Just Flight has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the upcoming release of Black Square Starship. This is a modern rendition of the Beechcraft Starship, which aims to bring a unique flying experience to virtual pilots, featuring advanced avionics and a striking futuristic design. Although it is still in development, this announcement has already generated some significant interest within the MSFS community.
Black Square Starship’s Unique Aircraft Design
The Black Square Starship is modeled after the real-world Beechcraft Starship concept. An aircraft first introduced in the 1980s, known for unconventional design. The Starship features a unique canard layout and rear-mounted twin turboprop engines. Its distinctive appearance and cutting-edge technology at the time of its release made the Beechcraft Starship a head-turner in the world of general aviation. Black Square is aiming to recreate this with a great level of detail in MSFS.
One of the primary goals of this project is to offer an accurate and immersive simulation of the Starship’s advanced systems and flight dynamics. Flight simmers will have the chance to explore how this one-of-a-kind aircraft handles in the skies. This will also include the challenges that come with its design. For example, the canard and pusher engine configuration will provide a different flight characteristic compared to traditional propeller aircraft. This promises to provide a new experience for those familiar with MSFS’s current addon library.
Details in the Modeling
While the specific details on the depth of systems modeling are still to be announced. Black Square has promised that their Starship will feature a highly detailed and interactive cockpit. The developer is known for its focus on delivering high-level systems from their previous products. As such, simmers can expect this aircraft to follow suit. We can expect features including; high-resolution textures, fully functional avionics, and advanced autopilot systems.
In terms of exterior and interior modeling, Black Square has been focusing on delivering high-quality, realistic textures to capture the unique aesthetic of the Starship. From the clean lines of its sleek fuselage to the finely tuned engine nacelles. We can see that every aspect of the aircraft has been rendered with great precision.
Systems and Avionics
The Starship’s real-world counterpart was designed to incorporate advanced avionics for its time. We can observe that Black Square plans to reflect this in their simulation rendition. Flight Simulator enthusiasts can choose whether to fly with modern GPS with AMS-850. This will include autopilot coupling to a GNS430 for modern approach, departure and arrival capabilities. On the other hand, simmers can navigate with only the navigational functionality of the original Starship, including VLF and Omega radio navigation.
Although this has not been announced, we can assume that the engine performance will likely be tailored to simulate real-world airplane. Thus, providing simmers with an authentic experience when managing the twin turboprop engines at different altitudes and flight conditions.
When Will it be Released?
As with many Just Flight announcements, the actual release date of the Black Square Starship has yet to be confirmed. This preview has served to drum up excitement within the flight simulation community, especially among those who appreciate rare and less-known aircraft. The Starship, though unconventional, has a dedicated following, and its introduction to MSFS promises to fill a niche for simmers seeking a unique challenge in their virtual hangar.
Given Black Square’s reputation for delivering study-level aircraft, expectations are high that the Starship will be a standout addition to MSFS. This however is speculative until more detailed information is made available. As a result, much of what the final product will offer remains speculative. We are eagerly awaiting further updates from Just Flight as the development progresses.
While no release date has been provided, the announcement has sparked widespread interest. For now, we can look forward to adding this futuristic aircraft to their collection once it becomes available. If you are interested in the previous Just Flight announcement, check out this article here.
