So way back in July I announced my intention to create a custom Mudspike airport for X-Plane using the X-Plane scenery World Editor (WED). My original idea was to build on the Twenty-Nine Palms payware scenery since it was so nice, but after doing some additional exploring, I decided to branch out and create a whole new fictional airport.
Now, I’m admittedly very new at using the X-Plane WED, so I’m learning as I go, and there are a whole ton of tricks and tips that I haven’t discovered. After spending a couple days dorking around with it - I finally came up with an early iteration of KMUD.
My wishlist of items I wanted in a custom airport included:
- Wide expanse for good FPS
- Generally good weather
- Preferred runway to follow contour with relatively gentle grades
- Proximity to waterway
- Multiple runway types for testing purposes
After spending an inordinate amount of time in Google Earth scoping out potential building sites, I finally found the spot. I probably visited a dozen other locations, but after visiting them in X-Plane, I found the terrain would preclude building with “runways follow contours” enabled. I also wanted to build in Arizona because I’m using the excellent State of Arizona orthoscenery from X-Aviation, which provides some nice mid and high altitude textures. The location I settled on is on the edge of a dry lakebed that is (conveniently) filled with water in the X-Aviation version of my scenery. I’m not sure if it is filled with water in default X-Plane. The site lies just east of the Mt. Tipton Wilderness Area (an environmental impact study was not commissioned - we are going to beg for forgiveness instead of asking for permission) about 30 miles north of Kingman, AZ and about 70 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
And the big reveal…(drumroll please asks Clark Griswold)…
So you’ll notice a few things (and probably lots of mistakes from this neophyte airport builder).
- 3 parallel runways
- 4,000’ (1,219m) dirt runway for practicing “austere” operations
- 10,000’ (3,048m) main concrete runway with precision approach lights and markings
- 4,000’ (1,219m) asphalt STOL runway
- 7,000’ water/seaplane runway marked off in the lake
- 2 helipads
- Large ramp space for large aircraft
- +/- 1 Mega-watt solar array for running the airport
The design in WED undergoing near constant changes, fixes, improvements, and additions…
The Twin Otter on the custom STOL runway (this took me forever to build from “parts”)…
The seaplane ramp is a work in progress (the whole airport is) and I haven’t yet figured out (or found) a ramp that I can attach to the tarmac to allow seaplanes to roll up and down into the water. I know it is possible because other sceneries have them - but I haven’t found one yet and I don’t know how to build it. It is possible to just drive off the edge of the lake into the water as long as you are going above 5 knots or so…but I need a better solution…
A large part of the “terminal” area was a pre-made template with the objects already placed. I found one I liked and am using it, but I’ll need to figure out how to get rid of some decidedly wrong looking Fir-type trees that are part of the template.
The solar farm on the northwestern corner of the airport property…
The dirt runway will come in useful when testing some of the more rugged aircraft…
Approaching the STOL runway in the BAe146…
I have the mid point marked (2,000) with a white line and red boards on the side of the runway edge…
I have some work to do with the ground objects/airport scenery still. But there are areas large enough for big airplanes (also the reason I wanted at least a 10,000’ runway)…
Late today I found some techniques for making curved taxiways - so I’ll need to do that since the angles are a bit too extreme for larger aircraft. I still have a LOT of work to do with pavement markings, signage, etc…
Fully loaded, the 747 gets off in about 8,000’ of runway. If I use the “space” port of the airport I might need to further expand that runway…
The satellite view in X-Plane - showing the lake with water in it. I think that 99.9% of the time it is actually just a dry lakebed and when it is full, it is probably only a foot deep. On my next drive out there in Arizona I’ll have to drive by and visit “my” lake…
Position along the lake - looks like easy access to Stockton Hill Rd. there too…
I have a lot of refining to do. The list includes (and I don’t know if any of this is possible):
- Add a target range in the desert nearby (this should be possible)
- Paint a carrier profile on a piece of pavement for practice carrier landings (IFLOLS)
- Install VOR and ILS approaches to the main runway (this might be possible?)
- Lots of tweaking and fixing
- Would like to get a hangar large enough for A380 and Antanov type aircraft
- Would like an engine runup sound containment pad
So work continues!
BeachAV8R
