Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 12, 2011 1:46:06 GMT
I don't often get side-tracked .... BUT .... "IF", or whenever, I do then there's usually always a darned good reason for it ;D
For the past 2 years, in particular, virtually all of my personal FS time has been consumed by the last few major new HJG projects which we've released here .... in the form of the B727, CARAVELLE, DC9, and most recently the L1011 TRISTAR projects. Whilst I've enjoyed every moment of working on each of these projects, and getting them released here, I also resolved, this Christmas, to try and do some of those FS things I've been dying to do for so long but which the past 24 months of other FS commitments have prevented my enjoying.
ANYWAY ....
I've always had a fascination in marine aircraft. That's probably born of the fact that as a New Zealander, these aircraft formed the backbone of our national airline, AIR NEW ZEALAND, or TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LIMITED (TEAL) as it was known during the 1939-1960 era when the big SHORT EMPIRE, SANDRINGHAM, and SOLENT flying boats reigned supreme here .... connecting New Zealand with Australia, and also servicing the remote Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tahiti, and Tonga .... a service that was known then as the "Coral Route"). In fact New Zealand was one of the very last countries in the world who's national airline was still dependent on the use of large marine aircraft prior to the introduction of land-based aircraft like the DC6, L188, and DC8, which saw AIR NEW ZEALAND quickly come of age during the late 1950's and 1960's.
My own fascination in marine aircraft is also probably born of the fact that I did my very first ever flight .... aboard a Grumman G-44A WIDGEON amphibian .... operated by NZ TOURIST AIR TRAVEL back in 1967 .... and in 1984 .... I also did what very nearly became my "last ever flight" as well .... also aboard a GRUMMAN G-44A WIDGEON amphibian .... operated by SEA BEE AIR (the latter incident was a "heavy T/O", but, that's another story ). I was therefore, one might say, well'n'truely aeronautically "baptized in water" .... AND .... by the skin of my teeth/luck (only) just managed to avoid what might otherwise have become as close as I'll ever get to "a Viking Funeral" ;D
Over the past several years, the highly talented Jens B.KRISTENSEN has made "A LOT" of very rare aircraft subjects for the international FS community (all high quality "FREEWARE") .... and among these rarities are his beautiful dual FS2004/FSX compatible 3D models for most of the famous big SHORT series flying boat aircraft .... including some of those aircraft types operated by TEAL/AIR NEW ZEALAND .... complete with both 2D and VC panels
Since we/HJG released the L1011 TRISTAR .... and intent upon trying to get some personal enjoyment out of FS (for once) I've really been having a lot fun lately .... flying some of these big old marine aircraft that have always meant so much to me .... and reliving services like the old "CORAL ROUTE", or at least part of it, considering these old classic/historic aircraft fly low, and so slow, that it takes something in the vicinity of a month of wet Sundays, it seems, just to get anywhere ones headed .... BUT .... that, I guess, is a true/realistic reflection of the state of aviation/airline technology was, at least here (in New Zealand), way back in the late 1930's and until early 1960's period during that golden romantic by-gone age of the big old graceful flying boats.
Here's a little what of been enjoying flying recently anyway. This's hardly "TOUR DE LES CAPITALS" material, I accept (sorry Dan ;D), but, its been a lot of fun all the same. All of these great models and textures are by the great Jens B.KRISTENSEN ....
QANTAS EMPIRE AIRWAYS (QEA) SHORT S.23 EMPIRE VH-ABEA "Coorong" 1939
BOAC (impressed) SHORT S.30 (LR) EMPIRE G-AFCZ "Claire" 1939
TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) SHORT S.33 (MR) EMPIRE ZK-AMC "Awarua" 1939
SHORT S.30 EMPIRE panel - VC mode .... approaching the island of Bora Bora (French Polynesia) near dusk.
ANSETT FLYING BOAT SERVICES S.25 SANDRINGHAM 5 VH-BRC "Beachcomber" 1974
SHORT S.25 SANDRINGHAM panel - VC mode.... a late afternoon approach toward Lord Howe Island, in the Tasman Sea, off the coast of Australia.
TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) SHORT S.45A SOLENT 4 ZK-AML "Aotearoa 2" 1949
TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) SHORT S.45A SOLENT 4 ZK-AMO "Aranui" 1960
SHORT S.45A SOLENT panel - VC mode.... approaching the island of Rarotongs (in the Cook Islands .... a New Zealand possession in the Pacific Ocean) at sunrise.
The above aircraft can all be downloaded from FS.COM .... just search "KRISTENSEN" .... or "JENS B.KRISTEN".
The SHORT SOLENT, in particular, has just been updated to "V3" standard in these last few days.
Most of these other aircraft have already previousl been updated to V2 standard by Jens.
Myself and Benoit PLAMONDON have also just worked up a new BRISTOL HERCULES engine soundpack especially for the SHORT SOLENT (not publicly available yet) .... and .... we may also see what we can develop in terms of decent audio for some of Jens other BRISTOL and P&W powered SHORTS flying boat models for FS2004 and FSX too.
