skytitude

Scenery Review: KDCA Washington Airport & City XP12 by Drzewiecki Design
 
By DrishalMAC2
 
Introduction
Situated in the bustling heart of the nation's capital, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) serves as an essential hub for both business and leisure travellers. Located along the scenic banks of the Potomac River, this airport offers a gateway to the iconic landmarks and political intrigue of Washington, D.C.

KDCA boasts three runways (01/19, 15/33, and 22/4), providing a seamless travel experience with its modern facilities and efficient operations. Its advanced amenities ensure smooth departures and arrivals for various aircraft, from regional jets to larger commercial airliners. Besides its operational capabilities, KDCA also holds historical significance, reflecting the rich heritage of American aviation. Named in honour of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, the airport serves as a tribute to his legacy and ongoing impact on the country.

Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., KDCA provides convenient access to the city’s diverse attractions, including the significant monuments of the National Mall and the legislative activity at Capitol Hill. Whether visitors are exploring political landmarks or engaging with local culture, KDCA serves as an efficient and welcoming gateway, reflecting the standards of excellence and innovation characteristic of American aviation.
 
This is Drzewiecki Designs' first XP12 scenery, which enhances parts of the city and upgrades some nearby buildings with helipads, making them “landable”. This feature is especially appealing for X-Plane users who enjoy flying rotary-wing aircraft.
 

 
Installation Process
Once you've downloaded the ZIP file, it's 1.5 GB in size; when extracted, it expands to 3.4 GB. This size is quite reasonable given the extensive content included in this scenery package. The installation process itself is straightforward: upon opening the extracted folder, you'll find three additional folders. Simply drag and drop the "DD Washington City XP12" and "DD KDCA Washington XP12" folders directly into your X-Plane 12 custom scenery folder.

Documentation
The download includes four documents. Three of these are installation instructions available in Russian, Polish, and English, and are clearly written and simplify the installation process. The fourth document is a "manual" that provides an overview of the airport, condensed installation instructions, links to relevant charts, a list of scenery features, links to support pages, credits, and a license agreement.
 

Satellite Imagery
The satellite imagery directly surrounding the airport is of decent quality, though there are better examples available elsewhere. The package also includes ortho satellite imagery for the entire surrounding area; however, this is of noticeably lower quality. While it improves upon the default textures by X-Plane (what wouldn’t), it would be beneficial to have the option to remove this layer and use our own, self-generated Ortho4XP tiles instead. The lower zoom level of the satellite imagery particularly affects the depiction of the Potomac riverbanks, which appear quite harsh and do not look as impressive, especially when following the DCA river visual approach. In future updates, an option to replace this with self-generated ortho tiles would be highly welcomed.
 



 
Ground Textures
The runway textures in this scenery are reasonable, enhanced by additional tire marks to convey a sense of daily use. However, there is a notable issue with texture uniformity across all three runways. For instance, the real runway 15/33, features a mixture of different coloured surfaces, which has not been replicated here. Introducing more distinctive runway textures that reflect these real-life variations would significantly enhance the scenery's authenticity. Additionally, the edges of the runway textures appear quite harsh, so incorporating some kind of transitional texture could greatly improve the overall appearance and integration with the surrounding environment.
 


 
Similarly, the taxiway textures, while visually appealing, suffer from repetitiveness, with the same texture used across approximately 90% of the airport. This does not accurately reflect the actual variety seen in aerial images, such as those on Google Maps. 
 


Despite this, the added tire marks and wear and tear effects on these textures do lend a highly authentic look.
 



Signage and Navigation Aids

The airport signage in this scenery has been handled quite well, with all the necessary runway and taxiway signs positioned accurately. The signs are sharp and easily legible, which enhances navigational clarity for simmers. Additionally, the Washington (Ident: DCA) VORDME has been included and correctly placed, which is particularly noteworthy and adds a realistic touch to the scenery.
 


 
GA Terminal and Hangars
The GA terminal is modelled to a high standard and seamlessly integrates with the main passenger terminal. The GA hangars are also well modelled, with a few having open doors, revealing aircraft inside, and include detailed interiors, including general clutter like ladders, cones, and boxes, adding to the realism. Additionally, banners inside the hangars indicate their specific functions, such as “American Airlines DCA Maintenance” and “Signature Flight Support.”
 


 
Outside the hangars, there are two corporate jets parked, one of which has its main door open, showing people engaged in conversation. This area also includes the U.S. Coast Guard ramp, where two Coast Guard helicopters are stationed at their designated spots.
 

 
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 has been modelled to a high standard, effectively replicating the real structure. However, the textures sometimes appear flat and could benefit from more variation to enhance realism. In contrast, the ground texturing around concourse A is notably well-executed, featuring oil spills and signs of wear and tear that add authenticity to the environment. The various concrete and asphalt textures around this area have been accurately reproduced, confirmed through comparisons with Google Maps images of the actual airport.
 


 
Much like the exterior, the interior of Terminal 1 is also modelled to a high standard, including detailed elements such as airline signs at each gate, reflecting real-life arrangements. Additionally, numerous 3D figures are positioned throughout the terminal, creating a bustling atmosphere that enhances the view from the cockpit of aircraft at the gates.
 


 
Terminal 2
Special attention has been given to Terminal 2, making it instantly recognisable. The exterior is modelled to a higher standard than Terminal 1, with improved texture quality that enhances its appearance. 
 



 
Inside, Terminal 2 excels at capturing the distinctive atmosphere of DCA with its beautifully recreated roof and glossy floors that contribute to a polished look (pun intended). Each airline is provided with a realistically designed check-in desk area, enhancing the authenticity of the terminal. Although the various shops are represented only as 2D images, this decision is practical, considering that simmers typically spend limited time inside scenery terminals. 
 


 
The concourses B, C, D, and E have also been replicated to a high standard, featuring beautiful ground textures that add to the overall aesthetic quality.
 

 
Ground Clutter and 3D People
The ground clutter around the airport is varied effectively across different stands, contributing to a dynamic and realistic environment that avoids a repetitive "copy and paste" appearance, which is sometimes visible in other payware sceneries. Some of this clutter is airline-specific, featuring items like U.S Airways coaches and Delta baggage carts, although the presence of U.S Airways equipment may not be entirely accurate given the fact that the airline has ceased operations. 
 


 
Whilst the terminal interiors are nicely populated with numerous 3D people, adding to the bustling atmosphere, the ramp areas show a noticeable lack of ground personnel. This absence detracts from the realism on the airside, where the presence of staff is critical for an authentic airport experience.
 

 
Night Lighting
Night lighting is executed exceptionally well, featuring bright white lights around the ramp areas that enhance visibility and ambiance. The taxiway and runway lighting also receive high marks for their clarity and precision, with special attention given to the approach lighting. This is especially notable for the RNAV approach into runway 19, which follows the Potomac River. The approach lights mounted on various bridges along the river are synchronized to flash together, providing a striking visual reference for pilots. Overall, the night lighting is impressive, incorporating several thoughtful details that greatly benefit the night-time flying experience.
 



 
At night, due to the way the lighting has been applied, the building interiors really come alive. During the day, the lighting comes across as slightly dull, but at night, it is transformed, giving the buildings a vibrant, welcoming glow. The contrast between day and night is quite remarkable.
 



 
The Capital 
In addition to the airport, the package extensively covers many of Washington D.C.'s landmarks and a significant portion of the inner city. To the west of the airport, areas known as "Crystal City" and "Pentagon City" are modelled to a high standard, featuring custom buildings that are accurately placed, surpassing the autogen quality provided by simHeaven’s X-World America. 
 

 
The downtown D.C. area, including iconic landmarks such as The White House, Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is also included and modelled to the same standards. 
 



 
In total, the scenery features over a thousand landmark buildings in the vicinity of the airport, each contributing to the authenticity of the package. If you've visited Washington D.C., you’ll certainly enjoy exploring the area; just remember to bring a guide!
 
Performance Impact
I'm pleased to report that the scenery is very well optimised, with no noticeable loss in performance on my system (specs below). This is particularly surprising given the extensive detail included in the package and the generally high demands of the Washington D.C. area. 
 


Conclusion
Having explored the enhancements to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by Drzewiecki Designs, it's clear that the improvements to both the airport and the surrounding Washington D.C. area is impressive. The package excels with its detailed rendering of terminals, hangars, and particularly the night lighting along the Potomac River. The accurate depiction of landmarks and key areas such as Crystal City and Downtown DC significantly enriches the overall experience. Although there is room for improvement in texture quality, particularly the supplied orthos, and a more 'populated' ground environment outside of the terminals, these issues do not significantly detract from the overall high quality of the scenery.

In summary, with its thorough execution and extensive features, this scenery provides substantial value, enhancing the X-Plane 12 flying experience in the nation’s capital.
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KDCA Washington Airport & City XP12 by Drzewiecki Design is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:
 
KDCA Washington Airport & City XP12
Priced at $30.00
 
Features
A high-quality model of KDCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, featuring the up-to-date version with extensive details throughout the whole airport FPS-friendly design, with epic night textures, dynamic lighting and PBR materials Performance-friendly interior modeling at terminal buildings, control towers, and some hangars, static aircraft, advanced night lighting (incl. River Visual and dual PAPI), animated trains Animated jetways, VGDS, marshallers (SAM plugin) Washington D.C. city scenery included, with over a thousand landmark buildings surrounding the airport, ortho coverage and some lite airports Requirements
X-Plane 12
Windows, Mac, Linux
8 GB+ VRAM highly Recommended
Download size: 1.5 GB
Current version: 1.1 (March 22 2024)
 
Review System Specifications
Windows 10, Intel i5-12400F, 32GB RAM, RTX 3070Ti 
________________________
Scenery Review by DrishalMAC2
10th May 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).
 

 
 

NEWS! - Private Beta Version : Boeing 777 v2 by FlightFactor
 

 
There is always an anticipation in X-Plane for the "Next Big Thing"...  but nothing comes even close to the expectations of FlightFactor's latest project in the Boeing 777 v2.
 
September 2012 was the release of the original Boeing 777 Worldliner from FlightFactor. It changed the X-Plane Simulator, not only in the quality for the time, and for the pioneering systems, but also mainly for the plugin based architecture (not the first as the J Rollon CRJ-200 debuted the first SASL plugin)...  but the FlightFactor B777 changed the features and immersion category completely, and in so created a whole new level of Simulation.
 
So here is the Pre-Release Alpha v2 of the B777 aircraft, and currently only available for a limited number invited members to do beta testing (all sold out), obviously NDA's will be enforced, and feedback is part of the invitation. We do get one thing, and that is a look at the feature list...   it is mind-boggling long and detailed, and Situation save feature is a big yes from me.
 
