Development

Rui, when did you start developing for flight simulators and what got you interested in it?

I first started developing for flight simulators in around 2005 - 2006. This was with FS2004 and was inspired by the things I thought were missing from the sim. I also really enjoy sharing with others, so as well as the creative aspect, there's also the community perspective I enjoy!

Tell us about the nature of your designs and what you do?

Today I have left FS2004 behind, and as of 2017, focus mainly on X-Plane sceneries and the occasional livery. With the release of X-Plane 11, I also became aware of how badly some of the regions in the sim were covered, and as such, have endeavoured to enhance these areas in this new and very promising simulator!

Rui, what do you consider to be your best or most popular work?

I would have to say my Susi Air scenery package for Indonesia, as it contains 30 different airfields, especially some in the remote areas of Papua. The inspiration for this particular scenery came from the 2014 TV mini-series 'Worst Place to be a Pilot', where Susi Air was pictured. The TV show follows the highs and lows of the lives of the young British pilots who work for Susi Air, as they fly and land their planes in some of the most breath-taking, remote and dangerous locations on Earth.

Because of this, this pack is ideal for bush pilots, especially those using X-Plane 11 as this is the simulator this package was created and tested on. Some of the airports are compatible with X-Plane 10, but not all of them, as there are terrain differences between the two versions of X-Plane.

Clarence Boudville (YouTuber) has created a few videos showcasing this particular scenery pack, and here are two of them:

As well as the Susi Air package, there is growing interest in some of my latest releases. These are Brazilian sceneries for both X-Plane 10 and 11, and my goal here, is to populate one of the most important countries (regarding aviation) with airports. The feedback I have received so far from people using these sceneries, has been most encouraging. As these airports rely only on the default X-Plane objects, my aim is to also share them with the X-Plane Gateway, so that as many people as possible can get to enjoy them.

As of early April 2017, around 40 Brazilian sceneries have been published and there are more in the pipeline. Here are two more videos, showcasing a couple of my Brazilian sceneries:

Rui, what do you find to be the most challenging aspect of a project?

Consistency, so that the end user can recognize a common theme among the airfields in the same project. This is highly important, as most pilots will use them together; especially for quick exploratory tours of a particular scenery package.

For the Susi Air project in Indonesia and East Timor, I attempted to use as many third party libraries as possible. This was so as to create a specific atmosphere for the area. The pilots flying in this location could then enjoy all the little details I had included. Without these, the immersion factor would have been considerably less.

However, for the Brazil project, consistency came from (a) only using objects from Laminar Research (no third party dependencies) and (b) the use of small orthophotos for the areas surrounding the airfields. This was to comply with (a) sharing them with the Gateway and improving performance, and (b) to create a realistic feel to them.

If I fail to have that degree of consistency, then the end user will notice it, and my sceneries would be a lot less enjoyable!

What have been your favorite projects so far?

That's easy: my last two sceneries for sure (Susi Air and Brazil). My top five personal destinations in the Susi Air project are as follows: Armopa Road Airstrip/WXAR v1.0, Teluk Cendrawasih Beach Airstrip/WXTC v1.0, Mount Tambora Airstrip/WXTA v1.0, Susi Air Pass Valley Airstrip/WW56 v1.0 and finally and Tsinga Mulu Airstrip/WXZ8 v1.0.

For the Brazil project, my personal top five favorite destinations (so far) are: Fortaleza International Airport/SBFZ v1.2, Fernando de Noronha Airport/SBFN v1.0, Santarem Airport/SBSN v1.0, Palmas Airport/SBPJ v1.0, and Embraer's Gaviao Peixoto Factory Airport/SBGP v1.0.

Rui, what software packages and tools do you use to develop your sceneries?

I use mainly World Editor (WED, both v1.6 beta and v1.5) and Adobe Photoshop. Once in a while I will use other tools, but the ones mentioned above, are by far the most important packages for my scenery development.

Who would you consider to be your mentors or inspiration in the development world?

To be totally honest, I've never had a mentor per se, as I am self taught in terms of flight sim development. However, in saying that, I would have to say that each and every X-Plane developer, has been, in one way or another, a source of inspiration to me.

I am extremely thankful to several of them, and would like to cite a few, especially those who create the wonderful tools, needed for X-Plane development. For example, the folks behind Hangar: X-Plane, specially Joz and his "Mesh Remexe" freeware tool for correcting mesh elevation in X-Plane (discussion).

Joz is well known in the X-Plane world, having been recognised by Laminar Research for his outstanding work in scenery development. In my opinion, Recife International Airport/SBRF v1.1 is one of the best sceneries available for X-Plane and is a 'must have' download:

Download Recife International Airport

Another developer I really respect is Axmiha. He also is a great source of inspiration as his sceneries are also of an extremely high quality. In my opinion, Axmiha's best work is Tenerife Norte Los Rodeos Airport/ GCXO v2.0.