I may add a few more pictures later .... but .... we'll see how we go for time !
Mark C
AKL/NZ
For the past 2 years, in particular, virtually all of my personal FS time has been consumed by the last few major new HJG projects which we've released here .... in the form of the B727, CARAVELLE, DC9, and most recently the L1011 TRISTAR projects. Whilst I've enjoyed every moment of working on each of these projects, and getting them released here, I also resolved, this Christmas, to try and do some of those FS things I've been dying to do for so long but which the past 24 months of other FS commitments have prevented my enjoying.
ANYWAY ....
I've always had a fascination in marine aircraft. That's probably born of the fact that as a New Zealander, these aircraft formed the backbone of our national airline, AIR NEW ZEALAND, or TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LIMITED (TEAL) as it was known during the 1939-1960 era when the big SHORT EMPIRE, SANDRINGHAM, and SOLENT flying boats reigned supreme here .... connecting New Zealand with Australia, and also servicing the remote Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tahiti, and Tonga .... a service that was known then as the "Coral Route"). In fact New Zealand was one of the very last countries in the world who's national airline was still dependent on the use of large marine aircraft prior to the introduction of land-based aircraft like the DC6, L188, and DC8, which saw AIR NEW ZEALAND quickly come of age during the late 1950's and 1960's.
My own fascination in marine aircraft is also probably born of the fact that I did my very first ever flight .... aboard a Grumman G-44A WIDGEON amphibian .... operated by NZ TOURIST AIR TRAVEL back in 1967 .... and in 1984 .... I also did what very nearly became my "last ever flight" as well .... also aboard a GRUMMAN G-44A WIDGEON amphibian .... operated by SEA BEE AIR (the latter incident was a "heavy T/O", but, that's another story ). I was therefore, one might say, well'n'truely aeronautically "baptized in water" .... AND .... by the skin of my teeth/luck (only) just managed to avoid what might otherwise have become as close as I'll ever get to "a Viking Funeral" ;D
Over the past several years, the highly talented Jens B.KRISTENSEN has made "A LOT" of very rare aircraft subjects for the international FS community (all high quality "FREEWARE") .... and among these rarities are his beautiful dual FS2004/FSX compatible 3D models for most of the famous big SHORT series flying boat aircraft .... including some of those aircraft types operated by TEAL/AIR NEW ZEALAND .... complete with both 2D and VC panels
Since we/HJG released the L1011 TRISTAR .... and intent upon trying to get some personal enjoyment out of FS (for once) I've really been having a lot fun lately .... flying some of these big old marine aircraft that have always meant so much to me .... and reliving services like the old "CORAL ROUTE", or at least part of it, considering these old classic/historic aircraft fly low, and so slow, that it takes something in the vicinity of a month of wet Sundays, it seems, just to get anywhere ones headed .... BUT .... that, I guess, is a true/realistic reflection of the state of aviation/airline technology was, at least here (in New Zealand), way back in the late 1930's and until early 1960's period during that golden romantic by-gone age of the big old graceful flying boats.
Here's a little what of been enjoying flying recently anyway. This's hardly "TOUR DE LES CAPITALS" material, I accept (sorry Dan ;D), but, its been a lot of fun all the same. All of these great models and textures are by the great Jens B.KRISTENSEN ....
QANTAS EMPIRE AIRWAYS (QEA) SHORT S.23 EMPIRE VH-ABEA "Coorong" 1939
BOAC (impressed) SHORT S.30 (LR) EMPIRE G-AFCZ "Claire" 1939
TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) SHORT S.33 (MR) EMPIRE ZK-AMC "Awarua" 1939
SHORT S.30 EMPIRE panel - VC mode .... approaching the island of Bora Bora (French Polynesia) near dusk.
ANSETT FLYING BOAT SERVICES S.25 SANDRINGHAM 5 VH-BRC "Beachcomber" 1974
SHORT S.25 SANDRINGHAM panel - VC mode.... a late afternoon approach toward Lord Howe Island, in the Tasman Sea, off the coast of Australia.
TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) SHORT S.45A SOLENT 4 ZK-AML "Aotearoa 2" 1949
TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD (TEAL) SHORT S.45A SOLENT 4 ZK-AMO "Aranui" 1960
SHORT S.45A SOLENT panel - VC mode.... approaching the island of Rarotongs (in the Cook Islands .... a New Zealand possession in the Pacific Ocean) at sunrise.
The above aircraft can all be downloaded from FS.COM .... just search "KRISTENSEN" .... or "JENS B.KRISTEN".
The SHORT SOLENT, in particular, has just been updated to "V3" standard in these last few days.
Most of these other aircraft have already previousl been updated to V2 standard by Jens.
Myself and Benoit PLAMONDON have also just worked up a new BRISTOL HERCULES engine soundpack especially for the SHORT SOLENT (not publicly available yet) .... and .... we may also see what we can develop in terms of decent audio for some of Jens other BRISTOL and P&W powered SHORTS flying boat models for FS2004 and FSX too.
I may add a few more pictures later .... but .... we'll see how we go for time !
Mark C
AKL/NZ