Microsoft Flight Simulator Airbus A220 and F14 Tomcat Get Dev Updates; Manila City, Queenstown, Banjarmasin & Bodmin Airports Announced

Today third-party developers had a lot of fresh news to share about upcoming add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

First of all, Synaptic Simulations took to its discord server to show off progress on the modeling done for the flight deck and fuselage of its Airbus A220.

We also get a video providing an update on the systems and avionics.

Next, we hear from DC Designs providing a development update for its F-14 Tomcat, which is confirmed for a release in August.

“Tomcat testing was underway this week, with carrier take-offs and landings tested using a popular third-party add-on. The more advanced systems such as Direct Lift Control, AFCS, CADC and others are all working well to make carrier landings that little bit easier. I’m still waiting on custom sounds and the custom texture maps before the F-14A can be sent to beta-testers and previewers, but the accompanying manual is almost ready and I’ve added several cool colour schemes.

As requested by several users, one bears the name of Dale Snodgrass ( VF-142 ) which was already a part of the package but is being altered to depict his airplane: “Dakota” 112.

I’m almost ready to add the F-14B to the package and start wrapping things up ready for launch. Not long to go now, still no day set for launch as it will depend on the Just Flight schedule. Marketplace version will follow roughly two weeks after the Just Flight launch. Enjoy the images taken during testing!”

We then hear from Cloudsurf Asia Simulations, which announced its Metro Manila Skyline city add-on, which will perfectly complement the excellent Manila Airport.

Metro Manila as we all know is the National Capital Region of the Philippines and is composed of several huge business districts. So the work is quite tremendous. The scenery will cover several districts as follows:

– Makati –> (95% done)
– Rockwell –> (90% done)
– Bonifacio Global City (BGC) –> (75% done)
– McKinley Hills –> (50% done)
– Pasay Mall Of Asia Area –> (30% done)
– Okada Manila Area –> (30% done)

The screenshots below are taken from a “Part” of Makati only and is not yet representative of the final product.

NZA Simulations decided to abandon its Wellington Airport to avoid conflicts with Flightbeam Studios, which will launch its own indicatively in August.

Instead, the developer from New Zealand will move on to its next roadmap item, Queenstown (NZQN).

Next we hear from Binersim, which recently teased Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII) in Jakarta.

We hear that they have another Indonesian airport in the works, and it’s Syamsudin Noor International Airport (WAOO) serving Banjarmasin.

Alongside the announcement, we get to see a few images of the work-in-progress assets.

Another announcement comes from Burning Blue Design that announced Bodmin Airfield (EGLA) in Cornwall, United Kingdom.

We get to see a few screenshots below.

Gate15Scenery provided another WIP look at Nanki–Shirahama Airport (RJBD) in Japan.

The next one is quite interesting. Seafront Simulations released “Vessels Enhanced AI,” a package that overhauls AI shipping traffic in the simulator.

You can find it now on Orbx Direct for $12.42 and see what it looks like below.

“Overhaul your default AI ship and leisure boat traffic with high quality, night lit yachts, catamarans, motorboats, fishing boats, cargo ships and cruise ships with this global add-on. Includes wakes with Sim Update 5!

NOTE: This does not add more traffic but upgrades the default AI vessels.”

The same package also already had its first add-on dedicated to cargo shipping, titled “Vessels Global Shipping” and priced at $19.88 on Orbx Direct.

“We have flooded the seas with around 50,000 routes and tens of thousands of high-quality, PBR, night-lit utility, fishing and cargo ships. Includes wakes with Sim Update 5!

NOTE: Requires Vessels: Enhanced AI”

Recently, we published our brand new and massive interview with head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann, focusing on the Xbox version and short and long-term plans for the sim (on both platforms).

If you’d like to read more about Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons, you can enjoy our recent reviews of Tehran Imam Khomeini Airport, Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Kraków Airport, Fukuoka City & Airport, Fort Lauderdale Airport, Chongqing City & Airport, 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 Xbox Series X|S.