Today in Flight Simulation News – September 20, 2024

Despite the explosion of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 news, it’s business as usual for Flight Simulation add-on developers, which shared news and reveals aplenty for Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane, and even Lockheed Martin Prepar3D, including aircraft and scenery.

Here on Simulation Daily, we publish daily roundups to help you stay in touch with everything happening in the super-lively Flight Simulation industry, albeit we had to skip a couple of days due to traveling and the MSFS 2024 content taking priority.

Yet, before we get down to business, below you can find links to the news that did get individual coverage.

• Geneva Airport Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator
• DCS World Teases Features Coming With Next Big Update
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Reveals Full Aircraft Lineup and Editions Content

Also, you can read plenty of content about the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 preview event, in Arizona, which Simulation Daily attended.

• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Preview – Massive, Complex, Gorgeous, and Yet Accessible
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Interview – Authenticity, Physics, Career Mode, and Much More
• Watch a Crazy Flight in the Grand Canyon in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Lets You Fully Customize Your Pilot – Watch It in Action

Without further ado, I leave you with all the news.

Gold Coast Landmarks Announced for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Orbx announced a new landmarks package featuring Gold Coast in Australia, with plenty of buildings to enrich the approach to YBCG.

Here’s what you can expect.

• Over 42 custom buildings and structures
• Animated roller coaster at the Sea World Theme park
• Animated power and sailboats along the coast
• Emissive textures on all buildings for dazzling nighttime flying across the city
• Marinas with static boats
• Perfectly pairs together with our YBCG Gold Coast Airport for Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Includes the Gold Coast University Hospital with a landable helipad
• Made for use with World Update 7 Australia’s Gold Coast photogrammetry
• Precise placement of our custom landmarks within the city’s photogrammetry coverage

Melbourne International Airport Announced for Prepar3D V5 & V6

We stay with Orbx and in Australia. The developer announced a version for Lockheed Martin Prepar3D versions 5 and 6 of Melbourne International Airport (YMML).

It’ll include the following features:

• High resolution 10cm/px photoreal with winter/summer season colors
• 2024 Airport Layout
• 3 Hangars opened with interiors
• SODE VGDS and Jetways
• Fully optimized airport with the Control panel to disable features
• Animated terminal park4 LCD screens
• Includes legacy photoreal of YMMLv3 for extended coverage with on/off option
• High-density 3D grass controlled by Autogen
• ATC interiors
• +4.5k cars placed at landside parking
• +1.3K GSE placed around the airport
• Night Dynamic lighting
• Custom airport runway, ALS, and taxiway lighting

Bombardier Challenger 350 For Microsoft Flight Simulator Gets New Screenshots

FlightFX released new images of the upcoming Bombardier Challenger 350 business jet, this time around focusing on the spoilers and their assembly.

Of course, the aircraft is still deep in development but it seems to be shaping up nicely.

Airbus A330-900 for X-Plane Gets Release Date

Toliss announced the release date of its rendition of the Airbus A330-900neo for X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12.

It’ll be released on October 19, 2024.

Sulphur Creek Ranch Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Orbx released a small but interesting airfield, Sulphur Creek Ranch (ID74) in Idaho, United States, known for the popular breakfast served on the premises.

It’s available on Orbx Direct for $12.25 with the following perks.

• The usual bells and whistles include PBR throughout, extensive terrain and vegetation rework, and over 100 custom assets.
• There are multiple time-triggered occurrences, such as hot breakfast, umbrellas being deployed, condiments on tables, and ice and snow in the colder months, to name a few. There are lots of easter eggs to find.
• The time of day affects objects within the scenery itself, giving it a “living” feel.
• Many local carrier aircraft are parked at Sulphur Creek, and the area can get quite busy, especially on the weekends!
• During the evenings, lit fire barrels have been seen deployed to mark the landing direction. This is essential for emergency medical situations and is extremely handy when arriving at sundown!
• Already thinking about your departure after breakfast? You can even check the wind direction by looking at your steaming Big Breakfast! Of course, there are many other sources to do so, like campfires, flags, and chimneys!

Fowlmere Airfield Released for Free for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Burning Blue Design released Fowlmere Airfield (EGMA) in the UK, and the good news is that it’s free, available now on Orbx Direct.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Over 50 custom 3D objects each with full Physical Based Rendering (PBR) textures.
• Based on the June 2024 layout.
• Full custom night lighting.
• Animated hangar doors that close at night.
• Animated main gate which closes at night.
• Completely custom windsock.
• Animated spectators who leave at night.
• 4 individual memorials dedicated to the RAF and USAAF squadrons that were based at Fowlmere.
• Real-life static aircraft are seen at Fowlmere:
• North America T-6G Harvard, ‘Wacky Wabbit’ (G-BJST)
• Cessna 152 (G-CEZM)
• Real-life Surrounding scenery has been added as visual reference points:
• Black Peak Solar Farm to the West of the airfield.
• Summer House Farm Caravans to the West of the airfield.
• High-resolution color-corrected ground textures taken from Bing maps and manipulated for consistency and realism.

Aguni Airport Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator

FS Formosa released another small airport on the islands surrounding Okinawa, Aguni Airport (RORA)

It’s available on Simmarket for $12.17 and it includes Agunijima Lighthouse and Aguni Fishing Port on top of the following perks.

• High-resolution detail: Utilizes full-spec PBR texture mapping to achieve realistic lighting and shadow effects.
• High realism: Customizable Biomes definitions, buildings, vehicles, ground and road objects, lighting, fence and wind vane animations.
• Performance-friendly: Optimized LODs based on official guidelines to balance detail and performance.

Santiago Vila Airport Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Colombian Virtual Design released Santiago Vila Airport (SKGI) serving Girardot in Colombia.

It’s available on Simmarket for $8.37 including the following features:

• High-detail 3D models of terminals, hangars, and airport facilities, crafted for maximum realism.
• Ultra-high-resolution textures with fully realistic PBR materials for buildings, ground markings, and vehicles.
• Dynamic night lighting, perfectly capturing the airport’s ambiance during dusk, dawn, and nighttime operations.
• Handcrafted surroundings, featuring authentic vegetation, landmarks, and natural elements from the Girardot region.
• Custom-built runway and taxiway systems, reflecting the latest real-world layout and markings.
• Animated airport traffic and ground services, including vehicles and aircraft, bringing the airport to life.
• Seamless integration with Microsoft Flight Simulator’s photogrammetry and weather system, ensuring immersive real-time weather conditions.

Buenos Aires Cityscape Released for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Towersoft released a landmarks add-on focusing on Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, including both relevant buildings and the docks.

You can find it on Simmarket for $13.40.