Well, after the "big storm" Thursday morning, where we may be received a couple of hundredth inches of rain, I look outside my window and see another clear blue sky. Time to go flying, and since it is so nice for the dead of winter, an open cockpit biplane is in order!

 

Going to take off from KWVI, Watsonville. I have a good real-life association with Watsonville Muni, as that is where my Dad hangered his semi-aerobatic ... damn, can't remember the make! It was a fabric-skin, high-wing aircraft, with stick and rudder controls and front and rear seating rated for aerobatic maneuvers. It was a "semi", cause if you went inverted you had to point her to the ground to restart the motor. But, we used to load up the 22's and fly out to Hollister, land in the middle of nowhere and go rabbit hunting. Pick up the tail, turn her around, and up and away we went, mind the power lines on your way out! The first and only aircraft I ever piloted.

 

Since FTS announced that the upcoming Orbx Northern California will extend as far south as Monterrey, I thought it would be interesting to take some "before" pictures to compare against the will-buy-as-soon-as-released Orbx terrain. Using P3D 1.4, Alabeo WACO, and Opus weather engine, not that it was doing anything...    :lol:

 

 

I just can't figure out why the roads in FSX/P3D are so wonky. The screen shots I have seen from XPX are stunning in their depiction of roadways, but noooo, we get roads drawn by a kindergartner.

 

Umm, I think that is the Seacliff pier down there.

 

Here we have the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. Looks like it took a hell of a beating from the Japanese tsunami...

 

And this is the Santa Cruz Boardwalk pier. Looks kind of funny for something you can drive cars on...

 

And Pleasure Point Park. That tree is supposed to be a lighthouse!

 

A pretty girl on a pretty day. By the way, I have Zinertek Trees installed - fabulous add-on if you like trees!

 

Back to the Boardwalk pier. The Boardwalk, including the famous Giant Dipper roller coaster, should be behind the plane. It will be REALLY interesting to see what the Orbx guys do here.

 

Opus lies - the skies are clear as they can be today.

 

And back home. Looking forward to repeating this when the new Orbx Norcal region is released!

 

 

 

I just can't figure out why the roads in FSX/P3D are so wonky. The screen shots I have seen from XPX are stunning in their depiction of roadways, but noooo, we get roads drawn by a kindergartner.

I agree 100%.  I wish some third party developer could create roads similar to xpx, which are truly spectacular.

Nice series nonetheless.  Thanks, and  pretty yellow biplane too.

Thanks, Dan - it is a Jan Kees repaint.

 

" roads drawn by a kindergartner"

 

LOL!!! Yep, cutting thru buildings, etc.  Looking forward to N. Cal from Orbx also.

 

Screenies looking good!

 

 

FTS announced that the upcoming Orbx Northern California will extend as far south as Monterrey

I'm fairly certain ORBx NCA will not extend as far south as Monterrey.  Monterey, maybe.    Sorry, couldn't help myself.  Living in Monterey, I always get a kick out of people spelling the name like a much bigger city in Mexico...

 

Cool shots nonetheless. Waiting impatiently for NCA too, particularly their rendition of KWVI, where I got my wings in a Cherokee 140 almost 10 years ago...

Heya Spotter. Yeah, I had a 50/50 chance, and it came up tails...   

 

I agree - waiting impatiently for NCA. Before PNW came along my FBO was KRDD (Redding). Looking forward to see what they can do with Shasta Lake, Whiskytown Reservoir, and the Lassen area. Not to mention a place where I spend a lot of real time, Lake Tahoe. The early screen shots of Yosemite and Mount Shasta have been pretty impressive!