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KerrSpectives--The IslanderBritten-Norman Islander BN-2Coming Very Soon To MSFSBy Kenneth James Kerr /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-1.jpgIntroductionIn its own way, it’s as utilitarian as a DC-3 and as rugged as aTwin Otter. Like both those venerable aircraft, it’s been operated allaround the world, but unlike those North American classics, thisaircraft is British. What comes to mind? Some of you might bescratching your head right now, but for others, this aircraft needs nointroduction. We’re talking about the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander…and it’s about to land in MSFS. I don’t know what it is that appeals to me about the Islander, butit’s one of those aircraft that I’ve liked since I was about 12 yearsold. I remember making the Airfix kit for it in the 1970s, andalthough I painted it in civil colours initially, It somehow ended upin British Army camouflage. The Islander was designed as a light utility aircraft and regionalairliner in the early 1960s. It made its first flight on June 13,1965, and was initially built at the Britten-Norman factory on theIsle of Wight. Later, it would be built in Romania, and many variantscame from that initial design, including the military Defender, andthe three-engined Trislander. The type, including variants, has beenoperated by more than 85 nations around the world and is still inproduction. If you have a favorite country from which to fly in MSFS,the chances are high that an Islander has been there in real life. The Islander for MSFSI was delighted to become a beta tester for the Islander you see inthe header image. I’ve been flying it for about five weeks now, andhave worked very closely with the developer, sometimes texting him atall hours of the day, and right up to midnight! I’ve provided criticalfeedback, suggested liveries, even introduced him to a real-worldIslander pilot with 1600 hours on type, and have watched the aircraftgo from strength to strength as the developer has worked and reworkedthe product with total dedication. And even as I’m preparing thisarticle, a new revision has landed in dropbox! But, it’s now gettingvery close to release, and probably within days of this article goingout, the Islander for MSFS will be available to purchase. This example does have a long pedigree because the designer hasreleased versions of the aircraft for previous sim platforms. But thatdoes not indicate that this is a mere “copy and paste†job for the newsim. Your new Chevrolet includes items from the parts bucket ofprevious vehicles, and such re-use does not invalidate the appeal oradvances of the new model. Same here. While it may look similar toprevious incarnations, the work under the hood has been enormous. Iknow this because I’ve personally witnessed it, seeing the productchange significantly several times during my own testing. So let’sconfidently give you a preview of coming attractions. The Islander is shipping with 16 different liveries. It includescivil examples and at least one military variant. There are differentpanel options, and also multiple upholstery choices, with changes infabric, colour, etc. There will be a paint kit, and I suspect that thecommunity will have a field day with it since the aircraft has been souniversally operated. The best way to show you is… well… to show you. Let’s start withthe interiors. Here’s a selection of images taken on May 3rd. Pleaseremember there may be changes in the release version. /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-2.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-3.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-4.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-5.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-6.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-7.jpgThe PanelsAt the current late stage of testing, almost all the buttons on thepanel are clickable, although some are INOP due to sim or codinglimitations. Again, this may change in the future, but for now, I cantell you that this is a very immersive cockpit to sit in, and veryenjoyable to fly from. /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-8.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-9.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-10.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-11.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-12.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-13.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-14.jpgThe InteriorsAs you can see, there are some nice variations of upholstery forthe seats and side panels. The military version also removes therearward seats completely, adding a second aircrew position forsurveillance duties. And, by the way, the red tartan is the KERRtartan, the result of a special request to the designer from yourstruly! That one appears in a Canadian livery. /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-15.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-16.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-17.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-18.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-19.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-20.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-21.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-22.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-23.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-24.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-25.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-26.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-27.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-28.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-29.jpgThe LiveriesAnd talking about liveries, feast your eyes on these… The above liveries represent a very good cross-section of globaloperations over the years. Want to fly in the UK? Grab the Shetlandexample and explore the Scottish islands, or take the Skybus liveryout of Land’s End. Want to fly military ops? Take the Maltese aircraftfor a low-level spin over the Mediterranean and buzz ships (especiallyif you have the free shipping traffic addon that’s availableelsewhere). Need a getaway to the sunshine? The Winair example isgreat for flying from St. Maarten to St. Barths in the Caribbean. Orexplore the Canadian west with AirBC, or hop from Martha’s Vineyard toBoston with Cape Air. You will do a lot of flying with this Islanderbefore you run out of places to explore. The FlyingSo let’s talk about the flying experience. In the time I have beeninvolved with the project, I have seen several big changes in theflight performance, and all for the better. Earlier tests showed it tobe slow, not quite getting to the typical cruise numbers. Then thedeveloper changed it, and the cruise numbers were pretty good. Thismorning, I received a cryptic note on my phone from him telling me ithad somehow “gained rocket-assist takeoff†and he was investigatingit! This tells you the model is not only fluid as I write this, butalso that the developer is continually working away behind the scenes,tweaking, listening to feedback, tweaking again, and getting closerand closer all the time before release. I like that, it inspiresconfidence. Also worth noting is the feedback I am receiving from the formerIslander pilot. His 1600 hours Pilot-in-command time is proving veryhelpful. In an email from him today, he was indicating it was startingto feel “like an old friend.