This scenery represents Goetsenhoven Air Base (EBTN), operated by the Belgian Air Force. The base is located near Tienen, about 30 miles east of Brussels, Belgium (Europe).
This small base operates as a branch to Beauvechain AB, located only a few miles away. The base is now closed, as the Training Wing has moved to Beauvecahin a couple of years ago. Marchettis do however continue to use the base for training purposes during the day. Also, a local aeroclub uses the runways during the weekends for gliding and motor activities.
2. TECHNICALITIES
2.1 Compatibility
This scenery is designed for and fully tested on FS98 only. It has not been designed for compatibility with other scenery packages. As a result, it may even conflict with such scenery. However, test results with Europe 2 were satisfactory. But beware, compatibility does not necessarily means seamless integration, especially when it comes to road junctions.
This scenery uses 16 'size 6' tiles as platform. The 16 tiles cover rows 1334-7 and columns 111-4. Tile height is set at 75m (246ft).
The exclude file will cancel all other static scenery located on the same location. If you don't have any conflicting scenery, you do not need this file: delete it.
Some scenery add-ons (such as Europe2) provide could cause part of visuals scenery (runways, roads, ..) to be duplicated. Should this be the case, installing this exclude file will wipe out the duplicate scenery.
2.2 File content
Ebtn.zip includes the following files:
* ebtn.bgl: the scenery;
* ebtn_excl.bgl: exclude file;
* ebtnstat.zip: static aircrafts;
* apt_tex.zip: airport textures;
* eb_tex.zip: specific textures;
* ebtn.txt: this file;
* ebtn.gif: scenery picture;
* fileid.id: zip file header
2.3 Installation
2.3.1. the scenery and specific texture files:
Follow the standard procedure. Create a new directory - the main directory - (for example "ebtn") wherever you choose.
Unzip ebtn.zip and eb_tex.zip in this main ebtn directory. The two required subdirectories \scenery and \texture are automatically created and filled.
As a matter of control, you may want to verify that the *.bgl files appear in the \scenery subdirectory, and the *.r8 files in the \texture subdirectory.
The exclude file will only cancel conflicting scenery which is generated by *.bgl files in other scenery subdirectories. The file has no effect on scenery *.bgl files located in the same directory !
2.3.2. the static aircraft files provided in ebtnstat.zip:
Unzip ebtnstat.zip in the main ebtn directory. The *.bgl file now appears in the \scenery subdirectory, and the *.af? files in the \texture subdirectory.
2.3.3. the textures provided in apt_tex.zip:
All files are standard AIRPORT textures. So, first check whether they are not yet present in your global Flight Simulator\Texture subdirectory. If so, you don't need to unzip this file. If not, you have two options on where to unzip these files to:
- in your global Flight Simulator\Texture subdirectory. Doing so allows you to use the same files for other sceneries as well, which saves disk space;
- in the dedicated \texture subdirectory referred to above.
2.3.4. other files:
The files will appear in your main ebtn directory after execution of point 2.3.1. above.
Keep ebtn.txt and ebtn.gif for further reference and discard fileid.id.
Finally, activate the new scenery either by the FS98 menu, either by third party software (such as AREAMAN - see 4. below -, for example).
2.4 Scenery complexity
Visibility levels are designed as follows:
- very sparse: runways only;
- sparse: runways + ground polygons (grass, apron and runways);
- normal: basic scenery;
The static aircrafts appear from 'normal' settings on.
2.5 Textures
This scenery uses a few specific textures: eb_tex01.r8, ebtex01n.r8, eb_crop1.r8 and eb_grass.r8. These files are common to other sceneries of my design. Just override these should you already have them.
The display of winter textures is embedded in the *.bgl file. You do not need a special procedure to display these winter textures, texture switch is automatic according to the season. The scenery uses the default FS textures for the winter display. Additional textures are thus not provided here.
