DC Designs announces imminent release of Sukhoi SU-27 Flanker for MSFS

DC Designs is gearing up for a new military aircraft release for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Following the launch of the F-4 Phantom this summer, the developer has now revealed exciting details about their upcoming aircraft, which is set to be the Sukhoi SU-27 Flanker. Initially planned for 2022, DC Designs announced that the SU-27 is now nearing completion and will soon be available exclusively on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace.

The Sukhoi SU-27, commonly known as the Flanker, is a twin-engine, supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Russia’s Sukhoi Company. It was originally conceived in the late 1970s as a direct competitor to the United States’ fourth-generation fighters, such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon. With its distinctive blend of speed, agility, and versatility, the SU-27 has become one of the most iconic fighter jets in the world.

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While the developer refrained from providing a specific release date due to ongoing backlogs on the Marketplace and pending work on the virtual cockpit, they confirmed that most aspects of the aircraft are ready for launch. This includes the external model, flight model, animations, and the necessary “LOC” files for Marketplace publication.

The SU-27 will be priced at approximately £17.99 ($22), reflecting its status as a single-variant, Marketplace-only product. The aircraft will come with seven liveries included. DC Designs emphasized that this release is the first in a series of Marketplace-only aircraft, focusing on competitive pricing. The developer also left the door open for future expansions to include extra variants, depending on market demand.

As we know, military aircraft available from the MSFS Marketplace cannot display weapons, but DC Designs assured that freeware add-ons would be available to reactivate the SU-27’s weapons for PC users.

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The developer also touched upon ongoing work on other aircraft, including updates to the Concorde and the CJ Simulations Typhoon. Updates for the F-15s and F-16s are also in the pipeline. While specific dates remain elusive due to the variable nature of development, the developer is optimistic about showing progress in the coming weeks.

A hint into aircraft sales in MSFS

On a secondary note, DC Designs announced that they raised just over £4,500 ($5,500) last week for the charity “SpecialEffect.” The developer had vouched to donate all proceeds of a single day, of every single aircraft both on the Marketplace and on third-party stores, to the charity. The math is impressive indeed and reveals how profitable the aircraft development market can be in Microsoft Flight Simulator!