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Microsoft Releases New Airplanes and More: Live at FSExpo 2026

FSElite6/12/2026

Quick summary· AI-generated

FSElite reports on Microsoft's FSExpo 2026 announcements, including the immediate availability of the FSReborn Piper M600 Expert Series aircraft with G3000 avionics, emergency autoland, and detailed systems simulation. The company previewed Sim Update 5.1's stability gains, a National Parks update featuring Jackson Hole Airport scenery by Gaya Simulations, City Update 15 covering Illinois/Minnesota/Wisconsin, and relaunched Air Races with enhanced realism. Looking ahead, Sim Update 6 will introduce downwash visualization, helicopter flight-model developer tools, turbulence warnings, and night-lighting improvements.

Excerpt from FSElite

Jorg from Microsoft Flight Simulator took to the stage at Flight Sim Expo 2026 to discuss the MSFS platform. Sim Update 5.1 is the most stable the simulator has ever been since the inception of the MSFS 2020.

Thanks to a partnership with Vexcel, who provided high quality cameras, Microsoft Flight Simulator’s National Parks update bring more US National Parks up to the standard of the Grand Canyon. Part of the National Parks update includes bespoke Jackson Hole Airport scenery from Gaya Simulations, since it’s the only airport located inside of a US National Park.

A new base aircraft, the Goodyear Blimp, will be coming to MSFS 2024 on July 4th, 2026 thanks to iniBuilds.

In the fall of 2026, the MSFS Air Races will relaunch as a free update. The Air Races include updated high-quality scenery and a refreshed focus on realism, engine management, and flight dynamics.

City Update 15

City Update 15 will cover updates to Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the USA in line with the country’s 250th anniversary. Jorg showed a preview video of the updated scenery showcasing a variety of large cities and small towns including Chicago, St. Paul, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.

New Expert Series Airplane: Piper M600 by FSReborn

Jorg brought Raul from FSReborn on stage to cover the newest expert series airplane: the Piper M600. The high-performance single engine turboprop features a full G3000 suite with reversionary mode, LIDO charts support, more than 100 simulated circuits, auto throttle, a bespoke engine simulation, custom fuel temperature simulation, and custom pressurization simulation.

The M600 also has a working emergency autoland alongside a variety of failure modes. The FSReborn M600 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is now available as of the publishing of this article.

Sim Update 6: The Future

A new down draft visualization will be coming to MSFS allowing pilots to better see when airflow goes downwards e.g. off of mountains.

New tools for helicopter developers allow fine tuning of flight model characteristics for more realistic behavior. This includes assistance tuning, rotor airflow visualization, and ring state visualization.

A new phase lag tool helps developers see the effects of cyclic controls, phase lag, and assymetry of lift.

Pilots will be able to receive visual warnings for varying degrees of turbulence in an effort to help the developers get better feedback on the turbulence simulation model.