Denver International (DIA) is the last major airport built from the ground up in the United States, replacing the aging Stapleton airport on February 28, 1995. By surface area, DIA is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. It was designed to facilitate and expedite aircraft traffic flow on the ground and in the air thanks to a unique set of runways made possible by the sparse population in the plains just east of the city of Denver. KDEN’s six runways are arranged to enable no less than three simultaneous approaches during reduced visibility conditions regardless of prevailing winds and to practically eliminate runway crossings during taxiing to and from the terminal and other general aviation and cargo facilities. It also features the longest runway of any civilian airport in the US which, at 16,000 ft., enables fully-loaded, large aircraft to take off for long-haul flights from Denver’s 5400 ft. elevation. DIA’s most distinctive feature is the main terminal with its iconic white roof designed to mimic the snow-caped peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the west. Adopting the practical and efficient design typical of newer airports in the US such as KIAD and KATL, DIA’s terminal consists of three remote concourses connected to each other and to the main terminal via an underground tram. This configuration now used in almost every major airport in the world maximizes the number of gates that can be accommodated around each concourse while enabling unrestricted flow of aircraft between them. In addition, the concourses’ modular design will enable easy and affordable growth to accommodate the increasing traffic expected for this centrally-located airport that also serves one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.
BluePrint Simulations’ Denver International airport scenery depicts the airport as it exists in the fall of 2013 and features highly detailed, full-3D models (BluePrint’s True3D) of the main terminal and three concourses including the ATC tower. It also includes all cargo, general aviation and maintenance facilities within the airport boundaries, all aircraft maintenance and storage hangars being fully three-dimensional and usable. All 3D models feature custom-made, high-resolution (32 px/meter) textures including transparency and reflection effects. The scenery also includes every gate available at each of the three concourses. Each gate is accurately numbered and equipped with a static jetway configured and branded to match current gate usage by every airline serving DIA. Each aircraft parking position is located as accurately as possible based on current satellite imagery of the airport and features realistic ramp markings, illumination effects and a basic parking alignment aid. A set of optional static service vehicles is also included for every gate. An advanced mapping file (AFCAD) enables realistic AI traffic operations. BluePrint’s KDEN scenery also depicts the runway and taxiway complex superimposed on a set of high-resolution, custom-made terrain textures positioned as accurately as it is possible in the flight simulator environment to match official FAA charts and publications. The terrain textures depict seasonal changes and are painstakingly blended with the surrounding terrain to provide a realistic experience during flight in the vicinity of the airport. Runways and taxiways feature accurately placed signs and markings as well as hold-short signs and lighting at every relevant intersection.
Custom-made, optimized and fully three-dimensional Gmax models of the entire facility including:
One terminal and three concourses
The ATC tower
Accurately located aircraft parking positions around every concourse and individually customized static jetways at every gate. Static service vehicles (optional) and parking alignment aids at every gate
All parking structures adjacent to the terminal
A significant fraction of the general aviation, aircraft maintenance and cargo facilities within the field’s boundary
Approach lighting fixtures and navigation aid antennae for every runway
Custom-made, high-resolution (32 px/meter) textures for all Gmax generated models including transparency effects
Custom-made, high-resolution photo real ground textures depicting seasonal changes and carefully blended with the surrounding terrain
Accurate runway and taxiway layout, including detailed markings and signs
Realistic taxiway and ramp markings and ramp illumination effects
Two levels of scenery complexity and detail:
NORMAL complexity includes terrain texturing, autogen vegetation, airport layout with taxiway signs and basic navigation equipment models (actual localizer and glide slope radio signals are available regardless of the scenery complexity setting), and most buildings within the field’s boundaries including the terminals, the air traffic control tower and cargo and maintenance facilities
VERY DENSE complexity adds detailed instrument approach lighting system models, animated runway intersection lighting, gate parking position alignment aids and optional static ramp vehicles
Advanced, custom-made AI mapping file (AFCAD) including realistic gate and parking spot layout as well as airline gate assignments. A basic AI mapping file without gate assignments is also available as an option
BluePrint Simulations sceneries are not compatible with FSX default animated service vehicles
FS2004 and all versions of Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8
Intel Core Quad CPU or better (Q9300 @ 2.50 GHz fully tested)
4 GB RAM (fully tested)
nVidia 9000 series video processor with 256-bit memory interface and 512 MB
dedicated video memory or better (nVidia GeForce 9800 GT fully tested)
Note: No measurable frame-rate degradation was observed using the hardware
specified above as “fully tested”.
* BluePrint Simulations sceneries are designed and tested using nVidia GPU’s
exclusively. For Current generation video card specifications visit nVidia.com.
For ATI video card specifications visit ati.com
Attempting to use Blueprint Simulations KDEN, Denver Intl Airport version 2
scenery with hardware that does not meet the specifications listed above is not
recommended. We will offer limited technical support for frame-rate performance
related issues if the minimum hardware specifications listed above are not met.
This is really great work by BluePrint as usual. Buildings casting shadows slows frames (as do some other BluePrints) but generally it's worth the $$$$$