SimWorks Studios updates the PC-12, Kodiak, and readies the GA-8 Airvan for Microsoft Flight Simulator

SimWorks Studios (SWS) has been hard at work refining and expanding its aircraft lineup for Microsoft Flight Simulator. It’s a busy time for the team—they recently rolled out updates for the beloved Kodiak 100, and just today, they dropped a much-anticipated (and much-needed!) update for the PC-12. Furthermore, the GA-8 Airvan is also on the horizon, so there’s plenty happening at SWS. Let’s dive in!

PC-12 v1.5.0 Update Now Released

The long-awaited PC-12 update is now live on SWS and is expected to be available with other vendors soon. Version 1.5.0 brings extensive improvements across the aircraft, including enhancements to flight dynamics, autopilot, engine performance, and cockpit visuals.

PC-12 v1.5.0 Changelog:

  • Visuals: Replaced cockpit seats with new models
  • Flight Dynamics:
    • Improved stability
    • Reduced flaps ballooning
    • Refined cruise drag, approach attitude, and trim effectiveness
    • Adjusted propeller drag, climb thrust, and high-end thrust
  • Engine: Reduced ITT by an average of 15 degrees based on new data
  • Autopilot: Reworked PIDs for smoother operation
  • Lighting: AM-250 altimeter backlighting is now adjustable using the panel lighting knob
  • Avionics:
    • Bug fixes to EFIS mode annunciations, CDI scaling in VOR/LOC mode, and general code clean-up
    • KAS-297: Added L:vars to expose interim altitude and vertical speed variables
    • EIS: Added 5-degree temperature offset to OAT probe due to probe heating from friction
  • Systems:
    • Rebalanced aileron-rudder interconnect to new flight model parameters
    • Adjusted excessive O2 volume changes due to thermal expansion/contraction

The update can be downloaded from customer accounts, and the full changelog is available on the SimWorks Studios website.

To gain further insights into this important update for the PC-12, check out a recent livestream where SimWorks Studios’ Alex Vletsas joined our friend TwoToneMurphy. During the session, Alex showcased updates, sharing details on the latest aircraft additions and the PC-12’s refinements.

Kodiak 100 – Amphibian Update and Upcoming Improvements

The Kodiak 100 Amphibian update is now live and includes a flight model rework and systems improvements in line with those made to the wheeled variant. While a minor issue remains with the TAWS inhibit label in the side-by-side installation, SWS plans to address this in a future update.

Meanwhile, a new Kodiak (wheeled) update is in its final stages. This version will introduce a fully functional Engine Indicating System (EIS) with dedicated pages for Engine, Fuel, and System data, along with an integrated set of checklists accessible through the MFD.

Additionally, the aircraft’s engine simulation has undergone a major overhaul, incorporating tech from the PC-12 for a more accurate performance model. Pilots will now need to manage ITT limits carefully, as ITT will increase with altitude and become a limiting factor at 12,000-14,000 feet, depending on weather conditions. The power control lever (PCL) will also now feature mechanical limitations, preventing it from being fully firewalled under certain conditions.

With the next Kodiak update nearly complete, much of the SWS team will shift their focus to finalizing the Airvan and preparing for conversions to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

SWS Kodiak 100 Amphibian MSFS

GA-8 Airvan – Nearing Release

The long-awaited GA-8 Airvan is, finally, just days away from reaching release candidate status. Once testing is complete, SWS will finalize the product manual and implement failures as an optional payware expansion module. The base aircraft is built to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 standards, with porting to the new sim already underway.

SWS plans to announce pricing and an upgrade path in the coming weeks, with live previews expected late next week. A release window is anticipated by the end of February.

Airvan Highlights:

  • Highly detailed exterior model with and without cargo pod
  • Dynamic visual wear and tear that accumulates over time
  • Deforming tires
  • Analogue cockpit with instrument vibrations, detailed animations, and dynamic lighting
  • Cargo and passenger interiors
  • GNS and GTN navigator options
  • Flight model and engine performance verified by GA-8 pilots
  • Authentic sound set recorded from a real GA-8 Airvan

Failure Module Features (Paid Expansion):

  • Wear & tear simulation for multiple mechanical and electrical components
  • Engine component degradation, including pistons, spark plugs, and the accessory gearbox
  • Custom oil system simulation, factoring in quantity, leakage, thermal expansion, and filter clogging
  • Tire and brake wear
  • Electrical system failures, including generator and battery aging due to temperature and discharge cycles

With development time freed up from completing the Kodiak and PC-12 updates, SWS expects to finalize and preview all Airvan features in the coming weeks.

And there you have it. SWS has been busy refining its existing products while finally bringing the Airvan to release. Hopefully, the PC-12 update meets user expectations, as many have been eager for significant improvements to its handling. As for the upcoming Airvan, let’s hope it doesn’t take much longer to arrive and fits seamlessly into SWS’s lineup of quality, affordable aircraft. As always, we’ll keep you posted!