Test machine specs: MSI X670E, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, 48gb RAM
DETAIL
Anyone who’s bought one (or several) of Verticalsim’s latest airports will know that they’re premium quality — and KHTS is no exception. It’s beautifully modelled/detailed, across the entire airfield, and the terraforming to get the facility to fit in with the uneven terrain in these parts is close to flawless. However I feel a little disappointed by the lack of a proper terminal interior, which I reckon an airport of this nature should have in 2024. I understand that a basic interior helps with performance but when you’ve a very small, quiet airport in a hilly backwater, it almost feels like laziness on the dev’s part to omit one. The “I left it out to bolster performance” line seems more of a convenient excuse. I really dislike criticising Verticalsim’s work in this way as their sceneries are typically superb, but I have to tell it like it is. I wouldn’t mind so much but the price is in line with many larger airports that do have additional features such as detailed interiors. I actually bought KHTS in a very good sale (from the dev’s own webstore) and for what I paid, I think I got good value — however the full asking price just seems excessive to me, particularly when you can pick up the outstanding Provo for only a fraction more. This is not to suggest this airport is poor quality, because it’s far from that. I just expected more than the very basic interior featured, based on the regular price.
On a more positive note, both airside and landside ground textures are excellent, and the inclusion of the Catlettsburg Oil Refinery on the approach to RWY12 is a welcome addition that adds a bit of immersion in a beautiful but otherwise rather featureless part of the USA.
PERFORMANCE
Predictably for an airport of this size, performance is sublime. No issues whatsoever.
VERDICT
Despite the rudimentary terminal interior that only features the gate areas, this is an attractively modelled little airport, conveniently serving three states. If you want KHTS in your sim, I have no problem recommending it — and since this is your only option, you’ve no choice but to pay whatever the asking price is on the day. It’s ordinarily a little steep for what you’re getting, in my opinion, but that doesn’t make it a bad airport. I simply think it was a poor decision to choose not to model more of the interior, in greater detail.
IMAGES
