All Devlogs

On February 26, we announced the VECTOR 787-9. Nearly eight months later, we are now on final approach, deep into internal Beta and entering the final stages of development, with less than three months to touchdown.

Our focus has always been systems depth at what we call schematic level: not simply reproducing what a system does, but how it actually works, communicates and behaves. Just like the real aircraft, down to page and synoptic loading times, the way information is drawn onto the displays, response times, fonts, symbology and display behaviour.

But that philosophy does not stop at the systems. Ultimately, everything comes together in how the aircraft actually flies, moves and feels. The sense of mass, inertia, control response, taxi behaviour, energy management, approach, flare and touchdown are just as important to us as anything happening behind the screens.

A 787 has to feel like a 787, not simply perform like one on paper.

This update is about showing you where the aircraft really is today. We’ll go deeper into the systems, flight dynamics, art, sound, performance, testing and final refinement work now underway, with a focus on the details that define the VECTOR 787 as we move through the final stage of development.

You’ll also find a lot of new screenshots throughout the update, so we strongly recommend opening them full screen and, if your display supports it, viewing them in HDR.

And one important note about the images: no ReShade, custom shaders or DLSS 5 were used for any of the screenshots. What you’re seeing is the aircraft captured in a completely standard simulator environment.

As we get closer to release, the frequency of our official updates will increase significantly, and we’ll make sure to keep you much closer to the development.

As you already know we are going to release the entire 787 series while the 787-9 comes first, followed by the 787-10 and 787-8

If this is your first VECTOR update, join us on Discord and follow the development with us: https://discord.gg/znEdjAQ8HM

Also come and talk about the development update on our forums at: https://forum.vector-sim.com/topic/40-vector-boeing-787-9-development-update-3-8102026/

Without wasting any time, let’s dive into the details…

Development Status

This update touches almost every aspect of the aircraft: systems, flight dynamics, performance, art and modelling, animations, sound, lighting, Look Development, testing and optimization. It is not a short update, but then again, this project has always been about depth.

We are not going to walk through every individual system simply because the list is far too long. Everything in the VECTOR 787 has been built from the ground up, based on our own research, architecture, logic, modelling and implementation.

We expect to reach Content Complete next week, meaning all planned aircraft content and functionality will be in place. At that point, the focus shifts almost entirely to polish, fine-tuning, optimization, validation, testing, flying, testing again and flying again.

In parallel, work continues on the broader product experience, including documentation, tutorials, onboarding material and other supporting content designed to make the VECTOR 787 as complete and accessible as possible from day one.

Systems

The Alpha phase is complete, and we are now deep into internal Beta testing. At this stage, the core aircraft systems are operational and being refined as one interconnected machine. Among many others, this includes the electrical system, hydraulics, fuel system, Airport Moving Map (AMM), Weather Radar, Terrain Radar, TCAS, checklists, maintenance environment and synoptics, all of which are now in place and undergoing final validation.

Increasingly, the focus is on system interaction and edge-case behaviour: how electrical availability affects downstream systems and load shedding, how hydraulic states influence aircraft configuration, how fuel logic responds through different phases of flight, and how all of that information is presented back to the crew through the displays, synoptics, EICAS alerts and maintenance pages.

At this point, our schematic-level approach becomes especially important. We are not only checking that each system works independently, but that the aircraft behaves correctly when those systems interact with, depend on, influence and respond to one another.

Beyond the underlying logic, equal attention is being given to how the aircraft communicates that logic to the crew: response times, page transitions, synoptic drawing times, fonts, symbology, display behaviour and even the small delays present in the real aircraft.

One good example is the Airport Moving Map, which uses Boeing-style symbology and is designed to operate across airports worldwide, whether you are parked at a highly detailed third-party airport or a generic airport from the simulator.

Another is the Weather Radar, which is fully integrated into the aircraft and works as expected whether you are using the simulator’s default weather system or a third-party weather add-on. Terrain and TCAS are similarly deeply integrated into the wider aircraft environment rather than treated as isolated display features.

Boeing Built-In EFB

The Boeing built-in EFB deserves a little more attention because it is not simply another display. It is a complete aircraft system in its own right.

