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Scenery Review: KLDJ - Linden Airport, New Jersey by Skytitude
Scenery Review: KLDJ - Linden Airport, New Jersey by Skytitude By Dennis Powell Introduction If you looked up the term “cute little airport” in any dictionary, you might just find the subject of this review. Welcome to the Garden State of New Jersey and Linden Airport. Situated just south of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and surrounded by urban sprawl, Linden Airport is a tiny GA field hemmed in by the city on three sides and a rail yard to the south. Its claim to fame is that it's only five minutes from New York City by helicopter. If you’re looking for a smaller GA airport from which to explore New York City and its surroundings, this is it. You won’t be intimidated by large airliners forcing you to wait in line for takeoff. The airport offers a single runway, running east to west, and a spacious ramp with plenty of ramp start points to choose from. As advertised, it’s only five minutes from here to New York City, or even less if your destination is Staten Island. Installation Process Installation couldn’t be simpler. Just open the zipped file, then copy and paste it into your Custom Scenery folder. In my case, I just drag it to the Custom Scenery folder that’s pinned to my sidebar when I download files. It’s that easy. There’s no product code, licence code, or activation process involved. Documentation Documentation for this file is limited to a single readme file in Notepad format that explains the installation process. There are no charts or navigation documents included for this airport. High Altitude Overview Flying over the airport, it’s almost easy to miss. It’s very small and is surrounded by a mall on one side and a rail yard on the other. The single runway runs east to west and has a full-length taxiway just south of it. There’s a large ramp in front of the hangars, and another even larger ramp behind that. The most noticeable feature from above is the strip mall to the north, with its huge parking lot that’s almost bigger than the airport itself. At one time in its history, Linden Airport had two runways, but the north-south runway was demolished to make room for the strip mall. Parts of the old taxiway leading to that former runway are still visible from the air. Runway and Taxiways The runway is wide at 100 feet, but not very long at just 4,140 feet, so don’t expect to get a Boeing 747 in or out of here. The runway surface is in good condition, though the markings are realistically faded and worn. It’s well-lit along the sides, but there are no centreline lights. There are two taxiway connections at midfield and another at each end of the runway. They’re well marked and match the runway in terms of faded paint, but overall, they’re in good condition. The main taxiway runs parallel to the runway and connects to the large ramp. Ground Textures and Foliage For ground textures, the author used ortho photos, but unlike some airports I’ve reviewed, it looks like they took the time to eliminate time-sensitive shadows and things like cars on roads, aircraft on ramps, and other 2D objects from the ortho. I wasn’t able to open this airport in World Editor, so I can’t confirm whether ortho photos were used for the runway, taxiways, and ramp, but I suspect they were, with transparent textures added. I say that because I never saw any AI aircraft spawning on the ramp or using the airport at all. As for the foliage, it seems to blend well with the surrounding autogen, and I couldn’t see any time-sensitive shadowing under the trees. The trees are 3D and move with the wind. Signage and Navigation Aids When it comes to signage, there are custom airport signs at the edge of the field that match what I saw on Google Earth Street View, along with numerous taxi signs on the field itself. They all appear to be correct and easy to read. As for navigation aids, there’s only the airport beacon guiding you to the field. No other nav aids are present at this airport, so you have to find it the hard way. Main Airport Buildings The airport terminal looks like a large hangar, with another hangar right next to it. Behind those are four more hangars, including the nesting T-type hangars, and they all match up well with pictures found on the web. The next most prominent structure is the strip mall next to the airport. It features a few stores, including two each of a Home Depot and a JCPenney, as well as Marshalls and Sears. In reality, there are quite a few different stores in this area, including an AMC movie theatre, but that’s missing here. What I haven’t been able to figure out is where these store models come from. They’re not default, and they’re not in the airport’s objects folder either. The strip mall doesn’t appear in the default version of the airport, so it must be in this file somewhere, I just haven’t been able to find it. Ground Clutter and 3D People There’s not much in the way of airport clutter here, and no people. It feels like the airport is deserted. There aren’t even any parked aircraft on the ramp. A fire truck is parked next to one of the main hangars, and aside from some traffic cones, there’s not a lot else. One detail I did notice is the 3D rings on the tie-down points in the parking area. Each of the T markings has prominent 3D hard points that stick up from the ground. They were too far apart for my Cessna 172 from Airfoil Labs to tie down to, but they are there. Surrounding Area Here’s where the first real mystery comes in. The author has added the nearby strip mall, which now covers what used to be part of the airport, but I can’t figure out how they did it. There’s nothing in the objects file, and it’s not part of the default