Kraków, the historic and culturally significant city in southern Poland, is not only a popular travel destination but also an important transportation hub. With the release of the updated scenery EPKK/KRK Krakow-Balice Airport MSFS24 by FlyDesign, Kraków Airport now receives a modern depiction for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This release is an update to the scenery originally published by FlyDesign in 2020 for MSFS2020 and directly competes with the scenery by Drzewiecki Design, which was released in 2021.
The Evolution of Kraków Sceneries
FlyDesign was the first developer to create a detailed depiction of John Paul II International Krakow-Balice Airport (IATA: KRK, ICAO: EPKK) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. The original version, released in 2020, set high standards for detail and realism, featuring the main buildings, the military area, and the surrounding landscape.
In 2021, Drzewiecki Design released its own version of Kraków Airport, which also included the city of Kraków and the Polish Aviation Museum (EPKC). This scenery was well-received by the community, although some users criticized it for appearing outdated, especially in light of freeware alternatives.
Now, FlyDesign is back with an updated version for MSFS2024, leveraging the latest technologies to further enhance the scenery.
FlyDesign’s New Scenery for MSFS2024
FlyDesign’s updated version of Kraków Airport for MSFS2024 offers numerous improvements over the original release. The scenery includes:
- High-resolution buildings with detailed interiors, including the new terminal (2017) and control tower (2018).
- Dynamic lighting and PBR materials for a realistic depiction during both day and night.
- Hand-placed vegetation and high-definition mesh for an accurate representation of the landscape.
- Static aircraft in the military area, including C-130 Hercules and C295M aircraft of the Polish Air Force.
- FPS-friendly performance despite the high level of detail.
FlyDesign has used UP42 satellite imagery for ground textures and other objects, supplemented with their own photographs taken in collaboration with the airport authorities.
Comparison with Drzewiecki Design’s Scenery
The 2021 release by Drzewiecki Design offers a comprehensive depiction of Kraków Airport and the surrounding region, including the city of Kraków and the Polish Aviation Museum. However, some users have criticized it for appearing outdated, especially given the availability of freeware alternatives.
FlyDesign’s new scenery for MSFS2024 could provide a fresh alternative, particularly for users who value modern technologies like PBR materials, dynamic lighting, and high detail.
The Real Kraków Airport (EPKK)
The John Paul II International Krakow-Balice Airport is Poland’s second-largest airport and a key transportation hub for the southeastern part of the country. With a catchment area of around 7.9 million people within a 100 km radius, the airport is an important economic driver. It features modern navigation systems like ILS, NDB, and DVOR, as well as a Category II ALPA-ATA approach lighting system for runway 25.
The airport serves both civilian and military aviation and is home to the 8th Air Transport Base of the Polish Armed Forces, which operates aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and C295M.
FlyDesign’s Portfolio
FlyDesign, a French-Polish developer team, specializes in creating high-quality airport sceneries. In addition to the new Kraków scenery, the team has produced detailed depictions of other airports such as EPLL Łódź, LFMD Cannes-Mandelieu, and EPGD Gdańsk for platforms like MSFS, X-Plane, and P3D.
The team works closely with airport authorities to ensure authentic and realistic depictions. Future projects may include larger airports in Germany, as hinted by the developers.
Conclusion
The updated Kraków Airport scenery by FlyDesign for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers a modern and detailed alternative to the established version by Drzewiecki Design. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies and close collaboration with airport authorities, FlyDesign continues to enrich the scenery landscape for MSFS2024. For flight simulation enthusiasts looking to explore Kraków Airport, there is now an exciting choice between two high-quality products.
