Asobo Studio team responsible for new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has shared a new development update. In this one, the developer talks about new alpha build, improvements in camera, flight model and more.
As I mentioned upper in the article, with this update, the developer released Tech alpha 4, together with a new round of invitations. In this alpha build, the developer was focusing on the flight model improvements that are universal, there’ve been improved aircraft like TB930 with the issues with speed and altitude line, yoke vibration issues and more.
However, this Development update by Asobo team is not only about updating the Alpha build of the simulator. The developer also shared the first partnership series video, where the developer describes the first partnership with Meteoblue. More about it can be found in the video below.
Also, a new round of alpha invitations has been sent today, so go check your mailbox if you don’t have one there.
Changelog of Tech Alpha 4
Airport Issues Reported and Fixed:
- AGY – planes started off centre on runway 33 – now fixed
- YALF – testers were not able to find YALF in the sim – YALF no longer exists and has been replaced by YMUN
- YALM – was listed incorrectly and is now attributed to Allambie
- YALM – planes started off to the side of the runway – now fixed
- YALP – was listed incorrectly and is not attributed to Alpurrurlam
- YALR – coordinates now correctly correspond to Pine Hill Airport
- YALT – buildings were reported in the runway – now fixed
- YALZ – was listed incorrectly and is now attributes to Balma Airport
Plane Specific Changes/Improvements
ALL
- Overall focus in all areas to improve autopilot user experience and its effect on all the planes
- All airliners had transitions that were not loading in the MCDU when creating a flight plan from world map
A320neo
- Tuning of the trim – should be more realistic to the real-world experience and more balanced
- Auto Thrust/Auto Pitch issue fixed that was affecting the user’s ability to maintain speed in strong head winds – this usually resulted in a stall
- A320 engines will now start when following the checklist “starting engines” procedure
B747-8i
- It was previously possible to have APU GEN and EXT POWER connected. Now they are exclusive.
- Engine #1 and Engine #2 were reversed – they are now set correctly
- User was unable to continue beyond page 2 of the route pages on the CDU
- Changing the selected altitude while in Vertical Speed mode was not updating the target altitude
Bonanza G36
- Activating the landing gear and/or flaps on approach no longer turns OFF the battery
C152
- Corrections to the altimeter
TBM 930
- Aircraft would rock when following a flight plane with the Auto Pilot ON
- FLC button now activates the FLC mode instead of the ALT mode
- The flight plan now better matches what the user sets on the world map screen
- The TBM930 engine no longer shuts down after a teleport
Airport Specific Changes
AIRPORTS
An additional improvement and completion passes have been made on the global airports to include missing content based on Bing Aerial imagery:
- Taxiway logic and visual markers added
- Surface types on airport runways, taxiways, and aprons updated
- Parking areas for aircraft updated
- Additional and improved ground markings on taxiways and aprons
- Other general visual improvements
We have also run an additional pass on the ground texture colors of more than 12,000 airports to improve the integration with Bing data.
Bug Fixes and QoL Improvements
Stability
- Overall stability and framerate improvements
Airports
- Llanbedr EGOD tower size corrected
- Continue fixing issues with jetway placement – this is ongoing
Audio
- Voices now switch correctly in tutorials when changing in mid-flight
Cameras
- Overall camera improvements to improve FPS when moving around the inside of planes
Controls
- Objective would fail to show inputs when cleared, now fixed
Performance
- FPS improvements when loading sequences complete and during cutscenes
UI/UX
- UI stability improved overall – menu logic corrected, profile losses
- General attention to accessibility and user information – our ongoing objective here is to better inform your options when navigating the UI so your choices are more intuitive
- TTS voice mismatch corrected during Take Off Flight Training
- Autopilot had become inoperable when switching between Vertical Speed and Altitude in All Aircraft – this issue is now fixed
Weather
- The effect that live weather wind would have on the planes was too strong and now better matches real world behavior
- Unrealistic wind gusts were sometimes created when customizing settings – should be less frequent
World
- World tiles – black stripes on world tile edges fixed
Known issues
AIRCRAFT
- Users may experience issues with adjusting flight plans through the use of glass cockpits
AIRLINERS
- The weather radar doesn’t currently draw in the Map Center
A320neo
- Flight Director not working correctly when used without autopilot enabled
- Airspeed at high altitude changes to KIAS target but should change to Mach target
- Transitions to Mach speeds are not yet correct
B747-8i
- When taking off from large airports, and using autopilot, may cause the plane to crash
DR400
- Wheels disappear when on the ground
Grand Caravan
- When completing the checklist, the engine does not start
TBM 930
- When completing the checklist, the engine does not start
Airports
- AYPY is currently missing building, tower, parking indicators
- EDDF has jetways disconnect from the terminals
- BIKF has some building issues reported by the community – we are working to fix these for the next update
- KPAE has some building issues reported by the community – we are working to fix these for the next update
- Continue fixing issues with jetway placement – this is ongoing
UI
- Undocked panels not appearing correctly.
The source of this article can be found on Microsoft Flight simulator website.
