It looks like from SimAvio’s website that they are going to stop selling their product and offer it only as a “commercial” product with support. If you’ve thought about buying this, but never did, do it now. I just did.
I saw this as well. I have been checking for the GTN650 version they have been working on for a while. I am thinking they are only supporting the pre-built Touch Trainer.
It seems the SimAVIO is a dead end product for those who built their own flight sim. Too bad.
Dion -
I can confirm instead that the “FlyThisSim” software (coupled with XPlane 10) DOES run on my mid-2013 MacBook Pro (Retina) in “Native Windows Mode”. SO, I can pretty much guarantee that it will not only run, but it will run well on your iMac.
I received this Macbook Pro from work, but I often prefer Windows. So I added an external SSD Hard Drive via the Thunderbolt port, and I installed Windows 8 to that hard drive. (A separate hard drive is not required - you can create a partition on your existing hard drive. But I must admit that I found that the separate hard drive was easier to use for a list of reasons that is hard to explain.)
After the installation of Windows 8 to the external hard drive, when I turn on the MacBook Pro, I just hold down the ‘Option’ key. I am then presented with the different available boot-up choices: Mac, Recovery Partition, or Windows. I choose Windows and then I am quickly running Windows. It runs windows better than most PC’s.
Note that the installation of Windows 8 was a bit tricky, and it has been a while since I did so. If you PM me I can try to help walk you through the process.
There was one small problem after the install wherein the FTS software would not work. FTS support helped me out by telling me that I needed to disable a COM Port Driver (which took about 15 seconds) and then it worked.
Good luck to you!
It is hard to reply without making excuses. We thought hard before closing down SimAVIO as a low cost product for simulator enthusiasts. Simply put the retail product was not earning enough to provide the kind of service we demand of ourselves and the SimAVIO being sold was so far behind the TouchTrainer version we had to revamp or terminate. Revamping would have caused a distraction from managing the growth we are achieving. The decision was not made without regret.
Regarding the companies health we are doing better than ever. For the G5 there is one TouchTrainer sold for every 7 aircraft. We have healthy sales to the Cirrus resale market as well as amazing sales of our Robinson and other aircraft simulators. I think we are the largest manufacturer of BATDs in the world.
But we have more work to do in getting the classroom out of the aircraft and enabling better training on the ground, making a contribution to both safety, lower cost higher quality training and student retention. Please visit the web site www.flythissim.com or give me a PM If you need more info.
As for the GTNs by the time we have done we will have 2 man years of software In them. They are probably going to be held back until we finish our current task of rewriting our software for global simulation rather than just the USA.
Carl
Hey Carl, Just make sure Cuba in there. Need to start my practice flights soon.
With regard to the license keys, will that support end as well?
For example if the hard drive dies (or we upgrade a PC), will we be able to get a replacement license key by email - as in the past?
Just want to ay thanks for a great product. It is rock solid and works well.
Cuba wil be in there. No less than global domination.
We will always do what we can to support customers. License keys are easy.
Carl,
any idea when you will have a database for European pilots?
Hi Craig,
Many thanks for the encouragement! I was concerned about the SimAvio product being discontinued and so have quickly bought all the necessary software…now for the hardware.
Can you give me some guidance as to the best (most like an SR-22 feel) joystick on the market please, a lot of the available stuff looks like toys.
Cheers,
Dion
Dion -
I chose to go with the joystick that comes with the TouchTrainer: the “Logitech Extreme 3D Pro”. You can find it for about $35 at your local Office Depot, or google that to find it a bit cheaper.
You can also find the same “throttle quadrant” and Rudder Pedals that appear to come with the professional version of the TouchTrainer. They are sold on Amazon as the “Saitek Three Lever Pro Throttle Quadrant (PZ45)” and the “Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals” respectively. They are not cheap, but do seem to be of good quality.
Although it shows three ‘sliders’, the “Throttle Quadrant” comes with a grip that accurately mimics the Cirrus’ throttle handle (using two of the three sliders) and leaves just the mixture slider.
The joystick feels just like any other joystick, but if you have a good imagination you’ll get the idea.
There is some amount of ‘setup’ that you must do inside the software to configure these peripherals to work properly with SimAvio, but the documentation is pretty good and it was not hard to do.
Once I get my instrument rating, I may just buy the TouchTrainer as I would like to use it to shoot practice approaches, and that version with the giant screens seems to be a great way to do that . . . and to better demonstrate my flying obsession to my friends and family!
Hi Craig,
I am up and running BEAUTIFULLY on an iMac running in Native Mode (Bootcamp). Runs smoothly and no installation problems…HOWEVER…
While SimAVIO contains the USA Nav Data, as soon as I load up the South African (X-Plane supplied) scenery, there is no Nav Data available. SimAVIO tells me they no longer intend supplying non-US Nav Data. As I intend using this SIM for IF training, this is a big blow!
So! Do you perhaps know, If I purchase South African Nav Data elsewhere, is there a way to load it on SimAvio successfully??
Many thanks for the interest.
Dion
Dion,
This is not true.
We are working hard to modify SimAVIO Pro and the TouchTrainers to run world wide data, its our highest priority and the main reason to re-write our core software, as well as making itmulti-platform and provide many more facilities; synthetic terrain for instance.
We have world wide data, our mapping software is being re-written to exploit it as we speak. Next we have to re-write our GPS/Navigator simulation, autopilot simulations and quite a bit more. Then we will be done. Its going to be a while. Fortunately this time I’m not doing it!
As we wrote our own data compilers from raw ARINC 424 18 (the same data used by avionics manufacturers) no avionics manufacturers data will work, The current maps and GPS systems only work in the -+ve (N)/-ve(W) quadrant
Also please note we replaced SimAVIO with SimAVIO Pro earlier this year. At its higher price it is selling surprisingly well to those who want to use their own hardware to create simulators. Take a look at http://www.flythissim.com
Regards,
Carl
FlyThisSim
Hi Carl,
Clearly you must have a Nav Data compiler that you used to compile the US Nav Data. So is it possible for me to use that compiler to build data at least for my home base in South Africa (FALA), or to pay a fee to have it built by you?
Regards,
Dion
Dion,
I’d love to take your money but it is a complex task and I could not offer you a completion date.
Current software is focused on the NW quarter-sphere, including the nav data compilers so they would not work… As I have said getting international data and maps into a TouchTrainer and then getting the GPS systems and autopilots to use them is our highest priority.
We have quite a few international customers, they keep their currency by flying approaches in the US and looking for terrain like their homelands. I know its not the same as your home airfield but the aircraft systems and procedures are.
If you want to call me to discuss please do, 1 408 835 3655
Carl
Hi Carl,
Thanks for the detailed explanation…disappointing as it may be.
The South African approaches are designed quite differently from those in the US but I will try to get the max out of the US approaches.
Thanks again for the assistance!
Kind Regards,
Dion
Anyone willing to sell me their “old,non-proffesional” version of the software for Cirrus SR-22? I need to familiarise myself with the Perspective cockpit. If not, I 'd welcome any other suggestions. The Pro version is a bit of strecth price wise.