Quick Impression : LGSA - Chania Ioannis Daskalogiannis XP by Aerosoft

[Stephen]

 

Quick Impression : LGSA - Chania Ioannis Daskalogiannis XP by Aerosoft

 

The X-Plane simulator saw a huge focus on the Mediterranean and in specific many Greek airports for scenery in 2019. All the major scenery developers with JustSim, Aerosoft and mostly FlyTampa recreated a full network of routes that were interesting and created in the Greek Island and mainland some great destinations. It has been a little quieter this year, but here is another scenery from Aerosoft for the Island of Crete in Chania - Ioannis Daskalogiannis Airport. I will note that in this Quick Impression is that I am using the misterx6 SFD Global autogen to create a Greek vista.

 

Chania International Airport
"Daskalogiannis"

Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Χανίων, "Δασκαλογιάννης"

IATA: CHQ - ICAO: LGSA

(Navigraph)

 

(Navigraph)

 

 

Geographically Chania is not far from LGIR - Heraklion created by FlyTampa last year, as LGSA is just more to the west along the northern coast of Crete.

 

First impressions are that LGSA looks like a huge airport with double or even triple runways, but there is actually only one active runway 11/29 at 3,347m or 10,982ft. So that shows how quite large the two taxiways in S and N are. These strips are actually backup runways, because LGSA is also on the north and south sides a military base Maleme (Military) Airport and now run by the Hellenic Air Force, this is a facility that was constructed by the British Military, shortly before the Second World War. The cilvilan terminal area is of the whole complex just a quarter section in the northwest.

 

 

The single use terminal was built in 1996, but the stand layouts and new parking arrangements are all new and are represented in this scenery layout. 1A - 12 and L1 - L3 and S1, S2 stands are now all pushback and not circular, doubling capacity.

 

 

Terminal modeling is good and detailed, but it doesn't have that "wow" factor, it feels like a modeled terminal, if you know what I mean. New modern Fire Station is well represented, and the landside area is well filled out and it all comes with a lot of clutter detail.

 

SAM - Scenery Animation Manager is also active (plugin required) in marshaller mode and is available on all stands.

 

 

There are some very nice gradient detailing with the various levels of excavated areas, and the Terminal is built over a gradient level between the gradient upper (ramp) and lower (ground) levels. Note the extensive fauna and grass, with some nice wildflowers dotting all the field areas.

 

 

Concrete channels are excellent, as is the extensive custom mesh to replicate the elevated taxiways and sloped main runway, so this is a very well done and very authentic airfield.

 

Field textures are also excellent, with a wide variety of surfaces from fine asphalt to stony asphalt and the various concrete surfaces.

 

 

Nice detail includes a military arrestor wire across the main runway.

 

The military have use of most of the rest of the field... with one area adjacent northeast from the terminal civilian area.

 

 

This northeast area is fine, but not over detailed as the military barracks, the photo textures however do create a few areas of flatness that is noticeable, especially from the eastern direction.

 

South military section is mostly aircraft hangars and typical remote military parking stands....

 

 

There are two apron areas in A and C where there is a main hangar on each, Apron B is by the field control tower and some main administration buildings. Note the huge antenna on the top of the nearby Akropoli.

 

Lighting

Again because this is mostly a military facility there isn't a lot of lighting at LGSA. Note that taxiway N is lit up like the main 11/29 main runway.

 

 

The terminal however looks like a soccer (football) stadium, a bit too bright! Apron lighting is all very good, but overall the lighting here is average.

 

 

On approach to this northwest area of Crete and Chania is excellent at night, and arriving at dusk would give you a very nice arrival vista as the local environs come very much alive.

 

 

Feature list is very good, with a lot of dynamic X-Plane11 features provided.

 

•     High detailed ground textures and runway - taxiway lines including the new apron parking positions and lines modified in summer 2018
•     High detailed 3d objects & buildings including the new terminal building completed in 2018
•     Custom static aircrafts according to real world service
•     HDR lighting including detailed 3d taxi and runway lighting
•     Animated vehicles in the apron area
•     Animated marshaller (SAM required)
•     Custom mesh for unique elevation including sloped runway (Ortho4XP patch included)
•     PBR ground textures
•     HD vegetation and grass
•     Custom Color & Season Adjustments (SAMv2 Plugin required):
  •         ORBX TrueEarth (Vegetation)   
  •         ORBX TerraFlora (Vegetation)
  •         SAM Seasons (Vegetation + Orthophoto)
  •         Ortho4XP (Vegetation)
  •         SFD Global (Vegetation + Orthophoto)

 

First Impressions

Overall LGSA - Chania is another great addition to the Greek Island collection and this time from Aerosoft. The ground layouts and the custom mesh for runway and ground gradients is excellent, and so are the wide and varied texture surfaces. But a lot of LGSA - Chania is what you would call very workman like, okay if quite good, but not really exceptional in any way and certainly with the modeling, a nice to have and to use certainly, but it wouldn't standout significantly of the want to see the use of the scenery regularly, but an early dusk arrival at LGSA would make the route worthwhile.

 

Three out of Five stars ☀️☀️☀️⭐⭐

 

Chania - Ioannis Daskalogiannis XP by Aerosoft is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore here:

 

 

Chania - Ioannis Daskalogiannis XP

 

Price is US$24.95

 

Requirements are:

Windows, Mac or Linux

4Gb VRAM Video Card. 8Gb+ VRAM recommended

Download Size: 1.6 GB

Current and Review Version : 1.0 (Feb 20th 2020)

________________________________________

 

Quick Impression by Stephen Dutton

25th February 2020

Copyright©2020: X-Plane Reviews

 

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