Flight model
Proprietary flight model, within 2%-5% on standard certification tests. Developed and tested with real pilots. Weight and balance fully calculated from the basic weights, including cabin chair configuration, oil, filters, water, waste, etc 3D Modeling
Accurate dimensions based on exterior drawings Very detailed exterior modeling with high resolution textures. Very high resolution 3D cockpit Very detailed passenger cabin graphics. Adjustable with different cabin configurations available in-sim. Additional graphic features: real working oxygen masks both in cockpit and cabin, dynamic window blinds that react to sunlight etc. Every door opens, every compartment can be walked into. Details such as escape ropes, crew rest compartment and operating engine cowling. Accurately simulated systems include but not limited to:
Electrical, Hydraulic, Fuel, Air and other engineering systems GPS, VOR, DME, ADF, COM, ILS TCAS with TCAS version 7 functionality Classic STBY Instruments and ISFD Full set of working overhead Circuit Breakers ADIRU/SAARU Flight Control Systems with three Primary Flight Computers (PFC) with four Actuator Controls Electronics (ACE) with Normal, Secondary and Direct modes and more EFIS  with six LCD displays with four Graphics Generators(GG) in two AIMS cabinets with auto GG reconfiguration on failures logic with auto or manual source switching logic with all the synoptic pages, COMM pages and integrated checklist pages and more Two Flight Management Computers (FMC) Three Control Display Units (CDU) with Cabin Intercom pages for control of crew and ground communications Three Autopilot Flight Director Systems (AFDS) GPWS with all the modes the real plane has with look-ahead Peaks Terrain Alerting System with RAAS and more Weather radar with beams and ground clatter Two Electronic Flight Bugs (EFB) CPDLC Electronic MMEL Ground Services
Working push-back truck - Fully controllable with your joystick. Passenger bus and stairs or optional gate configuration (passengers can be loaded from gate instead of bus). Fuel truck, de-Icing truck, GPU, ground-start units both visible and fully functional with airplane systems. Other ground equipment. Custom Sounds (Exclusive features)
Fully proprietary sound system Hundreds of custom sounds recorded from the real aircraft. In-cockpit custom sounds. Switches with individual sounds. Many individual systems sound inside and outside. Airport environment sounds. Cabin sounds. 3D stereo sound system for engines. In flight cabin announcements. Interactive communication with the cabin crew (reporting misconfigurations and passenger comfort problems). Simulation
Custom cockpit interaction system
Adjustable modes for cockpit interaction, you chose what to use for clicks Different cockpit interaction modes, with mouse wheel and right button support In-cockpit tooltips from the manual - you click on the button and see portions of the manual on display Aural tooltips in FOs voice Copy/paste custom commands for cockpit building Every clickzone (>2K of them) has a custom command that can be set up. Options
A very flexible architecture: You chose the set up Hundreds of options including avionics, set up, maintenance and difficulty level. Many additional options for sounds, cockpit interaction, effects etc.  Interactive Checklists, Procedures (Exclusive feature)
Full electronic interactive checklists and procedures with automatic action detection. FO helps with procedures, callouts and more. A tutorial which shows the user what to do and when. Innovative crew interaction system (Exclusive feature)
4 voice characters for the crew Interaction with crew members using EFB or CDU3 (like the real plane) Preflight briefing using AI voices FO help in different phases of flight Procedures performed and notated by the FO FO reads checklists with the captain Voice control of the FO! Failure model
Almost 1000 failures simulated. Failure scenarios, training scenarios, all the things needed for TR training. Ability to fix failure by following proper procedure. Persistent failure and maintenance system - Aircraft wear and misuse will carry over to your next flight.  Situation Save
Ability to save the flight at any stage and continue from there Set up different cold and dark options Pre programmed situations for training Electronics Flight Bag EFB with Navigraph integration for chart viewing
Airport moving map inside the EFB with a custom airport database just like the real thing Integration with SimBrief for planning Interactive navlog Weight and balance optimization and planning tool Many pilot tools like the real EFB Hundreds of options Special effects (Exclusive features)
Multilayer dynamic reflections on all glass objects. Glow effects on screens XP weather enhancements like custom windshear.  
A few more images are now also available
 

 
Requirements are interesting as to show what hardware is required.
 
X-Plane 12, X-Plane 11.50+ Windows 10+, Mac OS 10.15+ (Intel or Apple Silicon) or Linux 14.04 LTS or compatible
64 bit mode Disk Space: 5 GB X-Plane 12
Minimum: CPU: Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 CPU with 4 or more cores, or AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or 9, or equivalent
RAM: 16 GB Video Card: a Vulkan 1.3-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 6 GB VRAM
 
Recommended: CPU: Intel Core intel i5-12600K or Ryzen 5 3500 or better RAM: 32 GB Video Card: a DirectX 12-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 8-12 GB VRAM (GeForce RTX 2070 or better, or similar from AMD) X-Plane 11: Minimum: CPU: Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 CPU with at least 4 cores, or AMD equivalent RAM: 16 GB Video Card: a DirectX 11-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 4 GB VRAM Recommended: CPU: Intel Core i5 8600k or Ryzen 5 3500 or better RAM: 32 GB Video Card: a DirectX 12-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 8 GB VRAM (GeForce GTX 1070 or better, or similar from AMD)
 
The B777 v2 is available for both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11...  Price? well not the $9.999 price tag that is currently shown, as it is not the normal price. But my guess it will be under the US$100 mark.
 
Public Release? No answers there either, as it depends on the beta phase...  but start saving now!
___________________________
 
NEWS! by Stephen Dutton
3rd May 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
 

 
 

Hi guys, just have to notify that I did an update 1.20 for Tallahassee, it will be uploaded at the upcoming weekend.
So the update itself include's many improvements and fixes of issues described above.
Attaching you a few images. Also a lot of ktlh store images will be remaked as well since I did too many changes in ground poly's and some other stuff..
 
Changelog
- Significantly improved airport pavement textures and their specular pbr effects
- Increased quality of grass and soil textures within the airport area
- Added more custom apron mast's models
- Added night light textures for terminal and tower windows, cargo facility logo's
- Added missing rooftop attributes on general aviation terminal
- Better ground traffic and airplane routes
- Added some moving ground vehicles
- Fixed bunch of minor mistakes
 




 
Thanks

Sound Addon Review : Rotate McDonnell Douglas MD80 Series sound package by Mango Studios
 
As noted in the review/tutorial of the modification of the Rotate MD-80 Series to use the IAE V2500 Series engines. That coming soon from Mango Studios would be a sound package to modify the original P&W JT8D-200 sounds to the IAE V2500 engine sounds.
 

 
This is that sound pack, and both JT8D-200 and IAE V2500 sounds are included, plus both new bonus external and custom internal sounds are also provided in the package. The feature list is extensive as noted here...
 
Exterior:
Custom Sounds for Exterior Aircraft Systems
-APU, Hydraulic Pumps, Fuel Pumps, Packs, etc
External Environmental sounds, including light and hard rain
Custom Engine Sounds for the Pratt & Whitney JT8D Engines
    -Exterior start-up/shut-down sound effects
    -Exterior spool-up/spool-down sound effects
    -Exterior backblast, surround sound, and flyby sound effects
Custom Engine Sounds for the IAE V2500 Engines
    -Exterior start-up/shut-down sound effects
    -Exterior spool-up/spool-down sound effects
    -Exterior backblast, surround sound, and flyby sound effects
Interior:
Custom Sounds for cockpit switches, buttons, covers, knobs, and handles
-Overhead Panel, Pedestal Panel, Autopilot Panel, and Eicas Panel all reworked
Custom Cockpit System Sounds Including
-Higher Quality GPWS Sounds, all the way from 2500ft to 10ft aural warnings.
-Higher Quality McDonnell Douglas Warning Sounds
-Higher quality and realistic Battery, packs, wipers, and avionics generator effects
Custom, and ultra-realistic cockpit environmental effects
-High-quality landing gear roll, cockpit rattle effect, gear retraction, gear extension, gear drag, and cockpit wind.
New cabin effects include
    -New Air conditioning effect, Fuel pump, Hydraulic Pump, Flaps, Slats
Custom Interior sounds for the  Pratt & Whitney JT8D Engines, which include:
    -New custom, interior startup/shutdown sound effects
    -New custom, interior spool-up/spool-down sound effects
    -New custom, interior backblast, surround sound, and flyby sound effects
Custom Interior sounds for the  IAE V2500 Engines, which include:
    -New custom, interior startup/shutdown sound effects
    -New custom, interior spool-up/spool-down sound effects
    -New custom, interior backblast, surround sound, and flyby sound effects
 
Downloaded the Sound Pack looks like this...  how to install.
 

 
First there are two options in "Engine Volume 1" and "Engine Volume 2"...  the choice is that Eng Vol 1 has "Realistic" normal volume sounds in the cockpit. Eng Vol 2 has a "loud" (or higher level) engine noise in the cockpit... it's your choice?
 
Note; If you created a separate aircraft for the modification of the "IAE" engines, then you would need to install this Sound Pack in Both of the aircraft files.  
 
Then just select the optional FMOD set you have selected and move it to the Rotate Aircraft root folder.
 

 
Next to be installed is the "Plugins", select both "MangoStudio MD80" and "MD-80 Core" folders and install them in the (MD-80) Plugin folder...  It will ask you to replace 102 files in the MD-80 Core plugin folder, select to overwrite the files.
 

 
Last install item is the "Sounds". Open the MD-80 Sounds folder, and now replace the "Alert" folder, again you will be asked to overwrite 25 alert sounds.... 
 

 
...   now the Mango Studios Sound installation is completed.
 
Starting the Simulation, I loaded the IAE V2500 Engine aircraft. In the X-Plane Plugin Menu, there is now under the "MD-80 Soundpack", a settings menu "MD-80 Sound Preferences".  This is a selection and sound adjustment panel.
 
There are Options on the left, and a "Volume Control" panel on the right...
 

 
In the options we will look at the most important one first. This is the "Engine Select Option", or the selection of either the IAE V2500 or the JT8D-200 Engine sounds. Selecting either will allocate (save) those engine sounds to that aircraft. Here I have selected the IAE V2500 engine.
 
 
 
Other selection options include; "Speedbrake Deploy Sounds", or the sound the Speedbrakes make on landing, "Rotation Noise" the noise when the nosewheel lifts off the runway, here you can also set the point of the rotation degreeº point of when this effect comes into play (5º is default), and finally you can have "Passenger Noise" in the cabin.
 

 
There are seven Volume 0%-100% adjust selections; Master, External, Interior, Radio, Environment, User Interface and CoPilot volume adjustments.
 
Aural feedback
Obviously I want to hear the sounds of the IAE V2500 engine...  It's actually really "weird", but not in a negative way. You are always used to to the lower raw compressor sounds of the P&W JT8D, however here it is the high whine of a Airbus A320, on a McDonnell Douglas MD80?
 
It sounds like the Airbus in every way, even in the reverse thrust mode. I like it because it is what I wanted, a differential feel and environment to the standard MD-80 Series aircraft. The sound is "doppler" in the source, and there is also different source sounds in the rotation from front to back (180º) and so you are highly spatially aware of all the different changes of direction.
 

