Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 2, 2012 5:54:50 GMT
Located in north of the US state of Arizona.
It's one of the most defining landcapes within the USA .... and possibly the world.
It rises some 8000 (ASL) FT at its highest point and descends up to a mile in depth at various points.
It runs for some 277 miles in length and is some 18 miles wide .... along its greatest precipice
It's considered to be one of the most beautiful stretches of uninterrupted natural geological phenomenon in the world .... and .... attracting in excess of 5 million visitors/tourists each year is also regarded as one of the "7 Wonders Of The World".
One of the native American indian tribes of the region (the Paiutes) called it "Kaibab/Mountain Lying Down" .... but .... it's otherwise more comonly known as "THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK".
The earliest major european/American venture into the Grand Canyon was undertaken by John Wesley POWELL during 1869. This expedition resulted the first detailed mapping and geological survey of the region which, during 1919, was declared a landscape of national, historic, and scientific importance, and then officially protected by congressional decree under President ROOSEVELT.
The Grand Canyon is cloaked in dense and varied forest vegetation along its summit .... with the Colorado River winding along its entire length far below the sandstone, chalk, and shale composed cliffs and terraces above. Over the past 100 years the Grand Canyon is recorded to have gained approximately an inch in depth and up to 10 inches in width.
It's scientifically evident, today, that layers of sedimentary deposits over some 250-600 million years eventually formed the Colorado Plateau .... which began to rise some 65-70 million years ago .... and has, ever since, been subjected to the erosive impact of climate (freeze/thaw effect), wind and heat .... and in particular .... to the destructive influence of water through formation of the natural highland drainage system that has resulted from both rain and melted snow water to form the Colorado River .... and which has, over time, been responsible for thousands of feet of sediment being washed away and subsequent carving/sculpturing of the incredible natural landforms that remain .... and what we now know as the Grand Canyon.
As wonderfully as both time and erosion have collaborated to produce the dramatic physical splendor of this region .... time of day, seasonal variations, and day to day weather each conspire to enhance the beauty of this unique and awesome landscape in terms of both its color and natural lighting effects in accordance with the moods of mother nature.
Having, myself, visited the Grand Canyon, for a week, during 2000, I can personally testify to the majesty of this intensely colorful and variable natural wonderland .... in that it never appears the same from day to day or during any other time of the year.
A very nice replication of the entire Grand Canyon is available for FS .... in the form of the following 30 meter mesh terrain scenery enhancement file for FS2004 ....
FILE NAME = gcned30m.zip
SIZE = 14.1 MB
AUTHOR = Tom Finley
AVAILABLE FROM = FLIGHTSIM.COM
Using this 30 meter mesh terrain scenery enhancement and flying the Grand Canyon from National Park Airport east and north east at approximately 6,500 FT .... following the course of the Colorado River ....
Using the same 30 meter mesh terrain scenery enhancement and flying the Grand Canyon from National Park Airport west and north west at approximately 6,500 FT .... once again following the course of the Colorado River ....
And what better way exists to see/experience the magnificent grandeur of the Grand Canyon than by "air" .... hovering above or within it by helicopter .... or better still .... taking in the classic splendor of this natural wonderland from a low and slow flying FORD TRI-MOTOR .... a classic/historic/vintage aircraft that was built and first flown on June 26th 1926. Almost 200 of these rugged/durable aircraft, of some 30 different models/descriptionss, were eventually produced by FORD ....
For many years a FORD TRI-MOTOR 4-AT-2 was the aircraft used by Las Vegas, Nevada, based SCENIC AIRWAYS to undertake aerial tourism/sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon .... until this particular aircraft (the 11th airframe produced .... having seen service with PAN AMERICAN, TACA HONDURAS, TATSA MEXICO, and ISLAND AIRWAYS) was badly damaged as the result of a landing incident. This aircraft has since been .... or is currently being .... restored to airworthy condition at San Diego and is 1 of just a handful of these classic/vintage aircraft which remain.
A FORD TRI-MOTOR is available for FS .... as one of the stock/default/FS2004 ACOF aircraft. Unlike is the case with a lot of default/stock MSFS supplied aircraft .... this particular example is actually "not too bad at all".
However .... the FS2004 FORD TRI-MOTOR has also, recently, been enhanced .... with new panels (3 to be precise), FDE, and a much improved custom sound pack. These upgraded files are available per the following "complete package" ....
