Three years is a long time to wait for an aircraft. Flysimware first announced the Lancair Legacy back in May 2023, and the project spent most of the time since in relative quiet while the developer focused on the Learjet 35A and Sierra C24R. Then just a couple of weeks ago, a sneak peek video surfaced showing how far along the build had come.
Today, the Lancair Legacy is available to buy on the Flysimware store.
It’s a beta, and Flysimware is upfront about that. The analog panel variant is not included in this first release, flight dynamics tuning is still ongoing with their real-world pilot, and some minor bugs may surface. But based on the two-hour live stream Momo ran overnight to walk through the product, what’s here already is substantial.
What you get
The package covers a lot of ground. There are 16 model variations in total, built around three core configurations: a standard Lancair Legacy with a glass cockpit, a turbocharged version of the same, and the Starhawk, the glass cockpit variant built as a close replica of owner Valen’s real-world award-winning aircraft. Because the real Lancair uses free-castering nosewheel steering (you steer on the ground using differential braking, not a steerable nosewheel), each variant comes in two forms: one for pilots with toe brake rudder pedals who can take advantage of the free castering, and one with assisted steering for those on a joystick or Xbox controller.
On the avionics side, both the PMS50 GTN 750 and the TDS GTN 750Xi are supported, with each GPS option available as a separate model variant. No hot-swapping between them at runtime, which Momo confirmed during the stream is a hard limitation of the Working Title G3X implementation.
The Starhawk is the only variant with propeller feathering capability. The developer noted this reflects the real world, where only a small number of Lancair Legacies have ever been built with that feature.
Turbo without a turbo
One of the more technically interesting aspects of this release is how Flysimware handled the turbocharged variant. MSFS 2024 doesn’t natively expose the turbo and wastegate dynamics needed to simulate proper forced induction behavior, so the team wrote custom WASM code in C++ to manage the fuel and mixture logic themselves.
The result is that turbo variant pilots can leave the mixture full forward up to the critical altitude of 18,000 feet, then manually lean from there as the turbo falls off up to the service ceiling of 25,000 feet. The naturally aspirated version tops out at 18,000 feet and requires mixture management throughout.
Engine sounds are shared between the two configurations. Momo said during the stream that this was a deliberate decision, with the developer already spending around $4,000 on sound recording for the aircraft overall, and the difference in real life being subtle enough not to justify the cost of a separate recording session.
A maintenance system with real consequences
The TrueSim maintenance system goes well beyond the usual wear indicators. Oil leaks at a rate of one quart every five hours from a starting total of six quarts. Let it run dry and the engine is done. Tires slowly lose pressure and visually deform as they deflate, reinflating gradually when serviced. Dirt, mud, insects, runway tar, and oil accumulate dynamically depending on the surface type and weather conditions. Rain cleans most of it off, faster at higher speeds or in heavier precipitation, though oil and tar won’t wash away.
Brake wear is also modeled, and once the brakes are gone, there is no partial fade, they simply stop working. Spark plugs on the aspirated variant foul faster if you run the mixture rich at altitude. The air filter degrades over time and affects engine performance, while the RAM air option lets you bypass it at the cost of exposing the engine to whatever is in the surrounding air.
The Starhawk’s electrical panel features fuses that light up visually when blown and can be clicked to replace. Analog panel variants, when they arrive, will use circuit breakers instead.
For those who prefer a simpler experience, all of this can be adjusted or disabled through the tablet.
Real-world pilot involved
Valen, the owner of the actual Starhawk N321TF, was involved throughout development as a subject matter expert and reference point. According to Flysimware, he provided 3D scans, photos, videos, sound recordings, and performance analyses, and took an active role in flight dynamics development.
The analog panel is coming
The current beta ships with the glass cockpit configurations only. An analog panel variant is planned in approximately four weeks. Buyers who purchase now will receive it at no extra cost when it arrives. If you’d rather wait for the complete package, Flysimware says the price will stay the same.
The aircraft will also be coming to SimMarket and the Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace at a later date, though no timeline has been given for either.
Price and where to buy
The Lancair Legacy is available now on the Flysimware store for $46.99. Flysimware says the beta is expected to be stable based on their testing, but bug reports should go through their Discord support channels only.
With A2A Simulations’ Accu-Sim Legacy RG550 also targeting Q2 2026, the Lancair is suddenly one of the more competitive corners of the MSFS GA market. Two developers, two very different approaches to the same airframe. It’s a good time to be a fan of fast kit planes!
