Flightbeam announces Denver (KDEN)

[brucek 38]

Yep, me too. As mentioned earlier, I have my biases... DIA is the only major airport I've flown in to as PIC, and that at the very first opportunity. In the fall of '94, the new Denver International (not yet KDEN, as that was still the old Stapleton International) did a fly-in for GA pilots. Part publicity event for a local pilot community that still had its doubts at the time, and part practice for ATC before the big opening, the fly-in offered the local GA community the chance to sample the new airport and tour the facilities, wandering the concourses and riding the automated shuttle at will, before the crowds and the commercial carriers came. It was simply an awesome opportunity and not to be missed if you were a local pilot.

 

Got to taxi right up to a gate on the A concourse in my PA28RT-201T (after a LOOONG taxi behind a guy in a Pitts doing S-turns the whole way), enter and wander to our heart's content. A day to remember.

 

Scott

 

Hi Scott,

 

I can recall that time when KDEN (DIA) was open to GA traffic. I didn't fly in then, but know it was a unique success!  DIA was so far behind schedule it was becoming a joke to many....  But I did tour the pax facilities several times before it opened, including the train......  and can recall the night that UA migrated from Stapleton to what is now KDEN....

 

Interesting thread...  where are you living now?

 

Bruce.

[Tabs 2,790]

I was expecting Narita.

 

From my understanding there is already another developer well into doing a high quality Narita - it would be silly for Amir to do it and then have to split the market with the other rendition of it.

 

I personally would like to see some smaller airports that still have jet service after they get through with KDEN. KBUR, KTUS, KABQ, KRNO - places like that. Those airports all have a ton of character and I always love flying into them in real life. KBUR is so cool - you literally go right off Runway 8 into parking without any taxiing and you deplane via stairs from both ends and get to walk under the wing etc. No other place like it that I know of.

[ViperPilot 81]

brucek, on 04 Jul 2013 - 3:59 PM, said:

 

Hi Scott,

 

I can recall that time when KDEN (DIA) was open to GA traffic. I didn't fly in then, but know it was a unique success! DIA was so far behind schedule it was becoming a joke to many.... But I did tour the pax facilities several times before it opened, including the train...... and can recall the night that UA migrated from Stapleton to what is now KDEN....

 

Interesting thread... where are you living now?

 

Bruce.

I remember that night as well... the long caravan of ramp vehicles, followed by rental cars, all rolling down I-70 to Pena Blvd. behind a police escort.

 

I walked around DIA with my Mom & brother too before it opened, and was really impressed with the Train and the Walkways, also wondering (at the time) who the bronze statue was portraying. I'm very glad they named the Big Top after Capt. Jepp.

 

Now I just wish they get the danged bridges finished on the West side of the Terminal for Passenger Departures and Arrivals; having to drive through the Parking Garage to reach Arrivals is getting a little tiresome!

 

EDIT: Oh yeah... remember the Automated Baggage System? The last time I saw what was left of it, there was a big pile of metal sitting on the North side of the Airport out in the open. I bet it's been sold for scrap by now.

[SKEWR 364]

I do hope developers with the quality of FlightBeam, FSDT, or FlyTampa take on KEWR some day.

You and me both. I do know that AirDaily X is saying "Drzewiecki Design New York City FS9/FSX."  is due in August.

 

http://drzewiecki-design.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=226 is the link if you would like to check it out. Seems like they will do the "big three" (LGA, EWR, JFK) as well as a few heliports and smaller airports. All that AND they are modeling NYC itself. A bunch of WIP pics in the link you can check out. Last update was yesterday.

 

[slait 169]

 

EDIT: Oh yeah... remember the Automated Baggage System? The last time I saw what was left of it, there was a big pile of metal sitting on the North side of the Airport out in the open. I bet it's been sold for scrap by now.

 

Was about to mention that myself. That was the big story after the initial firefighting over the delayed schedule. The upside is now I think DIA is a lovely airport... once you get there.   B)

[bonchie 2,305]

Tabs, on 04 Jul 2013 - 5:12 PM, said:

 

From my understanding there is already another developer well into doing a high quality Narita - it would be silly for Amir to do it and then have to split the market with the other rendition of it.

