Airport creation program

[Travis]

I've been using Gmax to create a scenery, but now I want to create an airport to go with this scenery.  I tried using AFCAD, but it didn't seem to work very well for me.  I got two runways to show up, but then when I tried to land on them, I went straight through.  So I was wondering what I should do.  Should I stick it out with AFCAD and see if I can get it to work, or should I get something else and try that.

Any other program MUST be freeware and compatible with FS2002.

[Firestriker]

I have been experimenting using Airport for Windows and FSSC. I can make my own API objects with gWax and convert them to API macros with FSregen, then place them with AFW or FSSC. You can also build an airport from the ground up with either program. You only need AFCAD and T-Tools to setup AI for your airport.

Lou

[Travis]

What I really want to do is create an airfield type airport (2500' long) on a nonexistent rig in the ocean.  The problem is, I want the airport to be about 500 ft ASL.  How can I do that while still being able to fly or taxi on the water under the rig?  Can I just use AFCAD and Gmax?  Or do I have to have some other design program to create the solid ground to taxi and land on?

[Firestriker]

You will need to get FSregen:

http://www.nhreas.com/fsregen.html

Be sure you have the latest makemdl.exe

Follow the instructions for making landable surfaces in the FSregen manual and read this link:

http://www.nhreas.com/fsregendocs/HowTo.html

Keep us informed as to your progress.

Lou

[RollerBall]

Bit complicated!

Make your rig in GMax or EOD

Use FSSC to position it and then put a hard surface or invisible runway on top so you can land and taxy

Easy

[Travis]

FSSC=Flight Sim Scenery Creator, right?

Isn't that a payware product?  If so, I don't have 35 bucks to fork out on a scenery creator (much as I'd like to) so that option is out of the question.  But if I can get it for free, say where!

[Hagar]

Ender. FSSC is & always has been freeware. It's posted in the SimV Scenery Design section. http://www.simviation.com/fsdesign_scenery1.htm
To avoid messing with updates visit the home site for the latest version. http://fssc.avsim.net/

[Travis]

I give up.  Its too much d@mn trouble!  I can't figure out how to use FSSC, and FSRegen doesn't want to work for me.  I have all the stuff required for FSRegen, but it just doesn't seem to find the files when I specify them.  I give it the correct spot to find them, but it just doesn't like me.

GRRRRRRrrrrr!!!  Worse than learning Gmax.  I think I'm gonna have to stick with aircraft.  It seems to work a lot better for me.

One other issue with this whole shebang:  I run two computers.  One's a stand-alone, and that one I have my FS on, along with Gmax.  The other is specifically for the net and is a piece of garbage as far as system specs.  And I can't transfer any file I can't compress smaller than 1.25 Mb (floppy disk) over to the other computer, so I can't put FSSC on that one, or anything like that.

Bloody, bloody, bloody b@5t@rd of a fix . . .

Now that I'm done venting, are any of you folks interested in helping me with this scenery?  I just want an airport on my rig with some parking spaces.  Thats it.  Please, someone help me!

[Hagar]

Ender. I think maybe you're rushing this a little. There's no way you can learn to use a program like FSSC in less than 1 hour. I've been using it since the very first version was released & I'm still learning. These things take time to learn. If you slow down I'm sure you would find all this more enjoyable.

I would willingly help but I have far too much on my plate for the foreseeable future. Sorry.

[Travis]

Okay, okay.  I'll give it some time.  The real bugger is I can't have it on the same computer as FS.  REALLY slows things down.

Make the file.

Transfer to 3.5 floppy.

Transfer to other computer.

Test in FS.

Doesn't work . . .

[Hagar]

I agree it's not the ideal way to work. I have no idea how it's done but is there no way you can connect the 2 machines? Either that or purchase a CDRW or portable storage device like a Zip drive.

[Travis]

Well, the deal is, the two comps aren't mine.  They're my father's, and he WILL NOT let me connect them or hook the other up to the net.

The irony of the situation is that the non-net machine has a CD-RW/DVD recordable drive.  And my father won't get one for the other computer because he doesn't think its worth the money.  "We already have ONE," he says.  "What do we need two for?"

Doesn't matter, now, though.  I figured out I CAN transfer FSSC to the other comp, and I'm coming along fine on the airport.  Problem is, I already created the beginnings of one airport in FS using AFCAD.  I think its messing with the one I'm trying to make, and I can't figure out how to remove the one from AFCAD.  Any thoughts?  I want to completely remove it, so that there is no record of it in the database.  I has a glitch that keeps the two runways I specified in that file there no matter what I do.  I can't find a "delete airport" key anywhere, and I don't know how to edit the data in the airport files manually.  Help?

[Hagar]

Which version of AFCAD are you using? I haven't really got into it but I'm almost certain you can revert to the default airport if you wish.

[Travis]

Thing is, there IS no default airport there.  I was creating it straight from scratch.  Its out in the middle of the ocean, and I still have a cessna 182 chillin out in the middle of the water waiting to taxi on the "runway".

What about reloading all of the airport data directly from the FS disks?  If someone can tell me what disk they are on, I can find them and just copy over.

And its AFCAD 1.1, which is a much older version.

[Hagar]

I recently had to start from scratch (long story) & don't have AFCAD installed right now. I think if you read the instructions carefully it will tell you which fiiles it modifies. It might even automatically create a backup copy which should be easy enough to convert back. I'm not sure which particular CD these files will be on but they shouldn't be too difficult to find if necessary.

It's possible these are among the database files which are created when you first start the sim after install. In this case the ones on the CD might not be any use.

PS. I found AFCAD 1.4 backed up. It's not installed yet. I copied this from the Readme instructions.

11. Deleting and Restoring Airports
BGL file backups:

AFCAD modifies the 'bgl' files in Flight Simulator that contain facility data. It automatically makes a backup of every file before it changes the file for the first time and gives the backup the extension ".ORIGINAL". You should not backup these files yourself because improperly named backup files can cause problems for FS2002.

Cataloging Modified Airports:

The Catalog / Delete / Restore Airports window, called from the File menu, will scan all the airports in your facilities folder and will list all original FS2002 airports that have been modified or replaced, and any new airports or overlays that have been added.

Restoring Airports:

An airport that has been modified or replaced with an imported AFCAD file can be restored to an 'out of the box' stock condition by selecting that airport from the list on the Catalog / Delete / Restore Airports window and clicking the Restore Stock Airport button. AFCAD will open the backup file and extract the original airport from it, then insert that airport in the appropriate facility file. If the backup file does not exist, or if AFCAD detects that the airport in the backup file is not in original condition, then AFCAD will ask you to insert the FS2002 CD and it will extract the original airport from the CD. Note that the Restore Stock Airport function only applies to airports that were in FS2002 originally.

Deleting Airports and Overlays:

A 'new' airport, an airport or overlay that didn't originally come with FS2002, can be removed by selecting that airport from the list on the Catalog / Delete / Restore Airports window and clicking the Delete Airport button. AFCAD will remove it from whatever facility file it is in but will not alter any of the other airports in that file. Note that the Delete Airport function only applies to new airports. You cannot delete an airport that came with FS2002, even if it has been subsequently modified.