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VFR Photographic Scenery
For up-to-date information about VFR Photographic Scenery, please visit: Horizon Simulation Ltd
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DHFS use Visual Flight/Getmapping VFR Photographic Scenery for flight sim training
The Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) is using Getmapping Photographic Scenery developed by Visual Flight for its ground based visual navigation training. Coupled with Microsoft Flight Simulator, the VFR Photographic Scenery is now allowing students to pre-fly feature-to-feature navigation exercises. From the 3D real-life aerial photography, students can follow a route using identifiable ground based features such as roads, rivers, plantations and other recognisable structures.
An independent unit based at RAF Shawbury, DHFS provides basic single engine helicopter training for the three services. The school has developed its own full scale set-up for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator to enable students to gain extra practice on a replica of the single engine Squirrel helicopters used on the base. The set-up provides a highly cost effective solution to providing students with initial ‘medium height’ navigation training. Since most peace time flying is carried out at ‘medium height’, around 1500ft, the arrival of Getmapping’s VFR Photographic Scenery was greeted with enthusiasm as Andy Digby from RAF Shawbury explains: “Over the last three years we have developed our own low cost flight simulator using full scale flight controls that are faithful to our Squirrel aircraft. Before Getmapping’s photo scenery was available VFR navigation was not really possible on the sim, but now everything has changed. At medium height the scenery works a treat and students have reported being able to follow the route for real because the ground based simulation was so good. Every feature shown on their maps is identifiable.” Low level or tactical flying with a typical flying height of 200ft has proved more problematic because of the resolution of the imagery. However the recent availability of highly accurate terrain models from Intermap Technologies whose NEXTMap Britain project covers the whole country opens up new possibilities. “We are excited by the prospects”, said Andy Digby, “We are working with Getmapping, Visual Flight and the University of Southampton, who are beta testers for Microsoft, to develop the scenery further and enhance our ground based flight simulation facilities.
FS2004 Installation and Migration Tools
Visual Flight have released a generic installation/setup toolkit for FS2004 which free to anyone to use, but entirely as the user's own risk.
What's in the toolkit?
The toolkit includes programs which may prove useful for migrating scenery from FS2002 to FS2004. It may also prove useful for installing scenery designed for FS2002 into FS2004, and for other types of add-on as well as scenery.
- FSMigrate - Allows FS2002 Scenery Library entries to be selectively copied to FS2004 without disturbing the existing FS2002 set-up or requiring that scenery be uninstalled/re-installed.
- FS2002_IS_HERE - Allows FS2002 add-ons to be installed direct into FS2004 by fooling them into thinking FS2004 is FS2002. Can also be used to set or change the FS2002 path in the Registry
- FS2004_IS_HERE - Unlikely to be needed, but can be used to set or change the FS2004 path in the Registry
Important
This is a generic toolkit (not specifically for Visual Flight scenery) but you should take careful note of the following:
- This toolkit should only be used for add-ons known to be compatible with FS2004.
- You should seek out and use utilities, patches or other fixes and/or information from official web sites wherever possible in preference to using these utilities.
- If you have FS2002 and FS2004 installed, you may wish to use FSMigrate in preference to using FS2002_IS_HERE/installing direct into FS2004. Using FSMigrate will save on disk space, and is less likely to damage your FS2004 setup as it does not change any FS2004 'system' files apart from scenery.cfg.
- You must read the documentation associated with each individual program before use.
- You use these programs and the associated documentation entirely at your own risk.
More information & download
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FS2004
VFR PHOTOGRAPHIC SCENERY
VFR Photographic Scenery is compatible with FS2004. However,
it is recommended that ALL users should visit the Visual Flight FS2004 Forum
in order to read important information about FS2004 and get up to date hints
and tips, including a utility to make it easier to migrate scenery from
FS2002 to FS2004.
Web site:
http://www.visualflight.net
Forum:
http://www.visualflight.co.uk/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=31
SCOTFLIGHT SCENERY
Scotflight Scenery is compatible with FS2004, and the recently released version 1.1 contains a whole host of new features making it even better value than before. Scotflight Scenery has an FS2004-compatible easy to use installer, though it remains fully compatible with FS2002. An update is expected soon to fix a few minor issues with FS2004. You are advised to watch the Scotflight Scenery Forum for news and updates.
