Today third-party developers had a bunch of releases and reveals to share about add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Starting with the releases, Orbx launched its Cape Town City Pack. It’s currently available on Orbx Direct for $10.49.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Several high-detail custom landmarks including the Cape Town Stadium, Castle of Good Hope, and University of Cape Town
- More than 110 medium-detail custom landmarks, balancing quality and performance.
- Many enhancements to the city and surrounding areas: improved vegetation and building placements, industrial areas and power stations, chimneys, etc.
- Specific focus on the harbour areas, with a with diversity of custom vessels and port infrastructure
- Extensive terraforming across the coverage area, enhancing how our custom landmarks sit within the simulator’s terrain
- Custom orthoimagery covering all of the city from the western bays to Rondebosch in the east
- Custom night lighting based on real-world photography
- Anti-poaching campaign “laser” rhino projected onto Table Mountain at night (selectable with control panel)
Next is Justsim, which released Dalaman Airport (LTBS) in Turkey. You can find it on SimMarket for approximately $23 plus applicable VAT.
Shunts Scenery follows with a double release, Sunshine Coast Airport (YBSU) and Caloundra Airport (YCDR) in Australia. You can find them at the developer’s own store for $19.99 and $4.95.
To sweeten the deal, if you buy them together using the “WHATASHUNT” promotional code at checkout, you get Caloundra for free.
Here’s a list of feature for Sunshine Coast:
- Latest Orthographic imagery provided by our friends at Aerometrex
- Highly accurate representation of the main apron and taxiways
- New runway 13/31 with accurate approach and runway lighting
- Custom animations
- Modelled main terminal with internal modelling of airside areas such as food and gate lounges
- Every building that is airside is modelled in great detail
- Accurate Tower and short/long term carparks with custom objects
- Landside objects such as footpaths, taxis, bus stops
- Many custom models included airstairs and other vehicles
- Coolum High rise and other VFR landmarks have been enhanced to simulate VFR traffic transitioning through the Class-D airspace
- Custom night lighting such as Light poles and Guard Lights
- Modelled helicopters and various hangars and buildings
- Modelled fire station and fire trucks
- Accurate windsocks
- Refined airsport services and activity
And one for Caloundra.
- High Definition Textures
- Additional precinct buildings and hangars modelled
- Accurate windsocks
- Enhanced runway textures
- Redone Apron
- Shunts Natural Trees
- Improved airport services and activity
Speaking of releases, we learn that Gaya Simulations will launch Block Island State Airport (KBID) tomorrow, June 12.
Next, looking at future releases, DC Designs showcased its upcoming F-14 Tomcat and provided a development update:
“The Tomcat is progressing well, and I’ve taken some further images to show some of the detail work that is being added. Although I think I’ve done okay with texturing so far, this is an F-14 and I want it to be as good as it can possibly be, so I’ve hired a texture artist to take things to the next level. They have experience working with some of the best sim developers out there, as well as real-life aircraft, so that part of the project will be in safe hands, freeing me up to concentrate on the continued detailing work on-going.
The variable exhausts on the TF-30 engines were animated this week, as well as further testing done on the compressor-stall failures that were experienced with that engine on the A-model Tomcat. One thing I learned in the process is that the Tomcat spins quite easily, usually nose-low, and is reasonably easy to recover once the airspeed gets back over 100 knots. Further work to be done there of course, but CodenameJack447’s work on the flight dynamics is really coming to light now.
I have some more to do externally, in terms of undercarriage detailing and functionality of the complex flaps and slats arrangement / spoileron operation, but things are coming together. Once they’re in order, work will begin on completing the cockpit and systems ready for proper flight testing and the writing of the manual.”
The folks at Leonardo Software House teased progress on their Fly the Maddog X MD-80 series package, which is in development for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Their add-on dedicated to the venerable McDonnell Douglas airliners is very popular on older simulators. No release window has been shared, as there is still a lot of work to do to bring it to Microsoft Flight Simulator, but you can see two screenshots below.
“Answering one of the most asked questions, yes we’re progressing with the FS2020 SDK, starting to see the first results in the new platform and thus allowing us to be a lot more optimistic about the future of the Maddog in Flight Simulator… there is a lot of work to be done and it’s a long way to go, so obviously no ETA. I’ll drop these two screenshots for your viewing pleasure.”
Last, but not least, Aerosoft announced Sandnessjøen Airport, Stokka (ENST) in Norway, developed by Fly Three Peak.
It’s a small regional airport pretty much in the middle of the country, served by scheduled Widerøe’s Dash 8 flights to a few different destinations.
Speaking of add-ons, do keep in mind that we have a spiffy giveaway going on that can let you win one of 10 add-ons from Orbx’s lineup. You can find all the details here, but leaving a pertinent comment at the bottom of this post will serve as a valid entry.
Recently, we published our massive interview with head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann, who provided a lot of new info about the present and future of the sim. A few days ago, we also received lots of new details about upcoming content from Microsoft itself including a new aircraft and the next world update focused on Nordic countries.
If you’d like to read more about Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons, you can enjoy our recent reviews of Chongqiung, Manila Airport, Santiago Airport, the Frankfurt City Pack, Key West Airport, the Okavango Delta, Bali Airport, London Oxford Airport, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the CRJ 550/700, the PA-28R Arrow III, Kristiansand Airport, Macau City & Airport, Bonaire Flamingo Airport, Milano Linate Airport, the Singapore City Pack, Tokyo Narita Airport, Yao Airport, the F-15 Eagle, the Paris City Pack, Greater Moncton Airport, Tweed New Haven Airport, Santorini Airport, Sydney Airport, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Reggio Calabria Airport, Bastia Poretta Airport, Munich Airport, Paris Orly Airport, Newcastle International Airport, Sankt Johann Airfield, Dublin International Airport, and Seoul City Wow. We also have a beta preview of Singapore Changi airport.
If you want to learn more about the game itself, you can read our review that will tell you everything you need to know about Asobo Studio’s game.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is already available for Windows 10 and Steam and will release in summer 2021 for Xbox Series X ad Series S.
About the author
