Third-party developers had quite a few news to share about add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator, alongside many airport releases.
We start with BlueBird simulations, which revealed an extensive development update about its Boeing 757 and even a glimpse of the 767 which will come afterward.
Specifically about the 757, we learn that it's going to take considerably longer than expected due to a complete reset in the development of the code that also involved the change of scope to a study-level aircraft. The developers hope to release it by the end of 2024 but it could be delayed further.
It will come to Xbox after its release on PC, but will miss some functionality handled by an external program that is impossible to implement on the console. There will be a cargo version coming as a paid expansion, and the aircraft will be native to the 2020 version of the simulator but will also get a free update for MSFS 2024.
Next, we move on to Bluemesh, which revealed it has 6 aircraft currently in development, 4 of which are planned for 2024. The first is the Castel C25S and it'll be the last developed for the 2020 version of the simulator, while the rest will come for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The second is a tease. It was not mentioned by name, but the aircraft cannot be mistaken, it's the Dassault Alpha Jet.
More interesting news comes from the recently resurfaced Imaginesim.
The developer released its rendition of the massive Atlanta Airport (KATL) almost immediately after the release of the simulator in 2020, just before disappearing. The airport was admittedly not too great, yet Imaginesim is releasing an update with "hundreds of updates and improvements" which will be free for those who have purchased the airport.
The plan is for it to come in a few weeks. Considering that at the moment the sim doesn't really have a decent version of KATL, this certainly has potential.
Another announcement comes from Flight Sim Development Group, and it's Kefalonia International Airport (LGKF) in Greece. Yet, this is not the first time we see or hear about this specific rendition.
FSDG will publish the airport by Scenic Routes, which was announced all the way back in April 2022 before the developer disappeared for over a year. Looks like Imaginesim isn't the only developer to be back from limbo.
Speaking of Flight Sim Development Group, we also get a release from them, and it's Haa Alifu Atoll in the Maldives, including Hoarafushi Airport (VRAH).
What makes this release available on the developer's own store even more exciting is that it's completely free. It isn't bad at all for the price of zero dollars.
Another release comes from Aerosoft, and it's its Antarctica Vol. 2 - Australian Casey and Skiways, including the following.
- Detailed Casey Station with all buildings, a lot of clutter and extremely detailed terrain
- Wilkins Aerodrome Skiway 70 km south of the base (intercontinental and continental operations)
- Casey Skiway (continental operations)
- Lots of animations including animals, vehicles, boats and people, including probably the first animated penguins and chain vehicles in MSFS
- Plenty of custom created sounds of animals and vehicles
- Coverage beyond the base with aerial imagery at various resolutions along the coast
- Hundreds of thousands of animated icebergs in a larger area around the base
- Adelie penguin colonies with thosands and thousands of animals at their real-world locations (performance optimized through instancing)
- An impressive custom fleet of typical animated and static vehicles and clutter
- Carefully crafted landscape to merge with surrounding terrain
- Including updated waterbodies
- Special technique used to bypass ground resolution limitation imposed by MSFS, giving the skiway ground textures a much more detailed layout than most airport add-ons
- Special technique used to add wind shear details to the vast white lands on the glacier
- Extensive manual with detailed information on flying in Antarctica
It's available at Aerosoft's own store for $18.29.
Next, we go to Argentina with Vuelosimple and its release of Jujuy International Airport (SASJ).
It's available on Simmarket for $13.25. It comes with the following features:
- Highly detailed new main terminal with every interior detail.
- Highly detailed control tower with interiors.
- Jujuy province's hangar
- YPF Fuel plant.
- Updated Airport main apron with correct parking positions and markings.
- Custom runway materials
- Accurate night illumination.
- LODs optimization for FPS-friendly performance.
A relatively small hop brings us to Mexico with Oaxaca International Airport (MMOX) by Dreamflight. It's available on Contrail and Simmarket for $18.56, including the following perks.
- Extensive, highly detailed and realistic 4096x4096 textures
- Multi-layered, realistic hand-painted ground textures with PBR and custom decals
- True to life recreation of building models/textures
- Static GA Aircraft
- Custom tarmac objects/vehicles as in real life airport
- Custom taxiway signs
- Terminal Interior
- Realistic night lighting
- Highly optimized
- Detailed Archaeological Site of Monte Albán as in real life!
- Guelaguetza Auditorium
We're far from done, and we move north to Dayton International Airport (KDAY) in Ohio, United States. This one is released by Realworldscenery and it's priced at $19.50 on Simmarket.
- Works with photogrammetry on or off
- Custom made High resolution Ground poly
- Highly detailed buildings designed and optimized for MSFS
- Custom designed hangar avilable for starting flight for small to mid aircraft, (start your flight in your GA Aircraft here!) select "parking 2" when starting a flight
- Optimized Dynamic lighting for the entire airport
- High resolution ground textures
- Custom Runways, Aprons & Taxiways
- AI traffic compatible FSLTL
We then move across to Asia with the release of Hakodate Airport (RJCH) in Hokkaido, Japan.
This one is by ACscenery and it's available on the developer's own store for €12,00
- Photoreal scenery of Hakodate Airport
- FPS friendly
- Realistic Terminal, Tower, ARFF and more
- Optimized Dynamic Lightning
Lastly, Project Max released Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (WAAA) serving Makassar in Indonesia.
It's available on Simmarket and Flightsim.to for $9.94.
As usual, you can check back every day for our daily dose of Microsoft Flight Simulator news, which should help you find your bearings in this lively but complex third-party industry.
