While the flight simulation world often focuses on the massive international hubs, there is a specific type of pilot who seeks the grit and challenge of urban general aviation. Orbx has addressed this niche with the release of Detroit Coleman A. Young International Airport (KDET) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024. This release is a significant moment for virtual pilots in the Michigan area, as it represents a functional cornerstone for Orbx’s ongoing “Motor City” project.
The airport, historically known as Detroit City Airport, sits just six miles from downtown. It serves as a stark contrast to the sprawling runways of Detroit Metropolitan (KDTW). Instead of wide-open approaches, pilots at KDET must navigate around city obstacles and fly close-in visual patterns over dense residential and industrial neighborhoods.
The creator behind this rendition, Massimiliano Addante, is not a newcomer to high-fidelity scenery. He previously developed the well-regarded LSZB Bern Airport for Orbx, a project praised for its integration with the Swiss terrain. Beyond his indie work, Addante’s experience includes contributions to massive projects like Chicago O’Hare (KORD) and Charlotte Douglas (KCLT) during his time with FSDreamTeam.
This background in large-scale hub development appears to have influenced the technical side of KDET. The developer says that every 3D model in the scenery includes between 4 and 10 levels of detail. This is a technical choice made to ensure that performance remains stable even when the sim is rendering the dense urban environment of Detroit.
Completing the Detroit collection
In June 2024, Orbx released its Landmarks Detroit City Pack, which added over 52 custom buildings and the animated People Mover to the city skyline. While that pack transformed the visual experience of flying over the city, it lacked a high-fidelity home base for local operations.
KDET now fills that gap, serving as the primary hub for corporate and general aviation flights in the region. It also acts as a precursor to the developer’s much-anticipated rendition of Detroit Metropolitan (KDTW), which has been in the development pipeline for over two years. By releasing KDET now, Orbx provides a dedicated space for those who prefer the Chrysler facility or the historic Old Executive Terminal over the massive airline terminals.
The scenery focuses on the specific atmosphere of an aging but active urban airport. The developer has modeled the interiors of both the control tower and the main terminal, allowing for a higher level of immersion during pre-flight or post-flight walkarounds. To keep the visuals from looking generic, the developer says that no textures are repeated across the buildings, with each asset receiving its own unique hand-painted texture set and full PBR materials.
The airport is available now on Orbx Direct for around USD $13.72 and includes the following features:
- Handcrafted scenery with meticulous attention to detail
- Dozens of custom assets, including animated elements
- All models include 4–10 LODs for optimal performance
- High-resolution textures with full PBR materials
- Custom 3D models for ILS and localizers
- Accurate night illumination
- Iconic Old Executive Terminal reproduced
- Chrysler Building facility and custom assets
- No texture repetition – unique textures for each asset
- Fully modeled interiors for both the tower and terminal
- Carefully crafted AFCAD, including runways and parking stands
- Optimized for both major flight simulators