†It is hard to ask for better thanthat. And while I have not put it through every test that I could, I amvery happy flying it. I have not tried every aspect of the autopilotyet, but I have hand-flown the heck out of it, amassing a lot of hourson it. Flying the MSFS Islander is predictable, docile, andaddictive. My test flights keep getting longer as a result. It’s likea big Cessna 172 at times, but a lot harder to spin! Also good is the view from the cockpit. I don’t have VR, but I amusing head tracking. Both with and without tracking, I find visibilityto be good in most operations. You can see the view of the LerwickTingwall runway below as an example. (And I can’t resist adding anexternal shot too). /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-30.jpg /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-31.jpgThe QualityOf course, one of the big questions is going to be regardingquality. So here I want to address my current perspective. In terms ofthe overall build, fit, and finish, I am very happy with thisaircraft. It looks the part and is solidly built. Will everyone agreewith me? I have no way of knowing that, but I like it. Does it come up to the latest MSFS visual standards? Again, that isnot always easy to answer because what keeps me happy might not keepyou happy. Sure, there are a few textures that could be sharper, butthere are also some that just nail it. And, what looks brilliant forme in 1080 resolution might cause you a second glance in 4k, or itmight not, I don’t know since I am using 1080 as I say. What about the sounds? Well, I can tell you that the model useslegacy sounds at the moment. This means switches, windows, and doorsdo not click, clunk, or thud. It also means the engine sounds are monoat the moment instead of stereo. Will this be addressed in the future?I am confident (based on knowing the developer and communicating a lotwith him), that as his knowledge increases in this very new MSFS area,the product will see upgraded versions. Meanwhile, I would not holdback from buying it or flying it for any current limitation. Even now,the roar of those engines is music to my ears. Great fun even with thetemporary limitations. Again, I state this. I am very happy with the quality so far. I amalso very confident that improvements will probably be added to therelease model as time goes on. If I did not believe that, I would notsay it. The DeveloperI have deliberately avoided naming the developer up until now. Thisis not because I want to keep his identity confidential, but becauseof community politics. So let’s address this now. The developer isBlackBox Simulation. For some members of the flight sim community, the very mention ofthis name elicits a significant emotional reaction. They will bring upstories of unfinished models, or lack of communication from thedeveloper. Unfortunately, at times the vehemence of these claimsreaches evangelistic proportions, and accusations fly with warningsnot to touch the developer with a ten-foot barge pole. Now, I am not going to judge people for their feelings becausetheir experiences might be different from mine. But what I will say isthat I have read the developer’s responses to the accusations on theMSFS forum, and he is willing to clarify issues with those who feelsuch afront. But where I respectfully suggest that a line is crossed is whenpeople suggest that customers avoid this developer’s current projectsbecause of past grievances. Here’s my personal “KerrSpective†on that. To accept that the past equals the future is to negate thepossibility of evolution and improvement. Any alleged mistakes of thepast (in any person’s life), only have lasting influence if no lessonsare learned. We must carefully refrain from assuming that perceivedpast errors will be repeated.It may be counter-productive to suggest that people boycott thedeveloper’s current projects. Think about it. If a person wants a pastproject to be supported, it is wiser to encourage their newer ones,because only by doing so will the revenue be there for the developerto “circle back†to the older ones. If a business dies due to lack ofsupport for new projects, the older projects will never get improvedor be supported!Those who boycott current projects are not going to witness thecurrent methodologies of the developer because they are notexperiencing them. It’s like judging a 2021 car because a 1980’s carfrom the same manufacturer disappointed you.While some people passionately complain about past products, manyothers are enjoying the newer products. The Bird Dog is a greatexample. Yes, it started out as being a little weak upon its MSFSlaunch, and some criticism was well justified. BUT it has grown into afine product through constant improvement and dedication on the partof the developer, and many people are having a total blast with it,myself included.In the end, every developer gains ground or loses it based on aproduct-by-product experience. At this time the developer is spendinga lot of time evolving his business to support the platform that isthe future of the industry. To do otherwise would be commercialfolly. Let us, therefore, allow him to evolve and grow into the newsim, and judge his MSFS progress based on his MSFS products as theyare released.Once again, I understand that some members of the community havebeen upset in the past. However, in my eyes, the developer is reallyworking hard to ensure the sustainability of his business. And I forone am willing to encourage his efforts. As one who knows how hardthis industry can be, I want him to survive and serve us withinteresting products for years to come. Encouragement will dothat. Criticism and vitriol won’t. In closing, I recommend the Islander for MSFS (and the Bird Dog forMSFS) as a worthy purchase. It will be available soon at thedeveloper’s website, and eventually on the in-sim marketplace. /images/reviews/kerrisla/t/Islander-32.jpgKenneth J Kerr

KERRSPECTIVES - Scottish Highland Memories With Kenneth J Kerr Introduction I've been meaning to write this article for more than three months. Originally it was going to come out in conjunction with the release of UK2000's EGPE Inverness airport, and I appreciated greatly getting a review copy of that product. Then, I wrote an initial draft, only to see that the UK update for MSFS was supposedly imminent, so I scrapped the draft and waited and waited and waited. Well, at last, the UK update has arrived, and it's time for another KerrSpective, as I reminisce about Highland Memories, and give an unashamed push for UK2000 in the process. I first experienced the Highlands of Scotland as a teenager, when our family started taking annual vacations at Fort Augustus, on the south point of Loch Ness. Coming from a steel town in the English midlands, the Highlands represented a breath of fresh air in more ways than one. I fell in love with the lochs, glens, and silver seas, and so did my folks. As a result, we relocated from Corby, Northants, up to Fort Augustus in 1979. The Highlands were no longer a vacation spot, they were now home. I lived at Fort Augustus for about a year and a half before moving south again for career purposes. But, three years later, I was back again. I bought a house in Inverness, on the east side of the city, at Culloden. And bonus, I was under the approach to EGPE, Inverness Dalcross Airport. I remained there until emigrating to Canada in 1988, and you can read about that in my previous KerrSpective on Brampton-Caledon Airport near Toronto. I have now been away from the Highlands for 33 years. Once again I wonder where the time went. And so, as with the previous article, I am re-living old experiences and revisiting old haunts with MSFS. So just how good a job does Asobo do here? And did the update make it better? Let's find out in this mixture of memory, hangar talk, and review. UK2000's Inverness Airport Central to this article is UK2000's Inverness airport, and I've got to say they did a commendable job. I have no problem recommending it to you, especially if you want to spend any time exploring the north of Scotland. Inverness is the perfect base for exploration in the real world, and UK2000's EGPE is the perfect base for exploring in the sim. Of course, it's not quite as I remember it, but most of my time at EGPE was before the new terminal and other improvements took place. It is however a good representation of how the airport looks now, and for most people, that's what's important. Is it perfect? No. But the imperfections are relatively minor. There is an issue with the roof textures flashing on three of the buildings, and I am sure the developer will work on that. I also see the wrong types of static aircraft sitting at the small on-site museum, but that might be because no models of the correct types were available. There's also a generic building representing the new hotel that opened a year ago. But honestly, I can live with these things as they do not spoil the overall enjoyment for me. The best way to showcase the airport is to simply show you in screenshots, and let them do the talking! Just look at the level of detail and you'll know why I am enthusiastic about the product. In my personal opinion, if you're going to fly in the Scottish Highlands in MSFS, it is worth buying this airport. Asobo And The Local Area But what about the local area itself? In reality, this part of Scotland is gorgeous and so full of character. You've got the Moray Firth on which the airport sits, and this opens out into the North Sea. Just a bit further north lies the Cromarty Firth and in between is the area known as the Black Isle. Then, from Inverness you go south to Loch Ness just a few miles away, or west along the Beauly Firth. It's a spot I miss deeply to this day. When it comes to representing the local geography, Asobo has done a great job. The recent update does appear to have lessened the incidences of water creeping up the hills, and maybe the mesh is a bit more detailed too. In all, when I fly across this area in MSFS, I feel that I'm back home. Maybe that's why I can fly it over