Virtual airborne tour of Rotorua

Computer owners can now hop on a plane at Rotorua Airport and go on a scenic flight around Lake Rotorua - without leaving their living rooms.

Canterbury-based company Godzone Virtual Flight has produced a special computer programme of "add-on scenery" of both Rotorua Airport and Lake Rotorua for the popular Microsoft Flight Simulator game.

The game's inventor, Robin Corn, said the company was a new venture, starting up at the beginning of this year.

"My goal is to create a more realistic, immersive simming [computer simulation] experience for New Zealanders."

The Rotorua programme is being released as a package with a similar simulation of Tauranga Airport, Tauranga City and Mt Maunganui and follows an earlier scenery programme featuring Auckland's city and airport.

People can fly around Rotorua in the variety of aircraft provided on the main Flight Simulator game, in conditions including wet weather and night time flights.

Gamers can also fly a float plane from the lake.

Rotorua Airport manager Matt Clarke said he was very impressed with the graphics in the programme, given that Mr Corn had only photographed the area and its surrounds three weeks ago.

"I haven't spent too much time on the old simulators but from a pilot's perspective, it's going to be great to be able to land somewhere on a computer at home before you have to land there in real life.

The scenery is available for purchase as an internet download from www.windowlight.co.nz or as a CD-ROM.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)