 
Externally the sounds are VERY loud, and my External percentage was finally set as low as 60%, (but I don't like large volume changes from the Internal to the External)...   Start up and spool down sounds are excellent (great spaced timing), however so different in the engine being a more modern installation than the 60's based Pratt & Whitney.  
 
In the cabin, the rear is aurally loud, with the set passenger noise coming in on top, and the engines are set only in the idle mode....   move to along to the front of the cabin and the distance to engines make a difference to the lower sound levels, very good. But oddly so does the noise level of the passengers also decrease, which feels very odd? I am sure they talk as much at the front of cabin, as they do in the rear.
 

 
The Rotate MD-88 cockpit was always a very "clickity clackity" cockpit, and one of the main reasons why I love it.... the Mango Studios cockpit sounds are certainly not as loud, or as noisy as the default sounds, even hard to hear. So you have to put the volume up (a lot) if you want to hear them as you do in the Rotate MD-80?
 
So it is very noticeable in the far lower Speedbrake arm and the trim setting noises, and you can barely hear the usual noisy landing and taxi light switches? This is with the "User Interface" settings set at 100%? They are definitely good sounds, but they are simply not loud enough, or you also don't have enough adjustment to find your own personal level of acceptable switch noise.
 

 
In the taxi, the IAE MD-80 sounds great, nice roll sounds and engine noise...
 

 
....  power up the throttles (N1) and you get this lovely high IAE whine rising from the rear, runway rumble is also very good, but those engines sound so excellent as the power gets to the takeoff throttle speeds, this is the point of difference...  I absolutely really love the aural feedback you get here as those IAEs reach full thrust power.
 

 
Externally the takeoff noise is really good. Once off the ground you get that nosewheel gear custom wind sound, it is good, but to be noted as far too loud on a quiet cockpit to be realistic? Yes you can turn it off, but that is in creating the opposite effect, volume just needs to be turned down a little to be authentic.
 

 
Climb-out and altitude climb sounds are very good, then cockpit settles down into a background rumble in the cruise, that I also like.
 

 
Once at cruise altitude I run a flypass of the IAE MD-80...  It is very good, but the rear exhaust sounds when in view are very loud, and stay loud even as the aircraft retreats well and long into the distance... doesn't feel very realistic to be honest.
 

 
At each step of the approach, first with the flap extension in that the sounds are extremely realistic, and the engine note also changes with any extra drag applied, then say the lowering of the gear, in it then adds on another heavier layer. Yes this is what should happen on the approach phase, but the point here is in how well you can differentiate between the different wind or drag sounds, as the layers are very well done for a feel of the spatial direction of that particular sound. Get it right as it does here, and it sounds all very realistic.
 

 
The real action starts when you touch the runway, up go the spoilers, and then the reverse thrust powers up. Again the spoilers feel a little loud (like the front wheels on takeoff), but the IAE engine reverse blast is excellent, again very A320 IAE in reflection. Aurally the landing noise (touch), drag and thrust noise is excellent from the cockpit, but extremely loud if you are anywhere near the engines in the rear.
 

 
I think the idea here is to make the engine package "dynamic" special sounds in being heightened (i.e. nosewheel on rotation and airbrakes), but in other areas the sounds are quieter, in say the cockpit switchgear and in the various sound directions. So you need a bit more of a balance for it to be perfect. So there is a case for some sounds need to be more reduced, and others more heightened to find a better balance...  otherwise the overall dynamics here are very good, even extremely good.
 
'
 
JT8D-200
Now you select the JT8D-200 selection on the MD-80 Sound Preferences panel.
 

 
Externally the JT8D-200 version sounds better? The rotation of the sound (rear to front) is far better, and feels more authentic. There isn't that blast of consistent rear engine exhaust noise like you get with the IAE, until you push up the throttles, then it sounds excellent.
 

 
Again the rear cabin is also extremely loud, even with the interior sounds set at 40% and the throttles set at idle? but the aural reduction to the front of the cabin is excellent, but also set higher level than the IAE, same with the cockpit sound level in the front, higher volume than the IAE. This aspect is to be realistic, the noisy 60's era engine compared to the 80's higher bypass era.
 

 
Switchgear noise is the same as the IAE, as you can't again hear them working? unless you increase the volume (a lot). I again miss this interaction with the aircraft. Power up and the JT8D goes LOUD, okay I can live with that, and you feel the louder noise in the cockpit.
 

 
Rotate and the nosewheel drag is highlighted, again I feel it is too loud...  but the climbout and the doppler sounds are really, really good...
 

 
... certainly the JT8D is more balanced all round than the IAE. You however get the same high exhaust note when past the camera position, as the loud thrust is still very audible as far or as long as this last image shows, and so again rumbling too far into the distance from the viewer to be realistic.
 

 
But don't get me wrong, in flight the JT8D sounds brilliant, in the cockpit, on the flypast and in the air from most directions. Rear cabin passengers would however ask for their fare back with the consistent high noise level? Notable here is that the high rear cabin sound level stays the same at engine idle, and the same in flight (increases though on a full throttle setting), and so why does this annoy me...  because I do a lot of replays sitting in the rear cabin, so to use I would have to turn the volume right down to be seated back here in comfort.
 
On LEBL (Barcelona) approach, with the gear down and full flap, the wind and drag sounds are again really good, yes in context very similar to the IAE in the audio experience, but certainly not in engine tone, so it is very good expression between both of these aircraft and their different powerplants.
 

 
Good sound, or an all round high aural experience can certainly give any simulation a more credible immersion to the user/pilot. It is Simulation's ongoing advances that seeks to create the real environment in your own world. Sound is as important as the visuals, so these sound-packages are a very important addition to your flying, and one of the best options to heighten the simulation...  as I go over the fence at LEBL's Rwy 02, I am totally in there, eyeballing the runway, but also in needing the feedback aurally from the aircraft, that is the important statement, it is what is being signaled to you or is reverberating around you can be the difference between the best experience, or just an average one.
 

 
On touch down and into reverse mode, the aural sensation is excellent, yes you get the extra noise from the speedbrakes, but you can turn that off in the options.
 

 
Gotta Love the Maddog!
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Summary
Mango Studios released a modification for the Rotate MD-80 aircraft to add on the IAE V2500 engine to the already installed Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200. Here is a sound package to deliver custom sounds for both those engines IAE V2500 and JT8D-200 and aircraft interaction.
 
The package is most effective when you have both engine types installed, as you get both custom sound packs for both engine types. So the IAE V2500 Engine Addon from Mango Studios is highly recommended here.
 
This is a very good high quality sound pack, that can differentiate the unique sounds of both the IAE V2500 and JT8D-200 engines, the IAE is of course the more modern engine and is mostly associated with the Airbus A320 Series.
 
The range of custom sounds here are excellent on both engine type installations. Great doppler effects, different source sounds in the rotation from front to back (180º) and so you are highly spatially aware of the different changes. Both engines have excellent spool up/spool down sounds and the excellent reverse thrust activity. Flap, gear and wind noise is also very good and engine thrust realism is excellent. With options that cover custom "Speedbrake Deploy Sounds", "Rotation Noise" the noise when the nosewheel lifts off the runway, and "Passenger Noise" in the cabin. Option for "Loud" or louder engine noise in the cockpit.
 
However there are few consistencies highlighted the same on each pack. Switchgear/Interaction sound levels are very low compared to the excellent default Rotate MD-80 sounds...  rear engine exhaust is also too (extremely) high and remains too long after the aircraft has passed your point of view. Rear cabin sounds even at throttle idle are not realistic, passenger chatter also disappears as you move forward in the cabin, optional custom sounds (nosewheel & speedbrake) are set higher to be "dynamic" when selected, are not very realistic.
 
The attraction here with this package is the sounds for the IAE V2500, the tone and feel is completely more modern than the 60's inspired feel of the JT8D low-by pass engine, effectively an Airbus engine on a McDonnell Douglas MD80 aircraft. In this aspect the package is excellent and a great companion to the MOD pack for the IAE V2500, the JT8D-200 is as good, with extra features over the original Rotate sound pack.
 
Overall I totally love the idea and the choice of the two different engine types for the MD-80. It gives you a very and more flexible choice in flying this unique McDonnell Douglas aircraft, not just in appearance, but also here with a unique aural experience for both types...  well worth the investment!
_____________________
 

 
Yes! the Mango Studios MD-80 Sound Pack is currently available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :
 
Mango Studios MD-80 Sound Pack
Price is US$14.99
 
The Rotate MD-88 Pro X-Plane 12 is required for this add-on. The Mango Studios MD-80 IAE V2500 Engine Add-on is highly recommended.
 
Requirements This is a Sound pack. The Rotate MD-80 is required for this sound pack. Will not work with any other MD-80
Download Size: 52 MB
Current version 1.0 (April 16th 2024)   Documentation
Manual provided by Mango Studios is a bit basic, hence the Tutorial here in this review
Rotate MD-80 Soundpack Manual.rtf _____________________
 
Aircraft Sound Addon Review by Stephen Dutton
19th April 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
Review System Specifications: 
Windows  - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD
Software:   - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane Version 12.09rc5
Plugins: JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 : RK Apps XPRealistic v2 - US$34.99
Scenery or Aircraft
- LIRF - Airport Rome XP  by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$25.99
- LMML- Malta International Airport by JustSim (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$22.30
- LEBL - Barcelona XP by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$27.99
  (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
 

Scenery Review: LFKF - Figari, Corsica XP12 by FSX3D
 
By Dominic Smith
 
Introduction
Welcome to another scenery review, this time set in the beautiful surroundings of Corsica. Unlike most youngsters, my initial curiosity about Corsica was sparked by an unlikely source, the comic book "Asterix in Corsica". While the story mainly highlighted the island as a unique spot off the coast of Italy and focused on the adventures of Asterix and Obelix, it greatly captured my interest. Since that initial discovery as a child, and despite numerous "unfortunate" geography lessons (my teacher just didn’t have Asterix’s appeal), I have come to appreciate Corsica as a place of considerable natural beauty and historical depth. This appeal extends to both the casual visitor and the avid explorer, although I have yet to visit the island outside of X-Plane.
 

 
Figari South Corsica Airport, located just 3 km northwest of Figari in the scenic Corse-du-Sud département, serves as a vital hub for accessing this enchanting Mediterranean island. Since opening in 1975, the airport has become Corsica’s third-largest, facilitating connections to major cities via airlines such as Air France, British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair. Conveniently situated 25 km southwest of Porto-Vecchio, it handles upwards of 639,916 passengers annually. More than just an airport, it serves as a gateway to exploring Corsica’s stunning coasts and ancient mountain villages.
 

 
Installation & Options
The main airport download size is 815MB, with an option to install additional photographic scenery tiles of the area, totaling just under 9GB. Although this might seem large at first, the tiles have been created using a reasonably high zoom level, making them a worthwhile addition, especially for users of simHeaven. Alternatively, you can choose to create your own photographic tiles with Ortho4XP. For this purpose, the developer has included patches to ensure the airport aligns correctly, applicable to users of AutoOrtho as well. There's no online activation or third-party wrappers involved, so while the installation process might differ slightly from the norm, it remains relatively straightforward.
 
