FlightSim Studio AG is back with the first in a new series of developer posts dedicated to the upcoming Super27 expansion pack for their Boeing 727 in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The update walks us through the visual and cockpit differences simmers can expect when the expansion releases.
It’s been a year since FSS first brought the 727 to MSFS, and the team says the aircraft has matured into what they describe as a feature-rich package. The Super27 aims to take things further, mirroring the real-world retrofit program that extended the life of the 727 in the late 1980s.
New engines and performance
The most visible change is, of course, under the hood. The Super27 replaces the original JT8D pod engines with JT8D‑217C models borrowed from the MD-80. These are larger, more powerful, and, surprisingly, quieter. The centre engine also receives an upgrade to the JT8D‑17A. Another distinctive feature is the clamshell-style thrust reversers.
New liveries
Both passenger and freighter versions of the 727 are included in the expansion, and each gets a new batch of liveries based on real-world Super27 operators. Passenger variants include airlines like Eastern, TWA, Sun Country, Ansett, and Avensa, while freighter operators such as FedEx, IFL Group, and Serve Air Cargo make the cut. Importantly, exterior textures remain largely unchanged, so community painters will be able to adapt existing repaints without much rework.
Cockpit modernization
Where the Super27 really distinguishes itself is in the cockpit. Several new instruments and optional avionics have been added:
- Digital fuel gauges on the flight engineer’s panel.
- VSI with integrated TCAS, compatible with AI traffic, VATSIM, and BeyondATC.
- Apollo MX20 moving map, which can be swapped in place of the weather radar dummy. It integrates with GPS navigation but not INS.
- Collins EFIS suite, by far the biggest change, offering EADI, EHSI, and a new glareshield-mounted autopilot panel. This allows RNAV approaches, predefined climb/descent modes, and limited VNAV (descent only). The EFIS setup is optional and can be toggled via the clipboard, meaning purists can stick to the classic six-pack layout.
Alongside the cosmetic and avionics upgrades, the Super27 comes with revised flight dynamics tuned to reflect the performance of the re‑engined aircraft. A high‑idle mode has also been implemented.
Images shared by FlightSim Studio showcase the new EFIS suite, Apollo MX20 moving map, TCAS-equipped VSI, digital fuel gauges, updated engines, and a selection of fresh liveries including FedEx, Sun Country, and Cougar Cargo.
FSS says this is just the beginning of their development updates dedicated to the Super27, promising more technical details in future posts. Stay tuned!
