VFR Terrain by Visual Flight is the first ever complete high resolution terrain scenery on a national scale, featuring not only the highest possible resolution terrain mesh, but also accurate and detailed coastline and lake scenery - another milestone in flight simulator scenery following the success of VFR Photographic Scenery.

"Frankly this mesh is nothing short of amazing... The difference it makes is astonishing..."

Bethesda, North Wales (VFR Terrain + VFR Photographic Scenery)

The terrain mesh included in VFR Terrain is based on NextMap UK 5m IFSAR radar data compiled at 19m for both FS2002 and FS2004, the maximum resolution supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator. Not only does it use the best possible source data (18 times more detailed than the sources used for other UK terrain mesh sceneries) but it makes maximum use of Flight Simulator's capabilities - without seriously impacting frame rates.

Coastline and lakes

Terrain mesh is only part of the equation, and uniquely, VFR Terrain supplies a complete terrain solution including coastline and shorelines, plus completely flat water/lake surfaces and 'real water' textures for VFR Photographic Scenery users to facilitate water surface effects and float-plane landing.

The VFR Terrain coastline includes estuaries and rivers at least partway upstream (depending on width and other characteristics), plus major lakes/reservoirs plus many minor lakes/reservoirs (again depending on size and other characteristics).

NB. This image shows accurate shoreline/landable water, but not mesh

Showing accurate coastline and mesh on S Cornwall coast - FS2004

Perfect with VFR Photographic Scenery...

Naturally all the features of the scenery are accurately positioned to align perfectly with VFR Photographic Scenery, as can be seen from the screenshot below.

Snowdon from the North West

The combined effect of using the terrain mesh scenery together with the photographic scenery can be stunning - screenshots such as the one below do not fully do it justice.

... and also with the default Microsoft scenery

Here's the same screenshot as the one at the top of the page, but this time without VFR Photographic Scenery:

Bethesda, North Wales (VFR Terrain only)

VFR Terrain is designed to work with or without photographic scenery. For default scenery users, in addition to the high resolution terrain mesh, it includes all the land/water mask and vector coastline scenery needed to replace the default inaccurate coastline and lakes with super accurate replacements including the usual default scenery coastline effects i.e. waves breaking along the shore.

Performance

Users have found that VFR Terrain does not seriously impact performance. With a decent system, properly set-up, you may even want to try your hand at flying the valleys in a fast jet, RAF-style...

Flying the valleys (Hawk by RAF Virtual)

Coverage

The map below shows the area covered by VFR Terrain, which includes the Isles of Scilly and an area of overlap into Scotland. NB. The Isle of Man is not included.

Do you need VFR Terrain?

Decide for yourself. The screenshot below shows exactly the same scene as in the two previous screenshots of Bethesda (one with VFR Photographic Scenery, one without), but this time without VFR Terrain:

The screenshot below shows exactly the same scene as in the two previous screenshots of Bethesda (one with VFR Photographic Scenery, one without), but this time without VFR Terrain:

Bethesda, North Wales (default scenery only)

As you can see there is simply no comparison.  The magnificent Welsh mountains are almost completely missing, as is all the incredible terrain detail which VFR Terrain brings to Flight Simulator.

Note: Except where stated, the screenshots on this page show VFR Terrain and VFR Photographic Scenery.

Press Releases

• 23 Jun 2005 - Visual Flight announce patches and enhancements for VFR Terrain
• 12 Oct 2004 - Visual Flight announces full 19m support for VFR Terrain and FS2004 Update

Buy now

VFR Terrain is available from Horizon Simulation. Please do not confuse it with other terrain scenery products.

Mailing list

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