FS2004 Aerosim Classic Liners Vol.2: The Ultimate Add-on for Jetliner Fans
FS2004 - Aerosim Classic Liners Vol.2 16: A Review
If you are a fan of flight simulation games, you might have heard of FS2004, also known as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight. It is one of the most popular and realistic flight simulator games ever created, with millions of users around the world. But did you know that you can enhance your FS2004 experience with add-on products from third-party developers? One of these products is Aerosim's Classic Liners Vol.2, which features some of the most iconic jetliners of the second generation, such as Douglas DC-8/DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011.
FS2004 - Aerosim Classic Liners Vol.2 16
In this article, we will review Aerosim's Classic Liners Vol.2 16, which is an add-on product for exclusive use with FS2004. We will cover what FS2004 is, what Aerosim is, what Classic Liners Vol.2 is, how to install and use it, and what are its pros and cons. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of this product and whether it is worth buying or not.
What is FS2004?
FS2004 is short for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight, which is a flight simulator game developed by Microsoft Game Studios and released in 2003. It is the tenth installment in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, which dates back to 1982.
A Brief History of Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the oldest and longest-running computer game franchises in history. It started as a subLOGIC product in 1979, which was ported to various platforms such as Apple II, Commodore 64, Atari ST, and IBM PC. In 1982, Microsoft licensed the product from subLOGIC and released Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 for the IBM PC. Since then, Microsoft has released nine more versions of the game, each with improved graphics, realism, features, and aircrafts. The latest version is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, which was released in August 2020 and uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to create a stunning virtual representation of the entire Earth.
The Features and Improvements of FS2004
FS2004 is the tenth version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it was released in 2003 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight. It is also the last version to run on Windows 98 and Windows Me.
FS2004 has many features and improvements over its predecessors, such as:
A new dynamic weather system that allows for real-time weather updates from the Internet, as well as custom weather scenarios.
A new interactive air traffic control system that allows for communication with other aircrafts and ground controllers.
A new GPS system that provides navigation information and flight planning.
A new flight analysis tool that records and replays flights, as well as provides statistics and graphs.
A new century of flight mode that features historical aircrafts and missions from different eras of aviation history.
A new learning center that provides tutorials, tips, and information on various aspects of flight simulation.
A new aircraft library that includes over 20 aircrafts, ranging from ultralights to airliners, as well as helicopters and gliders.
A new scenery library that covers the entire world, with enhanced terrain, landmarks, airports, and cities.
FS2004 is widely regarded as one of the best and most realistic flight simulator games ever made, and it has received many positive reviews and awards from critics and users alike. It is also compatible with many add-on products from third-party developers, which can enhance the game with new aircrafts, sceneries, missions, utilities, and more.
What is Aerosim?
Aerosim is a Japanese company that specializes in developing add-on products for flight simulator games, especially for FS2004 and FSX (Microsoft Flight Simulator X). It was founded in 2001 by a group of aviation enthusiasts who wanted to create realistic and high-quality products for flight simulation fans.
The Company and Its Products
Aerosim's motto is "Real Add-on Series", which reflects its philosophy of creating add-on products that are based on real aircrafts and operations. Aerosim's products are designed to simulate not only the appearance and performance of the aircrafts, but also their systems, procedures, sounds, animations, and more.
Aerosim has released many add-on products for FS2004 and FSX, covering various types of aircrafts such as airliners, regional jets, turboprops, military jets, helicopters, and vintage planes. Some of its most popular products are:
Classic Liners Vol.1: A collection of four classic jetliners from the first generation: Boeing 707/720/727/737-100/200.
Classic Liners Vol.2: A collection of four classic jetliners from the second generation: Douglas DC-8/DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner: A simulation of the modern and innovative Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
First Step for FSX: A beginner-friendly package that includes four easy-to-fly aircrafts: Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Beechcraft Baron 58, and Mooney M20J.
