Flight Simulation developers shared news today, including aircraft and scenery for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, MSFS 2020, and X-Plane.
Before we move on with the news, below you can find a story that received its own individual coverage.
Without further ado, I leave you with the news.
Learjet 45 and Tornado GR1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator Get New Screenshots and Dev Updates
Just Flight released a new development update for its Learjet 45 and Tornado GR1.
Tornado GR1
“We now consider the Tornado artwork to be final, and our livery artist has almost completed the entire selection of high quality, painstakingly researched liveries, featuring every country that operated the GR1. The screenshots below show some of these liveries, including Italian Air Force liveries for the first time.
In recent months our flight model developer has also begun work on the complex flight model for this variable-geometry fighter-bomber. The Tornado features a complex array of flight controls, which include tailerons that are used for pitch and roll control, spoilers used for roll control and deceleration after landing, rudder for yaw control, dual airbrakes for deceleration during all phases of flight, and high lift devices on the forward and aft sides of the wings.
The flight controls are scheduled based on the wing sweep angle, requiring close collaboration between the systems coder and flight model developer to make everything work correctly. We expect progress on the flight model to increase at a rapid pace once we head into 2026.
As some of our development team’s tasks on other products are completed, we are now in a position to better plan our allocation of resources for the new year. In the first half of 2026 we expect to dedicate a full-time systems coder to the Tornado, which should significantly speed up development.
Our internal development team certainly won’t mind taking a break from the constant, intense schedule of developing and updating multiple high-fidelity airliners simultaneously! We’re just as enthusiastic about the Tornado as our much-loved Vulcan and we aim to to bring you a true high-fidelity simulation of the Tornado GR1 for Microsoft Flight Simulator. We’ll be sure to share more details with you as soon as we can.”
LJ45 Professional
“Another aircraft that has seemingly taken something of a back seat in 2025 is our LJ45 Professional. Work on the LJ has been ticking along nicely, though and good progress has been made on the modelling and texture work for both the cockpit and the aircraft exterior, with the cockpit artwork now close to completion.
We have been pleasantly overwhelmed by the number of LJ45 experts that have contacted us and provided us with incredible amounts of reference materials and helpful answers to any questions that we have had about the aircraft. We are always on the lookout for pilots and engineers who have hands-on experience with the aircraft types we are developing, so if you fit that bill for the LJ – or for any of our projects – we’d love to hear from you! You can contact us via the Just Flight Support page and your message will be forwarded to the relevant development team.
As is the case with with the Tornado, a full-time coder working on the LJ45 Professional will really help accelerate its development in the new year, but for now here are a couple of images from the latest aircraft build. We’re looking forward to getting stuck into more work on the LJ45 in 2026 and fully expect it to be a special offering once complete.”
McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Maddog “20th Anniversary Edition” for Microsoft Flight Simulator Detailed and Priced
The “Fly the Maddog – 20th Anniversary Edition” announced a few days ago has been fully detailed and will be released tomorrow, December 20, 2025, at noon CET.
The full package, including MD-82, MD-83, and MD-88 will be priced at €64.99 + VAT until January 31. Those who already have the previous version will be able to upgrade at €22.50 + VAT until the same date.
After January 1, 2026, the price for the full package will increase to €69.99, while the upgrade will grow in price to €24.99. Simmarket will remain the sole official distributor.
The release will include a new download manager, which will include a livery manager.
In terms of visuals, you can expect the following, although this won’t be a fully native MSFS 2024 model.
- All-new interior and exterior 3D models
- High-resolution textures built to current Flight Simulator standards
- Improved material rendering and overall visual fidelity
- New and improved aircraft animations, i.e. it is now possible to operate the sunshaders and switch pax lights directly from the relevant view positions.
Some work has been done to improve the engine sounds from outside, the codebase has been optimized, and the flight dynamics have been refined.
The next step for the developer is creating a dedicated freighter version, which will be a paid expansion.
MD-11 for MSFS 2024 and Big Art Update Slightly Delayed
TFDi Designs announced that it intended to release the “big art update” and native MSFS 2024 version of its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 today.
That won’t be the case, and the release has been shifted to after the holidays to iron out the last few items and ensure a smooth launch.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport Announced for MSFS and X-Plane 12
Taimodels announced Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN), for MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, and X-Plane 12.
It’ll come “soon” and will include the following features.
- Handcrafted and detailed PBR ground markings and textures based on the latest airport layout
- Detailed terminal interiors
- Realistic terminals, cargo facilities, and airport buildings created with MSFS PBR materials
- Accurate airport lighting, taxiways, and aprons
- Optimized for performance across most system types
- Fire Effect
Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport Gets New Screenshots
Azrsim revealed on its Discord server new screenshots of its King Abdulaziz International Airport (OEJN) serving Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
We hear that the modeling of major terminals and buildings has been completed, and the release is “near, but not that near.”
Orbx Santa Run 2025 Released for Free for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Orbx has released its traditional and free Santa Run for this year, and it’s actually rather elaborate.
Here’s what you can expect to do in this Christmas-themed activity available on Orbx Direct.
- Fly Santa’s sleigh
- Locate and fly alongside the Santa Claus Express Train
- Transfer presents during a timed proximity challenge
- Travel between regions using portal transitions
- Complete three festive present drops before the finish
There’s even a screenshot contest going on, providing a chance to win scenery and Volanta premium time.
Almaty International Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator Released
Vuelosimple released Almaty International Airport (UAAA) in Kazakhstan. It’s available on Simmarket, Contrail, and iniBuilds, starting at $15.52.
It includes the following features:
- Detailed 3D Models: ALA new terminal with interiors, Old iconic terminal with interiors, and every structure recreated with precision.
- Up-to-Date Airport Layout: Every Apron, taxiway and runway modeled according to real life airport.
- Authentic Atmosphere: Experience the unique cultural and architectural details that make this airport unique.
- Accurate Night Illumination: Enjoy realistic night lighting that enhances the airport.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport Released for X-Plane 12
Nimbus Simulation Studios released Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD) for X-Plane 12.
It’s available on X-Plane.org for $29.95, including the following features.
- New 4K orthophotos
- LOD (level of detail) applied to many objects to improve performance
- Extensive use of the latest techniques that XP12.3 and beyond provides
- AI traffic routes
- Terminals and main buildings use detail textures for greater details and less VRAM usage
- construction areas
- L concourse and the most recent expansion
- Terminals with 3D interior and people
- spill lights all over the airport, almost no use of night textures to save VRAM
- New highly detailed textures for concrete, asphalt and paint lines
- New high-quality vehicles
- 3D trees
- Parking lots full of cars
- Ground markings on each gate and runway
- current layout of taxiways and runways as of November 2025
- Detailed cargo, north and south cargo areas.
- start positions on all gates, cargo and maintenance areas (compatible with third parties aircraft traffic
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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