Ground Work Captures a Florida Feel
The developer’s current focus is firmly on the airport’s ground environment.
Verticalsim is working to reproduce the weathered concrete, worn asphalt and surface variations commonly seen at a busy Florida airport. Instead of relying on clean and uniform pavement, the scenery will incorporate stains, tire marks, repairs and other details intended to give Orlando International a more authentic appearance.
These surface details should be particularly noticeable while taxiing between terminals or operating around the airport’s general aviation and cargo facilities.
Work is also progressing on the general aviation and cargo ramps. These areas may not receive the same attention as the main passenger terminals in some scenery products, but they play an important role in representing the airport’s wide variety of operations.
Custom Equipment Adds Ramp Detail
Verticalsim says it has built new ground-service equipment specifically for its Orlando scenery.
Custom equipment should help the ramps look more appropriate for the airport instead of being populated entirely by generic objects. Carefully placed vehicles, service equipment and other airside assets can make a noticeable difference when pilots are parked at a gate or moving through the terminal complex.
The developer has not yet provided a complete feature list, so additional details about animated vehicles, jetways and other operational features may be revealed closer to release.
Airfield Lighting Receives Special Attention
The latest update also highlights a newly created set of airfield lighting models.
Verticalsim has individually modeled centerline lights, amber hold-short light bars and elevated runway guard lights to reflect their real-world appearance and applicable FAA specifications.
Accurate lighting will be especially important at Orlando, where the airport’s large layout and extensive taxiway network can make nighttime and low-visibility operations challenging. The new models should improve both the scenery’s appearance and the pilot’s ability to navigate the airfield after dark.
Pilots interested in other detailed airport recreations can read Sky Blue Radio’s coverage of iniBuilds’ updates for Chicago O’Hare.
Terminal C Expansion Joins the Project
Verticalsim plans to include the southern expansion of Terminal C as part of the Orlando International Airport package.
Terminal C is one of the airport’s most recognizable modern additions, and including its expansion should help keep the scenery aligned with Orlando’s evolving real-world layout.
The package will also feature the airport’s new Heliport Demonstration Pad. Although it represents a smaller element of the overall airport, its inclusion indicates that the developer is looking beyond the passenger terminals and runways when recreating the facility.
Sky Blue Radio recently covered another regional airport project with Fly2High’s Westchester County Airport release.
Reference Team Grows to Ten Members
Verticalsim’s onsite reference team has reportedly grown to 10 people, including several Orlando International Airport employees.
The team is supplying photographs and firsthand knowledge to assist with building placement, surface details, airfield equipment and the overall atmosphere of the airport. Access to people familiar with daily airport operations can help developers identify details that may be difficult to capture through satellite imagery or publicly available photographs alone.
That research should be particularly valuable at an airport as large and complex as Orlando International.
Orlando Development Continues Behind SNA
Although progress is continuing, Orlando is not yet Verticalsim’s immediate release priority.
The developer says full-time work on the project will resume following the release of its John Wayne Airport scenery. Until then, development on Orlando will continue at a steadier pace.
Verticalsim has not announced a release date or price for Orlando International Airport. The company’s update specifically identifies the project as being developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, with no MSFS 2020 version currently confirmed.
The latest screenshots and information were published through Verticalsim’s Discord community and summarized in the October 2 flight-simulation news roundup. Additional product information will likely appear on the official Verticalsim website as development advances.
