Today in Flight Simulation News – October 23, 2026

Flight Simulation developers shared news today, including updates and airports for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and X-Plane 12.

Simulation Daily publishes a roundup every day of all the news across the flight simulation field, helping you keep up to date with the ins and outs of the industry.

Before we move on to today’s news, below you can check out a flight simulation story that received its own individual coverage.

• MiG-23M Flogger Announced for DCS World

Without further ado, I leave you with today’s flight simulation news.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Gets Sim Update 7.1 and Sim Update 7.2 Beta

Microsoft and Asobo officially released Sim Update 7.1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Besides polishing the new National Championship Air Races features, the update fixes an issue with the flight model that messed with the calculation of drag.

Here are the patch notes.

New Content and Features

• In the NCAR game mode, time trial is now playable.

General Bug Fixes

• Fixed a situation where players could enter a Roswell Jet race with a Jet Mach track.
• Fixed preset not switching to Custom when modifying Authorized Planes.
• Fixed a flight model issue that was causing a decrease of drag.
• Fixed an issue that lead to an empty Marketplace page when selecting a Marketplace touch point from NCAR game mode.
• Fixed a pop-up in NCAR game mode that was not responsive to controller navigation.
• Fixed an issue where the lobby list in the NCAR game mode could immediately get refreshed when scrolling to the bottom, making it appear that there were no more lobbies to display.

SDK

General

• Package Validator: Profiling results flag now comes from ingestion pipeline only
• PackageValidator: Fix wrong condition for profiling results

SimVars

• Fixed the “ELECTRICAL BATTERY LOAD” SimVar reporting a load even when battery is charging.

Exporter Blender

• Fix super long export time when material.use_node is True.

Documentation

• Scenery Editor: Boolean operators added to apron RMB menu when two aprons selected.
• SimAttachments: New included sim attachments added (CIVA, RDR, and UNS).
• Updates to Samples section to fix links and formatting.
• Engines.cfg:
  • New parameters added to the [ANTIDETONATION_SYSTEM] section mp_on_CHT_cooling, mp_on_radiator_cooling.]
  • New section added: [Spraybar System.N]
• New RPN function PackageVersionadded.
• SimObject Editor:
  • New feature that permits section and parameter renaming has been added.
  • Updated SimObject Editor CFG pages to explain using localised text in “name” inputs
  • LOC Files: update to explain using the “@” identifier in LOC strings
  • flightmodel.cfg: New version number (1) added to the NormalisationMethod parameter description.
  • Blender plugin version information updated.
• systems.cfg: Pneumatics System version 3 added.
• Further model behaviour updates to improve information related to and .
• cockpit.cfg: the [MANIFOLD_PRESSURE] section has been updated with new colour parameters.
• Fixed broken link on DevMode Debug Menu page.
• Engines.cfg:
  • Update to the prop_rpm_limiter_ff_governor_active_below_throttle_pos parameter description.
  • New mp_on_cht_table parameter added.
  • New radiator_temp_factor_from_rpm added.
• Blender: Update to export docs with new “hierarchy” tab information.
• Updates to the new WASM callback functions to specify that they disable the legacy versions, as well as improved information on what signature each callback should use.
• New JS listener JS_LISTENER_PROFILE_CUT added.
• JS_LISTENER_MAPS updated.
• FLT Files: new parameter added ElevatorTrimAngleadded.
• Description for ElevatorTrimupdated.
• SimVars: Added the following SimVars – MASTER CAUTION ACTIVE, MASTER CAUTION ACKNOWLEDGED, MASTER WARNING ACTIVE, MASTER WARNING ACKNOWLEDGED
• Fix to the checkpoint XML page <Page>, <Block>, and <Checkpoint> elements to clarify the Index attribute information.
• Update to the SimConnect_EnumerateInputEventParams page to fix erroneous information.
• Fixed Typo in loads.lbl weight section.
• Material Editor: Minor update to specify that the metal channel is not read when suppling Normal Roughness Metal textures.
• Systems.cfg: Updated the modular hydraulic system examples page to match current aircraft and use cases.
• Content Configuration: New “Insulation Interactive Point List” feature added to the AcousticParameters in the sound XML page.
• systems.cfg: new compressor component added to the Pneumatic System page.
• aircraft.cfg: minor update to the yoke_release_*parameters to clarify their use.
• Project Editor: References to the INPUT PROFILE content type have been modified to include a disclaimer and Input Profile creation instructions fixed to use the “MISC” content type.
• SimVars: Update to the APU section of the electrical simvars page to better specify the indices that are used and other information.
• Update to model-behaviors page to fix wrong elements marked as deprecated.
• Fixed mismatched “Circuit” header on the electrical system information page.