By modern standards, it is a relatively old piece of technology, but that is also part of what makes it so authentic and, frankly, pretty cool to use. Instead of modernising or simplifying it, we chose to reproduce the unit as it actually exists in the aircraft.

Our implementation was built from the ground up, using the original technical documentation for the real EFB as the foundation for its structure, workflows, logic and behaviour, supported by extensive day-to-day validation on the real unit together with our team members and exceptional technical advisors.

In total, the system currently includes 53 pages, covering a wide range of functions such as takeoff and performance calculations, aircraft configuration, warnings and recommendations, charts, navigation tools and other flight-planning aids.

Some of its characteristics may feel unusual compared with modern tablets, and that is entirely intentional. The enroute map, for example, runs at a relatively low visual resolution, exactly as it does in the real aircraft. Certain pages take time to load, some transitions are not instantaneous, and different functions respond at their own pace.

Those limitations are part of the real system, so they are part of ours too.

We are not trying to improve Boeing’s EFB. We are reproducing the one that is actually there.

As with many of the aircraft’s other systems and features, the EFB will also receive its own dedicated video tutorial and documentation, giving users a much deeper look at how it works and how to use it properly.

Continue reading the full post on the Vector Website: https://vector-sim.com/dev-update-3/

PROJECT UPDATE

After obtaining the official airport master plan, we made the decision to completely rebuild the project from the ground up to ensure the highest level of accuracy and quality.

Since then, we have been working extensively to restore and improve our previous progress, covering every aspect of the project from detailed modeling and texturing, optimizing LODs, with a strong focus on achieving the best possible balance between visual quality and simulator performance.

After a long and challenging development phase, we are now approaching the final stages of this phase. Only a few remaining adjustments and technical workarounds are left before we move forward to the next stage of development.

Thank you for your continued patience and support. More updates will be coming soon. ✈️🔥

Hello everyone,

Today we are officially announcing the release date for the BlueBird Simulations 757. The aircraft will launch on October 23, 2026.

We want to be straightforward with you: moving past our original Q3 target is obviously not what we had hoped for. We know how eagerly everyone has been anticipating this aircraft, and no one wants to see this bird in your hangars more than our team does.

To provide full transparency, here is where things stand and why we’ve locked in this date.

The Aircraft vs. The Backend

The 757 itself is mostly ready for release. The systems, flight dynamics, soundsets, and avionics suites are receiving final touches. However, building an aircraft of this scale is only half the battle.

Because this is our very first product release, standing up our initial infrastructure has taken longer than anticipated. Setting up reliable activation services, delivery networks, web portals, and server capacity to support thousands of simultaneous downloads on day one is a massive undertaking. We want to ensure that when launch day arrives, the download, installation, and licensing process is seamless and stable for everyone.

FS2024 Compatibility & SU7 Beta

With the recent arrival of Sim Update 7 Beta for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, a few quirks have appeared. We will be actively ironing these out leading into release to ensure solid compatibility across the platform until our fully native FS2024 version is ready and rolled out.

Addressing these platform behaviors now ensures a dependable baseline experience while development on the native edition continues in parallel.

Setting Realistic Expectations on Day One

We want to be upfront about the realities of software launches. As much as we strive for a completely flawless launch day, history shows that delivering a complex, high-fidelity airliner 100% bug-free is nearly impossible.

We have poured an incredible amount of work into performance optimization and hunting down critical issues internally. However, a testing pool of dozens simply cannot replicate the sheer scale of thousands of simmers flying across every imaginable hardware configuration, flight route, and peripheral setup. Minor bugs are bound to surface once the aircraft is out in the wild.

Please rest assured: we will be on our absolute A-game right out of the gate. Our team will be standing by post-launch to rapidly track, address, and patch any issues that pop up as the community puts the 757 through its paces.

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

This entire journey has been a tremendous learning experience for our team. We recognize the challenges that come with project timelines, and we will be changing how we approach announcements and release targets for future projects going forward.

We genuinely appreciate the vast majority of the community who have stood by us, offered constructive feedback, and shared their excitement throughout this process. Your enthusiasm keeps us motivated through these final, demanding hurdles.

