UK2000 VFR Airfields Volume 2
Reviewed by Joe Lawford
UK2000 VFR Airfields in use:
Volume 2
contains 81 airfields, all have enough detail to be instantly recognisable
to a local flyer. For the visitor, a visual reference is also illustrated in
the manual along with runway, elevation and comms data where available.
Some of the airfields already exist in FSX and some do not. The airfields
that do not exist in FSX have been allocated a 4 digit code that are,
although fictitious, required by the sim.
Included are many saved flights starting from all the airfields,
this will help in ensuring you have visited every one without having to look
back at the manual. With each situation you are presented with a
Cessna to fly.
The majority of the airfields only have day textures but 20% (17) of them have
night textures too, these are the larger airfields that you would expect to
be using in the evenings (Birmingham, Coventry, Luton, Stansted etc). The
night textures were nicely done adding that extra bit of realism to
buildings and aprons
The airfields have their own bespoke runway markings, signs and holds, according
to UK2000 as
close as you could get to the real thing. I can't argue with that, they
felt like they were in the right place whereas the default signs do not.
CRANWELL
Scenery complexity:
For me, this scenery offers much more than the expected complexity
for a product of this price. I flew a mini tour of places that I
have never been to in the real world before. There's a Vulcan, so it
has to be Bruntingthorpe! RAF Cranwell college, (appears in the picture
above) the only thing missing was Prince William taking lessons! Ahh, he's
high-tailing it out in that helo.
It was good to see these landmarks in place, it really makes you appreciate
the time and effort that has gone into this product. You will notice a lot
of scenery that comes from the FSX library but you will be astounded at how
many bespoke products have been created too.
There are several airfields in this scenery that house museums, Duxford,
Cosford and even the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden for example. You
will see close facsimiles of the halls and hangars just as they should
be. Fly in to Lakenheath and find yourself a hangar for the
night there are plenty of them there.
A lot of the airfields have extra clutter like cars and storage containers
and don't be surprised to see the odd glider trailer too. Circling above
most fields are birds just waiting to be chewed up in the prop so watch out!
Performance:
As mentioned above, I would say only a marginal drop in frame rates
that can be easily tweaked back up in the display options. I encountered no
stuttering when the scenery came into view. One thing I could not try was
100% bgl type traffic as I now use Ultimate Traffic 2 which I am pleased to
say worked fine with this scenery.
Static & AI aircraft:
Where relevant you will see an extra static aircraft at each
airfield, or gliders tipped to the side awaiting flight. At some airports, as
you can see above, there are extra statics to suit, the most diverse being
at the museum and show sites.
The AI traffic is reported to generate 1 - 4 GA aircraft with a 50% chance
of movement. I definitely saw traffic but it could have been
generated by UT2. If you find the static aircraft interfere with your
traffic program or bespoke set-up then you can opt to switch it off in the
configuration.
Sloping Flattens
With high resolution mesh nowadays, we have been plagued with cliffs in the
scenery as a result of add-on airports extending the level of the runways and
other areas above the surrounding countryside. "Sloping Flattens" a phrase
that best describes the abolition of these cliffs in the airport
scenery, has been used to great affect here.
As you approach many of the airfields in this package there is a
good chance there is a bespoke flatten in place. (Probably not for the
Fens!) You will discover the airfield scenery follows the underlying
contours perfectly, this really helps to make the airport as inconspicuous
as it can be, even the bespoke fences go downhill!
AUDLEY END SLOPES AWAY IN ALL DIRECTIONS BUT NO CLIFFS! Click to enlarge image |
GLIDER PILOT FLATTENS FENCE AND LOSES NO CLAIMS BONUS! Click to enlarge image |
Manual:
Top marks for usefulness, the situation of every airfield is described with
a top-down view. Like an airport diagram, you will get the runway
headings, elevation and radio frequencies if available. There are also
web links to the real world location if you need more detailed information.
Easter Egg anyone?
Watch out for UFO's, they could be coming to a UK2000 airfield near you!
And so to bed.
Sleap Aerodrome EGCV is an ex RAF WWII airfield just 8
miles North of the beautiful medieval town of Shrewsbury.
Conclusion:
Superb work again from Gary, this volume
in my opinion is an improvement of the first, not only in the craftsmanship
but in performance too.
If you fly GA you will want this. UK2000
VFR Airfields Volume 2
is destined to be one of the
must-have titles for simmers flying in the UK, It fills a massive hole left
behind by the default scenery. Whether you use it with photo-scenery
or regular textures, you are going to enjoy the attention to detail.
At around 40 pence an airfield, value for money cannot be denied, you better
go buy it before they change their mind!
/Joe Lawford
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