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    NZAR - Ardmore Aerodrome, New Zealand (fully modelled) - Image 2

    Description

    SPECIFICALLY CRAFTED FOR BOTH FS2020 AND FS2024 

    Welcome to the full rebuild of the original upload found here. If you are familiar with that mod you would know it was broken from day 1 with AI Traffic unable to exit or enter the runways. With permission from Ron Watson, the orginal 3D modeller of the airfield, I have recreated this iconic airport in its full working glory! I have carefully crafted this to honor the many Ardmore Aerodrome pilots so that they can enjoy this in either FS2020, or FS2024.

    Ardmore is an iconic airfield in Auckland, NZ and was actually my local aerodrome until I moved to Australia. So I have a long history with this one and a vested interest in getting it to the stage it should have been. Ron spent 5 years creating all of the buildings, and his hard work is most appreciated.

     

    If you want a pure FS2024 only version with the new Delta2 hangar and taxiway, you can find it here.

     

     


    DEPENDANCIES

    The airport does not need any dependancies to work, but I highly recommend you have the UK 2000 Common Library in your community folder to see the static aircraft at the very least.You can now find this in the Marketplace. Other recommended dependancies are listed below in the usual section. Again I recommend these to add extra content, and I will most likely add extra eye candy as time goes by - so that list may grow a little.

     


    THE ACTUAL DOWNWLOAD

    I have created two variants of this airfield, such will be the popularity of this, and bundled them together. Once downloaded you must choose only ONE to install into your community folder.  See the instructions within the download file for more information, but in a nutshell they are:

     

    1. REALISTIC VARIANT 

    • The real deal. The actual aerodrome restricted to CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) only. Runway lighting is included because the PAL (Pilot Activated Lights) cannot be simulated. Taxiway lighting also added on request from Ardmore management. Designed for the actual pilots at Ardmore and for you hard core sim pilots that want authenticity.

    or

    2. TOWERED VARIANT.

    • A 24x7 variant sporting a fully controlled airport. It is identical to the realistic variant but with working Ground control, Tower and ATC, and also has fully lighted runway and taxiways. Designed for you sim pilots that prefer all the bells and whistles the sim and 3rd party apps offer.
    • *Navigraph subscribers might need to remove their injected AIRAC cycle first using the Navigraph Hub app for the ATC to work.  

     


    VERSION UPDATES (both variants are always updated together in the same download)

    V1.2   26 Jan 25

    • Added the runway and taxi lighting to the Realistic variant.
    • Removed the clump of trees on approach to RWY21 that was blocking the view of the windsock.
    • Added more eye candy and clutter around the entire airfield.
    • Added hold short lights at Papa and Echo. Unfortunately these are static only.
    • Added exit taxisigns to the main runway that I had overlooked.
    • Reduced the size of the parking cones in front of the Auckland Aero club.
    • Other minor improvements.

     

    V1.3   20 Feb 25

    • Final changes requested by the local pilots.
    • Reduced the height of the trees by the Ardmore Flying School apron.
    • Removed some cars and replaced them with clutter.
    • Removed the light from the windsock on RWY03 in the realistic variant.

     


    KNOWN ISSUES.

    With the airport? None at all.

    With Microsoft FS2020?  None at all.

    With Microsoft FS2024?  AI Traffic of course!

    • Despite my taxiway network, parking, gates, and runway pathing being perfect, FS2024 AI Traffic is a shambles. I have witnessed single aircraft take off and land just fine, but when multiple airfraft are on the taxiway they all get horribly lost and do what MS Traffic does so well - run around aimlessly or just stop dead near the runway and die.
    • My advice.... Purchase BeyondATC, which will inject FSLTL models into the game for its AI to control, and just forget Microsoft ever had AI Traffic.

     


    So enjoy!

    -=CoolGunS=-

    Comments(21)

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    1 day ago

    I seem to be missing a texture for some of the taxiway/apron surfaces.
    Any idea why this would be so?
    CoolGunSAuthor

    1 day ago

    Ensure ALL FS2020 world updates are installed along with the dependanices.
    U

    6 months ago

    This comment has been deleted
    CoolGunSAuthor

    6 months ago

    Hmm, and the link to the external gaming site was necessary because?...

    7 months ago

    Nice work, well done on the creation!
    Thanks for sharing it

    about 1 year ago

    My local airport - and pretty much the main reason why I ditched the Xbox for Pc - so that I could download Ardmore :) Thank you for replicating it so faithfully!
    CoolGunSAuthor

    10 months ago

    Cheers, this is as real as it will ever get even as FS2024 matures.

    about 1 year ago

    My favourite freeware NZ airport - many thanks!
    CoolGunSAuthor

    about 1 year ago

    Funny that, its mine too having grown up not far from it.

    over 1 year ago

    Screenshot shared below?? I hate the shorter trees for NZ - like them as they are :D Those though, even DTI have them either completely gone or trimmed so us public cant see them in the real version :D
    CoolGunSAuthor

    over 1 year ago

    It looks like you have a conflicting mod in your community folder as there are no trees there in my scenery and that building is also an intruder.

    about 1 year ago

    All good :D Great work! :)

    over 1 year ago

    Nice update, thank you for sorting the lights - and shrinking the cones on my apron too :-)

    over 1 year ago

    Any way to fix the massive trees on the south side by the Ardmore Flying School apron? They are supposed to be there but if it is possible to make them smaller it would be great
    CoolGunSAuthor

    over 1 year ago

    Next month I will see what that is all about. CG.
    CoolGunSAuthor

    over 1 year ago

    I have now reduced those autogen trees to minimum on the slider for the next version 1.3 coming shortly. If still too high for you, then get this mod https://flightsim.to/file/19031/new-zealand-tree-height-fix-no-more-30m-tall-trees-in-small-towns

    over 1 year ago

    Whats the possibility of the realistic variant getting lights? Ardmore is well lit with runway edge lights and end lights, taxiway centreline and edge lights, hold sort lights at Echo and Papa, APAPI, and a green/white beacon on the UNICOM building.
    CoolGunSAuthor

    over 1 year ago

    Sure I will look into this for the next update when I can get back to this CG

    over 1 year ago

    Awesome - thanks for the hard work on bringing this up to 2024 spec, and for the shout out to AAC at the end of the video too :-)
    MSFS 2020MSFS 2024

    NZAR - Ardmore Aerodrome, New Zealand (fully modelled)

    NZAR - Ardmore Aerodrome is a meticulously rebuilt add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, designed to offer an authentic flying experience. This enhancement includes two operational variants: a realistic aerodrome focused on daylight operations and a towered version featuring full ATC and lighting. Developed with the original 3D models by Ron Watson, the add-on aims to provide both casual and serious pilots with an accurate representation of this iconic New Zealand airfield. No dependencies are required for basic functionality, but additional libraries may enhance the experience.

    Downloads2K
    Version1.3
    File Size76.40 MB
    Published1 year ago
    Updated1 year ago

    User Reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    5
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    4
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    3
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    More Information

    Simulator
    MSFS2020/24
    CategoryAirports
    Sub-CategoryRegional Airports
    ICAONZAR

    Version History

    Final changes requested by the local pilots. Reduced the height of the trees by the Ardmore Flying School apron. Removed some cars and replaced them with clutter. Removed the light from the windsock on RWY03 in the realistic varariant.

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