After more than six years of development, Shared Flight has officially launched version 1.0.0 of their same-named plugin, promising to transform the flight simulation experience. Shared Flight primarily focuses on simulating shared cockpit and flight environment. The much-anticipated release is now available for download at sharedflight.com.
Table of Contents
Key Features of Shared Flight
Shared Flight introduces several features designed to enhance the flight simulation experience. One of the standout features is the Easy Flight Management system, which provides users with a streamlined interface for managing their flights. This feature aims to simplify the often complex processes associated with flight management, making it accessible to both novice and experienced users.
The Server-Based Connections feature ensures stable and reliable connections by leveraging server-based infrastructure. This stability is crucial for maintaining the integrity of shared flights, especially when multiple users are connected simultaneously. Another significant feature is the Automated Aircraft Configurations, which automatically sets up aircraft configurations, reducing the time and effort required by users to get their planes ready for flight. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who may not be as familiar with the technical aspects of aircraft setup.
Finally, Shared Flight supports Large Connections, allowing multiple users to connect and share flights seamlessly. This capability is essential for those looking to create a more social and collaborative flight simulation experience.
Pricing Tiers
Shared Flight offers three pricing tiers to cater to different user needs and preferences. The Starter Tier is free and allows users to join existing flights as either crew or passengers. This tier also provides access to the website, where users can review past flights, making it an excellent option for those new to the platform or who only require basic features.
The Basic Tier, priced at $7.99 per month, offers more comprehensive features. Users at this level can create flights and upload resources to the website, enhancing their overall flight simulation experience. Additionally, one user can join a flight as crew without needing a paid tier, while more users can join as passengers. This tier also includes access to the website for reviewing past flights, providing a balanced mix of features for regular users.
The Premium Tier, at $14.99 per month, offers the most extensive set of features. In addition to the capabilities provided in the Basic Tier, the Premium Tier allows unlimited users to join flights as either passengers or crew without needing a paid tier. This tier also grants early access to new aircraft configurations, providing users with the latest updates and enhancements ahead of others.
The Premium Tier is ideal for dedicated flight simulation enthusiasts who want the best and most up-to-date features available.
Supported Aircraft
Shared Flight supports a wide variety of aircraft, offering users a diverse and comprehensive flying experience. Among the supported models are the Laminar C172 and C172 G1000, popular choices for their reliable performance and widespread use in flight training. The Rotate MD11 and iniBuilds A300 and A310 are also included, catering to those who prefer large, complex airliners.
Shared Flight also supports the Toliss A319, A321, A320Neo, and A340-600, providing a range of options across different aircraft sizes and capabilities.
Boeing fans are not left out, with the inclusion of the Zibo 737-800, a highly detailed and realistic simulation of the popular airliner. Additionally, the Felis 747-200 and FlightFactor B757 and B767 round out the list, offering a wide-body and narrow-body aircraft options.
The development team has indicated that various configurations, including RXP GTN/GNS and other visual modifications, are supported. This ensures that users can customize their experience to match their preferences and needs. However, some aircraft may require manual configuration before use, and the team is available to assist with any setup issues.
Extensive Development and Testing
The development journey of Shared Flight has been extensive, involving 495 beta testers and 76 alpha testers who played a crucial role in refining the plugin. Their efforts have helped to address numerous bugs and improve overall functionality. The developers have expressed their gratitude to these testers and plan to include a credits page in the plugin to acknowledge all contributions.
Communication and Community Engagement
Throughout the development process, the Shared Flight team faced challenges in maintaining consistent communication with their community. The team acknowledges that their social media and Discord presence could have been more active. They have apologized to those who were left waiting for updates and committed to improving communication.
FSExpo Participation
At the recent FSExpo, attendees had the opportunity to experience Shared Flight firsthand. The event provided a platform for the development team to showcase their vision for a seamless shared flying experience and gather initial user impressions.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Shared Flight aims to expand its supported aircraft list and enhance the user experience based on community feedback. Configurations for additional aircraft, tested during the beta phase, are planned for future updates. Developers are encouraged to collaborate to optimize their aircraft for Shared Flight.
Availability
Shared Flight version 1.0.0 is now available for download at sharedflight.com. The development team invites flight simulation enthusiasts to explore the new features and provide feedback.
To learn more about what was changed in the previous Shared flight update, make sure to read our other article here. For other flight sim-related news, announcements, releases, and more, check out our other articles on FSNews.
