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FSX/P3D Freeware Focus By Nirosan Pragash It's been a while since my last freeware article (studies getting in the way), and so I thought it was high time I sat down and wrote another! This time around I will be looking at a magnificent ship modelled by Erwin Welker, an international airport by Johan Peeters, and finally, a rather small flyer by the talented A.F. Scrub. All of the models can be used with FSX and P3D, with the added bonus that Erwin's model can also be used with FS2004! So, without further ado, let's begin... FS2004/FSX/P3D v3 German Polar Research And Science Vessel Polarstern (meaning pole star) is a German research icebreaker of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven. Polarstern was commissioned in 1982 and is mainly used for research in the Arctic and Antarctica. The ship has a length of 118 metres (387 feet) and is a double-hulled icebreaker. She is operational at temperatures as low as -50°C (-58°F). Polarstern can break through ice 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) thick at a speed of 5 knots. Thicker ice up to 3 m (9.8 ft) thick can be broken by ramming. This replica created by Erwin Welker is a wonderful recreation of the Polarstern. Not only does it incorporate an easy to use 2D panel, but it also includes a complete virtual navigation bridge! The model also includes a host of animations and sounds, and these can be viewed from the 25 cameras situated around the model. Animations include the bow breaking the ice (complete with broken ice at the stern), a Bell Jetranger helicopter, that can be pushed out of the hangar, animated cranes lifting objects, plus, if that wasn't enough, you even get a polar bear and its cub for company! You can find this model in the file library: ICEBREAKER-POLARSTERN.ZIP FSX/P3D Scenery--Antwerp International Airport Antwerp International Airport is a small international airport serving Antwerp, Belgium. Located 2.9 nautical miles south of the city, it is used for some scheduled and charter flights as well as business and general aviation. During World War II the airport was used by the Luftwaffe, and also served the nearby Erla aircraft factory. After the German retreat in 1944, it saw brief use by Allied air forces, who called it Advanced Landing Ground B-70. Today the airport consists of one small passenger terminal with basic facilities including service desks and a restaurant. There is one runway, with a length of just over 1,500 m (4,900 ft). Due to this, it is not possible to operate aircraft larger than the Boeing 737 at the airport. This model of Antwerp International Airport by Johan Peeters, is the result of two years work, and over 2000 photographs! The realism Johan has managed to achieve, is quite remarkable, as both the textures of the buildings, and the scenery they are positioned on, look absolutely fantastic! So good are they, you'd be forgiven in thinking that it was a payware product. A couple of the buildings also have accurately modelled interiors, which is just simply superb! As well as the above, there is also custom AI traffic (Fokker 50), static SV-4Bs, and animated windsocks. Johan has mentioned that this is 'Phase 1' of the project, so expect to see more additions in the future. You can find this model in the file library: EBAW_JP2019.ZIP FSX/P3D Stits SA-2A Sky Baby The Stits SA-2A Sky Baby was a homebuilt aircraft designed for the challenge of claiming the title of "The World's Smallest". The Sky Baby was designed by Ray Stits and built with Bob Starr as a follow-on to the Stits Junior midget racer. The aircraft is an enclosed single engine negative staggered cantilevered biplane with conventional landing gear. The fuselage is constructed of welded steel tubing with aircraft fabric covering. The upper wings have flaps, the lower wings have ailerons. The powerplant was a sourced from an ERCO Ercoupe, modified with water injection to produce 112 hp (84 kW). The aircraft was test flown by Bob Starr on 26 May 1952 at Palm Springs, California. The aircraft required a 170 lb (77 kg) pilot to remain within the center of gravity and was only flown by pilots Starr and Lester Cole that met the criteria. The aircraft was eventually donated to the National Air and Space Museum for display. The model presented here has been created by A.F. Scrub, one of my favorite freeware aircraft designers. The Stits SA-2A Sky Baby is compatible with FSX and P4D v4, except in the latter you have to modify a few files (it is not compatible with FS2004). It's fair to say that the Stits SA-2A Sky Baby isn't going to win any beauty awards, as it really is quite a stubby and unattractive aircraft, but...this is where looks can be deceiving, because once in the air this little aircraft comes into its own. It's light and nimble, and there is enough power to have quite a bit of fun. Visibility is also good, as is the panel. Sounds are from the default Cessna 172, but work well. On startup there is engine smoke and exhaust flames, and go fast enough and you'll get vortex effects! All in all...one of the most enjoyable aircraft I have flown for quite some time! You can find this model in the file library: STITS_SKYBABY.ZIP I hope you enjoyed reading through what I consider to be three exceptionally enjoyable add-ons. I had a great deal of fun using them (continue to do so), and I think you will too. Nirosan Pragash

Freeware Focus: Shoreham/Gull/Campbeltown Written by Nirosan Pragash Having had the pleasure of reading quite a few informative 'freeware focus' articles here at FlightSim.Com, I thought I would offer my own thoughts on three MSFS add-ons that I have recently enjoyed. Being relatively new to the flight simming community, and also as a student with limited funds, I have been amazed at how good a lot of the freeware contributions are. The three add-ons I will be looking at today are: Shoreham Airport by Alf Denham, the Percival Gull by Keith Paine, and lastly, Campbeltown Airport by Dmitriy Kozrev. Shoreham Airport Brighton City Airport, also known as Shoreham Airport, is an airport located in the parish of Lancing in West Sussex, England. Founded in 1910, it is the oldest airport in the UK and the oldest purpose-built commercial airport in the world. The 1930s Art Deco terminal building was designed by R Stavers Hessell Tiltman. During the First World War, the aerodrome was used by the Royal Flying Corps. During the Second World War the airfield operated a variety of military aircraft including Westland Lysanders that were later replaced by Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, Boulton Paul Defiants and a pair of Bristol Beaufighters. It was also an air-sea-rescue base with Supermarine