Featured Addon History - 2010

The Morane-Saulnier MS-760 Paris is a French jet trainer and liaison aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier. Based on the earlier two-seat trainer, the MS-755 Fleuret, the Paris was used by the French military between 1959 and 1997. In the early 1950s the French Air Force needed an ab-initio jet trainer; Morane-Saulnier proposed the MS-755 Fleuret, but the competition was won by the Fouga Magister. The company re-designed the MS-755 as a four-seat liaison aircraft which they called the MS-760 Paris.

On 18 July 1956 the French government requisitioned 50 aircraft, including 14 for the Navy, from Tarbes-based manufacturer Morane-Saulnier. ... Their missions were Super Étendard and F-8 Crusader pilot IFR and all-weather training, advanced training for new pilots, proficiency training for other pilots and A.L.P.A. (admirals commanding the carriers and Naval Aviation), and 1st and 2nd Aerial Regions liaisons. Eight MS-760 Paris were on the unit's flightline.

After 40 years of service, the aircraft were retired in October 1997 at N.A.S. Landivisiau. ... In 2007, after 48 years of continuous service, the Argentine Air Force retired their last Paris. (Source: Wikipedia.)

The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston-engined. These were eventually succeeded by the upgraded T-34C Turbo-Mentor, powered by a turboprop engine. The T-34 remains in service almost six decades after it was first designed.

After a production hiatus of almost 15 years, the T-34C Turbo-Mentor powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25 turboprop engine was developed in 1973. ... Mentor production re-started in 1975 for deliveries of T-34Cs to the USN and of the T-34C-1 armed version for export customers in 1977, this version featuring four underwing hardpoints. The last Turbo-Mentor rolled off the production line in 1990. (Source: Wikipedia.)

This month we feature De Havilland DH-80A Puss Moth by Milton Shupe, Scott Thomas, Damian Radice, Tom Falley Mike Hambly, Mike Wilkinson, and Bill Brady. This model features a beautiful custom era correct panel with easy-to-read virtual cockpit. Package includes a great flight model and four gorgeous paint schemes (black, silver, blue and red.

Most DH.80As were used as private aircraft, though many also flew commercially with small air charter firms for both passenger and mail carrying. Seating was normally two although in commercial use two passengers could be carried in slightly staggered seats allowing the rear passenger's legs to lie beside the forward passenger seat. The wings folded backwards for storage, pivoting on the rear spar root fitting and the V-strut root fitting, a system used on other De Havilland light airplanes of the period.

DH.80s were used for a number of record breaking flights during the early 1930s. Surviving British civilian aircraft were impressed into service during World War II to act as communication aircraft. A small number survive into the early 21st century. (Source: Wikipedia.)

The SR22, by Cirrus Design, is a single-engine, four-seat, composite aircraft. It is a more powerful version of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a 310 horsepower (231 kW) engine. It is extremely popular among purchasers of new aircraft and has been the world's best-selling single-engine, four-seat aircraft for several years.[2] Like the Cessna 400, but unlike most other aircraft in its class, the SR22 has fixed (non-retractable) landing gear.

The aircraft is perhaps best known for being equipped with the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS), an emergency parachute capable of lowering the entire aircraft (and occupants) to the ground in an emergency. (Source: Wikipedia.)

This month we feature FSX North American F-86E Sabre by Wesam Baker, Jan Visser, Hansjoerg Naegele, Robert Young, Cliff Presley, Jan Rosenberg, Dudley Henriques, Björn Kesten, and Nils. This is an update that adds external views to the previously released v1.1a. This addon includes a detailed clickable cockpit, 2 paint schemes, full textures and excellent documentation.

The Sabre is best known for its Korean War role where it was pitted against the Soviet MiG-15 and obtained UN air superiority. Although developed in the late 1940s and outdated by the end of the 1950s, the Sabre proved adaptable and continued as a front line fighter in air forces until the last active front line examples were retired by the Bolivian Air Force in 1994.

Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956,[citation needed] in the United States, Japan and Italy. It was by far the most-produced Western jet fighter, with total production of all variants at 9,860 units.

F-86E: Improved flight control system and an "all-flying tail" (This system changed to a full power-operated control with an "artificial feel" built into the aircraft's controls to give the pilot forces on the stick that were still conventional, but light enough for superior combat control. It improved high speed maneuverability); 456 built, North American model NA-170 (F-86E-1 and E-5 blocks), NA-172, essentially the F-86F airframe with the F-86E engine (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks); 60 of these built by Canadair for USAF (F-86E-6) (Source: Wikipedia.)