and over again and not get tired of it. Just look at the screenshots below: However, I cannot be so enthusiastic about the way in which Asobo is still representing man-made infrastructure in the region. Before the update, we had to put up with farm buildings looking like apartments, and that does seem to have been scaled back thankfully. But, we are missing so many local points of interest that the job is still only half done. Here's a shortlist of missing features that are so needed to finish it off. Fort George The oil rigs in the Cromarty Firth The Cromarty bridge The Kessock Bridge Inverness castle Castle Stuart Eden Court Theatre Raigmore hospital Inverness cathedral More Inverness churches Urquhart Castle Fort Augustus Abbey Fort Augustus lock gates and more While there are indeed representations of these features in MSFS, unfortunately, they are generic autogen instead of the iconic structures they should be. And for me, this is a big disappointment, all the more when I was used to seeing all of these modeled by either ScotFlight or Orbx in previous sim platforms. It sometimes feels like a step backward, or maybe an indication that Asobo had to draw a line somewhere. So, the door's open Orbx. Haste ye back to the Highlands and get the job done. Hangar Talk And Re-Creating Memories And now... Drumroll... Let's enjoy some hangar talk! There are several flights that I want to remember, but of these, only one can be totally recreated so far in MSFS. 1. Which way is up? I used to love poking around EGPE in the pre-911 years before airport fences and security. And so, you'd often find me walking around the edge of the wind-swept ramp, exploring hangars, and generally having a whale of a time with such unbelievable freedoms. And so it was that one day, (rented video camera in hand), I met a certain gentleman with the initials RR. RR's pride and joy was his Tipsy Nipper (Google it), a diminutive aerobatic machine that he loved to fly upside-down for prolonged periods. He was getting ready for an airshow appearance at nearby RAF Lossiemouth, and when he saw the camera he asked if I'd take some footage of his display to show to the folks on the station. So, no worries, off he went and did his display, and I stayed on the ground to film it all. Thereafter, he thought we should edit in some aerial footage, and as it happened one of the local Cessna 152's had a red engine cowling just like his Nipper. Also, this particular 152 (G-BDOW) was the Aerobat variant. So, we taped the camera on the glare shield and subsequently flew five or six aerobatic flights over the next week. I truly got to see the Highlands from every possible angle, while even managing to keep my food inside my stomach in the process. It was great fun. Now, here's what's neat. We do have the Cessna 152 Aerobat in the mid-priced version of MSFS, and it's painted in the same colours as the aircraft we flew. So, (cue music as on my video)... Here ya' go. 2. How low can you fly? On another trip into the airport, I happened to see a chap prepping a PA-28 Warrior for a flight. On closer inspection, I noticed only two people, and of course four seats. Never slow to ask, I piped up, "Want another passenger?" And within fifteen minutes we were trundling down the runway for a trip over the Black Isle. Well, I've done a lot of flying over the years, but the next half hour proved to be the most frightening experience I've had in an aeroplane to this very day. So what was it that terrified me? There's an old adage "Thou shalt not fly low and slow", and this fellow broke both of those conditions. How slow? Just over stalling, and how low? Take a look at this image. No, we were not landing, we were buzzing the farmhouses, and our pilot was looking in the windows of the farmhouses instead of watching the rapidly-approaching trees in front of our propellor. And then there's this image too... Those rigs were way too close for comfort, and as we got lower so was the water of the Cromarty Firth. Thankfully, I made it home in one piece, although my wife told me that I was whiter than she had ever seen me after any flight. Years later, I heard an unconfirmed report that the pilot had died in a low-flying accident. So can I reproduce this flight in MSFS? No. I am of course waiting for the Piper Arrow from JustFlight, but that won't be a Warrior. And how about those rigs in the Firth? They are missing in MSFS too. I therefore cannot reproduce this flight in MSFS. However, courtesy of JustFlight and Orbx, I can refly it in P3D v4.5. So here's how it looks in that older sim platform as I wait for the missing assets to make their way into MSFS. 3. Flying the DC-3 Several years after moving away from the Highlands, I got into the flight sim business when I started Visually Incredible Panels, which later became The VIP Group. The catalyst that launched that business was my DC-3 panel for FS4, and the DC-3 would indeed become a mainstay of our subsequent product line. My thanks to such names from the past as John Kelly, Trev Morson, and of course Jan Visser for their contribution to the VIP DC-3's. One of our VIP customers turned out to be the chief pilot at Air Atlantique at that time. And so it was that I received an invitation in 1986 to come back to the UK to fly with the airline in both the DC-3 and the Lockheed L-188 Electra. Of course, I was delighted at the prospect, but it got even better when I was told the DC-3 flight would be from Inverness. That trip became a visit back to see my folks and sister too. I will never forget how excited I was to walk around DC-3 G-ANAF on the Inverness ramp and then to board it for the crew training flight. I even spent some time in the left seat and had a bit of "stick time" before having to give up the seat again to the captain. My most vivid memory is of climbing out over Fort George. I was in the pilot's seat and taking a ton of video. I'd been looking down the Firth towards the Kessock Bridge, then I filmed the port engine, turned the camera on myself for a moment, and then Fort George came into view and I filmed it too. It was a fantastic flight, and I treasure the memories of course. I wish I had still pictures to show you. So, can I re-live this flight in MSFS? Once again the answer is no. I look forward to Aeroplane Heaven bringing out their DC-3, but Fort George is still generic autogen. And so I turn again to my trusty old P3D. Thank goodness I did not delete it in anticipation of MSFS coming out last August. Here are a couple of P3D screenshots. Conclusions There are many more Inverness flights I could recall. Like the time we diverted to RAF Kinloss on a Dan-Air flight from London because EGPE was socked in. Our BAC 1-11 parked right beside a line of Nimrods! Sheer magic! Then there were several trips down Loch Ness to Fort Augustus, and the cross-country out to Ben Nevis and then further west. But, I will wait until we get more POI structures and a greater selection of aircraft to feature them in an article. Having said that, I am pleased to fly generally round the region in MSFS, sometimes I can¡¦t get enough of it. And, just now and again, I still pop into P3D. Yes, there are deficiencies in each sim experience and positives in both. But, with every new addon by third-party developers and Asobo's ongoing efforts, MSFS continues to mature into the platform I want it to be. Kenneth

KerrSpective 4Rolling Back The Years With CNC3 Brampton-Caledon Airport Pro For MSFS 2020By Kenneth James Kerr /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_-__Header.jpgWhen I was a teenager, my dad once told me, “The older you get the faster time goes.