Japanese Airports: A series of sceneries that depict various airports in Japan with realistic buildings, textures, lighting, and traffic.
Aerosim's products are available for purchase online through its official website or other online retailers. They are also compatible with other add-on products from other developers, such as Ultimate Traffic or Active Sky.
The Real Add-On Series for FS2004
The Real Add-On Series is Aerosim's flagship product line for FS2004. It consists of four volumes: Classic Liners Vol.1, Classic Liners Vol.2, Boeing 777-200, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Each volume features one or more aircrafts that are faithfully recreated for FS2004, with high-resolution textures, realistic sounds, detailed cockpits, and accurate systems. The Real Add-On Series also includes some bonus features, such as adventures, sceneries, manuals, and repaint kits.
The Real Add-On Series is designed for advanced users who want to experience the real operations and procedures of the aircrafts. The products require a lot of knowledge and skill to fly them properly, and they are not suitable for beginners or casual players. However, for those who are willing to learn and master them, the Real Add-On Series offers a rewarding and immersive flight simulation experience.
What is Classic Liners Vol.2?
Classic Liners Vol.2 is the second volume of the Real Add-On Series for FS2004. It was released in 2007 by Aerosim, and it features four classic jetliners from the second generation: Douglas DC-8/DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011. These aircrafts were introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and they revolutionized the commercial aviation industry with their size, speed, range, and comfort.
The Aircrafts and Liveries Included
Classic Liners Vol.2 includes four aircraft models with different variants and liveries. The models are:
Douglas DC-8: A four-engine long-range jetliner that was the first commercial jet to break the sound barrier. It has three variants: DC-8-32 (short fuselage), DC-8-55 (medium fuselage), and DC-8-61 (stretched fuselage). It has 16 liveries from various airlines, such as United Airlines, Pan American World Airways, Japan Airlines, and Air Canada.
Douglas DC-10: A three-engine wide-body jetliner that was one of the most successful airliners of its time. It has two variants: DC-10-30 (long-range) and DC-10-40 (high-performance). It has 16 liveries from various airlines, such as American Airlines, Lufthansa, Northwest Airlines, and British Airways.
Lockheed L-1011: A three-engine wide-body jetliner that was known for its advanced technology and safety features. It has two variants: L-1011-1 (standard) and L-1011-500 (long-range). It has 16 liveries from various airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Trans World Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airways.
Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Kai: A fictional variant of the L-1011 that is modified with modern avionics and engines. It has one livery from Aerosim.
All the aircraft models have high-resolution textures, realistic sounds, dynamic shine effects, wing views, opening doors, animated control surfaces, retractable landing lights, and more.
The Cockpits and Systems Simulated
Classic Liners Vol.2 also features detailed 2D and 3D cockpits for each aircraft model, with functional gauges, switches, levers, buttons, and indicators. The cockpits are designed to simulate the real operations and procedures of the aircrafts, and they require a lot of knowledge and skill to use them correctly. Some of the systems and features simulated are:
Flight Management System (FMS): A computerized system that provides navigation, performance, and flight planning functions. It can be programmed with waypoints, routes, speeds, altitudes, and other parameters.
Autopilot System (AP): A system that automatically controls the aircraft's flight attitude, speed, altitude, heading, and course. It can be engaged or disengaged by the pilot, and it can follow the FMS or manual inputs.
Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS): A system that displays the engine parameters, such as thrust, temperature, pressure, and fuel flow. It also alerts the crew of any malfunctions or failures in the aircraft systems.
Hydraulic System: A system that provides power to operate the aircraft's control surfaces, landing gear, brakes, flaps, slats, spoilers, and thrust reversers. It consists of pumps, reservoirs, valves, actuators, and pipes.
Electrical System: A system that provides power to operate the aircraft's lights, instruments, radios, computers, and other devices. It consists of generators, batteries, buses, switches, and wires.
Fuel System: A system that stores and distributes fuel to the engines and auxiliary power unit (APU). It consists of tanks, pumps, valves, filters, gauges, and pipes.