Yet, that’s not all, as Microsoft launched the beta testing of a second hotfix Sim Update, numbered 7.2. This time around, among the fixes, we find an aerodynamics issue for helicopters.

Here are the patch notes for now.

General Bug Fixes

• [Aerodynamics] Fixed an issue where helicopters can experience excessive RPM and unexpected lift when the Turbulence setting in Assistances was set to Realistic.
• [UI] Fixed an issue where the values in the in-flight Camera menu were not being correctly read / set.

SDK

• [SDK] Fixed a crash that occurs when “custom simconnect events with numerical id” are used with F:KeyEvent.

MK Studios Launches “Airport Tools” Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 EFB App Controlling Jetways and More

MK Studios launched an interesting app for your EFB in Microsoft Flight Simulator called Airport Tools.

It interfaces with their airports to control up to three jetways, handle VDGS, and even gate departure boards. You can download it for free on Orbx Direct and read what it does in detail below.

• Jetways: every MK Studios and MSFS jetway at your stand, with per-door control and one-tap Connect all / Disconnect all
• Follow the MSFS jetway: MK Studios jetways connect and disconnect together with the default jetway, from any source
• Automatic doors: the door opens when an MK Studios jetway attaches and closes before it leaves
• Smart door choice: one jetway per door, no doors behind the wing, upper-deck bridges only to upper-deck doors
• Flight data: callsign, flight number, destination, and TOBT (UTC), with SimBrief import (username only, no login)
• VDGS: turn the docking guidance on or off (for example, to use the GSX VDGS instead) and show your own message on the screens
• Gate boards: flight number, airline logo, destination, boarding and departed status
• Settings: airport effects (steam and smoke, off by default for performance), module status, and the log file location for support
• 3rd-party API: aircraft and tool developers can connect and disconnect jetways with one L-var

Atlanta Airport for X-Plane 12 Gets First Screenshots and Details

Orbx published the first screenshots of Atlanta Airport for X-Plane 12, a conversion by Lee Miles of the excellent scenery by Matteo Veneziani for MSFS.

While we don’t have a release date yet, below you can find a list of features.

• Complete, up-to-date 2026 rendition of ATL airport
• Updated airport layout
• Expanded Terminal T expansion
• Highly detailed and optimized buildings, including terminal, FBO interior, Hotel interior, and many more using the LOD system
• Highly accurate mesh/terrain based on real-world elevation data
• Custom 3D taxiway lights, including various specific ground lighting
• Custom 3D taxiway signs
• Custom ground poly with advanced, highly detailed materials that simulate real-life dirt, cracks, and wear
• Custom GSE vehicles in the entire airport, including baggage carts, tugs, buses, and many more
• Custom animated jetways featuring Atlanta airport and airline brand logos using openSAM
• Dynamic lighting across the entire airport
• Surrounding vegetation of a 5-mile radius for ultra immersion on approach
• Surrounding areas modeled
• Custom 3D and animated grass courtesy of xCodr Designs
• Use of LST (Living Scenery Technology) using xCodr’s LST plugin

New Orleans Airport Announced for MSFS 2024

iniBuilds announced New Orleans Airport (KMSY) in the United States for MSFS 2024.

Development is in its final stages, although we don’t yet have a release date.

It’ll include the following features.

• Hand-crafted ground textures with bespoke runway, taxiway and apron materials
• Highly detailed terminal interiors and exterior modelling
• True-to-life landside recreation with custom vegetation, decals and infrastructure
• Accurately modelled dynamic airport lighting
• Custom taxiway signage built to real-world specification
• Bespoke airport clutter, service vehicles and ground equipment
• Up-to-date airport layout reflecting the current real-world configuration
• Official GSX profile included
• Optimised LODs throughout the scenery for balanced performance
• Built using the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 SDK features
• Full iniManager compatibility

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.

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