A major milestone for turboprop fans in Microsoft Flight Simulator is now just weeks away. Black Square has officially announced that its long-awaited Beechcraft Starship will release in June 2025 for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024, ahead of this year’s FlightSimExpo in Providence, where Black Square developer Nick Cyganski and Just Flight will be present to showcase the aircraft. It might just be one of the most spectacular add-on aircraft releases ever for Microsoft Flight Simulator!
The announcement marks the culmination of a three-year development effort described by Cyganski as a “passion project,” one that included extensive collaboration with current Starship owners. That collaboration resulted in unique access to the aircraft, enabling in-depth recordings, cockpit operation, and reference photography. According to the developer, while thousands of pages of documentation were available, hands-on experience with the actual aircraft played a critical role in shaping the final product.
A systems-rich Starship built from real-world reference
Black Square’s Starship promises to be much more than just another aircraft add-on—it’s being pitched as one of the most technically ambitious aircraft simulations ever built for MSFS. The included user manual is in itself a masterful piece of work. Now publicly available via Just Flight, it spans over 190 pages and outlines an array of complex systems, interactive features, and technical depth rarely seen in consumer-level flight simulation.
The aircraft includes:
- A full simulation of the rare Collins AMS-850 “14-tube” CRT avionics suite
- Over 230 potential failures, configurable by time, condition, or randomness
- Simulated avionics cooling systems, with overheating leading to display shutdowns
- Cabin environmental controls, including temperature, pressurization, and oxygen management
- VLF and Omega radionavigation systems for pre-GPS era navigation
- A sophisticated electrical system with 170+ functional circuit breakers
- A tablet interface that manages payload, failures, and real-time system visualizers
- Accurate engine modelling, including hot starts, surging, and compressor stalls
- Support for modern navigation via an optional Garmin GNS430 integration
Notably, the Starship’s systems simulation includes state-saving, hardware-based failures, and logic-driven system interdependencies—bringing MSFS aircraft more in line with the sort of fidelity found in professional-level training devices.
The upcoming release will be the first Black Square aircraft updated for MSFS 2024. Cyganski notes that adapting to the new simulator hasn’t been straightforward. Several platform-level changes—especially around lighting, LOD handling, and default payload interfaces—have required significant rework.
Despite the technical hurdles, the aircraft will take advantage of several MSFS 2024-exclusive capabilities, including improved walkaround and collision detection features. While not using Asobo’s new native walkaround UI (which relies on “blue highlights”), the Starship implements its own more intricate system, with interactive elements like pitot covers, engine covers, and cabin doors that respond to environment and user input.
According to the developer, all of Black Square’s aircraft are in the process of being adapted for MSFS 2024, requiring the creation of more than 200 LOD models due to the simulator’s aggressive model switching behavior. These updated versions are planned for release in the months following the Starship launch.
Flight dynamics and realism
The Starship’s flight model builds upon Black Square’s prior work with the Velocity XL and includes MSFS-native features such as CFD-based propeller physics, enhanced ground handling, and improved tire simulation. Engine and aerodynamic performance figures are claimed to fall within 2% of the published performance of the real aircraft, supported by data from real-world Starship pilots.
Among its many unique aspects is the Starship’s canard configuration, twin pusher turboprop layout, and all-composite construction—making it a particularly unusual subject for a study-level simulation. With a service ceiling of 41,000 feet and a cruising speed north of 320 knots, the aircraft occupies a niche between high-performance turboprops and early-generation bizjets.
A deep dive for the curious: manual available now!
For those eager to prepare before release, Black Square has made the full 190+ page manual freely available through Just Flight. The document covers everything from avionics operation and flight procedures to complex systems logic and checklist flows. It also introduces users to the tablet interface and provides detailed information about the aircraft’s limitations, emergency procedures, environmental control systems, and avionics quirks.
The inclusion of a failure system compatible with third-party instructor stations, in-depth radar simulation, gyroscopic physics, realistic electrical behavior, and even phenomena like St. Elmo’s Fire indicates an unusually broad scope that is sure to keep simmers entertained for years to come!
What’s next?
After the Starship release, Black Square plans to follow up with a new “Professional Series” of aircraft in Q3 and Q4 of this year. These models are intended to succeed the popular Steam Gauge Overhaul fleet and will include a number of systems and visual upgrades tailored to MSFS 2024. More details are expected after FlightSimExpo.
For now, the Starship stands as Black Square’s most complex product to date and marks a new chapter in study-level aircraft development for MSFS. Expect further details and educational materials to become available ahead of the release. As always, we’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned!
