Scenery for FS2002, Includes AFCAD file, AI traffic update and static Aircraft.
Created by Nick Black
////////////////////////Updated 19th February 2003///////////////////////////////////////////////
A problem has been identified whereby the ILS system for the default airport was affected by this add on scenery. Why this is I dont have a Scooby, but I endeavoured to fix it for those of you who want to use ILS. (Bearing in mind that Brize doesnt actually have ILS). This new bgl includes ILS on both runways:
Rwy 8: 111.80 MHz
Rwy 26: 111.85 MHz
These ILS do not show up on the map view or on the GPS display but do exist believe me.
This re-release also includes the unused bgls folder including fence and tree-line macros on two seperate .bgls files which you can add and remove at your will.
Also fixed is a problem with the AI flight plans which did not allow certain flights to be compiled.
Thank you to all who e-mailed me to thank me for the scenery and to point out problems that I did not realise had occured. Thank you also to all who downloaded this scenery v2. The file was downloaded 1380 times in 12 days, which astounded me since I didint really think it was that good to be honest. Shows how much people are in need of realistic scenery in the FS world.
This is my first full project using Derek Leung's brilliant Flight Simulator Scenery Creator, and is also the first time I've braved releasing a scenery project on the Internet. In the past I've dabbled with designing my own add-ons and have become quite competent with a lot of the processes around the FS world. But it wasn't until earlier this year that I decided to go the whole way with this project and release it for everyone to get the benefit.
*********I will stress right now that in no part of this file is there any classified information on the Royal Air Force's Operations or any information that would be seen as secretive. I have made a great effort to recreate Brize as specifically and realistically as possible while at the same time safeguarding the Official Secrets Act.**********
The taxiway light macros used on this scenery are available as a seperate download are are published on www.SurClaro and www.simviation.com. These macros are available for anyone to use in their scenery projects.
Unzip this file either to your favourite zip folder, (usually C:/unzipped) and then drag the folder Brize Norton to the scenery folder in FS2002 or unzip directly to your FS scenery folder. The file is set up so that you don't need to mess around with it. Once you've put it in your scenery folder you don't need to do anything with it.
To enable the scenery area go to the scenery library, select "add" and then select the path of the folder "Brize Norton v2" in your scenery folder. The scenery is split into 2 bgls, one of the base itself and one of the static aircraft. There are also bgls for trees, and fencelines around the base. These do however have a major impact on framerates so unless you are using a very high spec computer you should leave them in the folder "unused bgls". If you do want to use them however simply move them into the main scenery folder in the "Brize Norton v2" folder.
If you experience any problems with this add on please drop me an e-mail and let me know what the problem is. I will be more than happy to tweak the scenery files for individuals who want to use the scenery but cant because it runs slowly on their PC. I know how annoying it is when PC's cant handle large graphics programs so would be glad to help anyone.
Included in this download are two AFCAD files to make it possible to use AI traffic at the base. One is for use when the static aircraft bgl is in use and the other is a full parking layout for the base. The AFCAD file can be used as standalone and will give you progressive taxy lines and parking slots around the base as well as alot of new starting locations. However when used in conjunction with the "AI alterations" file included it will allow AI aircraft to operate from the base.
The creation of this scenery package has spanned 6 months of hard work, which has seen various different versions of the finished product come to light. The original idea came from my experiments with a very early version of FSSC in which I created a fictional military airfield in my hometown of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. That was a while ago and I was then using FS2000. Having just converted from FS98.
After I joined the Royal Air Force in the winter of 2001 I was posted to Brize as a Movements Operator and at the time this goes out (early 2003) am working in the Air Terminal at Brize.
I decided that with such a bad attempt being made by Microsoft to model Brize Norton and due to the lack of decent add-ons that I've seen to replace the default, I should give it a go.
The largest RAF Station in the UK, Brize Norton is the nerve centre of the RAF's air transport capabilities. Opened in 1937, the Station was used to train airborne forces, before being handed over to the USAF in 1950. Strategic Air Command based B-29 and B-47 bombers at Brize, before the RAF reclaimed the Station for use as a tanker and transport base. Currently based at Brize Norton are the 11 VC10 C1Ks of 10 Squadron, the 8 VC10 K3 and K4s of 101 Squadron, the 8 Tristar C2, K1 and KC1s of 216 Squadron, the 4 C-17A Globemasters of 99 Squadron and No 2624 (County of Oxford) Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment Field Squadron and sister Squadron, No. 4624 RAuxAF Movements Squadron. Also based at Brize Norton is No 1 Parachute Training School, which includes the RAF Parachute Display Team, the Falcons and, of course, most importantly, Brize Norton Air Movements Squadron and the RAF Movements School.
Brize Norton has also been named as the likely home for the RAF's future acquisition of the Airbus A400M Future Large Aircraft and the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft.
