AOPA members can now fly the 2005 AOPA Commander Countdown Sweepstakes airplane with Microsoft Flight Simulator on their personal computer

AOPA members can now fly the 2005 AOPA Commander Countdown Sweepstakes airplane with Microsoft Flight Simulator on their personal computer

Members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) can now fly the 2005 AOPA Commander Countdown Sweepstakes airplane from the comfort of their home on a personal computer. Early next year, one AOPA member will win the sweepstakes grand prize - a state-of-the-art, glass-cockpit Commander 112A - but for now, all members can have their turn at the controls thanks to a remarkable new add-on to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.

"Every AOPA member dreams of winning the sweepstakes airplane," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The next best thing to owning it is flying it - and now, thanks to our partnering with Flight1 Software, all of our members will have that opportunity."

Unveiled at EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2005, the "virtual Commander" duplicates nearly every detail of the sweepstakes airplane, including the Chelton FlightLogic glass-panel display and autopilot; a custom paint job selected by AOPA members and created by Scheme Designers; and a custom interior.

The Flight1 Software plug-in for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 will run on any personal computer running Windows XP. A control yoke or joystick are also required to fly the Commander (rudder pedals are optional), and a high-speed Internet connection is recommended to download the program.

For more information or to download the Commander Countdown software and fly this unique airplane with your existing copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, see AOPA Online.

With more than 404,000 members, AOPA is the world's largest civil aviation association, working to protect the interests of general aviation. Nearly two-thirds of all U.S. pilots are members of AOPA.

05-3-004

July 25, 2005