Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 News

[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]The PA-28-236 Dakota: Refined and Resilient[/p][p]When first delivered in 1979, the Piper PA-28-236 Dakota represented a refined evolution of a Piper aircraft family that dated back nearly two decades. A member of the venerable PA-28 Cherokee lineage, the prototype of which took its maiden flight on January 14, 1960, the Dakota quickly proved to be a pilot favorite. The single-engine, 4-seat, all-metal aircraft excels at a wide range of flying, from short jaunts to cross country touring. Comfortable, reliable, and resilient, the Dakota provides aviators both high performance as well as forgiving flight characteristics.   [/p][p][/p][p]The Dakota’s cabin seats up to four, including the pilot. It has a traditional tail unit and a fixed tricycle undercarriage with wheel pants for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft measures 24 feet, 7 inches in length, stands 7 feet, 2 inches tall, and has a wingspan of 35 feet, 4 inches. It is powered by a Lycoming O-540-J3A5D 6-cylinder piston engine that generates up to 235 horsepower and turns a 2-blade, constant-speed propeller.  [/p][p][/p][p]The PA28-236 is known to pilots as a responsive, great performer that is forgiving enough for new pilots. It has a range of 852 miles, a service ceiling of 17,500 feet above sea level, and it climbs at 1,110 feet per minute. It cruises at 166 miles per hour and has a top speed of 170 mph. It requires 886 feet to take-off and 825 feet to land.  [/p][p][/p][p]The Microsoft Flight Simulator  Piper PA-28-236[/p][p]The Piper PA-28-236 Dakota comes with the following liveries: Beige on Brown, White with Red and Grey Stripes, Chrome Red, Beige on Red, White with Blue and Grey Stripes, White with Green Stripes, Chrome Green, White, Aviators Club Livery, Xbox Aviators Club Livery. [/p][p][/p][p]The Microsoft Flight Simulator Piper PA-28-236 Dakota is the third of the four aircraft the team promised to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 consumers as a “make good” for their patience with the issues encountered during the launch. The plane is available for free today to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.  [/p][p][/p][p]For those wanting to fly the Piper PA-28-236 Dakota in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020), it is available today for $14.99 in the in-sim marketplace. The sky is calling! [/p][p][/p][p]Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator products, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter) or visit [/p][p]www.flightsimulator.com.[/p][p] [/p][p] [/p]

[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Launched in celebration of FlightSimExpo 2025, held in Providence, Rhode Island in late June, City Update 11: Northeastern United States highlights several areas of interest (AOIs) across four northeastern U.S. states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. This update comprises a spectacular mix of locations throughout this storied region of the United States, including portions of New England, one of the most important heritage areas in the nation. Microsoft and partners created each AOI using recent high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery, digital elevation models (DEMs), and TIN (triangulated irregular network) surface texturing. City Update 11 invites exploration throughout the sights of this historically renowned part of America, where each flight is filled with expansive vistas and intriguing landmarks.[/p][p]Areas of Interest included, by state: [/p][p]Massachusetts[/p][p]Boston: The capital of and most populous city in the state of Massachusetts, Boston serves as the primary cultural, financial, and logistical hub of the New England region. Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and is one of the most renowned of the country’s heritage sites, notably due to its role in the American Revolution.[/p][p][/p][p]Plymouth: The Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620, making it one of the most important historical sites in the United States. Called “America’s Hometown,” Plymouth is located 40 miles south of Boston and is the oldest settlement in New England.[/p][p]New Jersey[/p][p]Northeastern New Jersey: Cities include Newark, Hackensack, and Paterson, all of which are members of the greater New York metropolitan area. Newark, one of the oldest cities in the United States, is renowned for its contribution to the industrial development of the country and as a modern transportation hub. Hackensack is known for its historical importance during the American Revolution where George Washington established a headquarters. Paterson became a key location in the Industrial Revolution due to the energy supplied by the Great Falls of the Passaic River, around which the city was initially constructed.[/p][p]Central Jersey: This AOI focuses on cities in the eastern portion of Central Jersey, including Elizabeth, New Brunswick, and Edison. Elizabeth was the first capital of New Jersey and is one of the state’s oldest cities. New Brunswick played an important role in the American Revolution and is an important university center. Edison (originally called Raritan Township) was named after famed American inventor Thomas Edison who established his research laboratory in the area and created several important innovations, including the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph.[/p][p]New York[/p][p]Brooklyn: Located on the western end of Long Island, Brooklyn is the most populous of the five boroughs of New York City. It lies just south of the borough of Queens and is connected to the borough of Manhattan by one tunnel and three bridges that span the East River. Brooklyn offers some of the most stunning views in all of New York City, notably of the Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, and lower Manhattan.[/p][p][/p][p]Manhattan: Manhattan is one of the most renowned urban centers in the world. The smallest borough by area of the five boroughs that compose New York City, Manhattan is often cited as the capital of several global industries, including finance, media, and entertainment. Known for its iconic architecture, Manhattan is home to the tallest building in both the United States and the Western Hemisphere, One World Trade Center (1,776 feet tall), and the second tallest in the Nation and the Western Hemisphere, Central Park Tower (1,550 feet tall).[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Long Island’s East End: One of the most beautiful areas in the northeastern United States, Long Island’s East End is renowned for its pastoral landscapes, historic villages, colonial architecture, and maritime vistas. The update includes Southampton, one of the core towns of the well-known Hamptons resort area, and Montauk, the easternmost point in New York State and home to the spectacular Montauk Point Lighthouse.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Rhode Island[/p][p]The update’s Rhode Island AOI covers all major cities in the state, including Providence, Cranston, and Warwick. Providence, established in 1636, is the capital and most populous city in the state. Providence, along with the cities of Cranston and Warwick to its south, are located along the mouth of the Providence River at the northern extremity of Narragansett Bay, which opens to the Atlantic Ocean.[/p][p][/p][p]City Update 11: Northeastern United States is available FREE to all owners of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Ensure that you have the latest simulator version installed (1.38.2.0 for MSFS2020 / 1.3.23.0 for MSFS2024 / 1.3.25.0 for MSFS2024 on Windows PC - Steam as of 06/27/2025), download City Update 11, and take to the skies above the Northeastern United States![/p][p]Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on Twitter. [/p][p] [/p]

