TO ALL VIEWERS...BEFORE PROCEEDING...PLEASE NOTE!!!

I have received many dozens of emails concerning these screenshots from varying individuals mistakenly believing these are actual aerial photographs taken from a real aircraft, of a real arcraft, of a real flight over the Florida Keys. They are not.

PLEASE BE ADVISED:

THESE ARE SIMULATED PHOTOS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS
 TAKEN FROM WITHIN THE SOFTWARE PROGRAM
"MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR FSX"

THESE ARE NOT ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS!

By viewing this web page you are hereby informed that the textures utilized to create these screenshots are from MICROSOFT's VIRTUAL EARTH map servers and have been generated utilizing a Microsoft Gaming Software Program, and are to therefore be considered as the proprietary property of MICROSOFT CORPORATION by definition. As such they MAY NOT BE USED for any commercial activities without violating Microsoft's copyrights or contractual leasehold agreements to their source authors or map tile suppliers. The author of this web site will not be responsibile for the unauthorized use of the screenshots posted here outside of this website or any prosecutorial actions taken as a result of the same. The screenshots were originally posted here for the simple enjoyment of the thousands of hobbyists and MS Flight Simulator enthusiasts who appreciate the dedication to computer flight simulation that MICROSOFT has exhibited over the years by their continued production and improvement of their "Flight Simulator" software series, of which we in the flight simulation community have enthusiastically supported for several decades and are all very indebted. The unauthorized use of these screenshots may therefore not only place the user in legal jeopardy, but threatens the the very fabric of the unspoken but much appreciated "fair use" doctrine that Microsoft has allowed Flight Simulation community to enjoy for many years. Their dedication to programming excellence is reflected in the fact that this page header exists at all. We are indebtedly thankful to have been offered such an stunning software series in the first place and wish continue promoting it.

Therefore:

PLEASE RESPECT MICROSOFT'S FUNDAMENTAL COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP OF THIS MATERIAL.

For more information about how to generate (and virtually fly) these same scenes on your own computer...click here!

 

FSX and TileProxy: 1.1 m/pixel resolution (Service 1 Textures)

The Florida Keys: Key Largo to Key West

Here are a series of screenshots of the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Key West.
For the ProxyUser.ini and FSX settings used for this flight see the bottom of this page.


A fantastic starting point for a Florida Keys run is the private airstrip at Key Largo, the "Ocean Reef Club" (07FA). Right next to the Card Sound Golf Club, and 4500 feet in length, Runway 22 will point you directly SSW towards Key West, about 100 nautical miles distant.
Then follow the islands, causeways, and bridges of "The Overseas Highway", U.S. Highway 1, to Key West.



Key Largo at Sexton Cove, with the broad white strip of Highway 1 leading the way.



A small islet at Plantation Key.



Snake Creek at the "Venetian Shores" development on Plantation Key.



Upper Matecumbe Key



Lower Matecumbe Key with Long Key in the distance.



Marathon Key with Marathon Airport (KMTH) below.



The "Seven Mile Bridge" with Ohio Key in the left foreground. Amazingly, FSX's default bridges actually align almost perfectly with the aerial textures!



Big Pine Key, with the homes along Longbeach Drive in the foreground. The shallow waters of Coupon Bight appear directly behind the aircraft.



The wilds of Lower Sugarloaf Key. The U.S. Naval Air Station field on Boca Chica Key can be seen in the distance with the VASI lights of Runway 27 at the Key West International Airport (KEYW) beyond that.



Boca Chica channel, with the The U.S. Naval Air Station field on Boca Chica Key, center right.



Banking on approach, Key West, Florida



Descending to align with Runway 9 at the Key West International Airport (KEYW). The cruise ship docks, old Fort Zachary, and Taylor Park and Beach may be seen in the foreground.



On final, Runway 9, at Key West International Airport (KEYW)


Texture Set:

These screenshots were taken using Service Example 1's online textures. They are by far the best set available for the Florida Keys and offer a high resolution, naturally colored, perfectly blended set of textures that stretch unbroken from Key Largo to Key West , a distance of approximately 100 nautical miles.

ProxyUser.ini Settings: The "level_mapping" settings were especially important in getting the lowest "good color level" to extend outward to a reasonable viewing distance. Though I had to pause occasionally for texture "catch-ups" this is due mostly to the reduced TPS I experience with my older single core machine. Faster dual core rigs may not have an issue with these settings.

Also, though a default "blend_distance=500.0" was used, an examination of the Florida Keys from the chosen online map service indicates that a much more realistic and farther offshore "green water" distance could be achieved by extending this value a bit so that the shallows between the keys retained the excellent look of the reefs and shoals that surround the many Florida Keys. In fact most of the many keys and islets in this entire chain are connected by this aqua-green water. I haven't experimented with changing this setting yet.

max_lod=15

preload_min_lod=8
preload_max_lod=15

blend_distance=500.0

source=Service Example 1

[Service Example 1]
min_level=9
max_level=17
map_version=117
level_mapping=9,10,11,12,15,16,16,16,17
 color_hack=Yes
color_level=13
bulk_extend=50

FSX Settings:

Visibilty set at 30 miles.

 

 

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Email: edtruthan@gmail.com