Apart from the dedicated textures (*.R8), this scenery uses following standard AIRPORT and VOD textures, all supplied in ebtntex.zip.
- Flag2.oav;
- Airpt003.oav;
- Airpt005.oav;
- Airpt004.oav;
- Airptoa4.oav;
- Airptop4.oav;
- Airptow4.oav.
Unzip these in the global Flight simulator\texture directory (and not in the dedicated ebtn\texture directory), but only if you don't have them yet.
3. OPERATIONS
3.1 "Go To Airports" Menu
Point to the button FS 6.0 scenery and select "Goetsenhoven AB". Four startup positions are available:
- Rwy 24;
- Rwy 35;
- Apron BAF;
- Apron aeroclub.
Airport coordinates are N 50 46 52.71 and E 04 57 28.21. Airport elevation is 75m (246ft MSL).
3.2 Navaids
The sole official navaid related to this scenery is the TN NDB - frequency 212. As it is a standard navaid on FS98, it is not additionaly included in this scenery.
There is no ILS in reality on this small airport. However, in order to avoid repeating crashes on the nearby village and thus complaints from the local authorities, newbie flightsimmers can try following frequencies:
- 109.50 for rwy 17;
- 108.50 for rwy 06.
3.4 Communication frequencies
- Penguin TWR: 125.375;
- Penguin APP: 129.725.
3.5 Runways
- Rwy 24/06: 2362*98 ft;
- Rwy 35/17: 2559*98 ft;
3.6 Night lighting
The base is closed at night. Hangars will therefore close and lights will extinguish at night. Also, static aircrafts will disappear.
4. CREDITS AND REFERENCES
This list is for reference purposes only. I do not necessarily endorse the various items listed below nor does this list reflect the result of any evaluation. I am however most grateful to these software designers whose efforts allowed me to build this scenery.
4.1 Software and/or links
* FS98, by Microsoft : the flight simulator;
* AIRPORT v2.10, by Pascal Méziat & Co: scenery design;
* AREAMAN v8.0, by Central Park Informatica: scenery activation;
* M98toBGL, by Trevor de Stigter: static aircraft design.
4.2 Other Belgian Air Bases Scenery
* Beauvechain (EBBE20), by the same author;
* Kleine Brogel (EBBL), ibidem;
* Bertrix (act_ebbx.zip), by Aeronautic Conceptor's Team;
* Chièvres (act_ebcv.zip), ibidem;
* Bierset (Liège) scenery (eblg122a.zip), by Jean Michel Evrard.
4.3 Military Aircrafts in Belgian Air Force colors
* Marchetti SF260 (sf260_20.zip), by Angelo Moneta;
* Hawker Sideley HS748 (acths748.zip), by Aeronautic Conceptor's Team (FS98 only);
* F104 Starfighter (act104b.zip), by Aeronautic Conceptor's Team;
* Mirage V (MirageV.zip), designer unknown;
* F16 Falcon (f16tiger.zip), designer unknown (included as static);
* Fouga Magister (fu170baf.zip), by Shlomo Hakim.
4.4 Links
* www.mil.be: official military web site;
* www.scramble.nl: spotters' site (interesting links).
5. USAGE TERMS
I wish to retain all rights on this scenery. You are allowed to use it, even modify it, for your own individual use free of charge. No part of it may however be used directly or indirectly for commercial purposes. It cannot be directly nor indirectly linked, even free, to any commercial offering. Only Internet distribution and uploads are allowed, but are restricted to these forums or services where the user has the (effective!) possibility to download free of charge.
I made this scenery for my pleasure and I'm best willing to share my pleasure with other flight-simmers. Nobody should therefore make money with it, neither directly neither indirectly.
There are no further representations or warranties whatsoever associated with this file's functionalities. If it does not satisfy your expectations, please discard it. If you wish to keep it, use it at your own risk.
Feel free to let me have any constructive feedback you may have, allowing me to improve and complete this scenery.
