Before we move on to the flight simulation news, today’s episode of our “Can You Guess this Airport?” video series is out. Make sure to post your guesses in the comments.
Without further ado, I leave you with today’s flight simulation news.
Aircraft & Avionics Update 04 Released for MSFS 2024
Microsoft has finally released the remaining aircraft of the Aircraft & Avionics Update 04.
This brings some of the most beloved payware aircraft published by Microsoft up to date with MSFS 2024 standards, including popular ones like the ATR 42/72 and the Antonov An-2.
Here’s the full list.
- Antonov An-2
- ATR 42-600/72-600 (PC/XBOX available now, PS5 coming soon)
- Fokker F.VII
- Latécoère 631
- Savoia-Marchetti S.55/S55x
DCS World F-14 Leaving Early Access, Will Fully Release Soon
Heatblur Simulations announced that its super-popular F-14 module for DCS World will soon leave early access. This is quite relevant, since it’s certainly one of the defining third-party modules for Eagle Dynamics’ combat flight simulator.
You can read what you can expect from the release update below.
“Since its initial release, the Heatblur F-14 has grown into one of the most expansive aircraft modules in DCS. What began as a deeply researched recreation of the F-14A and F-14B has continued to grow over the years with JESTER AI, two-seat multiplayer, the Forrestal-class aircraft carrier, extensive mission and campaign content, additional aircraft configurations, visual refinements, A-6E Intruder AI, and a long list of systems improvements.
This update will deliver the remaining major features for the F-14A/B, and it will further expand the historical breadth of the Tomcat family.
A major highlight is the introduction of the F-14A Export variant, adding another important configuration to the module and broadening the Tomcat’s representation beyond its U.S. Navy service. This update also adds the AIM-7E Sparrow and basic TARPS functionality with the KS-87D camera that will allow players to explore the Tomcat’s important reconnaissance role.
A significant focus of this update is visual and configuration accuracy across the F-14A family. The aircraft has received a substantial set of external model additions and options that enable a more faithful representation of various Tomcat blocks, service periods, and configurations. These include glove vanes, early gun vents, ALQ-126 blisters, TCS bullet and round covers, the missing small antenna on the TCS, and external model support for aircraft configured with or without TCS.
Together with additional early F-14A liveries, the historical authenticity and visual variety of the module is significantly improved. From early fleet aircraft to export configurations and later-service details, the Tomcat’s evolving shape and character can now be represented with greater fidelity than ever before.
As part of this milestone, the remaining campaign roadmap has also been reviewed. Because the F-14 has received substantial additional content since its original launch, including additional missions and campaigns like Operation Reforger II, Heatblur has decided to move the dedicated Persian Gulf early F-14A campaign to a post-release date. We apologize for this change and understand that some of you have been looking forward to it. The decision allows the campaign to receive the attention, polish it deserves, rather than rushing it into this final pre-release milestone.”
Incidentally, the developer mentioned that this is not the end of development for the Tomcat family, as news about the state of development of the F-14B/U will come soon.
New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport for MSFS Gets New Screenshot
Imaginesim released another screenshot of its work-in-progress Indira Gandhi International Airport (VIDP) serving New Delhi in India.
This time around, we get to see more of the gates at Terminal 3.
Vieques Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport Announced for MSFS
Photorico Scenery announced a new airport in Puerto Rico, and it’s Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (TJVQ) serving the island of Vieques.
You can get a first look in the gallery above.
Réunion Island Released for X-Plane 12
FSDG released its Réunion Island scenery for X-Plane 12, including both Roland Garros (FMEE) and Pierrefonds (FMEP) airports.
It’s available on the simulator’s own store for €24,99, including the following features.
- Accurate rendition of Roland Garros International Airport, Reunion (FMEE)
- Accurate rendition of Saint-Pierre Pierrefonds Airport, Reunion (FMEP)
- Updated ground layouts and new FMEE terminal extension with 3D interior
- Includes ortho imagery and high resolution mesh for whole island
- Detailed ground and models
- Authentic light environment
- X-Plane technologies (dynamic lighting, reflective textures,…)
- Optimized for great performance and visual results
If you’d like to read more flight simulation news, you can find plenty in our previous roundup article from yesterday.
If you want to go further back, we have a handy overview video of the major flight simulation news in the past week. You can watch it below. As usual, leaving a like and a comment and subscribing to our growing YouTube channel is extremely helpful.
