A most interesting challenge
One of the more interesting challenges in upgrading Misty Fjords to FSX (at least for me!) is going to be modelling Ketchikan International Airport (PAKT). It has sloping runways and taxiways, which are not supported by FSX. So we’ll have to figure out how to fudge or approximate it. I can guarantee right now that the representation won’t be perfect. Courtesy of Sidney Schwartz, here’s what we’re up against. Yes indeed, the runway level is at the top of the tower, with the taxiways ramping up to the runway.
Nice challenge
I’m still hoping that someone someday may find a way to get AI working on sloped runways. Almost makes you want to convert to X-Plane… Good luck!
Comment by christian — Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
I created Ketchikan airport for fs2004 about 2 years ago. The three levels and the three sloping taxiways were a pain. Flattens close to other flattens caused some grief as I recall. Once it was done I needed sloping flattens for the two taxiways and never did get that to work. Without them you have a very bumpy taxi experience. I did not care about AI so that big problem of needing formal taxiways was not considered. Eventually I erased the mess and have thought about FSX but I am waiting for mesh better than 38meters/point.
Comment by Dick Boley — Saturday, January 19th, 2008 @ 6:05 am
@Christian: ya, they’ll be no AI on the slopes!
@Dick, it should not be that difficult when using LWM3 (sloped flattens) to create the slopes reasonably accurately, but the representation will depend on the user’s mesh resolution setting. We’ve used this technique in many fields in Victoria+ and other sceneries. The texture becomes the issue then, as the level of detail must be introduced with photoscenery, and again one is dependent on a user setting: texture resolution, as well as availability of high-res airphotos.
Comment by jonpatch — Saturday, January 19th, 2008 @ 9:52 am