File this one under news I did not see coming at all. Aerosoft has taken the somewhat unusual move of removing their DHC-6 Twin Otter from the Aerosoft store. What’s that all about?
Twin Otter not for sale, sort of
Aerosoft’s DHC-6 Twin Otter was one of the first third party aircraft announced for Microsoft Flight Simulator owing to the companies close collaboration with Asobo and Microsoft in the early days of the MSFS 2020 development and release. It’s development process lead to a release in early 2022 in both marketplace and on the Aerosoft store.
Then, on Saturday we heard from Aerosoft’s Mathijs Kok that the product was being pulled from the store. Here’s what he said:
The product has been removed from the shop(s) because it will be relaunched at a later date as part of another project. So in its current form (or rather as it was), it will not return. I think it is still available on the marketplace though.
Mathijs Kok on the Aerosoft forums
To confirm that last statement, yes, at present the DHC-6 is indeed available on the marketplace. If you currently own the DHC-6 through the Aerosoft store (like I do) you can still download it and receive updates for it and a follow-up statement makes it clear the Aerosoft continue to support the product as is to existing customers.
But if you do try and visit the product page for the DHC-6 you get a brief message that the product is no longer on sale.
Now what?
Transitioning from news to a bit of editorializing, this is quite the unusual move by Aerosoft. I reviewed the DHC-6 Twin Otter last year and while I found it was lacking in a few areas, it had seen improvements and was generally an aircraft that was just good if never great. Certainly not in a scenario where it would need to be pulled from sale.
What Aerosoft plan to do from here, however, is a bit more complicated as we do not know what their plans are. Some comments on their own forum express frustration over the move and some of the mystery around it. While Mathijs has played some defense on this, it does seem that they are unable or unwilling to say what they plan to do just yet.
It’s been suggested to me that it could ultimately become part of the MSFS package. Perhaps as a reemerging as a perk for Premium or Premium Deluxe owners? That’s a possibility but an unusual move as its already been up for sale for a while. Still, I file it under the maybe category.
Another possibility is that they intend to re-release it as a version 2.0 product with enhanced features. A “pro” version of the product had also been suggested even before release of the initial version, however, if that’s the case I see no reason why it couldn’t be sold alongside or as an upgrade for existing users.
I do hope for the best with the DHC-6. It has steadily improved and would really benefit from flight model and system tuning to turn it into one of the greats and so I hope to see that happen here.
Ultimately, what we have here right now is uncertainty and something of a mystery. Hopefully Aerosoft can reveal what they plan to do soon and restore some certainty. The rumour mill loves to churn out all kinds of ideas in the absence of a public plan and that can be harmful. Is this a good thing wrapped up in a temporary stoppage of sale? Hopefully we’ll know more soon.
Stormbirds 
Their CRJ was/is a good addon, and it sold like hot cakes when it was the only non-Default & Hi Fi addon available.
The Twin Otter never lived up to the level of finish & polish of the CRJ, though.
So a possible scenario given the language they used is that it’s going to be re-produced by an external party as an Aerosoft product (which is what they did with the CRJ).
That would work fine for me, as log as they enable CFD.
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It’s always a possibility! I do want to see a flight model update with that CFD system… something as fun as the DHC-6 should have that built in.
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Yep. TBH, after experiencing MSFS CFD, and X-Plane, and DCSW, i’m no longer interested in purchasing any addon that doesn’t have it.
For e.g., I have the BlackBird/MilViz C310 – a Top Tier addon if ever there was one – and never fly it. I always end up choosing the freeware Bonanza mod instead simply due to the improved “feel” of flight provided by CFD-Lite. 🙂
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I hope for something like a partnership with Blackbox …
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That was one of the possibilities. We’ll have to see how that pans out! I liked the DHC-6 but maybe a bit more development and a re release will make it great!
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If “Antarctica Vol. 1” also disappeared from the Aerosoft store, I would think that they want to release its extended version and, as it was with “Antarctica X”, add ski equipped DHC-6 Twin Otter to it.
Unfortunately, I no longer hope that this addition will turn into something meaningful.
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It doesn’t look like Antarctica Vol 1 has changed in status but perhaps that could change at some point too.
Why do you no longer hope that this will become something meaningful?
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I know it’s still available in their store, but it just reminded me of the next “World Update” 😉
DHC-6 Twin Otter from the beginning gave the impression of being underdeveloped and released at the lowest possible cost. I have the impression that many players (including myself) were tempted by the vision of something more ambitious, and in the end they received a plane of Carenado level. The quality of the sound samples for the premiere is not even worth mentioning.
Also, subsequent updates contained only the necessary minimum, enough to be able to sell it further. A few months ago, Mathijs wrote that they would update their add-on right after the release of SU 12 – instead, I think, they will do rebranding for console players.
Maybe, as in the case of “Aerosoft Offshore Landmarks”, Mathijs figured out how to monetize the add-on with relatively little effort (bought 3D models).
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Yeah I can understand that all quite well. The sounds did get a nice little update so that was a good move forward which was reflected in my review of it. I guess I’m surprised about pulling it from the store… but maybe it will all shake out for the best.
I do have high hopes!
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