Documentation
The provided documentation is quite comprehensive; it includes text documents detailing the various installation options and a full-colour chart of the main airport along with its layout. Given the relatively low cost of the scenery package, I was quite impressed with what was provided, especially considering that more expensive sceneries often offer less.
 

 
Initial Impressions
Upon opting to install the additional photographic tile of the area, I was immediately struck by its quality. The documentation reveals that this imagery was created using zoom level 17 (ZL17) with custom elevations. From the views provided, it was evident that this enhancement significantly surpasses the default textures and mesh included with X-Plane 12. Beyond the undulating hills, the Mediterranean Sea stretches into the distance, presenting a captivating sight even in this virtual setting.
 



 
Ground Details
As you descend closer to the ground, the custom orthos remains sharp and clear. This level of detail is particularly beneficial for those who enjoy flying low in general aviation (GA) aircraft. Indeed, if you’re exploring Corsica by air, there really is no better way. However, while the runway textures were sharp and clear, they appeared somewhat clinical. The asphalt's colour was overly intense and seemed unbalanced. Additionally, the transition from asphalt to grass was too abrupt, lacking a smooth blend which could potentially be refined with further development.
 



 
Taxiway & Apron Textures
On the flip side, the textures of the taxiways and apron were far more aesthetically pleasing. Here, the asphalt and concrete had a more subdued appearance, which seemed more fitting with their environment. The edges where the asphalt met the grass were well-executed, featuring realistic cracks and wear. Moreover, the presence of rubber marks and oil or chemical stains enhanced the authenticity, contributing significantly to the overall visual appeal.
 


 
Airport Signage
One of the features of the scenery I was most impressed with was the custom airport signage, particularly noticeable on the taxiways and apron. The detailed guides for taxiing aircraft are well represented. A comparison with its real-life counterpart on Google Maps shows that the layout is almost identical, which greatly enhances the authenticity of the scenery. Parking areas for both general aviation and business aircraft, as well as helicopter zones, are clearly marked. Closer to the main terminal, the stands are accurately laid out with all the correct markings. Overall, I was very impressed with the signage accuracy and detail.
 



 
Airport Foliage
The airport is bordered by several wooded areas that extend right up to the boundaries of the scenery before stopping abruptly. It’s worth noting that with Global Trees installed, this coverage might continue beyond the scenery’s limits; however, I haven't tested this add-on as I do not own the product. However, I did have X-World Europe installed, which might have accounted for the slight increase in tree variations. Situated around the airport buildings, particularly the terminal and control tower, are small shrubs, flowers, and a few mature palm trees. 
 


 
Main Terminal Building & Surroundings 
The main terminal at LFKF, while lacking an interior, is well-modelled and effectively represents its real-life counterpart. Along the length of the terminal, bollards and benches contribute to the overall visual appeal, and the texturing on the concrete walls shows a realistic degree of weathering. However, the terminal area lacks airport signs or posters and feels somewhat lifeless, particularly in what should be the busiest part of the airport. There are a few cars lined up for passenger drop-off and collection, but the noticeable absence of passengers diminishes the overall effect. Hopefully, future updates will address this issue, but as it stands, the terminal building, whilst impressively modelled, requires a bit more liveliness to truly come to life.
 



 
Directly across from the main terminal entrance is the main airport car park, which features a variety of custom-made vehicles. These vehicles are a significant and highly welcomed improvement over the stock models typically included with X-Plane. I don’t know about you, but I get tired of seeing the same old models all the time! The vehicles, all European makes, fit the Corsican setting perfectly and add a touch of authenticity to the scenery.
 


 
Close to the car park, you'll find several car rental facilities, including Ada, Hertz, Avis, National, and Europcar. These buildings are modest in size but effectively serve their purpose. Given Corsica’s expansive landscapes, renting a car is almost essential for visitors.
 

 
Additional Airport Structures
Adjacent to the terminal lies the control tower, which I found to be modelled to a slightly higher standard than the terminal. The control tower's numerous angles and curves lend it a quite unique appearance, and the central staircase is a welcome touch.
 


 
Next to the control tower is the Terminal Aviation d’Affaires, catering exclusively to business travel. The modelling here matches the high standard of the control tower, with notably good texturing that includes realistic weathering effects. The large glass areas are particularly impressive, although it's a pity there isn’t an interior modelled.
 


 
A few metres away from the main buildings, there is a small maintenance building, and next to it, a fire station. The fire truck is positioned further up on the apron, perhaps there was some emergency I missed. Nearby, several smaller buildings of various types and a fuel service area contribute to the functional diversity of the airport. Completing the scene is an animated radar dome, faithfully watching over the airport.
 


 
Night Lighting
The night lighting at the airport is primarily provided by dynamic lighting from street and airport lamps, which stands in stark contrast to the complete absence of lighting effects from the buildings themselves. This omission is rather disappointing, as it contributes to a rather lifeless atmosphere during nighttime hours. Much like the notable absence of 3D people, I really do hope that the developer will address this issue in future updates.
 


 
Performance
Overall, I found the performance at LFKF to be pretty impressive, allowing for all settings to be maxed out, apart from anti-aliasing, while running at 1440p. At this resolution, I managed to maintain roughly sixty frames per second during the day. However, during nighttime hours, there is a noticeable drop, with frame rates dipping to the mid to high thirties. This significant reduction may be more reflective of X-Plane's general performance quirks during certain times of the day, nighttime in particular, rather than a specific issue with the scenery itself. Nonetheless, it's an important consideration for those using lower-end systems, as these performance shifts could impact your experience.
 


 
Conclusion
Reflecting on my time at LFKF, it’s clear that the experience was, on the whole, rather enjoyable. The airport features some well-modelled buildings, especially considering its low price point, and an authentic layout which closely matches its real-life counterpart. The addition of the optional ortho tiles significantly enhances the value of this scenery package, offering a level of detail not commonly found in more expensive counterparts. However, it’s not without its shortcomings. The absence of 3D people and the inadequate night lighting stand out as the most notable flaws. Addressing these issues in future updates could transform this from a good to an exceptional scenery package.
 

 
As it stands, I am happy to recommend LFKF to those who have a fondness for Corsica, and perhaps an affinity for adventure reminiscent of our beloved two Gauls. Just as Asterix and his companions would conclude their adventures with a grand feast, albeit always without the bard, this scenery too promises a delightful exploration, if not a perfect one.
 
________________________
 

 
LFKF -Figari, Corsica XP12 by FSX3D is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:
 
LFKF -Figari, Corsica XP12
Priced at $14.99
 
Features
Ultra detailed car parks, taxiways and track PBR on all objects Ambient occlusion (Objects and ground) Wet track effects Dynamic lighting Animated Radar Pylon Altimeter patch for Ortho4XP Compatibility AutoOrtho Requirements
X-Plane 12
Windows, Mac, or Linux
8 GB VRAM Minimum
Download Size: 815 MB
 
Review System Specifications
Intel i5 12400 – 32GB RAM - Nvidia Asus RTX 4070 – Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
 
__________________________________
 
Scenery Review by Dominic Smith
19 April 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).
 

Thank you @Stephen for your honest review, much appreciated. As developer of KTLH I would like to add few comments and explain some decisions in this airport for X-Plane Reviews readers and you.
 
Regarding custom buildings and objects within the airport area, I focused most of the power on the ATC Tower, Cargo Apron Facility and Ivan Munroe terminal, this objects are the most important for virtual jet airliner pilots. Also I tried to represent the Custom Hangars surrounding South Ramp with Million Air terminal very close to real airport.
Unfortunately due to the development cost and profitable reasons nowadays I was forced to pay just a little less attention to a few secondary objects and hangars far away from Munroe terminal. Also meanwhile development process some details like logo's on Million Air terminal and some hangars was missed, now I'm figure it out and I will add them back in further update with some fixes as well.
 
Ok then I would like explain the airport lighting, most of lights looks pretty accurate on your images (my custom lights with custom masts) except few weird over bloomed light apron masts taken from laminar's library. I partially used them to save time and they were looking very good when I was taking release images, I guess maybe something has changed in latest X-Plane update that I got few days ago but they wasn't looking like presented. I will investigate it soon and will replace them with custom masts as well.
 
Briefly about ground poly's and airport surfaces quality, I figured out why they are depicting in lower quality than I had, I will fix it and also will add better fidelity decal with solid normal map underlaying all current layers to make surfaces looking more crispy and bumpy from closer look.
 
I carefully read the review and I promise I'll take a look at how to make the airport more dynamic with ground traffic.
Regarding the 3d people I would like to say low poly 3d people are quite expensive for me and I can't promise to add them in large quantity. Also they are absolute static and almost impossible to animate them due to very old x-obj x-plane object format, Ben says laminar's are looking forward to transition from old x-obj to glTf, it will make such things like animated mass of peoples much easier.
 
Instead of conclusion I want to add that I love X-Plane and it's wonderful community.
Everyday I'm studying to do better things and this days I'm engaged in X-Plane more than ever before.
Thank you Stephen for your time and majestic review this is incredible helpful.

Scenery Upgrade Review : KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12 by Skytitude
 
One American State that is highly supported with X-Plane scenery than most, and that is Florida. From the lowest point of Key West, to the state boundary in the north, there are some really great quality destinations for you to chose from. My flying time in X-Plane has found me chris-crossing this one state more than any other. Some developers like FS Designs specialise in the Florida State, another in Skytitude has a few quality destinations in there as well.
 
This is Skytitude's upgrade for their original KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport X-Plane 11 scenery, released only in November 2021, so it is not as would say an old scenery in quality, it is still available if required for US$19.95. Before that release the only scenery available for KTHL Tallahassee was an odd version from Rim&Co. A messy piece of work, that was discontinued as it had illegal, meaning stolen objects from other developers work, so best forgotten for more than one reason.
 
So here is the X-Plane 12 upgraded version of KTLH Tallahassee International Airport, which is not actually an international port, as it doesn't have any international services to other countries. However KTLH is noted as a full-service "Service Port" for U.S. Customs. The title allows international cargo and general aviation flights to directly come to Tallahassee, which is the leading cargo handler in the Panhandle area of Florida. Tallahassee handles around 9.5 million pounds of cargo a year,
 
Most services here are what you would call feeder (Hub & Spoke) regional routes, Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Dallas and Washington DC. But Tallahassee is also the Florida State Capital, it is the largest city in the Florida Big Bend and Florida Panhandle region. Tallahassee is also a college town with student population exceeding 70,000, home to the Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College, a large state college that serves mainly as a feeder school to Florida State and Florida A&M. The KTLH city-owned airport is situated five miles southwest of downtown Tallahassee, in Leon County,
 

 
The airport covers 2,485 acres (1,006 ha) at an elevation of 81 feet (25 m). It has two runways: 09/27 is 8,000 by 150 feet (2,438 by 46 m) and 18/36 is 7,000 by 150 ft. (2,134 by 46 m). Helicopter operations are generally confined to the Runway 18/36 area, or direct approaches to the Million Air FBO ramp area.
 

