Gaya Simulations Previews Santa Barbara Municipal Airport for MSFS 2024
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Gaya Simulations has shared preview screenshots of their upcoming Santa Barbara Municipal Airport addon for MSFS 2024. The article covers the airport's rich history from its 1930s origins through its WWII-era expansion as a Marine Corps facility, then its evolution into a major California regional hub served by seven airlines. The developers promise an accurate, highly detailed rendition with a custom passenger terminal, custom ground textures, ground service equipment, and performance optimization, though pricing and release date have not yet been announced.
Excerpt from Threshold
Gaya Simulations has recently shared new preview images of their upcoming Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (KSBA) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, serving Santa Barbara County, California, with a yearly average of 1.5 million passengers.
The airport’s roots date back to the early 1930s, when airplane manufacturing companies in the area took advantage of the Santa Barbara Airstrip (first built in 1928) and developed it into a full-fledged airfield. Western General was the first to build their factory, manufacturing Meteor airplanes.
Within that same timeframe, Frederick Stearns II, the founder of Santa Barbara Airways, built two additional runways and two large hangars.
In the early 1940s, the United States Government started a program to build 250 airports across the nation on a cost-sharing basis with local governments, and SBA secured their investment to become a full Municipal Airport. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in 1941.
Due to World War 2, Santa Barbara Municipal became MCAS Santa Barbara for a while (Marine Corps Air Station, not to be confused with the 737 Max’s system), training aviators for the Marines. During that period (up until 1946), it was extensively expanded with new hangars and buildings, and later returned to civilian use.
The first Spanish-style terminal building was commissioned by United Airlines in 1942 and designed by William Edwards and Joseph Plunkett, both of whom were also responsible for the Arlington Theatre and the National Armory.
Additions were made to the original terminal in 1967 and 1976, but were later removed to restore the original architecture, which underwent only certain procedures to ensure it wouldn’t be compromised (new anti-flood measures), and were later moved and incorporated into the new terminal.
It’s served by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Connection, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and United Express.
The developers promise an accurate rendition of the airport, with a highly detailed passenger terminal, custom ground textures, performance-friendly optimization, custom ground service equipment, and more.
There’s no information on pricing and release date yet, but Threshold will keep you informed.
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