Test machine specs: MSI X670E, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, 48gb RAM
MSFS add-ons: FSLTL, GSX Pro, REX AccuSeason (which may misrepresent some colours in certain light conditions)
FS2024 add-ons: none
DETAIL
I was curious to see if Atelic would develop another airport, or whether they’d quickly be regarded as a ‘one-hit-wonder’, so-to-speak. Thankfully their second offering is, for the most part, every bit as good as the first. The runway, taxiway and apron textures/markings are entirely custom and refreshingly different from the norm — presumably to reflect the real airport. They aren’t the absolute sharpest but they’re above average and exhibit very convincing signs of weathering and general wear-and-tear. The apron is particularly impressive, and the excellent ground textures are complemented by an abundance of GSE clutter (all of it custom). The terminal looks superb, inside and out; airside and landside — although some of the texturing falls apart a little when you get really close (something you tend not to do, other than for the purpose of a review). The release version was totally devoid of people but Atelic has remedied this with an update, and you’ll now see static passengers both inside and out.
A lot of attention has been paid to the terminal landside, and although some of the modelling here doesn’t quite match the quality of the main building, it’s still very nice. There are bars, eateries, a couple of gas stations, two supermarkets, several car hire offices (with interiors) and an assortment of homes and warehouses. The buildings (and parked cars) certainly become more generic-looking the further you move away from the airport but you really won’t care, this far out.
Both approaches have been spruced up a touch but you should take the bit about hotels at the 32 end having been modelled with a pinch of salt. The modelling is extremely basic (looking almost autogen) and clearly only functions to provide a bit of immersion while glancing out the flightdeck windows. This is fine but, I must admit, I was expecting more. At the 14 end there’s a sports complex which, thankfully, has been modelled to a higher standard, probably because it’s right next to the airport. The detail here is actually pretty good, with a complete grandstand filled with spectators.
Roads surrounding the airport have mostly been retouched and feature street-lighting. There are also a couple of small Greek orthodox churches dotted around the airfield perimeter, but they’re repetitive. Speaking of churches, the famous example overlooking the apron has been beautifully done, but the mound it sits atop features more realistic vegetation in Gaya’s much older version of the airport. This is, however, the only part of the Gaya scenery that’s better.
After dark, the airport looks amazing. 2025 seems to be the year many devs nailed night-lighting but in Atelic’s case, it’s been mastered in a very short time. There’s a lot of neon to be seen, particularly landside of the terminal, and it looks incredibly realistic. Atelic have used several different hues for their lighting, with a distinct difference between the very bright white apron lighting and the more subtle, sodium-based lighting elsewhere. The terminal interior looks a tiny bit dull at night but this is likely the effect of window tint.
PERFORMANCE
As I always say, small airports in non-PG areas have a real advantage, because they can be stuffed with more detail without suffering performance penalties. Even with FSLTL at full pelt, you’re never going to see more than a handful of aircraft on the apron, so there’s no need to worry about framerates (unless your machine is on the old side). Performance for me is excellent.
VERDICT
It’s rare that a new developer comes along and directly competes with the MSFS greats with their first two releases; but that’s exactly what Atelic have done. They are listening to their customers and reacting to criticism and suggestions accordingly. There’s very little to dislike about Kos, except perhaps the poor modelling of the hotels on the RWY32 approach, and those textures that don’t quite hold up when viewed up close. But we’re talking semantics when you consider how well done everything else is. Realistically, during normal operations, you’re never going to get close enough to the flawed areas to really notice them.
But what if you already own Gaya’s? Well, that’s an ageing scenery and the real Kos Airport has changed significantly since Gaya released their version — a completely new apron now exists and the terminal has been extended — so the question is: how important is it to have the airport in its current state? It’s also worth noting that Atelic’s is better in almost every way, and given Gaya’s recent partnership with Asobo, it’s unlikely any of their scenery’s going to be updated henceforth.
Atelic’s Kos comes in at a very reasonable price, considering the work involved. Better still, it’s currently on offer for around a tenner at a couple of stores. It’s not a big or busy airport but I find Greece a surprisingly well done area by default in the sim, so island-hopping in the ATR or even the A320 is always a pleasurable experience. And for those who prefer longer flights, there are tons of international options in summer, from hour hops to what are effectively medium-haul jaunts (notably from Scandinavia).
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