Microsoft Flight Simulator F-4 Phantom Gets New Screenshots; Bologna Airport Announced; Chios & Rockhampton Released

Here's your daily dose of Microsoft Flight Simulator news: the F-4 Phantom got new screenshots and a development update; Bologna Airport has been announced; Chios Island & Rockhampton Airports have been released 😎


Published: March 24, 2023 8:38 PM /

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Microsoft Flight Simulator Phantom in Blue Angels Livery

Today third-party developers announced a new airport coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator, showcased an aircraft, and released two new add-ons.

We start with new screenshots and a development update about the upcoming F-4 Phantom by DC Designs

"This week, the Phantom cockpit once again! There is such a lot of work to do in the office of an F4, it’s a real hive of rivets, cables, wires and bolts. Progress is being made though, with texturing underway and instruments slowly coming on-line as animations are added. CodenameJack has already done stirling work on the flight model and is keen to get to work inside the cockpit. I have not yet animated any of the switches or added decals, so that will have to be finished beforehand.

The textures and animations will take most of next week, and I will also be passing the finished work on to my texture artist as there will no doubt be improvements that he will make between now and launch. Likewise, Sim Acoustics will want to start work on the sound pack soon so I am working hard to get everything into place so that the Phantoms can enter the final phase of development. Speaking of texture art, some of the first liveries are now rolling off the Novawing24 production line and are included in the screenshots. All are WIP at this time and do not represent the finished artwork.

The Phantom did not have a HUD ( just a gunsight ), nor any complex screens or displays. There are no LNAV features or digital displays. This is a true cold-war jet and as such will require pilots to fly it using analogue instruments alone. Only a basic three-axis autopilot will be included. It’s a proper man’s fighter jet, so you’ll have to put on your grown-up pants if you want to fly it the way it’s supposed to be flown – hands-on.

As soon as the front cockpit is textured and animated, work will commence on the RIO’s cockpit."

Next comes MK Studios, which announced Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (LIPE) in Italy. We also get to see a couple of screenshots. It's worth mentioning that it's a completely separate project from the one released a few weeks ago by Caelus Aerial.

 

Speaking of releases Orbx released another Australian airport, and precisely Rockhampton Airport (YBRK) in central Queensland. 

It's currently available on Orbx Direct for $16.39 with the following features.

  • Detailed rendition of Rockhampton Airport with ultra-high-resolution textures
  • Custom groundpoly and taxiway lighting
  • Military and GA statics
  • Interior terminal modelling of the departure area
  • Terraformed runways, drainage channels, taxiways and aprons
  • Crisp 15cm aerial imagery
  • By Rob Byrne

Last, but not least, we go to Greece with iniBuilds, which released Chios Island National Airport (LGHI).

It's available on the developer's own store for $8.58. Below you can take a look at the features and a trailer.

  •  Hand-made ground textures with detailed, bespoke texture sets
  •  True-to-life airport land side recreation with custom ground decals, signposts, vegetation, parking barriers and more
  •  Accurate real-world decals and advertisements scattered throughout the airport to promote a true to life feeling
  •  Accurately placed lighting
  •  Surrounding objects including shops and boats
  •  Hand-placed ground service equipment scattered throughout

Earlier this week, Microsoft revealed their plans for World Update 13, which will be Oceania, and shared new details and footage about the upcoming ATR 42/72-600.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is currently available for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, including Game Pass. If you'd like to learn more, you should stay tuned on TechRaptor as we have daily Microsoft Flight Simulator news to keep you updated on the many add-ons coming and released for the sim. We have also recently interviewed Microsoft's Jorg Neumann about the Antonov An-225 "Mriya" and reviewed Orbx's Oslo Gardermoen Airport and RHDSimulations' Boeing 767-300ER.

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


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News Editor at TechRaptor since January 2023 following over 20 years of professional experience in gaming journalism both on print media and on the web.… More about Giuseppe

More Info About This Game
Learn more about Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)
Developer
Asobo Studio
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release Date
August 18, 2020 (Calendar)
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