SimWorks Studios took to their Discord server earlier this week to share some developments behind the scenes on their current and upcoming aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator. With MSFS2024 just around the corner, the team also stated in their update what we can expect regarding the release of the new sim and the compatibility of their products.
Seeking new testers
SimWorks Studios as part of their updates also announced that they would be seeking to increase their tester pool for their products. This comes after their recent update release for the PC-12 was seemingly riddled with bugs and issues. The issues with the Pilatus PC-12 were subsequently squashed but it seems to have encouraged SWS to avoid such problems with added personnel in the testing department.
SWS in their post said they were “looking for testers who were able to put in quality hours every month” to ensure that updates and releases are as bug-free as possible. Candidates could apply through Gabriel on Discord which is a requirement for communications. After acceptance, an NDA will be asked to be signed and you can select up to two aircraft for testing access. Testers are only limited to two products as allocating quality time across several products is not possible. As of September 25th, 2024, applications have been closed and those who have been selected should receive word from them soon.
MSFS2024
SWS in another update outlined their plans for the shiny new sim that is releasing soon. After hands-on with the new videos and previews that were released, the team expects there will be a learning curve in terms of working with the new SDK. That said, their number one priority is the clear any “technical debt” and make sure their existing products are transferred to the new sim seamlessly.
There is only one new product release planned for MSFS2020 before the release of MSFS2024 and that will be the GA8 Airvan. This product, they mentioned, is very close to completion and comes with some of the cool new features that come with MSFS2024 (evident through the previews). It may be an excellent porting candidate but it might change with the SDK release.
Furthermore, they shared a road map for what is to come. The first and “easiest” is fixing the misnamed Garmin buttons on the RV-10 and RV-14. Second, on the list is wrapping up the development of the Airvan around October and preparing it for release to the public. Third, is finishing any pending items with the PC-12 like improving yaw stability without the damper, adding the EFB tablet, and finishing the “PLAN” and WX modes on the avionics.
Then, they aim to complete and release an update for the Kodiak 100 including a new EIS500 that will be future-proofed for MSFS2024. The Kodiak 900 will not see a release any time soon as the team wants to get hands-on with the new SDK before they commit a release for either sim.
GA8 Airvan
SWS’ GA8 Airvan is an amalgamation of ideas and techniques coming from aircraft like the GotFriends Double-Ender, WBSim C172, SWS PC-12, and a couple of extra twists. The aircraft will pick up dirt as you fly the aircraft more and more and will be visible as a gradually increasing dirt layer. This won’t just apply when taxiing but also when flying close to the ground. Suspended particles in the air will stick to the airframe and will do so even when parked. Windier conditions will pick up more dirt and accelerate the process, while wet terrain will be the opposite.
Flying through rain will gradually clean up the aircraft a little bit unless ditched into a water body. Landing on wet soil will also create splats from the gear upon touchdown. The propeller will also show signs of wear and tear; flying through denser air at higher RPMs will create more scratches while landing on gravel or sand will accelerate the process.
Landing nose-first or climbing a steep step could result in a prop strike which will cause an engine failure. Landing too hard or holding on to the brakes while landing could result in blown-up tires. The cargo version will have items in the back and different types will be loaded depending on the weight, ranging from SWS crates to power generators. A passenger version may not be released depending on anticipation from the community and MSFS2024.
Their most recent update stated that the GA8 Airvan is ready for sound work but is behind in that regard due to non-flight sim-related issues. The team is using the time to clean up the code and further improve the product. Visual wear-and-tear has been implemented and failures are being experimented with currently.
Closing Notes
Overall a very exciting update from the team over at SimWorks Studios regarding the latest on their products, both current and future. Any new updates from SimWorks Studios will be promptly covered and brought to you by FSNews. For more flight sim-related news, announcements, updates, and releases, do check out our other articles.
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