The work week may be coming to an end, but flight simulation news isn’t slowing down, with plenty of reveals and releases from various developers.
Like every day, here on Simulation Daily we publish a handy roundup of all the news that this hyper-lively industry generates, including a variety of add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator and more.
Yet, before we get down to business, here’s one from earlier today that you may have missed:
And now, without further ado, I leave you with the news.
Piaggio P.180 Avanti II for Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets New Screenshots
FlightFX Has been working hard on the Piaggio P.180 Avanti II turboprop executive transport aircraft, and the exterior is nearing completion.
The developer is also working on the EVO version, which should come at a later time, and teased information about its projects for next week.
Boeing 737 MAX 8 for Microsoft Flight Simulator Showcased in New Screenshots
Today iFly released new screenshots showcasing its upcoming Boeing 737 MAX 8 for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The images focus on the flight deck during a departure from Denver, including a look through a door from the galley.
Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator Previewed
AUScene published three screenshots of its upcoming airport Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport (YBWW) in Queensland, Australia. The large aprons are home to a storage facility for mothballed airliners.
The presence of the Cathay Pacific 747 isn’t random, as the cargo airline operates between Toowoomba Wellcamp and Hong Kong. Of course, 3D assets like the terminal are still missing.
Maastricht Aachen Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator Released
Speaking of cargo hubs, ST Simulations and Aerosoft released Maastricht Aachen Airport (EHBK) in the Netherlands for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
It’s available on Aerosoft’s store for $18.24 with the following features.
- Maastricht-Aachen airport terminal 3D model with interior
- EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC)
- Cargo terminal east hangar and apron
- Accurate runway and apron layout (2024)
- Custom CGL aerial
- Custom static aircraft
- Custom hangars, airport buildings and offices
- Custom lighting models
- Custom taxiway signs
- Custom ground vehicles
- Highly detailed, reflective textures using Physically Based Rendering (PBR)
- Realistic runway and taxiway markings
- A lot of custom objects, models and details for the environment
Halle-Oppin Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator Released
We stay in Europe with the release of Halle-Oppin Airport (EDAQ) in Germany by Mamudesign. It’s available on Simmarket for $13.82.
It includes the following perks.
- Fully custom modeled 3d buildings in the whole area, including the model aircraft club, with vibrant PBR texturing
- Mission system, more below in DRF area
- Working Helipad dolly, more below in DRF area
- Custom ground texture and markings, including runway and taxiways and sloped terrain
- Custom night lighting
- Custom animated flags and windsocks
- Animated Gates reacting to vehicles
- Animated People characters
- Sound Effects
- Parallax effect in selected buildings
- Modeled tower interior, including working runway direction indicator and functional wind meter
- Animated Model Airplanes
DCS World Presents Route Tool, Provides Updates on Chinhook and Sinai Map Development
DCS World developer Eagle Dynamics posted one of its weekly updates for the fans of the popular military flight simulator.
We start with the CH-47F module, the development of which has made good progress as follows.
isual and Functional Enhancements
- Overhead panels visual improvements and fixes
- Improved rotor blade rendering and improvements to their damage model.
- The internal views have been improved by hiding unnecessary panels, adding gunner radio panels, improved radio control heads, and enhanced animations for buttons, levers, and switches.
- Lighting and Animation: Improved cockpit lighting, added 4th Level of Detail ( LOD), adjusted heater start button connector, and changed mainboard lighting from white to green. Enhanced back-lit text, throttle handle connectors, FLIR maps, Power Distribution Panel (PDP) lamps animation, Multi-Function Display (MFD) rockers animation, and transparency of the stick position indicator glass.
- Night Vision Goggles have been added.
- The Countermeasures and Warning System (CMWS) has been moved from post Early Access release to Early Access release.
- The load and unload cargo system has also seen further refinements and additional functionality.
Mission Updates
- Added numerous instant action missions across multiple maps.
- Additional training missions that cover primary mission procedures.
Flight Model and Flight Control System
- Refined Automatic Flight Control System scheduling for authentic take off behaviour.
- Adjusted flight modelling in conjunction with flight control system for correct forward flight behaviour without Longitudinal Cyclic Trim (LCT) scheduling. Note: at early access release, manual pedal input will be required for coordinated turns. Further refinements to the LCT and Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS) will come during the early access period.
Multicrew
- Pilot and Copilot Multi Crew have been further refined, particularly with synchronisation of controls and displays.
AS usual for DCS world, the aircraft will be launched in early access, even if we don’t yet know when.
The Sinai Map is being updated, including the following.
15 new, highly detailed airfields that include Quwaysina, Borg-el-Arab International, and Sharm El Sheikh. The update also introduces over 100 unique objects and architectural monuments, improved city textures, more realistic seabed textures, and enhanced scenes for helipads. You can also expect night illumination for unique objects, upgraded Giza Pyramids, military installations in Egypt and Israel, and new acacia bushes for southern Israel. Additionally, new oil platforms will be presented.
A new Route Tool has been presented, including the ability to create flight routes for multiplayer before spawning in the mission, specifying waypoints/steerpoints, elevations, MSL or AGL election, and dynamic ETAs.
The tool will allow the saving of route presets for each terrain, and it’ll be compatible with all DCS aircraft.
Lastly, the next update we hear about the F-4 MiG Killers campaign by Reflected, which will come with the next update. It’s described as follows.
By 1969, the US Navy faced a critical challenge in the skies over North Vietnam. Their kill to loss ratio had plummeted to a dismal 2 to 1. In response, a select group of Naval aviators crafted a groundbreaking graduate-level training program to reclaim aerial dominance.
You will join the inaugural class of the Top Gun course starting on March 3, 1969, and master the art of dogfighting in your DCS: F-4E Phantom. The F-4 MiG Killers Campaign will offer 12 meticulously crafted missions based on the real-life syllabus, totalling 45 missions. You’ll encounter heavily randomised and re-playable scenarios, advanced AI tactical behaviour, and a study-level simulation of real-life procedures.
Get ready for a rich narrative with thousands of custom voice-overs, detailed briefings complete with chalkboard diagrams, and extensive documentation. Enjoy historically accurate custom skins, true-to-life kneeboard and briefing images, and custom DCS UI backgrounds.
If you’d like even more Flight Simulation news, you can enjoy yesterday’s roundup.
If you’re new to simulation and perhaps you’re interested in starting out, but are held back by the apparent complexity of the genre, you can find help in our starting guide and in our article on how to handle add-ons in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