The finish line is in sight. Mark your calendars for October 23, 2026—we cannot wait to finally hand over the keys to the 757.

In the meantime, feel free to join our Discord server for the latest previews and operational updates as we count down to launch day.

— The BlueBird Simulations Team

The iniBuilds A380 Airliner will be landing later today on the @MSFSofficial 2024 Marketplace! Liveries showcased in the Trailer can now be downloaded via the iniManager.

Thank you for everyone who participated in the SkyHigh Q&A Session this Friday! If you missed it, there is absolutely nothing to worry about because you can watch it as many times as you wish because it is now available on all of our main social media platforms including YouTube.

All the information you would possibly want about the ins and outs of the Network can be found in there. You can also get some sneak peeks at the Network and maybe learn our planned release date!

Finally, it is never too late to become an Alpha Tester as there is still plenty of places left. As an Alpha Tester, not only will you be the first ones to get access to the Network once it releases, but you also get access to weekly updates from the team with plenty of previews to get you in the loop! Anyways, you can apply here: https://forms.gle/heGxJoZ8xgr2xgpW9.

Also, join our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/5y7y26nuUk

Thank you, and have a nice week!

The SkyHigh Team

The time is almost here… the iniBuilds A380 Airliner will be landing next week on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace! Get ready to experience the worlds largest airliner like never before in MSFS2024!

Some previews of the 3D models at KTMB

A closer look at the upcoming iniBuilds A380 Airliner, showcasing the latest cockpit, systems & cabin lighting in action. 💡The Superjumbo is taking shape!

Today, we’re delighted to officially release iniBuilds El Hierro Airport (GCHI) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024!

Located on the rugged northeastern coast of El Hierro, GCHI serves as the principal air gateway to the smallest and westernmost of the Canary Islands. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, dramatic volcanic terrain and steep coastal cliffs, the airport offers a truly distinctive island setting. Its exposed location, changing winds and scenic approaches make El Hierro a memorable destination for every virtual pilot.

Available now for £9.99 (excl. VAT): https://inibuilds.com/products/inibuilds-el-hierro-gchi-msfs-2024

Another week means another mini preview of the upcoming Accu-Sim Legacy RG550!

This week we are taking a look at the artwork behind the aircraft, with a little insight from our 3D lead for the project, Michal Puto, better known to us here at A2A as Mike P. Mike is a genuine artist both at the computer and away from it.

"All of the artwork for our Lancair Legacy has been created entirely in house. We have used a mixture of photogrammetry, 3D scanning, good old fashioned 3D modelling and digital sculpting, with Scott’s own Lancair Legacy providing the inspiration and real aircraft reference throughout the project.

The leatherwork inside the cockpit is a great example of the detail involved. Every leather part was hand sculpted in ZBrush before being baked onto the optimised low poly mesh used in the simulator. The textures were then created using Substance Painter and the Affinity Suite."

There is an enormous amount of work behind even the smallest details you see inside the cockpit, but it all helps us recreate the character of the real aircraft as faithfully as possible.

Beta testing continues behind the scenes, and we hope you enjoy this week’s little look at the art behind the Accu-Sim Legacy RG550!

Black Square has shipped the first update for the Commander 114, about three weeks after the aircraft launched for MSFS 2020 and 2024 on July 29. Rather than just quietly polishing rough edges, this patch reworks a core piece of how the engine behaves.

New fuel injection model — and a new way to start the engine. The Commander now runs a proper Lycoming continuous fuel injection simulation, replacing the old logic. The practical effect: starting procedure has changed. Lycoming engines don't start like the Continentals most payware GA pilots are used to — cranking with the mixture at full rich will likely flood this one. The correct method is to keep the mixture in idle cut-off while cranking, then advance it once the engine catches. If you do flood it, the fix is throttle full forward and roughly 15 seconds of cranking. In-sim checklists have been updated to match.

EDM 800 engine monitor got a real overhaul, not just a bugfix. The lean-of-peak function now properly steps through finding the leanest cylinder first, then the richest, resetting reference temperatures at each stage — giving more realistic fuel flow numbers for both max-power and economy leaning. A peak-hold display was added (hold the LF button to see the captured peak EGT/fuel flow), sample rate during peak-finding doubled to 10Hz, and the on-screen digit font was redone for legibility.