†I clearly remember thinking it was one of the daftest things I’d ever heard my dad say, but nearly fifty years later it is amazing how wise and true it has turned out to be. With the passage of time, and the increasing years, I have discovered not only how time does indeed fly, but also how luxurious it can be to bathe in nostalgia when considering the years that have slipped into history. I talked about this recently when recording my new video course on journaling (HERE), and I also found nostalgia flooding over me like a tidal wave when trying out a new airport in MSFS2020. Today, I want to roll back the years, and offer the KerrSpective that MSFS2020 is an amazing way to re-live your personal history! I go back to the year 1988. I was a mere 30 years of age and a very enthusiastic church minister. I’d been trying to set up a congregation of our fellowship in Inverness, Scotland for a number of years, and was ready for a change. That change came when a church near Toronto hired me as their preacher, and my wife and I emigrated to Canada on July 1st of that year. Our new home was the city of Brampton, sitting just to the west of Toronto. Even in 1988, you could drive from the main mall in Brampton to the very heart of Toronto, and never leave the urban sprawl for a moment. It was a harsh change from the serenity of the Scottish highlands, but I fell in love with it almost instantly. Within a few weeks we were settling into our new life. I’d bought a car, set up my office at the church building, and we were looking for a house to rent. Of course, I’d spent tons of time already beside the fence at CYYZ (Pearson International) which was only a few miles away, but I’d also discovered the local hub of general aviation. This was the pretty little airfield of Brampton-Caledon (CNC3), and best of all it was five minutes from where we were living. About two months later, we were moved into our rented place near Heart Lake, I’d got a computer, and had purchased Microsoft Flight Simulator for the first time. It was version four, and it seemed amazing to me as I flew circuits from Meigs Field in those jerky, primitive graphics. And this brought back my appetite for real flying, so I popped over to CNC3, and signed up for lessons. As it turned out, I hated the instructor’s approach, and only did three flights from Brampton, but the memory of flying from that field is still as clear as a bell. Well, that is 32 years ago now. Yes, my late dad was right. Where have those years gone? So many changes. I have not been a minister since 1989, have changed my whole philosophy of life since then (more than once), and sometimes feel strange when I see “my dad†looking back at me from the mirror as I shave. Sometimes I think the only external thing that’s not changed is that I am still using Microsoft Flight Simulator! So today I’m going to give you an example of using it to “re-visit†the past. How many of you have already flown over places you lived at years ago? How many of you have found yourself re-living a time that is gone? And how many have shaken their heads when looking at the MSFS2020 scenery, and said “It looks familiar, but man has that place grown!†Heck, this is not a simulator (or game – depending on your bent), it is a memory-machine! A nostalgia-engendering, memory-producing, time-traveling device that defies age, location, and even circumstances. And so I have rolled back the years to CNC3 Brampton-Caledon Airport. Now available on the FlightSim.Com store, “CNC3 Brampton-Caledon Airport Pro for MSFS†has just been released as the first-ever commercial design by a new name to our industry, Roman Design. Why Roman? That’s the fellow’s first name, and he indeed lives and works (graphic and website design) in the Greater Toronto Area. He started out creating freeware to enhance the GTA a few months ago, and has already put out an improved photogrammetry of Toronto, an enhanced Niagara Falls, and a couple of airports. One of those airports is the “Light†freeware version of Brampton, and it is available to whet your appetite for his commercial version. I’m not going to go into every detail of the product, that’s not my intention here. Rather, I want to get across to you just how easily the years fell away when exploring both the airport and the area in MSFS2020. It was literally like being there again. Roman has done such an impressive job with CNC3 that he makes that very easy to experience. My nostalgia started right at the main access road into the airport. I have parked my car here and watched Cessnas taking off many times in the past. I know this place, and it feels like I am there again. Looking down the road, seeing the museum building to the right, noticing the angle of the runway in relation to the road, and then seeing the characteristic red-roofed hangars to the left, this is uncanny. I wonder how it will be when VR comes along? /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_1_-_Access_road.jpg1. Access road Talking about The Great War Flying Museum, yes, the building is custom-made, even down to an RAF flag fluttering in the breeze, signage, and the picnic table out front. And on the “active†side of the building you’ll find three WW1-era biplanes for your inspection. Talk about adding detail and increasing immersion. For more info on the museum, click HERE. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_2_-_Museum.jpg2. The Great War Flying Museum /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_3_-_Biplanes.jpg3. Biplanes Further down the road, the parking lot is pretty full (as it often is), and the club building is also custom-modeled. Again, the sense of deja-vu is staggering for me. I have parked there, walked into that building, and feel as if I almost could again. However, the building interior is not represented, and actually I am fine with that. To the back of the building, you enter an area that feels like a park. There are rocks, trees, and even a wooden bridge that leads you to the ramp. I could almost see myself relaxing here during a multiplayer fly-in, sipping on a cool drink while taking it all in “virtually†from the ground! /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_4_-_Parking_lot.jpg4. Parking lot /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_5_-_Club_building.jpg5. Club building /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_6_-_Entrance_to_club.jpg6. Entrance to club /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_7_-_Like_a_park.jpg7. Like a park /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_8_-_Out_to_the_ramp.jpg8. Out to the ramp Out on the ramp, it’s as busy as I remember it. Aircraft all over the place. And those iconic hangars are easily visible too. This really is a sterling job replete with detail, quality, and character. As I “walk†towards my parked Cessna 152, again the years fall away in a terribly uncanny way. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_9_-_Ramp_1.jpg9. Busy ramp Sadly, I did not record the dates of my three flights at Brampton-Caledon in 1988. I also do not have the registrations of the specific Cessnas I flew. But it was fall, so I have added a freeware mod to turn the trees a suitable shade, and I have also added a free repaint of the c152, customizing it to represent C-GBCQ, which I would later fly (both dual and solo) out of nearby CZBA, Burlington Airpark. I run my checks, fire her up, and decide to use the runway I first flew from in real life, the 2,500ft runway 08. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_10_-_Ramp_2.jpg10. C-GBCQ - our Cessna for the day As I taxi out, I keep on hitting the “active pause†key. This is such a photogenic airport that I’m taking tons of screenshots. Only later do I notice that they were taken with the 3d grass and bushes set to off. I re-do them before writing this article! I line up on the runway, and within moments I’m airborne. Gazing down at the countryside, I am easily identifying the roads, the tree lines, and the placement of buildings from so long ago. There’s a grin on my face that would make a Cheshire cat jealous. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_11_-Taxi_1.jpg11. Taxiing out /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_12_-_Taxi_2.jpg12. Slowing down to look at the biplanes /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_13_-_take_off.jpg13. Take off I decide to head Northwest along Highway 10. In real life the road rises up towards the Caledon hills, and I find myself remembering the first time I drove on it. It had been a gloriously-clear day, and I could see Lake Ontario and Toronto on the horizon. How the heck is that 32 years ago? Within minutes I am over the gravel pit at Caledon Village. First time I saw it from the air I could see why it was such an awesome landmark for local pilots. It’s the same in the sim. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_14_-_Turning_to_follow_HWY_10.jpg14. Turning to follow Hwy 10 /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_15_-_Gravel_pit.jpg15. Gravel pit Continuing to climb, I look out the left wing to the Caledon Hills and the Forks of the Credit River. Names, places, and faces from the past come to my mind. I Look for the red-rocked hill, but do not see it. I do recall thinking it was like something from Mars. I also remember friends taking us to see a local folly, a massive half-built mansion abandoned during a recession. It would be down under that wing somewhere too. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_16_-_Caledon_Hills.jpg16. Caledon Hills Further out, I orbit my Cessna around the town of Orangeville. This is where I took my Canadian driving test. I remember the examiner would not shut up about how my British license was valid until I would be 80 or so. I also remember him telling me to ignore the traffic and turn at the lights. Then, when the sequence changed and we were stuck in the middle of the intersection, he was a white as a ghost and just as silent. “I should have failed you†he later said. “And I would have had your examiner’s ticket withdrawn mate!