Hi there,impressive list, Jim, sounds great!Jim and I have been in contact regarding a custom mesh file for Hong Kong. I have received a kind offer from a Hong Kong-based GIS company to use their 25-m elevation data. I'm waiting for them to send me the file and thus haven't had a chance yet to examine the quality of their data. However, if the DEM is true 25 meter resolution then it should make for a very accurate LOD10 (38-m) or even LOD11 (19-m) terrain mesh for the Kai Tak project.Cheers, Holger

Hi Jim, This sounds exciting and I look forward to see the results! I think I had already mentioned that I am not a scenery designer and cannot find time to learn GMax but I do have Thomas Kwong's chequerboard as a separate bgl with reduced size textures, his original bgl included everything else in the immediate area. The problem is that I would need to ask Thomas if it could be used and I have understood he is not easy to contact. However I don't think there should be a problem if I were to send you the files to look at, even if it were just to give some idea for a new design for someone else to tackle. I had not realised the chequerboard was included in FS2000. I still have that installed so I'll take a look at it to compare.

Hi,I can create a flat (or other) panel in GMAX and texture it (if you specify the checkerboard). I can send the XML/MDL files so you can place it into a library and/or place/size the object as you please.Contact me at tgibson at sunstroke dot sdsu dot eduHope this helps,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

Construction Cranes west of the airport as per when the airport closed.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Surely after the airport closed, Jim, were they not? Correct me if I'm wrong ... but there was a height restriction for the whole of Kowloon when the airport was operational, certainly. I think it might have been 600' ASL, having said that, so you'd be OK there, I suppose!MarkMark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cathayhk.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/maamlogo2.jpg[/a]

I have looked around in FS2000 and am not impressed with the chequerboard seen there. Thomas Kwong's is the best I have seen so far, certainly in the texture appearance of the grass and the boards.I think it should be made aware to those that don't know, that there are two boards, one on each of two adjacent sides of a plan view square hill. The hill needs to be formed also, unless Thomas' can be used.

@CharlesI too looked at Thomas Kwong's chequerboard but did not consider it an option. I also see where it must sit both ways.@Tom That's what I am looking for, A checker board done with GMAX that can be resized if needed and tilted onto the hill properly. The SRMT on Mark's site puts the hill back into the mesh but so did Thomas Kwong's VHHH2005b files (SAR) for the newer Hong Kong airport. I am waiting to see what Holger can create and if it has a hill for the board.@MarkI don't have any real pictures that date back to 1998. If I look at several different FS2000 and FS2002 3rd party scenery's they have Building Cranes (4) located on a hill SW of the airport about 2-3 miles away. I put 2 into the scenery but if they should not be there I will remove them. Any thoughts on why they were there?

What... no screenies!?!?!

>I put 2 into the scenery but if they should not be there I>will remove them. Any thoughts on why they were there?Oh, I'd leave them, as I am not sure what the height restrictions were under the IGS anyway. If they were 2-3 miles to the South West they were probably involved in the construction of Tsim Sha Tsui hotels or residential blocks. I think there'd be none close to the turn for R13, though. I have a friend who knows all about this height restriction stuff in Kowloon but I can't trace him right now.MarkMark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cathayhk.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/maamlogo2.jpg[/a]

Hi there,Just came across this post - fabulous!I've done many approchaes to Kai Tak in FS2000 (or was it FS2002), and it has always been a pleasure to get right on the numbers.My old boss used to fly 767's to Hong Kong, and he had a few trick, like: "Just as you pass the football field, begin your turn". Unfortunately, there was no identifiable fottball field in the default scenery.I would love to see it recreated, especially with a decent mesh.BRGDSSven Sorensen, EKCH

Another curved approach I'd love to see rendered for AI in FS2004 is the LDA RWY 19 Approach at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. The sharp right banking turn just before the threshold is breathtaking to watch in person!I dunno if it's possible to turn that into the River Visual approach (which follows the twists and turns of the Potomac River) but that would be awesome for AI as well!Alex

AlexSearch for approaches_by_mm.zip here on AVSIM Matthew already done Reagan. I have never added it so see if it works for you.

SvenI will look through the FS9 library againI think there is a football/track field in there somewhere. If so I will add it to the proper place on the curve.

Hi Jim,wow, I had no idea that there is so much behind it. Just yesterday I created an AFCAD for VHHX and redirected 50 % of AI-traffic from VHHH to VHHX. In the AFCAD I implemented an ILS needle for runway 13, which points 88

Thanks Jim! Just downloaded it and will try it tonight!One question for you... is it possible to use XML to control departures as well? For instance, at DCA, if the aircraft are departing to the North, they have to basically do a reverse of the arrival and follow the river north to a certain point. Same is true of other airports (like Kai Tak, for instance... departing on 31 they had to bank left before the checkerboard.. Just curious..Again, many thanks for pointing me to Matthew's file!Alex

No, departures at this time cannot be controlled by the xml code.Best I can tell is the AI departures are controlled by part of the Flightplan codes. All AI Planes always take the shortest turn towards a direct line to their destination airport (based on RWY Start Location vs RWY Start Location at the destination, not the parking spot).What I can control is a AI Plane missed approach. Both missed altitude and turn direction is embedded in the XML of the approach code not the AFCAD. The pattern altitudes and turn direction seen with AFCAD is for AI Plane TNG's only.