JYAI UH-1 Huey

[John Young]

The problem with the CH-146 Gavin, is the faring above the engine casing that is not present on the UH-1N models. It's easy to add, but there is not room on the texture sheet to map it. I could just use a single block colour, but it really needs a larger area to accommodate the camouflage pattern, or other paint scheme that flows up from the main casing. I would have to re-size the fuselage section on the sheet and redraw it to include the top faring. That would mean a complete re-map of the fuselage. I'm trying to work out what to do with scenery at the moment and adding in the Canadians will just add to that exercise.

I'll pass on that for now, if you don't mind.

John

[gavinc]

The problem with the CH-146 Gavin, is the faring above the engine casing that is not present on the UH-1N models. It's easy to add, but there is not room on the texture sheet to map it. I could just use a single block colour, but it really needs a larger area to accommodate the camouflage pattern, or other paint scheme that flows up from the main casing. I would have to re-size the fuselage section on the sheet and redraw it to include the top faring. That would mean a complete re-map of the fuselage. I'm trying to work out what to do with scenery at the moment and adding in the Canadians will just add to that exercise.

I'll pass on that for now, if you don't mind.

John

No problem, as I said I wasn't asking you to make a special CH-146 model.

I'm happy with whatever you produce.

Gavin

[John Young]

I’ve completed a trawl of the scenery options for the Huey’s. If anyone can shed any further light, particularly with the location of the parking for the UH-1N’s at Fairchild AFB, that would be useful.

I’m not proposing to create any scenery or flight plans for the retro UH-1D's and H's. This is the situation I have found with scenery for the UH-1N’s and TH-1H’s:

Malmstrom (KGFA), (Minot (KMIB) and Warren (KFEW)

I can add AFCAD overlays to accommodate the 7 UH-1N’s at each base. Warren doesn’t exist in FSX or P3D, but I can make it so.

Yokota (RJTY) Japan, for the 459th AS.

This looks reasonably straight forward using the FSX version of Brent Newman’s scenery.

Joint Base Andrews (KADW) for the 1st HS UH-1N’s

The MAIW FS9 scenery of KADW works in FSX but with tree transparency problems. I couldn’t see any AI aircraft with the aircraft present and with the traffic file converted. The scenery does not work in P3Dv5. The package was probably converted for Matrix however, but won’t be available to newer users. Several third-party sceneries exist, including one from Team SDB. An option for me is create an ADCAD overly for the bulk of the 25 1st HS UH-1N's using the default KADW and hope that the elevation is consistent with any of the available main sceneries.

Fairchild AFB (KSKA) for the 36th RQS UH-1Ns.

Brian Clarke’s FS9 scenery works well in FSX and P3Dv5 with FSX libraries. It was produced to accommodate the KC-135s of the 92nd ARW. I would be happy to add the 36th RQS HU-1N’s, but I don’t know where they park. I can’t see any of the helicopters in Google Earth, including the historic imagery and I can’t see any helicopter parking circles either. I’ve looked at other aerial imagery and photos and videos of 36th RQS operations, but again without success. Does anyone have any information about helicopter parking please?

Kirtland AFB (KABQ) for the 512 RQS UH-1N’s.

Kirland AFB is part of Albuquerque Sunport International airport (KABQ). The military side is home to the USAF 58th SOW equipped with the HC-130J, MC-130J Pavehawk and Osprey as well as the UH-1N. Like Fort Novosel, it’s quite a task to do it justice and may prove incompatible for anyone with third party Alburquerque International scenery. I don’t think I want to touch this one.

Fort Novosel – Cairns AAF (KOZR) Alabama for the TH-1H’s.

Scenery is included in the Fort Rucker package for P3Dv4 by David Midgett (Avsim). The scenery works in P3Dv5, but not in FSX. The scenery includes 8 remote landing fields set up for AI helicopters. However, KOZR is presented in a fixed wing configuration and while a helicopter overlay could be set up, it’s a complex task. The aircraft based there comprise Lakota’s, Apache’s, Chinooks and Blackhawks, as well as the USAF TH-1H’s. I would need to seek permission to modify David’s AFCAD.

According to Wikki, in 2012, the controllers handled 245,000 aircraft movements. In an average day, tower operators handle 800 to 1,000 movements. What makes Cairns unique is the density in which it operates. The airfield may be launching 70 to 120 aircraft in the morning and afternoon, and then 50 or 60 at night for training. I really don’t want to touch this one, it would tie me up for months.

John

[raclim]

Hi John,

First of all, many thanks for another great project.

Regarding Fairchild AFB, I think I found the helicopter spots you are looking for. I am not able at the moment to post a screenshot, but if you to google maps and go to the parking ramp that is the closest to runway 23, you will see 3 parked KC-135's. In front of them are a row of hangars and to me it looks like the middle hangar has some helicopter spots in front of them.

I am not sure if they are the ones used by the 36th RQS, but atleast it is something.

Best regards,
Randy

[John Young]

Oh, well done Randy. If you go to Google Earth imagery for 2019 at the location you discovered, you can see 2 of the Huey's parked there:



Thanks for that.

