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Screen shots by Aerosoft |
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With more than 26 million passengers annually, Boston Logan Airport (KBOS) is among the United States' busiest commercial airports. It ranks 20th in domestic travel and 12th in international travel. Its six runways and numerous terminals and other airport facilities cover almost 2,400 acres in urban Boston.
Aerosoft highlights the following about its Boston Logan Airport scenery:
The same package contains versions for FS2004 and FSX. I reviewed the FSX version.
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PURCHASE FEATURES |
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Instant download from the Pilot Shop |
NO | |
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Installation program |
YES | |
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License key required |
YES | |
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Copyright acknowledgment required |
YES | |
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Manual included |
YES | |
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Uninstall program included |
NO | |
| AIRPORT LOCATION | ||
FSX GLOBE |
FSX MAP |
TOP DOWN VIEW |
| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
Aerosoft's Boston Logan Airport scenery is very realistic and accurate compared with photographs and charts I found on the Internet. Having grown up in the greater Boston area, I can remember when all Logan's terminals were one story, almost all its aircraft were propeller driven, and visitors could go up on the roofs to observe airport operations. Having flown back there many times over the last 30 years, I remember when when almost every building was built, when the stylish Terminal C stood above all buildings around it, and when the bottom floor of the elevated control tower housed a public observation deck. In addition to the photos and charts, I can personally attest that Aerosoft's depiction of this sprawling airport is considerably more accurate than the FSX default. My comparative screen shots show how superior to FSX default Aerosoft's scenery is.
Buildings and objects seen outside the airport such bridges, skyscrapers, and maritime vessels are the basic FSX and are not part of Aerosoft's package.
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AIRPORT OVERVIEWS |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
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AIRPORT TERMINALS |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
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AIRPORT SURFACES |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
This scenery package is available on a compact disk in boxed set to be mailed to buyers.
Its FS2004 and FSX versions are included on the same CD.
Windows XP, Vista, or 7 are required. For the FSX version, FSX Acceleration or Service Pack 2 is required. Acceleration is a separate add-on product from Microsoft, while SP2 is a service-pack upgrade provided free of charge by Microsoft. These system requirements should be listed in the product description so users don't get a product they cannot use. Objects that are unique to Acceleration will not display without it, for example.
Frame rates were the same as in the FSX default scenery.
Installation programs for Adobe Acrobat version 9.1 are included in several languages. These programs can be installed on the user's computer if desired. Installation takes a few minutes. There is no explanation for why this program update is on this CD. The only Adobe file I found on the CD is "FlorenceX_BuyGuide.pdf," which is about Aerosoft's Florence X scenery.
The CD also includes FSX Service Packs 1 and 2 if needed.
Video files for other Aerosoft areas such as London, Heathrow, and Switzerland are included. They play on Windows Media Player.
Aerosoft acknowledges in the manual that elevations are not accurate because of "undesirable visual results with the coastlines around the airport." But the 20-foot difference fouls positions of cars on the top deck of the parking garage. Aerosoft did not provide any fix for this problem.
There is no uninstall program, but the manual explains how to uninstall the software via Windows.
| NIGHT EFFECTS | ||
Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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Aerosoft |
FSX |
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
A 36-page staple-bound manual included with the CD explains system requirements, installation instructions, and recommended simulator settings. It also includes an airport diagram, a link for more airport charts, and brief historical background about the airport. Half is in German, and half is in English.
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THE MANUAL |
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||
Learn more about Boston Logan Airport at these websites:
Aerosoft's Boston Logan Airport is an excellent rendition of this historic and busy airport. All buildings and objects are realistic in appearance and position. Night effects are very good. Issues with the surrounding harbor forced Aerosoft to change the field elevation, which resulted in some visual glitches, none of which interfere with airport operations. The manual tells what buyers need to know about using the scenery and removing it if desired. All and all, it's a very good value for the asking price.
Learn More About Aerosoft's Boston Logan Airport for FS2004 & FSX.
Bill Stack is author of several books about flight simulation, a regular author in flight-sim magazines, and a contributor to FlightSim.Com. His website is www.topskills.com
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