UPDATE! (March 4, 2001): Not long after the online release of English Airports 2000, Barry Perfect partnered with Just Flight for the release of a boxed version of that same scenery. This boxed version offers the scenery on CD-ROM, with a very nice Installshield setup routine, and a nice booklet with instructions, maps, SIDs, STARs, and other helpful information. The installed size of this scenery is right around 50mb, and that includes a nice selection of static aircraft.

There has already been a patch released for the CD-ROM version of the scenery, and it clears up a few weird texture issues. More importantly, it provides the new second runway at Manchester International. Some of the taxiways leading to that new runway seem a bit narrow, especially when trying to get the Airbus A330 out there for takeoff, but they look good nonetheless. I had a nice afternoon flying an A330 in the new British Midland colors from Manchester down to London Gatwick, then on up to Edinburgh. This already impressive scenery has gotten slightly better, so for those of you who don't like to purchase large download-only sceneries, this may be just the motivation you need.

The system requirements are really pretty reasonable: a minimum configuration of a Pentium II 333 Mhz, 64MB RAM, 16 MB 3D graphics card, 20 Mb hard drive space, and a recommended configuration of a Pentium III 600 Mhz, 128MB RAM, 32 MB 3D graphics card, 20 Mb hard drive space. The basic file necessary to install the scenery is a 1.3 meg zipfile, but there are two updates available already to bring you up to the full current version with static aircraft. All this comes with a price tag of $23.95 US.

Reader Survey This survey is intended for those that have used this product or add-on. If you have used it, please let your fellow simulation enthusiasts know how you rate it by taking this survey. Please, if you have not used this product, do not take this poll (you can view the poll from the "Results" link below). - Review Poll - Have you used English Airports 2000? Excellent Good Average I can live with it Taking it off my system Results

Installation, Display and Documentation

Each of the three zip files that make up this package will unzip and leave you with an executable file that will install itself where it needs to be. Accordingly, necessary changes are made to your FS2000 scenery.cfg file. There really isn't much in the way of documentation with this scenery package, but then again that's pretty normal with download-ware. All the ILS frequencies and things like that are incorporated into the FS2000 airport information that you can get to via "Map View," so that should be sufficient. One especially nice touch with this scenery is the large number of possible startup positions at each airports. Some sceneries only give you one or two choices for each airport, but English Airports 2000 gives you one for each runway, one for each terminal before and after pushback, and occasionally others.

My first test flights were from the two airports in this scenery that I am the most familiar with—Heathrow and Gatwick. Heathrow is still, I believe, the busiest international airport in the world. The buildings, runways, taxiways, and other objects are very well done at each airport, but I noticed some interesting things that aren't really problems so much as matters of taste. The standard ramp/apron texture is a brownish segmented concrete that you will either really like or really not like. Again, it's a matter of taste that will vary from person to person. Also, the clarity of the textures on some of the buildings is a little lacking, kind of like they aren't in sharp focus, or they have been resized to fit the surface that they are on. I'm not sure of the best way to explain it, but it is just another matter of opinion, and not truly a technical problem that hinders enjoyment of the scenery.

It is easy to find your way around at each airport since all taxiways are clearly labeled, so I didn't waste as much time as usual just trying to get from terminal to runway and vice versa. I flew a few short flights, such as Birmingham down to Heathrow, and Gatwick up to Manchester. Also, I flew a couple of international flights over to the continent. One thing that I kept noticing was how many little details there were at each airport. Let me take a minute to quote from the English Airports 2000 webpage and give you an idea of what kinds of details I'm talking about.

Here is a list of the common features in all the airports:

• Accurate Runways (custom textured with skid marks) and Helipads.
• Accurate runway Approach and Touch Down Zone markings and lights (lights are active runway sensitive).
• All Taxiways accurately placed and sized with lines and night lighting
• Car Parks, outdoor and Multi Story
• All Airport Hangars and Major Office Buildings shown
• All Piers shown with Gates/Air Bridges
• Night Lighting on all buildings that should have it and flood lighting gantries for aprons
• ILS, VDF, NDB, VOR and Radar Towers all shown
• All airports have gate guidance, AGNIS/PAPA, AGNIS/Stop Light, SafeGate or Marshaller.
• Windsocks
• Hold Lines, CAT I, CAT II/III and ID Signs (with terminal/area signs on the reverse where applicable)
• ATIS
• Wind sensitive windsocks (UK type)
• Radio Controlled Refueling at all Piers on frequency 121.60 MHz (tune into that frequency on COM1 when you are at the gate and you will be refueled from the underground refueling bays)
• Compatible with FSTraffic ILS Traffic Generator
• FS2000 Airport Facilities Directory and FS6 and before Go To Entries (for Apron/Gate as well as runway initial locations).

• Terminal buildings look very realistic
• Frame rates are nice and high
• A group of airports in a (comparatively) small geographical area