As of today, there will not be any news appearing on the VPN website, due to the fact I shall be away until Monday. See ya next week folks !

SimGiants has just released Gran Canaria International airport - GCLP (Locally known as "Gando") is located in the middle of the east coast of Gran Canaria, about 20 minutes up the motorway to the city of Las Palmas and 40 minutes down the motorway to Puerto Rico. Gran Canaria (originally named Tamarán) forms part of the Canary Islands. The southern point of Gran Canaria is just 210 km from the coast of Africa, the western Sahara to be more precise and in the Atlantic Ocean. The island itself is located 1,250 km away from mainland Spain.

Gran Canaria is also known as the "continent in miniature" with its centre being a mountainous, alpine region with peaks of 6,400 feet and an alpine climate.

See Gran Canaria International airport as never before in FSX and FS2004. The airport and its surroundings are highly accurate and based on satellite imagery.

For more information please visit the SimGiants website.

Aerosoft's Oliver Pabst just delivered AES version 1.97 to us and we updated all download links and product pages, so come and get it! Well worth checking out, you do know it is totally free to try? Click here to see the full list of new airports. Please be aware also that for the Overland airports you will need updates, please visit the Aerosoft AES forum for more information on this.

Orbx has great pleasure in announcing the immediate availability of FTX AU TRAFFIC V1.0, the 100% freeware AI traffic addon for Australia. This addon has been over 12 months in the making, and is built on the well respected VOZ AI 1.x series begun by Mal Walker nearly two years. With up-to-the-minute commercial airline schedules, fresh new liveries and accurate models that are more efficient and FPS-friendly than the default AI, this addon will breathe new life into all Australian airport where there is commercial airline traffic. The addon is completely self-installing and also has a control panel. For more information please visit the product page by clicking here.

BluePrint announces that their scenery depicts Barbados' Grantley Adams International airport as it exists today. Barbados is the easternmost of the Windward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. A former British colony, Barbados is today a very popular destination for Europeans tourists, especially British, looking to enjoy the mild temperatures and year around sun in a familiar environment. TBPB , along with St. Maarten's Princess Juliana Intl. and San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin Intl., is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. It receives daily wide-body service from numerous airlines and charter operators including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BMI, LTU, American, Delta, United, Air Canada, Monarch and Thompson among many others. It also serves as a connection point to other former British colonies like St. Lucia and Antigua. For more information please visit the BluePrint homepage or the product page by clicking here.

SkyUnlimited announces Three Highly Detailed models of the B-17G, including armed and an unarmed variant. Beautifully rendered virtual cockpits created in the most stunning detail, with virtually everything animated and labeled.
Highly accurate flight dynamics that make this aircraft both a challenge and joy to fly. For more information please visit the SkyUnlimited homepage.

Orbx announces the launch FTX airport , Melbourne's Tullamarine International Airport is Australia's second largest in size and traffic volume and a major gateway for trans Pacific, Tasman and Asian international flights. FTX AU YMML is the most detailed major Australian airport ever designed for FSX, combining 1m/pixel and 15cm/pixel ground textures for a truly remarkable experience. YMML features over 40km sq. of surrounding photoreal suburbs, industrial estates and townships, incredibly detailed custom GMAX modeling and texturing made from thousands of photos taken at the airport, full seasonal color variations, immersive approach and area lighting systems, Nose-In-Guidance systems for gates, inverse kinetic animated aerobridges and the choice of running YMML in FSX Native Mode or Gmax 15cm Poly Mode. In another world exclusive, YMML features a custom set of Real Environment Xtreme (REX) airport environment textures specially made to match the YMML ground photos. This scenery is designed to compiment the Orbx FTX AU BLUE region pack released in March 2008. Visit ftxnow.com for more information and how to purchase.

AlphaSim has just released the awesome Kamov attack helicopter swoops into action in FSX and FS9. This outstanding premier package depicts the 'Werewolf' in meticulous detail - both the exterior and interior models display breathtaking realism, the v-c in particular is a major tour de force in terms of realism for both FS9 and FSX (note - FSX model is full-spec, not merely a 'portover') - using AlphaSim's incredible 'RealGauge' technology, in-cockpit framerates and fine gauge detail reach unbelievable levels. All the actual Russian text is recreated, the Heads-Up display is also fully authentic. The six superbly-drawn texture sets depict both real and ficticious (but probable) liveries. A full-spec sounds package adds to the outstanding ambience offered by this cutting-edge FS model. A comprehensive, fully-illustrated user manual in PDF format supplies all the information needed to fly this beast of a machine. The expertly-crafted flight model depicts the unique Kamov contra-rotating rotor system to the highest level. This is the FS addon for which fans of Russian aviation and helicopter enthusiasts alike have been waiting for ! For more information please visit the AlphaSim homepage.

Carenado announces the new 180F: DEVELOPED ONLY FOR FSX. SUPPORTS SP2, ACCELERATION PACK and DX10. New FSX features: external dynamic shadows, internal dynamic shadows on VC, normal mapping, specular mapping and bloom lights. Four different textures with maximum details and realistic textures. Includes: Interactive virtual cockpit - Full moving parts: Ailerons, elevators, rudders, flaps, rolling wheels – Opening doors - Navigation lights, beacons, landing lights - Full dynamic effects (shines over the body and panel, nightlights) - Dynamic shine and reflections - Transparent windows - 3D modeled pilot and cockpit area - Real Propeller - Many details as: pitot pressure chamber, antennas, fuel tank.... etc. – Realistic textures and original Piper paint design - Custom panel and gauges. - Realistic light effects on gauges - Nightlight effects on panel – Yoke – Full checklist and reference text about the Flight Dynamics - Realistic performance based on Piper’s documents and experimented Piper’s pilot observations...and our own experience on real flight and MFS. - Similar behavior comparative with the real airplane. - Real weight and balance. * PDF document with more information is added to the model. 1 and 2 persons on board. For more information please visit the Carenado homepage.

Flight1 and Coolsky present The Super 80 Professional simulates the latest cockpit upgrade given to the MD-80 series. It includes a full Electronic Flight Deck (EFD) that includes a full EFIS with FMS, TCAS, Systems Display Panel, Engine Display Panel, and many more advanced systems. The Super 80 Pro gives you the high-tech avionics required to fly the precision procedures executed by today's professional pilots. For more information please visit the Flight1 product page or the Coolsky homepage.