Microsoft Flight Simulator third party developer iniBuilds has released two reports in the last few days aimed at providing overviews of both their scenery and aircraft development efforts. Big things are afoot with the development of the A380, A350 improvements including a v2 release for MSFS 2024. There’s also details on the release of Malta International for MSFS 2024, Dubai v2 updates and word that Paris Charles de Gaulle is their next big airport scenery project. Let’s have a look!

Airliner development update: A380 and A350 v2

The iniBuilds A380 takes centre stage in this latest development update as work continues to bring this giant airplane to life. The developers report that they are working on a wide array of features including new persistence system allowing the state of the airplane to be saved between sessions, new potable water and waste system simulation, and the multi-jetway technology which is being developed primarily (though not exclusively) for the A380 and which will work with several scenery developments by iniBuilds.

The EFB is picking up new features like take of performance calculator with intersection departure options, improved chart handling, dedicated NSS Avionics and NSS inbox and expanded crew-identification fields. GSX V2 integration is also part of the project.

The aircraft has a fully integrated Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS), it has Brake to Vacate (BTV), improved flight model and fly-by-wire modeling, weather radar, and fuel temperature simulation with appropriate ECAM warnings if it breaks tolerances.

iniBuilds plans to offer both Batch 2 and Batch 7 editions of the avionics with slightly different operations depending on the selection of 2010 era or modern evolution of the aircraft. A comparison indicates how they differ.

There’s also work on the flight model to ensure that the massive array of wheels behaves like a group rather than a single touchdown point. Wing flex, scenarios, failures, and both Rolls-Royce Trent 900 and Engine Alliance GP7200 are all planned too.

Meanwhile the A350 is also getting some attention. A350 Systems and Performance Update 1 is coming sooner than later (judging by the commentary) and is aimed at stability, flight planning, systems and handling issues. That comes first and then A350 Airliner V2 will follow which will focus entirely on MSFS 2024. Stability improvements, flight planning, systems corrections, flight controls and handling, cockpit geometry, HUD, EFB, OIS, failures and ECAM functionality are all being worked on. Newly collected data will change the visual proportions of the aircraft and attention is being paid to A350-900 versus 1000 differences.

The best news here is that existing customers are getting the A350 V2 update for free. There were many comments out in the community during the initial reveal that it would be paid but iniBuilds is putting that notion to rest though you will need to be on MSFS 2024 to get this V2 update. MSFS 2020 owners will at least still see some improvements from Systems and Performance Update 1.

Read the full airliner dev report here.

Malta released, Dubai v2 underway, Paris incoming

iniBuilds has just released Malta International Airport (LMML) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The scenery team at iniBuilds has recreated the airport and surrounding area featuring hundreds of handcrafted models, custom lighting, and using bespoke model and texture work for the terminals, aprons, taxiways and runways.

The Malta International Airport (LMML) scenery is listed on the iniBuilds store for £14.99 GBP.

Following Malta’s release, their team is turning attention to the already announced update for Dubai OMDB v2. The new scenery pack is being prepared around the MSFS 2024 framework using techniques and learnings from previous scenery projects.

V2 allows us to apply those lessons throughout Dubai. This includes improvements to modelling, texturing, terminal geometry, interior spaces, airfield detail, lighting and the wider airport environment. Areas which previously relied on older assets or simplified geometry have been revisited, whilst parts of the airport that received limited attention in the original version are now being developed in considerably greater detail.

The dev report touts improved airfield and ground environment, new animated vehicles and shuttle services, performance optimizations, and interior area improvements. Vert limits and LOD optimizations reduce unnecessary performance hogging features. They are also adding multi-jetway operations (for this and other airports) to work with their upcoming A380.

The updated V2 airport is free to existing Enhanced owners. It will be rebranded as iniBuilds Dubai Premium on release. Notably, the MSFS 2020 version upgrade path for 2024 will be discontinued when v2 launches. That puts a time limit on if you want to pay for the update.

The team have also confirmed that Paris Charles de Gaulle will be the next project in the pipeline. Significant research has already been undertaken to recreate this large airport.

Read the full scenery report here!