While many can already enjoy their freeware Boeing 787 add-on for MSFS, Horizon Simulations is currently working on an improved “787 v2” version that should take realism a step further. And it’s shaping up to be a significant upgrade.
Throughout the last month, the developers have been actively sharing previews and information on their social media profiles and Discord server, and we’re here to summarise what we learned.
The most notable change is independence: the developers have worked hard to ensure that you will no longer need MSFS 2024’s default Asobo 787-10 in order for the Horizon Simulations rendition to work. The MSFS 2020 787 model will still be required for the 787 v2 to work. This is because the aircraft still maintains the default model’s landing gear, and redoing that would also mean rerigging and reanimating the entire wings and main landing gear. This is not worth the time at this point, according to one of the team members.
On the visual side, the 787 v2 will come with an overhauled exterior across all three variants: the 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10. For pilots who enjoy window views, a brand-new custom-built cabin will also be included.
The functional improvements are just as compelling. For those afraid of sleeping past the top of descent, the 787 v2 will feature a function that pauses your simulator before the TOD point, preventing unwanted incidents on long-haul flights. Working wipers round out the new systems additions.
As for timing, the team is still aiming to release the addon in June 2026 (by the end of Q2 2026), despite a small setback in mid-May when progress slowed due to a team member focusing on the fly-by-wire systems taking a vacation. Content creators will receive copies in advance to showcase the aircraft and catch any bugs that slipped past the quality assurance process, the developer confirmed.
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