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One of the driving forces behind the warbird community is flight simulators. This forum is to discuss all aspects of flight simulators, primarily combat/military based software but GA simulators can be discussed here as well.
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Virtual Hamilton Air Show (Prepar3d flight sim)

Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:38 pm

The third week of June was the usual date for the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s annual air show back in the 1980s and 1990s, and less consistently over more recent decades. To provide a theme for my flying this weekend, I set up a virtual air show at CYHM in Prepar3d v4. This is the largest gathering of flyable flight sim planes that I have ever “parked” in one place for one event. I didn’t get to fly many of them, due to good real-life weather in my neighborhood that have me better things to do than sit in side and play with my computer, but I will try to fly as many of them back to their home bases as I can. Here are some highlights.

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Here is how I arranged things on the third-party free scenery for Hamilton airport. It’s a good, detailed scenery that includes a nice representation of the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum (the tan and brown triangular building at lower right) including a few of their planes parked as static objects.

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In this shot, the Anson, Hurricane, Dakota and Lancaster in the foreground are static elements supplied with the scenery, and I parked the Expeditor, Crane, Stearman, Harvard and Tiger Moth in the far row for the event.

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A little further from the museum is the display of current and cold-war Canadian military hardware, parked as it might be for an air show static display.

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The main hot ramp consists of World War II fighters and bombers. Most are in Canadian or British markings, but a few aircraft in the colors of other countries were invited to round out the display.

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Ground level views of the hot ramp. Taxiing past the other planes was one of the most fun and immersive parts of the exercise.

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There are at least 50 fairly high polygon count airplanes in this shot, and it definitely hits the frame rate when they are all in view at once. For takeoffs and landings I usually turn them off to keep things smooth, then turn them on again for flybys and taxiing.

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I enjoyed exploring local airports and sights with the participating aircraft. Toronto is not far away, so here is a photo flight of three Canadian-marked P-40s over the waterfront.

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Because it’s a simulator, I can still pretend that the former Russell Group Bf 109E is still to be seen over this part of Ontario.

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Rides at the show were provided by B-17G Yankee Lady and a Canadair North Star. Wouldn’t it be amazing if a North Star or Argonaut were still flying today? Imagine a ride in passenger-plane comfort while four Merlins howl outside the windows.

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I’m not sure what my next Prepare3d virtual event will be. Possibly Geneseo, or the antique fly-in at Blakesburg.

August
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