IRIS Simulations is out with a brand new turboprop military trainer for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The developer appears keen to bring us the current crop of the most popular airplanes in this category, first with the Pilatus PC-21 and now with what is arguably its main competitor in the real world, the T-6 Texan II.
The T-6 Texan II, known in various circles as the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II or the Raytheon T-6 Texan II, is a tandem-seat turboprop military trainer aircraft widely employed by the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and several other global air forces.
This aircraft is a remarkable training platform, celebrated for its agility and reliability, essential traits for preparing pilots for a variety of military aircraft. It’s based on the Pilatus PC-9, which is also in the developer’s roadmap for MSFS.
Interestingly, there’s another high-profile Texan II in development for MSFS, from Blackbird Simulations. They are two distinct variants (IRIS’s is the B variant used by the USN, while Blackbird’s is the older A variant used in the USAF), but while IRIS has the clear advantage of being first, it may also have to contend with some simmers waiting for Blackbird’s version. However, despite their appearance, they are quite different internally.
Anyway, here are the key features of IRIS’s T-6 as detailed by the developer:
- Stunningly Realistic Visuals: Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Texan II with breathtaking graphics and attention to detail that will leave you in awe.
- Precise Flight Dynamics: The IRIS Texan II has been meticulously designed to mimic the real-world aircraft’s flight characteristics for an incredibly lifelike experience.
- A Wealth of Options: Customize your Texan II with a variety of liveries and features, making every flight unique to your preferences.
- User-Friendly Interface: A streamlined user interface ensures that you can get in the cockpit and take off without a hitch, even if you’re new to flight simulation.
IRIS also notes an important shortcoming of its T-6 that is definitely worth pointing out. The Heads-Up Display (HUD) incorporated with this product is not collimated, which may affect the level of optical precision and depth perception compared to collimated displays. It’s an unfortunate shortcoming that may or may not break the experience for some, so keep that in mind.
The T-6 Texan II from IRIS Simulations is available now for Microsoft Flight Simulator via the developer’s own web-store, priced at $34.99. Expect to see it in other vendors soon (one week or so, according to the developer), including the MSFS Marketplace with deployment for both PC and Xbox.
