Three Horseman Practice airport??

[skyhawka4m]

Has anyone ever considered doing this airport as it looks to be a home base for numerous warbirds. I think it would make for an awesome scenery.

[falcon409]

I'm curious. . . .what is it your talking about? Are you asking someone to design a fictional airport to be used for Warbirds, or is there such an airport already that no one has done yet?

[skyhawka4m]

Well....its an actual airport, but I honestly don't know where it is. Before the AIRSHOWBUZZ website was dismantled they had videos they made at this airport and it looked to be in the midwest somewhere if I'm not mistaken.


Bomber12th may know where it is.

[skyhawka4m]

http://youtu.be/MZ9iauedF7Y

[falcon409]

Ah, ok:salute:

[glennc]

I'm not positive but I think the Horsemen were based with the Planes of Fame Museum at Chino, California, KCNO.

Glenn

[Bomber_12th]

The airfield you're thinking of is Comanche Ranch, in Texas (I believe in Eagle Pass). It is the private airfield of the Friedkin family collection (airforce) of warbirds, also sometimes known as Comanche Fighters. Friedkin family, because the collection is made up of aircraft owned by both father and son, Tom and Dan. The airfield really is out in the middle of no where, which is perfect for being able to practice full routines whenever need be (and privacy). The airfield was designed to look very much like a 30's/40's era British field, with both grass and paved landing surfaces and vintage inspired architecture. You can find the airport already in FSX by searching for Comanche Ranch in Texas (though if I recall correctly, it is represented simply with a runway and that is it).

While most of the Friedkin collection is based at Comanche Field, other aircraft in the collection are often housed at Planes of Fame at Chino. The collection includes 6 Mustangs (including an A-36, P-51C and two P-51K's (one under restoration)), 2 Bearcats, an F6F-3 Hellcat, F3F, J2F, Spitfire Ia (x2? - both in England right now), Spitfire V, Spitfire XIV, Spitfire IX, F4U-4, P-38, two F-86's, Bf-109E (awaiting restoration), Hawker Hurricane, and more.

[falcon409]

Did a quick look-see on the USGS Seamless server. Definitely out in the middle of nowhere. Looks like there is some pretty nice resolution available for it too. Hmmmm.

[skyhawka4m]

The airfield you're thinking of is Comanche Ranch, in Texas (I believe in Eagle Pass). It is the private airfield of the Friedkin family collection (airforce) of warbirds, also sometimes known as Comanche Fighters. Friedkin family, because the collection is made up of aircraft owned by both father and son, Tom and Dan. The airfield really is out in the middle of no where, which is perfect for being able to practice full routines whenever need be (and privacy). The airfield was designed to look very much like a 30's/40's era British field, with both grass and paved landing surfaces and vintage inspired architecture. You can find the airport already in FSX by searching for Comanche Ranch in Texas (though if I recall correctly, it is represented simply with a runway and that is it).

While most of the Friedkin collection is based at Comanche Field, other aircraft in the collection are often housed at Planes of Fame at Chino. The collection includes 6 Mustangs (including an A-36, P-51C and two P-51K's (one under restoration)), 2 Bearcats, an F6F-3 Hellcat, F3F, J2F, Spitfire Ia (x2? - both in England right now), Spitfire V, Spitfire XIV, Spitfire IX, F4U-4, P-38, two F-86's, Bf-109E (awaiting restoration), Hawker Hurricane, and more.



Thank you sir!!!!! I'd love to see this airport done at some point.

[orionll]

Well, if a simple no-frills photoscenery fits your style, here's something I quickly threw together: link (http://goo.gl/dWVFm).

To install, copy the BGL to any active scenery library folder. Data available from U.S. Geological Survey, National Geospatial Program.

Here's the coverage:

http://i.imgur.com/eeOJ6.jpg

[falcon409]

Here's a preliminary look at before and "during", lol. I did a bit of color correction, but it still needs a bit more to mesh better. Some water to add and the few buildings that are there and it would be ready to fly.

[skyhawka4m]

:applause:

[Bomber_12th]

It's great to see scenery already taking shape for the airfield!

The hangars and control tower is what really makes the airfield unique from others you'll find in the U.S. Without trying to model new hangars and control tower for the scenery, one might be able to find something that matches very closely to the main hangars and control tower amongst the British WWII airfield scenery objects that are out there. Even if they didn't quite match up to the real structures, if they have that same sort of look about them, it would look believable.

If you watch the pilot episode of the cartoon "Mike Da Mustang" by Airshowbuzz, the airport in that cartoon was modeled almost exactly after that of Comanche Ranch, so the structures and layout of the airfield in that cartoon is very close to the real Comanche Ranch.