More to notice on the ground. Magneto checks are more meaningful now: each magneto drops RPM independently, subtle fouling is detectable through the drop itself (not just an obvious sound cue), and there's a new magneto timing failure with its own audio tell. Cylinder temperatures are also individually varied per aircraft rather than uniform across cylinders.

Turbocharger simulation gained manifold pressure feedback, so pushing the throttle now shows a realistic lag before manifold pressure actually climbs as the turbo spools — and a new turbo bearing failure caps how much boost you can get above ambient pressure.

MSFS 2024 quality-of-life fixes: you can now properly walk out via the wing-walk and climb back in through the pilot's seat, a couple of objects that the 2024 LOD system was aggressively culling have been corrected, and a "Show Copilot from Inside" tablet option that shouldn't have been there in 2024 has been removed.

Smaller fixes worth knowing about: a bug that could stop circuit-breaker-protected failures from triggering at all has been fixed, along with excessive solar heating of the cabin, a gear warning light that wasn't illuminating correctly, and various radio/avionics quirks (ADF acceleration, MX170 nav ident button, RNAV511 waypoint sourcing, voltage-drop audio referencing the wrong nominal voltage). The cloud strobe propeller effect is no longer a toggle — it's just on permanently now.

Version 0.1.1 is available now through Just Flight.

Synaptic Simulations has pushed out v1.0.7 of its A220 for MSFS 2020 and 2024.

The update lands alongside a bigger milestone: the A220 is no longer locked to the in-sim Marketplace and is now also purchasable through the iniBuilds Store and installable via iniManager. Anyone still running the Marketplace copy should uninstall it first before switching over.

On the changes themselves, this is mostly a systems and polish pass rather than a major feature drop:

• Localizer capture behaves more reliably now.
• Nose-wheel steering jitter has been calmed down.
• A wing-fold quirk was removed, and spoiler handle position is now properly capped.
• Several smaller FMS/PFD display fixes — an FMS preview line no longer lingers after switching to LOC, the CTP menu hides inactive items, the FCP's manual speed preselect now previews correctly for 5 seconds, and the heading pointer hides on the PFD in AUTO mode as expected.
• VHF3 no longer stays silent while in DATA mode.
• Checklist items that are latched or sensed now only latch when they're actually next in sequence.
• A datalink audio variable that was resetting incorrectly has been fixed.
• Missing contrails and the engine/APU heat-blur effect have been restored.
• Sound side got some love too: a new flap motor sound, plus reworked ground roll and touchdown audio.

iniBuilds put its long-awaited A380 through its first real test flight this week, flying Cardiff to Heathrow live on the official Microsoft Flight Simulator Twitch channel. Over roughly two hours, lead technical developer Cameron and head of production Mike walked viewers through the aircraft while flying a British Airways-liveried A380 along a route the real jet has used when repositioning after maintenance work in Cardiff.

Optimizing for a giant

Given how much airframe there is to render, performance was the topic the team spent the most time on. Their main solution: when every door is shut, the interior cabin geometry simply isn't drawn, and it only loads back in once a door is opened. There's also a dedicated no-cabin option for players who'd rather skip modeling the interior entirely. The team was upfront that this approach won't necessarily push your frame counter higher — the goal is steadier frame pacing and fewer stutters, particularly when looking around the cockpit. For a performance baseline, they're aiming to match roughly what the A350 achieves today, with further tuning planned before launch.

On consoles, an Xbox build is already being tested and reportedly holding up well, and the team confirmed ChasePlane compatibility. A PlayStation 5 version hasn't been ruled out, but iniBuilds indicated there's still work to do before that's feasible.

Built to cover multiple real-world configurations

Rather than a single fixed setup, the A380 is shipping with several swappable options:

• Cabins: the familiar Emirates four-class layout, alongside a newly revealed generic cabin meant to represent operators outside Emirates (this is what flew on stream, dressed as British Airways).
• Engines: both major real-world powerplants are modeled independently — the three-spool Rolls-Royce Trent 900, which displays N1/N2/N3 and de-rates climb thrust automatically based on aircraft weight, and the Engine Alliance GP7200, which only shows N1/N2 and relies on manually selected de-rate levels.
• Avionics: a legacy "batch 2" software standard from around 2010 sits alongside a modern "batch 7" build, and switching between them changes what you see across the FMS.

