The team at Just Flight continues hard at work on two major aircraft projects for Microsoft Flight Simulator: the A300B4 Professional and the Fokker F70/100 Professional. This week, Just Flight released fresh updates for both, showcasing the ongoing attention to detail and quality that simmers have come to expect from the developer.
A300B4 Professional: In-Depth Look at the Lower Engineer’s Panel
The latest development update for the A300B4 Professional focuses on the intricate lower engineer’s panel, also known as the Command 3 (CM3) position. The CM3 panel is filled with an array of switches, dials, and lights, but Just Flight breaks down each section to make sense of its design and function.
This update provides a detailed walkthrough of the panel, highlighting the electrical power section on the left, which displays engine and APU-driven generators, battery switches, and other crucial AC and DC circuit gauges. The central part of the panel features secondary engine parameter indicators, while the right side is dedicated to the Air Bleed system, showing how air is supplied from engines and the APU to the aircraft’s systems.
The development team has paid special attention to the magnetic indicators and annunciator lights, creating a realistic “used but maintained” look for the aircraft using the latest PBR technology. This attention to wear and tear, along with the recreation of panel markings and schematics, aims to provide simmers with an immersive cockpit experience. Just Flight also teased a future update focused on the upper engineer’s panel, indicating that there’s still more to come.
In previous updates, Just Flight highlighted their efforts to replicate the cockpit’s high-resolution textures, integrating various systems such as hydraulics, flight control, and landing gear, and capturing authentic audio for the aircraft’s engines. Each aspect of the development seems to be aimed at creating a faithful representation of the classic A300B4, allowing simmers to experience the iconic airliner’s complexity and operational nuances.
Fokker F70/100 Professional: Improved Exterior Textures in 8K
After a period of quiet, Just Flight has also revealed a substantial exterior makeover for the Fokker F70/100 Professional. The update showcases redrawn 8K textures, offering significantly higher fidelity. Details like rivets, screwheads, and the subtle ripples of the fuselage skin are now accurately depicted, reflecting the natural wear and tear of an aircraft with a long service history.
The new textures include improvements to decals, which now retain clarity even up close. The aircraft models also feature optional bare metal cargo door latches and window frames, seen on some specific aircraft. These enhancements not only improve the visual fidelity but also capture the unique characteristics of different Fokker variants. Just Flight’s artist team is now focusing on adding fine details to the liveries, promising even more eye-catching results in future updates.
Alongside these updates, Just Flight also shared a selection of stunning new screenshots of both projects. Keep an eye out for more news as the team advances on both the A300B4 and Fokker F70/100 projects in the coming months!
