Dillingham Airfield---The Other Side of Oahu
By Kevin Glover
27 May 2008
What is Dillingham?
Dillingham, by Aerosoft, beautifully
embodies a slow, peaceful lifestyle. Just ten minutes from the
booming city of Honolulu, Dillingham has a strangely detached feel as
though it hasn't really moved on from its glory days in World War II.
A beautiful place for watching a sunset, or simply to fly out to for
a weekend to escape the city, Dillingham is a haven of peace and
tranquility which was artfully communicated to the
simulator.
Dillingham was built in 1927 with a 5000' by 75' runway.
It went through a variety of unpronounceable Hawaiian names, but
after the attack on Pearl Harbor, it was pressed into service by the
military and came to rest as Dillingham Airfield. Its military career
ended in 1948, and it fell into a quiet ghost town. It was decades
until the airfield was partially reactivated for civilian use by the
military; by then, the old WWII taxiways and Dillingham's sturdy
history had all but faded...
Description
Well, to me this sunny little airport communicates a pervasive
aroma of sheer island tranquility. This is what I think of when I
think of a tropical island. My first flight was set up in a Piper at
dawn. The thing that I noticed was actual bird calls; as the light
grew, you could actually see wheeling flocks of birds ready to snatch
the bread from your very hands. However, it was only after taking in
the sound of surf and seagulls that I looked around.
I was parked at a row of numbered spaces in front of a hangar and
old cargo box. I started up and taxied to the runway. The runway
looks very nice; not at all modern and clean, but an old, faded layer
between you and the dirt. With 5000 feet, my Piper had plenty of
room on takeoff, and I was off to see the sites.
Dillingham is actually a center of skydiving and gliding in modern
day Hawaii, and that fact is reflected in Aerosoft's rendition. As
you cruise around the field, you notice the signs and buildings
alerting passes-by of the attractions of Dillingham. There's a row of
gliders and sturdy, if worn, towplanes next to a long, low, open
hangar. The tower and administrative buildings line the opposite side
of the field, and you'll see some of Aerosoft's almost
trademarkedly detailed people throughout. At the far end of the
runway, there's even a house with a swimming pool and gaudy sky
diving banners. However, hidden behind the rows of parked cars and
sunburned tourists, you'll see a burnt out fuselage or the skeletal
remains of a World War building; a reminder that Dillingham wasn't
always a tourist stop.
So, more or less, I like Aerosoft's Dillingham. From the air or
ground, it looks very nice. The airport and nearby scenery is all
based on photographic textures. The scenery overall is very, very
easy on frames; hardly worse that stock FSX, and much better than
large cities. However, there is an incredibly dense patch of trees
near a road leading to the airport, and it would be nice if you could
have a bit more control over the scenery.
I really love their attention to detail; you can read the signs
and skydiving ads, and I noticed an extremely passable pool by the
shacks at the runway's end. I'm not entirely sure where the add-on
ends, really; the default terrain and the add-on blend very well at
the edges. Also, this airport is very big in Hawaiian gliding, but
when I did my flights around there, I didn't notice a whole lot of
thermals. This may be realistic, but I'm not sure if Aerosoft
included soaring scenery.
This scenery really clicks for me. It's a calm, peaceful field,
and a great place for screen shots and starting a tour of Hawaii. If
you want somewhere to go to relax and unwind from CAT 3 approaches,
then the peaceful atmosphere (and lovely environment sounds) will
definitely do the trick. But be careful, if you sink completely into
the Hawaiian's laid-back lifestyle, Don't be surprised if you find
yourself falling into their relaxed cadence, and smiling more than
you're used to. You're on island time now. -- Bill Womack
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Kevin Glover
kevin.glover@hotmail.com
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