Brize Norton's Military Operations are quite complex with the number of different aircraft types based there and that visit the base regularly. The best way to make these understandable is to go through each aircraft type and bay individually, that way those of you who want to recreate Brize's operations can have a guide to what goes where. See the attached file "Bay Map" also for locations of all the bays at Brize Norton.
AIRCRAFT
VC10 C1K
The VC10's of 10 Squadron are primarily transport aircraft used to fly passengers and freight around the world. They generally operate from the North side of the Airfield from the bays closest to the Air Terminal. These aircraft will therefore use bays 2,3,4,5,6,14 and 15 as standard when they are carrying passengers on a trooping flight. They will generally use bays 10,11,12 and 13 if carrying Cargo, as the pallets do not therefore need to be taken far from the Air Cargo Hanger to the aircraft. VC10's will often also be operated from bays 23 and 24. 10 Sqn VC10s that are not being used or are flying tanker operations are housed on the southside bays.
VC10 K3 and K4
101 Squadrons VC10 tankers operate exclusively from the southside of the airfield from bays 42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49 and 50. Even when they are carrying passengers they will park over on these bays, as the standard operating procedure for RAF Brize Norton states that Aircraft with less than 20 passengers onboard do not have to park near the terminal. 101 Squadron's HQ building is located on the southside also. As always there are exceptions and K3s and K4s have been known to occasionally operate from the north side of the base.
Tristar C2, K1 and KC1
The Tristars of 216 Squadron operate exclusively from the north side of the base as they are primarily passenger aircraft and due to the fact that 216 Sqn's HQ building is the hangar next to the air terminal. The Aircraft operate from Bays 2,3,4,5,6,10,11,12 and 13. They very rarely use bays 14,15,23 and 24. The C2's always operate from Bays 4,5 or 6 when they are carrying passengers as standard operating procedures state that passengers can only be walked out to bays 4,5,6,7,8 and 15 and must be taken by bus to all others, for safety reasons. K1s and KC1s operate from the rest of the bays KC1s being moved to bays 4,5 and 6 if travelling on a trooping run in place of a C2. In truth the site of a Tristar K1 at Brize is rare as they are constantly tasked to Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) duties in other parts of the world.
C-17A Globemaster
The C17s of 99 Squadron operate from bays 16,17,18,19 and 20 and no other aircraft parks there as it is now considered to be the "Budda's Lair". (The C17 is affectionately known as the "Budda" because it's big and fat and everyone worships it.) Occasionally the C17 may park on bays 23,24 or 25. The aircraft sometimes park between bays 16 and 20, referred to as bay 16A or between bays 17 and 19, referred to as bay 17A.
BAYS
Bay 1
Bay 1 is used for visiting light aircraft, RAF fighter Aircraft, Private Business jets and Helicopters. Any Aircraft that fits into this category will be parked across bay 1 facing either North or South. The bay can therefore accommodate a number of small aircraft at once. This bay is referred to as Cross 1 or X1.
Bays 2,3,4,5 and 6
These bays are only used by the RAFs Tristars and VC10s and are usually reserved for passenger carrying variants. Since these bays require a pushback to get out of civil aircraft cannot be operated from them. The bay markers light up at night if they are to be used by an incoming aircraft and they also operate an automated parking system used by Tristar crews.
Note: In the Scenery Bay 3 is set up to operate the Tristar C2 with steps and Pushback tug set at the correct positions for this Aircraft. Bay 6 is set up likewise to operate the VC10. Not really that important but a VC10 will look silly on bay 3 with high steps next to it. and likewise the steps on Bay6 wont reach the Tristar's doors. Just a little pointer for added realism.
Bays 7,8,9 and 9a
These are transit bays and are only used by aircraft that are staying at the airfield for a short time merely to either drop off or pick up passengers. Bay 7 is the most commonly used bay on the base, It is used by civilian charters, visiting VIP aircraft and transiting aircraft as it is close to the air terminal. Bays 8 and 9 will be used only when parking an aircraft on bay 7 would cause bays 5 and 6 to be blocked for an inbound or outbound aircraft. Bay 9a is used primarily by RAF Hercules Aircraft to pick up paratroopers from No.1 Parachute Training School which is located in the centre large Hangar. Use Bay 7 for any aircraft not indigenous to Brize Norton that is either dropping off or picking up passengers and then departing again. One of the more spectacular users of Bay 7 is Concorde, which diverts to Brize Norton if it is delayed arriving at Heathrow, as it cannot land in London after 23:30 due to the noise.
Bays 10,11,12,13,14 and 15
These bays are used by relatively all types of aircraft that use Brize Norton. Bay 10 is generally used by visiting aircraft that are staying at the base, such as Canadian Hercules. Bays 11, 12 and 13 are used by both Tristars and VC10s. Bays 14 and 15 are not used by the Tristar but are by VC10s and also Civilian Charter Aircraft when they stay at the base overnight.
