Black Square’s Turbine and Piston Dukes set for April release
Black Square is gearing up for the highly anticipated release of its Duke series for Microsoft Flight Simulator, with both the Piston Duke and Turbine Duke models scheduled to launch in the first half of April 2024. This new product line from Black Square promises to offer MSFS simmers unparalleled realism and immersion, aiming to set new standards for GA aircraft simulations on the platform.
Black Square has set high expectations with the Turbine and Piston Dukes, as we saw earlier this year in a sneak peek into the incredibly advanced systems monitoring features that will be available in the aircraft’s EFB.
This week, Black Square’s Nick Cyganski unveiled even more details about this highly detailed aircraft simulation, including engine preheating implementation, cockpit upholstery options, and more.
Engine Preheating and Cold Weather Operations
Responding to community requests, the Dukes will include engine preheating simulation for both models. With this feature, temperature affects almost every aspect of aircraft operation. Simmers can expect instrument needle stiction to be affected by cabin temperature, and even the sound and speed of electric motors and gyroscopes will vary with the weather. You’ll also be able to watch the oil warm up on the EFB and feel the difference in how easily the starter motor turns over the engine.
Customization and Liveries
The package will also bring an array of panel options to match different upholstery packages from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s, allowing pilots to customize their cockpit to their liking. Beta testers have also contributed their own liveries, which will be available on flightsim.to on the day of release. Additionally, the aircraft exteriors will feature removable pitot-static and engine covers with animated ‘Remove Before Flight’ tags.
Navigation and Autopilot Enhancements
As we learned before, the Black Square Dukes will come with an impressive array of avionics options, which will include the Bendix/King KLN 90B GPS from Falcon71 (we wrote about this unit before) and also autopilot control for the KNS-81 RNAV Navigator, a feature enabled by a fortunate discovery during development.
Advanced Engine Simulation and Failure Modes
Cyganski has also made significant improvements to the turbine engine simulation, incorporating the operation of the PT6A’s P2.5 bleed valves and introducing over 250 possible engine failure modes.
The release of Black Square’s Duke models is anticipated to be just a month away. With each passing day, the level of detail and the number of additional features continue to grow impressively, alongside enhancements to the already high-quality aspects of the aircraft. By the end of this week, the developer’s goal is to finalize the product pages, which will include updated lists of features and new screenshots.
It’s important to note that the Piston and Turbine versions will be available as individual packages, with an option to purchase a bundle that combines both versions at a discounted rate.