Here are some images and video grabs:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/Image4.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/c6e025aaea5d5e5238c889bdf046eb48.jpg

Note the line-up of warbirds, all part of the Friedkin family collection, and all based at Comanche Ranch most of the time.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/Image1.jpg

Note how green the grass is for the grass runway compared with the rest of the terrain (at least at the time of the year the video/image was shot):

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/promo120945041.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/Image5.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/71440981_640.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/image6.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/Image7.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/image8.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

By the way, I also pulled another screen grab out, that doesn't really have to do with the scenery, but one of the aircraft based at Comanche Ranch. For a number of years now, Spitfire Mk.Vc JG891 has been owned by the Friedkin family. This aircraft debuted fresh off of restoration in England (I believe in 2006 or 2007) as a "tropical variant", finished in a desert scheme, owned at the time by Tom Blair. After an air show season or two, Blair shipped the aircraft to Florida where he had it only for a short time before selling it to the Friedkin family (along with the P-38 - former LSFM). There is still a question posted every now and then as to where it is, with many having not seen it since. Unfortunately I don't believe it has gotten out to any shows in the U.S. since coming over, and since being owned by the Friedkins I don't think it has been anywhere outside of Comanche Ranch. The aircraft has since had the wingtips clipped, the tropical filter removed, and the aircraft has been repainted in the markings of the famed Spitfire Mk.V flown by Robert Stanford Tuck. It would be nice to see this aircraft and Rod Lewis' (also Texas based) Spitfire Mk.V at a show together, somewhere in the U.S. (my two favorite Mk.V's).

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/spitfire-mk-vc-jg891.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/TT%20Restored/Image2.jpg

[falcon409]

Great reference John. Gonna get to work trying to place some objects and see what it looks like. Thanks!!

UPDATE:
Taking shape....more or less. Annotator time now...adding shrubs and trees around the hangars:

[skyhawka4m]

bump!

[Bomber_12th]

I love it already, Ed!!

(BTW, "WD-C" is just about ready to be uploaded.)

[Bomber_12th]

I'm sorry to bring this thread back up, but I just saw these videos recently posted to Youtube, and thought others might enjoy. They provide a rare and privileged peak into the hangars where the private "Comanche Fighters" airforce of warbirds is based - the airport for which is the subject of this thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzFv8-ASgZg<!-- m -->

<!-- m -->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcs-KB3gOSs<!-- m -->

<!-- m -->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3HJoW_AwRg<!-- m -->

[skyhawka4m]

would really love to see someone do this airport....even if payware

[Shylock]

I was building this airfield a few years ago and had asked for some reference photos of the hangars and a fellow flight simmer I guess was friends of the owners of the air field and I was told to stop that they didn't want their "Secret Base" replicated in any simulator. I got as far as the basic layout. Maybe I'll talk to my buddy and see if hes interested in doing this. The hardest part is building the hangars to how they are in real life because of the lack of resources.

[Bomber_12th]

Yes, it is all very private, being a family-owned property and collection, rather than a public airport or museum.

[falcon409]

I was building this airfield a few years ago and had asked for some reference photos of the hangars and a fellow flight simmer I guess was friends of the owners of the air field and I was told to stop that they didn't want their "Secret Base" replicated in any simulator. I got as far as the basic layout. Maybe I'll talk to my buddy and see if hes interested in doing this. The hardest part is building the hangars to how they are in real life because of the lack of resources.
So they expressed a desire for it to "not" be replicated in any simulator but you think it's a good idea to go ahead and do it anyway?:isadizzy:

[heywooood]

at first I thought you meant Chennaults team - they used to fly with their airplanes actually tied together with a rope

http://aerobaticteams.net/men-on-the-flying-trapeze.html

[Navy Chief]

Looks GREAT!!!!! NC

[Wittpilot]

I was building this airfield a few years ago and had asked for some reference photos of the hangars and a fellow flight simmer I guess was friends of the owners of the air field and I was told to stop that they didn't want their "Secret Base" replicated in any simulator. I got as far as the basic layout. Maybe I'll talk to my buddy and see if hes interested in doing this. The hardest part is building the hangars to how they are in real life because of the lack of resources.

I find it kind of interesting that they would have felt this way.... Unless they possibly they thought someone was going to be using it for their own personal gain. I would personally love to see the airfield done...

Hey Falcon409, did you ever get my PM????

[Daveroo]

im really curious why they feel they need to be so secretive?..kermit weeks collection is prolly bigger and more expencive..and weve all seen p-51s,spits.corsairs..F86s..seriously...whats the deal?...

[falcon409]

. . . . . . . . . .Hey Falcon409, did you ever get my PM????

No sir!

[Shylock]

So they expressed a desire for it to "not" be replicated in any simulator but you think it's a good idea to go ahead and do it anyway?:isadizzy:

Now if there is a demand for it, YES!!!! Lol. As long as its freeware, I'm not using their likeness or names we can reproduce anything we want. If its on google earth, Bing, Yahoo maps etc we can replicate it. I learned a lot working with folks at El Centro that if we can see it, we can build it. When I was doing it there wasn't any demand for it and we were in the process of creating the FSX Horseman so it was just going to be fo them but issues arose and it wasn't worth the headache.

[stansdds]

Google Earth images are public information and I would think that as long as you use public information and do not receive any compensation that you would be ok to recreate this airport for flight sim. I can't understand why they would try to tell anyone to not make a sim model of their airport unless they thought there would be money involved.

[skyhawka4m]

Sadly in this new world money drives everything.