The next big aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is currently taking shape in the hands of iniBuilds. One of the largest aircraft in commercial operations, the A380, is being crafted by this developer. This new add-on by iniBuilds is their fourth native aircraft release for MSFS 2024, following the A300, A340-300, and L1011, and is now ready to be showcased to the public. The developer, alongside the official MSFS YouTube account, prepared a special showcase of this add-on currently in development.
This special showcase was presented by two iniBuilds team members, Mike and Cameron, alongside one of the community managers for MSFS, Matt “Chewwy”. In the almost two hours the stream lasted, the team in charge of this presentation gave us the first detailed look at this add-on since its trailer in June this year.
The presentation is split into multiple parts, featuring both modeling and systems from the aircraft. They start with a detailed walkaround of the aircraft using the integrated MSFS 2024 feature. Next, they showcase the cabin and some of its most important features. The rest of the presentation is dedicated to a short flight to showcase the aircraft in action.
Exterior Modeling
From the outside, the aircraft has some features to be expected from a release by this developer. Accurate decals and dirt marks are among the details you can find on this aircraft. Accurate modeling, alongside some other details found exclusively on this aircraft, is also included. The aircraft can be interacted with in walkaround mode, giving us a glance at some of the equipment we could not see before, including the massive APU with its two generators shown in the presentation.
Interior Cabin
iniBuilds has introduced a feature in this aircraft that hides the massively detailed passenger cabin when the cockpit door is closed to prevent bad performance. When the cockpit door is open, you can explore the cabin and all its features. One of the most interesting features in this add-on is the full simulation of the aircraft’s water system. You can now manage the water level inside the aircraft, which is linked to the toilets and other systems. You can run out of water if you don’t manage it correctly, making the bathrooms unavailable, as shown in the presentation.
The cabin also features an interface made to control the lighting and water systems. The iconic two floors of this aircraft are modeled with different class configurations. The toilets are also modeled, with functioning flushing sounds linked to the water usage and even a fully modeled and operational shower inside the aircraft.
Cockpit
The A380 cockpit shares multiple elements with the A350, an aircraft which was already made by iniBuilds for the simulator. However, some A350 elements behave differently from the A380, like the brake to vacate (BTV). In terms of cockpit modeling, they recreated it faithfully, even adding the correct resolutions to the cockpit screens. The electronic flight bag (EFB) has been crafted for this aircraft, fitting it with some elements that users can expect and have seen in previous products by the developer, like load management, GSX integration, and failure simulation.
During the entire livestream, the iniBuilds team responded to viewer questions about the add-on and shared valuable insights and facts about the aircraft. This was particularly highlighted during the segment where the A380 took flight, allowing us to see the aircraft in action and observe how it operates.
The presentation ended with the aircraft parked at Heathrow, featuring the double jetway technology, which is being implemented in more iniBuilds products. The state of the aircraft shown in this presentation is still a work in progress, with the team continuing to improve it for a future launch. No information on a release date was shared at this time; however, the iniBuilds team stated that more news and a proper introduction video with more information will arrive soon.
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