Combine all three and one purchase should be able to represent a large slice of A380s actually flying today.

Systems and features under the hood

A lot of the underlying systems architecture is shared with iniBuilds' existing A350. The EFB has been reworked to pull SimBrief flight plans, coordinate GSX ground services, and automatically factor in intersection departures when calculating takeoff numbers — no more manually trimming runway length by hand. Additional avionics include CPDLC via Hoppie, an onboard weather radar, Brake to Vacate with runway overrun protection, simulated fuel dumping, and a checklist system that can tell when an item hasn't actually been completed.

Failures can either be switched on immediately or left to occur at a random point in the flight. Beyond straightforward failures, iniBuilds also built out less predictable "situations" — things like an erratic fuel leak, vibration building on a randomly chosen engine, GPS interference, or a bird strike that knocks out an engine and leaves visible airframe damage. The ECAM system is reportedly far more elaborate than what's in iniBuilds' A320-family aircraft, with abnormal procedures running several pages deep.

Flying and taxiing the aircraft

Cameron described the flight model as effectively rebuilt from scratch for this airframe, with a fly-by-wire rotation law tuned so pilots pull back once at rotation rather than holding continuous pressure. Ground handling gets its own learning curve too: the nose gear has a capped turn rate, and — mirroring the real aircraft — the rear body gear also steers, which keeps the nose wheel from dragging sideways under the aircraft's weight. Idle thrust is enough to keep it rolling when lightly loaded, but heavier weights need a thrust nudge to get moving. At the gate, multiple jet bridges connected to the aircraft at once using iniBuilds' own jetway system.

No date yet

Beyond confirming the aircraft is coming "soon," iniBuilds didn't give a release date or price during the stream. A "Welcome to the A380" video series is planned ahead of launch, and the studio will have a presence as a platinum sponsor at the Flight Sim UK show in Bristol on October 10–11 — worth watching for any further updates.

The FSimUK event this autumn is hotting up to be a really exciting event! The first Flight Sim event in the UK since the Cosford days. Much is in the works at the moment behind the scenes, and the FSimUK team are hard at work to ensure the weekend is a success, but for us, we're just absolutely buzzing to be able to meet you and show what we've been cooking!

We'll be running presentations throughout the day so you can see just how powerful this system is, and also giving away more of our "famous" pens that seemed to be such a hit at FSExpo in June!

So come by our stand at FSimUK, meet KatiePilot & the team and try out efbX for yourself - (and get there before we run out of pens!!)

Just a little update from the team...

The good news is that our beta testing team have been hard at work and we're pleased to say that we've not come across any show stoppers for ourQ4, 2026release. Of course, beta is a fun time and it's hard to know when gremlins may appear, but based on current feedback we are confident at this stage that we are on to meet our commitments that we made earlier this summer.

The Project MAX CASA C212-200 is now available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 & 2024, exclusively on iniBuilds. Our very first aircraft has officially taken flight, and we hope you'll enjoy flying the Aviocar as much as we enjoyed building it.

View the complete v1.0.0 feature list: https://projectmax.store/changelog/versions/
Available now on iniBuilds: https://inibuilds.com/products/project-max-c212-200-msfs

Thank you for following the development of this project. See you in the skies!

Development of A350 Airliner V2 is now underway, representing a much broader core upgrade rather than simply a collection of fixes or a visual refresh.

V2 includes major work across the cockpit geometry, interior and exterior artwork, aircraft variants, Head-Up Display, EFB, OIS, systems, failures and ECAM functionality. The update is being developed specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and will be available as a free update for all existing A350 Airliner customers.

The cockpit itself is receiving a substantial geometry overhaul based on newly collected data, giving our art team stronger reference material for revisiting the proportions, positioning and shapes of key flight-deck elements. The wider interior artwork is also being revisited to create a more cohesive and accurate cockpit environment.