library, so I’ve no idea how the strip mall ended up in the scenery. As for the rest of the surroundings, autogen fills things in pretty well, and the area looks as built up as you’d expect for this part of New Jersey. The airport is surrounded by urban clutter, mostly provided by Laminar’s autogen, and it fits the scene perfectly. I really felt like I was flying over Linden, New Jersey. Night Lighting This is another area where the scenery really stands out. It’s been said that most airports should look like a black hole when surrounded by a city, and this one pulls that off very well. It’s a little black spot surrounded by city streetlights, parking lot lights, and a huge airport just to the north. The only things that give it away are the airport beacon and the runway and taxiway lights. There’s minimal ramp lighting and only a few lights on the main hangars. It really does feel like a black hole in the middle of a city. Another nice touch is how the author used ortho photos to precisely place the runway and taxiway lights, so they’re exactly where they appear at the real airport. Performance Impact This is one of the most built-up areas in X-Plane, being this close to New York City, and the performance reflects that. For most of my flights, I was averaging between 23 and 38 frames per second. Now, I’ve got a pretty solid computer with plenty of memory, but if you’re on a lower-end machine with just the minimum specs to run X-Plane, New York and upper New Jersey are going to push it. I’m running 32 GB of RAM and a graphics card with 12 GB of video RAM, and even then, I wasn’t seeing anything above 38 FPS, so judge accordingly based on your setup. Conclusion If you’re looking for an airport to start exploring the New York City area, there’s none better. You’ve got the airport to yourself, so there’s no waiting to take off. It’s super close to a lot of scenery objects, especially in NYC. It’s not a huge airport, so it’s not one for people who like to fly airliners, but for light GA and helicopters, it’s ideal. And for the price, you really can’t beat it. It’s probably the most accurate version of this airport available, and I even checked the default version to be sure. I’ll give it five stars, and would give it more if I could have opened it in WED to see how they did what they did. ______________________________________ KLDJ - Linden Airport, New Jersey by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.org Store here: KLDJ - Linden Airport Priced at $12.95 Features Highly Detailed & Realistic Representation – A precise recreation of Linden Airport Expansive Industrial & Commercial Areas – Perfect for immersive VFR flights Advanced PBR Textures & Materials – Realistic surfaces with physical-based rendering Dynamic Weather Effects – Wet surfaces powered by X-Plane 12's latest technology True-to-Life Buildings & Night Lighting – Stunning visuals at any time of day Ultra-High Resolution Object Textures – Enhanced realism with X-Plane 12 detail maps Dense, Hand-Placed Vegetation & Forests – Lush surroundings for added immersion Custom 3D Grass & Foliage – Using X-Plane 12's cutting-edge vegetation technology Extensive Surrounding Area – Thousands of hand-placed objects for maximum authenticity Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 500 MB Current version : 1.0 - March 13th 2025 Review System Specifications AMD Ryzen 5 7600X – 32GB RAM - Nvidia RTX 2060 12GB – Windows 11 __________________________________ Scenery Review by Dennis Powell 25th April 2025 Copyright©2025: 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 Released : KLDJ - Linden Airport, New Jersey by Skytitude
NEWS! - Scenery Released : KLDJ - Linden Airport, New Jersey by Skytitude Except for KMTP-Montauk Airport, most Skytitude sceneries are based in Florida, so here is another exemption in this time a sweet little airport in New Jersey, USA. Linden Airport is a mile southeast of downtown Linden, in Union County, New Jersey. Also known as Linden Municipal Airport, it is next to U.S. Route 1&9, and it offers a prime location within the NYC metro area—just 3 miles from Newark International Airport. During World War II General Motors automobile factory across the street from the airport called Linden Assembly, that produced military aircraft. Construction of Linden Airport was started in the spring of 1942 and completed by October 1942. During the war Eastern Aircraft produced about 3,600 FM-1 and FM-2 Wildcats. After the war Linden Airport was turned over to the city of Linden which still owns and operates the airport under contract. The original airport with its intersecting runways and large hangar remained intact until 1998 when the City of Linden, needing more tax-ratable property decided to divide up the underutilized airport to create a shopping center called Aviation Plaza on the north side of the field. A new airport was built on the south side complete with new taxiways, hangars and parking areas. The only remaining part of the original airport is the west to east (9-27) runway. The airport is the only non-towered (no control tower) airport in the New York City metro area. Its close proximity to New York City and relatively light air traffic makes it an ideal location for basing news helicopters for New York's news channels. The airport is home to many sightseeing and commuter helicopters that fill the skies over New York. ✈ Highly Detailed & Realistic Representation – A precise recreation of Linden Airport 🏭 Expansive Industrial & Commercial Areas – Perfect for immersive VFR flights 🌎 Advanced PBR Textures & Materials – Realistic surfaces with physical-based rendering 🌧 Dynamic Weather Effects – Wet surfaces powered by X-Plane 12's latest technology 🌆 True-to-Life Buildings & Night Lighting – Stunning visuals at any time of day 🔍 Ultra-High Resolution Object Textures – Enhanced realism with X-Plane 12 detail maps 🌲 Dense, Hand-Placed Vegetation & Forests – Lush surroundings for added immersion 🌿 Custom 3D Grass & Foliage – Using X-Plane 12's cutting-edge vegetation technology 🏗 Extensive Surrounding Area – Thousands of hand-placed objects for maximum authenticity Images are courtesy of Skytitude Note this is a X-Plane 12 scenery only ___________ The KLDJ - Linden Airport New Jersey by Skytitude is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store KLDJ - Linden Airport New Jersey Your Price: US$12.95 Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 500 MB Current version : 1.0 - March 13th 2025 ___________________________ NEWS! by Stephen Dutton' 15th March 2025 Copyright©2025: 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
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Scenery Review : KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport by Skytitude
Scenery Review : KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport by Skytitude This particular Southwest Florida airport has been a big part of my reviewing life. Early years reviewing were based around KLAL-Lakeland, a great airport with wide runways to experiment with the different types of aircraft you journey through. For a test flight, then KRSW was only and perfectly 100 nm away to the south of Lakeland, far enough to get the feel and flow of the aircraft, but not too far away in wasting flying time, plus KRSW was a very nice medium sized, it's a sort of regional hub airport, but can also cater for bigger aircraft if required. In time most of my reviewing moved to KRSW completely away from Lakeland, the main reason was it was more perfect for reviewing not only for General Aviation aircraft, but Private jets and the standard single aisle airliner. Circuits are excellent here, if you go counter-clockwise to the airport. As most arrival circuits are to the south to Rwy 06, so you can keep clear of the heavy traffic, but still have a dynamic background of a working busy airport, it has nice visual elements as well with the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Naples-Marco Island, and Punta Gorda metropolitan areas... in other words KRSW is perfect. The original reviewing Southwest Florida International Airport scenery was Aerosoft's, with the original release in November 2015, with an update in February 2016. It was for the time a sensational scenery, obviously because why I used it so much, but that is now eight years ago, and time and quality has moved on. And over the last few years without attention, the Aerosoft's KRSW has been feeling a tired, oldish... it still stands up, but here is Skytitudes release of KRSW, and it in many ways created a dilemma, stick with the trusted and known, or upgrade the scenery to the newer version? That is what this review is setting out to achieve. Skytitude is quite prolific and focuses totally on US Florida State scenery, his recent releases are Jacksonville (KJAX) and Tallahassee (KTLH), and both got very high marks for the detail and quality at a value price, so Southwest Florida fits in quite nicely in to that same context. As airports go RSW is not an old airport as it was only conceived in 1973, when it was clear that the existing airport in Page Field would be too small (They were certainly right there). So the government of Lee County selected a site near Interstate 75, which was then under construction. The airport's groundbreaking was done in 1980, and Southwest Florida Regional Airport was opened on schedule, May 14, 1983, with a single 8400-ft runway. Delta Air Lines operated the first flight. The original terminal was located on the north side of the runway at the end of Chamberlin Parkway. The airport was renamed Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993, though it had hosted international flights since 1984 and U.S. Customs since 1987, mainly for flights to and from Germany. The name change coincided with the completion of a 55,000 square foot Federal Inspection facility annexed to the original terminal's Concourse A. The single runway was also lengthened to 12,000 ft (3,658 m) at the same time to better accommodate international service (making it the fourth-longest runway in Florida). The airport has hosted Boeing 747s (including Air Force One), but as of 2009 the largest aircraft scheduled to RSW are the Airbus A330-200s on Air Berlin's now discontinued non-stop flights to Düsseldorf and seasonally the airport attracts a lot of charter and winter visitors chasing the sunshine. Southwest Florida International Airport IATA: RSW - ICAO: KRSW - FAA LID: RSW 06/24 - 12,000 ft (3,658m) Asphalt Elevation AMSL30 ft / 9 m First impressions of the Skytitude Southwest Florida scenery, was it didn't seem that different from the Aerosoft version, same visual look and feel... good for that, but there are a lot changes here at RSW, as we shall see. First is the aspect change from X-Plane 11 to 12, but there is more to it than that. As the high resolution ground textures are much more detailed and have a far more realistic (even modern) texture about them, they look excellent. Areas now look more filled in, certainly the landside detailing, as it makes the Aerosoft look quite barren compared, but to note you need your "Rendering Distance" set at Maximum, as Skytitude does not do a heavy POV distance to save framerate, but you can easily see the 10 year gap in advancement in scenery detail between the two KRSWs. Landside is excellent in fill and with the well crowded Car-Rental zones and large carparks. Rather that just being a model, the short-term carpark here is far better defined, with an entrance way and