Pneumatic System: A system that provides compressed air for various purposes, such as engine starting, cabin pressurization, air conditioning, anti-icing, and deicing. It consists of compressors, valves, ducts, and vents.
Fire Protection System: A system that detects and extinguishes fire in the engines, cargo compartments, and lavatories. It consists of sensors, alarms, extinguishers, and bottles.
Emergency Equipment: A set of equipment that can be used in case of an emergency, such as oxygen masks, life vests, escape slides, fire axes, and flashlights.
All the systems and features are modeled with realistic logic and behavior, and they can be affected by various factors, such as weather, temperature, altitude, speed, and failures. The pilot has to monitor and manage the systems and features properly, and follow the checklists and procedures accordingly.
The Adventures and Sceneries Provided
Classic Liners Vol.2 also includes some bonus adventures and sceneries for each aircraft model. The adventures are pre-defined flights that have specific objectives, such as taking off, landing, or following a route. The adventures also have voice-overs, briefings, maps, charts, and weather information. The sceneries are custom-made airports or landmarks that are related to the aircrafts or their liveries. The sceneries have enhanced textures, lighting, buildings, and traffic.
Some of the adventures and sceneries included are:
Douglas DC-8: Adventures from New York to London, Tokyo to Honolulu, Los Angeles to Miami, and more. Sceneries of JFK International Airport, Heathrow Airport, Haneda Airport, and more.
Douglas DC-10: Adventures from Frankfurt to New York, Honolulu to Sydney, Chicago to Los Angeles, and more. Sceneries of Frankfurt Airport, JFK International Airport, Sydney Airport, and more.
Lockheed L-1011: Adventures from Atlanta to New York, London to Los Angeles, Hong Kong to Tokyo, and more. Sceneries of Atlanta Airport, Heathrow Airport, Kai Tak Airport, and more.
Lockheed L-1011 Tristar Kai: Adventures from Tokyo to Osaka, Seoul to Beijing, Singapore to Bangkok, and more. Sceneries of Narita Airport, Incheon Airport, Changi Airport, and more.
The adventures and sceneries are optional and can be accessed from the FS2004 menu. They are designed to provide more fun and challenge for the users, as well as to showcase the capabilities and features of the aircrafts.
How to Install and Use Classic Liners Vol.2?
If you are interested in buying and using Classic Liners Vol.2, you need to make sure that you have the following requirements:
The System Requirements and Compatibility
Classic Liners Vol.2 is an add-on product for exclusive use with FS2004. It is not compatible with any other flight simulator games, such as FSX or Prepar3D. It also requires a relatively high-end computer system to run smoothly, as it has high-resolution graphics and complex systems. The minimum system requirements are:
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
Pentium III 1 GHz or higher
256 MB RAM or higher
64 MB video card or higher
DirectX 9.0c or higher
1.5 GB free hard disk space or higher
CD-ROM drive
Internet connection (for online activation)
The recommended system requirements are:
Windows XP
Pentium IV 2 GHz or higher
512 MB RAM or higher
128 MB video card or higher
DirectX 9.0c or higher
2 GB free hard disk space or higher
CD-ROM drive
Internet connection (for online activation)
You also need to have a valid copy of FS2004 installed on your computer, with the latest updates and patches applied. You can check the version of your FS2004 by looking at the bottom right corner of the main menu screen. The latest version is 9.1.
The Installation Process and Instructions
If you meet the system requirements and compatibility, you can proceed to buy and install Classic Liners Vol.2. You can buy it online through Aerosim's official website or other online retailers, such as SimMarket or FlightSim Store. The price is around $40 USD, depending on the exchange rate and taxes.
After you buy it, you will receive a confirmation email with a download link and a serial number. You need to download the product file, which is around 500 MB in size, and save it on your computer. You also need to keep the serial number safe, as you will need it for online activation later.
