The Need For High Quality GA Airports

[Yoda967 23]

The release of Bill Womack's excellent Plum Island got me to thinking. For a while now, my simming has focused more on medium-to-large GA and less on commercial heavy iron. One of the appeals, for me, is the greater variety of destinations, and some very challenging flying. With smaller aircraft and smaller airfields, the frame rates are higher, as well. I suspect I'm not alone in feeling this way.There are a large number of major airport sceneries available for FSX, some of them truly amazing (FlyTampa's anything comes to mind), and a few very small airfields, but very few smaller airports.We have Aerosoft's terrific AspenX, the FSAddon Vancouver+, the UK2000 scenery for Southern England, the Godzone New Zealand offerings, and the wonderful FTX scenery for Australia...not too much to choose from.What we need are some good, mid-sized airports in popular destinations, like Southern California. Santa Monica, Van Nuys, Santa Barbara, Burbank, Oceanside Muni, McClellan, Montgomery Field, Gillespie Field, Mojave (with its airliner boneyard) all deserve treatment.Satellite fields around Phoenix (Falcon Field, Scottsdale, Chandler Muni), and around New York, Hartford, and Boston would benefit the community. Don't forget the plains states, and the mid-west.There are airports that represent aviation history, like Wichita (home of Cessna and Lear), Lock Haven (Piper), and Vero Beach (also Piper). Ah, just a few ideas!

[Guest NoobPilot]

I would really love a great quality Alaska/Northern Canada for my GA flying. Those areas seem to be where FSX feels at home at, just to go along with my RealAir Scout.

[PhilTaylor 45]

