FSElite had a brief article today that was posted on Facebook about an upcoming release by Jon Raines of The Airport Guys. As a Virginia native myself, I think it's great to see some GA airports getting attention in Virginia! See the full article below:

Welcome to Virginia.
More specifically, welcome to the ridgelines, valleys, and backcountry airfields of Southwestern Virginia, where low-and-slow flying is about to get a serious upgrade. Jon Raines of The Airport Guys is deep into development on a brand-new GA and VFR focused airport pack for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, currently titled Ridges and Runways. The project aims to recreate every airport in Southwestern Virginia, with as little artistic license as possible, focusing on realism, accuracy, and detail.

This pack is built for true regional airport hopping. Every field is being crafted to closely match how it looks and feels in the real world, with an emphasis on authenticity both in the air and on the ground. Features include:

• Fully custom airports built to mirror their real-world counterparts

• Detailed, walkable FBO interiors at each location

• Custom ground work and runway lighting down to the individual fixtures

• Designed for GA aircraft like A2A and Black Square, while also accommodating light business aviation
 

The full lineup includes:

• Virginia Highlands Airport OVG

• Lonesome Pine Airport KLNP

• Virginia Highlands Airport KVJI

• Tazewell County Airport KJFZ

• Mountain Empire Airport KMKJ

• Lee County Airport KHLX

• New River Valley Airport KPSK

• Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport KBCB

The screenshots shown here highlight work-in-progress builds of Virginia Highlands Airport OVG, Lee County Airport KHLX, Tazewell County Airport KJFZ, and Mountain Empire Airport KMKJ. As a bonus, Mountain Empire Airport KMKJ is planned to release as a freeware demo, giving the community a hands-on preview of the quality and attention to detail going into this project. This project promises to be a great fit for VFR pilots and GA fans who enjoy exploring scenic, authentic regions rather than simply flying between major hubs, especially if your idea of a perfect flight involves winding valleys, mountain approaches, and hopping from one crafted airport to the next. We’ll have more coverage and updates here on FSElite as development continues, alongside progress shared by The Airport Guys.

Virginia is calling.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GFf4XCRmH/

funtastic, can't wait. how about KHSP?

This looks terrific - just the kind of airports I enjoy and in a scenic but under-served region to boot!  Looking forward to these.

In the meantime, and not to take anything away from this project, I'd point out that there is a very solid KVJI - Virginia Highlands - available from developer "Turtletank1997" on flightsim.to.

 

Scott

Looks nice.  I'm not super familiar with the area, but I like when devs package a bunch of GA airports together like that.  

That will be so cool.

Looking forward to it.

 

 

Really nice.  I have their 2020 version of Mountain Empire in 2024.  It's a superb freeware.  I'm assuming this will be payware?  I'm totally okay with that - I think no one should work for free (unless they want to of course).

Here's a pic from a few years ago... still looked nice back then!

 

9 hours ago, turbomax said:

funtastic, can't wait. how about KHSP?

The old Windhover 2020 version isn't bad

https://flightsim.to/file/46266/khsp-ingalls-field-airport-hot-springs-virginia

11 hours ago, Keirtt said:

an upcoming release by Jon Raines of The Airport Guys

Do you know where I can find a website? Or do they have a page on Flightsim.to? I can't find anything...

4 minutes ago, Rimshot said:

Do you know where I can find a website? Or do they have a page on Flightsim.to? I can't find anything...

Yep, check flightsim.to.  Didn't realize that I had their KRCZ, and it is very nice as well.

 

Scott

47 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

The old Windhover 2020 version isn't bad

Agreed.  Talk about interesting ridgetop landings!

 

Scott

4 hours ago, tttocs said:

Talk about interesting ridgetop landings!

did that once in real live and then a few more touch'n go's just for fun, on my way from Roanoke. piece of cake with calm blue sky weather. they even have an ILS, for such a small, quiet airport that nobody knows of. 😀 except some bears:

Other Remarks

• WILDLIFE, INCLUDING BEAR, ON & INVOF ARPT.
• BE ADVISED LOW PASS TO CHECK/CLEAR WILDLIFE WHEN ARPT UNATNDD.

often in haze/clouds at 3.800 ft elevation

 

https://skyvector.com/airport/HSP/Ingalls-Field-Airport

 

Edited January 8Jan 8 by turbomax

1 hour ago, Rimshot said:

Do you know where I can find a website? Or do they have a page on Flightsim.to? I can't find anything...

They have 3 airports, and I like them because they also have an FAA windsock model haha...  it drives me nuts that even payware companies use the orange and white windsock at USA airports GRRRR!

https://flightsim.to/profile/TheAirportGuys/trending

21 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

They have 3 airports, and I like them because they also have an FAA windsock model

Thanks! Too bad only one of the airports is MSFS 2024 compatible...

1 hour ago, Rimshot said:

Thanks! Too bad only one of the airports is MSFS 2024 compatible...

Eh I think they all work.  I'm pretty sure I have them all.  Just because it's not marked as 2024 doesn't mean it doesn't work.

Definitely sounds like a worthwhile J-3 trip.