†I replied. Needless to say, I passed! /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_17_-_Orangeville.jpg17. Orangeville All these memories came flooding back. I was not flying a simulated Cessna over a simulated countryside. This was real. The mind was filling in any blanks, brain cells were vibrating, neurons were firing, and suddenly an emotion was dawning on me, a sense of sadness that I shall not walk that path again, nor again be that spry 30-year old. Never has flight simulator been so encouraging of such thoughts and emotions. I head back towards Brampton-Caledon. It’s a bit misty, so I can barely make out Lake Ontario, but I get a hint of it. Coming closer, and getting ready to join the downwind, I see Heart Lake off to my left. Our house was about one kilometer from it. Back then, there were only a few blocks of houses further out, but in the sim (and now in reality) the city has expanded very close to the airport. Once again my dad’s words come to me. “The older you get, the faster time goes.†/images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_18_-_Heart_Lake.jpg18. Heart Lake off the nose I enter the downwind leg at 1700ft ASL. I look over at the airport, those red-roofed hangars really stand out in Roman’s work, just as they do in real life. And another memory fires, this time of seeing the hangars from an airliner still more than 15,000ft up. But I must land, so I focus on that. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_19_-_On_the_downwind.jpg19. On the downwind /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_20_-_Turning_base.jpg20. Turning base Base leg goes quickly, and now I am on final… Yes, there’s the road, and the railway at the end of the runway. And… “How the heck am I supposed to land on that 40ft wide strip?†My Goodness, the same thought I had in real life 32 years ago. I flare, land, struggle with the MSFS2020 physics to stay straight, and then pull off and park. Engine off, I sit there and think. /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_21_-_Finals.jpg21. Turning final /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_22_-_Over_the_fence.jpg22. Over the fence /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_23_-_Into_the_flare.jpg23. Into the flare What just happened? It’s like going though old photos, or old videos. The body may be older, but the person viewing these things is still the same, just as ageless, just as ethereal. You and I are not the body, we are not even the mind. We are the consciousness that looks out from those two eyes, and that is as young and fresh as it was 32 years ago. While the body feels older and stiffer as I get up from my chair, while the mind had to be prodded into remembering some details, the observer was the same… And so the experience was evergreen, vibrant, alive, and as real as it gets. With photo-scenery, brilliant lighting, high-fidelity graphics, and now more and more detailed third-party airports, this nostalgic KerrSpective can be your experience too. Go and fly those places from your past, re-live some memories. Be young again, if only for a short time. Roman Design’s CNC3 Brampton-Caledon Airport Pro for MSFS is a great product, well worth buying as a base for Ontario exploration, a trip to Niagara, or a sightseeing jaunt over Toronto. I highly recommend it. (Buy it HERE) /images/reviews/brampton/t/Brampton_-_Footer.jpg24. A closing look at CNC3 Brampton-Caledon Pro Next time, I’m taking you on a flight in Manitoba! /images/reviews/brampton/title3.jpgKenneth Kerr Purchase Roman Design – CNC3 Brampton – Caledon Airport Pro for MSFS

KerrSpectives - State Of The Sim With Kenneth J. Kerr Well, this is going to be a very different KerrSpective, because there will be no screen shots to show off how wonderful MSFS is. Actually, it's not the article I was planning to write at all. You see, the airport I was going to feature broke a few patches ago. Also, the third-party aircraft I was going to write about has been totally screwed-up by patch 5. Now, before anyone gets upset at what I am going to say, please understand that I now have around 200 hours in the sim, but I cannot confirm that because the in-game logbook stopped recording my hours for a few weeks. None-the-less, my considerable use of the sim has shown my genuine enthusiasm for it. I am a strong advocate for MSFS, and actually love this product. BUT...it is surely time for a "state of the nation" look at this thing, and time to reflect on the "state of the sim." As I write this, it's just over eleven weeks since MSFS went live. In that time we've seen five patches released from Asobo, plus a very quickly put together hotfix. And, while I see some people almost waxing lyrical about how wonderful each new patch is ("It's the best patch eh-verr"), I can't help but ask... If Asobo had done it right in the first place, would there have been a need for a patch at all? And it's not as if each patch merely addresses a few minor tweaks here and there, instead it's big issues, with changes taking place in broad sweeps across many aspects of the sim itself. This is why I am forced to say this - We are at a watershed moment in the existence of this product. Let's start off with this unfortunate fact. No matter what way you cut it, this is a Beta product. Think back... There was a long period of Alpha, but then only a couple of weeks of Beta before it went live. And since then, big re-writes every two weeks. I hate to say it, but every single one of us who paid full retail price for this were suckered into becoming Beta testers who paid for the privilege. This is not a stable and completed product, it is an evolving series of mistakes, test and try, verify and change, and seemingly "make it up as we go along." It's like trying to build a real aeroplane in flight! And what's the evidence of this assumption? The sim itself is the evidence. With every new patch, they seem to break some things as fast as they fix others. And then, they end up using valuable time, energy, and resources fixing their own mistakes. Look, I don't want to cast dispersion on Asobo's programing skills, but I think they have bitten off more than they can chew administratively, and are fundamentally going about this in the wrong way. They have become reactionary instead of proactive. This is why it is a watershed moment for Asobo. It's like myself as an author. If I keep on re-writing a chapter over and over again, it's all too easy to end up with something that no longer resembles the first version, and worse, it's possible to lose the plot. If Asobo keeps on acting like a dog chasing its tail, going round in circles fixing fixes, then at some point they are going to end up with such a mess that they cannot go back and correct it without doing a major re-write or a total re-set. Again, a watershed. To Asobo I say, stop this nonsense now, before you break it any further and lose the plot. But, it is also a watershed for third-party developers. As of patch 5, my Carenado 182 has some issues, my BlackBox Bird Dog is broken in multiple ways, and reports have also shown problems with the Carenado Mooney, Iris Jabiru, and IndiaFoxTecho MB-339. In some cases the doors and windows no longer open. In many aircraft the switches and buttons are totally re-mapped at the custom coding level. More often than not there are livery issues too, even in freeware repaints of default aircraft. In the MS forum, both Iris and BlackBox intimated that they will need to wait for Asobo to fix things before moving ahead, although Iris has since said they've been able to fix some of the issues. And, while it was hoped that the end of October hotfix might have addressed these third-party woes, it didn't. On top of that, we've already seen that bigger developers like PMDG are holding off until the product stabilizes. I suspect A2A and others are doing the same too. Seriously, how can a third-party developer have confidence in supporting this product under these circumstances? And I will never stop saying, it is the third-party industry that represents the make or break for a sim. I remember when I owned and operated The VIP Group twenty-something years ago. One of the most annoying challenges was having to re-do and re-design everything with each new version of MSFS. Back then, we at least had a breather for two years, so goodness knows how maddening it is for developers now, with changes coming every two WEEKS. And so, some developers might simply give up, and re-focus on old platforms again, or they might just place an indeterminable hold on product development for this new wonder-sim. How long will that hold last? It depends on how long it