Flight Simulation developers shared news today including a new look at the T-7A Red Hawk and the Tornado GR1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator, on top of a career module for basically every sim on the market.
You can check out all the news below.
T-7A Red Hawk for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Showcased by Top Match Studios
Top Match Studios revealed a “pre-release” look at the upcoming jet trainer T-7A Red Hawk, apparently in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (the “remove before flight” strips and chocks are telling).
We also get a video showing off the cockpit and sounds (you’ll have to click on the link as we cannot embed videos from Facebook). The aircraft was announced several months ago, and the developer had been rather quiet about it, but it certainly looks promising.
Tornado GR1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets New Screenshots
Just Flight shared a new look at its upcoming Tornado GR1 multi-role fighter after nearly a year of silence, also providing a development update. Interestingly, the decision between Microsoft Flight Simulator and MSFS 2024 has not been taken yet, but it’ll come soon.
“Whilst most of our development team have been focusing resources on the recently released RJ Professional, our internal modelling and texture artist has continued the seemingly never ending task of upgrading and refining the artwork on the Tornado. This work is now complete on both the exterior and interior, bringing our Tornado right up to the cutting edge of flight simulation standards, including very accurate geometry, 8K resolution textures with life-like surface detail and a raft of other intricate details. We hope the attached screenshots show the staggering level of detail our artist has accomplished here!
Our livery artist also continues to make good progress through the product’s extensive livery list, with the German Air Force and German Navy being the latest operators to receive the paint brush treatment. These Tornado IDS/ECR operators are featured with a variety of standard, display, and tiger meet schemes, and this is in addition to the plethora of Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Force liveries that will also be included in the product, which all help tell the story of this much loved fast jet.
On the aircraft systems side, the Tornado GR1 will return to having a full-time dedicated coder in the new year, just as it did prior to the release of the RJ Professional. This will significantly speed up the development process and take us ever closer to our goal of having a high-fidelity fast jet in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The Tornado is something that our development team have an abundance of passion for and we hope that reflects in the final product. We will be sharing more in-development updates on the Tornado as the systems coding, flight model, liveries and sound set continue to be developed and refined in the new year. With regards to MSFS 2020/MSFS 2024 compatibility, it’s still undecided which simulators that we will be able to support with the Tornado, as this largely depends on the number of differences that we find within the SDK as development progresses. However, this is a decision we will have to take pretty soon, so we will keep you fully informed once a decision has been made.”
Socata MS-893 Rallye Announced for Microsoft Flight Simulator
Aeroplane Heaven announced a version for Microsoft Flight Simulator of its Socata MS-893 Rallye, mentioning that the developer is aiming to finish it before Christmas.
Fly The Line – Short Haul Edition Announced for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 12 and 11, P3D, and More
Just Flight revealed a new career-focused add-on titled Fly The Line – Short Haul Edition compatible with a variety of simulators including Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 12, X-Plane 11, P3D v6, P3D v5, P3D v4, and Flight Simulator X.
It’s developed in Unity and FSUIPC and it’s currently being tested. While it has a strong focus on progression, with a Career Mode that lets you work your way up to Fleet Captain, there is also a Free Play mode with everything unlocked.
Below you can read a list of features at-a-glance.
Core features
- Create up to eight short-haul aircraft to operate across your airlines.
- Generate hundreds of routes with an easy-to-use schedule generator based on your favourite base airport.
- Fly two- or four-sector daily schedules – or mix it up to suit your style.
- Choose flights from quick 30-minute hops to longer journeys of up to 5.5 hours.
- Two game modes to suit your playing style:
– Career – Work your way up to Fleet Captain while managing your life.
– Free Play – Everything unlocked – just focus on flying. - Level up and earn XP to progress your career.
- Manage your time off doing activities to balance work and life.
- Upgrade your pilot through a skill tree system with over 30 unlockable skills.
- Purchase household items, cars, house upgrades, or even a sim pit to improve your life.
- Earn extra income with side hustles.
- Fly sightseeing trips to points of interest around the world.
- Fly land-aways to earn extra cash.
- Experience diversions for added unpredictability during flights.
- Track every flight with a detailed logbook and flight stats.
- Use in-depth stats and data to improve your flying skills.
- More features are on the way!
USPs
- Compatible with MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 (TBC!), 2020, FSX, P3D and X-Plane
- Easy to use with a simple UI
- Fly your preferred aircraft from the start
- Fly for your favourite airline or create one
- Create up to eight airlines, each with their own routes and base airport
- Share your aircraft among all eight airlines
- Schedule builder
- Route generator
- Fly multi-sector routes
- Career mode and free-play mode
- Diversions for unpredictable, non-linear sectors
- Comprehensive logbook allowing you to track and measure all flights
- Data insights to help you improve your flying
- Adds purpose and progression to flight sim specifically aimed at short-haul operations
Roskilde Airport Revealed in New Trailer for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
AuraScenery revealed a trailer of its next airport which has been in development for several months, Roskilde Airport (EKRK) in Denmark.
You can watch it above.
If you’d like to get into flight simulation but you’re perhaps a bit intimidated by its apparent complexity, you can read our introductory guide, alongside the second episode focusing on installing add-ons, and another showcasing the basic instruments.
You can also read more flight simulation news in the previous roundup article.