Today is a big day for Microsoft Flight Simulator news, with a highly-anticipated airliner finally releasing and more interesting reveals.
We start with the release of the Airbus A300 by iniBuilds, which brings another relevant airliner into the simulator's third-party lineup.
It's available on the developer's own store for $44.79.
Here's what you can expect from this advanced aircraft.
Authentic Systems
- Detailed custom FMS with SIDs, STARs, SEC flight plan, custom VNAV and LNAV, altitude and speed constraints and holds
- Independent FMS with state-of-the-art high-resolution cockpit displays
- Custom system rendition including bespoke hydraulic, electrical, pressurisation and fuel operation including unique A300-600R trim tank functionality
- Cautions and warnings triggered by poor maintenance
- Realistic RNAV and autoland capability modelled
- Unique behavioural characteristics of the A300-600R simulated throughout each system for the most excellent immersive experience
- Extensively tuned flight model to capture A300-600R characteristics including accurate performance; landing and takeoff behaviour
- Accurate rendition of General Electric GE CF6-80C2A1 [Pratt and Whitney PW4158 variant engine coming soon!]
- Custom maintenance functions: Engine oil levels, APU oil level, Hydraulic fluid level, wheel brake wear and tire wear
Outstanding Visual Fidelity
- New and optimized PBR textures up to 8K quality. With performance texture packs available for lower-end systems via iniManager
- A reworked 3D cockpit model and new exterior of the A300-600R (Passenger) and A300-600RF (Freighter) variants
- A plethora of easter eggs and eye candy associated with maintenance options and other abnormal situations. (brake wear indicators, fuel panel, openable APU cowling, openable engine cowlings [GE ONLY], APU Mechanic, visible tire wear, RAT, reactive windshield rain)
- Realistic door arming simulation with emergency slides modelled on passenger variant only.
Immersive Sounds
- Authentic WWise soundset with full 3D environment using recordings from the real aircraft
- Advanced implementation of sound environments for the exterior, cabin, and cockpit, creating an immersive audio experience
- Authentically modelled the CF6s "Buzzsaw" sound dynamically balanced depending on N1
Additional Features
- Feature-rich onboard Electronic Flight Bag (EFB); including Navigraph and SimBrief integration, performance calculators, load manager & panel state save functionality
- Basic iniBuilds ground handling set (freighter stairs, chocks, ground power unit)
- Pre-set cargo loads with visual models (racing team charter, horse stable transport, cargo transport, aero parts, humanitarian charter, postal freight)
- Please note the PW, IDC (CPDLC/ACARS functionality) will come in an update and is not present on launch V1
Next, we take a look at the Embraer Phenom 100 business jet by Cockspur. Not only do we get to see quite a few spiffy screenshots, but we also hear that the aircraft has concluded its alpha testing and entered the beta phase.
For now, we have no release date, but the developer already announced that it'll be priced at $26.99 and a list of features.
- Custom G1000 NXi
- FADEC simulated using WASM
- Precision made flight model
- Bags and passengers visible based on weight added to the aircraft
- Fully decal liveries
- Blank model and textures for painters
- Dynamic registration on all liveries
- Static objects
- Sounds recorded from the real aircraft
- Combined checklist/static elements toggle that can be pulled from the sidepocket
- Developed with the help of IRL pilots
Lastly, Fly2High announced two new airports it has in the works, Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (KLBB) in the United States, and Rafael Núñez International Airport (SKCG) serving Cartagena, Colombia.
They're respectively 80% and 70% complete.
For now, we get no screenshots of the airports, but I leave you with the recommendation to come back often, as we publish daily Microsoft Flight Simulator news here on TechRaptor.
