Having fun in the mountains ...

[Urwumpe]

But then I would have to cut out the area of the runway from the ordinary terrain surface. It may be doable (with stencil buffers), but it will add a lot of complication.

Really that complicated? Isn't the terrain just a structured mesh, when speaking mathematically?

 

[Kendo]

Is the terrain the true Earth surface. If so, wouldn,t the areas where existing runways are, be flat. (Mmmm just thought, they would be different heights)
The problem there is adding new runways on non flat areas.

 

[orb]

If so, wouldn,t the areas where existing runways are, be flat.

They don't need to be flat (as Earth's curvature ):
http://www.airliners.net/photo/1056153/L/

 

[SolarLiner]

http://www.airliners.net/photo/1056153/L/

Made me think of an airport I love doing some flights in FSX: Courchevel

(Better pic)

Due to the Alps, the runway is at a 18% slope to help with gravity the airplanes taking off, and aswell for the ones landing.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courchevel_Airport]Courchevel Airport[/ame]

 

[Delta glider]

Yay, wait if you crashed into the terrain with a crash sensitive vehicle (DGIV, XR2) would you recieve the effects, cause with orelux you can land on the moon by crashing into a hill at 30 km/sec and not crash?

 

[Heron]

Yay, wait if you crashed into the terrain with a crash sensitive vehicle (DGIV, XR2) would you recieve the effects, cause with orelux you can land on the moon by crashing into a hill at 30 km/sec and not crash?

There should be an effect in this first case. You can try and see.