Please note that this is not a VFR Review. I got the product before we formalized the group. Anyway, all my reviews after this ought to be VFR

SkySim�s Andrew�s AFB


     Andrew�s AFB is famous for one reason; the president�s Air Force One regularly flies in and out of there, as well as staying there while not in use. �Additionally, it�s located in Washington D.C., so I�m sure that it�s under quite a bit of stress keeping up the airspace security. �Other than that, it�s unremarkable.

     First Impressions-
           The download from the SkySim shop was about 30MB�s. �The server gave me a nice, fast, connection and it was on my hard drive quickly. �When I opened up the folder I found, to my surprise, that there was no installer. �Instead, it gave you directions to unzip it into the FSX folder. �With some confusion (make sure you follow the directions) I got it installed, and then ran the traffic download that was linked in the readme. �The traffic is from Military AI Works, and works quite well with the scenery. �Upon my first flight, I went to Andrews from the airport list; trouble is, it wasn�t there. �I knew that I installed it right, so I started up and flew around D.C. looking for it. �After a while, I spotted it, but one wonders why they didn�t make it available from the menu.



     

     While there aren�t a whole lot of objects at this airport compared to some, the ones that there are are fairly nicely portrayed. �On the eastern side, there are three interesting hangars which have some nicely modeled support struts going over the building. �There are quite a few hangars lined up around the field, and these are just your standard half-barrel-with-two-doors-stuck-on buildings. �One of the most notable buildings is the hangar where Air Force One is kept. �It�s quite a well done representation. �However, it�s not quite spot on; the walls are lacking some details, and the roof is a bit darker than represented. �It�s fun to fly over this building, however, as it has some soldiers standing on top as well as some light poles. �It would be neat if they modeled some of the inside. �Additionally, you�ll be hard pressed to find the 747 which is currently being used as Air Force One. �The only planes that you�ll find around the scenery are the ones included with the AI, and there is no 747 among the fleet that I could find; however, there are 737's in the Air Force One scheme. �

     Some googling reveals that the objects to be found in the scenery look quite a bit like what you�d find at Andrews. �The hangars, for instance, are all lined up with a taxiway running through them. �Also, there are some interestingly shaped buildings that I can�t discern a purpose for. �One looks like a hangar, and sort of looks like the Air Force One hangar cut in half with a door stuck on. �There are some office buildings (I guess) with nice, pavement-like black roofs and tan sides. �Overall, it certainly embodies the feel of an air force base; no frills like what you�d find at a civilian airport, and a certain difference in layout. �I did notice one terminal with jetways, so you won�t have to call over a stairway for the president. �


img]http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/2008-6-28_8-40-33-812.jpg[/img]


     The traffic, while not being designed by SkySim, is quite nice. �Generally it�s a pain installing traffic when you haven�t done it before, but the link that SkySim includes takes you right to a download, which installs easily. �You do have to modify the name of one of the files that the SkySim package installed. �Included in the package are F-16's, E-4's, 737's, Gulfstreams, and C-130's. �The F-16's are my favorite. �The place where they park is sort of a zigzag, and when they do park, the cockpit opens. �The F-16's perform flybys of the base, as well as patrol the airspace. �The C-130's have a bit of a problem; the prop effect looks sort of weird, with edges around it. �I find it hard to describe, but you�ll see what I mean if you get up close to one of them. �When the E-4's park, you�ll find some ground servicing around them (well, I think it�s an E-4 � � :p )Also, in flight, they lower their refueling booms. �

     There are few bugs to be found in this scenery, largely because it�s rather simple. �First and foremost (and I�m not sure if this is a bug) there�s a taxiway that just stops in the middle of the field. �Perhaps there�s a building at the end, and I didn�t turn my settings up high enough to see it. �Also, there�s a taxiway in between two runways that AI like to get stuck at. �They just sit there, menacingly rumbling their engines, warning the other to get out of the way. �Also, the lights in the lampposts stay on all day. �This isn�t noticeable from every angle, however. �When does get dark, it looks like some of the concrete bulges on the Air Force One hangar didn�t get a night lighting texture, and they look a bit out of place. �

     To wrap it up, Andrews AFB by SkySim is certainly a decent attempt as one of their first packages. �While it�s not on a photoreal base like a lot of scenery, I prefer that to a blurry mess confusing the landscape. �There are a good few custom objects scattered around, and this airfield is right in the heart of DC. �After a long, bottom-numbing flight in your F-16, it�s nice to go back home at the end of the day to a well-lit base. �On that note, what with the tall light poles and uniquely shaped buildings lit up at night, the night lighting is certainly OK. �It�s a scenery, without a lot of thrills, but considering it�s SkySim�s second scenery, I think we can look forward to them making some fine military addons. �Location, Location, Location as they say, and Andrews certainly has that. �If you want a simple, decent, and relatively inexpensive scenery for one of the US�s major security freaks, I�d recommend this. � �