AVSIM Commercial Scenery Review Dallas Fort Worth Int'l Airport Scenery Package for FS2002

The VOR station

Recognized as one of the most successful cooperative projects in aviation history, Dallas Fort Worth Airport's beginnings can be traced back to 1927. That year the city of Dallas, Texas proposed a joint airport with its neighboring city, Fort Worth. Fort Worth declined the proposal and went on to open Meacham Field. As a result Dallas purchased Love Field from the U.S. Army and converted it to a municipal airport the following year. In 1941 American Airlines and Brannif Airways tried to collaborate with the city of Arlington to develop a centrally located airport due to rising expenses associated with operating out of the two neighboring airports. Plans for this new "Midway" airport fell apart in 1942 when both Dallas and Fort Worth failed to agree on a terminal site. Over the following 20 years both airports continue to expand to their maximum capacity.

1961 marks the first steps towards DFW airport when the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) orders hearings after the FAA announced that it would no longer provide aid to either city's independent airport. By 1964 CAB concluded that both Love Field and Southwest Int'l Airport were inadequate for future demands. This resulted in the CAB ordering Dallas and Fort Worth to find a suitable site within 180 days or the CAB would do it for them. An Interim Airport Board selected a site 17 miles from each city's business district and purchased the land in 1966. Construction began in 1969 and took 4 years to complete. Dallas Fort Worth Airport officially commenced operations on midnight, January 13, 1974.

Other important milestones in KDFW's history include:

• 1978 - American Airlines announces plans to relocate their cooperate headquarters to Fort Worth.
• 1982 - Brannif Airlines files for bankruptcy.
• 1983 - Concluding it's first 10 years, KDFW handled 200-million passengers and 2.6-million tons of cargo.
• 1985 - Renamed Dallas Fort Worth "International" Airport.
• 1986 - DFW implements the "first phase" of its Airport Master Plan Update.
• 1987 - Federal Task Force advises two additional runways needed for anticipated traffic growth.
• 1989 - DFW is the world's second busiest airport.
• 1992 - Yearly passenger traffic tops 50-million.
• 1994 - 20th Anniversary, two new Control Towers opened making it the only airport with three Control Towers.
• 1998 - Ranked number on in on-time arrivals.
  

New Terminal under construction.

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SimFlyers Associated have captured this awesome airport with its details and history with their latest and most detailed add-on scenery to date, KDFW, the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002. As you look around this captivating scenery you will be overwhelmed with all the small details which have become expected from SimFlyers standard for accuracy and excellence. As I mentioned in my KLAX review, "... as you look at the images included with this review take the time to look closely. Every time you look, you will notice something new that you did not see the previous time." This was true then and it is even more true now.

Having flown into and out of KDFW on my way to Acapulco over the last 20 years, I have become very familiar with its layout, traffic movement, and appeal. I found several photo's from my various KDFW visits and started comparing them to SimFlyers' latest creation. This is truly amazing work! I could hold the photo up to the computer screen and everything was where it belongs. Signs, taxi lines, equipment, it's all there.

Installation and documentation

The scenery is available at SimFlyers.net as a free demo download. The demo version will have some features disabled, so you have to purchase a registration key to get the full potential of this scenery. The price at the time this review was published is $19.50USD. Please note though that SimFlyers has special pricing discounts for buying multiple packages.

Due to the size and complexity of this scenery, it is split into three main dowloadable files. First is the primary scenery (11.5Mb) which includes the field, terminals, various buildings, and necessary objects. The second and third files include the static scenery for the east (3Mb) and west (2.8Mb) terminal areas. Once you download the files and the key (assuming you purchase the registration key) extract the contents of the ZIP-files to a temporary directory individually and click on the associated Setup.exe file. In the beginning of the setup dialog you will be prompted for your "Registration Key" number and then in less than a minute it is done. The rest of the setup is automatic. The documents that come with the package are available as a separate download which include an Airport Diagram, History, and instructions for parking your aircraft. It is important that you read and print them before using this scenery. Once completed, start FS2002 and set up a flight at KDFW. SimFlyers has also made new AI tracks available for their scenery through Lee Swordy's AFCAD program.

The scenery

Assuming that you are familiar with previous releases from SimFlyers and AVSIM's reviews of these scenery packages I am only going to highlight the more outstanding features and, as always, let the images do their job of showing you how outstanding SimFlyers' work is. As you fly this new scenery the airport comes alive with a lot of buildings and aircraft. Though dependent on your AI and scenery density settings, as I approached the airport the framerates dropped quickly and drastically as more objects and AI aircraft popped up. Overall, the frame rates were pretty harsh averaging 5-8 FPS with the density set at "Very Dense" while using the FFG DC-10. However, this was with both the east and west static scenery active. Once I deactivated the static scenery, the frame rates improved enough to be noticed.

When using the full static scenery, approaching the terminals will dazzle your senses as the aircraft and other static details appear. A considerable amount of time was invested in creating all the small details such as custom neon-light docking systems, blast fences, terminal lighting, etc. The terminals, ramp area, Founders Plaza, cargo terminals, and support buildings light up beautifully at night. Nothing was spared with this scenery as you will find fences, guard shacks, highway signs, maintenance equipment, cargo pallets, and too many more things to list.

Test System -Intel Pentium-4 1.8Ghz. -Windows XP Professional -512Mb RDRam -64MB NVIDIA GeForce3 -Hercules Muse XL -CH Flight Yoke & Rudder Pedals USB -AOC 17" Flat Panel Monitor Flying Time: 20 hours over 15 days Founder's Plaza Nice view of the field with the the radar tower in the foreground Primary Control Tower

Other Details

SimFlyers have become well known for their functioning docking system and Service Armada. Details on how to operate the docking system are included in the scenery's documentation and is not difficult to operate. One thing that I noticed with the Service Armada in this latest version is that there are some new vehicles added and the rear baggage loader is animated!

A view of the Service Armada at work on a DC-10

Great night lighting!

AI traffic at work

The night-lighting for the buildings, aprons, and other objects looks great! Taxiway signs are very clear and easy to read making navigating around the airport fairly easy with the included airport diagram. Other markings such as painted restriction-lines and hold-lines are also clear and visible. A few other custom details include the Founder's Plaza, custom windsocks, 3D approach lighting, new terminal construction, blast fences, surrounding highways, and detailed terminal areas.

Together all these details combine for a very complete experience. One shortcoming of this scenery is that it is very demanding on your computer's resources. This problem is due to the amount of 3D objects that are being displayed at any given time. Combine this with the Autogen Scenery and AI, and you get a very realistic experience at only several frames per second.

In summary

Once again there is little doubt that SimFlyers Dallas Fort Worth International Airport scenery for FS2002 has raised the bar another notch on the scenery standard. For those who love flying the airliners in a busy environment this scenery if for you! The fun never stops while you are at SimFlyers' KDFW because there is always something to look at or interact with. For further information and to purchase this scenery go to the SimFlyers website.