TFDi Design has published its End of 2025 Development Status update, outlining the current state of its major projects and setting expectations for the coming months. The announcement focuses primarily on the long-awaited MD-11 update, progress on smartCARS, and a brief outlook on future development.
MD-11: Major Overhaul Nearing Completion
According to TFDi Design, the MD-11 has undergone extensive development over the past year. The update includes a completely rebuilt exterior model, significantly reworked cabins, improved cockpit geometry and features, enhanced sounds, and a large number of system fixes and additions. Testers have reportedly described the aircraft as feeling like a new product, with many user-requested quality-of-life improvements implemented to meet current high-end add-on standards.
A native version for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS2024), along with the major art update, has already been distributed to Collector’s Edition customers. These users are participating in testing unfinished builds to help identify issues ahead of public release. While feedback has been largely positive, wider testing has revealed some remaining problems.
TFDi Design confirmed that, although a release had initially been planned for mid-December, the MD-11 update has been postponed until after the (winter) holiday period. They want additional time for testing across different hardware setups and use cases, ensuring a smoother launch.
smartCARS: Focus on Stability and Reliability
In parallel with aircraft development, the smartCARS team has been working on a new update to the flight tracking and virtual airline client. TFDi Design reports several months of collaboration with partners and testers, with an update expected before the end of the year.
Planned improvements include better connectivity and tracking reliability for X-Plane, enhanced landing rate detection, and more robust logging. While additional features are planned for the future, the current priority has shifted toward overall stability, reliability, and user experience.
Looking Ahead
With active MD-11 development approaching completion and smartCARS moving into a more polished state, TFDi Design notes that resources will gradually free up for new projects. While no specific details were shared, the company confirmed that several plans are already under discussion, with more information expected in 2026.
The update also highlighted recent changes within the team, including new additions to support staff and a returning developer. TFDi Design concluded by thanking its customers and community for their patience and support, and by expressing optimism for the year ahead.
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