smaller airport sceneries available:1)Floyd Bennett Field in NY was just announced ( and CGAS Brooklyn )http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/no...08/cgas0831.htm2)and so was an update for NAS Penscolahttp://www.avsim.com/cgi-bin/news/mainpage/arc1.shtml3)FSX Scenery Eielson AFB (PAEI), Fairbanks, Alaska http://fsdownload.com/modules.php?name=Dow...**&lid=5112#dl4)JD Scenery Simulations Release Grand Strand Airport, South Carolinahttp://jdsceneries.com/kcre.aspx5)KMHV Mojave Airport ( although the default here is not bad )http://www.highflightsimulations.com/fsx_d...ds/kmhv_fsx.zip6)KVBG Vandenberg Air Force Basehttp://www.highflightsimulations.com/fsx_d...ds/kvbg_fsx.zip7)FSX Scenery--Western Kansas Airfields Part 3http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/wks-sz-3.zip?$8)FSX Scenery--Western Kansas Airfields Part 2http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/wks-sz-2.zip?$9)FSX Scenery--Western Kansas Airfieldshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/wks-sz-1.zip?$10)FSX Scenery--Sonoma County Airporthttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/ksts_sce.zip?$11)FSX Scenery--Sullivan County International ( KMSV )http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/sull_co.zip?$12)FSX Scenery--Minot AFBhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/minotv20.zip?$13)FSX Scenery--Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centerhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/fsxudvar.zip?$14)FSX Scenery--Rochester New Yorkhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/roc2.zip?$15)FSX Scenery--Block Island, RIhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/kbid2.zip?$16)FSX Scenery--Holyoke Massachusettshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/holyoke2.zip?$17)FSX Scenery--Westover AFB.MAhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/w_over.zip?$18)FSX Scenery--Westfield-Barnes Airport,MAhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/w_field.zip?$19)FSX Scenery--Amherst Massachusettshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/umass.zip?$20)FSX Scenery--Springfield Massachusettshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/s_field.zip?$21)FSX Scenery--Southbridge Massachusettshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/s_bge.zip?$22)FSX Scenery--Northampton Massachusettshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/n_hamp.zip?$23)FSX Scenery--Middletown CThttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/midltwn.zip?$24)FSX Scenery--Keene New Hampshirehttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/keene.zip?$25)FSX Scenery--Ithaca New Yorkhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/ithaca.zip?$26)FSX Scenery--Geneva New Yorkhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/geneva.zip?$27)FSX Scenery--Easthampton Massachusettshttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/e_hamp.zip?$28)FSX Scenery--East Haddam Connecticuthttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/e_haddem.zip?$29)FSX Scenery--Chester Connecticuthttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/chester.zip?$30)FSX Scenery--Jacksonville International ( KJAX )http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/kjax2.zip?$31) FSX Scenery--Hill AFB, UThttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/hill.zip?$32)FSX Scenery--Love Fieldhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/kdalade1.zip?$33)FSX Scenery--Jack Brown's Seaplane Base ( FL )http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/jbrownsp.zip?$34)FSX Scenery--Elmendorf AFBhttp://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/elmdorf.zip?$35) FSX Scenery--Miramar MCAS ( San Diego )http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/upmiramr.zip?$36)FSX Scenery--Otis ANGB (MA )http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kdl/main/84/otis.zip?$37)Hobo's Dog House Lodge Water Runway, Alaskahttp://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=dow...fo&FileID=1206138)Raptors Roost Water Runway, CAhttp://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=dow...fo&FileID=1204739) 2 of 14 Central Fla GA airports Vol 4 ( teaser )http://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?loc=down...cenery#download40) BC Scenery for Muddy Lakehttp://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=dow...fo&FileID=1046041) Grayson County Airport ( KGYI )http://sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=dow...nfo&FileID=878542) FSX San Luis County Regional Airport (KSBP) http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=206943) FSX Bella Coola Valley, British Columbia ( of course )http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...le=BellaFSX.zip44) FSX Vancouver International Airport Version5. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...&file=CYVR5.zip45) FSX North Caribbean Scenery Package. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...file=Caribb.zip46)FSX Caribbean South Packagehttp://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...carib_south.zip47) FSX Tonopah, Nevada Airshow Scenery. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...TPH_airshow.zip48)FSX Louisville Scenery Version LouX.0R + Section x,w,v,s,r, q,n,m, L Photosceneryhttp://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...file=LouX0r.zip andhttp://simviation.com/simviation/static.php?ID=63&page=5 will get you started. sections aa, g, bb, h, i etc are scattered around too. someone really likes Louisville :-).49) FSX Meigs Field KCGX, Chicago.http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...Meigs_Field.zip50) FSX Victoria, Canada area scenery Part 1 and Part IIhttp://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...le=vicenh7a.zip andhttp://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...le=vicenh7b.zip51)FSX Chitina Airport (CXC), Alaska scenery. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=scenery&file=CXCsceneryFSX.zip52) FSX KPWT Bremerton National Airport WA.http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...KPWTscenery.zip53) FSX Seattle Area Airports Scenery (KPWT KRNT KSEA KRNT KTCM)http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...ile=seatscn.zip54)FSX KISM airport, Orlando Florida.http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...y&file=kism.zip55) FSX Improvements for Saratoga County Airport, New York (updated). http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...ry&file=5B2.zip56)FSX Davis University Airport (0O5). ( Davis, CA )http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...0O5_Scenery.zip57)FSX Redding Municipal Airport (KRDD), Ca. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...RDD_Scenery.zip58) FSX Huntsville PhotoReal Scenery Package Section A-Lhttp://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...le=Htn_X1MA.zip starts it onhttp://simviation.com/simviation/static.php?ID=63&page=1659)FSX KGSP Greenville Spartanburg International Airport, South Carolina Improvements.http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...y&file=KGSP.zip60)FSX Chico Municipal Airport (KCIC). http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...CIC_Scenery.zip61) FSX Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field (KASE). http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi...ASE_Scenery.zip 62) FSX Middle Peninsula Regional (KFYJ) http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=325andhttp://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=73563)FSX Hana Airport (PHHN), Hawaiihttp://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=38764) FSX Molokai Airport (PHMK), Hawaiihttp://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=38865) FSX Arcata Airport (KACV)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=38966)FSX Garberville Airport (O16)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=39867)FSX Acceleration Oshkosh Airshow Sceneryhttp://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=45668)FSX Shelter Cove Airport (0Q5)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=48769)FSX Napa County Airport (KAPC)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=50170)FSX Yuba County Airport (KMYV)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=53171)FSX Watts-Woodland Airport (O41)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=64472)Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (KSTS)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=85873)FSX Kapalua Airport (JHM)http://simviation.com/simviation/download.php?ID=87174) FSX Cole Landing Area ( 2OK7) Newcastle, OKhttp://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name...**&lid=3628#dl75) FSX Add on Scenery Oak Springs Farm ( Maine )http://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name...**&lid=4458#dl76) FSX Berkley Marina Boats and docks ( with seaplane dock and fuel station )http://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name...**&lid=4820#dl 77) FSX Scenery - Lawton OK KLAWhttp://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name...**&lid=3623#dl78) Robert's Landing, 08RL, ( Seaplane )http://www.fsdownload.com/modules.php?name...**&lid=3658#dlthat is a mix of FSX freeware and payware but mostly freeware. These at least these are not labeled FS2004/FSX I could add to the list if I included those.and that is with a couple of hours or so of looking. and I skipped a lot of international scenery and paid attention to NA and Caribbean. looks to me like there is plenty of GA airport scenery for FSX available, with searching.