Rui, as a freeware developer, have you ever considered moving to payware?

No, freeware only. This is not a business for me, it is just a hobby, and like many others, I appreciate the work other freeware developers do! Without them, X-Plane would be a considerably poorer place.

Real Life

Do you have any experience in real aviation?

Not professionally. I fly a lot for work (as a passenger), and I did take a few flight lessons years ago at a local flight school, but this was purely for fun, and not to pursue as a career.

Rui, what started your interest in aviation?

Aviation is a passion and has been ever since I was a small kid. One of those inexplicable things, that if you try to reason too much about it, you get lost without a reason.

Have you had any memorable flights in real life?

My very first flight. It was a special 45 minute flight done just for kids, so as to see Halley's Comet above the city of Fortaleza. This was in 1986 and the aircraft was a classic B737-200. We took off from Fortaleza (SBFZ) and I remember being so excited. This single magical moment managed to bring together my two most biggest passions: astronomy and aviation, and was an experience I will never forget.

Another memorable flight was onboard a classic B747SP. This version of the 747 is a lot shorter than the standard variant, and looks kind of...stumpy! On this occasion, the experience was longer than a 45 minute flight above a city; this time I was flying about halfway around the globe. I flew from Brazil to South Africa and then to Australia, and I can tell you...it was pretty cool, but also tiring at the same time! In total is was a 20,000 nm (38,000 km) round trip!

Rui, would you like to share what you do in real life?

Among other things, I am a PhD student studying Public Administration and Public Policy. I live between Mexico and Brazil.

What other hobbies or things do you do for enjoyment?

I love music, especially classic British blues-metal from the 1970s. For example: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and a bunch of other folk who have followed in their footsteps.

Future

How do you choose your next new design or project?

Subjectively! My last two projects (Susi Air and Brazil) were based on two different things. The Susi Air project in Indonesia and East Timor was (as mentioned) inspired by the TV show "The Worst Place to be a Pilot", and my desire to fly a few of those legs myself.

The Brazil project began so as to populate the region with airports, and in the case of X-Plane 11, ground services. Brazil was missing a lot of 3D airports in X-Plane, but now after a lot of hard work, it is starting to look a lot healthier. Mexico is in a similar boat, with many airports missing 3D elements. My aim here is to populate the region in much the same way as Brazil; hopefully later this year!

Rui, what simulators do you design for now and which ones do you plan to develop for in the future?

In the past I only developed for FS2004 and FSX. As of today though, I develop exclusively for X-Plane 10 and 11. I have been an X-Plane user since v9, and having used both, can honestly say that X-Plane is the far superior platform.

Prepar3D has never really interested me as it looked too similar to MSFS. This was the opinion I came to a couple of years ago, but perhaps things have changed here...I don't know.

However, my focus for the future will primarily concentrate on the brand new X-Plane 11, which is in my opinion, the best civil home flight simulator available in today's world.

As as developer, what improvements would you like to see from the software tools you use?

I think I'd like to see some advancements made in regards to scenery tools. Despite WED being both powerful and reliable, it would be great if Laminar Research offered some sort of mesh tool. I'd love to see a mesh feature (much like like Mesh Remexe) integrated into WED.

Your Thoughts

What can sites like FlightSim.Com do to support you and the hobby better?

The fact that FlightSim.Com is still going after so many years, is a testament to both its support and usefulness. The more FlightSim.Com focuses on special projects, the more it will help grow the hobby! Perhaps there can be a dedicated area or session where developers can discuss their special projects? I know I am not the only one who would find this useful.

Rui, how do you feel about the future of flight simulation?

Despite all the drawbacks, like Microsoft terminating the MSFS series, I am really quite thankful, and also hopeful, that companies like Laminar Research, PMDG, JAR Design, and others, are still focusing on developing high level engineering based products (instead of just purely focusing on market appeal).

In your opinion, what are some of the most important things a site or community can do to help developers?

For freeware developers such as myself, making these sceneries available for others to download and enjoy, is a fantastic feeling. However, as mentioned previously, creating a session or area about special projects could be something even more satisfying/interesting. This in turn would benefit the hobby greatly.

Perhaps there could also be an annual 'call for action' centered around a particular theme or need. Here developers could engage in joining forces so as to enhance a particular area which is lacking in the sim. Finally, I think some sort of monthly or yearly award for outstanding work should take place. Recognizing a developer's commitment to this hobby, should never be taken for granted.

Rui, finally, what would you like people to know about you and your work?

I think the most important thing I would like people to know, is that everything I do, I do for the community. Hopefully it helps to enhance and strengthen this inexplicable passion that so many of us hold dear. If my sceneries can give even an ounce of enjoyment to the people who download and use them, then I feel suitably fulfilled.

I look forward to creating more sceneries for you in the future....stand by Mexico!

Thank you.

Rui Mesquita

Download Rui Mesquita Scenery