It takes time to develop aircraft and when a new sim comes out with a new SDK and engine to develop for, it can take time to get things put together and working. However, despite the early date we do now have a couple of aircraft in the marketplace and you may want to have a look at them. Here’s what’s available and what the general consensus is right now.

Carenado releases C182T and M20R Ovation

Prolific aircraft developer Carenado is known for maintaining a large catalogue of aircraft for FSX, P3D and X-Plane and they have just released their second aircraft into the marketplace. Not too long after launch we saw the addition of the Cessna 182T Skylane – a turbocharged version of Cessna’s second most popular aircraft (after the 172). This version comes with the Microsoft G1000 built in.

So far, impressions have been positive on the aircraft with flight dynamics similar to other Flight Simulator aircraft and functional systems including the ability to open doors and windows. Carenado has also put a tablet attached to the yoke that, among other things, allows you to control some features of the aircraft including external ground power and static elements. The overall rating on the store is currently 3 out of 5 stars.

Then, releasing today is the Mooney M20R which is a 1994 era civil aircraft in the semi-famous Mooney line of aircraft. With 11,000 M20’s built since 1953 the type has seen plenty of use in civil service. The new entry to MSFS comes with steam gauges which might be of interest to many who are less interested in the wide variety of glass instrument aircraft in the default title. So far I’ve read only positive comments and the first reviews are putting this at 4 out of 5 stars.

Both C182T and M20R are available on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace for $29.99 USD.

Big Tire Productions introduces the Kitfox

This next one is interesting as its a combined X-Plane and MSFS product. Big Tire Productions are working on the Kitfox for both X-Plane 11 and Microsoft Flight Simulator. The bush plane is a kit-built light sport aircraft very similar in style to many of the other bush planes out there.

Owners of this aircraft on the X-Plane.org store can download the Microsoft Flight Simulator version for free from the store. Meanwhile you can also buy the Kitfox on X-Plane.org store for $32.99 or from the Marketplace for… $11.95 CAD (I can’t find or see the USD price on this one). The aircraft was released in an early state with some issues and that has contributed to a 2 out of 5 stars rating at this point. It may improve over time and the price is very affordable.

More will be coming

Of course there are plenty of developers working away out there and so these early entrants to the marketplace are just the first of what will likely be an avalanche of new content on the marketplace by this time next year. Stay tuned for more!