It’s been a busy several days for flight sim news and the latest updates have been coming in all over the place. In this Microsoft Flight Simulator focused update I check in on Just Flight, Black Square, iniBuilds, Flight FX and a newcomer Commercial Simulation Systems (CSS) with their very interesting and slightly controversial 737 Classic. Let’s go!
Just Flight Tomahawk next to get the 2024 treatment
Just Flight are rapidly moving through their aircraft portfolio and the next one to get the 2024 treatment is their PA-38 Tomahawk.
We’re thrilled to share that the Tomahawk is getting the MSFS 2024 treatment, including a free update for all existing owners. Just like our other aircraft updates, this one will bring the PA-38 fully up to MSFS 2024 native standards, along with new features and enhancements inspired by community feedback.
And yes — we haven’t forgotten MSFS 2020 users! The update will also be available for the 2020 version of the aircraft.
More details are forthcoming and no release has been set yet. Still, its great news for folks who are fans of this airplane.
BlackSquare reveal release date plans
It’s official! Black Square plans to release their Starship simulation for both MSFS 2020 and 2024 in June of this year. The announcement comes as a message at the very end of a 2-minute long trailer showing off the product.
Black Square’s usual extremely high attention to detail is sure to make this one an airplane that folks are going to want to check out.
More details coming soon and keep an eye on the updates here.
Other Black Square updates
In the same thread, we also have news about some of Black Square’s other products. Nick Cyganski, one-man show that has created all of these products, doesn’t hold back all that much with issues that he and other developers are dealing with for 2024.
I feel strongly that each update to my aircraft should result in a better experience than before. This too has been difficult with MSFS 2024, primarily due to the new LOD (Level of Detail) system. Developers who wish to natively support their aircraft or scenery in MSFS 2024 have been forced to create many, highly optimized LOD models (as many as ten). Without this, the aircraft will disappear completely within a few steps away from its fuselage. This is a very time consuming process, which I’ve had to undertake for all ten of my aircraft we currently plan to release for MSFS 2024. This totals 206 new models for their interiors and exteriors! Even with all this work, the new LOD system is overly aggressive, resulting in models “popping”, even before reaching the end of the aircraft’s wing. This is supposedly going to be improved in future Sim Updates.
Despite this, Nick sounds fairly optimistic that the issues that he’s working through and those that are blocking the release of other Black Square products in 2024 will be resolved following FSExpo 2025.
iniBuilds updates A350 to 1.0.11 and adds new features
The latest A350 update is packed with a bunch of new features and the usual list of fixes. There’s a new auto de-rotation system for the fly-by-wire logic which will assist with lowering the nose following a landing. Should help to ensure smoother landings!
An enhanced GPS jamming system now uses real world information and implements jamming in locations where the phenomena is common. Feeling like having a hardcopy of some of your key flight data? The cockpit printer now works in the A350.You can also now use the MSFS 2024 flight planner to import your flight plans and populate the FMS with data. Nice! There also are a half dozen new ECAM messages and new condensation effects on the windows.
Commercial Simulation Systems (CSS) launches 737 Classic
People love their 737s and Flight Simulator fans have been hoping for a classic version of the 737 to arrive sooner or later. The first to release is the 737-500 with the developer planning the -300, -400 with both passenger and freight versions on offer.
There’s a custom EFB with NaviGraph and SimBrief support and advanced failures and instrumentation are part of a future roadmap.
The product has attracted some criticism for its high price ($120 USD as a one time purchase) or subscription based system ($5/month or $50/year). There’s also been some critique over the systems and graphics. There was also some drama over the installer and some potential security issues – though those seem to have been allayed by reported cyber security experts in some comments on Reddit. This one may require a bit of close examination before buying in, however, a 737 Classic is sure to turn some heads and if the developers can address issues with it, this may end up being good in the end.
Learn more about CSS and their 737 Classic here.
FlightFX detail their C750 business jet progress
Nikko from FlightFX has dropped a couple of updates in recent days on their Discord. The update has been focused on their Cessna C750 business jet project.
The latest news indicates that the jet is now feature locked and that they are testing the product’s features and dealing with bugs. The visuals have apparently also been significantly overhauled with the team feeling that they weren’t quite up to the standard that they wanted to set.
It sounds like they’ve revamped most of the visuals and the latest screenshots really do show how well things have progressed.
50 beta testers have been working away on the jet and the update says that the next major announcement will be a launch announcement. The release will be a joint 2020/2024 launch with a single purchase granting access to both sims – great news!
There’s more news coming in fast and furious and I will be updating through the week!
Stormbirds 
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