165: Centurion T210 Vertical Speed Gauge

| Tom Tsui

Just purchased my last two (well, seven in total, so far) Saitek Flight Instrument Panels (FIPs) to complete my flight system.  To make them look more realistic and appealing for my favorite Centurion T210, I am working on to revise all gauges accordingly.

The image on the left is the new Vertical Speed Indicator I have just made after the last revised Airspeed Gauge.   Of course, it can be used on similar aircrafts, too.

Subscribers of this blog are welcome to post a request in the COMMENTS section below to get the download link for it.

Here’s also the preview screenshot of the Attitude Gauge to be completed very soon.

News: Trained to be a Combat Pilot

Aside | | Tom Tsui


It surely sounds like a cliché, but I did dream to be a fighter pilot like many other kids.   Forget about the heroic thing, just the name of it thrilled my little heart.  Although as usual it remains a child’s dream,  my enthusiasm on FSX no doubt is a true reflection of it.

Recently, my long-forgotten fantasy towards fighter pilot was resumed by the just released Combat Pilot developed by ThunderHawk Studios of Mad Catz.

According to the game’s description, Combat Pilot is built on the FSX environment and uses a proprietary multiplayer engine with dedicated servers to implement realistic on-line interactive combat experiences among virtual pilots via features such as A.I. controlled ATC, fully integrated weapons suite, custom UHF communications, etc.

The most exciting part to me is that this flightsim product provides players with various aircraft and weapon trainings during the course of their pilot careers from cadets to officers.

Although all these joys come with a premium, it is still worth spending some times looking at these fantastic features on the game’s website whether you once dreamt to be a fighter pilot or not.

164: Maps – New Zealand Complete

| Tom Tsui

With the installation of the newly purchased New Zealand North Island from Orbx, my modified version of the country’s Google Earth airport and landmark maps have been revised accordingly.

The first link below is for the North Island only, which can be used with my earliest Post 136 for the South Island.

The second link is for the whole of New Zealand, which includes everything from Airports to Points of Interests.

As always, although the links below are downloadable, it is still recommended to just COPY the URLs and add them via the Network Link feature in Google Earth so that updates can be immediately reflected when available.

Continue reading →

163: Centurion T210 Airspeed Gauge V2

| Tom Tsui

The image on the right is the 2nd version of the Airspeed Gauge for Centurion T210.   It is done so based on the suggestion from Ray Marshall, who would like the gauge to be easier to read at lower speeds during approaches and landings.

The position of readings and overall graphics of the gauge have also been improved.

Subscribers of this blog who are interested to get a copy of this Airspeed Gauge version 2 could post their requests in the COMMENTS section below.

162: FlyZone Switcher Summing Up & Simplified

| Tom Tsui

It’s really a relief that the FlyZone Switcher first version has been finally released and completed as planned even though there are still many rooms for improvement.

For example, there are subscribers reported that the pre-assigned 14 FlyZones are too many for them.   Some said that they don’t use Orbx’s addons.   So those FTX regions are meaningless.

Also, there are comments saying that the preparation and verification processes for the FlyZone Switcher are far too complicated and tedious.

For the first two feedbacks, it is probably true since the first version is generally simplified from what I am using, which is highly customized according to my own system configuration.   So it is what it is.

But for the third comment, my suggestion is: Take It or Leave It !

Continue reading →

161: Adding Scenery Under FlyZone Switcher

| Tom Tsui

For those subscribers who has completed the system preparation and verification processes for the FlyZone Switcher, followings are the procedures for adding new scenery addons under FlyZones.   Though it may look long and complicated, it is simply just a variation to the FlyZone preparation steps you have gone through.

Essentially, the installation procedures ensure that the core files and their corresponding base files required by the Switcher are in-sync at all time.

  1. autogen files
  2. scenery.CFG
  3. DLL.XML
  4. fsx.CFG

Below, I will use the installation of my recently purchased Jackson Hole (KJAC) scenery as an example to illustrate the procedures required to ensure the FlyZone Switcher continues to function properly.

Continue reading →

160: Airspeed Gauge for Centurion T210

| Tom Tsui

Carenado’s Centurion T210 is my favorite airplane which I have made it the default one for most of my free flights.

The FIP image on the right is the new airspeed gauge I just created to replace my last FIP meter for Cessna 172.

When time allows, will further customize a few more gauges for the plane.

Any subscribers who are interested to get a copy of this gauge could post their requests in the COMMENTS section below.

News: Orbx’s New Freeware Available

| Tom Tsui

Orbx has just released a freeware download for West Wind (7WA3), Riverside (4WA8) and an unmarked airstrip in the Washington area.

Anyone who has the company’s FTX PNW scenery installed shouldn’t miss this.

My FTX NA Airports Maps for Google Earth has also been updated accordingly.

To All Subscribers

Image | | Tom Tsui

Have been receiving quite some questions about not getting the download link for the utilities I wrote.   I replied this question to individuals directly in the past.

Along with the release of the FlyZone Switcher, I think it is better for me to post my recent reply to Dustin (and a few others) who just asked the same question again why it is so:

…  I once sent out the first version of my ShadeShifter to all subscribers.    However, … some people were not keen and many expressed not happy to get emails like this.

So from that moment on, I ONLY send the download link of my utility to those people (subscribers of my blog only) who specifically show interests and request for it.

This is the practice I am taking for my blog — If you are interested in something I create, send me a request.

Also, you MUST BE A SUBSCRIBER to this blog.

I take this as a basic mutual respect.    And I make this statement clear in many of my posts.

I definite spend a lot of time (and money) keeping this blog running, not to mention the efforts I put on designing, programming and testing the utilities I share them for free.

So, please don’t feel bothered by just sending me a request for something that may bring you extra fun in FSX.

P.S.
For those who are interested to get a copy of the new FlyZone Switcher,  it will take a while because I would like to get some feedbacks from the first round of users first.    But it shouldn’t take long.

Moreover, don’t stop notifying me of your interest by sending me a comment post.