Flightsim Modules

By Noel Sivertson (15 March 2005)

With over 1,800 addon sceneries and almost 8,000 flyable aircraft available in the files download section for FS2004 alone, not to mention the plethora of scenery and aircraft available from payware developers, it would take all your time to go through the daily addons and keep your flight simulator current for the entire world or even a medium sized country.

I solved the problem by developing flight sim 'modules' which localize my scenery and aircraft for a certain time period and location.

Some months ago I wrote an op-ed piece here about retro flying in which I described how I used CalClassics scenery, aircraft, and AI flights to turn California into a 50's environment for flight simulation. I recreated Hamilton Air Force Base for the project and added period general aviation and military aircraft and traffic to enhance what CalClassics had given me.

That's pretty well a completed project now and while I enjoy flying it a lot I decided it was time for something new. So I came up with another FS 'module'.

The outstanding scenery for the Alaska Panhandle created by Holger Sandmann for Misty Fjords and Glacier Bay is perfect for a bush flying environment covering the area from Prince Rupert, Canada to Yakutat, Alaska.

There are plenty of scenery addons to enrich the area and lots of Alaskan Winds and Bush Flying Unlimited aircraft as well as other bush airplanes to keep you busy. The area has great potential for developing seaplane and helicopter traffic.

This should renew my interest in flight simming and keep me busy for another year.

Years ago model railroaders came up with the concept of 'modules'. It works very well for flightsimming too. Thinking big in a small area gives you the opportunity to include all the incredible details that add so much to the flying experience.

Noel Sivertson
judge@zianet.com

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