Work is taking place on the exterior as well, with particular attention being given to the differences between the A350-900 and A350-1000. The wing geometry of both variants is being revisited so that each aircraft more accurately represents its individual proportions and characteristics, moving away from the more general representation currently shared between them.

The Head-Up Display is receiving a major update to its logic, symbology and behaviour throughout the different phases of flight. Our goal is to improve the accuracy of the guidance shown to the crew and ensure HUD indications respond correctly as flight modes, aircraft configuration and operating conditions change.

Both the EFB and Onboard Information System are also being revisited, with improvements planned to their functionality and integration with the wider aircraft systems. More details on the individual EFB and OIS improvements will be shared as V2 development progresses.

Another major area is the introduction of a new failure system, alongside significant updates to the underlying systems logic. This will allow failures and abnormal situations to be represented in a more detailed and structured way. The ECAM displays and associated logic are being revisited at the same time, creating a closer relationship between simulated system states, failures, alerts and the information presented to the crew.

With V2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will become the sole development platform for the A350 Airliner. Active development and updates for the MSFS 2020 version will conclude once V2 releases, although the existing 2020 version will remain available to customers in its current form. Focusing entirely on MSFS 2024 allows us to make greater use of the newer platform technology without being constrained by the previous simulator generation.

We’ve shared a new development update covering the latest progress on our upcoming A380 Airliner, with work continuing across systems, flight dynamics, ground operations, visuals and more.

A major focus has been on increasing the depth of the simulation. The A380 now features aircraft-state persistence, retaining elements such as fuel quantities, switch positions and system conditions between simulator sessions. Potable water and waste are also fully simulated and persistent, including consumption, accumulation and ground servicing. Turnarounds are further supported by our Multi-Jetway Technology, allowing multiple passenger boarding bridges to connect simultaneously at compatible airports.

The EFB and OIS have received significant development as well. Take-off performance calculations include V-speeds, FLEX temperature and stop margins, with support for intersection departures. We’ve introduced the initial NSS Avionics domain, improved chart handling, added an EFB Notification Centre and upgraded our GSX integration to V2, including dedicated notifications and a panel for monitoring ground-service operations.

Inside the flight deck, the A380 includes independent Display Unit management, a fully integrated Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS) and Brake to Vacate (BTV) functionality. We’ve continued refining the fly-by-wire system and Vertical Situation Display, while the weather radar now makes use of simulator API improvements to provide adjustable tilt and azimuth. Fuel temperature is also dynamically simulated across the aircraft’s tanks and can trigger the appropriate ECAM indications when operating limits are exceeded.

The flight model has also received considerable attention. The complete landing-gear configuration is represented, including functional body-gear steering, individual gear response using MSFS 2024’s suspension modelling and additional contact points, and dedicated A380-specific fly-by-wire rotation laws. The wings use a custom dynamic wing-flex system, responding continuously to aerodynamic forces, aircraft weight, turbulence and manoeuvring loads rather than relying on a predefined animation.

Failures are being expanded through a comprehensive ATA-based failure-management system, including scenarios such as engine fuel leaks, gradual cabin pressurisation leaks and individual Display Unit failures. Events can be configured to occur immediately or randomly during a flight.

We’ve also revealed that pilots will be able to select between Early-MSN and Modern-MSN configurations, based on Batch 2 and Batch 7 standards respectively. These affect FMS capabilities, flight-guidance logic, displays, protections, procedures and checklist philosophy. Both Rolls-Royce Trent 900 and Engine Alliance GP7200 options are represented as distinct variants, with individual geometry, sounds, start and shutdown behaviour, spool dynamics, thrust response and relevant system behaviour.

Finally, exterior work continues with refined wings, engines and fuselage details, interactive Walkaround Mode elements and a range of custom Immersion FX, including water spray, engine vortices, heat blur, contrails, fuel jettison, engine fire and smoke effects, and visual effects for tail strikes.

Read the full development update here.

Introducing our next destination: iniBuilds Paris Charles de Gaulle! We're pleased to announce one of Europe's largest and most important international airports, Paris Charles de Gaulle will be coming to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024!

If you currently work at CDG, have worked there previously or regularly operate through it and want to contribute to the project. Please contact the team directly by email