UK2000 VFR Airfields Vol.1 is excellent!

[J0hn]

I posted a month or two ago and was sceptical about the £29.99 price tag on this product.

I take it back. This scenery is just brilliant. Whether it's a small GA airfield or a large station like Lyneham, Brize Norton or Culdrose, the UK2000 crew have done themselves proud. The AI are very convincing,too - civil and military.

The only - very small and probably not their fault - gripe is the ATC.
I have JF's Traffic installed - not sure if that does anything with the ATC or not (I wish someone would...) but, for example, I had to sit at Plymouth in the Beaufighter, whilst some oik in a Cessna 152 did countless VFR circuits whilst some spotty oik with a yank accent in ATC made me wait at the holding point.

But that's a very minor issue - forget the 'VFR' tag in the product title if you are not into that - if you like flying in the UK, this scenery pack is a must, and I can't wait for the remaining volumes to be released.

I'll post a screenie or two later. ;-)

[J0hn]

From now on, when you see 'Sheep graze on aerodrome' in the VFR Guide - they ain't kidding....!
Davidstowe Moor


Dunkeswell


Culdrose approach


Plymouth GA parking


Plymouth again


Haverfordwest


Land's End/St Just





For those not familiar with Davidstowe Moor - be warned - it has a busy road that crosses the runway...

[DaveB]

Hi John

A nice selection there ;-) BTW.. Davidstowe has had sheep (UK2000) for about as long as I can remember. You had to fly low to scare them off the runway then turn sharpish and land before they came back again Pity that area isn't quite 'As real as it gets' as you're hard pushed to see the airfield from the road.. lots of hedges, walls and trees. In fact.. you CAN'T see the airfield from the road as I remember :o

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[T6flyer]

The road that runs through Davidstow is a little minor one that runs from the main Camelford to Bude one, down across the start of one of the runways and onto Altarnun and the A30. I have never seen it as busy as that depicted in this scenery package (same goes for the road at the northern end of Old Sarum, which is reality is nothing more than a track.....had a little walk down it last year looking for a pub!). I'm not knocking the wonderful work that Gary Summons does, it is superb and will always remain in my simulators. I cant thank him enough for producing these wonderful replicas of our little (and large) airfields.

I've been into Davidstow a few times in a Piper Cub (now only open to microlights) and then the runway was right up close to the road and at times you did have to dodge the learner drivers that were practising their three point turns thereon. Once had an An-2 flight there.

But if in the local area, make a visit to the local Military museum, which is situated on the North West side of the airfield. Well worth a visit and home to a Gannet too. http://cornwallatwarmuseum.co.uk/

Best wishes to all,

Martin

[DaveB]

Hi Martin

Yup.. the road I was refering to is the A39 and not the tiddler that cuts through the airfield. Having a quick Google Earth.. I'm not surprised you can't see it from the main road (A39).. it looked a lot closer than that in fsim (GE ref.. 50 38 07.26N 4 37 03.84W).

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[T6flyer]

Hi Martin

Yup.. the road I was refering to is the A39 and not the tiddler that cuts through the airfield. Having a quick Google Earth.. I'm not surprised you can't see it from the main road (A39).. it looked a lot closer than that in fsim (GE ref.. 50 38 07.26N 4 37 03.84W).
ATB
DaveB :tab:

I see what you mean and yes you're right, you cant see the airfield from the main road. All you can see is the Cheese Factory and thats about all and thats on a good day. Why were airfields built in places where the weather was on most days terrible?

Best wishes,

Martin

[DaveB]

Ahh.. sunny days

I was last in that part of the world a little over a year ago. I hit rain probably a few miles outside Plymouth and came out of it as the road descended not far from Blackwater on the A30. The day we left, 2 weeks later, a nice.. clear day, I was surprised to see just how much of the countryside I'd missed on the journey down due to mist/rain :o

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[PushinPolys]

Blimey, the size of those sheep at Dunkeswell could keep a county in Lamb chops for a year

[Trev Clark]

I just have to add how fantastic this product is in tandem with Horizon VFR Part 1! They blend together in a photoreal sort of harmony! If only the scenery had full autogen (next version?), I think the southern UK would really be 'as real as it gets'.

Gary's scenery has been part of my FS sim ever since his first release (1999?), before this, they were getting a bit 'old hat', but now they are top rate again....buy it!!!

[J0hn]

Indeed. The pics above are with JF's VFR Real Scenery.

Yes, the countryside down there is very nice - I always enjoy my yearly visits to Colerne airfield in June (when it's always rainy/windy), so much nicer than the bland part of the Fens that I live in. Though Colerne is quite a bit before this area.