Scenery Review: PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12 by Northern Sky Studio

[Dominic Smith]

 

 

Scenery Review: PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12 by Northern Sky Studio

 

By Felicity Smith

 

Introduction

Welcome to my review of Northern Sky Studio's Lanai Airport for X-Plane 12. 

Located in Maui County, Hawaii, Lanai Airport (or Kahua Mokulele o Lāna‘i, as it is sometimes known) is a mere 3.4 miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Lanai City. Having begun regular operations in 1930, to date, it is the only airport serving the beautiful island of Lanai, the sixth largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the smallest publicly accessible inhabited island in the chain.

 

Up until quite recently, Lanai Airport was served by two commercial airlines, Mokulele Airlines with the Cessna Grand Caravan 208EX and Ohana by Hawaiian with the ATR-42. However, due to Hawaiian Airlines suspending the Ohana service, Mokulele Airlines is now the only commercial airline that flies in and out of Lanai.

 

X-Plane 12 Update
This updated version of the scenery is now compatible with all the main X-Plane 12 features, including weather effects; that’s puddles to you and me. It also includes PBR materials, enhanced lighting, and 3D vegetation. The optional photographic scenery tile has been upgraded as well, now featuring bathymetry and DSF sound.

Download & Installation
As with the X-Plane 11 version I purchased a few years ago, the download is relatively large for such a small airport at just over 1.6GB and increases even more when you factor in the additional 1.2GB download for the optional photographic scenery. You can use the airport without the ortho, but to experience the scenery at its best, I highly recommend you download both it and X-World America by simHeaven. If you’re limited by bandwidth, you can always take a power nap! Documentation is minimal, being a single page PDF, but it gets the job done by covering all the basics. 

 

To install the scenery, simply extract the suppled ZIP file, and copy and paste it to your X-Plane Custom Scenery folder. The same goes for the optional photographic scenery. When done, make sure they all align correctly in your scenery_packs.ini file. When completed, restart X-Plane and you’re good to go!

 

First Impressions
Situated on the southwestern side of the island of Lanai, the airport stands at an elevation of 1,308 ft (399 m) above mean sea level and spans 505 acres. It features a single asphalt runway (designated 3/21), which is 5,001 by 150 ft (1,524 by 46 m) in size. Previously, the airport supported 6,326 aircraft operations; however, as of April 2022, it no longer functions as a base for any aircraft operations. Mokulele Airlines remains the only commercial airline operating a limited number of flights into Lanai. Despite the significant decline in passenger numbers following this change, the airport continues to be enveloped by its inherently mesmerizing beauty.

 

 

Runway & Foliage 
The main runway and apron are exceptionally well-done, marking a substantial improvement over the previous version. The use of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) and numerous weathering effects provide a very satisfying experience. 

 

 

In another notable upgrade, the grass areas, which previously resembled flat, rolled-out textures, now feature 3D vegetation, enhancing its appearance significantly and adding a touch more realism.

 

 

The layout of Lanai Airport is as follows: On approach, and we’re talking by car here, you're greeted by a passenger car park at the front. This area boasts a diverse array of vehicles, providing enough variety to avoid a 'cut and paste' feel. Directly behind the car park lies the main airport building, with a larger employee car park to the right. In front of this area, there are four hangars. Starting from the far right, you'll encounter the ARFF station. Next to it are the cargo bays, complemented by some conveniently placed public toilets. Adjacent to these is the maintenance hangar, and nearest to the main terminal, you’ll find the office building. This building houses a range of facilities including a conference room, TSA, Security, Bradley, FedEx, USDA, Air Service, and Operations.

 

 

Main Airport Building

So, what does this airport, recreated for X-Plane by Northern Sky Studio, have to offer?

Firstly, it stands in stark contrast to large or even medium-sized airports. Here, instead of the shoulder-shoving hustle and bustle of modern life, there is a gentle, meandering pace. While everyone has places to be, this airport eschews the frantic 'must dash, no time to waste, I’m late!' atmosphere. No need for jostling here! As you approach the car park, the airport exudes none of the cold impersonality often found at larger facilities. It warmly welcomes you, as if to say, ‘Come, my friend, let me guide you to your destination.’ If it had hands, it might even carry your luggage!

