We all know Flytampa as one of those companies right alongside PMDG as releasing really great payware addons for fs2004-right? Well remember Ki-tak? Im guessing yes, because probably 90% of us own it for FS2004 or FSX, and chances are we still fly there once in awhile to get our fix.

 

Why? Several reasons. First, ki-tak offers probably one of the most challenging, and fun (i'm not going to lie) approaches within Flight Simulator. We've all seen those videos on youtube of the ki-tak approaches and then go re-create them outselves. Amazing pilots, and amazing footage.

 

But probably because flytampa put so much effort into this scenery. Ki-tak was originally for fs2004!. Even with fs2004 now being over 7 years old, most other addons produced at that time are now 'outdated'. You know, the good 'ol CLS md-80 and Wilco Crj. But flytampa hasn't updated Ki-tak ONCE; and it's still one of the most noticable sites when it comes to FS videos.

 

From building to to building, every object is custom. Even the signs with some chinese writing in which I have no idea what it says. One of the few sceneries in FS2004 to start having road vehicles. I don't know about you, but back then I thought that was the coolest thing until FSX came out! The night is even more stunning. There is even smog over the city as you take off Ki-tak to wherever your adventures take you.

 

The textures blow me away. For FS2004 time, the textures of the runway were nothing I have ever seen. Truely handcrafted just like the real airport.

 

I posted this topic in the Fs2004 forum, because it was mainly in the Fs2004 time.

 

Here is one of my favorite videos showcasing the Flytampa ki-tak beauty in fs2004 made my TPV71, who is currently retired.

 

 

It is for these reasons why I think Flytampa ki-tak is the most legendary scenery ever made for fs

Totally appreciate what you say, but can't bring myself to fly into an airport that no longer exists - even in FS! Must be some other 'stick-in-the-mud' die-hard realists like this I guess - or am I alone?? I delete all my FS liveries once a real-world airline goes down the plughole too...

 

I like flying into Aerosoft's Lukla, in the Himalayas.. similar, and yet SO different.. AND the airport is still there!

 

Martin

No Martin, I respect your view, but I disagree. I have Kai tak (flytampa) in my fs world, and I still have the finest passenger aircraft of all time flying daily from Paris and London to JFK (ai a/c). No prizes for guessing which one.

 

Peter

Totally appreciate what you say, but can't bring myself to fly into an airport that no longer exists - even in FS! Must be some other 'stick-in-the-mud' die-hard realists like this I guess - or am I alone?? I delete all my FS liveries once a real-world airline goes down the plughole too...

 

I like flying into Aerosoft's Lukla, in the Himalayas.. similar, and yet SO different.. AND the airport is still there!

 

Martin

 

The nice thing about this scenery is that it adds the city as well as Kai Tak. Even if you don't fly the Checker Board regularly, when you depart on 07L/R at Chek Lap Kok (New Hong Kong Airport) most of the departures take you over the HK Harbor and New Territories where you get a great view of the city, and with most of the buildings on HK Island and Kowloon being custom made in Fly Tampa style, it looks pretty amazing. The ship traffic and port are an added bonus too!

Totally appreciate what you say, but can't bring myself to fly into an airport that no longer exists - even in FS! Must be some other 'stick-in-the-mud' die-hard realists like this I guess - or am I alone?? I delete all my FS liveries once a real-world airline goes down the plughole too...

 

I like flying into Aerosoft's Lukla, in the Himalayas.. similar, and yet SO different.. AND the airport is still there!

 

Martin

 

Having piloted into the old Kai-Tak many times in the past I still have it in my sim. Actually it was rarely "difficult" in reality. One got to hand fly the approach and give the pax an interesting ride. The only "difficulties" arose when there was a stiff crosswind. Rather it just made the approach more interesting. It's actually more difficult to do in the sim due to lack of all round vision.

The nice thing about this scenery is that it adds the city as well as Kai Tak. Even if you don't fly the Checker Board regularly, when you depart on 07L/R at Chek Lap Kok (New Hong Kong Airport) most of the departures take you over the HK Harbor and New Territories where you get a great view of the city, and with most of the buildings on HK Island and Kowloon being custom made in Fly Tampa style, it looks pretty amazing. The ship traffic and port are an added bonus too!

 

I totally forgot about ship traffic! Just another thing that made it 5 years ahead of it's time.

