VSKYLABS Airbases: Base-8

A dedicated testing ground in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, purpose-built for VSKYLABS’ aircraft development needs.

Note: If you own any VSKYLABS Aircraft, you will receive an Automatic 25% discount at checkout.

VSKYLABS Airbases: Base-8 is an actual development tool developed by VSKYLABS for its own in-house testing and needs. It is specifically designed and optimized for X-Plane 12, with the purpose of hassle-free, zero third-party plugins/add-ons dependencies.

It is a 'plug-and-play' scenery that is easy to install and low on PC resources. It is designed around X-Plane 12 default resources, combined with optimized VSKYLABS assets and additions. This configuration ensures high performance and maximum long-term compatibility alongside X-Plane 12’s ongoing evolution.

VSKYLABS Base-8 makes use of the Skunkcrafts Autoupdater. This feature is a groundbreaking element in terms of product updates and future growth!

Introducing VSKYLABS Base-8:

VSKYLABS Base-8 is one of several in-house testing facilities, designed for the rigorous evaluation of the VSKYLABS STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, Bush-Planes, LSA, Gyroplanes, and general-purpose vehicles development.

Base-8 includes 7 different testing perimeters (airfields). The airfields are varied in runway characteristics, providing ad-hoc testing conditions mainly focused on General-Aviation, Bush-planes, Gyroplanes and helicopter operations. From 2,400 meters paved runway to confined airstrips and playgrounds.

Each perimeter is defined as a separate airport, having its own ramp-starts, tower view and runway/helipad selection. This configuration provides easy orientation and selection in X-Plane 12 menu:

VSKYLABS Base-8 Location:

Base-8 is situated in the Knik Glacier in Alaska.

Knik Glacier is a stunning, massive glacier located about 50 miles (~80 km) northeast of Anchorage, Alaska, in the Chugach Mountains.

It is a popular day-trip destination from the city, especially for those seeking scenic views and outdoor adventure.

Because of the challenging terrain around the glacier, the best access is by air, and several nearby airfields serve as jumping-off points for flights to the glacier. Here are the main ones:

Anchorage (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport - ANC)

• Anchorage’s main airport, ANC, is a hub for commercial and private flights to remote parts of Alaska.

Merrill Field (MRI)

• Distance from Knik Glacier: Located just east of downtown Anchorage, Merrill Field is about 45 miles southwest of Knik Glacier.
• General Aviation Hub: Merrill Field serves as a key base for general aviation in Anchorage and is often used by smaller aircraft operators offering scenic flights.
• Access Point for Tours: Many local operators specializing in Knik Glacier tours and other nearby glaciers are based at Merrill Field, making it one of the most popular airfields for flights to the glacier.

Palmer Municipal Airport (PAQ)

• Location: About 12 miles west of the glacier, Palmer Municipal Airport is located near the town of Palmer, a gateway to the Mat-Su Valley and the glacier area.
• Short Flight Distance: Palmer is the closest town with an airfield, and flight time to Knik Glacier is under 15 minutes. Helicopter operators and small aircraft operators often depart from here, especially for custom and private tours.
• Local Tourism: Palmer is a popular base for adventure tours in the region, and Knik Glacier is one of the highlights for visitors exploring the Matanuska Valley.

Lake Hood Seaplane Base (LHD)

• Distance from the Glacier: Located adjacent to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Lake Hood is the world’s busiest seaplane base.
• Unique Glacier Access: For a unique approach, floatplane operators at Lake Hood offer glacier tours, including landings on nearby lakes or waterways in the glacier region.
• Scenic and Remote Access: Seaplane tours from Lake Hood are a popular option for summer visitors, combining a flight to Knik Glacier with an exploration of the surrounding lake-strewn landscape.

Butte Airstrip (AK1)

• Proximity to Glacier: Butte Airstrip is a small grass field located just south of the Knik River and about 10 miles from the glacier.
• Remote Access: Due to its proximity, Butte Airstrip is an excellent starting point for those on adventure trips involving both ATVs and aircraft, combining a drive to the glacier with a short flight for aerial views.

These airfields offer a range of access options to Knik Glacier, from scenic helicopter tours to floatplane flights, all providing unique perspectives of the glacier and the surrounding Alaskan wilderness.

Knik Glacier characteristics:

Size and Geography:

• Length and Width: Knik Glacier is approximately 25 miles long and 5 miles wide at its terminus, covering over 100 square miles.
• Location: The glacier originates high in the Chugach Mountains and flows down to the Knik River Valley. The meltwater from the glacier feeds into the Knik River, which flows toward the Cook Inlet.
• Altitude: The glacier descends from elevations of over 5,000 feet down to around 500 feet at the terminus.
• VSKYLABS Base-8 elevation is approximately 1,100 feet QNH.

Access and Tourism:

• Helicopter and Air Tours: Knik Glacier is a popular destination for helicopter and airplane tours due to its remote location and breathtaking ice formations.
• All-Terrain Vehicles: Some visitors reach the glacier by ATV or off-road vehicles through rugged terrain, primarily during the summer months.
• Guided Adventures: Activities like ice trekking, dog sledding, and scenic helicopter landings on the glacier make it a year-round attraction.