 

I personally would like to see some smaller airports that still have jet service after they get through with KDEN. KBUR, KTUS, KABQ, KRNO - places like that. Those airports all have a ton of character and I always love flying into them in real life. KBUR is so cool - you literally go right off Runway 8 into parking without any taxiing and you deplane via stairs from both ends and get to walk under the wing etc. No other place like it that I know of.

I agree. Orbx is using this model now, going with smaller jet service airports (I think PAJN is next).

 

To me they are the best bet for performance reasons and because they are more likely to have interesting approaches. The huge mega hubs tend to be in pretty boring places scenery wise.

 

That and the fact that they can be produced in a fraction of the time (3-5 months vs. a year or more).

[Luis_KMIA 242]

You and me both. I do know that AirDaily X is saying "Drzewiecki Design New York City FS9/FSX."  is due in August.

 

http://drzewiecki-design.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=226 is the link if you would like to check it out. Seems like they will do the "big three" (LGA, EWR, JFK) as well as a few heliports and smaller airports. All that AND they are modeling NYC itself. A bunch of WIP pics in the link you can check out. Last update was yesterday.

 

I have Drzewiecki's Miami product, and I'm looking forward to NYC!  In Miami, the developers added a few extra details to the three airports.  Their goal is mostly to make the cityscape come to life, which they excel at.  In NYC, I have FSDT's JFKv2 and ImagineSim's LGA.  Just need that KEWR!

[Luis_KMIA 242]

For those desiring an airport outside of the U.S. don't forget FlightBeam said this: "If you're worried about lack of international focus, also don't worry. Our "secret project" will fully satisfy customers wanting a mega international airport." 

[tttocs 301]

 

 

I can recall that time when KDEN (DIA) was open to GA traffic. I didn't fly in then, but know it was a unique success! DIA was so far behind schedule it was becoming a joke to many.... But I did tour the pax facilities several times before it opened, including the train...... and can recall the night that UA migrated from Stapleton to what is now KDEN....

Interesting thread... where are you living now?

 

With DIA consistently winning awards, it's hard to remember back to those days when it was getting blasted for delays, the baggage system, being unnecessarily large and too far out and so on...

 

In the end, the airport's been a big success, but back then they needed every positive piece of PR they could garner.

 

My plane was based at KGXY, and I still live in that area, though I've long since sold the plane and am not currently actively flying.

 

 

 

I personally would like to see some smaller airports that still have jet service after they get through with KDEN. KBUR, KTUS, KABQ, KRNO - places like that.

 

Amen to that!

 

Scott

[brucek 38]

....... 

My plane was based at KGXY, and I still live in that area, though I've long since sold the plane and am not currently actively flying.

 .......... 

Scott

Ah, the good old DME arc off the GLL VOR for the ILS 34 approach! I did my instrument training out of KBJC (Jeffco as it as known then), but since working off a VOR for tracking, holds or a DME arc involved keeping contact with Jeffco/RMR Tower under 8,000', or getting a clearance into the airspace above 8,000' from Denver TRACON (if using the BJC VOR), we used to high-tail it up to GLL for VOR work, and did many a landing/take-of at KGXY. Also cut my teeth on a DME Arc on that 34 ILS approach, that took so much time to get right without an HSI One of the few runways I used that had a displaced threshold too, if I recall correctly....

 

Thanks, good thread.... Bruce.

[ajpongress 467]

Why do people keep referring to the poll numbers?

The poll was rigged, aka false/not correct/misleading/phony/untrue/etc.

 

Saying X airport should be made according to the poll means absolutely diddly.

[Mike_CFII_MEL 789]

Hi,

 

Well, I don't need another remake of Denver's airport.... I'll pass on Flightbeams offering of KDEN, if a company has no way of controlling new registrations/poll votes then don't waste your customers time participating in your online poll only to make the selection yourself!!!.