Bays 16,17,18,19,20,16a and 17a
99 Squadron operate this area of the base as their own. The 4 C17 Globemasters operate from this ramp, generally parking on bays 16,17,19 and 20. The aircraft are normally parked around the bays in an anti-clockwise direction with the aircraft on bays 19 and 20 parked facing left as seen from the Air Terminal and the aircraft on bays 16 and 17 parked facing right. Since the C17 is used as a tactical aircraft it is equipped with self-defence flare dispensers in the aft behind the wheel wells. When the aircraft arrives at its bay after a flight it is de-armed immediately. The lines of red cones on one of the static C17s is placed out to warn people of the fact that the aircraft is armed.
Bays 21 and 22
These bays opposite base hanger are used for aircraft waiting to undergo maintenance in Base Hanger. Aircraft are also sometimes parked at the end of the strip outside the hangar next to bay 21. These Bays are used by all aircraft types stationed at Brize Norton.
Bays 23,24 and 25
Used mostly by cargo aircraft including the Antonov AN124, C17, VC10 and really any aircraft imaginable.
Bays 26 to 32 and 38 to 41
Generally not used at all but can handle any aircraft type. These bays are sometimes used to park aircraft that are staying at the base for long periods.
Bays 33,34,35,36 and 37
These bays are classed as the Dangerous Cargo loading Bays. Used by all Brize Norton's aircraft Tristars, VC10s and C17s, which are carrying Dangerous Cargo such as explosives or hazardous materials.
Bays 42 to 50
101 Squadrons bays used to operate VC10 tankers from both 101 and 10 Sqns. Was also used to park a Chilean Boeing 707 in 2002 used to carry the Chilean Aerobatic Display team and their aircraft to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.
Brize Norton Is Host to a great deal of different visiting Aircraft types. Every type of RAF Aircraft has visited the station at one time or another. Brize also frequently plays host to foreign military aircraft. Below is a list of visiting aircraft that visit frequently:
MyTravel Airways Airbus A320
Monarch Airlines Boeing 757-500
Air Atlanta Boeing 747-200
Volga Dnepr Heavy Lift Antonov An-124
Canadian Armed Forces CC-150 Polaris
Canadian Armed Forces CC-130 Hercules
USAF C-5 Galaxy
USAF KC-135 Stratotanker
Concorde
Antonov An-12
Citation Jets
BAe Civil Jets
Britten Norman Islander
The Red Arrows
BAe Nimrod MR2
RAF E3-d Sentry AWACS
NATO Awacs
Helicopters
A number of helicopters including Chinook, Merlin, Puma, Commando, Gazelle and a number of civilian helicopters frequently visit Brize Norton. Helicopters that are visiting the base for a stop over will park on bay 1 after approaching like a fixed wing aircraft, stopping at the centre of the runway and taxying or hovering to park up. British Military Helicopters are generally visiting JATEU (Joint Air Transport Evaluation unit) which is the 2 large hangers at south side of the threshold of runway 26. The helicopters generally park up on the grass by the tarmaced area near JATEU.
An in depth guide of aircraft types to use Brize Norton will be available at a later date. I don't want to rabbit on for ages about how each aircraft is handled by the base as this would make this manual unbelievably long and boring. Those who are interested can download the extended version at a when it is uploaded.
Derek Leung: for creating a superb scenery design program without which all this would not be possible of course.
Matthias Bruckner: for Easy Object Designer without which this list would be a mile long thanking everyone for their building macros etc. With this program I learnt to make my own.
Trevor de Stiger: Without his MDLtoBGL V4 there would not be any static aircraft macros in this scenery. I took along time to find a version of this program that worked on the FS98 Aircraft I wanted to use but I found it in the end.
Martin Wright: Who's bmp2000 program allowed the textures Id created for my custom macros to work in FS2002.
Lee Swordy: for AFCAD and Traffic Tools. Both brilliant one of a kind programs.
Robert Palmer: for his brilliant Decidous tree macro set which he granted kind permission for me to use.
Colin Norwood: for allowing me permission to use his FS98 RAF VC-10 as a static Macro.
Mike Wallace: for his permission to use his Delta Tristar Macro repainted by myself into RAF colours.
Gregor Gabel: for his FS98 C-17 which I repainted to RAF colours, I've been unable to contact him but must of course credit him for this model, which was very necessary to the project.
The An124 was from an unknown source but thanks if you're reading this.
So thats your lot. I do hope you enjoy flying from and to Brize as much as Ive enjoyed making it. I hope in the not too distant future to develop a futuristic model of Brize Norton, how it may look in about 10 years time, after the acquisition of the FLA and FSTA. But this is just a dream at the moment. I will also be developing sceneries for other RAF bases such as Lyneham and Waddington and hopefully a full set of AFCAD files and AI traffic tracks for all the RAF bases around the UK. Thanks to all who helped me with this scenery and hope it is enjoyed by some people out there.
Nick Black, Jan 2003
nickblack423@hotmail.com
P.s. Please contact me with suggestions comments or problems. Its the only way I know whats going on, if Ive made a good job and if it still needs more work. Cheers.
