Eighteen months after a bold flight model promise, the Vortex SC is finally out for MSFS
Unlimited aerobatic aircraft remain one of the smallest niches in Microsoft Flight Simulator, and any new entry lives or dies on a single question: how does it feel at the top of a vertical line? Looking to answer that question on a positive note, the Vortex SC, DSD Simulations’ first payware aircraft, is out today on Orbx for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024, right on the July 16 date the developer committed to last month.
This project has gone through an interesting journeys, from the first announcement back in January 2025, when it was still called the Extra 330SC, through getting a new name along the way and even gaining a notable consultant in Melanie Astles, the French-British aerobatic champion who became the first woman to compete in the Red Bull Air Race.
The original plan was to release on MSFS 2020 first and bring the aircraft to MSFS 2024 later, once Marketplace approval cleared. Instead, both versions arrived on Orbx on the same day, each priced at $37.99 AUD, which works out to roughly US$26.61 or €23.21.
A configurable airshow machine
The main claim has not changed since day one. DSD describes a highly refined custom flight model built to reproduce the rapid roll response, precise energy management, and control authority expected from a competition-grade unlimited monoplane. According to the developer, the aircraft should feel predictable and connected whether you are flying competition sequences, low-level freestyle, or smoother flowing routines.
Around that focus, DSD has packed in an unusual amount of configurability for an aircraft in this class. Pilots can fit or remove action cameras, wheel spats, and aerials, choose between 3-blade and 4-blade propellers, and even opt for a glass floor, a configuration aimed at airshow photography and video work. The cockpit follows the same philosophy, with interchangeable avionics that let you swap between a classic analogue panel and a modern digital layout. For those who like to poke around the engineering, the cowlings come off to reveal a fully modelled engine underneath.
Sound comes from Echo 19 Audio Productions, a partnership that was already in place at the original announcement, and DSD says the pack delivers deep, aggressive engine tones with dynamic behaviour across throttle inputs and high-energy manoeuvres.
There is also a smoke system built specifically for display flying, and, in a thoughtful touch for the virtual airshow crowd, all major visual configurations and effects are multiplayer compatible. Your smoke, your camera pods, and your propeller choice will show up correctly in formation flights and shared events.
The package rounds out with 28 liveries inspired by aerobatic and display flying culture.
