24 February 2025
Here's Nick Cyganski to bring you the latest news on some of his forthcoming aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Click on the screenshots below to see the full-size images!
Since my
last update, I have been hard at work on two more aircraft for the Black Square 'Professional' series that will replace the Steam Gauge Overhaul aircraft in MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 and beyond. Next up are the Baron Professional and Bonanza Professional.
Both will feature three airframes, each with custom exterior models, improved interior models with higher quality materials, custom sound sets from Boris Audio Works, drastically improved systems, more avionics options, and all the features of recent Black Square aircraft such as the
Piston and
Turbine Dukes.
The Bonanza Professional will include a 2000's normally aspirated A36, an aftermarket turbo-normalised A36TC, and the A36TP PT6A-powered turboprop conversion.
The Baron Professional will include a 2000's normally aspirated B58, a turbocharged 1984 58TC, and a pressurised 1985 58P.
Fans of the rare 'P-Baron' will notice that the Baron Professional now includes a true B58P exterior with a smaller cabin entry door, turbocharged engine nacelles, and all that accompanies them on the interior.
While the instrument panels of these aircraft might look similar to their original
Steam Gauge Overhaul versions, almost every feature of these aircraft has been improved, with dozens added that debuted with Black Square's Dukes. Some are more obvious, like the exquisite sound packages from Boris Audio Works, or exterior features like the external power cart and propane pre-heater. Others are subtle, like instrument needle physics with stiction and friction, allowing you to tap on the glass to free stuck needles in cold weather, or gyroscope physics simulation.
The improvements are just as significant under the hood, with almost double the code complexity of the original aircraft. These two updates bring every aspect of these aircraft up to the quality of the Black Square Dukes. Let the tablet interface's engine, cabin and electrical visualisers be your guide to all the new simulation features that have been added to these aircraft.
Most notably, both aircraft now feature the physics-based reciprocating engine simulation from the
Piston Duke. Feel the compression of each cylinder as you start the engine, or watch cold and viscous oil circulate slowly through the engine galleries while cranking. The manuals for these aircraft have grown by around 100 pages each, just to document all these new features.
With all these new features, I also wanted the aircraft to feel new. That means all new paint schemes, ten unique upholstery packages from throughout the decades and new panel designs. I also took this opportunity to add the GTNxi 750/650 bezels to the Black Square Dukes and
TBM 850, which will be included in their next updates.
The Turbine Bonanza conversion will be familiar to pilots of the
Turbine Duke, with many similar features but in a compact form factor. The turbine engine simulation in the Turbine Bonanza incorporates improvements created for Black Square's
Starship, plus mainstays like beta range, propeller feathering physics, turbine engine failures and FOD damage, making it one of the best single-engine turboprop experiences for MSFS.
Speaking of the Starship, I have some good news to share. Although we are still waiting to record sounds from the real aircraft, Matt Nischan and the Working Title team were recently able to resolve a blocking issue within MSFS 2024 that would have delayed the release of the Starship on that platform. While my testing has not been exhaustive yet, we should be able to release the Starship on both platforms without issue. So far, the Starship is performing admirably in MSFS 2024, and the cockpit looks great with raytraced shadows. I've also reworked the Starship's materials for the third time to ensure that they stay up-to-date with my current standards. We are currently planning to release the Starship before this year's
Flight Sim Expo in June, where the Just Flight team will be on hand to answer all your questions about this remarkably unique aircraft.
With MSFS 2024 becoming increasingly stable with every update, we will soon be turning our attention to MSFS 2024 compatability for the Black Square fleet. Although the Steam Gauge Overhaul aircraft will not be joining us in MSFS 2024, the rest of the aircraft are performing well in the new simulator, and there is also opportunity for some new features. Particularly, I plan to add interactivity to the exterior of the aircraft (pitot covers, doors, chocks...) for your simulated pre-flights.
For more screenshots and lists of all the new and improved features in all three of Black Square's Professional Series aircraft, check out these 'What's New' documents:
Stay tuned for product pages with lists of all the included features, more screenshots and draft manuals soon!