John

[Joseph29]

For the scenery, when these helos come out came someone do a AFCAD for Joint Base Andrews (KADW) for the payware Drzewiecki Design scenery? Joint Base Andrews comes with the Washington X scenery (Regan National). That is what I use (the P3D v5+ version).

[John Young]

This really illustrates the problem with designing overlay scenery, not just across the different sim versions, but across different 3rd-party add-ons.

I don't have the Drzewiecki Design scenery, so I can't produce one specifically, I'm afraid. The best I can do is make an overlay for the FSX or MAIW default and publish it. At least that will give someone with the scenery a head start. They can then open it in ADE and make any necessary corrections to position and elevation.

John

[Victory103]

John,
Regarding Ft. Novosel, another that is not listed on sectional charts are the training landing zones throughout the area. Most of the multi-runway "stage" fields are used for the Army for both initial (Lakotas) and advanced training. When I went was there, the USAF were still out at Lowe AHP shared with the Black Hawks. KOZR is so busy as mentioned the stage fields come into play. I have the AFD set up mentioned with some 4hr FPs I found for the various types in P3Dv5. An USAF only overlay might be the best with "out and back" flights for the TH-1s (not alot of long cross-country flying in helos).

[flyerkg]

I’ve completed a trawl of the scenery options for the Huey’s. If anyone can shed any further light, particularly with the location of the parking for the UH-1N’s at Fairchild AFB, that would be useful.

I’m not proposing to create any scenery or flight plans for the retro UH-1D's and H's. This is the situation I have found with scenery for the UH-1N’s and TH-1H’s:

Malmstrom (KGFA), (Minot (KMIB) and Warren (KFEW)

I can add AFCAD overlays to accommodate the 7 UH-1N’s at each base. Warren doesn’t exist in FSX or P3D, but I can make it so.

Yokota (RJTY) Japan, for the 459th AS.

This looks reasonably straight forward using the FSX version of Brent Newman’s scenery.

Joint Base Andrews (KADW) for the 1st HS UH-1N’s

The MAIW FS9 scenery of KADW works in FSX but with tree transparency problems. I couldn’t see any AI aircraft with the aircraft present and with the traffic file converted. The scenery does not work in P3Dv5. The package was probably converted for Matrix however, but won’t be available to newer users. Several third-party sceneries exist, including one from Team SDB. An option for me is create an ADCAD overly for the bulk of the 25 1st HS UH-1N's using the default KADW and hope that the elevation is consistent with any of the available main sceneries.

Fairchild AFB (KSKA) for the 36th RQS UH-1Ns.

Brian Clarke’s FS9 scenery works well in FSX and P3Dv5 with FSX libraries. It was produced to accommodate the KC-135s of the 92nd ARW. I would be happy to add the 36th RQS HU-1N’s, but I don’t know where they park. I can’t see any of the helicopters in Google Earth, including the historic imagery and I can’t see any helicopter parking circles either. I’ve looked at other aerial imagery and photos and videos of 36th RQS operations, but again without success. Does anyone have any information about helicopter parking please?

Kirtland AFB (KABQ) for the 512 RQS UH-1N’s.

Kirland AFB is part of Albuquerque Sunport International airport (KABQ). The military side is home to the USAF 58th SOW equipped with the HC-130J, MC-130J Pavehawk and Osprey as well as the UH-1N. Like Fort Novosel, it’s quite a task to do it justice and may prove incompatible for anyone with third party Alburquerque International scenery. I don’t think I want to touch this one.

Fort Novosel – Cairns AAF (KOZR) Alabama for the TH-1H’s.

Scenery is included in the Fort Rucker package for P3Dv4 by David Midgett (Avsim). The scenery works in P3Dv5, but not in FSX. The scenery includes 8 remote landing fields set up for AI helicopters. However, KOZR is presented in a fixed wing configuration and while a helicopter overlay could be set up, it’s a complex task. The aircraft based there comprise Lakota’s, Apache’s, Chinooks and Blackhawks, as well as the USAF TH-1H’s. I would need to seek permission to modify David’s AFCAD.

According to Wikki, in 2012, the controllers handled 245,000 aircraft movements. In an average day, tower operators handle 800 to 1,000 movements. What makes Cairns unique is the density in which it operates. The airfield may be launching 70 to 120 aircraft in the morning and afternoon, and then 50 or 60 at night for training. I really don’t want to touch this one, it would tie me up for months.

John

I typically use the AirNav website as a reference for airport dimensions, runway light types and Google Earth to confirm location and space between structures. KFEW only has helo pads, but measurements can be acquired in Google Earth.

[John Young]

Yes indeed, I know how to do it. I just need to be clear on what I am doing and what I'm not. It's a big subject potentially and don't want to get bogged down in scenery, particularly with multiple helicopter types.

John

[John Young]

Good progress with the AFCAD overlays. I have the Huey's numbered up, flight planned and working at Joint Base Andrews, Fairchild, Minot, Malmstrom and Yokota, with just a bit more to do.

