SimWorks Studios took to its Discord server earlier this week to announce the release date of August 1st for its Van’s RV-8/8A add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The same announcement post also included some information about SimWorks Studios’ other projects, like the PC-12 and B-52.
Van’s RV-8
The Van’s RV-8 is a small, single-engine, two passenger home-built aircraft with tandem seating. The kit for the RV-8 is manufactured by the world’s largest kit plane manufacturer, Van’s Aircraft. Since it’s a home-built aircraft, equipment such as avionics and engines are up to the builder. With the 200 hp Lycoming O-360, the mighty little plane can take off in as short as 250 feet and climb out at 2600 fpm. It’s even capable of aerobatics, as it meets the +6/-3G FAA Aerobatic Category requirements, making it almost like a baby war bird.
SimWorks Studios’ rendition of the RV-8 was created in collaboration with real RV-8 owners to ensure it’s as accurate as possible, featuring a flight model created from recorded flight data of the real plane. The engine in this version of the aircraft is the 180hp Lycoming IO-360, meaning performance will be a bit tamer compared to the 200hp version discussed previously, but still impressive nonetheless.
Since the RV-8 is a kit-built aircraft, builders have a ton of options, and this will be reflected in this rendition of the aircraft. Users will have the option of choosing between 2-bladed and 3-bladed propellers, each with distinct sounds and responses, and a taildragger (RV-8) or tricycle (RV-8A) geared variant. Both analog and digital gauge enjoyers will be happy to know that the aircraft can be equipped with either a classic six-pack, or the modern Garmin G3X paired to either the Garmin GNS or GTN navigation units.
The aircraft’s product page is already up, and this is where livery creators can find the paint kit already up and ready for use. As mentioned previously, the release date for the RV-8/8A is August 1st, with a price of โฌ14.99 EUR in the SWS store, and $19.99 USD in the MSFS Marketplace for both PC and Xbox.
Pilatus PC-12 Update
SimWorks Studios has been preparing an update for its Pilatus PC-12 since before FSExpo 2024 that includes a number of fixes and improvements to the popular aircraft. In the week leading up to the announcement post, the team had fixed a large number of issues, including improved approach power settings, better speed/torque relationship, faster turbine and propeller response, improved stopping distance, improved ground steering, improved pitch trim authority, reworked autopilot controller, among many others.
SimWorks Studios is finally coming close to releasing this big update, as it is hoping to release it alongside the RV-8 or slightly after it.
B-52, Kodiak 900, Airvan
The development update also included some brief information about some of SimWorks Studios other projects, those being the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, the Daher Kodiak 900, and the GippsAero GA-8 Airvan.
- B-52 Stratofortress: The B-52 is “in good hands and progressing.” SWS says it will share more news further in development, but remarked that due to its complexity, the B-52 will not be released this year.
- Kodiak 900: The artist working on the Kodiak was unfortunately affected by a tornado that struck Texas around the beginning of July, so the team has been unable to work on it much. While the artist’s internet has been restored, their connection is slow and unreliable, so SWS is looking into having them send the files over snail mail instead,
- GA-8 Airvan: Development of the Airvan was stopped momentarily so that the team could finish working on the RV-8, but they expect to pick it back up very soon and to finish working on it in August.
Closing Notes
That is all for the latest SimWorks Studios development update. The developer certainly has a lot of exciting upcoming projects that we will be sure to let you know about in future articles. If you would like to take a look at the original development update, you can do so in SimWorks Studios’ Discord server here. If you’d like to know more about another exciting SWS project, check out our article about the upcoming 727 here.
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