Third-party developers have provided news and development updates about upcoming products for Microsoft Flight Simulator while a couple of aircraft have been released.
We start with IndiaFoxtEcho, which provided an update and screenshots about several of its aircraft in development including the Panavia Tornado, the F-14 Tomcat in partnership with Heatblur Simulations, the TA-4J Skyhawk, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and an F-16A Fighting Falcon.
TORNADO
This project has suffered some delays as we decided to remake most of its wings and engine details. This took a lot of time, but we are happy to announce that we have finally completed the external 3D model geometry - we just need to finalize some of its textures.
We will commence working on the cockpit and systems next week, hopefully targeting for a Alpha build sometime in May.
F-14 TOMCAT with HEATBLUR
We are moving forward with the F-14 conversion to MSFS - the plane is already flyable but we are trying to squeeze as much detail as we can. For this project we will provide a proper update together with Heatblur Simulations in the near future, so here are just a couple of screenshots (and before you write it in the comments, YES technically the high-viz Jolly Rogers livery is not historically correct for the upgraded F-14A, but still it is the coolest livery ever so we could not help having it - along with other liveries from the 70's).
TA-4J SKYHAWK
Some delays for this project too, but we have finished remaking the details we wanted to refactor: the model has a more accurate nose geometry, extremely detailed landing gear, slats and speedbrakes and other small things. We will soon start remaking the cockpit - pictures are of course WIP.
We hope to have a flyable build sometime in summer.
EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON
The commercial 3D models available for purchase did not met our quality standard and were significantly inaccurate, while our P3D models were clearly inadequate to modern standards... so we decided to redo the models completely.
We are happy to report that the main external surfaces are complete and we are finally happy the wing shape and curvature, which was quite difficult to replicate correctly - but we still need to improve several details.
On the good side, most of the avionics/systems work we did for the P3D version seems to work fine with minor adjustments - this should shorten the development time significantly.
F-16A
We had purchased different commercial meshes to start from, but frankly they were inadequate - with significant deviations from the main dimensions and curvatures. So we have decided to remake it too - the screenshot shows is where we are at the moment.
Another extensive update came from PMDG, which just re-released its Douglas DC-6 for Xbox on the official marketplace. The aircraft was released a while ago, but the developer was forced to withdraw the Xbox version due to an incompatibility issue on the platform's side that has been fixed with the latest Sim Update, so the aircraft is back, priced at $59.99.
We hear from the studio's CEO Robert Randazzo about the work being done to bring the 737 line to Xbox and the release of livery packages on the platform, which will be payware.
PMDG DC-6 for Microsoft Flight Simulator - XBox
For those who have been waiting for this product to return to XBox- we are happy to announce that nearly 18 months after the initial release attempt on XBox, the PMDG DC-6 is BACK! Anyone who purchased the DC-6 on XBox back in November 2021 when it was initially released (and then removed) should already see it live in your MSFS on Xbox. (Those who accepted the refund offer back then will need to repurchase, obviously.)
If you are an Xbox user, you do need to purchase the airplane via Marketplace on the Xbox in order to have access to the airplane. If you have any questions about purchases made in Xbox vs. PC Marketplace, please refer those questions to the Microsoft Flight Simulator forums!
PMDG 737 for Microsoft Flight Simulator - Xbox:
We have finally gotten both the 737-700 and the 737-800 into the Xbox test environment successfully. We were having some trouble with the 800- the details of which aren't important except that they were taking some time- but we are now evaluating both of those 737 models in the Xbox environment and will hopefully see similar results and consistency to the DC-6 since the 737 is already a very stable platform for us.
We will keep you posted as to progress- but we won't delay the Xbox release of those two airplanes any longer than is necessary.
The 737-600 and 737-900 will get inserted to testing once these two titles are clear. We don't want to overload our own ability to test things by having 4 products in the bin at the same time.
(Side note: For those waiting for the 737-800 in marketplace for PC- that will appear in line with the xbox guidance above!)
Updated Liveries Plan
We ran into some knee-knockers when it comes to distribution of liveries for XBox users. I'll describe those knee-knockers below, but the bottom line is that we are making a livery package available for the DC-6 that includes all of our DC-6 liveries. It will be for purchase in Marketplace for $4.99. We will do the same for all of our subsequent products that release to Xbox as well.
Warning: If you are not on Xbox- don't buy this package because you have access to these liveries already using the PMDG Operations Center.
Now for the knee-knockers: Keeping in mind that we are all just getting to learn how Marketplace works, we have a series of overlapping conflicts that we did not anticipate. Taken individually they are minor things, but taken all together it puts us in a position where the best solution all around is to simply bundle all liveries for each product into a single unit and make it available for sale to XBox users via MS Marketplace.
Our original plan had been to make liveries available via XBox-Only livery "products" available in Marketplace only to Xbox users at a $0.00 price tag. These were rejected because Marketplace is not currently accepting freeware- and products with a $0.00 price tag are freeware even though they are associated with a paid product. Additionally, we learned at the same time that Marketplace can accept products that are "PC Only" but it is not capable of accepting products that are "Xbox Only."
Thus our plan was stymied in a couple of ways.
We evaluated placing the liveries inside the product itself, but this quickly becomes untenable due to the excessive build sizes and the need to maintain product commonality across all of our distribution platforms. We know very well that PC users wouldn't want us forcing some 500+ liveries onto their machines once the entire DC-6, 737, 747 and 777 product lines are published... So we quickly discarded that idea.
The end conclusion is: For each product we will bundle all of our liveries into a single package and make it available via marketplace for $4.99. It is there primarily for Xbox users- but of course if you are feeling like having the entire bundle via marketplace as a PC user- you certainly can buy it- but there is no NEED to since you already have access to them all via the PMDG Operations Center.
As we have said a few times: We are still learning how to work best with Marketplace- and this change in our livery policy is being made in order to ensure Xbox users can have access to the broad range of liveries without hassle or delay.
Next, we move on to releases, with the launch of the Airbus A400M military transport by Roland Laborie. It's available on Simmarket for $32.75 plus applicable VAT and comes with the following features.
- Full MSFS model.
- Fully Animated VC and exterior model.
- 3D modeled gauges - PFD - MFD - AP - Terrain follow - MCDU.
- Electrics. (AC/DC)
- Hydraulics.
- Air Condition.
- Pneumatics
- HUD-Autopilot-Autothrottle.
- 15 High Resolution Liveries:
- France.
- Canada.
- Germany.
- Belgium.
- Spain.
- Luxembourg.
- Malaysia.
- Turkey.
- United kingdom.
- United States.
- US coast guard.
- US DDAY.
- Atlas.
- US Alaska.
- Antarctica.
Last, but not least, Pilot Experience Sim released the Maule M-7-235 bush plane. It's available for both PC and Xbox on the official in-sim marketplace priced at $25.99. If you prefer an external vendor, It's also available for PC only on iniBuilds' store.
It comes with the following features:
- Optimized FPS
- Accurate hand made custom HD detailed design
- HD PBR texturing
- Accurate Maule M7235 flight model
- Custom accurate lighting system
- Adapted realistic sounds
- Included Lycoming IO540W motorisation
- Every moving parts in real animated
- Accurate Gear deformation
- Custom accurate fuel system
- Custom accurate electrical system
- All buttons and systems working included breakers
- Added Interactive cheklist
- Included Garmin 530 and Garmin 430
- Included radio KMA28
- Included Optional GTNX750 / 650 by TSD sim for owners
- Included Clipboard with interactive features
- Inlcuded payload stations
- Included liveries
- Included Tundra / Floaters variations
- Added documentation
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.
