Today Militech Simulations released plenty of new details and new screenshots about the upcoming Sikorsky MH-60 helicopter for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020 announced a few weeks ago.
According to the official post, the aircraft is in the “final integration phase,” meaning that 3D art, liveries, flight model, and programming are nearly completed.
The developers are now working on putting everything together, testing, the manuals, and finalizing the paint kits.
The plan is to start beta testing at the end of March and release the helicopter in late April, but this is not set in stone. The PC version will release for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on the same day. The developers are also considering a simultaneous release on Xbox, but it’s not guaranteed.
The final pricing is not set in stone yet, but the plan is for it to be “in the mid-30s US dollars.”
Speaking of Xbox, the aircraft is Xbox-friendly and flies well with a controller thanks to the active Stability Augmentation System.
The package will include the following variants:
- MH60 Sierra, generally used for VERTREPs, Firefighting, and Troop Transport. Mainly operated by the US Navy and the Thai Royal Navy
- MH60 Romeo, used for ASW, SAR, and transport operations, and operated by several nations around the world
- MH60 Tango, operated by the US Coast Guard. Please be aware that the depiction of MH60T will be limited to “external model + cabin only”, meaning that it will share the same cockpit and avionics with S and R instead of the CAAS System.
It’ll also come with dedicated mini-sceneries:
- CGAS San Diego, for Coast Guard Ops/Missions
- CGAS Kodiak, for Coast Guard Ops/Missions
- Garden Island, Australia, for various MH60 Romeo Operations
- Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Spain, for patrol of the Strait of Gibraltar, ASW Missions, and other MH60 Romeo Operations.
The folks at Sundowners Simulation are also working on Naval Air Station Key West and Naval Air Station North Island which will be released separately.
Here are some of the systems you can expect.
- Nav Systems supporting VOR, TACAN, ADF, Fly-to-Point flight plans (coordinate-based), MSFS-Stock Flightplan (WorldMap/EFB Sync), Search Patterns, and potentially Simbrief Integration (TBD).
- Full Autopilot (AFCS) System modeled, including RAD ALT and BARO ALT modes, Speed Hold/Attitude Hold mode, HOVER Mode, CREW HOVER Mode, and DEPART Mode./
- Simulated SAS Failure/Disconnect, resulting in a significant change of handling characteristics of the aircraft.
- Simulated Keyset, found on Block 1 versions of the aircraft.
- Comprehensive Avionics Suite.
- Weapons System, including Hellfire and Torpedo deployment, Sonobuoys, and Countermeasures.
We can also expect the following feature in the custom mission system included in the add-on.
- New, revolutionary mission system, fully compatible with PC and Xbox.
- Create your own missions, anytime, anywhere.
- Over 30 missions total, some fictional and others inspired by real-life events.
- Generate random missions (Firefighting, SAR)
- Search and Rescue missions, including audio calls and functional winch.
- Antisubmarine Warfare missions, including locating enemy submarines and intercepting contraband submarines.
- VERTREP/Transport Missions, ship-ship, and land-ship
- Firefighting missions using Bambi bucket
- “Airshow missions” using the external display flag
- A number of new vessels included: Cruise Ships, sinking fishing vessels, USCG Cutters, Danish, Spanish, and Australian frigates/helicopter-carrying vessels for MH60R Missions.
Incidentally, the helicopter was developed in partnership with Blackbird Simulations, which created the 3D model, and the developers mention that we can expect more from this partnership in the future. The sounds are by Echo 19.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is available for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is also available for the same platforms following its recent release in November. if you want to see the massive visual difference against Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, you can enjoy our video and screenshot comparison.
A few weeks ago we published an extensive interview with Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann about the present situation of the sim and the plans for the future.
Incidentally, just yesterday Microsoft shared an extensive update about its plans for the sim, so you may want to read it to integrate what is said in this interview.
You can also check out our in-depth analysis of how much data the simulator downloads from the cloud, clearing the air from some widespread misinformation that made the rounds over the past few months.