Vector Sim took to their blog page earlier this week to announce that their rendition of the Boeing 787-9 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has now officially entered the alpha stage of testing. The high-fidelity 787 for MSFS2024, first announced in March 2026, marks a huge milestone in its development and remains on track for a 2026 release.
What does it mean?
The blog post, presenting a broader high-level overview, starts by emphasizing that their blog post is only meant to be surface level summary and not an in-depth showcase of what will be included. But what alpha means essentially, according to the dev, is that the aircraft is fully capable of completing a full flight from point A to point B. This also includes every phase of flight from cold & dark cockpit to engine shutdown at the arrival gate.
This means that the core systems required for a complete A-to-B flight are now fully functional and integrated. These systems include, but are not limited to, electrical systems, hydraulic systems, fuel systems, engines, autopilot, FMC, LNAV & VNAV, flight displays, and aircraft avionics. The devs are also carrying out a broader integration of the aircraft’s art, animations, and sound environment.
Who is testing?
The devs stated that alpha testing on the 787 is currently being performed by an internal team of QA testers who are experienced across many relevant aspects. This team includes real-world 787 pilots, 787 mechanics, aviation engineers, software developers, and other specialists. This allows the aircraft to be evaluated as not only a simulation product but also from the perspectives of operational, technical, and engineering experts.
Triple Threat
Development will now progress strictly across three primary tracks: alpha testing, tuning, and refinements; additional systems and features; and art, sound, and other content. The first track will focus on identifying and resolving issues that arise during the alpha testing phase. This will include continuous tuning and refinement of various systems such as LNAV/VNAV, engine performance, autopilot systems, flight guidance logic, and more.
The second track aims to continue adding systems according to the devs’ development plan and includes working on features such as the Airport Moving Map with its distinct 787 symbology. Also on the roadmap is a weather radar, among other features. These may not be essential to complete a flight, but are essential to achieving the depth, realism, and immersion expected at Vector Sim.
Track number three covers the continual implementation and refinement of visual and audio content. This includes additional sound recordings, cockpit and cabin improvements, the completion of custom-made fonts throughout the aircraft, and detailed refinement of areas such as the nose landing gear bay.
Other tidbits
The dev update blog also emphasises the level of importance that Vector Sim places on optimization and performance, the latter being their core pillar. Their goal is to create the best possible balance between visual quality, system depth, and smooth performance. Optimization is not something the dev team has left to the end of development, but rather has been interwoven into every area of production.
Furthermore, the blog post also states that the complete base model of the aircraft has now been fully built. The art team is now focused on fine-tuning, quality assurance, and optimization throughout the aircraft. At the same time, new visual reference material continues to come in, which allows the team to continue refining and improving the aircraft even after primary modeling has been completed.
The team also tells us that a dedicated Vector Knowledge Center is being developed to help users learn, understand, and operate the Vector Sim 787-9. It is slated to be a significant project in its own right, and more information will follow soon in a future Spotlight. Moreover, a release date and a price point for the upcoming product have not been revealed, but more information on these aspects is expected to follow closer to release. The entire dev update blog post can be found on Vector Sim’s website.
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