iniBuilds has published a year-end development update in which the team looks back on its 2025 releases while formally introducing its next major airliner project for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.
In the update, iniBuilds reflects on a year largely shaped by widebody development, particularly the A350 and A340, while outlining the technical direction and ambitions behind the TriStar, which is being developed exclusively for the MSFS 2024 platform.
A350 Airliner: A Year of Post-Release Refinement
The A350 Airliner, released in February, went through an extensive post-launch update cycle. iniBuilds reports a total of 22 updates, ranging from targeted hotfixes to broader system and performance revisions.
A major step came in June with the release of the ULR variant, which focused on performance optimisation and WASM restructuring. Subsequent updates throughout the year continued to improve stability, memory usage, and frame-time consistency, with version 1.1.7 delivering notable gains in low frame times and overall smoothness.
A300-600R: MSFS 2024 Compatibility
Throughout 2025, iniBuilds continued updating the A300-600R to ensure compatibility with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The updates focused on stability and quality-of-life improvements, including fixes to lighting-related stutters, TCAS and autopilot logic, restoration of the standby compass, LIDO chart integration, and several visual refinements.
A340 Airliner: Release and Ongoing Updates
The A340 Airliner launched on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace in October. Since its release, iniBuilds has delivered five substantial updates. Early updates prioritised stability, VNAV behaviour, FMGS logic, and sound refinement. Later revisions expanded system depth with features such as a reworked EIS1 display and a fully featured ATSU/AOC suite.
iniBuilds also confirmed a free A340 VIP variant scheduled for release in January. It shared a series of pictures showing the work in progress, modelling of this very luxurious cabin.
L-1011 TriStar: First Official Details
The centrepiece of the update is the formal announcement of the L-1011 TriStar, developed exclusively for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The initial release will be based on the L-1011-500 variant and is being built from the ground up for the MSFS 2024 platform.
iniBuilds is positioning the TriStar as a period-accurate simulation with multiple navigation philosophies available to the user. These range from classic analogue radio navigation to a fully modelled triple Litton INS system, as well as hybrid configurations combining INS with the aircraft’s Performance Management System.
The triple INS suite is simulated in depth, with iniBuilds emphasising correct power dependencies, realistic warm-up behaviour, traditional alignment sequences, waypoint limitations, cross-sync logic, offset navigation, and gyro-only ATT REF modes. Alignment times and navigation workflows are intended to mirror real-world procedures rather than modernised shortcuts.
A fully recreated Performance Management System forms a core pillar of the aircraft. The PMS computes climb, cruise, and descent profiles based on aircraft weight, altitude, and engine data, integrating directly with the autothrottle and AFCS vertical modes to reflect the TriStar’s original automation philosophy.
The aircraft will include a full flight engineer station with both manual and automatic modes, CAT IIIB autoland capability, and flight dynamics driven by MSFS 2024 aerodynamics and real-world performance documentation.
Sound development for the TriStar is being handled by Echo19, who recorded audio directly from an operational L-1011 in the United States. The sound suite aims to capture engine behaviour, ambient systems, and aircraft-specific acoustic character. iniBuilds also highlighted a dedicated video presented by Echo19’s Tyler, offering an early look at the sound recording process and the work behind recreating TriStar’s distinctive audio environment.
Visually, iniBuilds states that the TriStar is receiving its most extensive ageing and weathering treatment to date. Persistent dirt layers, oil streaks, oxidation, and service wear evolve to reflect long-term operation. An optional lower-deck lounge configuration will also be available as a fictional retrofit, complete with external boarding stairs, a fully modelled lower-deck interior, and the distinctive forward belly lobe found on lounge-equipped TriStars.
Drawing on lessons learned from the A350 and A340 programmes, the TriStar is being built with performance efficiency as a core priority. Shared texture atlases, disciplined LOD management, and memory-efficient modelling are intended to ensure stable performance on both PC and console platforms while maintaining high visual fidelity.
Looking Ahead
iniBuilds describes 2025 as a milestone year, marking a shift toward deeper system simulation, longer post-release support cycles, and MSFS 2024-exclusive development.
Further TriStar development updates are planned, with future previews expected to cover RB211 engine simulation, Direct Lift Control, and additional core aircraft systems.
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