Walrus aircraft joining other wartime activities in the nearby harbor. Today the airport is used by privately owned light aeroplanes, flying schools, and for light aircraft and helicopter maintenance and sales. A number of operators provide flying lessons, sight-seeing and pleasure flights, including the experience of flying in two T-6 Harvard World War II training aircraft. Wikipedia Shoreham Airport by Alf Denham The FSX version presented here, has been created by the highly respected and hugely talented Alf Denham. No stranger to creating small atmospheric airports; Shoreham is Alf's latest scenery and one that I am sure will delight many flight simmers. One of the main features of Shoreham, and perhaps its standout feature, is the Art Deco styled main terminal building. If you've ever had the pleasure of visiting the airport yourself, then you'll know firsthand what a beautiful site this is. Luckily for us simmers, Alf's carefully modelled FSX version of Shoreham includes this wonderful grade II building, and as such, has been modelled in exquisite detail. Other details include nicely modelled hangars and maintenance buildings, plus bridges over the River Adur. All of these objects lie on a photographic overlay of the area and the end result is most pleasing. Lastly, if you wish to add additional static aircraft to the scenery, then these can be downloaded via a link in Alf's documentation. These work well and add a 'busy' feel to the airport. Note: these were not included in the screen shots as I wanted to show the original scenery only. Download Alfs UK Airfields Volume 36 - Shoreham EGKA for FSX Percival Gull The Percival Gull was a British single-engine monoplane, first flown in 1932. It was successful as a fast company transport, racing aircraft and long-range record breaker. It was developed into the Vega Gull and the Proctor. The Percival Gull was the first aircraft of the Percival Aircraft Company, formed in 1932 by Edgar Percival and Lt. Cdr E.B.W. Leake. It was designed by Percival himself, and was strongly influenced by the Hendy 302, designed by Basil "Hendy" Henderson, that he had previously owned and raced. Although Gull variants were powered by five different engines, those were all inverted inline air-cooled types driving two-bladed propellers, making for a neatly faired installation. The rear fuselage was of square cross section with a rounded top. The glazed cabin joined smoothly into a raised dorsal fairing, and placed the pilot in front and two passenger seats, slightly staggered behind. Entry into the early models was via the sliding canopy. The main undercarriage was fixed and spatted, each wheel mounted on three struts in the early models; there was a small steerable tail wheel. Gulls sold well to private owners, offering speed and comfort. Others were bought by charter companies, and were used for photographic and newspaper work. Out of the 48 aircraft originally manufactured, two are still operational, with a further three on display. Wikipedia Percival Gull by Keith Paine The FS2004/FSX Percival Gull presented here has been created by Keith Paine, one of the community's most respected freeware aircraft modellers. Keith's model of the Gull, like most of his aircraft, has been recreated in wonderful detail and is a fine example of a Gull 4. The exterior texturing, while not Carenado or A2A quality, is more than adequate and adds authenticity and realism to the model. Stepping inside the aircraft, you'll find a basic, yet pleasing virtual cockpit with most controls within easy reach. The instrument panel is very reminiscent of the period, so you won't find any modern avionics (be prepared for a lot of hands on flying). Side windows can be slid open, and your passengers, depending on payload, can be removed or added, which is a nice touch. The included sounds are perfect and really match the character of the Gull. I think they are modelled on a Gypsy Six, but I can't be certain. It's in the air though where the Percival Gull really excels, as she is truly a delight to fly. While not sporting by today's standards, she is all the same quite speedy! Both takeoffs and landings are enjoyable as long as you remember there are no flaps! The Gull does however sport a handy speed-brake, which comes in useful during enthusiastic landings! Lastly, due to the large glass area, visibility is really good, so if you're in the mood for a spot of country flying, the Percival Gull makes a great partner! Download Percival D3 Gull 6 for FS2004/FSX Campbeltown Airport Campbeltown Airport is located at Machrihanish, 3 nm west of Campbeltown, near the tip of the Kintyre peninsula in Argyll and Bute on the west coast of Scotland. The airport was formerly known as RAF Machrihanish (after the village of Machrihanish) and hosted squadrons of the Royal Air Force and other NATO air forces as well as the United States Marine Corps. The airport is at a strategic point near the Irish Sea, and was used to guard the entrance to the Firth of Clyde where US nuclear submarines were based at Holy Loch and where Royal Navy Trident missile submarines are still based at HMNB Clyde (Faslane Naval Base). The United States Navy handed the airfield back to the MoD on 30 June 1995, marking the end of its service as a NATO facility since 1960. The airbase was sold to Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) in May 2012, and two thirds of the runway is leased to Highlands and Islands Airports for Campbeltown Airport. Wikipedia Campbeltown Airport by Dmitriy Kozrev Campbeltown Airport for FSX/P3D by Dmitriy Kozrev, like Alf's Denham's Shoreham, represents another fantastic freeware scenery. Here a photographic overlay of equally good quality has been used, and situated on top of this are numerous nicely modelled objects. These include the control tower, numerous maintenance buildings and hangars, vehicles, and lastly the rather small passenger terminal. Having viewed the real airport on Google Maps, it's clear to see that the 3D models used in the scenery are not exact replicas. However, they are placed accurately and make the airport feel authentic. Campbeltown Airport is situated on the western fringes of Scotland and so is often subjected to extreme conditions. With real weather conditions loaded in FSX, I was amazed at how real the airport and its surroundings looked, and is one of the reasons why this wonderful scenery is mentioned in this freeware focus. Download Campbeltown EGEC for FSX/P3D Conclusion Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I am relatively new to the flight slimming world, but find it hugely enjoyable (great learning experience too). I hope you have found the article useful and I look forward to reading your comments.