It’s been a long road for Majestic Software’s Dash 8 Q400 as it transitions into Microsoft Flight Simulator. After years of silence followed by a steady stream of cautiously optimistic updates, we now have a concrete glimpse of the aircraft, and this time it’s inside the sim.
Majestic Software has just released a batch of early work-in-progress screenshots showing the Q400 inside MSFS. The visuals come with the usual caveats: the aircraft is not yet in its final form, and the 3D model is still being rebuilt. That said, the screenshots mark an important step in bringing one of the most complex turboprops from the FSX/P3D era into the current sim generation.
The screenshots offer a first look at the Q400 placed within the MSFS environment, showing both interior and exterior views. It’s evident that what we’re seeing is still based on older assets. The cockpit geometry and textures appear to reflect a lower polygon count and resolution than what is typically seen in modern MSFS aircraft. This aligns with Majestic’s statements, which confirmed that the visual model is being entirely rebuilt and is not yet final.
The images show both the exterior and cockpit. The Q400 flight deck is visible here, along with details like the overhead panel and several exterior shots of the landing gear, propellers, and engine nacelles.
Majestic previously stated that core systems and flight dynamics are already working in the MSFS 2020 environment, but the focus has shifted to adapting for MSFS 2024 and overhauling the visuals. The developer says they are “aggressively working on bringing her to life,” though no release timeline has been announced.
This is consistent with what Majestic shared back in May, when they showcased detailed external renders and announced that the EFIS was being rebuilt with a more modern display system and an integrated EFB with Navigraph support. At that time, they highlighted that development progress was dependent on 3D modeling resources, something that continues to be a challenge.
The Q400 is known for being a systems-heavy aircraft, featuring a proprietary Flight Dynamics Engine outside the simulator’s own flight model logic in earlier platforms. While MSFS poses different constraints and possibilities, Majestic has been tight-lipped on whether that external FDE will be retained, replaced, or reimagined.
Still, seeing the aircraft within the simulator, on a runway, with systems and displays already seemingly functioning, is an encouraging sign. It moves the project out of abstract status updates and into visible progress. The flight sim community has been eager for a high-fidelity turboprop in MSFS, and the Q400 remains one of the most requested aircraft in that category.
As always, we’ll be following the project closely. There’s no firm release date on the horizon, and Majestic continues to say that their work is far from finished. But with these new images, it’s clear the Q400 is no longer just a nostalgic memory from the P3D days: it’s inching closer to reality in Microsoft Flight Simulator!