Warren AFB is a no go - it doesn't exist in any form that I can find, not even in the default FSX or P3D. It doesn't have a runway, which is probably why, but it is far too complex to tackle with very little reference material to work with.

The Huey's at Minot work well. The problem though is the base scenery. The default in FSX and P3D is in the wrong place. The MAIW FS9 version is correct and the B-52's that are based there all park where they should. The problem though is that it's an FS9 scenery and when used in FSX or P3D it produces all sorts of serious transparency issues that I can't resolve. Steve kindly checked for me and the base does not seem to have been converted for Matrix.

Minot is an important scenery because of the B-52's. What are people here using in FSX and P3D please?

John

[Jorgen]

John,

I use this one. I believe I got it off AVSIM.

Jorgen

[John Young]

Yes I had tested that one Jorgen, but it's very crude and doesn't accommodate all the B-52's in the MAIW traffic file. It's for P3D and doesn't work in FSX.

John

[Jorgen]

I searched around a bit, and found one on Flightsim.

It is too large to attach here, filename is minotv20.zip

Jorgen

[John Young]

Thanks for looking Jorgen. That one is quite basic too, but is crammed with very low polygon static B-52's, F-22's and for some reason a Russian Antonov. They are embedded in a single BGL so can't be removed. The scenery doesn't even have a custom AFCAD file.

John

[Jorgen]

I suspected that it was basic, but didn't know it was that basic, since being solely a P3D user I couldn't check it out myself.

At least the one from AVSIM has a little AI parking.

Jorgen

[Jim]

Hi John,
Since you asked: It's been a while, but I think I have (in my P3dv4.5 setup) the MAIW Minot FS9 scenery with the vegetation & fences converted ok with MCX ...without blacked out backgrounds, if that's what you meant by transparency issues.

A good thing about this scenery is that I do NOT see ground layers flickering between one another (which I get on a lot of converted scenery that I've attempted). Minor by comparison, but I'm guessing I've lost some surface background like roads (VTP files or landclass?), as buildings just line up in grassy areas.

Do all these different sceneries have the same space available to place your heli overlay? I don't have anything better to suggest than Jorgen's finds or this.

[John Young]

Jim, the problem is with the fences and trees, but particularly with the low hedges that use a massively tall transparency that doesn't render correctly.

If you do have a conversion, we don't have permission to share it unfortunately, which is probably why it was not included in Matrix.

I think this is a very important base and I think I would like to have a go at it for FSX and P3D as my next project. I've just been doing a small scenery enhancement for Cairns AAF for the USAF TH-1H's and I have quite enjoyed it. I'll get the Huey package out first though.

John

[Jim]

Aye, I thought sharing a conversion would be a problem John.

Still, if you fancy dabbling in some scenery, I'll look forward to what comes of it

[John Young]

Nearly all of the present day Huey's I have made, have a home now in both FSX and P3D. This is the progress so far:

Fairchild AFB (Brian Clarke scenery):





Joint Base Andrews (MAIW scenery):



Minot AFB (MAIW scenery):

The overlay in the Minot (MAIW) scenery is working well, but the base scenery is not acceptable in FSX or P3D - it has too many serious transparency issues:





Cairns AAF (Fort Novosel)

I decided to make the base scenery from scratch, although there is a version available for P3D, which is not compatible with FSX. It is a very busy base, used for training H1-UH and Lakota pilots. I counted 150 parked helicopters in Google Earth, but for this package, I have made 14 of the UH-1H's and 32 of the Lakota's. The former are individually numbered, but the latter just uses a single texture without a serial number:







Yokota Japan (Brent Newman scenery)





Malmstrom AFB (John Stinstrom scenery):



Both the Malmstrom and Minot Huey's include a 3-tone camo heritage paint example. This one is the "Green Hornets" scheme from Vietnam.

Still to do:

This leaves 3 bases - Warren AFB, Minot AFB (to overcome the transparency problems) and Kirtland AFB.

Someone has come forward and is making Warren AFB. I won't say who, because I don't want to pressure him, but if he would like to say what he is doing himself, that would be great. I'm really grateful.

I'm going to build Minot AFB from scratch as my next project. I quite enjoyed making Cairns and Minot is a very important scenery with it's B-52H contingent as well as the UH-1N's.

I'll need to tackle Kirtland before that. I haven't found any suitable scenery and because the base shares the airfield with Albuquerque International airport, many users may have a good commercial scenery. I can use the default however to create the overlay and users can reposition it if necessary with ADE to integrate it with what they have. The problem though is that it is another busy base with HC-130J's, MC-130J's, HH-60G's and CV-22's, all operated by 58th SOW, in addition to the UH-1N's. Does anyone have any suggestions for the base scenery please (FSX and P3D)?

There are a couple of UH-1N's painted in red and white that are used for test purposes at Hurlburt Field. Brent Newman's scenery is too busy to accommodate them, even if I knew where they parked, but I might include them as visitors somewhere near by.

John