[p][/p][p]Over the past week, we released three new pre-release test builds, two for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 3 and one for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Sim Update 16. You can read the release notes for these builds linked below:[/p]

• [p]MSFS 2024 SU3 Beta Build 1.5.9.0[/p]
• [p]MSFS 2024 SU3 Beta Build 1.5.10.0[/p]
• [p]MSFS (2020) SU16 Beta Build 1.39.5.0[/p]

[p]We are very closely monitoring reports from community testers about an increase in crashes to desktop (CTDs) in SU3 beta build 1.5.10.0. Based on player feedback thus far, these crashes appear to be related to using third-party mods which use the SimConnect API. To assist the development team in troubleshooting and resolving this issue, we encourage SU3 beta testers to post their findings about which mods/add-ons seem to cause the CTD in this forum thread.[/p][p]Yesterday on our official Twitch channel, we hosted a technical expert from Pimax to answer your VR questions plus several popular VR YouTubers (Tally Mouse, VR Flight Sim Guy, theVRpilot, and Skyraider79er, a real-world Airbus A320 captain) to demonstrate flying Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in VR mode! If you missed the session live, you can re-watch the VOD at this link.[/p][p]As a final reminder, Pimax is currently offering a 5% discount on the purchase of a Pimax Crystal Light or Crystal Super VR headset if you use code MSFS at checkout from the Pimax Store. Additionally, one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a 100% refund on their order! If you’re considering trying MSFS in VR or if you’re an existing VR pilot looking to upgrade your hardware, take advantage of this offer between now and Friday, June 27![/p][p][/p][p]Last but certainly not least, we’d like to wish safe travels to everyone from the community attending FlightSimExpo 2025 this weekend! Enjoy a fantastic few days of making new friends with fellow MSFS enthusiasts, trying the latest hardware peripherals and software add-ons from various different vendors, attending many interesting talks and lectures from guest speakers, and taking in the sights of Providence, Rhode Island![/p][p][/p][p]– MSFS Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Click here to continue reading the Development Update![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

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Enjoy discounted pricing during our Microsoft Flight Simulator Summer Sale![/p][p][/p][p]For 14 Days starting on June 26th, save up to 75% on more than 200 items.          [/p][p][/p][p]To purchase these discounted items, visit the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Marketplace, scroll down to ‘Special Offers’, then select ‘See All’ and look for the savings.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Over the past week, we released four new pre-release test builds, two each for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 3 and Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Sim Update 16. You can read the release notes for these builds linked below:[/p]

• [p]MSFS 2024 SU3 Beta Build 1.5.7.0[/p]
• [p]MSFS 2024 SU3 Beta Build 1.5.8.0[/p]
• [p]MSFS (2020) SU16 Beta Build 1.39.3.0[/p]
• [p]MSFS (2020) SU16 Beta Build 1.39.4.0[/p]

[p][/p][p]Calling non-English speakers! We are currently looking for experts in the following languages to assist in improving the translation of air traffic control radio transmissions.[/p]

• [p]Chinese (Simplified)[/p]
• [p]Dutch[/p]
• [p]Finnish[/p]
• [p]Italian[/p]
• [p]Japanese[/p]
• [p]Korean[/p]
• [p]Norwegian (Bokmål)[/p]
• [p]Polish[/p]
• [p]Portuguese (Portugal)[/p]
• [p]Russian[/p]
• [p]Spanish (Mexico)[/p]
• [p]Spanish (Spain)[/p]
• [p]Swedish[/p]
• [p]Turkish[/p]

[p]If you are an expert at any of the above languages and would like to improve the localization of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in your language, please complete this web form. We greatly value the community’s assistance![/p][p]Finally, we are thrilled to announce a special promotion and educational livestream held in conjunction with Pimax, a cutting-edge VR headset maker! Until June 26, purchase either a Pimax Crystal Light or Crystal Super using code MSFS to receive a 5% discount on your order. Additionally, one random winner will receive a FULL REBATE on their purchase price! Head over to the Pimax web store to enjoy the 5% discount and your chance to win a Pimax VR headset for free![/p][p]Finally, on our official Twitch channel on Wednesday, June 26 starting at 11am PT (1800 UTC) we will be welcoming technical expert from Pimax to answer your VR questions. Additional special guests will include VR YouTubers Tally Mouse, VR Flight Sim Guy, theVRpilot, and real-world Airbus A320 captain Marlon Choyce, all of whom will be demonstrating how to enhance your sense of immersion and realism using virtual reality for the ultimate flight simulation experience![/p][p][/p][p]– MSFS Team[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Click here to continue reading the Development Update![/p][p][/p][p][/p]