To install Classic Liners Vol.2, you need to run the product file and follow the instructions on the screen. You will be asked to select the destination folder, which should be the same as your FS2004 folder, usually located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\. You will also be asked to enter your serial number, which will be verified online by Aerosim's server. You need to have an active Internet connection for this step.
After the installation is complete, you will see a new folder called Aerosim inside your FS2004 folder. This folder contains all the files and folders related to Classic Liners Vol.2, such as aircrafts, gauges, sounds, manuals, repaint kits, and more. You can also find a shortcut to Aerosim's website on your desktop.
The Tips and Tricks for Better Performance
To use Classic Liners Vol.2, you need to launch FS2004 and select one of the aircrafts from the aircraft selection menu. You can also select one of the adventures or sceneries from the select a flight menu. You can then start your flight and enjoy flying these classic jetliners.
However, you might encounter some issues or problems while using Classic Liners Vol.2, such as low frame rates, crashes, errors, or glitches. These issues are usually caused by insufficient system resources, incompatible settings, conflicting add-ons, or corrupted files. To avoid or fix these issues, you can try some of the following tips and tricks:
Adjust your FS2004 settings to suit your system capabilities. You can lower the display, scenery, weather, traffic, and sound settings to improve your frame rates and performance.
Disable or uninstall any other add-on products that are not compatible or necessary for Classic Liners Vol.2. You can use a tool such as Addit! Pro or FSX Registry Utility to manage your add-ons.
Update your drivers, DirectX, and Windows to the latest versions. You can also use a tool such as CCleaner or Advanced SystemCare to clean and optimize your system.
Read the manuals and tutorials provided by Aerosim to learn how to use the aircrafts and their systems properly. You can also watch some videos or read some reviews online to get some tips and tricks from other users.
Contact Aerosim's customer support if you have any questions or problems that are not solved by the above tips and tricks. You can email them at support@aerosim.co.jp or visit their website at www.aerosim.co.jp.
By following these tips and tricks, you can enhance your Classic Liners Vol.2 experience and enjoy flying these classic jetliners without any issues or problems.
What are the Pros and Cons of Classic Liners Vol.2?
Classic Liners Vol.2 is a great add-on product for FS2004 that offers a lot of value and quality for flight simulation fans. However, it is not perfect and it has some pros and cons that you should consider before buying it. Here are some of the pros and cons of Classic Liners Vol.2:
The Advantages of Classic Liners Vol.2
Some of the advantages of Classic Liners Vol.2 are:
It features four classic jetliners from the second generation that are rarely seen in other add-on products.
It has high-resolution textures, realistic sounds, dynamic shine effects, wing views, opening doors, animated control surfaces, retractable landing lights, and more.
It has detailed 2D and 3D cockpits with functional gauges, switches, levers, buttons, and indicators.
It simulates the real operations and procedures of the aircrafts, including their systems, features, checklists, and failures.
It includes some bonus adventures and sceneries for each aircraft model, with voice-overs, briefings, maps, charts, and weather information.
It is compatible with other add-on products from other developers, such as Ultimate Traffic or Active Sky.
It is reasonably priced at around $40 USD, which is cheaper than some other add-on products with similar quality and quantity.
The Disadvantages of Classic Liners Vol.2
Some of the disadvantages of Classic Liners Vol.2 are:
It is an add-on product for exclusive use with FS2004. It is not compatible with any other flight simulator games, such as FSX or Prepar3D.
It requires a relatively high-end computer system to run smoothly, as it has high-resolution graphics and complex systems.
It is designed for advanced users who want to experience the real operations and procedures of the aircrafts. It is not suitable for beginners or casual players who want to fly easily and quickly.
It might encounter some issues or problems while using it, such as low frame rates, crashes, errors, or glitches. These issues might be caused by insufficient system resources, incompatible settings, conflicting add-ons, or corrupted files. These issues might require some tips and tricks to avoid or fix them.
It has som