• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

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Flattening of runways

S

Sibbe34

Messages
32
Hello!

Posted this on MS devsupport but haven't received a reply yet. I’m trying to improve a rough bush airstrip in the sim (500 meter long grass strip). However, as soon as I add a runway, it flattens the uneven terrain underneath. Is there a way to make the grass runway follow the contours of the underlying terrain? I’ve tried pretty much everything and couldn’t find anything in the SDK either. Any ideas?
 
FlyingsCool

MSFS20 Thread 'How to get runway to follow terrain?'

Hi,
How do I get the runway to follow the existing terrain? Apparently, I accidentally pulled the altitude of the runway, and I don't know what variables to choose to get the runway to drape over the terrain as is. I'm recreating a closed airport (69NH), so the terrain is already correct. I expected a switch, but I don't see one. (nor do I see a field for setting runway altitude at all).

(Sorry, I posted in the wrong forum, can someone move this to the Airports forum, unless it's ok here.)
 
In my case, the workaround presented in the thread you're referencing is not working out for me, as the issue is that the airstrip has a slope that goes from right to left with trenches on each side. This is being flattened out as soon as I place a runway. Really frustrating. The way I understand it is that there's no way to make the runway follow the terrain in the SDK? At least not in my case.
 
Hi Sibbe:

There is a way to shape the terrain any way you want in any version of FS, whether FS-5 or MSFS-2024.

By default, however, the RWY infrastructure is geared towards AI Traffic which must have flat and level terrain.

To have an airport listed in the pick-list requires an Airport Reference Point (aka "ARP") which by default flattens RWYs.


One can hide a default RWY and drape default land class or custom photo-real aerial imagery textures over RWYs.

But, without custom terrain, RWYs will still be flat / level, and without an ARP, one may not have the airport in FS' pick-list.


P3D implemented a way to slope RWYs along their "long" axis, and ADE version 1.79x had a test of concept supporting that.


Now, in MSFS, we can once again use sloped RWYs, but we must "TerraForm" the terrain by various procedures.

IIRC, when Jon retired, he had not yet implemented sloped RWY support in ADE Alpha 20 version for MSFS.


The manual method Kronsky used is exemplary for a sloped airport RWY area using default MSFS SDK "TerraForming" tools.

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/how-to-get-runway-to-follow-terrain.449309/

It can take a bit of learning to do, however.


In Google Earth Desktop Edition now, 69NH evokes a Joni Mitchell song refrain: "Paved Paradise ...Put Up A Parking Lot".

Please tell us what 'year' you want for your custom 69NH, as there is likely older GIS DEMs / DTMs that may help to do this.

And please post a screenshot here, of the current results you regard as unacceptable for the project area.


AFAIK, one makes a "TIN" from that elevation data, outputs a ESRI SHP file, imports to MSFS SDK DevMode Scenery Editor.

That can then be processed from a "primitive" Polygon to make a replacement airport terrain surface in the shape you want.


PS: More cool stuff by Kronsky (these sceneries are excellent sloped RWY 'worked examples', and great fun for Bush Flying): :idea:

http://kronzky.info/fs/fs2020-idaho/


GaryGB
 
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