How has airport scenery evolved?

[RobbieHe 0]

I have decided to stay with FS9 for the time being. After 3 years, I finally have a computer to run this program correctly and don't want to play chase-the-hardware game anymore.I have not purchased airport scenery since the days of simflyers. Back then, symflyers used to bring computers to their knees, so eventually took it off of my HD. I see that they have gone out of business. My question is, how has add-on airport scenery evolved since the days of symflyers? Are there good ones out there that don't degrade performance to a considerable degree? Which addon sceneries do you guys recommend for FS9?Thanks in advance!RHAthlon64 FX572Gb of Crucial 2-3-3-6 3200 high performance RAMWD 150Gb Raptor (16mg cache)256Mb Nvidia 7900GS

[Guest tango papa]

It's gotten much better, both payware and freeware. I few of the freeware designers are on par with payware in quality. One good example of payware is Misty Fjords, based on bush flying in Alaska. Holger Sandmann does a total rebuild of the scenery and to enhance terrain, landclass, and water features. From the competition, VOZ, is a major team effort by numerous designs, covering all of Australia.Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like -M.Twain

[Bob Scott 7,720]

>I have decided to stay with FS9 for the time being. After 3>years, I finally have a computer to run this program correctly>and don't want to play chase-the-hardware game anymore.>>I have not purchased airport scenery since the days of>simflyers. Back then, symflyers used to bring computers to>their knees, so eventually took it off of my HD. I see that>they have gone out of business. >>My question is, how has add-on airport scenery evolved since>the days of symflyers? Are there good ones out there that>don't degrade performance to a considerable degree? Which>addon sceneries do you guys recommend for FS9?As I've posted elsewhere, you might want to give your old SimFlyers sceneries another try on your new hardware. I discovered that my old SimFlyers KDFW ran quite well on my new PC, and as a result I just bought the World Airports and World Airports 2 CDs from JustFlight, which contains the majority of the old SimFlyers sceneries. On my new hardware, I can now comfortably run old sceneries that used to run as if dipped in Molasses. For $20 or so I ended up with nearly 20 decent, but no longer state-of-the-art airports.The newer FS9 sceneries are generally done in GMAX and tend to be more frame-friendly, although it's hard for me to judge how much is better design and how much is the faster hardware in use today. But that said, the Cloud 9 scenery for FS9 (KLAX and KDCA), FlyTampa, and ImagineSim are all good stuff that should run easily at fluid frame rates on that FX57.RegardsBob ScottATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VSantiago de Chile

[EngineRoom 205]

I'm guessing you are interested in scenery for large airports, as you mention the old Simflyers scenery.It's come a #### of a long way since the old Simflyers stuff...Assuming you have a system with a fair bit of grunt then you can now have large, very detailed airports populated with some nice AI and your framerate won't take a nosedive to unflyable levels.I've recently spent a few weeks populating my FS world with lots of detailed airports (payware and feeware), so I've got plenty of nice places to fly to.There are some great freeware airports available that will give you an idea of what you can expect... George Grimshaw's Boston Logan (KBOS) is a shining example of payware quality scenery at freeware prices. David Rosenfeld has a really nice Ben Gurion (LLBG) available in the file library here, and you should also check out Thomas Kwong's Chek Lap Kok (VHHH), also in the file library here.A definitive list of freeware scenery is here:http://walhalla.mine.nu/fs2004.phpIf you want to make the jump to payware...Anything by FlyTampa is guaranteed to hit the spot. Most of their airports are in the US, although they do have beautiful renditions of Dubai Intl (OMDB) and Vienna (LOWW).Cloud9 (used to make products for Lago, but now publish their own work) have a very nice Amsterdam Schipol (EHAM), and Los Angeles Intl (KLAX), and Washington DC Reagan (KDCA).Aerosoft have a lot of stuff available too. The first that springs to mind is "Mega Airport Frankfurt" (EDDF). Their German Airports Sceneries are a little long in the tooth now, but the newer stuff like Hannover is pretty good.There is the excellent UK2000 Scenery series, but the earlier parts of the series are looking old and slightly crude now. Check out the new UK2000 Extreme series, which currently has Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Glasgow (and is set to include more major UK airports this year). These are excellent, very detailed sceneries.Probably the most impressive scenery available right now is the Flighzone sceneries. At the moment they only have two packages available, but they are both fantastic, and will really blow you away, not only with their detail, but with the framerates too.Simmarket is a good source of payware scenery, but do your research first, as some of it is good, and some of it is not so good.Unfortunately, most of the airports done by Simflyers have not been done since, and if you want these airports in FS you're only real choice is the Simflyers stuff, which is really showing its age now, and still drags the framerate down!

[Guest dpc]

You absolutely can't go wrong with Flightzone. Both packages have a great blend of large and small aiports along with detailed surrounding area. What is more amazing is the performance with all of the detail. On your machine, you will love it. I speak from experience.

[CanadaOne 36]

Yep, Flightzone is great stuff. Wonderful detail. The Portland FZ02 Scenery is better of the two packages they offer. Rhode Island is also very good, but Portland is a step above. I have both and fly both often.The Flightzone sceneries are best experience low & slow, but the airports are so well done you can't resist landing every plane in your stable there just for the fun of it.

[scott967 62]

I'm generally in agreement that the latest airports are very nice. There are a number of freeware airport builders who I think are worth checking out:Shez Ansari ISDFRFThey aren't going to be at the level of Portland FZ02, but they do a good job and show a great deal of care in their creation.The latest Simflyers like KLAS I think are better than the early stuff. Same thing with FlyTampa.scott s..

[LAdamson 240]

Pic --- FlightScenery - Portland, with the nearby Hillsboro (HIO) airport, which is one of several. All highly detailed, and frame rate friendly. Digital Aviation's Dornier Do-27 is also featured in this screenshot.Both are available from Flight1.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/165393.jpg

[RobbieHe 0]

The simflyers looks too old now. It does not seem up to par with most of the FS2004 scenery to me. The Cloud9 sceneries look good though.Thanks,RH

[RobbieHe 0]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully some other folks will pick up where simflyers left off and will redo their sceneries for FS9. I will check into the UK Extreme sceneries.I will check into the others you mention as well.RH

[RobbieHe 0]

That's a great picture. Now where is the add-on scenery?RH