I’ve got a tale of two F-22’s today. The first is news about a new F-22 release for Microsoft Flight Simulator from Top Mach Studios. We’ll have a look at what’s been released and what you can expect with this add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Second, we have news about IRIS Simulations F-22 and what their plans are. Let’s go.
Fly the F-22 Raptor in Microsoft Flight Simulator
If you’ve dreamed of flying the F-22 Raptor in a flight simulator, now might be your chance as Microsoft Flight Simulator now has an F-22A from Top Mach Studios. The team have reportedly spent over a year creating the simulation around this making use of the built-in native flight model for Microsoft Flight Simulator and doing their best to make it simulate this high-performance fighter jet.
Among the challenges they faced are getting performance and systems setup correctly for what is still a very highly classified jet. From the information they have put out, it sounds like they have done their best to create an authentic experience using information that is out in the clear – public reports from USAF pilots, maintainers and PR people, public photos and documents, etc.
The aircraft has features such as detailed afterburner model, functional HUD and MFD/PFD systems, detailed flight model with custom coded fly-by-wire simulation, detailed 3D exterior model, detailed cockpit model, and more. Essential avionics for cross country flying are also provided.
The team also report that they have done as much as they can to simulate the F-22’s unique thrust vectoring system – something that is not in the current MSFS flight model by default.
The result seems to be pretty spectacular as the video above shows off.
The package comes with over 50 pages of documentation in a manual that describes how to fly the aircraft as well as perform some of the F-22’s more unique maneuvers. The F-22 from Top Mach Studios is on sale on the Just Flight online store for $35.99 USD. You can also read more about the project on the Top Mach Studios website.
IRIS Simulations cancels their F-22
With Top Mach’s F-22 release you may be wondering where IRIS Simulation’s own F-22 project sits and the answer is that they have decided to stop work on and cancel this project. A statement made yesterday on their Facebook page revealed the news.
Top Mach Studios have recently released their new F-22 product, which is a superb replication of the F-22 Raptor aircraft. In our opinion, to continue development on our aircraft would not be in our best interest and instead we’ll focus on the Pilatus PC-9 and PC-24 moving forwards.
IRIS Simulations
Included in their statement is considerable praise for the Top Mach product as well as clear indications that their studio is moving forward with their other announced projects. Both PC-9 and PC-24 are underway while their already released Jabiru J160/J170 and Grob Tutor continue to attract attention.
Stormbirds 
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