Orbx has revealed several images of its upcoming St Simons Island Airport (KSSI) in the US State of Georgia. Developed by Andreas Hegi, the independent developer behind Orbx’s Harvey Field (S43), Monroe Firstair (W16), Diamond Point Airstrip (2WA1), among others, Orbx says that KSSI has been designed “specifically to leverage the advanced capabilities of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024” and will be the most authentic rendition of the airport ever created for a flight simulator.
St. Simons Island Airport at McKinnon Field (KSSI) is located on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The island is the largest of the Golden Isles, a cluster of barrier islands along Georgia’s southern coastline, a region known for its mix of Southern hospitality, upscale resort culture, and unique maritime ecology. During World War II, KSSI, then Naval Air Station St. Simons Island, played a crucial role in national defense, serving as a base for the Civil Air Patrol to hunt for U-boats off the Atlantic coast. In 1947, the Naval Air Station was decommissioned, and the airport was handed over for public use.
KSSI doesn’t have commercial airline service but serves as the front door to the Golden Isles for general aviation, luxury tourism, and business travel, contributing over $20 million annually to the local economy. The airport has two active runways, rwy 4/22 at 5,800 feet (1,768 meters) and rwy 16/34 at 3,313 feet (1,010 meters) long. Several non-precision approaches provide all-weather access to the airport. Business jets and turboprops, light twins, piston singles, and even Coast Guard and Navy helicopters are frequent visitors to the airport.
From the previews provided by Orbx, it appears that the airport and adjoining areas will be fully modeled with animated people, static vehicles, and other ground clutter. The interior of some hangars, as well as the airport’s primary FBO, Golden Isles Aviation, are also modeled. No information about the release has been provided as of yet, but FSElite will continue to monitor the airport’s development.
Features:
- Native MSFS 2024 Development: Built from the ground up using the latest SDK, ensuring maximum performance, stability, and compatibility with the new engine’s physics and environmental systems.
- Seamless Photogrammetry Integration: Expertly blended with the surrounding environment to ensure a natural transition between the airport grounds and the lush, marshy landscapes of St. Simons Island.
- UHD PBR Texturing: Every surface, from the sun-bleached asphalt to the hangar walls, features Ultra-High Definition Physically Based Rendering textures for realistic light interaction.
- On-Site Authenticity: We utilized actual on-site photography to create photorealistic HD textures, capturing the unique “weathered” look of the Atlantic coast.
- Dynamic Night Lighting: Complete emissive and dynamic lighting systems provide a stunning nocturnal experience, with realistic apron floods and taxiway guidance.