 
Tallahassee International Airport
IATA: TLH - ICAO: KTLH - FAA LID: TL

09/27 - 8,000ft (2,438m) Asphalt
18/36 - 7,000ft (2,134m) Asphalt
Elevation AMSL81 ft / 25 m
 
A new passenger terminal was built just north of the new 09/27 runway on November 2, 1987, and the new terminal prompted officials to rename the airport from Tallahassee Municipal Airport to Tallahassee Regional Airport. On December 3, 1989, the city opened the $33 million terminal, and on February 20, 2000, the terminal was soon renamed the Ivan Munroe Terminal in honor of Tallahassee aviation pioneer Ivan Munroe.
 
It is a simple layout. A terminal building with a pier that is connecting to a concourse, or a split single concourse into A and B, from the side it is in a H design.
 

 
The Munroe terminal is really well replicated here by Skytitude, very realistic with very good building detail and adornments. The terracotta roof is in contrast to the brown main building and pier exposed concrete.
 

 
Scenery clutter is very good, but not overwhelming... there are no animated service vehicles here, and it is noticeable in creating a static sort of environment. Note the excellent aerial installation on the forward part of the connecting pier, and the very nicely done ramp lights.
 

 
There are eight detailed, white Airbridges A1-A6/B1-B6, like the real ones they come with no branding...  they are powered here by the built in X-Plane 12 "Ground handling" menu. A lot of developers are moving away from the SAM system (and it's problems) and back to this updated older version, in lots of ways it is currently a better solution than the fiddly SAM experience. There also five static walkon/walkoff gates for smaller regional aircraft in A7, A4, A2 - B2, B4, B7.
 

 
The landside terminal is very nicely done, even in a walkaround way, with nice well done 3d vehicle carparks and really reat fauna. But there there is no internal terminal detail. There are also no people, or traffic, again in creating a more static feel at TLH than an active one. On the roof are solar panels, in fact there is a loads of solar panels here as we shall see later.
 

 
Trees are all X-Plane 12 3D quality, seasonal as well, but you won't get a lot if any snow in Florida. But the fauna quality is high here.
 

 
Million Air FBO
Next largest facility at TLH is the Million Air Fixed Base Operator. Besides for private operators, Million Air also provides contracted fuel services to U.S. Military and Department of Defense aircraft. TLH is regularly visited by U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft, Lockheed Martin C-130 family aircraft, as well as Dornier C-146 and T-6 Texan II aircraft on training missions and practice approaches from nearby AFB.
 

 
The ramp area is massive, and surrounded by maintenance hangers and aviation services FL Aviation and Flightline group. Main large FBO executive building is really well done in brick, next to it is the field's FireStation. Missing is the "Million Air" sign that sits outside the entrance, a small but noticeable overlook, but any signage is also missing here at TLH. But overall the detail and fill of this FBO area is very well done with a heliport with 6 landing pads located at South Apron.
 

 
Aero Center Tallahassee
North is another large ramp for Aero Center Tallahassee and the Epic Flight Academy. The buildings are basic here, as the entrance to the Aero Centre is quite ornamental, missing also is the roof detail of the air-conditioning systems. The brickwork however is well done.
 

 
Far north are rows of aircraft storage, and this is a great parking ramp if flying into KTLH while exploring the region to refuel, as there are a few refuel stations set around these aprons for your convenience.
 
Cargo
The freight facility is FedEx. It has two major gates (1 & 2), and three regional ramps for the FedEx feeder network. But as noted it is used as a U.S. customs international feeder "Service Port" area coming into the US.
 

 
Control Tower
The KTLH field tower is set on the Southside. The facility and its surroundings is excellent, with great roof aerial detail.
 

 
Infrastructure
Is this where all digital pilots go when they leave the X-Plane mortal coil? Yes it is a cemetery, set to the east of the airport called Southside Cemetery, a big one at that, and well done.
 

 
Also west is the City Of Tallahassee Utilities Water Treatment plant, really well done with real (X-Plane) water in the large pools and even in the treatment ponds...  note in the background are the six animated wind turbines.
 

 
Before leaving the west it is interesting to note the excellent merging of the Custom TLH airport to the default autogen, here the commercial Infrastructure blends in well with the airport boundary, making it a realistic viewpoint if arriving on Rwy 27.
 

 
Obviously the Tallahassee City owners are very big into efficiency and saving the planet. Surrounding the south approach and the left side of Rwy 18/36, are hundreds of solar panel farms. And all well done here, but I wonder if these massive sun farms could blind a pilot on an approach? The noted "largest airport-based solar station in the world" here is however excellent for the visual detail on approaches 36 and 09.
 

 
Ground Textures
The ground textures are fine, but have no depth of detail, only a sheen, could be even noted as flat to the eye. They look okay with nice grunge, but they are not what you would call "high quality".
 

 
As this is an X-Plane 12 scenery, you get the excellent weather effects. And again X-Plane 12 does it's miracle showing...  water/rain and reflections are all very good, certainly in the right lighting conditions... so the PBR reflective (wet) active textures and burnt-in ambient occlusion works well.

 
Highlight here is the 3d grass, it is excellent and not prone to LOD visuals. The main infield areas are all covered, but there are a few blank areas with no grass...  the grass realism makes a big difference to the quality of the scenery.
 

 
TLH Lighting
In the overview of KTLH the lighting is good, with the expected (XP12) ICAO lighting standards adhered to...
 

 
The ramp areas and external terminal/concourses are nicely lit, with intelligently placed drop lights. Carparks all look great as well...  but the terminal/concourse has no window lighting, making the buildings dark, even blacked out at night?
 

 
Other building lighting in Aviation services hangars are also well done with the well done drop lighting, but the main ramp lights for the Cargo ramp area and FBO ramps are weird, they glow, but don't give out any reflective light to the ground or their surrounding area?
 

 
I'm going to throw the problem to Laminar Research and not to the developer here, as this new light (flare) bloom effects are coming in the next X-Plane update v12.1.0. We will look at this lighting again when that update is released, so ignore it for now.
____________
Summary
Florida is a very well serviced American State for X-Plane pilots to explore with consistent quality destinations. Here with Tallahassee International, it is a very Northern State airport, with great regional connections to Atlanta, Dallas and the Florida State. International in the name is for U.S. Customs "Service Port" only.
 
The KTLH Scenery from Skytitude is overall excellent, with great field landscaping and and excellent reproduced terminal and the Million Air FBO centre. Aero Center Tallahassee is also very good but missing the finer details. Grass and X-Plane 12 weather effects are also excellent. Fauna and overall layout is also first rate. The minor details are just that in minor, but they still count. Terminal Window lighting is missing, ground textures are a bit plain but have nice grunge, and not a lot of signage except for a FedEx sign, and non-lit at light? No ground or traffic animations also give a very static feel to the scenery.
 
Yes I really like this excellent Tallahassee scenery from Skytitude, it has a very nice quality about the package, better as well with the X-Plane 12 effects, and has excellent performance or a very light impact on your computer. This KTLH is an upgrade to X-Plane 12 from the still available X-Plane 11 version, but it is a heavily revised and more modernised scenery than the one released in late 2021. There is also an upgrade offer of 25% off for previous users of the XP11 scenery.
 
How much do I like it? well certainly expect to see KTLH Tallahassee appear in many future reviews from X-PlaneReviews, if any scenery passes that substantial test then it must cover a lot of credentials, most of all in a realistic visual quality...  for that aspect alone, it is great investment!
________________________
 

 
Yes!  KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12 by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :
 
KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12
Price is US$19.95
 
Requirements
X-Plane 12 (not for XP11)
Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 703 MB Current version : 1.0   Owners of KTLH XP11 can purchase this new XP12 version for 25% off, please find the coupon code in the original KTLH Invoice.   Installation and documents:
TLH is download of 520Mb download. There are two folders as part of the installation;
skytitude-ktlh-tallahassee-xp skytitude-ktlh-tallahassee-xp-b The second "skytitude-ktlh-tallahassee-xp-b" has to physically moved (cut&paste) lower in the scenery_packs. INI, below the main "skytitude-ktlh-tallahassee-xp" folder. All details are noted in the provided; "INSTALLATION GUIDE.
 
648Mb is installed into your Custom Scenery folder.
 
Review System Specifications
Windows  - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD
Software:   - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane 12.07r1 (This is a Release Candidate review).
Plugins: Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00
Scenery or Aircraft
-Rotate MD-80 Pro XP12 - (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$59.95
____________________________
 
Scenery Review by Stephen Dutton
11th April 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
 

 

Aircraft Modification : Rotate McDonnell Douglas MD80 Series IAE V2500 Engine
 
The McDonnell Douglas MD80 Series MD-80 was the second generation of the DC-9 family, originally designated as the DC-9-80 (DC-9 Series 80) and later stylized as the DC-9 Super 80 (short Super 80). It was a stretched fuselage, enlarged wing, and was powered by higher bypass Pratt & Whitney JT8D-200 engines. The MD80 Series made its first flight on October 18, 1979, and was certified on August 25, 1980.
 
In response to the environmental concerns that began in the 1970s, Pratt & Whitney began developing a new version of the JT8D engine, designated the JT8D-200 series. Designed to be quieter, cleaner, more efficient, yet more powerful than the earlier -15, -17, -11 and-9 series on the DC-9. The -200 Series power-plant was re-engineered with a significantly higher bypass ratio (1.74 to 1) covering the 18,500 to 21,700 pound-force (82 to 97 kN) thrust range and became the standard engine in powering the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series. This is the engine on the Rotate McDonnell Douglas MD88. It's a long thin (still low) higher-bypass engine with clam-shell reversers.
 

 
Mango Studios have done a modification (MOD) to change this JT8D-200 engine to the later bulkier IAE V2500 Series engine.
 

 
The look and feel of the V2500 modification is really well done, with high quality 4K Textures and new PBR (Physical Based Render) effects, the quality and installation is simply excellent. Internal exhaust detail is totally authentic, with the correctly fitted outer fins for the correct airflow around the engine pod.
The V2500 does not have the clam-shell thrust reversers, but the same arrangement like on the A320, were as the full cowling door opens for the thrust reversal. This aspect is very nicely done here as well, nice operation, with great internal detail of the air vent grid and internal mechanism.
 

 
This IAE engine was installed on the next stretch of the MD80 Series, third generation of the DC-9 family in the MD90. The engines were notably mostly installed on the MD-90-30 Series with the IAE V2525-D5 engine, with the option of upgrading to the IAE V2528 engine.
 
The V2500 Series is a two-shaft high-bypass turbofan engine built by International Aero Engines (IAE) which also powers the Airbus A320 family. This engine also has an option to add 3,000 lbf for use in Hot & High conditions if needed by activating a switch in the flight deck. The V2525-D5 is fitted with different mounting hardware and accessory gearboxes to facilitate the rear MD-90 T-Tail installation, than say the under wing pylon of the A320.
 
