A2A pushes detail into the Legacy RG550, A1R revives the Ryan STM-2, FlightSim Studio rebuilds the P2012 for 2024 — and the community gets ready to fly Route 66 for Orbis.
Fourteen degrees outside, 22 in the man cave and Wednesday officially declared the halfway point. Before the desk opened, Murph covered the important issues: a five-day weekend when he takes charge, a robotic lawnmower that occasionally forgets which way right is, Bristol planning, and the weekend's 24-hour relay.
Watch the opening
A2A's next Accu-Sim project is closing in. The Legacy RG550 is based on Scott Gentile's own Lancair, giving the team direct access to the real aircraft for 3D scanning, photogrammetry, flight testing and the sort of small behavioural details Accu-Sim is built around.
The cockpit is being designed around the flexibility of real experimental aircraft, with a mix of steam gauges, Garmin G5s and GTN/GNS options. A2A has also shown glass-cockpit work planned for later, rather than necessarily for day one.
The attraction is the access. When the owner can fly the real machine and come straight back to the developers with what it just did, the simulator gets data most projects simply cannot capture.
Carenado's turbocharged six-seat utility single is scheduled for 6 October, with floats and a cargo-pod configuration shown alongside the wheeled aircraft. Murph is hoping the recent improvement in Carenado systems and sound continues here.
Watch from hereBoris Audio Works has brought its Cessna 172 sound package to MSFS 2024. Existing 2020 owners get the new version without another purchase; Murph rates both the Boris and Echo 19 approaches highly.
Watch from hereOrbxVersion 1.0.9 is mostly a fixes release, with work around the FMS, autopilot and general behaviour plus functional volume knobs on the radio audio panels. Murph called the pace of post-release support a good sign for Synaptic's first aircraft.
Watch from hereSynapticIndiaFoxtEcho and Heatblur's F-14 received another update, tackling bugs and adding missing liveries across several models. Murph still regards it as one of the standout combat-aircraft conversions in MSFS.
Watch from hereThe developer returned with a systems-focused A350 update. The crossed-out indications seen on development displays are part of an effort to have avionics respond to live simulated system data rather than simply scripted graphics. Murph stressed that the aircraft remains a long way from release — and that iniBuilds sets a formidable benchmark.
Watch from hereAzrsim's V2 is native to MSFS 2024 with the current airport layout, revised terminals, interiors, apron work and night environment. The Microsoft Marketplace listed it at $14.49 during the release week.
Watch from hereMarketplaceSky Simulations released the -21, -41 and -51 for MSFS 2024. Murph had flown the earlier version and liked the aircraft overall, while identifying sound as the area he most wanted improved.
Watch from hereProduct pageFly2High's KHOU brings detailed terminals, custom infrastructure, animated jetways, interiors and extensive ground work. The X-Plane edition launched alongside the MSFS 2024 scenery.
Watch from hereOfficial storeLost Landings: California Pack 1 deliberately goes the opposite direction from another mega-hub: four long-abandoned airfields are recreated for MSFS 2024, giving bush and vintage pilots somewhere unusual to explore.
Watch from hereOrbxDreamflight's KJAC update reflects the 2026 airport configuration with extensive model, texture and landside work. For existing owners, the native MSFS 2024 rebuild is a free update.
Watch from hereOrbxThe AVA F/A-18 package combines Thrustmaster's adjustable all-metal AVA base with its Boeing-licensed Hornet grip. Murph's discussion widened into where Thrustmaster now sits against newer premium competitors.
Watch from hereThrustmasterFlight Notes puts typed and handwritten notes inside MSFS — useful for clearances, taxi instructions, frequencies and VR flying. Microsoft listed it at $9.99 for MSFS 2024, with a 2020 edition also available.
Watch from hereMarketplaceMurph revisited StrataWx and the growing choice beyond default live weather. He likes much of what it is doing, while still watching transition behaviour closely. The MSFS version is currently listed at $29.99 for one simulator.
Watch from hereStrataWxThe Route 66 Sky Relay takes over 26–27 September, linking eleven creators into a continuous 24-hour flight across the United States in support of Orbis and its sight-saving work, including the Flying Eye Hospital.
Murph opens the relay from Chicago. There is no requirement to fly with SayIntentions.AI and no obligation to donate: the point is to bring communities together, fly, have some fun and — where people choose — support the cause.
Watch Murph explain the relayEvent & donations
SayIntentions.AI expanded its newer ATC voice generation to the Netherlands and pushed co-pilot passenger announcements live. The latter lets the first officer brief the cabin about the route, delays, turbulence or diversions using automatic, menu or voice-triggered commands.
The new voices are getting close enough that the old “is that VATSIM?” question is becoming increasingly reasonable. Murph also highlighted the built-in voice rater: if a generated voice sounds wrong, users can flag it so the system can rebalance what gets served.
A1R's new Ryan STM-2 is a native MSFS 2024 recreation of the tandem-seat trainer, offered in wheeled, long-range, modernised and float configurations. The real STM-2 used a 150 hp Menasco Pirate C-4S and developed from Ryan's ST family.
Murph's hands-on impression was overwhelmingly positive: attractive modelling, a nostalgic open-cockpit character and an aircraft that felt distinct rather than another familiar GA type.
Watch from hereA1R Design BureauUK2000's EIWF is the developer's first airport in the Republic of Ireland. The scenery concentrates on an authentic exterior rendition rather than elaborate interiors, including the aeroclub and surrounding business-park detail.
The daytime rendition works well for a small Irish regional airport. The weak point was night lighting: Murph found the ramp too dark and noted lighting fixtures that appeared modelled but unlit. At $12.99 on the MSFS Marketplace, he described the pricing as neither fantastic nor terrible for the size.
FlightSim Studio's Tecnam P2012 Traveller V2 is a separate native MSFS 2024 product rather than a compatibility patch. It brings seven cabin layouts, native walkaround and EFB integration, revised power management, reworked sound, state persistence and a new VIP cabin. FSS lists it at €29.95, or €9.95 for qualifying owners of the 2020 version.
There is plenty to like, particularly the versatility, cockpit detail and sounds. But the stream also exposed visible texture/model issues within minutes of the walkaround. They were not catastrophic, but Murph's response was clear: “quality control, lads.” Those details need fixing.
SamScene3D's city package adds more than 300 custom buildings and apartments to modern Hong Kong, with compatibility options around Kai Tak and VHHH depending on the store edition. During the day, Murph found some of the building treatment a little plain and blocky.
Night is a different story. Once the lights came on, the reaction changed completely: “It's exceptional.” The volume of custom buildings transforms the skyline, and Murph was pleasantly surprised by the performance despite the object count.
A large fix list landed during the show, including a new crash-reporting option designed to help diagnose issues. Murph's advice was straightforward: go grab the update.
Watch from hereMicrosoft's week-of-14-September Marketplace update lists EIWF Waterford at $12.99 and Flight Notes EFB at $9.99 for MSFS 2024.
MicrosoftMurph teased a closer look at Koulei's Smart Link utility next week, after briefly using its library/file-size tools during the A350 discussion.
Watch from hereThis edition was the kind of week that shows the breadth of flight simulation: vintage trainers, commuter twins, abandoned strips, weather engines, hardware, utility software and a charity relay all sharing the same desk.
Watch the wrap-up