Landclass helps to put objects in the proper place basically

Landclass is not really about putting objects in the right place. It's main function is to tell the sim where to display ground textures to represent farmlands, forrests, deserts, swampland, cities, residential areas and so on. Once the sim knows where to place those ground textures to display the correct type of land, the texture tiles are annotated with the type of autogen buildings and trees that will be displayed on the ground.

So Landclass would be associated with FTX Vector not FTX Global? Also, I would like to clear up "mesh". Is this something FTX global has re-done over the default fsx, or is FTX global strictly textures?

 

If someone could take a couple minutes to get me a screenshot or two of the KTRI airport area I could make up my mind easier! It's my home airport and it's a very mountainous area that is TERRIBLE in the default fsx. Specifically the airport itself's surrounding terrain and Holston Mountain about 12 miles to the east of it.

 

Either FTX Global/vector, or GEX/UTX, thanks!

arno

 

FTX Vector is not Landclass.  It's Vector data.  Landclass says, this over here is a farmer's field, and this over here is an industrial park, and this over here is a golf course.  Textures then get associated with a landclass, and autogen is placed based on this.  Vector data is stuff like Coastlines and Roads.  Some people use FTX Global and FTX Vector, but if they are not using a good 3rd party landclass, then their results are going to be not so great (I've noticed having suburban houses right beside the runway)

 

FTX is just Vector data.  UTX on the other hand is both Vector and landclass.  UTX modules are bought on a regional basis, like North America or Europe, whereas FTX Vector covers the whole world.   FTX Global and GEX are both basically texture packages.

 

Many people use GEX/UTX, which are designed to go together.  Installation of UTX is a bit of a pain because the various patches all have to be applied sequentially and there are many of them.  However the result is very good, and extremely configurable.  You can also use FTX Global with UTX as the landclass/vector.   Or you can use FTX Global with FTX Vector with the new Orbx landclass, of which currently there is only one, Europe.   FTX Global and Vector are allowed to be installed for use with P3Dv2, but GEX and UTX either can't be used in that, or at least aren't allowed to be used in that afaik.

 

Mesh is the underlying grid data that determines the elevation points.  FSX mesh data is something like 76m resolution, but you can get something like Pilot's Global 2010 which is data from like the Space Shuttle earth mapping and is at a much finer resolution.  One thing you should be aware of is that it will sometimes (in my opinion frequently) cause airport elevation problems.  FTX Vector claims to clear this up, but my observation is that it didn't do a very good job.  I have Global 2010 installed, but I have the North America region unchecked in the scenery config page of FSX because it just caused too many familiar airports to be on plateaus, and I have yet to get something called Airfield Flattening Mesh to rectify the situation--I'm not sure that there is a totally good solution to this problem, but just be aware of it, because if you get 3rd party mesh, you will encounter it.

 

Hope this all makes sense

I have Accu-Feel, ORBX Global, And a number of Photoreal sceneries as well......

 Each has their own advantages and disadvantages......

 I bought both Accu-Feels first, It improved all the aircraft including default, with exception to Accu-sim planes and Helicopters. Then I bought ORBX Global, and it made my flights look even better.

 But at 18,000 feet you don't really see anything. so I would hold out on Global. and get something that you can benefit from at all altitudes, like weather, or aircraft handling on the ground and in the air.

 

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/61929-ftx-global-what-is-it-all-about/

 

Hopefully this will clear up the whole mesh/landclass/vector/texture thing for you - with illustrations. Naturally, it's Orbx-centric, but it gives other examples for those with other scenery add ons.

 

Mike

This thread as been EXTREMELY helpful a big thank you to everyone for clearing it all up. Although I like to fly CRJ'S and small jets at and below 18000 I think I would really enjoy some VFR low level flying if I had good scenery and it looks like I will probably go with FTX Global with REX4, and eventually get FTX Vector and activesky later on.

 

GEX looks appealing due to the price and I only fly in North America right now, but the lighting in ORBX seems to be superior.