Three things are in this week’s DCS World Weekend News update. Flaming Cliffs 2024 is coming in the next update, Eagle Dynamics are working on a new launcher for DCS World, and DCS: Supercarrier gets a mention with new Air Boss details.

Flaming Cliffs 2024

Back in April we learned that Eagle Dynamics were planning to release an update to the Flaming Cliffs series with a new Flaming Cliffs 2024. The package would include the MiG-29A/G/S, Su-27, Su-25A, Su-33, A-10A and F-15C aircraft from the prior Flaming Cliffs package and then add the FC: F-5E, FC: F-86F, and FC: MiG-15bis. These new additions to Flaming Cliffs are now slated to come in the next update… just weeks away at this point.

These are all simplified aircraft with non clickable cockpits and easier to manage systems intended to bring in new virtual pilots who may be intimidated by the more complex systems. They are also aircraft that were developed for another project, Modern Air Combat, that has since changed direction.

A special offer is available for current owners letting you update to Flaming Cliffs 2024 with a $9.99 USD price. That goes up to $14.99 USD at the end of July.

Look for the update very soon!

A new launcher

Now this is something! Eagle Dynamics are updating their launcher to something quite a bit more capable and substantial. You’ll be able to organize modules, check for updates, and adjust settings from a single location. ED report that this is part of an overall effort to make the sim more accessible.

Later on the launcher is expected to add features that let you read doucmentation, watch training videos, work with liveries (and texture templates) and setup hardware profiles.

This is very good news as getting into DCS is a challenging process not made easier by the need to sometimes manually force the software to check for an update. If they manage to add a repair button in there I can finally retire the batch file that I wrote years ago to make that a bit easier on myself. If they manage to add user files/liveries into the mix as well, it’ll help match some of the installers/storefronts that we’ve seen added by companies like iniBuilds or Fenix Simulations for Microsoft Flight Simulator and other sims. Let’s hope!

Supercarrier

It’s been a while since the last update but DCS: Supercarrier is getting a mention again. The Air Boss setup is coming to the sim in a future update. You’ll be able to monitor the deck, adjust lights, watch the airspace around the carrier and even steer the ship. Air Boss can be assigned roles in single player and multiplayer and add a new dimension for carrier operations according to Eagle Dynamics.

Also coming soon are the long planned plane directors that will direct aircraft from parking to the catapult and from the landing box to an available parking space. The feature is apparently ready in single player and still being worked on for multiplayer.

Glad to hear about some progress with this module.

Read this and the other updates from the DCS World Weekend News update.