the excellent fauna and tropical trees filling and surrounding the area, it looks finished here and all the better for it. KRSW has only one large terminal with three concourses D, C and B. There are no A area gates (used earlier in the older demolished terminal). The same concourse design is done thought-out the terminal complex. And the detail is top-notch here, with the right weathered concrete textures and very good window/glass look and feel, all very well done and very XP12 in quality, and the small detail of stairs, antennas and Air-Con units also show a great attention to detail All three concourses are excellent, and the ground clutter is well done, no branding, but still quality airport vehicles, service equipment and a lot of ramp container trolleys. Skytitude uses the built in default "Ground Handling" system, which is now the better airbridge system, easy to use, it works very well here. In every area then the Skytitude RSW is far better than the original Aerosoft version... and yet, there is something missing? That missing aspect is the animations of vehicles, that swirled fast around the Aerosoft RSW. So the Skytitude scenery is not as dynamic as the Aerosoft one, and you do really miss them (or avoid them) and you also feel that static difference? RSW's terminal is buried between the concourses and the short-term carpark, but the external detail on show is very good, there are no interior details for either the terminal or the concourses. Car rental area is excellent, with a lot of fine detail and loads of 3d cars. The exposed carparks are also really well done with high quality 3d X-Plane 12 trees and fauna that are well placed and look very authentically tropical Florida, highlight here is the RV park, a nice detail... ... but visually missing on all the entrance roads are the road and airport signage, there is a huge amount of signage here at RSW as shown below, but all the signage is missing in the Skytitude scenery? It's a small detail, but an important missing one. Biggest change between the two RSW sceneries is the latest addition of a new state-of-the-art facility control tower and FIA Administration. The facility replaces the older tower, and is part of a broader expansion project at the airport, the tower became operational in January 2022. Sensationally detailed, the tower and surrounds shows great attention to detail, no internal detail, and the (T) X-Plane Tower view is on the floor near Concourse B. But this area shows that Skytitude is becoming a premier developer in detail. The Lee County Station 92, serves as the RSW Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility, which is placed next to the Control Tower. It was in a basic form included in the Aerosoft version, but here it is fully realised and detailed, including a Basketball hoop to while away your waiting time. Also added in this area to the north is a communications site with well done and detailed multiple cell and microwave towers. This newly filled in area gives you a very nice filled in visual area on departure or arrival. Other new details include the construction of the Swissaport Facility, FedEx dropoff depot, Long-Term carpark entrance, and the construction site of the new Concourse E on the west side of the Terminal complex. All these items add in to the fill of the airport environs. The north side is a very familiar area... ... northwest is a small Cargo facility, with UPS and FedEx sharing the space. There are two small 1-2 parking stands and four larger 3-6 parking stands. Detailing and clutter is excellent, with all the cargo and vehicles branded and detailed. It's perfect for regional (Cessna Caravan) or freighter cargo services... an area to use. There is no name on the central ramp, but used you could say it is the "PrivateSky Aviation Services" ramp. This area is my main reviewing platform, it is a perfect place to do this with the movement action going on in the background, and the ease to runway access. The area is very nicely upgraded from the Aerosoft version. The PrivateSky logos and text is now not so lo-res, the ramps feel more full with with the few static aircraft as well, and the FBO building modeling and surrounding detail is all quite a few steps above the earlier layout. I am going to enjoy it on here... To the east there is a Delta United Cargo receiving facility, and a large Jet Aircraft Maintenance Inc (Jet Group) hangar, which is really nicely weather worn detailed. Central to the north of the field is the now decommissioned old control tower, taller than the newer version, it is well sited for runway approaches. Oddly this tower's internal area is well detailed? Staff and spare carparking is set out behind the old tower complex, again well detailed and defined. The "North Ramp" was in the Aerosoft RSW, but you barely ever took notice of it. Here in the Skytitude version the ramps are far better detailed, as is the placement of seven UPS stored aircraft. So it brings the area alive and in so making it also usable, of which it wasn't in the past. The Airport's Fuel Depot is situated further east by the threshold of runway 24. There are two areas off the airfield that have custom infrastructure. To the west is Global Parkway, an industrial site, but the very distinctive Holiday Inn Express hotel sited here on the o6 Approach is missing? and the Entertainment Manufacturing Group (EMG) facility, a leading manufacturer specializing in custom metal and cabling products for the entertainment industry is also reproduced here. Textures Skytitude seems to be experimenting with ideas when it comes to surfaces and textures. RSW has a lot of varied and different runway and taxiway surfaces, and that has required a specialized approach in replicating them. The results are quite spectacular, as the surfaces here are all excellent across the myriad of different surfaces, including asphalt and concrete variations with stone, cracks and grooves were required. Grunge, dirt, wear is also perfect as are all the markings and signage. X-Plane 12 dynamics are of course developed into the textures. PBR reflections and normal maps are dynamic with burnt-in ambient occlusion which are all active... I don't really expect Chicago whiteout conditions this far down in Florida, but I do expect tropical thunder storms effects to be really good. Jacksonville had a strange rolling grass, which didn't quite work, here experimentation has created a better grass solution, no rolls, nice grass, and areas where the thinning grass comes through creating a patchwork of lawned or differential terrain... it is all very good. Using the X-Plane 12 translucency, Skytitude has used it to create a lot of integrated water areas and drainage canals, again really well done and very visual around the airport field. Lighting Runway 06/24 is lit to the current ICAO standard, and 06 approach has a ILS (111.50 IRSW) and RAIL guidance lighting. Terminal and Landside areas are two-tone, with the brighter white on the ramps... there is a huge amount of downlighting very effectively used here to create light in normal dark spaces like with the terminal, glass night lighting is also well done... A darker orange tone is used on the Landside. The Arrival terminal area could be more brighter, it feels dark for a busy area? The carpark lighting is very comprehensive and well lit. The hero again is the new control tower, very candy pop, but effective. Fire Station complex is also well detailed in building and surround lighting. The "Private Sky" ramp is well signed, but the ramp itself is dark, again the drop-down lighting is well used. Cargo is brightly, nicely lit, you can easily do night work and the flying from down here. Field navigation signage is perfectly realised and nicely lit, but the signs come with no ground reflections. I couldn't resist a circuit flight to see the scenery from the air... I like it, I like this Skytitude RSW a lot. ___________________ Summary Aerosoft released a Southwest Florida International Airport scenery in November 2015, with an update in February 2016. It became a reviewing stablemate for me and for X-PlaneReviews, because of its position and in being quality scenery. But that last update is now over 8 years ago, and so here is another KRSW Southwest Florida released from Skytitude for X-Plane 12. It would take a lot for me to replace the original Southwest Florida scenery, but admittedly it is showing it's age. Thankfully this Skytitude version is overwhelmingly good. Skytitude has had an upward quality and detailing journey this year with already Jacksonville (KJAX) and Tallahassee (KTLH) in both being excellent. Modeling and building textures at RSW are excellent, but the overwhelming detail here is just that in fill detail, and it is done everywhere. Certainly in the tropical trees, fauna and grass in using X-Plane 12 native tools, but here expertly arranged to create a really realistic environment. New Control Tower is the highlight, well detailed in the day, candy coloured at night, it springs life into the scenery, and all new developments or current developments are all included as is the excellent Fire Station and communications area. Great wildly varied textures are excellent, and the edited DSF tile has a 25 Sq Miles of hand-inserted detailed area, with intergrated water and the drainage canals also use the dynamic X-Plane water and dynamic grass and are all first rate. All textures are PBR with burnt-in ambient occlusion are also all active. The scenery uses the X-Plane 12 "Ground Handling" system for the animated airbridges, and easy to use. Lighting is also really good and heavily down lighting detailed. Notable though is the missing animated ground traffic that is in the Aerosoft version, making the ramp areas feel a little static in comparison, also missing is the entrance road and parking signage, unfortunately it is highly noticeable, and the Holiday Inn Express hotel is also missing on the 06 Approach... all minor stuff, but doesn't takeaway the overall quality of the scenery presented here. It has been an upward journey for Skytitude. But this Southwest Florida International Airport scenery is levels above his other releases, it shows a maturity, but more so an attention to detail that delivers a professional quality scenery, it is also very good with all the latest X-Plane 12 effects and details... more so, for me it delivers a new palette to deliver excellent reviews. It is to the credit of the developer that they now have moved now into that upper echelon of pre-eminence of quality scenery at a value price... Highly Recommended! __________________________ The KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport by Skytitude is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport Priced at US$19.95 Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 1.1 GB Current version : 1.0 - September 26th 2024 Installation Installation of KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport is done via a download of 1.07 Gb... There are three folders to install skytitude-krsw-swflorida-xp-airport skytitude-krsw-swflorida-xp-terrain skytitude-krsw-swflorida-xp-beaches With a total installation size of 1.41Gb. Documents There is a single installation manual provided by Skytitude, it documents how to, or not to use Ortho4XP textures. ____________________________ 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 12.1.2 Plugins: Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft - none- ____________________________ Scenery Review by Stephen Dutton 1st October 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
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Scenery Review : KTLH - Tallahassee International Airport XP12 by Skytitude
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
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Scenery Review: X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida by Skytitude
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. ________________________ 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 __________________________________ 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
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 ________________________ 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
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NEWS! - Scenery Update to X-Plane 12 : X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida by Skytitude
NEWS! - Scenery Update to X-Plane 12 : X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida by Skytitude Everglades Airpark (FAA LID: X01) is a public-use airport located 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of the central business district of the city of Everglades City in Collier County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned. The airport has one asphalt runway 15/33 with 732 meters length. Apron includes 5 A-Size general ramps and 2 stands on grass pavement. There are two different versions here. The X-Plane 12 X01 Everglades Park is a total revamp to X-Plane 12 features, including effects and PBR textures with burnt-in ambient occlusion, also with Spectacular Buildings and Objects and Realistic Night Lighting. The X-Plane 11 version is the standard original release. Both however are part of the package. Features: ❯ Complete and accurate representation of Everglades Airpark ❯ Highly Detailed areas of Everglades City, Chokoloskee Island and 10000 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 Images are courtesy of Skytitude ________________________ Yes! X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : X01 - Everglades Airpark, Florida Price is US$12.95 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) ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 29th January 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
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NEWS! - Scenery Released : KGNV - Gainesville Regional Airport, Florida by Skytitude
NEWS! - Scenery Released : KGNV - Gainesville Regional Airport, Florida by Skytitude Skytitude is back after the excellent Montauk Airport, with this time it is a regional airport in Florida... KGNV - Gainesville is located in Gainesville, Florida, just minutes away from the University of Florida, GNV provides a close, convenient and competitively priced “gateway” into the Heart of Florida. The airport normally operates 16 daily hub and spoke departures on American Airlines and Delta with nonstop services to the international hubs of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas Fort Worth and Miami, providing access to 343 destinations around the world in one stop. In July 2021 Gainesville Airport has open new Terminal Expansion to increase airport capacity and expand flight network. And the expansion is well noted in this first release for the X-Plane 12 Simulator. Features: ❯ Complete and accurate representation of Gainesville Regional Airport ❯ Actual Layout Data Including Recently Apron Expansion ❯ Highly Detailed Recently Build Terminal Expansion ❯ Custom Materials and Surfaces with Physical-Based Rendering Effect (PBR) ❯ Highly Detailed Large number of Spectacular Buildings and Objects ❯ Realistic Detailed Night Lighting ❯ High Density Hand-Placed Forests and Plants ❯ Custom 3D Grass Using New X-Plane 12 Vegetation Technology Note this scenery is X-Plane 12 only... Images are courtesy of Skytitude _____________________________________ Yes! KGNV - Gainesville Regional Airport, Florida by Skytitude is available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : KGNV - Gainesville Regional Airport, Florida Price is US$19.95 Requirements X-Plane 12 Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 453 MB Current version : 1.0 ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 4th January 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
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NEWS! - Scenery Updated : KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA v12 0.1 by Skytitude
NEWS! - Scenery Updated : KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA v12 0.1 by Skytitude Montauk Airport (IATA: MTP, ICAO: KMTP) is an general aviation airport located on East Lake Drive between Lake Montauk and Block Island Sound, and it is the easternmost airport in New York State, USA. The airport has one asphalt runway 06/24 with 989 meters length by 25 meters wide and one helipad located on the apron. This is the X-Plane 12 update v12 0.1 for Skytitude's Montauk. Released in June 2021 for X-Plane 11. The Montauk scenery has been completely converted to X-Plane 12 features. Note you have download either the original X-Plane 11 version, or the updated X-Plane 12, as they are separate scenery files. But both versions (11/12) are available for both Simulators in the package. Features Include: ❯ Completely Renovated Scenery for X-Plane 12 with Outstanding Detail Level ❯ Actual Layout Data ❯ Custom Materials and Surfaces with Physical-Based Rendering Effect (PBR) ❯ Highly Detailed Spectacular Buildings and Objects ❯ 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 Priced very reasonably at US$12.95 and now in X-Plane 12, KMTP - Montauk Airport is available from the X-Plane.OrgStore. Images are courtesy of Skytitude _____________________________________ Yes! KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA by Skytitude is available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA Price is US$12.95 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 263 MB Current version : 1.0 (September 15th 2023) ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 16th September 2023 Copyright©2023: 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
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Scenery Enhancement: X-Oil Rigs Vol 1, Vol 2, and X-OilShips Vol 1
Scenery Enhancement: X-Oil Rigs Vol 1, Vol 2, and X-OilShips Vol 1 By Stuart McGregor This review, while concise, provides an intriguing look into three related X-Plane add-ons: X-Oil Rigs Vol 1, Vol 2, and X-OilShips Vol 1. These add-ons, created by the Skytitude development team, can be conveniently located at the X-Plane.Org Store. Intended as supplementary or replacement packs for the default X-Plane oil rigs, these add-ons specifically appeal to helicopter enthusiasts. The Oil Ships add-on also presents an alternative to the default moving X-Plane aircraft carrier and frigate. For those, like me, who appreciate rotary-wing aircraft, these add-ons offer a significant enhancement to the often-sparse marine environment. Retailing for $16.90, they are compatible with both X-Plane 11 and 12, with this review focusing on their usage in the latter version. When it comes to downloading, the oil rigs offer a single option, while for the ships, both X-Plane 11 and 12 options are available, so choose simply according to your version of X-Plane. The downloaded content comprises files in a single folder along with a brief text file outlining installation instructions. The installation process is straightforward: simply drag and drop the content into your Custom Scenery folder. If you download both volumes of oil rigs, they are designed to work in tandem, enriching areas with multiple rigs. The oil ships, on the other hand, come with three livery options for the two vessels. Instructions for changing liveries are outlined in the included text file – it's as simple as moving a few files. Overall, it's a user-friendly process. The installation process doesn't warrant much more discussion; it's as simple and streamlined as can be. However, it is worth noting that if you opt for all three add-ons, the cumulative download size comes to slightly under 600MB, with individual files varying between 130 and 260 MB. My experience downloading and installing was smooth and hassle-free. The product images and descriptions available on the org store effectively highlight the top-notch, high-resolution PBR texturing and incredibly intricate object design. This includes a range of variants and splendid night lighting, aspects that I'll delve into further along in the review. But how do these details translate in actual usage? Well, if you're keen to dive in and explore the objects without investing too much effort in finding them during a flight, X-Plane makes it easy for you. Just navigate to the Flight Configuration menu, select Special Starts, and you can directly approach Carrier, Frigate, Small, and Large Oil platforms. This feature enables a quick and convenient inspection of these new objects. Alternatively, you could use the map to select one of the aforementioned approaches. If you're as eager as I was to test these additions, these shortcuts provide an efficient way to do so. The craftsmanship of all the models is commendable, and the texturing certainly captivated me. As someone who has designed similar objects in the past (The Handy Object Library), I'm reasonably well positioned to appreciate the quality on offer here, observable both during daylight and nighttime hours. The shadowing effects and the aged look of the textures during daylight convincingly simulate the essence of real-life versions. The meticulous application of high-resolution PBR texturing and detailed object design truly shines when cloaked by nightfall. These maritime titans, bathed in a warm glow, possess a certain allure as their prominent features emerge from the darkness. However, this isn't merely about aesthetic appeal; the lighting also fulfils a critical practical function. For those bold enough to embark on night flights, the strategically positioned lights mirror the actual challenges confronted by real-life maritime pilots. This results in a visually stunning spectacle that enhances the immersion and excitement of navigating the marine world in X-Plane. The oil rig add-ons come in four distinct structural variants, spanning from a compact mono-tower to larger FPS-type installations. Each variant is exquisitely modelled and textured, demonstrating a high level of attention to detail. On the seafaring end, the add-ons include a traditional oil tanker and an LNG carrier, and as touched on earlier, there's an option to customize the ship liveries, adding a layer of personalization to the experience. Admittedly, I encountered some difficulty locating the Volume 2 oil rig objects occasionally - a situation possibly influenced by my choice of flight paths. Nevertheless, after a fair bit of exploration, I was able to discover them. One minor point of potential improvement revolves around the lack of animation on these objects. On the default oil rigs, I believe the cranes are animated, yet, in a real-world landing scenario, the pilot and Helicopter Landing Officer would likely prefer cranes to be stationary with booms stowed. So, the current "default" setup might be a more realistic depiction of what happens in real life. This observation is indeed minor and does not compromise the overall flying enjoyment, however, attempting to land on these helidecks poses enough challenges without the addition of moving cranes. In my view, it would be a welcome addition to have a few 3D characters dispersed across the various objects. The structures are certainly large enough, and this would boost the realism of the scene, plus it's somewhat eerie to be "alone" at these locations, day or night, with no signs of life around. While not a major concern, it's something that could be considered for a future update. That being said, these objects certainly serve as a fantastic enhancement to both X-Plane 11 and 12, and as indicated in the product documentation, I noticed no discernible impact on my framerates, which was a pleasant surprise. This might just be the motivation I need to start upgrading some of my own similar objects! At night, particularly with the ships, the meticulous lighting on these structures truly comes to life, offering a vividly detailed and atmospheric view that dramatically elevates the overall experience. The sight is, quite literally, a shining example of the rich environment that these add-ons provide. Having thoroughly explored all three add-ons, I really appreciate the additional level of detail and enjoyment they provide, and I firmly believe that for helicopter enthusiasts, these sets present a valuable addition to the X-Plane world. Whether you possess one, two, or all three, I am convinced you won't face disappointment if you relish piloting helicopters in the maritime realm. They provide an excellent platform for refining your take-off and landing skills to your heart's content. There's a unique intensity that comes with hovering over the ocean from a mere 100ft that can truly sharpen one's focus, and as such, I tip my hat to real-life pilots who navigate these conditions daily, given the extremely limited room for manoeuvre. I'm simply relieved that X-Plane conveniently includes a reset button! __________________________________ X-OilShips Vol. 1 by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: X-OilShips Vol. 1 Price at time of writing US$16.90 X-OilRigs Vol 1 by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: X-OilRigs Vol 1 Price at time of writing US$16.90 X-OilRigs Vol 2 by Skytitude is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: X-OilRigs Vol 2 Price at time of writing US$16.90 X-OilShips Vol. 1 Features: High Quality Gas Tanker and Oil Tanker Vessels Objects 6 Different Livery Variations High Resolution Materials with PBR effects Realistic Night Lighting Highly Optimized for saving fps X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11 versions X-OilShips Vol. 1 Requirements: X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux Current version: 1.0 (March 30th, 2023) Download Size: 260 MB X-OilRigs Vol 1 Features: High Quality Offshore Oil Rigs 3D Model High Quality Offshore Oil Towers 3D Model Two Color Liveries for each type of platforms Excellent Physical Based Rendering Effect Gorgeous Night Lighting Highly Optimized X-OilRigs Vol 1 Requirements: X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux Current version: 1.10 (February 21st, 2023) Download Size: 207 MB X-OilRigs Vol 2 Features: X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux Current version: 1.10 (Feb 21st, 2023) Download Size: 130 MB X-OilRigs Vol 2 Requirements: Insane quality of Oil Platforms 3D Mesh Awesome 4k resolution textures with PBR effects Gorgeous Night Lighting Highly Optimized for saving FPS Compatible and can be used together with X-OilRigs Vol. 1 Originally made for X-Plane 12, working fine with X-Plane 11 Review System Specifications: Windows 10 64 Bit CPU Intel i9-9900k 64GB RAM Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti Oculus Rift S Scenery Review by Stuart McGregor 28th May 2023 Copyright©2023: 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 Released : KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA by Skytitude
News! - Scenery Released : KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA by Skytitude There has been a very strong pattern this year with scenery in X-Plane 2021. With most of the big players going off and developing only for MSFS, and then as X-Plane users won't pay for quality scenery (why when you can get the scenery for free, but that is not the point), then the trend by developers is for smaller cheaper localised destinations, at set around the US$10 to US$12 price. So here is another one of those localised sceneries in... Montauk Airport in Suffolk County, New York ... Set in the Hamptons, the area for A-Listers, Celebs and the well off to-do and mega money... you sort of get the picture. Montauk Airport is a general aviation airport located on East Lake Drive between Lake Montauk and Block Island Sound. It is the most eastern airport in the New York State. Features: Wonderful Representation of Montauk Airport 2021 Layout Data Custom Materials and Surfaces with Physical-Based Rendering Effect (PBR) Optional Experimental Wet Surfaces High quality vegetation Highly Detailed Buildings and Ground Surfaces 6500 Sq Meters of High Definition Surrounding Area Hand-placed Surrounding Area Objects Attention to Details Priced very reasonably under that US$10 marker, KMTP - Montauk Airport is now now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore. Images are courtesy of Skytitude _____________________________________ Yes! KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA by Skytitude is available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : KMTP - Montauk Airport, USA Price is US$9.90 Requirements X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux Download Size: 436 MB Current version : 1.0 ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 16th June 2021 Copyright©2021: 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