Seem to recall their was another version of Kai Tak, way back when. 9Dragons I think the developer called himself, of Chinese origin. Or at least lived there. Think I am right in saying it was freeware all though I never got to use it myself.

Kai Tak... I logged well over 100 rwy 13 landings there and still can't get enough. True, there is something special about the airport, about the whole scenery. FlyTampa really outdid themselves with this add-on.

 

Great post, Summer1! :Applause:

 

regards,

Jure

FlyTampa Kai tak is indeed one of the best sceneries I know. What I always found so great about it, was that it had all this detail and still very good performance. I don't know how they did it, but it sure is a tremendous accomplishment!

 

What has always made Kai Tak fun for me, is flying "low and slow" with a fully packed Boeing 747 over downtown Hong Kong, but in essence I don't think it's a very difficult approach. I actually think the Rwy 02 approach into MHTG is as much fun, but is a lot mroe difficult because of the very sharp turn you have to make at the very last moment of the approach, then "dump" your aircraft onto the runway make sure that thing stops before you end up past the runway threshold.

Seem to recall their was another version of Kai Tak, way back when. 9Dragons I think the developer called himself, of Chinese origin. Or at least lived there. Think I am right in saying it was freeware all though I never got to use it myself.

 

I had 9-Dragons before the Fly Tampa version became available. It was good scenery for it's day apart from a very odd repeating water effect pattern which, for me anyway, ruined the sense of realism.

 

I agree the Fly Tampa Kai Tak / Hong Kong scenery is superb and I for one have no problem pretending Kai Tak still exists in our (let's face it - imaginery) flightsim world! I even have AI for it so that it doesn't look deserted! I also have a rejuvenated Meigs!!!

 

Bill

Flytampa st. maarten is also right up there with Ki-tak.

 

If Flytampa Ki-tak and Flytampa st. maarten got married they would be the happiest and most beautiful couple ever

Flytampa st. maarten is also right up there with Ki-tak.

 

 

Agree with that. I think the 3 best FS9 sceneries ever were FlyTampa Kai Tak/St. Maarten and FlightZone Portland. I can't even count how much time I must have spent flying into and around TNCM and KPDX once I had those two airports on my HD.

I already have an addon scenery (freeware) that adds buildings around HK, but I guess it wouldn't compare in any way to the FlyTampa version. I will go over to the site and see if I can find some screenshots. I doubt that it is worth my 'splashing out' on the FT scenery just for the HK buildings (though I guess I would 'guiltily' fly into the airport once in a while!),

 

I do have a version of Kai Tak, but as a 'dead' airport: not sure what it looks like at the moment in the real world. Is the airport still there or has it been built on by this stage? The real estate value must be enormous! Not sure how up-to-date the Google Earth pics would be. Have to Google this ...

 

Martin

 

... I see what you mean: the city looks amazing!!! But I guess the screenshots on the FT site are of the FSX version? Does the FS9 version (I have FSX but almost never fly it) compare? €26 for the city scenery isn't really 'wise' though. My visit does remind me that I should buy the Athens scenery though - I fly in Greece a lot, as I lived there for 12 years - AND am moving back there permanently in about 6 weeks time (fed up of Bangkok)......

I already have an addon scenery (freeware) that adds buildings around HK, but I guess it wouldn't compare in any way to the FlyTampa version. I will go over to the site and see if I can find some screenshots. I doubt that it is worth my 'splashing out' on the FT scenery just for the HK buildings (though I guess I would 'guiltily' fly into the airport once in a while!),

 

I do have a version of Kai Tak, but as a 'dead' airport: not sure what it looks like at the moment in the real world. Is the airport still there or has it been built on by this stage? The real estate value must be enormous! Not sure how up-to-date the Google Earth pics would be. Have to Google this ...

 

Martin

 

... I see what you mean: the city looks amazing!!! But I guess the screenshots on the FT site are of the FSX version? Does the FS9 version (I have FSX but almost never fly it) compare? €26 for the city scenery isn't really 'wise' though. My visit does remind me that I should buy the Athens scenery though - I fly in Greece a lot, as I lived there for 12 years - AND am moving back there permanently in about 6 weeks time (fed up of Bangkok)......

 

Martin, for as far as I know the FSX and FS9 versions are remarkably similar. Save for some FSX only effects, I think that they are probably identical. At least, flew around them in both flight simulators and never really saw a difference.

OK, thanks.. I'll bear it in mind!

 

M. :-)