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Post by connieguy on Sept 7, 2021 11:43:25 GMT -5
Ernest Harmon Air Force Base originated in facilities built near the small settlement of Stephenville in Newfoundland during the Second World War to assist in the ferrying of aircraft to Western Europe; as such, it was a partner of Goose Bay in Labrador, constructed for the same purpose at the same time. In its heyday the biggest US base outside the USA, it was also important in the Cold War as part of the defences against Soviet bombers carrying nuclear weapons and a staging post for US bombers doing the same thing. Like nearby Gander, it was also vital as a refuelling point for propliners crossing the Atlantic. However, it was closed in 1966. By then nuclear warheads had been placed on ballistic missiles against which F-102s were no defence, and the advent of the jet age had rendered it peripheral as a refuelling point. This new scenery is by Al Von Pingel, Dan French and myself, Dan once again having kindly agreed to produce vital buildings. John Hewson has also again provided extremely important period photographs. Proving flights have been done from Flight Ontario's excellent Goose Bay and with real world weather have been both enjoyable and challenging. Flying at 11,000 feet tends to be just above the cloud layer; if it isn't icing is always likely to be an issue. As one descends over northern Newfoundland the landscape is rather spectacular providing one doesn't make too close an acquaintance with it by descending below about 4000 feet. As with other of our sceneries, Al will provide ai aircraft and a traffic file which recreates Harmon as it was c.1960. Cal Classic civilian and MATS traffic are also present. These screenshots use FSGlobal 2010 as the mesh and Ground Environment textures.
Very low visibility seems to be rare, but low cloud here obscures the runway even as we are almost upon it.
Harmon in midwinter. The lake to the east is very useful for lining up, especially if the runway is not visible.
Landing on Runway 09 at night.
Midwinter. Taxiing in.
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Post by aharon on Sept 7, 2021 13:21:21 GMT -5
last screenshot is AMAZING!!!
Since the air force base was closed in 1966, does it mean this air force base had C-135 refuel tanker planes?
Is your air force base scenery for FSX use and does it require any other softwares?
Regards,
Aharon
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Post by Al on Sept 7, 2021 17:15:05 GMT -5
Hi Aharon, Sorry but this is FS9 only though I guess you could try it in FSX. The sceneries that Ken and I are doing are heavily interfaced and dependant on the CalClass world and while I have FSX I don't use it much. KC-135 have been spotted there more than likely after 63 or 64 as the base still had Squadrons of KC-97 doing temp duty there through at least 63 or so. C-135's surely visited on occasion as well. I will have traffic files for each CalClassic Traffic year with appropriate aircraft for each. There will be some interesting visitors to this base.. We will reveal more later.
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Post by aharon on Sept 8, 2021 9:10:36 GMT -5
Al,
Thanks for kind answers and for very interesting explanations.
Regards,
Aharon
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Post by connieguy on Sept 9, 2021 10:20:59 GMT -5
MATS C-121 of the 41st Transport Squadron over Labrador at a pressure altitude of 13,000 feet, February 1956. The sky at dusk is unusually clear of clouds, but it won't last. The small light above the compass is an aircraft ahead about to land at Harmon as we turn to intersect the flight line. Almost lined up, there is just enough light left in the sky to reveal the familiar lake and surrounding trees, and to warn, along with the ILS, that we are quite low enough for the time being. But all is well as we taxi in and see the lights of this very large air base.
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Post by connieguy on Sept 12, 2021 9:37:33 GMT -5
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Post by aharon on Sept 13, 2021 10:53:12 GMT -5
Awesome explanations and thanks for educational post on CYJT I never knew about that airport/base!!
Wish there is FSX scenery for that
Regards,
Aharon
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Post by connieguy on Sept 13, 2021 11:48:05 GMT -5
Thank you for your kind words, Aharon.
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Post by connieguy on Sept 14, 2021 14:38:03 GMT -5
No expense was spared in building Harmon, including the creation of a harbour to the south. In this shot a ship can be seen exiting it at extreme left. Parked near the Air Base Passenger Terminal made by Dan French. The harbour, with US Navy tankers and freighters, is in the background, while a Trans-Canada Douglas (I'm not sure whether this is a DC-4 or DC-6, but this is Tom's 1955 traffic) taxies past on its way to Stephenville airport. This scenery is now approaching completion.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Sept 15, 2021 9:42:17 GMT -5
Looking nice. That’s a TCA DC-4M, built by Canadair with RR Merlin engines.
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Post by connieguy on Sept 23, 2021 3:40:58 GMT -5
Thanks Tom. As the DC-4Ms were the equivalents of BOACs Argonauts I should have recognized it. Here are more screenshots, many of the buildings having been made for this scenery by Dan French. The C-97 tanker area, 1957. Fighter Area 1957, with F-102 Delta Daggers. Barracks. The Air Base passengar area.
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Post by Al on Sept 23, 2021 12:26:30 GMT -5
One correction, the fighters are ai F-89J Scorpions by David Wooster built for this scenery and several more that are in the works. The F-102's of the 59th FIS will make their appearance in the 62 Traffic as they relieved the 59th F-89s in 1960. So Scorpions will be in the 57 and 59 traffic. Hopefully you will see them at other Calclassic airports that had National Guard units flying them as well.
Stay tuned!
Al
Correction (guess it was a while since I revisited this scenerio). The 61st with thier F-89s were there from 1953 to October of 57 when the 323rd FIS with there F-102s from Ttaux Field relieved them. They were then relieved in July of 1960 and replaced with the 59th FIS doing duty at both Harmon and Goose Bay. So each will be represented in each CalClassic year.
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Post by nmlw on Sept 23, 2021 15:37:43 GMT -5
Appears lots of hard work has been put into this and all is looking good.
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Post by connieguy on Oct 10, 2021 10:04:58 GMT -5
Just uploaded to Flightsim, Avsim and Military AI Works. Links to follow.
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Post by connieguy on Oct 11, 2021 9:44:38 GMT -5
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