takes Asobo to stabilize the platform, and based on their current tail chasing, I'm not willing to even begin to guess on that timescale! So, watershed for Asobo, and watershed for third-party developers. But it is also a watershed for users. Just how many people (long term simmers, not the newbies), have already raised their hands in frustration and gone back to X-Plane, Prepar3D, or DCS? It's not as if these folks have avoided giving MSFS a fair try, they are paying customers who expected better. In fact, some of them even deleted their old sims based on their expectations of MSFS alone, and some are regretting that decision now as they slowly re-build the assets of their previous platforms. For many people, each new patch represents not an advancement in the new sim, but a game of Russian Roulette. There is no confidence in incremental improvement, rather a sense of foreboding in which the question is at least implied, "Wonder what they'll break this time?", or "I wonder if it will even work now?" or, "Will this be the patch that sends me back to my old sim?" - And sadly, when these simmers express such feelings in the forums, they are denigrated for doing so by people who say "You should have known what you were buying." Really? Which part of the pre-release development videos from Asobo suggested they were going to bring a beta to market? It is time for this madness to stop. Yes, I know people might say "This is just how the software industry works"... Well if this is the "new normal" in the industry, it stinks to high heaven and is a step in the wrong direction. Asobo has got to put the brakes on now and re-think what they are doing, and how they are going about things. So what is needed? Well, while the decisions are not mine to make, if I owned Asobo I know what I would do now. I would stop and take a "fearless moral inventory" of myself, admitting that I've messed up somewhere. I would have the courage to admit this to Microsoft, suggesting that product sales should be temporarily halted while further development takes place to stabilize the sim. I would re-appoint a core group of the most experienced and reliable Beta testers ASAP. I would include within that Beta group every third-party developer with products currently on the market or in development for the platform. I would temporarily close the public forum, so that I could stop reacting to thousands of disparate voices, with different product experiences and opinions. I would roll back the sim to exactly what was released on August 18th (They do have back-ups surely?). I would take the experiences of the past 11 weeks, and use those experiences to begin building slowly, incrementally, and progressively upon that August 18th platform. I would address one area at a time, put it out to the Beta testers, and respond appropriately to feedback on that one area, completing it and signing off on it before moving on. I would resist all attempts by bean counters and marketing people to re-open sales until I knew I had a stable product. I would then, with a stable product, re-open sales and re-open the forum. I would release the newly-revised version, but make no further live changes to it. I would have a separate development version that only Beta testers could access. Development would continue in a way that did not impact the live public release. I would plan to release a new version one year from the date of the current release, knowing that it was a stable, sound, and reliable new release. If Asobo takes steps like this, they can save this product. If they carry on with their current direction, they will fix, break, re-fix, and re-break themselves into a corner. Meanwhile, sensing an opportunity, maybe Lockheed Martin and Google will get together and shock the heck out of the industry. Who knows. So where do I personally stand now on my use of MSFS 2020? Yes I love the sim, but it is a love-hate relationship. Two nights ago, I decided to fly at night over my local area of the Canadian prairie. In reality, at night there are massive areas of darkness, punctuated by the lights of small towns and villages in the distance. Well, the sim represented this nicely... until patch 5. Now, the prairie is lit up like a Christmas tree, with even gravel roads garishly illuminated by street lamps every hundred feet or so. I literally shouted out "That's enough of this BS", and as my dog ran away thinking I was mad at him, I switched the program off in total disgust. Later, I fired up an earlier sim again, but it's not the same any more. Yes, it is stable and well-developed with add-ons, but the visuals have been ruined for me because of the taste of what MSFS is capable of. Sad thing is this.... I feel disappointed in the old sim now, but also frustrated with the new. It's a limbo world in which there is no sim-happiness. But then, that's a refection of the real world in 2020 for masses of the global population, isn't it? See you in the next KerrSpective, even if I have no idea what platform that will be based in! Kenneth Kerr

KerrSpectives - A Thinking Man's Guide To Add-onsBy Kenneth J. Kerr /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-1.jpgA freeware repaint of the stock AirbusA320neo, sits on the ramp at the payware version of Innsbruck airport(LOWI) by Orbx. Hey there folks, it's Kenneth J. Kerrhere, and thank you for joining me in this second episode of my brandnew series, KerrSpectives, where I offer my personal perspectives onthe flight simulation industry. As I write this, we are one month into our collective experience ofthe new Microsoft Flight Simulator platform, and of course theopinions are legion as well as divided. Some hate it, and some loveit. Some swear by it, while others swear at it. Well, love it orloathe it, it's here to stay. And what's also here is the suddenexplosion of addons, so today we're going to offer some importantthoughts, guides, and KerrSpectives on the world of MSFS 2020addons. Whenever a new version of a sim is launched, whether that sim befrom Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, or Laminar Research, it typicallytakes a little while for the supply of addons to grow from a trickle,to a stream, and then to a river. But this time, with MSFS 2020 it isdifferent. One month in and the floodgates are open, with hundreds ofaddons already available, and growing by the day. This might be due to the fact that many people had access to thealpha and beta, and had time to work some things out. But, it is alsodue to the fact that a larger audience has been attracted to the simby virtue of it being pushed not just to niche-hobbyists, but also togamers in general. With reportedly more than one million copies sold,and the SDK being easily available to all, it's little wonder thatthings are different this time around. Needless to say, as the addon supply increases, there's animmediate temptation to go crazy. It's like being a kid again, lookinground the stores just before Christmas and being told you can takeyour pick. However, this is not a time for mad excess, it is a timefor restrained discretion. With that in mind, you may want to askyourself some very pointed questions. What Do I Really Want And Need?If you've been around the industry for a long time, you probablylook at your hard drive and find an absolute ton of downloadedfreeware files, and a small fortune's worth of commercialproducts. Chances are that some of them were purchased several timesover as each new version of the sim rendered your existing collectionobsolete. So do you really want to go through that process all overagain? In my personal development books, I often remind readers that "Alesson will be repeated until it is learned". So are you going torepeat the lesson, or learn it and act differently this time? This is an opportunity to do things differently. So, instead ofdownloading everything new as and when it is released, or buying everysingle airport or aircraft that comes onto the market, why not look atyour past simming preferences and be more discerning? How many aircraft did you buy in the past, and only fly a fewtimes? Are there airports you never landed at again? Then why fill upyour hard drive or put pressure on your budget just to repeat the samemistake? Make a list of the aircraft you REALLY want, and which airports youREALLY need. If it means waiting a while, then wait. Enjoy what thesim offers now, and hold out with discernment and discipline for afeast of what's really important to you, instead of gorging yourselfon the eye candy you'll get sick of quickly. Whom Do I Trust And Where Will I Go?Over the years, through experience, many of us have gravitatedtowards supporting certain developers and frequenting certainwebsites. We know we can trust their name, or their brand, or theironline presence. However, once