Test machine specs: MSI X670E, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, 48gb RAM
Add-ons: BATC, GSX Pro, GFX, Global Shipping '24
When this airport was first previewed on Gaya’s social media, I was determined to resist buying it, because I didn’t feel it would offer value for money when FlyTampa’s (admittedly old) rendition still cuts it in 2026. However the aggressive release pricing — clearly aimed at diverting both old and new customers away from FlyTampa — sealed the deal for me. Bye-bye, FlyTampa; hello, Gaya…
DETAIL
Sometimes, the fewer words you have to use in a review, the better the conclusions are conveyed. There’s little point highlighting each individual area of this scenery because every inch of it is beautifully done, in every way. Modelling? Superb. Textures? Superb. Airside detail? Superb. Landside detail? Superb. Terminal interior? Superb. Neat little animations? Yup. Surrounding detail? Plenty (but with a caveat I’ll introduce shortly). The only real disappointment is the lack of any people models anywhere, but the abundance of gorgeous custom clutter has a somewhat mitigating effect.
Okay, let’s discuss the caveat: FlyTampa, whose Corfu scenery is inevitably going to draw direct comparisons. Gaya had a golden opportunity to put the FT version permanently out of the picture, but they failed. Not because of what they put in their scenery; but because of what they didn’t. The famous Kanoni area, overlooking the RWY34 threshold, is home to numerous bars, restaurants, hotels and apartments — and while Gaya’s modelling/texturing in this area is undoubtedly superior, FT included more. The famous Anna’s Apartments, popular with plane spotters? Missing. The Ariti Grand and Royal Grand hotels? Missing. Also missing is the old An-2 near the RWY16 threshold, although it could have been moved since I personally visited the airport two years ago. FT also include some basic POI’s in Corfu town, plus animated inter-island ferries (that amusingly break all speed records as far as ships are concerned!). It’s not all one-sided away from the airport, though, with Gaya having lovingly custom-modelled a handful of static vessels at the nearby port.
Gaya further redeem themselves by including details that FlyTampa chose not to, such as the Nisos Taverna, across the causeway. But again, FT aren’t outdone in this area, because they included animated people out on the causeway, who get quite excited when your aircraft passes overhead on short finals to RWY34. In fact, FT’s contains infinitely more people, in every nook and cranny (including swimmers at both the beach and the Corfu Holiday Palace’s pool). Sadly, neither scenery boasts the custom regional flora that’s so effective in, for example, Lisium’s recent Heraklion.
Where Gaya really pull ahead is with FS2024 exclusivity, meaning their version takes advantage off all the perks of the newer sim (immaterial if you’re still using FS2020, of course — in which case, you’re likely wasting your time reading this review). The night-lighting is stunning, and it’s an aspect of the scenery that FT just can’t compete with.
BATC compatibility seems spot-on, with both arrivals and departures behaving as one would expect. As for a perimeter fence, the airport does have one, but it’s not all-encompassing. I will, however, give Gaya the benefit of the doubt here as much of the airport is surrounded by water, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that fencing is absent in some areas.
Finally, I must mention the included custom water mask that covers the lagoon that surrounds the airport. It really gives an extra layer of depth, if you’ll pardon the pun. Sadly, water masks in FS2024 can pop in or distort suddenly when approaching them (this example is no exception), and due to how Asobo designed the sim’s water, they do sit a few metres above the default surface.
PERFORMANCE
I read on Gaya’s Discord that they omitted people models to bolster performance. Performance (at least for me) is brilliant, so I’m not sure about their subliminal claim that people could present a problem. I find it highly unlikely a few randomly placed humans would do much to impact performance.
VERDICT
Despite clearly being the better of the two Corfus, FlyTampa’s remains a thorn in Gaya’s side, simply because Gaya failed to stamp their authority over this project. In its own right, Gaya’s LGKR is a fantastic airport (with the exception of the lack of people), but FlyTampa’s does serve to illustrate its omissions.
Of course Gaya can revisit their version and make improvements — and I really hope they do. I might be biased as far as Anna’s Apartments are concerned, having stayed there myself, but they are a big part of the Corfu experience, despite the building housing them being only small. It is an unmistakable shade of pink, though!
So, what would make Gaya’s LGKR conclusively the better version, hands down? My first suggestion would be to add a few people models. No need to go overboard; just a few in prominent places would be fine. Secondly, enhance the Kanoni area, to include everything FT modelled. Thirdly, perhaps stick a few animated figures on the causeway, just as a little Easter egg for us pilots!
On a final note, I must again bring the price into the equation, because Gaya’s version is not only better overall, but also cheaper. It’s very hard to justify the above criticisms when you’re only paying £12-14 for what is absolutely a top-tier product. There’s so much included here that the few omissions are almost forgivable (and would be had the competition never existed).
If you fly regularly into Corfu, the ‘upgrade’ from FlyTampa’s ageing version is probably worth it, particularly since Corfu is the only FT scenery that appears to have become abandonware.
IMAGES
I honestly don’t think there’s a need for this review. There are plenty of images on the 'net, all of which illustrate just how beautiful this airport is.
Nevertheless, I like details like that because, to me, they also demonstrate a developer’s passion and attention to detail. And I enjoy finding Easter eggs like that. Naturally, though, this shouldn’t mean that parts of the scenery are omitted elsewhere in order to improve performance.