Bill G. (username: TAC X) has earned his Certified Pilot at Hovercontrol. - Read On...

Friday night flights #2 (KAST) Category: Multiplayer Events >> See More... Join us Friday, May, 07,2010.Skids off at 01:00AM UTC for the second Friday flights. Will will depart from KAST(Astoria Rgnl) The flight will go south along the Oregon coast. Total flight time is approx, 1h 30m. - Read On...

HC Flight Simulator Online - Real Weather Available Category: Multiplayer Flying >> See More... The Hovercontrol multiplayer server now supports real-time weather updates from around the globe. - Read On...

Multiplayer Event - Sat. Ops #3 - Hood river hop Category: Multiplayer Events >> See More... Join us Saturday April, 24 at 5:00pm UTC. We will be departing from hood river (4S2) and flying a hop list through the hood river area down the columbia river. - Read On...

Would Simple Flight Simulator X Aircraft be Popular? Category: Flight Simulator Flying >> See More... Given the low number of available aircraft for the latest version of flight simulator, and the complexity involved with developing new models, a question arises. Would enjoyable aircraft for flight simulator x be popular, even if the amount of non-flight related animation and eye-candy was reduced? - Read On...

New - Hovercontrol Multiplayer Map Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... We are happy to announce the availability of our multiplayer map. Available in the Hovercontrol multiplayer section. This map allows you to see where multiplayer flyers are at, before you log into the Hovercontrol multiplayer server. - Read On...

Teamspeak 3 Server Online Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... For our active online flyers and talkers, we are happy to announce that our Teamspeak 3 server is now available. Additional details follow. - Read On...

Hamish MacLeod – New HC Instructor Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Please join us in congratulating Hamish MacLeod (skye) as the newest Instructor Pilot for Hovercontrol. - Read On...

Flight Simulator X - Settings Example Category: Flight Simulator Setup >> See More... When it comes to flight simulation in Flight Simulator X, no two systems are alike. What settings work for one person's hardware and software might not necessarily work for another. However, quite often is the case that a new user of Flight Simulator X might have chosen Flight Simulator settings that are working against them no matter what hardware or software they are using. This article will provide a basic set of sample settings that might help at least get you started. - Read On...

Prepare for Teamspeak 3 Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Hovercontrol will soon be upgrading the multiplayer voice server from Teamspeak 2 to Teamspeak 3. In order for you to use the new server you will need to install the Teamspeak 3 client. - Read On...

FSInn Client - Aircraft Overloading On Top Category: Multiplayer Flying >> See More... This article will show how to set FSInn client software settings in order to help avoid the appearance of other aircraft loading on top of you when you join the session. - Read On...

Multiplayer Event - Saturday Ops 2 Category: Multiplayer Events >> See More... Come join us Saturday 5:00PM UTC for the second Saturday OPS. The trip will take a tour of the well known Haiti. Our starting point is MTPP, Port Au Prince, Haiti. Come out and fly helicopter flight simulator online with us! - Read On...

FSInn Client - Controlling How Others Look Category: Multiplayer Flying >> See More... When flying in helicopter flight simulator multiplayer, you can never actually control how others will see you in their game environment. All you can do is control how they will appear in your game environment. This article explores the settings in the FSInn multiplayer client that allow you to make better choices about how other players appear in your flight simulator. - Read On...

FSX - Helicopter Flight Simulator Tweaks Category: Flight Simulator Setup >> See More... An article by Jesus Altuve describing his work into various performance settings for FSX. This may help your helicopter flight simulator performance. What you are about to read CAN PRODUCE UNFAVORABLE RESULTS depending on your particular setup and slider settings, so this is NOT a 'solution' to any problem, this is simply a hidden, undocumented tweak that can be applied to Flight Simulator X to obtain aproximately a 30% performance improvement. - Read On...

Hamish Macleod - New HC Certified Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Congratulations are in order for Hamish Macleod (user: skye) on earning his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot. Hamish met with Dennis Bacchiocchi this evening on the Hovercontrol multiplayer server to complete his checkride. Dennis is glad to report that he passed with skillful results! - Read On...

Brad Moreland - New HC Instructor Pilot Category: Hovercontrol News >> See More... Active member, experienced helicopter pilot, and Hovercontrol Certified Pilot Brad A. Moreland (HC105RO) accepts Instructor Pilot appointment. - Read On...