again it's a little different now. Suddenly, there are new names appearing. Many of these are brandnew to the flight simulation genre, and armed with the SDK they aretrying out their hand at designing sceneries, or the modification ofexisting files. And, as these new names appear, we're also seeing asudden increase in new websites eager to bring those files to thepublic. But here's the rub. Do you know these designers? Can you be certainof their quality of workmanship? Can you be sure that they know whatthey're doing? Or is there a possibility that some sub-standard fileswill crash your program and your computer? And when it comes to the new websites, or files available throughnumerous other locations, can you feel confident that these files arefree from malware or viruses? And do you have any idea who the peopleare behind the new sites? Some of them have so many adverts on themthat you have to be very careful where you click "Download here" asyou might just be downloading something you really don't want. The flood of new addons is largely coming from unknown designersand being offered through brand new websites. And while I am notsuggesting that every new designer, and every new website is suspect,I am saying that we must be discerning, and perhaps a little cautiousuntil trust is established. The fact is that the legacy websites suchas FlightSim.Com and Avsim, are still the go-to choice for experienceddesigners to distribute their files through. You are free to try outthe new (I am), but remember you are walking into untried territorywhen you do so. In the process you might indeed find new names totrust, and even new sites that you frequent, but it could also be asomewhat risky journey along the way. Is It Legal?As I look at the new websites out there, and try some of the files,it is becoming apparent that already the question of legality israising its head. I have already seen cases where people are adaptingexisting aircraft designs from other sims into the new sim. This isfine, and we'd like to see more of this, but only if the person doingthe adaptation has been granted permission from the original designerof the work. To adapt someone else's work, and to share it withouttheir permission is wrong, and it is legally questionable. I wouldencourage anyone trying to adapt an existing work to start off bygetting written permission from the original designer first. And this does not stop with aircraft. What about scenery? Yes, Iknow that for years people have downloaded ortho from "certainsites" and have used it to create photo scenery. Those companieshave turned somewhat of a blind eye to it, so far. But what about thenew landmarks being created by using material from certain sites? Ifthe volume of such creations goes through the roof, how long will thelegal departments of those sites remain silent? Especially when theresulting files are being integrated into a product that supportstheir competitor. And what about the sites which distribute these pirated orquestionable creations? Will the owners of the original copyright orintellectual property come after the one who did the adaptation onetime, or will they target the sites distributing those creations bythe thousands? Again, we are dealing with a new audience coming into the genre,and as a mass of new people try their hand at adapting existing works,distributing them through "suddenly appearing" websites, we may be infor a rough ride legally, or at least some turbulence. Bottom line: Let's remind new designers to keep it legal. Better totake your time and do it right, than to jump into the muddy waters oflegal grey areas. What If Asobo Changes Something?In years gone by, and with previous versions of the MicrosoftFlight Simulator, we were dealing with something fixed in stone. Theversion you bought in the box was likely to stay the same until a newversion came out a few years later. This meant there was stabilityupon which third party designers could build, at least for a year ortwo. This time it is different. With the new Flight Simulator beingdistributed and supported online, and being so reliant on streamingdata, anything can change. Think about the patch that was issued justdays ago. There were many changes in that patch, and while it did helpsome people out in terms of performance, it also caused the sim tocrash for others. In some cases the crashes were being caused by theaddons the users had already integrated into their earlier releaseversion of the sim. Wow, this could be a disaster waiting to happen. We are dealingwith a moving target here folks. If MSFS 2020 is truly going to be anongoing development, as stated by Asobo, then addons created for anearlier version could be rendered obsolete or unworkable withinmonths, weeks, or days of their release. That's a challenge for theaddon companies, and also a challenge for the users of theprograms. There is a reason why the most reputable addon companies areworking very closely with Asobo, and some of them are telling us itwill be months before they release a product. The new "out of nowhere" unknown designers might justbe playing with fire when they release their hurriedofferings. Meanwhile, the established big name players are crossingthe t's and dotting the i's in direct communication with Asobo.Again, as a user, be aware of the risk you take by rushing to supportunknown designers too early in the product release schedule of thesim. So What's Out There Already?Incredible though it may seem, there's already more out there thanany one person has time to try. In terms of freeware, and given thecaveats already expressed, there are: Airports of varying complexityRepaints of stock MSFS 2020 aircraftLandmarks that can replace stock buildings and bridgesUtilities to change refresh rates of glass cockpitsAnd much moreAnd then, when to comes to payware, we have already seen: Detailed airports from Aerosoft, Orbx, FlyTampa, UK2000, and other established manufacturersScenery additions to augment photogrammetry from Orbx, Taburet, Drzewiecki Design, and othersThe first re-release of an existing aircraft from CarenadoThe first aircraft from a designer previously working within the X-Plane ecosystemA utility called SmoothTrack to allow you to use your phone camera in a way that is similar to the function of TrackIR.A very detailed guide (in place of the manual we never got with the sim) from SoFly. It is constantly updated too.And announcements are coming in fast and furious of products in thepipeline from other well-known industry luminaries. PMDG has told us their 737NG will be coming eventually, as will other aircraft from their fleetA2A is working on an all-new AerostarAeroplane Heaven said they're working on a SpitfireIndiafoxtecho has confirmed that development continues on numerous aircraft after the release of the latest patchAerosoft reports their Twin Otter and CRJ projects are progressingDC Designs has previewed several jets in development, including the Concorde, and the F-15 EagleNumerous scenery projects are being developed by myriad established companiesREX Weather Force 2020 is going to bring us true METAR real weatherAnd much much more is happening behind the scenesYes, it is a new world, being built on a new platform, and thefuture looks bright. All the more reason to be discerning with ouraddon choices as we take our first baby steps into it. What Have You Tried Kenneth?Well, let me check something first. Goodness, I have logged 116hours of actual flight time in the sim in four weeks. No matter whatmy misgivings (and I do still have some), it is now clear that for thetime being this is my current simulator of choice. So, a few thoughtson what I have tried, and what I am enjoying. Carenado Cessna 182T (Payware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-2.jpgCarenado Cessna 182T. The registration iscustomizable as with the stock aircraft, so I selected C-GYKF torepresent a real example of this paint scheme in Ontario,Canada. I know that Carenado has had their share of detractors over theyears when it comes to systems, and they don't produce study-levelaircraft like A2A, but visually they knock it out of the park timeafter time. Well, I just had to try their 182T since it was the firstever third party aircraft for the new platform. Gotta tell you, I likeit. Sure, I have to mess with the zoom and the seating position to getit right, but I don't mind that. And while some hate the sound, trywearing headphones and the bass will come through in a way it does noton cheap speakers. As a fun alternative to the 172, and a complexityupgrade in the Cessna line, I think it is a keeper, for me at least.No regrets buying it. HOWEVER, I do hope Carenado will NOT limit us tobuying from the Microsoft store in the future. Hey guys, don't forgetthe likes of FlightSim.Com's store. You