First look at the larger style of the IAE engine and as the MD90 Series had later the enhanced MD-90s glass cockpit, you could say it is the Boeing 717 aircraft, but it's not, as the 717 (MD95) had Rolls-Royce BR700 family engines installed, not IAE Engines.
 
Important to note that with this modification, there are no IAE Engine sounds, strangely odd as Mango Studios are well known for their Sound Packages, and the quite different IAE engine note would have been a nice feature, but it has been noted by the developer IAE sounds are coming real soon. The performance of the Rotate MD88 is not changed either, so any power (V2525-D5 111.20 kN (25,000 lbf)) and fuel-efficiency benefits of the IAE are not available with this installation.
 
Installation Tutorial
It is a slightly tricky installation, to switch the original JT9D-200 to the IAE V2525-D5. In the downloaded "IAE V2500 Engine Model" pack there are four three folder items; liveries, objects and a paintkit (psd)...  there is also a manual supplied.
 

 
First you have to "duplicate" the original Rotate-MD-80 aircraft, and add into the title "IAE"
 

 
From the package objects folder you transfer the 12 files to the MD-88 IAE "objects" folder, and replace (overwrite) the noted 4 files with the new files.
 

 
Now for the tricky bit...  You have to go and open up the X-Plane-planemaker application (in your X-Plane root folder), and open up the MD-80-IAE aircraft (acf) file. Under the banner menu "Standard" is the "Objects" selection.
 

 
You have to scroll to the bottom of the objects tool, and then using the "ADD" button, insert THREE new layers...
 

 
Far right on each layer is a slot to insert the file, with the selection button to the left of the slot... then insert the three new objects (V2500_I.obj, V2500_r.obj, N1_fast.object) in the MD-80 IAE "Objects" folder...  into the correct slot, then "Save" (File) the changes.
 

 
If correctly done, then the new IAE powerplant should be seen on the main planemaker page...  and the MD-80 IAE aircraft is now ready in the X-Plane Configuration menu.
 

 
Although there is a folder called "liveries", they are actually only the MOD files FOR the liveries, not the completed new livery. So you will still need the original "livery" to add in the MOD livery files...   Each livery folder includes four files; md80_cola_der.png, md80_cola_izq.png, V2500_l.png, V2500_r.png and all four are transferred to the said livery "Objects" folder...
 

 
Again you will be asked to overwrite two of the object files. You have to do this same process for ALL the liveries provided.
 

 
Note the livery "Delta retro" is in fact Delta Old, or the default livery?
 

 
Five livery conversions are provided; Allegiant, Delta (Old), JAL, Lion and Scandinavian. All look excellent, and note how the larger engine can highlight the decals.
 

 
If you want to update another favorite livery, there is a paintkit (photoshop) provided, the paint kit covers the L & R engines, so you also have to still add in two files "md80_cola_der.png" and "md80_cola_izq.png" to each new set of the new livery conversion into the same objects folder.
 
In the air the IAE V2500 conversion looks amazing!
 

 
X-PlaneReviews - Rotate MD80 X-Plane 12 update review is here... 
Aircraft Upgrade Review : McDonnell Douglas MD-88 Pro X-Plane 12 by Rotate
 
Summary
This is a modification to change the Rotate MD80 (MD88) from the original install JT8D-200 engine to the later bulkier IAE V2500 Series engine as found on the Airbus A320 Series. The IAE engines were notably mostly installed on the MD-90-30 Series with the IAE V2525-D5 engine, with the option of upgrading to the IAE V2528 engine.
 
Mango Studios have provided a modification kit to change the over the engines by duplicating a Rotate MD80 aircraft and installing the V2500 engine via X-Plane planemaker application, it's not too hard to do, and the tutorial is above. Also provided are MOD files to change five liveries to match the new engine installation and paintkit to do your own changes on other liveries.
 
This modification really gives you a more modern looking MD Series aircraft, sounds for the IAE are coming soon as well to highlight the package from Mango Studios, that will also be noted here when available.
 
Simply... a big yes, I love the Rotate MD80 in X-Plane 12, this conversion gives you another engine version to widen the aircraft's appeal and only for less than US$6, so a big yes, yes and it comes more flying options with the Rotate MD80 Series...  winner, winner.
_____________________
 

 
Yes! the Mango Studios MD-80 IAE V2500 Engine Add-on is currently available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :
 
Mango Studios MD-80 IAE V2500 Engine Add-on
Price is US$5.99
 
The Rotate MD-88 Pro X-Plane 12 is required for this add-on.
 
Requirements The Rotate MD-80 is required for this add-on.
Download Size: 415 MB Current version: Initial Release (May 9th 2024) Documentation
Manual provided by Mango Studios is a bit basic, hence the Tutorial here in this review
Manual.pdf _____________________
 
Aircraft Modification Review by Stephen Dutton
9th May 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
Review System Specifications: 
Windows  - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD
Software:   - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane Version 12.09rc5
Plugins: JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 : RK Apps XPRealistic v2 - US$34.99
Scenery or Aircraft
- LIRF - Airport Rome XP  by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$25.99
  (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
 

 

Behind the Screen : March 2024
 
On the 4th of February 2024, there was a Developer's conference in Montreal for X-Plane Simulator platform. Here the best and most prominent developers joined together to work out not only the future of the X-Plane Simulator, but also to share their friendship in meeting their fellow workers in arms.
 
Laminar Research was at the same conference as well. That should have been a huge advantage in working with the very people that do the core workings of the X-Plane Simulator, the setting was ripe for setting a future roadmap and an agenda for X-Plane from both sides of the Simulator...  but the conference didn't end to that satisfaction.
 
At the height of the conference, Laminar Research announced that they were going to create a product store within the X-Plane Simulator, a reflection of the same arrangement that is part of the MSFS 2020 (Microsoft Simulator) platform.
 
This sudden announcement did not unite the developers to the Laminar cause, in fact it divided the conference, and in itself created a rolling discontent among the the attendees, certainly when the news hit the forums, all sorts of comments came out.
 
Initially most users were very supportive of the internal store idea, yes another store, and one built directly into the Simulator, this aspect is a major plus....  but X-Plane is not at all structured like Microsoft's Simulator, it is not a large single central entity, but a Universe with many different revolving planets, and set at it's centre are two massive Jupiter sized planets called Laminar Research and the X-Plane.Org.
 
Initially Laminar Research never dealt with the user side of the Simulator, it was (still is) the founder and on going developer of the Simulator. The X-Plane.Org grew out of the need for users to interact, create and support the X-Plane Simulator. In the early day's it was a sort of clubby meeting place to share and communicate all things X-Plane. I'm not saying that MSFS also has this same network of user sites and forums set around it and in giving support and communication to the platform, in fact every platform has it's own network. But the central core of development and selling product at MSFS is embedded directly into the system, it is even hosted and run as an online game.
 
But X-Plane's in it's arrangement was more focused and generalised than the others. Someone noted that the X-Plane.Org is not the centre of the X-Plane universe, as other sites contribute to the platform, and yes I agree with that aspect in file sharing and product sales, like the Fly Away Simulation sites, but most are only sales sites (Orbx, Just Flight & SimMarket). But the X-Plane.Org is different in that it supports the Developers directly or even indirectly in the support of creating the products to use in the Simulator.
 
Early days of X-Plane were mostly based around the PlaneMaker tool provided with the Simulator, mostly aircraft were then generic, but clever in a customised way. So the clubby .Org supported these products as they were mostly freeware based. But even in these early years, the X-Plane.Org struggled for support.
 
Sites and platforms cost money to host and maintain. Free is all very nice, but it doesn't buy you servers and software to run it all, and very quickly the site required money to support the ever expanding user base. Donations was an early trial, but failed as they were not very consistent and worse in not really giving enough financial support to the .Org site. The solution came with Nicolas Taureau, and he set up a store to sell the now more quality based "Payware" products, but the funds also supported the .Org in succession and allowed it to thrive and grow into the big utility it is today. Most of this important support is not aggrandised or visually translated, as is Taureau's personality, understated is more to the point, but important is the support of the .Org system to the X-Plane platform, of which X-PlaneReviews is also a benefactor.
 
So now you have the X-Plane Universe, with Laminar Research and the X-Plane.Org running in parallel or in orbits around each other, Laminar in not wanting the commercial side of the Simulator, bar of selling a few cups and T-Shirts. And the X-Plane.Org system supporting the developer and user base. So what happens if you move the financial base of developers and sales of the X-Plane Simulator directly to the new store? in reality, you are blowing the X-Plane universe apart, and I really don't think that a lot of users realised that the amount of the support funding of the X-Plane.Org, developer support and loads of other auxiliary items that was generated by the X-Plane.OrgStore...   and neither did Austin Meyer's, head honcho of Laminar Research. All he saw was a store in MSFS and the money he could generate if he installed inside X-Plane the same system as Microsoft, a good idea financially, but structurally unsound for his own creation.
 
We have to understand, and oddly the original mission of X-Plane was for it to be a platform of experimentation of all things aviation. That is the core of PlaneMaker as well, although that aspect was left behind more than a decade ago. In wanting far better functionality and higher quality Simulation, it had move on pass the basic origins of PlaneMaker to plugin based custom products. This now is really the contention of the issue and where the money goes to. Obviously Laminar Research want to expand beyond being just the gatekeeper of X-Plane.
 
So there are currently a lot of issues created by the announcement of 4th February 2024. Certainly it has the promise to unstable a very balanced current system, and the ramifications are enormous if Laminar Research get this idea wrong, and creates questions...  but what of a store with very few products to sell?  Would they in the future also financially support the user base...  they made a very big message over the decades of not getting or even involved at all in this aspect, but they would be either the demise of it, or even damaging it beyond repair... if that scenerio was possible, could it also damage the X-Plane model as a simulator entirely? Kill the very goose that lays the golden eggs... I'm doomsaying again, but this time not without reason. 
 
So we are at a threshold, not a runway one were X-Plane gets to land safely beyond the fence and onto the hard solid runway. Since the 4th of February announcement, there has been no forth coming new announcements or details from Laminar Research, except for a few flashy images on the X-Plane website and social media. Obviously the next announcement will be the launch of the store, and it's insertion into the X-Plane Simulator. It will be very good, as Laminar are very good at these sort of things. But there is far more required than opening a store, but of the quality of the stock inside of it.
Loyalty to Nicolas Taureau is also extremely strong, and why not. He has supported and cultivated the core product of the Simulator for more than over a decade, and make no mistake here in not doing it selfishly for just for the product to sell, but to give talented developers the resources and support they needed to acquire the skills we take for granted, and with the excellent products we all use.
 
How this current store scenario plays out will be important to the future of the Simulator, hopefully we will have an answer by Q3 as announced for the opening of the LR Store in the 3rd quarter of the year...   one thing is very sure, the X-Plane Simulator we used only last year, will be a very different to the one we will be using at the end of 2024.
 