FILE NAME = new_4at-e.zip
SIZE = 29.9 MB
AUTHOR = Austin DAVIS (with a lot of help from friends)
AVAILABLE FROM = FLIGHTSIM.COM
PLEASE NOTE: It's important to follow "the accompanying installation instructions". It's intended to be installed as a separate/new FS2004 add-on aircraft .... in addition to the existent default FS2004 stock version. Don't delete any of the original MSFS 2004 supplied aircraft files (the panel gauges in particular) .... or .... one will, potentially, end up loosing valid custom MSFS supplied gauges required for other unrelated add-on FS2004 aircraft. AGAIN .... FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Each of the 3 new panels accompanying this upgrade comprise of 1920's, 30's, and 40's era navigation equipment which is commanded into view by sub panel view selection icons .... and among which both Astronomical/Sextant, Radio Range, and ADF equipment is featured along with some "minor" main panel instrument variations too.
1920's-30's MAIN PANELS
1940's MAIN PANEL
The new/revised FDE results in much improved (in my opinion) aircraft performance .... in terms of both its ground and airbourne handling characteristics .... AND .... the new/enhanced sound pack certainly gives this simulation the audio ambiance it could/should have had right from the very beginning.
One of the 3 new/revised panels is also pre-configured with a "REAL ENGINES" interface/utility .... which imposes upon one "the need" to use, and adjust, engine power properly/appropriately .... OR .... engine failures through engine abuse/mismanagement can .... AND WILL .... result .... accompanied by all of the appropriate audio/sound, smoke effects, engine gauge indications, and performance loss .... as per the following demonstration ....
The above mentioned Grand Canyon mesh terrain scenery upgrade and the FORD TRI-MOTOR enhancements for FS2004 both come with my "personal recommendation".
Should one become "hooked on" this classic/historic/vintage FORD TRI-MOTOR simulation .... then .... the following TRI-MOTOR dedicated FS website provides well in excess of 300 different textures/liveries for the default/upgraded FS2004 ACOF FORD TRI-MOTOR simulation .... some of which are real world .... others of which are purely fictional .... but .... all of which are splendidly reproduced and represented in strict alphabetical order ....
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATION FORD TRI-MOTOR PROJECT
www.ford-tri-motor.net/
Mark C
AKL/NZ
It's one of the most defining landcapes within the USA .... and possibly the world.
It rises some 8000 (ASL) FT at its highest point and descends up to a mile in depth at various points.
It runs for some 277 miles in length and is some 18 miles wide .... along its greatest precipice
It's considered to be one of the most beautiful stretches of uninterrupted natural geological phenomenon in the world .... and .... attracting in excess of 5 million visitors/tourists each year is also regarded as one of the "7 Wonders Of The World".
One of the native American indian tribes of the region (the Paiutes) called it "Kaibab/Mountain Lying Down" .... but .... it's otherwise more comonly known as "THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK".
The earliest major european/American venture into the Grand Canyon was undertaken by John Wesley POWELL during 1869. This expedition resulted the first detailed mapping and geological survey of the region which, during 1919, was declared a landscape of national, historic, and scientific importance, and then officially protected by congressional decree under President ROOSEVELT.
The Grand Canyon is cloaked in dense and varied forest vegetation along its summit .... with the Colorado River winding along its entire length far below the sandstone, chalk, and shale composed cliffs and terraces above. Over the past 100 years the Grand Canyon is recorded to have gained approximately an inch in depth and up to 10 inches in width.
It's scientifically evident, today, that layers of sedimentary deposits over some 250-600 million years eventually formed the Colorado Plateau .... which began to rise some 65-70 million years ago .... and has, ever since, been subjected to the erosive impact of climate (freeze/thaw effect), wind and heat .... and in particular .... to the destructive influence of water through formation of the natural highland drainage system that has resulted from both rain and melted snow water to form the Colorado River .... and which has, over time, been responsible for thousands of feet of sediment being washed away and subsequent carving/sculpturing of the incredible natural landforms that remain .... and what we now know as the Grand Canyon.
As wonderfully as both time and erosion have collaborated to produce the dramatic physical splendor of this region .... time of day, seasonal variations, and day to day weather each conspire to enhance the beauty of this unique and awesome landscape in terms of both its color and natural lighting effects in accordance with the moods of mother nature.
Having, myself, visited the Grand Canyon, for a week, during 2000, I can personally testify to the majesty of this intensely colorful and variable natural wonderland .... in that it never appears the same from day to day or during any other time of the year.
