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Daytona Beach InternationalPublisher: AerosoftReview Author: Paul MortSuggested Price: $29.99/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngWelcome to my review of the newDaytona Beach scenery by Aerosoft. Before I begin, I'd like to mention that this is actually twoairports in one package, as Lafayette Landings Airport (FD90) is alsoincluded - so in effect, you get two airports for your money. System RequirementsX-Plane 11Windows 7 / 8 / 10 (64 bit)Linux (64 bit)MacOS 10.10+CPU: Dual Core CPU with 3.0 GHz (Quad Core CPU with 3.5 GHz)Memory: 8 GB RAM (16 GB RAM or more recommended)Graphics card: 1 GB VRAM, DirectX 11InstallationThe installation procedure of this package is extremely easy.Simply download and then unzip the file and then drag and drop thenewly created folder into X-Plane's Custom Scenery folder. First ImpressionsWhen I first opened the scenery, I found myself parked on a hill!'This isn't correct' I thought, and straight away confusion set in!That was until I realised that I had my 'Runways Follow TerrainContours' selected to "on" in the main X-Plane 11 menu! If you don'twish for your newly purchased scenery to look like a BMX tracksimulator, I advise you to turn this setting to off! /images/reviews/daytona/t/2.jpgThere are three runways at the airport, with the main Daytona Beachairport runway being 10,500 feet long, in order to accommodate largeraircraft. The large domestic terminal and smaller internationalterminal are not connected at the airport, and there are around 1,200parking spaces available to the public. In the top right of the above picture, the Daytona InternationalSpeedway track can be clearly seen. If you have read any of my previous scenery reviews, you will nodoubt know, that one of my pet hates is the complete lack of people inscenery packages. However, I am pleased to report, that in the caseof Daytona Beach, a token number of people are now clearlyvisible! /images/reviews/daytona/t/3.jpgMoving on to the main terminal, I must congratulate the developerson a job well done, as the interior of the terminal is nicely done.However, one only has to look at the above screen shot to see what'swrong - where are all the people? /images/reviews/daytona/t/4.jpgThis also brings up the all important question; "Who is wateringall those healthy looking potted plants?" /images/reviews/daytona/t/5.jpgThings don't improve much on the people front as I near the DaytonaInternational Speedway track! Not a single person or car can be seen.Surely a 2D crowd would be preferable to none at all. As an amateurscenery designer who has created such a model, I can tell you thateven this would be an improvement over emptiness! On a more positivenote, the 3D modelling work and textures are nicely done, with theincluded road network being where it should be. To Aerosoft's credit,they have also included a great number of buildings in the surroundingarea, and these have been modelled and textured accordingly toacceptable performance levels. For someone with a low to mediumX-Plane 11 computer setup, this is something I really appreciate. Those of you who are regular readers of my reviews are probablywondering when am I going to talk about my pet hate of ortho scenery?Well, wait no longer my friends... When it comes to ortho elements in sceneries, Aerosoft seem to bepulling the same rabbit out of the hat each time. Earlier in thisreview I quoted the number of 1,200 car parking spaces at KDAB, andthis is true, but while at the main airport vehicles are rendered inglorious 3D, the same can not be said further afield. Here thedevelopers have decided on orthos to portray vehicles, and in myhumble opinion, especially at ground level, it spoils the sense ofrealism. Wouldn't it be possible to just cut and paste the 3D models?The picture below shows an ortho imaged building a very short distanceaway from 3D objects, and to me, it's simply not good sceneryplacement. /images/reviews/daytona/t/6.jpgAnyway, I'm off my soapbox now, so let's talk about those 3D buildings! Considering the area covered by the scenery, the amount of 3Dbuildings and their corresponding textures work very well, even atground level. Having dabbled in 3D modelling, I know that creatingtextured buildings is an art in itself, as too many highly texturedbuildings would bring the average computer to its knees and end upmaking the scenery unusable. Here Aerosoft have done themselves proud,and a good balance between quantity and quality has been achieved. /images/reviews/daytona/t/7.jpg Bonus Airport Lafayette Landings Airfield (FD90)I've always been a great fan of unique, small country styleairports, and Lafayette Landings Airport (FD90) fits that billperfectly! What I like about the inclusion of this small airport, isthat it gives the simmer a choice. People such as myself who enjoyrural sceneries are well catered for with this airport, while thosewho enjoy larger airports have Daytona Beach International to playwith. /images/reviews/daytona/t/8.jpgTo be honest, this scenery would have sold well without the bonusairport, but Aerosoft have included it, and so that is a real creditto them. Again, in my humble opinion, ortho textures should be usedfor ground textures only, and that is exactly what Aerosoft have donehere. Lafayette Landings Airfield is a simple but pretty countryairport with ortho textures used in the right context, and it lookssuperb. Simple compared to its big brother, but it oozesatmosphere. /images/reviews/daytona/t/9.jpg /images/reviews/daytona/t/10.jpgOverall ImpressionsLooking at the scenery as a whole, there are far more positivepoints than there are negative. So here is my rundown of them... PositivesA well laid out and accurately placed scenery with nice buildingtextures. Runways and taxiways look good, as does the replicatower. 3D trees and foliage are well placed. Animated jetways,Safedock A-VDGSs and marshallers are a nice addition, as is theanimated ground traffic. The inclusion of Lafayette Landings Airfieldis a really nice bonus. Competitive pricing: ($US 29.99) (£GB 22.41) ($AUS 39.40). NegativesNot enough 3D people around the airport, with none present at themain terminal building and race track. Also, as with the 3D people,not enough animated ground vehicles. Personally I had issues with theuse of ortho textures, and certain areas lacked atmosphere. As is customary in my reviews, I like to give an overall scorebased on the negatives and positives I have found. To be fair, I ampretty lenient when it comes to scenery reviews, as I understand (Ihope), as an amateur scenery developer, the amount of unseen work thatgoes into producing a package such as this. So, with that being said, I award Aerosoft Daytona BeachInternational a healthy 8/10. I hope you found this review informative. /images/reviews/daytona/daytona-beach-international.jpgRegards Paul. Paul Mort Purchase Aerosoft - Daytona Beach International for X-Plane 11

/images/notams/notams18/dayt0516.jpgFlorida calling! Fly into Daytona Beach International, take aspring break at the beach or watch the race at the adjacent speedwaytrack. This brand-new add-on for X-Plane 11 is a highly detailedrecreation of Daytona Beach International Airport. It also covers thefamous Daytona International Speedway track and a large extent of thesurrounding area. It also includes airport corrections for LafayetteLandings Airport (FD90). FeaturesEspecially highly detailed recreation of Daytona Beach International (KDAB)Accurate, highly detailed building modelsDetailed terminal interiorsHigh-resolution textures based on photos taken at the siteDetailed, accurate ground layoutHigh-resolution ground textures with PBR effectsPhoto scenery covering most of the environment with current aerial imagesCustom models for city buildings (e.g. university)Animated environmentCustom bridge modelsAnimated jetways, Safedock A-VDGSs and marshallers at all eligible gates (with the free AutoGate plug-on by Jonathan Harris)Detailed recreation of Lafayette Landings airfield (FD90) Purchase Aerosoft - Daytona Beach International XP /images/notams/notams18/dayt0516.png