Flight Simulation developers shared news today, including a look at upcoming and released add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, on top of a beta update for X-Plane.
Before we move on to the news, you can check out a couple of stories that received their own coverage.
Cessna Citation X for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020 Gets May Release Window and Details Aplenty
FlightFX provided an extensive development update about its upcoming Cessna 750 Citation X on its Discord Server.
The developer is now targeting a May release as there are some details they want to rework on the 3D side. If everything goes according to plan, a release date for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and MSFS 2020 will be announced after progress on the 3D cleanup is evaluated. The details that FlightFX is aiming to address are as follows.
- Improving wing and engine root geometry
- Improving texture baking under wings and around probes
- Fixing wheel texture mirroring and engine fan wobble
- Adding and missing decals, door lock details, and adjusting dynamic tail registration
- Desyncing beacon lights and enhanced strobe projection
- Closing any remaining visual gaps in fuselage
- Two new liveries added
- Improved interior materials, decals, and animations
- Enhanced wear, usage, and lighting effects throughout
Over 100 bugs have been fixed since the last time we heard about this aircraft, and the delay allowed the implementation of the following new features.
System & Feature Enhancements
- Tablet Functionality: Added a full load manager with SimBrief sync, and manual W&B
- control
- Throttle Calibration: Customize detents to match your hardware
- Universal Unit Settings: Configure units globally (weight, temperature, etc.)
- Cabin Interactions: Cabin detail and interactivity brought up to P180 standards
Flight Model & Avionics
- Anti-ice system now affects engine performance
- Fully overhauled pressurization system
- Custom thrust reverser logic
- Improved VNAV logic and FLC control
- Custom “Direct To” and user waypoint support in the FMC
- Enhanced vertical situation display (VSD)
- Updated electrical, hydraulic, and environmental systems
- Fixed interactive cockpit elements and alignment inconsistencies
- Corrected aircraft states (runway, apron, cruise)
- Improved PFD, MFD, and CAS logic
- New FADEC logic and engine start behavior
- Synchronized FMC auto speeds with ASEL
- Added APU starter disengage button, improved FPA marker logic
Lastly, here’s the feature list that we can expect.
Flight Modeling
- Bespoke Primus 2000 suite: PFD, MFD, VSD, FMZ FMS
- Full VNAV across CLIMB/CRUISE/DESCENT phases
- Custom FADEC, with optional VNAV-coupled autothrottle (via VAMS)
- Winglet/non-winglet variants with accurate performance impact
- Real-time EPB system for dynamic engine performance modeling
Systems Simulation
- Deeply modeled pressurization, environmental, hydraulic, electrical, fuel, and ICE
- systems
- Full RTU and autopilot functionality
- IRS, CAS, engine sync, FADEC—faithful to the real aircraft
- Electronic Flight Bag (VAMS 2.0)
- Navigraph and OpenStreetMap integration
- SimBrief-linked load manager
- Autothrottle, LCD/CRT toggle, cabin state options
- Ground services manager (covers, chocks, GPU, etc.)
- Active Noise Reduction
Visual Modeling
- Wing flex, volumetric lighting, strobes
- Enhanced exterior/interior lighting with bounce and bake
- Realistic clutter and interactive cabin details
- Dynamic registration on placards and covers
Audio
- Custom sound set recorded onsite in California, USA
- Real APU, engine, mechanical, chimes and cabin interaction sounds
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport Announced for Microsoft Flight Simulator
WF Scenery studio announced a new airport in China, and it’s Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (ZHCC). For the moment, no further details were shared beyond the screenshot above.
SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
SimSkunkWorks released the MSFS 2024 version of its trainer SIAI-Marchetti SF-260. It’s currently available on the official marketplace for $23.99.
The developer provided the following notes (Sic).
“The aircraft has been developed natively using the new features of 2024.
It is possible to walk around the aircraft to carry out external pre-flight checks.
The aircraft uses the MSFS 2024 wear and dirt system, it has been enhanced storing the wear and dirt status for each individual variant/livery, that it’s restored when you reload the aircraft .The flight model has been improved, in particular it has been greatly reduced, if not fixed, the behaviour a little nervous on the roll and yaw axis.
There are some small issues arising from some bugs still present on the simulator and that do not restrict the use of the model and will be fixed ASAP:The new LOD system is way too aggressive, which is why we decided to leave only LOD 0 on the external model. This requires the developer mode entry to be enabled: Debug->Debug LODs->Force user LOD 0, note that is already enabled by default, so no action should be requested by user.
The dirt on the windshield from the insects does not work as wellThe function to prevent ice formation in the injector and/or ram air flow restriction is not working, is a known bug of the sim that will be fixed in the next sim update.
Same applies to carburetor hot air”
Cessna 182Q Skylane Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Carenado released the MSFS 2020 version of its Cessna 182Q, which was released for MSFS 2024 a few weeks ago.
It’s available on the official MSFS marketplace for $19.99.
Explore New Zealand Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
SoFly released a new add-on of its Explore series, dedicated to New Zealand. It’s available on Orbx Direct and on the developer’s own store for approximately $6.20.
It includes the following features.
- Discover eight of the States most cultural and significant cities in New Zealand
- Audio descriptions of 120 landmarks, points of interest,t and important locations
- Fully voiced with the latest audio technology
- Fly at your own pace with no time restrictions
- Choose between piloting a helicopter or aircraft as you fly over each city
- Fully compatible with the New Zealand World Update, which adds more realism with
- photogrammetry details, landmarks, and up-to-date imagery
X-Plane 12.2.0 Beta Gets New Build
Laminar Research released a new build of its beta for version 12.2.0 of X-Plane. The following changes have been implemented.
- Added new background image.
- Birds are no longer guaranteed to spawn at a nearby airport.
- Improved random placement of birds.
- All aircraft (user and AI) are now considered for startle behavior.
- Engine status and speed are considered when triggering a startle – e.g. birds will fly off when engines are started and an aircraft is near enough.
- Birds can now be startled while flying.
- Startled birds will try to move away from the perceived danger instead of fleeing in a random direction.
- Birds will maneuver much more abruptly when startled.
- Implemented various improvements.
- Fixed a crash when loading background textures (XPD-16762).
- Fixed location picker on Microsoft Windows in fullscreen mode (XPD-16626).
- Fixed various errors and improved logging.
- Adjusted sky colors: Now significantly improved with more realistic colors
- Visibility depiction is now improved. Hazy conditions are depicted more accurately
- Improved overall scene lighting.
- Improved performance when rebuilding environment maps.
- Fixed sun and moon rendering in VR for the right eye (XPD-16744).
- Fixed cloud rendering in VR for the right eye (XPD-16735).
- Fixed various errors.
- Added a new dataref sim/cockpit2/electrical/display_screen_brightness to represent the ratio of screen brightness.
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.