A very nice replication of the entire Grand Canyon is available for FS .... in the form of the following 30 meter mesh terrain scenery enhancement file for FS2004 ....
FILE NAME = gcned30m.zip
SIZE = 14.1 MB
AUTHOR = Tom Finley
AVAILABLE FROM = FLIGHTSIM.COM
Using this 30 meter mesh terrain scenery enhancement and flying the Grand Canyon from National Park Airport east and north east at approximately 6,500 FT .... following the course of the Colorado River ....
Using the same 30 meter mesh terrain scenery enhancement and flying the Grand Canyon from National Park Airport west and north west at approximately 6,500 FT .... once again following the course of the Colorado River ....
And what better way exists to see/experience the magnificent grandeur of the Grand Canyon than by "air" .... hovering above or within it by helicopter .... or better still .... taking in the classic splendor of this natural wonderland from a low and slow flying FORD TRI-MOTOR .... a classic/historic/vintage aircraft that was built and first flown on June 26th 1926. Almost 200 of these rugged/durable aircraft, of some 30 different models/descriptionss, were eventually produced by FORD ....
For many years a FORD TRI-MOTOR 4-AT-2 was the aircraft used by Las Vegas, Nevada, based SCENIC AIRWAYS to undertake aerial tourism/sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon .... until this particular aircraft (the 11th airframe produced .... having seen service with PAN AMERICAN, TACA HONDURAS, TATSA MEXICO, and ISLAND AIRWAYS) was badly damaged as the result of a landing incident. This aircraft has since been .... or is currently being .... restored to airworthy condition at San Diego and is 1 of just a handful of these classic/vintage aircraft which remain.
A FORD TRI-MOTOR is available for FS .... as one of the stock/default/FS2004 ACOF aircraft. Unlike is the case with a lot of default/stock MSFS supplied aircraft .... this particular example is actually "not too bad at all".
However .... the FS2004 FORD TRI-MOTOR has also, recently, been enhanced .... with new panels (3 to be precise), FDE, and a much improved custom sound pack. These upgraded files are available per the following "complete package" ....
FILE NAME = new_4at-e.zip
SIZE = 29.9 MB
AUTHOR = Austin DAVIS (with a lot of help from friends)
AVAILABLE FROM = FLIGHTSIM.COM
PLEASE NOTE: It's important to follow "the accompanying installation instructions". It's intended to be installed as a separate/new FS2004 add-on aircraft .... in addition to the existent default FS2004 stock version. Don't delete any of the original MSFS 2004 supplied aircraft files (the panel gauges in particular) .... or .... one will, potentially, end up loosing valid custom MSFS supplied gauges required for other unrelated add-on FS2004 aircraft. AGAIN .... FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Each of the 3 new panels accompanying this upgrade comprise of 1920's, 30's, and 40's era navigation equipment which is commanded into view by sub panel view selection icons .... and among which both Astronomical/Sextant, Radio Range, and ADF equipment is featured along with some "minor" main panel instrument variations too.
1920's-30's MAIN PANELS
1940's MAIN PANEL
The new/revised FDE results in much improved (in my opinion) aircraft performance .... in terms of both its ground and airbourne handling characteristics .... AND .... the new/enhanced sound pack certainly gives this simulation the audio ambiance it could/should have had right from the very beginning.
One of the 3 new/revised panels is also pre-configured with a "REAL ENGINES" interface/utility .... which imposes upon one "the need" to use, and adjust, engine power properly/appropriately .... OR .... engine failures through engine abuse/mismanagement can .... AND WILL .... result .... accompanied by all of the appropriate audio/sound, smoke effects, engine gauge indications, and performance loss .... as per the following demonstration ....
The above mentioned Grand Canyon mesh terrain scenery upgrade and the FORD TRI-MOTOR enhancements for FS2004 both come with my "personal recommendation".
Should one become "hooked on" this classic/historic/vintage FORD TRI-MOTOR simulation .... then .... the following TRI-MOTOR dedicated FS website provides well in excess of 300 different textures/liveries for the default/upgraded FS2004 ACOF FORD TRI-MOTOR simulation .... some of which are real world .... others of which are purely fictional .... but .... all of which are splendidly reproduced and represented in strict alphabetical order ....
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATION FORD TRI-MOTOR PROJECT
www.ford-tri-motor.net/
Mark C
AKL/NZ