owe much of your success tothe independent websites and their stores. Orbx Innsbruck Airport And Cityscape (Payware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-3.jpgGlorious attention to detail is typical ofOrbx individual airport releases. The 757 is part of the staticscenery, the A320 is what I was flying on this occasion. I have never personally been disappointed with a detailed Orbxairport. In the past I'd purchased Innsbruck for Aerofly FS2, and sowith their loyalty discount being made available to me, I had to giveit a go in MSFS 2020. It's beautiful of course. However, there is someuneven water in the river that flows through the city itself, andwhile that might be an underlying issue with the sim, it's somethingthat does take away from the area if you focus on it. Will I keep thisairport? Heck yes! Taburet Fishburn Airfield (Payware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-4.jpgA beautiful little airfield in the Britishcountryside. Lots of character, but I am taking a significant FPS hitwith it. Once that is fixed I will fly the heck out of the trafficpattern here! A delightful little British airfield with a lot of character,including two vintage DeHavillands on static display. Taburet hascaptured the detail, right down to the fences and the signage. Ireally wanted to like this, but I find it currently un-flyable due toperformance issues. I can be hitting 36 to 40 FPS in the pattern, butwhen some parts of this field come into view I drop to a 10 FPSslideshow. Even Orbx Innsbruck stays at around 30 FPS for me. Iwonder if the patch changed something as I can't see Taburet lettingthis through his quality control. I don't know as I got it after thepatch was installed. A keeper? Yes, if there is indeed a fix for thisperformance hit. SmoothTrack -- Phone-Based Head-Tracking App (Payware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-5.jpgThis screenshot came from an outside source,I did not take it. It shows an inset of the phone screen in thisimage, but you do not see that on your monitor in the sim. I have never owned TrackIR but have always been intrigued by thenotion of head tracking. So, when I heard about this phone-based appthat mimics the functionality of TrackIR for a low price, I knew itwas worth trying. SmoothTrack works in consort with a free programcalled Free Track, and it does take a few moments to set up. Does itwork? Yes. Does it work smoothly? Not for me, but that might be mysystem. I experience a slight lag in the movement, and it issufficiently annoying to me personally, that I prefer regular panningin the VC. It might work like a charm on your machine however. SoFly -- A Guide To Flight Simulator MSFS 2020 -- (A Payware PDF Manual) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/sof-100-flightsim-guide-msfs.jpgMSFS 2020 is the first incarnation of the iconic title to shipwithout a manual, not even a digital one. That's quite anoversight. Therefore, even before the product was released, a new teamcalled SoFly started working on a digital guide in PDF format. It'snot a step-by-step, button-by-button manual, and it also deals withthings like peripherals, but many people might find it very useful. Ihave just started going through it, and kudos to the people whodesigned it. It is beautifully done, and lavishly illustrated. It isalso (like the sim itself) an evolving product. Every week it seemsthey add another bunch of new material to it, and it keeps gettingbigger. I am planning to do a more complete review as it gets closerto content stabilization. Aerosoft Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (Freeware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-6.jpgA superb German airport from Aerosoft, andit is free on the Microsoft store and at Aerosoft's own site. Aerosoft surprised more than a few flightsimmers when they releaseda gorgeous freeware airport in the Microsoft store. It's EDLP inGermany. I downloaded it and was very impressed. Beautifully designedwith custom aerial images, custom buildings with terminal interiors,and surrounding local landmarks. It is a great demonstration of whatwe can expect from Aerosoft in the future, and as it performs well onmy machine it's a keeper. Various British Farm Strips From Neil Birch (Freeware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-7.jpgOne of the many free farm strips from NeilBirch. Download them all from FlightSim.Com and see if you can be thefirst to identify it in the comments to this article! (No prizesthough). Neil Birch is well known for his farm strip series of sceneries,and his guided tours of the British countryside. Right now he is on aroll as he discovers his own enthusiasm for the new sim. I've lostcount of how many farm strips he has now made for MSFS 2020. They area lot of fun to fly from, and sometimes hard to find unless you cheat!One thing I have noticed is the same bug that's present in the TaburetFishburn scenery with regard to some static aircraft. They flipbetween positioned correctly, and being half buried in theground. With this happening in the sceneries of two talenteddesigners, it's got to be an SDK thing, or something in the toolsused. I bet it will be fixed at some time in the future. Grab Neil'sairfields, after all, the price is right. Tiger Moth (Freeware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-8.jpgA sign of what might come. This experimentalconversion from Ants freeware FSX Tiger Moth was working until the latest patch was released. I am adding this screenshot here as an example of what ispossible. This Tiger Moth was an adaptation of Ant's freeware designfrom FSX. Unfortunately, the latest patch now causes it to create aCrash-To-Desktop every time I try to fly it, or any other "converted"aircraft. All of these experimental conversions are missing anyavionics, and the flight models are typically off. However, it is astep in the right direction, and given more research by dedicateddesigners, hopefully in consort with the original designers and Asobo,this might be a good omen. Landmarks (Freeware)As mentioned earlier, there are many freeware landmarks beginningto appear to correct or augment cities in MSFS 2020. Some of theselandmarks are being designed from scratch, but many are making use ofmaterial from "certain sites" in their creation. In order to avoiddrawing attention to any one freeware designer, I will refrain fromusing a screenshot here. Suffice it to say I have tried a few of thesecreations. Some work well, but at least one caused terrible scenerytearing about 20 miles from the place it was located. Just remember touse any of these freeware offerings at your own risk. And alsoremember there are commercial outfits like Orbx and Drzewiecki Designbeginning to build their own landmark products entirely from scratch,free of legal ambiguity and fully tested. (Orbx London and Sydney,Drzewiecki Design Moscow and Washington). Repaints (Freeware) /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-9.jpgA custom repaint of the humble Cessna 152that came close to one of the machines I flew many years ago out ofBurlington Airpark, Ontario (CZBA). So I added the registration, andre-flew a bunch of circuits. Goodness, did that melt the yearsaway. /images/op-eds/msfsadd/t/kerrspective-2-10.jpgThe repaint also included a black panel. One of the staple diets of the addon industry over the years hasbeen repaints, and this phenomena is now beginning for MSFS2020. There are already hundreds of repaints for the A320 Neo alone,and a significant number for the Boeing 787. For me however, I am mosthappy to see repaints of the humble Cessna 152, especially when someof them include different-colored panel options. All of the 152's Iflew in my training (years ago) had black panels, so it was a treat tofind a repainted option that included this. There will be a lot morerepaints to come in the future, of that I am certain. ConclusionsIt can be argued that if addons had not existed, the entireMicrosoft Flight Sim genre (and derivatives) might have died outdecades ago. Addons have made most sims what they are. In some eyes,addons have taken games and turned them into simulators. I have no doubt that the addon industry will flourish under theMSFS 2020 era, and that the base program will become hundreds of timesbetter as a result. MSFS 2020 is far from perfect, but it is the best"out of the box" foundation we've ever had, and as we know, greatmansions can be built upon strong foundations. I hope you find my KerrSpectives on the addon industry helpful,perhaps thought-provoking. You don't have to agree with me, but ifthese ideas serve you in your own involvement in the addon industry,either as a designer or user, then I am happy with that result. See you next time! Kenneth Kerr Previous KerrSpective: So What About The MSFS 2020 Scenery?