Web site:
http://www.scotflightscenery.co.uk
Forum:
http://www.visualflight.co.uk/forums/default.asp?CAT_ID=4
NICK RYALL SW ENGLAND SCENERY
Nick Ryall SW England Scenery is believed to be fully compatible with FS2004, but Nick is just making final checks on this with the final released version of FS2004. A free update will be made available for download if necessary. You are advised to watch the Nick Ryall Forum for news and updates.
Web site:
http://www.visualflight.net/nickryall
UK & IRELAND TERRAIN MESH SCENERY
Just run the install/setup program again and at the
"FS2002
Directory" screen, use the button marked "..." to find your
FS2004 folder, usually "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight
Simulator 9". Continue the setup, and make sure you leave the option to
automatically update Scenery Library selected.
Ordering FS2004
If you haven't already ordered your copy of FS2004, you can help support Visual Flight by ordering from Amazon using the following links:
New low prices on VFR Photographic Scenery!
The award winning VFR Photographic Scenery from Visual Flight/Getmapping is now available for only £15.31 + VAT per volume.
To order at this incredible price (which includes free UK delivery), please visit:
http://www.getmapping.com/flightsim
Alternatively, you can order all four volumes covering the whole of England & Wales for just £61.24 exc VAT!
This price only applies to online orders from Getmapping. Telephone orders are approx 10% extra - phone for details on 01530 518562, 09:00-17:30 GMT, Mon-Fri.
Huge photo scenery demo available!
Issue
23 of PC Pilot features a fully
functional sample of VFR Photographic Scenery covering a large area of
Southern England. This flight sim magazine is in the shops now,
so don't miss out if you haven't already tried this award-winning scenery.
You can buy PC Pilot at many of WH Smiths stores and other good newsagents -
look for edition with the yellow rescue helicopter on the cover. You
can also order online from www.pcpilot.net.
PC Format Demo and Offer!
The April 2003 issue of PC Format (DVD Edition only) features a fully functional demo of VFR Photographic Scenery covering a large area of Southern England.
Special Offer!
Readers of PC Format are entitled to a 25% discount when ordering individual volumes from Getmapping, so make sure you get your copy before it's too late.
Time limited - don't miss out!
Hurry, the April issue of PC Format is only in the shops until April 24, so don't miss this opportunity. Look for the DVD Edition with X-MEN2 on the cover.
Visual Flight London Landmarks
Free add-on for VFR Photographic Scenery users
Visual Flight is pleased to announce the release of London Landmarks, a free upgrade for VFR Photographic Scenery users.
The landmarks are based entirely on the default London landmark features which are implemented in FS2002 as library objects. These are repositioned, reorientated and rescaled to fit with the unrivalled geographical accuracy of VFR Photographic Scenery which gives near pixel perfect accuracy from coast to coast with seamless coverage.
Features
Battersea Power Station, Buckingham Palace, Palace of Westminster, Royal Albert Hall, University of Greenwich, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Nelson's Column, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court Palace, British Museum, Kensington Palace, County Hall, Somerset House, Treasury Building, Wembley Stadium, Wimbledon Stadium and the Millennium Dome.
More information
More information and download information: Visual Flight London Landmarks
Thanks
Visual Flight would like to extend enormous thanks to the extraordinarily dedicated efforts of the beta test team (all volunteers) in ensuring that every aspect of the scenery has been tested and that every square kilometer test flown to check for defects.
The information on this web site is given in good faith based on the information available to Visual Flight at the time of writing and is not necessarily up-to-date. In using this web site you agree that Visual Flight will accept no liability for any loss or damage resulting from errors, omissions or changes to any of the content of this page however caused. Copyright © 2002-2004 Visual Flight. All Rights Reserved. The Millennium Map™ is a product of Getmapping plc. Photographic imagery Copyright © Getmapping plc.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EBAY USERS: If you copy any part of this site for use on eBay without the express prior permission of Visual Flight you will incur a charge of £100 per day plus VAT for each day it is published on eBay. This charge also applies to any other Visual Flight copyright material used in this way without express prior permission.