 

 

Environmentally conscious passengers will be delighted to observe the multitude of solar panels adorning many of the roof sides of the main airport building. The different materials used on the roof, ranging from glass and wood to solar panelling, demonstrate Northern Sky Studio's commitment to detail. These features, which might easily be overlooked, are truly appreciated, particularly considering the scenery's reasonable cost. The attention to detail extends beyond the main building, as evidenced by the 3D trees new to X-Plane 12, an animated flag, and airport signage.

 

 

The interior boasts an appealing frontage for ticketing and check-in. And the queues? What queues? The notably short line to 'the other side' is a welcome sight. If, like me, you detest feeling crammed like a sardine in a box (think Heathrow), then this airport is tailored for you. The developer has upgraded the interior to now include PBR, which is evident in the floor's impressive shine. The walls are adorned with a mix of airport signage and local artwork, adding a charming touch. The ceiling, enhanced with wooden beams, looks exceptionally authentic due to its detailed texturing. Scattered around are numerous 3D figures, likely all on holiday, well, they’re not alone!

 

 

Night Lighting

Thanks to X-Plane 12’s lighting effects, the airport presents a reasonably good appearance when illuminated at night. The runway lighting is minimal but sufficient for night operations, though the apron area may seem quite dark, potentially mirroring those of its real-life counterpart. In stark contrast, the two car parking areas are lit up like a Christmas tree, ensuring you’ll have no trouble locating your car! The interior of the main building undoubtedly showcases the best use of the night lighting, especially highlighted by the newly added PBR effects.

 

 

Conclusion

So, would I recommend this scenery? The answer is a pretty reassuring yes. It builds upon the already impressive scenery from X-Plane 11. When you consider the incredibly low price, along with the fact that you receive not only a well-detailed and lovely airport but also a complete photographic scenery of the entire island, it’s really a no-brainer. Yes, there are areas for improvement, such as the lack of people around the airport and the somewhat light documentation, but these are minor when weighed against the cost.

 

In summary, if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of life, I highly recommend picking up this charming little airport as it has plenty to offer those seeking a getaway. 

Right…where’s my bags? 

 

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PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12 by Northern Sky Studio is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:

 

PHNY - Lanai Airport, Hawaii XP12

Priced at $12.00

 

Features:

• The most detailed replica of airport buildings and vehicles
• High-resolution ground textures / Custom runway textures
• High-resolution building textures

Compatible with all X-Plane 12 features:

• Weather effects
• PBR materials
• New lights
• 3D vegetation

Ortho4XP tile for the whole island (link in the manual):

• X-Plane 12 bathymetry
• X-Plane 12 DSF sound
• High resolution elevation
• Edited orthophotos
• Edited coastline and water bodies
• Real runway profiles for all airports
• All materials created for full PBR
• Shading and occlusion effects on all airport buildings
• Custom orthophoto for the airport and surrounding areas
• World Traffic 3 compatible
• Compatible with Ortho4XP and default mesh

Requirements

X-Plane 12 (not for XP11)
8 GB+ VRAM Recommended

Download Size: 1.6 GB
Current version: 1.0 (July 21st 2024)

 

Customers who own PHNY XP11 can get this new XP12 version at 50% OFF. Discount code can be found in the original PHNY XP11 Invoice.

 

Review System Specifications

Windows 10 64 Bit, AMD 5800X3D, 32GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB

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Scenery Review: Felicity Smith

31st July 2024

Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews

 

(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

 

 

[skytitude]

Fantastic airport and good quality.
I really like his approach to ground polygons, fantastic result of combining X-Plane ground textures and custom one's.
Looks like a great place to have a flight. Thanks for the review.

[Alpeggio]

Thanks for this excellent review, I would never have noticed this scenery otherwise. Thanks also to  Dom for putting it in the news letter.

The detailing looks very good, and it will make a nice addition to my other Hawaii sceneries and orthos.