Test machine specs: MSI X670E, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, 48gb RAM
Reviewed for: FS2024
Add-ons: FS Traffic, GSX Pro
My first review exclusively in FS2024.
DETAIL
Anyone familiar with Fly X’s work should pretty much know what to expect, but for the benefit of those new to this developer’s scenery…
The first thing I noticed about the terminal is how good the exterior weathering is, despite this airport being Spain’s newest (opening in 2019). The textures don’t stand up to super-close scrutiny but from the distance you’re typically going to be viewing them, they’re very pleasing. There’s a certain blandness to this airport, that almost feels deliberate. Admittedly, this is a pattern seen across the majority of Fly X’s products, however Murcia in reality is one of those extremely boring new airports they have a habit of throwing up in Spain — just about functional, but far from pretty. Whether Fly X have captured this blandness deliberately or quite by accident matters not, because it just works.
The terminal interior is equally bland and again it’s not clear whether this is representative of the real airport, or just a fairly mediocre job by the dev. I suspect the former, and they don’t quite get away with it this time. Still, everything you need’s in here (including a few static people), albeit created in rather repetitive fashion. Every gate features the same easyJet/Ryanair luggage sizers, and they’re identically placed — it really does feel like an extensive ‘cut-and-paste’ job. On the bright side, most of the interior has been modelled, and the 2D images used for shop and restaurant fronts are at least of reasonable quality.
Stepping out onto the apron (literally in FS2024!), we find decent ground textures/markings and airfield signage. Some of it could be better but most of it does the job just fine. Of course the new sim enhances the general look of even default ground so quality in this area is perhaps less important than it used to be.
Stepping out in the opposite direction, to the terminal’s landside, things are a little more disappointing. A tiny number of static people — countable on one hand — and a bit of default vegetation; but there are at least hundreds of custom cars and a few custom coaches. Unfortunately, the coaches are devoid of markings and the cars all have UK number plates. On a positive note, the entire airport’s road system is custom-modelled, complete with markings, kerbs, patterned paving slabs and street lights. There are, however, no road signs. It’s often the small details that can make all the difference.
There aren’t too many buildings other than the terminal at the real airport but Fly X have been as comprehensive as possible, including the VOR station and the fuel farm (the latter exhibiting more excellent weathering). The fire station features some nice reflective glass but the tenders must be inside… 'cause there’s no sign of any outside! The tower looks decet and boasts a basic interior.
Night-lighting is strong but, again, FS2024 lends a hand here. That said, I reckon Fly X have made a very good job of it. The apron lighting is very bright LED-style and it feels very befitting of a new, modern airport.
PERFORMANCE
Brand new airports in Spain tend to attract little traffic but LEMI replaced an older Murcia airport, so the catchment area remains unchanged. Traffic is slow, though, even in summer — which means Fly X’s Murcia isn’t going to trouble your system. There’s no surrounding PG, which further bolsters performance.
VERDICT
Fly X’s LEMI is another solid release but will induce deja-vu for those familiar with this dev’s work. The base of the product is solid — it just needs a little more putting on top. The airport’s landside roadways are really well crafted, with good custom street-lighting and pavements — but the complete omission of road-signs and other small details is just enough to put a damper on things. Same with the overall lack of people (inside and out), the cars all displaying UK plates, and the coaches devoid of any branding. All it needs to really bring it to life is a smidge of fine detail.
There are things to really like about this scenery, though, such as the decent weathering effects adorning various structures across the airfield. The night-lighting is really nice too, even if it is helped along a bit by FS2024’s trickery. It even has an all-encompassing perimeter fence, which is something I do typically get quite enthused about!
At full price it’s perhaps a little expensive, given the airport’s size, but the current IniBuilds offer of £10 or €8 is reasonable. No PG in the vicinity isn’t as big an issue as it ordinarily might be since LEMI is pretty out in the sticks. It’s surrounded by some nice terrain and offers virtual pilots a choice of mostly seasonal routes to Northern/Central Europe and the UK (plus the odd domestic destination).