 

Flightbeam also made a statement on F/B (after their failed attempt to hold a poll) that states KSLC is due for a MAJOR OVERHAUL that's going to take "YEARS" to complete, something they knew before they started the online poll.

 

That leads me to the following question: Why add KSLC to your list of airports to vote on, if you never have/had any intentions of developing this airport in the first place?.

[Manny 1,293]

I was thinking what major airports are there in the US and even Europe that would be interesting.. and I can't come up with any.

What makes an airport interesting is not just the airport...but the entire approach to the zone. Unless we have a scenery or a combination of add on sceneries that brings it all together into the approach and landing zone.. I am really not interested in that airport anymore.

During the FS9 days, Flightzone used to provide us that kind of sceneries... Fly Tampas has done that for FSX like their Kai Tak and Dubai. and Juliana. Aerosoft has few like the new Greek Islands they have been putting out. Orbx is good.

Either the zone is done along with the airport or there are already other addons that exist to compliment the airport. The KSAN and KLAX is good because there is the So cal from Mega scenery and LA city Catalina Island from Aerosoft...combine all of them, that makes it an awesome zone to fly into.

I liked FB's KPHX because I had the Phoenxx area from MegaScenery that had spectacular night city textures along with autogen for the Phoenix area. (It's too bad Megascenery has stopped those good MEgacity scenery)

KDEN may not be bad...cause of the mountains closeby and I also have Aerosofts Aspen near by.

Just a big airport in the middle of crappy FSX default zone is BORING and I cannot fly into these airports anymore...no matter how good that airport is done. I have stopped buying since it rarely gets used.

[Mir // Flightbeam 541]

Well, I don't need another remake of Denver's airport.... I'll pass on Flightbeams offering of KDEN, if a company has no way of controlling new registrations/poll votes then don't waste your customers time participating in your online poll only to make the selection yourself!!!.

Hi Mike,

I don't think there's any need to be so angry (especially over an addon airport decision). We made a poll to offer the community to make their choice for the next airport. Out of 424 votes, more than 150 of them were made by folks making duplicate fake accounts. Therefore, the poll results are completely invalid. (all the fake votes went to MSP and SLC). We've held polls before, and have had no issues. And believe me.. that was the last time we'll ever be holding a poll Next airport will be decided behind closed doors.

 

Flightbeam also made a statement on F/B (after their failed attempt to hold a poll) that states KSLC is due for a MAJOR OVERHAUL that's going to take "YEARS" to complete, something they knew before they started the online poll.

That leads me to the following question: Why add KSLC to your list of airports to vote on, if you never have/had any intentions of developing this airport in the first place?.

As I publicly stated on our forums, I was willing to do KSLC only if it leading votes by a significant amount. I put it in my list as candidate airport because it was demanded (I do care about what the customers want) After my audit on fake votes, it turns out both MSP and SLC were on par with RJAA and KDEN. So it didn't win, and I have no reason to make it, considering all the updates I would be forced to do over an 8 year period.

 

Like I also mentioned in a previous facebook statement, we'll never be able to make everyone happy. As soon as we pick one airport, all the fans from XXX airport rush over to our facebook and forums to bash us and threaten us with no future purchases. It's kind of a sad new era of Flight simming. I remember back when almost every customer was happy when ANY addon airport was announced. I buy airports from almost every developer, because I have a passion for this hobby, and even if I don't fly into somewhere such as Dubai, I will purchase to support the community for better coverage and quality.

 

Very best,

[tttocs 301]

 

 

And believe me.. that was the last time we'll ever be holding a poll Next airport will be decided behind closed doors.

 

Mir, I'd like to take the opportunity to say thanks for at least attempting to have your customers participate in the selection process.  I appreciate what you guys were trying to do and enjoyed the opportunity to participate.  Yes, it's sad that the process was subverted, but sadder still that there are those out there who take this so personally.

 

KDEN wasn't my vote either, but as previously stated, it was at least on my list.  Either way, you've earned yourself a new customer, so thanks.

 

Scott