Blackbird SR-71 Blackbird has taken off and Beale AFB retro released. (bundle)

Dimus, interesting video, I had wondered about the SR in the engine test area! If you do any more updates to the scenery, for extra realism, add the red anti collision lights top and bottom of that SR as they were switched on for engine start - even on the tests.


I see an update has been released, did you manage to fix the flickering fuel spill on the hangar floor - also have there been any update to the SR itself?

centuryseries said:

Dimus, interesting video, I had wondered about the SR in the engine test area! If you do any more updates to the scenery, for extra realism, add the red anti collision lights top and bottom of that SR as they were switched on for engine start - even on the tests.

I see an update has been released, did you manage to fix the flickering fuel spill on the hangar floor - also have there been any update to the SR itself?

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Thanks! On the lights: Will be considered, why not. The update mainly fixed the door animation issue when sometimes the door would not fully opened. A sim glitch that I managed to work around by redoing the animation differently. Full changelog for the scenery is:
- Fixed hangar No12 door animation bug that sometimes did not open completely
- Hangar 12 renamed to No 76 (to denote the best spawn position for a Blackbird)
- Corrected sound effect for lights switch off when closing hangar doors at night
- Deleted birdstrike radar that did not exist in the 80s
- Adjusted position of parked KC-135Qs and start positions on northern apron to not block the vehicle roadway

The fuel spills flickering is something that others have reported but neither myself or the testers are seeing. We are trying to figure out if it depends on a graphics setting. Please log this on Discord on the SR-71 discussion channel so we can gather info.

For the SR-71 a big update is under progress to take into account as much as possible of the stuff reported so far and add more features. Can't give an ETA yet.

Just HU on an update for the SR-71 that is out. Also two freeware scenery enhancements are available from BB website here (scroll down the page to find them):


One is an addition of two Blackbird hangars at the default Mildenhall airport. The other is a revamp of the default Diego Garcia AB which includes one Blackbird hangar that was transported and assembled there in the 70s to support SR-71 operations from Diego Garcia.

Dimus said:

Just HU on an update for the SR-71 that is out. Also two freeware scenery enhancements are available from BB website here (scroll down the page to find them):

Blackbird Simulations SR-71A for MSFS2024 - Early Access

Dedicated to the memory of Brian Shul ...one of the greats. - and a big thank you to Walt. Squeeze into the cockpit of an aviation legend with our SR-71A Blackbird — an experience engineered for those who crave speed, precision, the thrill of pushing boundaries, and historical accuracy. From...

blackbirdsims.com

One is an addition of two Blackbird hangars at the default Mildenhall airport. The other is a revamp of the default Diego Garcia AB which includes one Blackbird hangar that was transported and assembled there in the 70s to support SR-71 operations from Diego Garcia.

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I have some freeware Mildenhall scenery - which has the static hangars, anyone know if it's possible to remove bgl like we did in the old days for FSX etc?

centuryseries said:

I have some freeware Mildenhall scenery - which has the static hangars, anyone know if it's possible to remove bgl like we did in the old days for FSX etc?

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If you recompile the layout.json file, I think it is. But I'll let the experts elaborate.

Priller

I'm afraid it is not possible. In MSFS all custom oblects used by a scenery are compiled in one database (Modelib). If you delete it you lose all custom objects that the scenery maker included.

If you use the freeware (or payware) Mildenhall together with these free hangars, then they will just be on top of each other. These will only work with default.

Diego Garcia on the other hand is a more complete package as in addition to the hangar, there is a revamp of all aprons, runway and parking locations. The SR hangar is also painted in the "70s" colors of grey and white instead of beige and the aft door is stuck in the semi-open position, as when it was transported from Beale the reassembly did not go exactly to plan. The issue with Diego Garcia is that the base/apron arrangement is more or less the current one, not the 70s one, which was much less extensive.

This might be the best MSFS customer based video production I've ever seen. Beautiful editing and camera work. Really showcases the beauty of this simulation.

That is indeed a very nicely made video. He apparently used "easy" mode as in realistic mode Mach 4 is not possible, but in all, very well made.

I'd also like to announce a small update to the KBAB retro scenery. In addition to a few bug fixes, the main entrance was changed to the correct and very cool looking period one:


Also the static SR-71 engine runup scene (happens at 6:00am and 6:00pm each day) was made more lively with the addition of the TEB firing effect and the beacon rotating (like suggested by centuryseries):

Also the AG330 cart connecteng pole is animated and retracts after the engine fires up.

dvj said:

This might be the best MSFS customer based video production I've ever seen. Beautiful editing and camera work. Really showcases the beauty of this simulation.

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Thank you for posting. It was indeed a fantastic video.

@Dimus or anyone that's purchased and flown from Beale in the current base settings, are all those AI aircraft (including that fantastic Bone, included?). Admittedly, I have purchased but only flew out once and only saw static T-38's and drone's. Work has just kept me away from trying her out more.

The video is using the contemporary Beale version not the retro. In any case there is unfortunately no AI traffic included in the scenery, only statics.

Dimus said:

@dvj The video is using the contemporary Beale version not the retro. In any case there is unfortunately no AI traffic included in the scenery, only statics.

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Thanks @Dimus for the reply. The included static's look very nice indeed. Hoping for a nice military AI traffic package sometime this decade...lol. I see some WIPs but that B-1 just looked fantastic too.

The B1 Lancer is from another developer. Good looking model, but not study level. What I like about that video is zero music.