Weather Conditions:

Weather conditions at Knik Glacier can be quite variable, often changing rapidly due to the glacier’s location in the Chugach Mountains and its proximity to the Gulf of Alaska. Here are some key weather factors to consider for Knik Glacier:

• Temperature:
  • Summer: From June to August, daytime temperatures around Knik Glacier can range from 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C), with cooler temperatures near the glacier itself due to the ice. Nights tend to be much colder, especially on or near the ice.
  • Winter: During winter (November to March), temperatures can drop significantly, often ranging from -10°F to 20°F (-23°C to -6°C) with even colder conditions at higher elevations. Wind chill can make it feel even colder near the glacier.
• Wind Conditions:
  • Mountain Winds: The Chugach Mountains often channel winds through the glacier valley, leading to gusty conditions, particularly in winter and early spring.
  • Katabatic Winds: Cold air flows down from the ice field above, creating strong katabatic winds, especially in colder months. These winds can make flying and hiking conditions challenging, with gusts reaching 15-25 knots or more.
  • Summer Breezes: In warmer months, winds are generally milder but still frequent, especially in the afternoons.
• Visibility and Cloud Cover:
  • Frequent Cloud Cover: Cloud cover is common at Knik Glacier due to its proximity to the Gulf of Alaska, bringing moisture that often condenses over the Chugach Mountains.
  • Fog and Low Clouds: Fog and low clouds are especially common in the morning or after precipitation, reducing visibility for aerial tours and creating challenging conditions for pilots. Clear days offer stunning views, but they’re often interrupted by clouds moving in.
  • Precipitation: Knik Glacier sees frequent precipitation, particularly in spring and fall. Rain showers are common in late summer, while snow can fall at any time outside of mid-summer, depending on elevation.
• Snow and Ice Conditions:
  • Snowpack: Snowfall around the glacier is significant from late fall to early spring, accumulating heavily on the glacier and surrounding peaks. Snow and ice may persist year-round, impacting ground conditions and making areas treacherous to traverse without specialized equipment.
  • Glacier Ice Hazards: Even in summer, glacial ice can be slippery and hazardous. Fresh snow in winter and early spring can hide crevasses, creating dangerous conditions for hikers and skiers.
• Seasonal Weather Variability:
  • Summer: Clear weather in summer provides ideal conditions for flights and glacier tours, but warm weather can also lead to melting and ice instability, increasing the likelihood of calving events at the glacier’s edge.
  • Winter: Winter brings consistently colder temperatures, snow, and occasional blizzards. Ice fog is common, and daylight hours are limited, which can complicate flight operations.

VSKYLABS Base-8 location in the Knik Glacier adds an authentic element of unpredictability to testing. When combined with real-world weather, the site offers dramatic and highly realistic settings, further enhancing the value of each test flight and the precision of each evaluation, from sunny calm days to heavy snow and foggy conditions.

*weather conditions can always be set manually to hit the desired conditions.

VSKYLABS Base-8 - General Purpose/STOL testing range:

Aircraft and Vehicle Ground Operations Testing:

During development, the VSKYLABS aircraft are being tested, evaluated and tuned for best/authentic ground operations aspects. That includes taxi, takeoff and landing with the focus on ground stability, landing gears design, landing gears compression and tire pressure, skids ground interaction, feedback for animation and so forth.

Base-8 incorporates a variety of runways, taxiways and playgrounds which are tailored for a hassle-free testing and development process/environment. 

Take-off and landing - Normal vs Challenging conditions:

Countless take-offs and landings are being performed and evaluated in various conditions during the aircraft development process, especially for STOL, Bush-Planes and Gyroplanes.

Takeoff and landing aircraft handling and performance evaluation takes place in various conditions; Paved/unpaved/off runway conditions, confined airstrips conditions, narrow airstrips, steep and shallow approaches in various flaps configuration and so forth.

Base-8 is divided into seven distinct testing zones which are tailored for a hassle-free testing and development process. 'Jumping' from one test-zone to another is quick, efficient as it is all located in the Base-8 perimeter. In most cases, 'Jumping' from zones is made by 'hopping' inside the base perimeter by flight.

Up in the Air - Wide, comfortable and accessible:

Aircraft handling and performance testing includes 'free flight' segments of pattern flying, trim setups, control-surfaces evaluation, directional and longitudinal stability, stall characteristics, climb, descend and various approaches and attitudes.

Base-8 location and layout were intentionally chosen to provide the comfortable, wide 'aerodrome' and 'training zones' for VFR-based flight testing.

Helicopters - A real 'Heaven' for Test-Pilots:

Testing helicopters during development is a delicate task which requires a lot of attention. The varied landscape incorporates carefully placed helipads and unique landing zones (open areas, confined etc...), challenging the helicopter design and performance, as well as its test-pilots, with diverse obstacles such as wood-log piles, mine dump trucks, ramps, and cargo containers – all very thoroughly arranged to simulate the conditions faced by aircraft in real-world applications.

Landing spots for helicopters:

Here are some of the landing spots dedicated for helicopters testing:

Confined Rampyard Perimeter:

6m wide Road-section Perimeter:

General Playground Perimeter:

500m Paved Runway Perimeter:

More Pictures here