There was no edition of BtheS in February 2024, as I went of a well earned holiday, break..  or a cruise around the South Pacific. Obviously the 4th February announcement traveled with me, but I did get a well deserved change of scenery and a big sea refresh. But my demur was already more brighter before the departure, in fact since late 2023, when X-Plane through version 12.0.9, and behaved itself. A second South Pacific X-Plane related revisit to Tahiti in the same region was simply sheer coincidence, but translated the same to the X-Plane Simulator in how it mirrors the real world.
 
Now we are looking forward to X-Plane 12 v12.1.0...   the v12.1.0 update is expected to be a landmark release outside of a formal version change. Most of the focus is on graphics, including the nasty Anti-Aliasing (MSAA) Improvements, Water improvements, RCAS (Robust Contrast Adaptive Sharpening), Bloom effects and better particle effects. Systems include a better G1000 functionality, Stormscope, Traffic Map and Airport METAR flags... a new STEC ST-360 Autopilot is also included, new tools include better screenshot effects, which suits us really well... it is quite a list. With everything, then this post Easter holiday will be one of the most interesting yet, and the version v12.1.0 was highlighted with great reception at the FS Weekend in the Netherlands. Expect a beta release within weeks.
 
Importantly those on-going v12.1.0 is more better system refinements, in shifting the heavy workload from your Graphics card over to the Processor. We expected this aspect for the release of X-Plane 12, but it will come now about mid-term in the X-Plane 12 version run. The changes will not magically fix your framerate, as heavier graphics will equalise out the benefits of less load on the Graphic Card, but it will overall make the X-Plane Simulator more efficient. I was a little annoyed about this aspect as I invested heavily in the processor side in my last system upgrade with the earlier announcement, then finding that Laminar was leaning even more heavily than ever onto the Graphic card side, so more expense was required to beef up that hardware side, now they are going back to the original focus, it is annoying and expensive as well to cater for these changing whims.
 
Another change over the month was the upgrading of scenery for X-Plane 12. Finally the slow dribble has started to be a better flow from scenery developers, Aerosoft particularly was very active in releasing replacements and improvements to scenery that have been a long time dormant, and obviously we need more to come, a lot more. Although noted as an ever constant developing Simulator, X-Plane 12 will hopefully reach a mature point with the release of v12.1.0. Then that aspect bringing in even more resources for users to experience.
 
So Q2 has a lot of potential to be one of the best period of 2024 for some big quality releases, even if it dribbles into the Northern Summer. But developers need a better more mature Simulator to bring quality releases to the Users, that aspect was something quite lacking over the last few years...  it is time for X-Plane 12 to turn the corner...  and that is said on April Fools day!
 
See you all next month.
 
Stephen Dutton
1st April 2024
Copyright©2024 X-Plane Reviews
 

 

Thank you Felicity for an awesome review of Everglades.
As i remember i did ortho's this way because the satellite has captured too much annoying shadows on higher resolution photos.
I will take a look on how I can improve the integrated ortho's terrain in Everglades.
My appreciated for honest review and your time, this is very useful.

Thank you Felicity for an awesome review of Everglades.
As i remember i did ortho's this way because the satellite has captured too much annoying shadows on higher resolution photos.
I will take a look on how I can improve the integrated ortho's terrain in Everglades.
My appreciated for honest review and your time, this is very useful.

Scenery Review: PAPG - Petersburg James A Johnson Airport by Northern Sky Studio
 
By DrishalMAC2
 
Introduction
Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport (PAPG) is situated in the remote wilderness of Southeast Alaska, within the small but vibrant community of Petersburg. It serves as an essential lifeline to more populous regions, providing indispensable connections for the area's residents. Its single runway, 5/23, with an asphalt surface stretching 6,400 by 150 feet (1,951 by 46 meters), accommodates daily flights operated by Alaska Airlines with Boeing 737-700 passenger jets, reflecting the essential role of air transport in this region. Historically, the service was further supported by Boeing 737-400 passenger/cargo Combi aircraft, highlighting the airport's importance in both passenger and cargo transportation.
 
Petersburg is a locale steeped in heritage, often referred to as "Little Norway," reflecting its Norwegian roots and the fishing industry that has long supported the local economy. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Tongass National Forest, the area offers access to the unspoiled wilderness, including the scenic Inside Passage and the majestic Misty Fjords National Monument. These features highlight PAPG Airport's role as a gateway to Alaska's vast wilderness, welcoming adventurers and nature enthusiasts who are eager to explore the region's rugged terrain and varied weather conditions.
 

 
Northern Sky Studio's latest scenery project for X-Plane aims to boost the realism of PAPG Airport and its Alaskan wilderness surroundings with detailed visuals. Targeting a broad spectrum of X-Plane users, from those passionate about general aviation to commercial jet aficionados, the package promises a significant enhancement. So, without further ado, let's explore how this scenery performs in testing.
 

Copyright © 2023 Navigraph / Jeppesen
 
Installation
The installation process is straightforward. Download the file, which, once extracted, occupies about 2.6GB of space. Then, place the extracted file directly into your Custom Scenery folder within X-Plane. Additionally, the manual included in the download contains a link to an Ortho4XP tile for the surrounding area. This tile can be downloaded and added to the Custom Scenery folder in the same manner as any Ortho4XP file.

Documentation
The documentation included is concise to say the least, as it consists of just a single slide that outlines the installation process and includes links to the Ortho4XP file. Additionally, it features recommendations for third-party scenery addons, enhancing the overall experience. Among these recommendations is simHeaven's X-World, which is highly recommended for users looking to further enrich the scenery. 

Note: All screenshots featured in this review were captured using the optional ortho tiles and simHeaven’s X-World America
 
First Impressions
The airport is situated within Alaska's mountainous landscape, encircled by a complex network of waterways that contribute to the region's distinctive terrain. The scenery boasts an impressive array of ortho textures surrounding the airport, derived from high-quality satellite imagery. A particularly appealing decal effect has been applied to these textures, significantly enhancing their appearance and bringing the rugged beauty of Alaska's wilderness to life. 
 


 
Ground Textures and Foliage
The runway textures are of outstanding quality, showcasing a rugged and worn appearance that aligns perfectly with expectations for an airport in such a remote setting. Physics-Based Rendering (PBR) technology enhances the textures of both the taxiways and runway, vividly bringing the airport environment to life. The ground textures are accurately marked for runways and taxiways. Notably, the careful addition of cracks and tire markings contributes significantly to the weathered appearance of the surfaces.
 



 
The vegetation surrounding the airport, with its mix of small bushes and grass near the runway, appears naturally random. This deliberate randomness enhances the feeling of a remote and untamed setting. Ground textures stand out for their quality, with edge markings and tar lines that unify the different concrete textures, adding to the scenery's realistic touch. The rough and uneven edges of the taxiways contribute to the scene's authenticity, reflecting the rugged and genuine atmosphere of the area.
 


 
Signage and Navigation Aids
The airport’s signage is both accurately placed and of high quality. Specifically, the signage at runway hold points, which display aircraft radio frequencies, are notably sharp and clear. The accuracy extends to taxiway signs and runway distance markers, which are not only placed with precision, but are again both sharp and easy to read. This attention to detail ensures that navigating around the airport feels both realistic and intuitive.
 


 
Main Airport Buildings
The airport buildings have been recreated to a very high standard, featuring detailed 3D modelling and high-quality textures. Each building is unique, and after comparing them with real-life images of the airport on Google, it's clear that the models are true to life. The Alaska Airlines terminal building receives special attention, with its representation being particularly accurate and convincing.
 



 
The main terminal is the only building with a modelled interior, and one which has been recreated with an excellent level of detail. From security signage to wall-mounted electrical sockets, the effort to recreate a realistic interior is evident. The inside is adorned with Alaska Airlines branding, enhancing the immersive experience. Details such as 3D people, welcome stickers, medical and security notices, and even televised images contribute to a bustling and authentic atmosphere. This careful attention to both exterior and interior details promises a convincing and immersive representation of the main airport building.
 



 
Ground Clutter
The ground clutter around the airport is nicely detailed, with a variety of high-quality, random objects, all strategically placed to enhance the authenticity of the airport. Items such as fire extinguishers, pallets, cones, and fuel pumps are thoughtfully added, each contributing to the realism of an active airport setting.  
 


 
Surrounding Area
The town of Petersburg, surrounding the airport, has been recreated with careful attention to detail, depicting a highly authentic setting. Notably, the town features numerous dockyards and piers, significantly elevating the area's visual appeal. A tanker moored at the piers, numerous private small boats, and several De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver seaplanes on floats bring the waterfront to life, suggesting a bustling local marine activity.
 



 
Night Lighting
The custom night lighting at PAPG enhances the experience for night-time flyers with a convincingly modelled nocturnal scene. An innovative feature is the control of Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL), and taxiway illumination, which activate only when 122.500 MHz is tuned into Comm 1 on the aircraft. This mimics a real-world system where pilots can manage night lighting, adding an extra layer of realism to the scenery.  However, this feature introduces a significant issue. Activating the lights at this airport causes an unintended consequence where the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights at all other airports, whether default or addon, fail to illuminate unless 122.500 MHz is selected on Comm 1. This oversight is notable, and hopefully, it's something the developers will address in a future update.
 


 
Performance
Throughout my testing, I found the scenery's performance to be exceptional, characterised by a seamless experience with no noticeable drop in frames per second (FPS), or stuttering. The airport's relatively small size and its secluded location no doubt contribute to its excellent performance. Although Virtual RAM (VRAM) usage is marginally higher, this is a natural outcome of the scenery's enhanced details and higher quality textures over the default settings, and it is a small price to pay for the significant visual improvements offered. 
 

 
Conclusion
Northern Sky Studio's rendition of PAPG Airport in Petersburg, Alaska, carefully combines authenticity with functionality, whilst targeting a diverse audience of X-Plane users. The scenery's highlights include its strategic location in the stunning Alaskan wilderness, high-quality ortho imagery, custom mesh with the optional ortho tile, carefully modelled ground textures, and bespoke buildings that resonate with the essence of the area. This detailed representation allows for an expansive exploration experience, accommodating everything from general aviation to larger aircraft like the Boeing 737, enabling pilots to embark on adventures through the nearby mountains and iconic sites such as the LeConte Glacier and Misty Fjords. Despite an issue with the custom night lighting feature, the scenery maintains an immersive and seamless experience. 
 
So, if you're seeking a launchpad to explore Alaska's expansive wilderness, Northern Sky Studio's PAPG airport stands out as an immersive base. It serves as an ideal gateway for X-Plane users keen on uncovering the rugged beauty of the Last Frontier.
 
