Today Microsoft and third-party developers shared news about the upcoming update and new add-ons coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it's definitely vintage Avro bomber day.
We start with the new beta build of the upcoming Sim Update 13, which is still scheduled for a full release on September 21.
The build, for which you can find the patch notes on the official forums, fixes crashes and issues, improves the Garmin G3000/G5000 and G1000 Nxi, on top of the Boeing 787-10 and Boeing 747-8i, and more.
It's worth mentioning as usual that this is a beta, so joining is optional and it's not advisable unless you actually want to help test the builds and you're willing to put up with unforeseen issues.
Next, we get a development update from Just Flight about the upcoming Avro Vulcan bomber, focusing on (cosmetic) weaponry and more.
As promised this update will be covering the various weapons and configuration options you can expect to find in our Avro Vulcan B Mk.2, K.2 & MRR (MSFS). Firstly, let’s start with the loadouts that will feature in the product. The Vulcan can be fitted with the following weapons:
- AGM-45 Shrike Anti-Radiation Missiles
- Blue Steel Nuclear Stand-Off Missile
- Mk13 Unguided Bombs
- WE-117 Nuclear Bombs
There are also several other non-weapon related loadouts that can be fitted including Cylinder Tanks, MRR-Pods and Saddle Tanks.
All these loadouts can be loaded via the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) located on the pilot’s seat. The EFB features the same Navigraph and SimBrief functionality that you can find in our other MSFS aircraft, and don’t worry, if you want to remove the EFB from sight for a true cold war bomber experience, we will be providing an option for you to hide it from view!
As well as the loadouts mentioned above, we have also included plenty of other airframe and equipment options that can be toggled on/off using the EFB such as antennas, ground equipment, and tanker equipment, and we have ability to be able to open and close the bomb bay and crew doors and even extend the refuelling hose on the K2 variants. Some of the images below show off some of the equipment options in action.
The EFB options are always an area of that constantly evolves, and we will likely add further additions to the EFB in the run-up to release, as well as post release based on community feedback. If there are any options you would like to see added the EFB please do let us know, and we will try our best to accommodate them.
We have also ensured that every livery that is included with the product is fitted with the correct equipment by default. For example, the K2 tanker liveries will be automatically fitted with the Hose-Drum Unit (HDU) and each individual livery will be fitted with the correct airframe equipment based on reference photographs. However, as most of the Vulcans will have had multiple equipment upgrades and modifications during their lifetime, we must choose just one configuration for each livery, we have ensured that there is at least one reference image of the configuration used for each of the liveries for maximum accuracy.
Next, we hear from Aeroplane Heaven about the Vulcan's grandfather, and it's the Avro Lancaster. We hear that textures and models are near completion, so the developers are testing placing the crew models in their positions.
Moving on to releases, SimSolutions launched its Diamond DA20-C1 Eclipse. It's currently available on the iniBuild store for $19.77.
It includes the following.
- Fully modeled inside and out
- 4K PBR Textures
- Fully modeled 3D cockpit
- Modeled with real world experience
- Opening of canopy and fuel cap
- GTX 327 transponder
- DAVTRON clock system
- Aircraft Checklist (Data folder)
Last, but not least, Fly2High released its Jeju International Airport (RKPC), the second-largest airport in South Korea.
It's currently available on Orbx Direct for $21.88, offering the following perks.
- Accurate simulation of Jeju International Airport as of present
- Hand-made ground textures (Runways, aprons, paths, roads)
- Accurately modeled and positioned dynamic airport lighting
- Highly detailed models of all airport buildings, objects, and surroundings
- Official GSX Profile included
- Good optimization of FPS
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available now for PC (via Steam and Windows Store), Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, on top of Game Pass. If you'd like to learn more about the upcoming add-ons, you should stay tuned on TechRaptor regularly as we host daily Microsoft Flight Simulator news on the topic.
You can also check out our interviews with Microsoft's Jorg Neumann about the Antonov An-225 "Mriya" and iniBuilds' CEO Ubaid Mussa on the activity of the popular third-party developer.
On top of that, you can take a look at our reviews of Orbx's Stockholm Arlanda and Oslo Gardermoen Airports, iniBuilds' New York-JFK Airport, and RHDSimulations' Boeing 767-300ER.
