VFR Airfields for FSX

[Gary Summons]

UK2000 Scenery is currently developing a new "mass airfield" range of products for FSX only. The development name is called 'VFR Airfields' . This name may change before its release. The product range will include all UK and Irish airfields and will take about 3-4 years to finished (will obviously run in the next MSFS sim).  Volume1 is due to finish around Xmas time this year. Each product will have around 100 airfields and is split in a similar way to the Generation-X product. It will fit perfectly into the Gen-X scenery and should also work with the Just flight 'real scenery' but this will have to be confirmed nearer release. It can also be used on it own with out any photo scenery, but you will only get the default grass surface.
 
Volume1 Southern UK
Volume2 Midlands
Volume3 Northern UK
Volume4 Scotland
Volume5 Ireland (north and south)
 
The sequence number shown does not mean it will appear in that order, Scotland may well be released ahead of some.
 
 
The airfields will include many FSX specific objects like flying birds and animated road traffic. Each airfield will be a good rendition of the actual airfield although not as highly detailed as the UK2000 Xtreme range, it will be  better the UK2000 Part series and miles better than the MS default!. For example the VFR Airfield version of Bristol will have approx 25% of the objects included in Bristol Xtreme, also all VFR airfield layouts will use the conversional 'AFCAD' looking ground polygon system, compared to the purpose made high res Xtreme range ground.
 
The first Volume 1 Southern UK is expected for release Xmas time.  Its not just me, a big thanks to Norman, George, Graham and the others who are also working on the project.
 

Heres some screen shots

Chivernor
Bodmin
Bodmin
Brize Norton
Boscombe Down
Boscombe Down
Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Badmington
Badmington
Bembridge
Biggin Hill
Blackbushe
Blackbushe
Compton Abbas

[Gary Summons]

And some more

[Gareth Smart]

So gary will any of these airfieldsconflict with the Xrtreme range? So for example, when I purchase the southern area, which Includes Bristol, so long as I have EGGD Xtreme above the VFR Airfields, then it will work in unison?

Regards

Gareth

[Gary Summons]

I will of cause check all these before release and come up with methods to stop any conclicts, in theory one should exlcude the other, but in practice as we know the FS AFD\AFCAD system does product conflicts so some AFCAD sorting may be needed

[Ryan Jackson]

These look excellent Gary. The difference can most certinatly be seen between this product range and the Xtreme product range in the shot you have posted of Bristol.

Thanks for the update. 

[Andy Bloggins]

Looks excellent Gary.

Are you using FSX coding? You can get better FPS and you can make use of jetways.

[Gary Summons]

It will be FSX code, the use of FSX Jetways is in the balance. I dont know if you know but there is a big problem in using them and other developers have also found this out. When you exclude the default airport it will also mean no FSX Jetway can ever be placed regardless of it's scenery layer. I'm currently trying mini exlcudes which target specific FS default buildings rather than the whole airport. Adding Jetways to default scenery is not a problem, but adding to add-on scenery is proving very difficult.

[Andy Bloggins]

I'm sure the developers over at Cloud9 will be willing to give you advice?

[Gary Summons]

Yes its mini excludes which can only work if you get lucky and the object your removing does not coinside with a jet way location. But this method is very time consuming having to find the excact center of each FS object and I can see this not working at all airports.

[Norman Dean]

So gary will any of these airfieldsconflict with the Xrtreme range? So for example, when I purchase the southern area, which Includes Bristol, so long as I have EGGD Xtreme above the VFR Airfields, then it will work in unison?

Regards

Gareth

I have been running the two sets of AFD files together and have not encountered a problem so far. It  would appear that the files in FSX do not present the same problem as in FS9, but we need to watch the outcomes a bit longer yet.

Norman

[Rod Yallop]

Hi Gary

Looking good, I know what Santa's bringing me then.

What is the rationale for having two versions of Bristol and what is the essential difference between the VFR Airfields version and the Xtreme Series version ?

Rod.

[Gary Summons]

The difference is massive, the VFR version is just a basic one with  basic buildings and a plain AFCAD ground look,  no airside animation, or fine details, but is far better than the default but no where near the Xtreme range.  The reasoning for including the basic large airports is some users may be happy with a basic version and also 'compleates' the area without missing airfields out. I would get a lot of complaints if I missed these out and effectively trying to 'force' users to complete the area by buying Bristol Xtreme

I must catter for users who cant afford to buy every Xtreme airport I make, the Xtreme range targets users who want the best big airports possible, but you can go around buying every detailed airport in the FS world, there are hunderds of then around. So you need a more basic 'mass' product to fill in that market.


Development time is the most important factor now in FS,I cant make all airfields to same level as the Xtreme range, it would take  about 60 years to do that,. So this range is a compromise, you get great airfields, far better than the default or the old Part series, but not as good as the Xtreme range.

[Rhydian Yeoman]

Sounds great

Where do I sign?

Rhydian

[Shaun Howell]

Gary, can't wait for these at xmas, looking forward to Southern!! looks like another fantastic job!!

shaun

[Rod Yallop]

Hi Gary

Thanks for the fast and full reply to my post.
Personally, I shall be using the Xtreme versions where these are available. The very small cost compared to the work involved seems a bargain for us users and a very meagre return for your effort.

Rod.