Wanaka Air Race, for MSFS
(Fictitious Air Race event)
Version 0.6
--Description--
You may know the famous "Warbirds over Wanaka" airshow, probably the largest airshow event in the southern hemisphere. It's happening every two years in Wanaka, South Island, New-Zealand. Well let's imagine now that this beautiful place hosts thrilling pylon air races. That's what this package is all about.
Three race circuits are proposed, with dedicated pylons, in a mix between Reno races style and Red Bull races style.
- "The riverside race" is for high-performance aircraft, with top speed of around 250kts+, such as Spitfire, P-38, Gee Bee, Corsair or even the crazy Vertigo from Ggravel. Pylons are white with black or red markings.
- "The hillside race" is for high-performance aircraft too (but it gets tough to sustain high g's to remain close to the track best line) and lighter ones like the Extra or the Bonanza. Pylons are "cans" painted red.
- "The river slalom" is for aerobatic aircraft such as the Extra or the Pitts, and brings your down the Clutha river, following its tight turns. Pylons are yellow with black markings.
- "The Canyon Race" is extreme and for high-performance aircraft only, such as Spitfire, P-38 or Corsair. It can be raced with jet but then requires high-g pulls and careful monitoring of speed to avoid overshooting gates. Gates are blue and white. Sometimes they are simple "cans", sometimes they are arches/bridges and sometimes they are spheres suspended between two pylons (you need to fly below them!). Make sure to install SBWorks library v1.3 to see those new pylons.
Please read the pdf file in the archive for more details about the tracks.
All circuits are starting/ending at the checkerboard pylon, in front of the main taxiway of Wanaka airfield. They can be flown in ever way, clockwise or anti-clockwise (while the "Canyon Race" is best to be flown clockwise).
Since there is no timing option in MSFS, you will have to rely on your own hability to start/stop your timer when you cross the line, or ask a friend, on ground, to do so, for time-attack scenario. But I propose here other options too, in multiplayer:
1- all racer start on ground and with engine running, taxi to one end of the runway. There, red markings on ground provide starting blocks for aircraft (up to four for instance). A line is materializing the start. Then one can start the countdown, 3, 2, 1, go! You have to takeoff fast but clean, and be the first to turn on the first pylon. Up to you to define the number of laps. At the end of the race, the winner is the one aircraft crossing the cherckerboard line first in its final lap.
2- Same start than with option 1, but the winner is elected after landing! The first to stop his aircraft within the rectangular, orange marking on the runway (at the opposite end of the landing) wins! That's more tricky since you have to demonstrate your hability to takeoff, race and land correctly without rushing and overshooting the runway, or being too slow and loose your first place at the final moment!
Of course, such racing event is more fun if you fly aircraft managing engine damage. With "simple" models you can run at 100% power all the time, but with the P38L from FlyingIron for instance, or with the MilViz Corsair, it will not be possible. Up to you to carefully monitor your power settings and your temperatures.
--The scene--
Obviously this is a work-in-progress and maybe just a one-shot if it does not meet its audience. Please don't hesitate to provide feedback, comments and critics are welcome.
Pylons are included via the SBWorks asset library but the Wanaka airfield has not been edited at all; only few default assets were placed here and there to start to add atmosphere. The Clutha river water was completely missing from the base landscape (for unknown reason) so I had to create it at least in the area from Luggate to Lake Wanaka.
A complete recreation of the place would be great but I'm not sure to have the free time and capacity to do so. Anyway, this scene is compatible with the default airfield or potentially any upcoming improved rendition from a third party.
Some key assets are from my library so please make sure you have it installed in your "Community" folder.
Developed using the Orbx NZ Mesh, it should be also compatible with the base mesh
--Installation--
Please remove any previous version of this scenery you may have.
Just unzip and drop the "sbworks-scenery-wanakaairrace" folder into your "Community" folder of MSFS.
It is more than strongly recommended to install these libraries:
- SBWorks Asset Library v1.3 or later (https://flightsim.to/file/21396/sbworks-asset-library)
- Windy Things
--Credits--
All work done by SBWorks (Stéphane Beilliard).
October 2021.
Skaska
I dont have any idea where to fly
guitou1111
Hi,
Fantastic race.
I thinK the pylon 4 on the black race have a wrong arrow direction, could you check?
SBWorks author
Thanks!
Ah, yes that's possible, I'll check.
3 years ago
ponny2oo2
HOW TO GET SMOKE EEFECT ON THE REDBULL EXTRA e330?
Aviapics
Great! Nice to have 3 tracks (6 if race in the opposite). Just tried with 2 friends in Corsair <3
andrewjamez
Awsome thanks, Would love to see the wanaka airport upgraded..with spectator crowds.. 😊 Great work
MechanicalMad
Great idea i would rather have NZ as a backdrop LUL
SBWorks author
Ahah thanks! Interestingly you just released your Silverstone Air Race while I was working on Wanaka Air Race. Great minds think alike!! ^_^
3 years ago
Jeremy
Thanks a lot, not easy but very fun!