________________________
 

 
Petersburg James A Johnson Airport by Northern Sky Studio is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:
 
Petersburg James A Johnson Airport
Priced at $12.00
 
Features
The most detailed replica of airport buildings and vehicles EDGE, REIL and Taxiway lights can be enabled on 122.500 COM1 Custom hand-placed autogen High resolution ground textures / Custom runway textures High resolution building textures Compatible with all X-Plane 12 features Custom mesh for the airport area (Ortho4XP) All materials created for full PBR Shading and occlusion (texture baking) effects on all airport buildings High-resolution building textures Custom orthophoto for the airport and surrounding areas World Traffic 3 compatible Requirements
X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 (both versions included)
Windows, Mac, or Linux
8 GB+ VRAM Recommended
Download Size: 2 GB
Current version: 1.0 (Feb 15th, 2024)
__________________________________
 
Scenery Review by DrishalMAC2
26th March 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).
 

Scenery Review: X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida by Skytitude
 
By Felicity Smith
 
Introduction
As a young girl, I remember rushing home after school to immerse myself in the adventures of Mark, his dad, and Gentle Ben, gliding effortlessly on their airboat through the Everglades in the television series 'Gentle Ben.' Those reruns transported me to a world filled with simplicity and joy, a feeling I’ve cherished into adulthood. So, when Everglades Airpark popped up on the Org store, and hubby suggested I take a look, I thought, why not!

Everglades Airpark, located a mile southwest of Everglades City in Collier County, Florida, is more than just a hub for aviation activities; it's a portal to the expansive 10,000 islands that dot the region. Yes, an astounding 10,000! This strategic position offers virtual pilots a scenic base that perfectly captures the essence and beauty of the Everglades. 
 

 
Installation and Documentation
Users are provided with two zip files, one tailored for X-Plane 12 and the other for X-Plane 11, to ensure compatibility regardless of the version they are using. The files are compact, with the download size being just over 160MB and expanding slightly to around 170MB once extracted. The installation process involves simply transferring the two folders into your Custom Scenery folder, making it as straightforward as preparing for takeoff. Documentation comes in the form of a modest text document. It's simple yet effective, providing all the essential information needed for installation. 

First Impressions
My first flight over Everglades Airpark in X-Plane was truly eye-opening. For those who haven't had the opportunity to visit this part of the world, the expansive view of countless islands and mangroves is striking. The scenery offers depth with its myriad of islands and islets, presenting a rich tapestry for exploration. While it's uncertain if every single island has been individually modeled, the contrast to X-Plane's more generic landscapes is notable. The enhancements made to the bathymetry data through the edited mesh significantly smooth out the dips and rises in water surfaces that X-Plane sometimes exhibits. This adjustment leads to a more realistic experience, especially noticeable when flying at low altitudes, by mitigating the visual disruptions caused by these inconsistencies
 
As you fly over the airpark, the detailing becomes even more apparent. A custom photographic overlay enhances the realism of the airport and its surroundings, making aspects such as the runway and the nearby Chokoloskee Bay appear more lifelike. Furthermore, the overlay extends over the water, effectively using different shades of blue to indicate variations in water depth.
 



 
Everglades Airpark
Approaching Everglades Airpark reveals that its charm lies in the subtle details rather than grandiosity. The developer has achieved a near perfect balance with the custom foliage, including shrubs, trees, and 3D grass, which are distributed in a way that creates a scene that is neither barren nor overcrowded. Combined with X-Plane's ambient nature sounds, the setting attains an immersive quality that is both pleasing and authentic.
 



 
The runway itself features textures that realistically reflect wear and tear. The addition of what appears to be windblown sand across areas of the runway further enhances its visual fidelity and acknowledges the airpark's proximity to the coastline. Runway markings, as you would expect, are minimal, displaying only the essential numbers and the airport’s frequency, which underscores the airpark's practical, no-frills ethos.
 


 
In terms of structures, the airpark reflects its real-world counterpart’s modesty with just a few buildings. The main hangar, serving as a shelter for small single-engine GA aircraft, and the main ticket office, which modestly functions beyond what might typically be called a terminal, are notable for their modelling. The inclusion of 3D figures around the ticket office adds a touch of life to the scenery, a detail that enhances realism. A parking area, a small water tower, and various pieces of airport clutter fill out the scene. While the airpark does not boast a wide range of structures, each element is thoughtfully placed, enriching the overall experience without overstimulating the senses.
 

 
Everglades City
Northward from the airpark, one encounters Everglades City, a charmingly small community that, despite its name, is home to fewer than four hundred residents. The city’s layout, with its orderly grid of streets, hosts a variety of residential and commercial structures. These are integrated into the scenery with a photographic overlay that, while not achieving razor-sharp clarity, marks a modest step up from the default textures provided by X-Plane. The waterfront, with its array of docks and jetties complemented by a selection of default boats, melds surprisingly well into the surroundings. 
 



 
Chokoloskee Island
Chokoloskee Island, situated further south and connected to the mainland by a three-mile-long causeway, adds a serene element to the scenery. Its numerous buildings and static caravans, integrated using a photographic overlay, had the potential to be a standout feature. Unfortunately, the use of low-resolution imagery here undermines this potential. Given the relatively small size of the download package, it seems there was an opportunity for the developers to incorporate higher resolution textures without a significant increase in file size. At a time when users are generally receptive to downloading larger files for enhanced realism, the decision to keep the file size modest may limit the visual fidelity of these areas. Upgrading to higher resolution textures could have notably improved the immersive quality of Chokoloskee Island, transforming it into a more engaging part of the Everglades Airpark experience. The present resolution, particularly at lower altitudes, detracts from the scenery's potential to fully captivate virtual pilots with the natural beauty and detailed landscape that this unique region deserves.
 


 
Night Lighting
The night lighting at Everglades Airpark, though modest, captures the essence of what you'd expect from a small general aviation airport such as this. It's not so much about the dazzle but the fit, and in this case, the lighting strikes a pleasant balance. The gentle illumination of the main office building, coupled with the streetlights weaving through Everglades City, creates a serene and realistic nocturnal setting. It’s subtle, yet thoughtfully implemented, providing just enough light to navigate without overpowering the quiet beauty of the surrounding area.
 


 
Performance
Given that my computer is typically more engaged with games like “Hogwarts Legacy” and “Age of Empires” rather than the highly detailed and demanding environment of X-Plane 12, I approached this scenery with a measure of apprehension. To my pleasant surprise, the performance across Everglades Airpark was impressively smooth. The only moment I encountered a slight slowdown was when X-Plane 12’s default trees, especially animated ones in windy conditions, began to accumulate, leading to a minor drop in frame rates. However, for those who, like me, find the trees from X-Plane 11 more than satisfactory, switching back to these in the graphics menu is an option. Overall, the scenery performed excellently, free from stutter and maintaining a good performance level throughout. 
 


 
Conclusion
In reviewing Everglades Airpark, I've found an experience that captures the simplicity and authenticity of the real Everglades, albeit on a somewhat modest scale. The scenery shines in depicting the main airport and its immediate vicinity, with its upgraded mesh, realistically modelled main airport building, and a genuine sense of place that truly embodies the spirit of this distinctive location.

However, there is room for improvement, particularly the lower-resolution overlays in the urban settings near the airport. While these aspects don’t entirely detract from the overall enjoyment, they do present a clear avenue for enhancement that could elevate the scenery to more closely match the vividness and detail of its real-world inspiration.
 

 
Weighing the scenery’s modest intentions against its successes, it stands out as a rewarding exploration for those captivated by the charm of the Everglades. With an accessible price point, it offers a compelling option for virtual pilots in search of new adventures, set within a context that doesn't aim for overwhelming grandeur but rather a heartfelt tribute to a beloved region.
 
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X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:
 
Everglades Airpark
Priced at $12.95
 
Features
Complete and accurate representation of Everglades Airpark Highly Detailed areas of Everglades City, Chokoloskee Island and ten thousand Islands for greater VFR Custom Materials and Surfaces with Physical-Based Rendering Effect (PBR) Wet Surfaces Using New X-Plane 12 Weather Technology Spectacular Buildings and Objects with Realistic Night Lighting High Density Hand-Placed Forests and Plants Custom 3D Grass Using New X-Plane 12 Vegetation Technology Accurately Built Large Surrounding Area with Thousands of Hand-Placed Objects Edited mesh for +25-082 tile, a lot of bathymetry data problems fixed Requirements
X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11
Windows, Mac, or Linux
Download Size: 163 MB
Current version: XP 12 1.0 (Jan 24th, 2024)
 
Review System Specifications
AMD R5 2600 – 16GB RAM - Nvidia RTX 2060 – Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
 
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Scenery Review by Felicity Smith
15th March 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).
 
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NEWS! - Scenery Upgraded : KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12 by Skytitude
 

 
Tucked north in the east of the Gulf of Mexico in the American state of Florida is Tallahassee. The capital of the state, and it is the largest city in the Florida Big Bend and Florida Panhandle region. Tallahassee is also a college town with student population exceeding 70,000, home to Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College, a large state college that serves mainly as a feeder school to Florida State and Florida A&M.
 
Tallahassee International Airport is a city-owned airport five miles southwest of downtown Tallahassee, in Leon County, Florida, United States. It serves the state capital of Florida, and its surrounding areas; it is one of the major airports in north Florida, the others being Pensacola, Northwest Florida Beaches, and Jacksonville. Despite its name, it does not service any international destinations.
 
Rim&Co did a weird X-Plane 11 version of KTLH Tallahassee, but they got into trouble for stealing other peoples objects. Another version of KTLH was from Skytitude for X-Plane 11, and this is the re-released X-Plane 12 version. Owners of KTLH XP11 can also purchase this new XP12 version for 25% off, and Skytitude importantly note that this NEW scenery for X-Plane 12 was completely renovated and does not contain anything from older version.
  Features: ❯ Complete and Accurate representation of Tallahassee Airport ❯ Custom Materials and Surfaces with Physical-Based Rendering Effect (PBR) ❯ Spectacular Buildings and Objects with Realistic Night Lighting ❯ Tons of High Density Hand-Placed Forests and Plants ❯ Wet Surfaces Using New X-Plane 12 Weather Technology ❯ Custom 3D Grass Using New X-Plane 12 Vegetation Technology ❯ Moveable Jetways Using New X-Plane 12 Technology ❯ AI Traffic Routes for Airliners are implemented ❯ Accurately Built Large Surrounding Area with Thousands of Hand-Placed Objects ❯ All Surrounding Area Lakes have Realistic Water Masks ❯ Huge Solar Power Farms are Implemented in Outstanding Quality Without Performance Impact ❯ Water Treatment Facility on Runway 27 Final Approach Area ❯ Well Optimized, Awesome Performance even on Low-End or High-Loaded Machines ❯ Highest Precision of Surface Markings, Lights, Signs and other Ground Elements ❯ Markings and Signs are strictly complains FAA rules 150/5340-1M and 150/5340-18G as real one's  

 
Images are courtesy of Skytitude
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Yes!  KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12 by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :
 
KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12
Price is US$19.95
 
Requirements
X-Plane 12 (not for XP11)
Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 703 MB Current version : 1.0   Owners of KTLH XP11 can purchase this new XP12 version for 25% off, please find the coupon code in the original KTLH Invoice. ___________________________  
News by Stephen Dutton
30th March 2024
Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews
 
(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved