Manhattan X for FSX
There are 4 heliports
available:
KJRB – Downtown Manhattan at the Port Authority. This one in my
opinion has the best views, skyscrapers towering right above, views up the
river to Brooklyn Bridge, then south you will see the ferries, Governors
Island and right in the distance depending on your visibility setting the
Verrazano Bridge, the main way in from New Jersey.
6N5 - East 34 Street Heliport further north up the East River from
KJRB. You can see the Empire State Building from here and explore the
Midtown District. Behind you is Roosevelt Island and the Queensboro Bridge.
6N4 - Pan Am Metroport Heliport. This heliport is now closed. Quite
rightly it has been included as it is a challenge to land on, my favourite
time to land there is night as the scenery is absolutely stunning. Once
landed, take a look over the edge it’s a long way down!
KJRA - West 30 Street Heliport. Located on the Hudson River in a more
industrial area of Manhattan, KJRA is your best heliport when conditions are
poor. The surrounding terrain is clear of high-rises. You can park your heli
on a barge in the river. Madison Square garden is close by and the George
Washington Bridge can just be made out in the distance. Of course, this area
was featured heavily in the news recently when Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger
III successfully ditched Flight 1549 in the river after a bird strike took
out both engines of his A320.
Other places of
interest.
Well there are so many but let’s start with Roosevelt Island. The island is
best known as the site of a number of prisons and asylums. The prisons,
including Welfare Penitentiary, housed a number of infamous personalities,
including actress Mae West, who in 1927 was arrested for lewd behaviour!
Governors Island.
Previously a US Army post, this pretty island is now a National Monument
. Interestingly The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel passes underwater and off-shore
of the island's northeast corner, its location marked by a ventilation
building connected to the island by a causeway, this is nicely modelled too.
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Liberty Island.
Home of miss Liberty presented to America by the people of France in
1886 commemorating the centennial of the Declaration of Independence.
Another beautiful island with views across the bay to Manhattan. A great
place to stop and admire the view.
Ellis Island.
This infamous island was the centre of immigration in little over 60
years 12 million immigrants passed though this place. It has quite stark
looking buildings on the southern half, a grand important building to the
north and a bridge connecting it to New Jersey.
Ground Zero.
A sad reminder of times past, there are cranes in place on the new
construction. A memorial poster can be seen in place on the side of a
building.
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USS Intrepid
Home to the famous Sea-Air-Space Museum. The museum showcases the World
War II aircraft carrier, the submarine and BA Concorde.
Central Park
There is some great photo scenery here which nicely blends with the
autogen. From quite low down you can look down the avenues heading south for
Midtown and the Financial district and get a great perspective of the
island. Plenty of recreational areas can be seen with baseball triangles,
lakes and wooded areas.
Bridges.
The are many bridges that criss-cross the islands of new York. Brooklyn
Bridge would be the most recognisable and is expertly modelled. The other
bridges are equally well designed if not quite in so much detail. If you are a
native of the district then you will instantly recognise them.
Night Textures.
This is one of only a few, (if not the only) sceneries that look just as
good at night as in the day. How can you fail to be impressed with the vast
expanse of lit up windows and reflections in the water. Midtown was fun too
especially landing on the old Pan Am building.