Ugh!  I took a look a few minutes ago at some tropical airports I typically travel to during winter weather here in the USA.  My winter escapes.  Nice C208B in MSFS to lease for the excursion.  But looking at the default airports has me in tears.  Nothing tropical in character.  Did some out of region contractor rebuild them after storm damage?  Feel like I was in Wichita, Kansas, or Grand Island, Nebraska.  Certainly hope Latin VFR or similar developer gets to work.  I have no idea if there are any tropics-area-character library objects in MSFS for those of us who might use Developer mode to improve them.

😪

Edited October 18, 20205 yr by fppilot

The paid Key West addon is about as close to the tropic of Cancer as you can get and is pretty good.

38 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

The paid Key West addon is about as close to the tropic of Cancer as you can get and is pretty good.

That is where I may embark from.  But what about the destinations?  Grand Cayman, Montego Bay, etc.  

Yes. I would love to see a Tropics Area update from Asobo like Japan...!!!

Agree that it's badly needed along with tropical water!

10 minutes ago, Kilo60 said:

Yes. I would love to see a Tropics Area update from Asobo like Japan...!!!

Agree that it's badly needed along with tropical water!

Fantastic suggestion! The area has been ignored for way too long...

No Simulation platform and or developer has truly brought to life the Caribbean regions in their true form.  Back in the day FlyTampa did a rather job with the Grenadines, and ImagineSim and TropicalSim have made a few valiant attempts in P3D, but the quality was not on a level similar to that of FlyTampa, but was still able to bring the airport environment to life.  I am not saying that one developer is better than the other, just that it has not been that great in the Caribbean.

Presently TropicalSim has released TAPA (Antigua) and they have done a fairly decent job for MSFS 2020, and there are a few freeware mods for a few Caribbean islands. However, I am sure that in time this will be addressed.  Some of the default airport layouts are fairly well done minus the MSFS2020 graphical glitches which detract from airports within the simulator.

That being said, depending on how familiar you are with the islands, the default island layouts are still fairly good.  I have been able to fly around several islands and spot landmarks that we used back when I used to fly cargo in the Caribbean during my early aviation days, granted the quality is not that of the US and European areas, but still good.

The few islands that I have looked at thus far: - Airports are basic to say the least for now, but the photogrammetry is descent.
TAPA - Antigua & Barbuda (TropicalSim) - I was able to pinpoint many landmarks on the island
TNCM - St. Martin (hand crafted)
TFFJ - St. Barths (hand crafted)
TQPF - Anguilla
TRPG - Montserrat
TKPN - Nevis
TKPK - St. Kitts
TUPJ - Tortola
TIST - St. Thomas
TISX - ST. Croix
TDPD - Dominica (Melville Hall)
TDCF - Canfield
TLPC - St. Lucia (Vigie)
TLPL - St. Lucia (Hewrenorra)
TBPB - Barbados
TVSA - St. Vincent (Argyle - freeware mod)
TVSB - Bequia
TVSC - Canouan
TVSM - Mustique (the runway layout is flat an spoils the experience)

I have not had a chance to check out Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana thus far.

Edited October 19, 20205 yr by crosswind

3 minutes ago, crosswind said:

the photogrammetry is descent.

Understand and recognize.  But when I land and taxi in I want to see something tropical correct and at least airport-representative.  Like I stated in my OP, seems more like I landed in Kansas or Nebraska.  Hope developers see the opportunity...

28 minutes ago, fppilot said:

Understand and recognize.  But when I land and taxi in I want to see something tropical correct and at least airport-representative.  Like I stated in my OP, seems more like I landed in Kansas or Nebraska.  Hope developers see the opportunity...

Where a sunhat at your PC, play reggae and drink Pina Colada while flying - no cancel that you will lose your virtually licence drinking and flying.

12 minutes ago, Glenn Fitzpatrick said:

Where a sunhat at your PC, play reggae and drink Pina Colada while flying - no cancel that you will lose your virtually licence drinking and flying.

 

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/531042-caribbean-trek-island-hopping/

https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/533538-caribbean-trek-fat-tuesday-trip-part-two/

Edited October 19, 20205 yr by fppilot

There won't be any decent caribbean vibe as long as the proper water masks are still missing.

15 hours ago, crosswind said:

No Simulation platform and or developer has truly brought to life the Caribbean regions in their true form.  Back in the day FlyTampa did a rather job with the Grenadines, and ImagineSim and TropicalSim have made a few valiant attempts in P3D, but the quality was not on a level similar to that of FlyTampa, but was still able to bring the airport environment to life.  I am not saying that one developer is better than the other, just that it has not been that great in the Caribbean.

Presently TropicalSim has released TAPA (Antigua) and they have done a fairly decent job for MSFS 2020, and there are a few freeware mods for a few Caribbean islands. However, I am sure that in time this will be addressed.  Some of the default airport layouts are fairly well done minus the MSFS2020 graphical glitches which detract from ll airports within the simulator.

That being said, depending on how familiar you are with the islands, the default island layouts are still fairly good.  I have been able to fly around several islands and spot landmarks that we used back when I used to fly cargo in the Caribbean during my early aviation days, granted the quality is not that of the US and European areas, but still good.

The few islands that I have looked at thus far: - Airports are basic to say the least for now, but the photogrammetry is descent.
TAPA - Antigua & Barbuda (TropicalSim) - I was able to pinpoint many landmarks on the island
TNCM - St. Martin (hand crafted)
TFFJ - St. Barths (hand crafted)
TQPF - Anguilla
TRPG - Montserrat
TKPN - Nevis
TKPK - St. Kitts
TUPJ - Tortola
TIST - St. Thomas
TISX - ST. Croix
TDPD - Dominica (Melville Hall)
TDCF - Canfield
TLPC - St. Lucia (Vigie)
TLPL - St. Lucia (Hewrenorra)
TBPB - Barbados
TVSA - St. Vincent (Argyle - freeware mod)
TVSB - Bequia
TVSC - Canouan
TVSM - Mustique (the runway layout is flat an spoils the experience)

I have not had a chance to check out Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana thus far.

Great write up!

 

I’d suggest you send it to the Devs via their official forums and suggestion list!