Just Flight’s Avro Vulcan is set to be another high-fidelity aircraft from the British studio for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The development now enters an exciting chapter as we get to see (and listen!) how the sounds of this mighty airplane are being recorded from a real-world sample. Just Flight’s latest development update focuses on this particular feature and offers a fascinating insight into the efforts of the XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society to preserve their beloved aircraft, and how this enables Just Flight to bring it to MSFS in a superbly detailed fashion.
Just Flight reveals that the development of the Vulcan is progressing at an impressive pace, with the visuals nearly complete and many systems coded to high standards. The Vulcan was one of Just Flight’s last products from the FSX and P3D era, whose model serves as a solid base for the Microsoft Flight Simulator version. The team has successfully converted some existing systems code, allowing them to focus on enhancing visuals, systems’ logic, and adding new features.
One such improvement is a brand-new sound set, recorded from one of the last remaining ground-running Vulcans, the Vulcan XM655 based at Wellesbourne Airfield in Warwickshire. The XM655 Maintenance and Preservation Society, a volunteer organization of Vulcan enthusiasts, takes good care of the aircraft, which features the powerful Rolls-Royce Olympus Mk 301 engines that were used on the Black Buck missions during the Falklands War in 1982.
Just Flight was recently granted unrestricted access to the Vulcan XM655, enabling them to capture the sound of the engines running at various power levels. They used multiple microphones placed around the aircraft and airfield to record the Vulcan in a complete three-dimensional sound environment. The final sounds in virtual version for MSFS promise to be simply astounding!
In addition to the engine sounds, the team recorded every switch in the Vulcan’s cockpit, each with its unique sound. Other components such as bomb bay doors, GPU hydraulic actuators, landing lights, and exit door sounds were also recorded in great detail. This in-depth recording process is essential to meet the high expectations for aircraft simulation that Just Flight has gotten us used to.
Make sure to watch the video above to see how Just Flight takes care of this crucial aspect of any high-quality aircraft add-on and stay tuned for more updates on the Vulcan’s development!
