VOZ AI PACK

[ardypilot]

As advertised on the front page of AVSIM today:

Vista Australis Releases AI Pack
The VOZ Team is pleased to announce that the much anticipated, definitive AI addon for Australia and NZ is now available as a FREE download. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of AI model, repaint and AFCAD authors, and support from sites such as Project AI, this expansion to the VOZ Scenery series will add even further realism to your experience when visiting Down Under. See the Aussie skies and airports come alive with hundreds of superb aircraft models, thousands of liveries and tens of thousands of real-world, accurately scheduled flights. You will see international, regional and local carriers, GA planes, private and charter traffic and military aircraft at RAAF bases. Further releases of the AI Pack will endeavour to add every single aircraft registered and operating in Australia added over the next year. Visit the Vista Australis website to grab the installer.

Perhaps a rival to the the GNZLAP? Well at least we can say that our AI pack was released first

You can download it here: http://vistaoz.org/downloads5.html but as it is 170MB in size, I would like to see some personal reviews of it here before I attempt to nab it with my 56k connection!

[Christian]

There is no rivallery as they both rather complement each other. The VOZ AI pack delivers the 'heavy iron' for NZ. I've been on the beta team and can only recommend it. VOZ AI + GNZLAP should make an excellent combo!

Cheers,
Christian

[toprob]

This could actually be the ideal companion to GNZLAP, as it mainly includes non-GA stuff.
These shots illustrate some 'features'.
First up is this, and a quick tweak of my new Wgtn scenery AFCAD puts it in the right place:



These are Jon Murchison's AIS AI, which are nice to have except that there's a LOT of catering trucks hanging around:)



It includes Origin Pacific, obviously the same aircraft as the recent Origin Pacific traffic files, as the funny looking props are back:

[Charl]

The timiing is kind of good, and the GNZ LAP certainly won't trip over VOZ.
(Apart from the 4 BN Islanders the blighters nicked to fly for GB and Mountain Air B) )
VOZ is looking more and more like a stand-alone package now.
Problem is, y'see, if you install VOZ AI you will double up traffic on that giant PAI setup you have, into OZ.
I wonder if it might be possible to Vozzify the AI component as well?
No matter, I'm going to use the money I would've spent on FSX, buy a giant hard drive, and fly Australasia for the next 2 years

[kismet]

You can just cut your existing flightplans into another file out of the fs path. I fyou dont like the plans included in the VOZ ai pack, you can just remove, put in your old ones and all you've wasted is 170mb of downloads!

[Charl]

Yes you'd have to VOZ, remove your traffic files, unVOZ then put them back, and then remove the VOZ AI.
That's where the VOZ texture package was so strong - no file fiddling.
Christian you're connected there, perhaps ask them to write a little install/uninstall routine? It would fit the overall package I reckon.

[ardypilot]

Oh ok, I think it is pretty cool how the VOZ guys decided to include New Zealand in their package. Good on them

[Jimmy]

I took that link but it says it no longer exsists on the server when I click on the downoad button.

[toprob]

I remember thinking that they must have worked quite hard to get permission to release all that AI, but I guess that they could have slipped up somewhere. Hopefully whatever problems they're having will be sorted out soon.
This is a very nice package, it complements the GNZLAP stuff nicely.
One cool thing I noticed -- when I started on Paraparaumu airport, just by adding parking I got to see the Air2There aircraft. I guess this is part of VOZ, and not GNZLAP?

[Blackmagic]

Try reading the VOZ forums you will find out the reasons why it was pulled!

Firstly it was to do with the creator of AIA jumping up and down over so called Copyright use of the files he freely distributes on the internet.

Secondly it was found that the Beta testers did NOT having PAI files installed to which the VOZ AI overwrite. That much was admit by John Koorby.

Either way after the so called copyright issue I am seriously thinking of Hosting that VOZ AI package on my own homepage space so it benefits the wider FS Community without anyone being prissy over it.

[toprob]

To me it's always gonna be simple -- no matter how you distribute your work, everybody needs to ask before they package it up and pass it on. It doesn't matter how honourable your intentions are, you still ask. I'm surprised that they didn't have all this sorted before release.

[ganymedes62]

To me it's always gonna be simple -- no matter how you distribute your work, everybody needs to ask before they package it up and pass it on. It doesn't matter how honourable your intentions are, you still ask. I'm surprised that they didn't have all this sorted before release.

Well, I know that they did their best, and they must have sent out a LOT of e-mails to try and get the permissions necessary. When I got the e-mail I replied giving them my permission. Unfortunately some people are rather notorious for not replying to any e-mails regarding permissions, David R being a prime example there.
I am pretty sure they sent an e-mail to AIA too asking their permission, but they simply got no answer. Getting no reply they thought they were in the clear and went ahead.
It is my opinion that anyone contributing to AI should have the decency to reply to request for usage of their repaint, model or such, even if it is to deny permission. Not taking the time to reply and then making a big fuss when a package is released I think is unfair and incorrect.

[Codge]

So what happens when some like me who did get it in time,puts it onto disc and sends it to those who've missed out?

[toprob]

So what happens when some like me who did get it in time,puts it onto disc and sends it to those who've missed out?

These are the terms of use from the manual:

Vista Australis and this AI PACK is freeware. This is great for you, since you don't have to pay for it.
However, you can't copy any of it for you own projects, nor can you use small parts of it for any scenery or host it on your own server or website without permission
You may have good intentions, but the VOZ team has to respect the wishes of the many authors who contributed to its existence. We know you have no issues with what we're asking and that you'll support the VOZ project as we develop it further, so thank you!

...nothing forbidding distribution, so I can't see a problem.