As the Holidays begin, news for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, and X-Plane are only getting more intense with flight simulation developers sharing several releases and providing an update about a highly anticipated airliner.
That being said, before we get down to business, below you can find a story that received its own individual coverage.
- Boeing 747-100 For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 by PMDG Gets First Look at the Wing Model
- DCS World Mig-29 Gets New Screenshots and Development Update
You can check out all the news below.
Calvi Sainte-Catherine Airport Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020
France VFR released Calvi–Sainte-Catherine Airport (LKFC) in Corsica, France. It’s available on Simmarket for both MSFS 2020 and 2024 for $10.46.
Here’s what you can expect.
- Photo-realistic 3D buildings specific.
- Detailed ground markings.
- Numerous animations.
- Vegetation reworked on the platform and its surroundings.
- Realistic night lighting reworked.
- Runways profiles (slopes) reworked.
- Compatible with our VFR FRANCE product range.
- Geo-referenced data for maximum compatibility with future add-ons installed on the same area.
- Development process 100% SDK (System Developement Kit) specifications compliant, ensuring maximum compatibility with new releases.
- SIA – VAC – IAC – APT – ARRDEP charts provided.
La Gomera Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Island Creations released two versions for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 of its La Gomera scenery in the Canary Islands, available in Premium and Premium Plus versions on Simmarket respectively for $15.97 and $21.28.
Those who purchased the MSFS 2020 version are entitled to a discounted upgrade.
The scenery includes the following:
Custom Ground Textures
- Realistic colors: Manual color correction brings La Gomera to life, removing green tints.
- Sharper imagery: Enjoy detailed visuals, from rock structures to shoreline features.
- Cloud-free: No distracting clouds on the ground.
Upgraded Ports
- Over 150 hand-placed vessels (motorboats, sailboats, yachts, catamarans, and ships).
- Fred Olsen Express ferry with night lighting.
- Two cruise ships with night lighting and landable helipads.
Enhanced Night Lighting
- Ports and piers illuminated for realism.
- Hotel areas, pools, plazas, and sports facilities come alive at night.
Improved Vegetation
- Palm trees and native vegetation added to coastal towns.
- Adjusted vegetation to match aerial imagery (e.g., bushes instead of trees in rocky areas).
- Removed incorrect coastal trees.
Other Improvements
- Added San Cristóbal Lighthouse with animation.
- Updated airport elevation data.
- Removed misplaced buildings on fields, pools, and sports facilities.
- Added POI markers for 5 landmarks and 2 cities.
Los Angeles International Airport 2.0 Released for X-Plane 12 and 11
ShortFinal Design released version 2 of its Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) for X-Plane 11 and 12. The airport is priced at $26.95 on the X-Plane.org store and those who have the previous version get this large update for free.
- Accurate airport layout (as of late 2024)
- Detailed models for all buildings with baked ambient occlusion
- Custom Mesh with sloped runways, made by Maps2XPlane (Ortho4XP Patch available)
- New Midfield Concourse and terminal 3 with modeled interiors
- PBR materials on objects and ground
- Detailed night lighting
- High resolution pavement textures and markings with dirt effects
- SoFi Stadium and Kia Forum with night lighting
- High resolution photo scenery (15cm/px)
- 3D vegetation (XP12 only)
- Weather effects on the ground (XP12 only)
- Animated automated people mover (requires LST)
- Animated cars, passengers and workers (requires LST)
- Highly detailed airport vehicles with PBR materials and FMOD sounds
- Animated jetways with SAM integration
- ATC network included for AI traffic addons
- for both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11
Airbus A350 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020 Coming in Q1 2025
iniBuilds provided an update about the Airbus A350 for Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. It’ll now come between January and February 2025 and it’ll include the following features.
- Detailed 3D Cabins with Cabin Announcement System
- Comprehensive Flight Attendant Panel
- Custom Terrain Radar
- Extremely detailed system simulations & options
- Navigraph Integration & SimBrief Import
- iniBuilds Situation Manager
- ABEAM & Offset Simulation
- Complex Maintenance Simulation
- Intricate & technical 3D model & textures
- GPS Jamming
- Fully integrated ANF – Airport Navigation Function
- Numerous failures & emergency situations modelled along with deep ECAM simulation
- BTV (Brake-to-Vacate)
- Structural vibrations modelled such as elevator flutter
We also hear about the simulation of the electrical system,
- Electrical Bus Simulation: Over 80 electrical buses are accurately modeled, replicating the real A350’s behavior. For instance, pressing BAT 1 powers minimal components, but activating BAT 1 EMER or BAT 2 EMER progressively powers more systems. Even subtle details like partial dome light activation based on the specific buses are faithfully represented.
- Dynamic Load Computation: The system calculates real electrical loads dynamically. This can be demonstrated by showing the AC page, then turning off the GALLEY or COMMERCIAL switches, resulting in visibly reduced load readings.
- Battery Options: The simulation includes both NiCad and Lithium battery options, with differing capacities. Swapping to Lithium batteries via the EFB reflects the 45 amp-hour capacity on the DC page, where the charging process is displayed in real-time. The changes also extend to 3D art changes on the aircraft, and this level of detail will be available throughout many of the options available to you.
- Noise-Optimized N1 Settings: The aircraft allows configuration of a specific N1 for low-noise areas (e.g., 85% N1). When climbing, this setting changes the FMA to indicate “THR NOISE 80% N1,” and upon reaching the target altitude, it transitions back to “THR CLB*.”
The purchase will include versions for both simulators and both the -1000 and -900 variants, with the ULR variant coming later in the year.
Spartan 7W Executive for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020 Coming in Q1 2025
iniBuilds also revealed the Spartan 7W Executive vintage aircraft, which will also come between January and February 2025, for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.
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.