[1mikel151 71]

Pretty sure Holger Sandmann, Bill Womack and Jon Patch have a good part of that covered with the upcoming Tongass X and Misty Fjords X which I am really looking forward to. That is where I did 75% of my flying in FS9 and with the incresed autogen, man it will be even better in FSX!I believe I read that Jon is re-doing ketchikan airport (PAKT), should be sweet if true.I agree there is a need for more airports like Plum Island. I think the main issue is lack of source material. Bill actually went there and took his own shots for textures/reference.Regards, MichaelKDFW

Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI-x16 / AMD

[1mikel151 71]

Great list Phil and thanks for the links. I feel the OP was pointing out a need for more advanced sceneries, probably payware quality, like Plum Island which goes beyond updated ADE files and default objects.Regards, MichaelKDFW

Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI-x16 / AMD

[Yoda967 23]

Phil,No question, there's plenty of freeware out there, and a lot of it is very good. I've looked at (and downloaded) quite a bit of what's on that list.I should have been more specific -- I think there's a need (and a market) for more payware mid-sized airports with, as Michael said, non-default objects.

[Yoda967 23]

Michael,I loved Holger's Southeast Alaska sceneries for FS9, and am looking forward to them for FSX. If Jon's working on PAKT for FSX, that'll be going into my library, too.If any developer would like to take such a project on, I'll be happy to try Bill's method of approaching airport management for permission to take pictures of any San Diego area airports.

[PhilTaylor 45]

Yes, I can see that is a subset of what I linked.Don't Floyd Bennett and the Grand Strand scenery provide that, though?If the EZ Scenery libraries or RWY12 libraries are required, doesnt that mean "non-default"? Or do you really mean "custom scenery objects required"?

[Yoda967 23]

Phil,No doubt, Jim Dhaenens has the right idea -- his focus on Central North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia is exactly what I'm talking about.One of the reasons I'm looking for something other than library-based scenery is that it's very nice to see unique buildings when taxiing up to the FBO.

[Guest Nils79]

I love the detail of Jim's Hangars and Manny's 52F: http://library.avsim.net/search.php?Search...=52f&CatID=root is also very impressive.And there are also a few great European sceneries like Puck: http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=124226 and Jastarnia: http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=124226 and you even get historical airplanes from the same Team (simhangar.com) for free.And not to forget the generous freeware for Australia:http://www.fullterrain.com/freeware.htmlhttp://www.aussiex.org/forum/Really a lot nice places to fly :)

[Yoda967 23]

Yes.This is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/192047.jpghttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/192048.jpgWe need more of this kind of thing.

[Guest koorby]

Thanks for posting those shots of YPMQ and YMLT. We have three payware-quality GA airports available now, with another three due in the next 3-6 weeks. In addition there are 130+ airports (all photoreal) available at http://aussiex.orgAs Phil has shown, if you dig around long enough you will find a lot of gems out there.

[Tim Arnot 5]

I don't think anyone mentioned Aerosoft's excellent German Airfields series...While everyone for sure wants the best looking airport, at least in North America, the defaults are mostly convincing. In much of the world, all you get is a runway that's in approximately the right place (give or take a few hundred metres), and pointing approximately the right way, and if there's a fuel pump thrown in there somewhere, consider yourself lucky! Shabby treatment arguably, for what is a rich aviation heritage, often going back for more than 70 years.

[Guest dswo]

Glad someone mentioned German Airfields. For payware, add Scotflight: Highlands and Islands. For freeware, Alf's UK Airfields (eleven vols. and counting).

[Yoda967 23]

Tim,I don't find the defaults in the US terribly convincing, hence the OP. :-)