Still quirky! Revisiting ATR 42/72-600 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Quick summary· AI-generated
The author revisits the ATR 42/72-600, the first aircraft in MSFS's Experts Series, after recent substantial updates. The piece covers visual improvements (exterior/interior textures, nose geometry, propeller effects) and system refinements introduced in A&AU 04 and expanded in A&AU 05, while weighing these against historical challenges the aircraft has faced. The author credits the ATR as their gateway to airliner flying and appreciates its turboprop characteristics and low-altitude routes, but examines whether the latest patches have finally smoothed out the quirks that have plagued the aircraft since release.
Excerpt from Stormbirds
The first member of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s Experts Series has seen a couple of updates over the last several months. The ATR 42/72-600 airliner has gone through many ups and downs through its released history and its been a bit of a wait for a 2024 native release for the aircraft but that was finally solved with A&AU 04. Its just seen some more fixes with A&AU 05 as well. Are we finally cruising smoothly with the ATR or is there some turbulence still to deal with?
A soft spot for the ATR in MSFS
I have a soft spot for the ATR 42/72-600 developed by Microsoft, Asobo Studio and Hans Hartmann. This modern turboprop airliner is popular around the world on shorthaul flights and that makes it a great option for folks wanting to get into simulated airliner flying on real world routes without spending several hours at cruise. The turboprop nature of the aircraft also makes it somewhat easier to handle for newer pilots with everything happening so much slower. This was all true for me when I started to get into this airplane a couple of years ago and I still credit this aircraft release as being my first true entry into airliner flying. It helped me open the door to the rest of the types out there.
In returning to the aircraft, I’ve also been quite happy to do some of these lower altitude turboprop routes again. I think they are often more interesting and fun. You’re down in the weather too which, for flight simming, makes things more interesting and provides for some interesting challenges that you don’t as often face with higher flying jet liners. The ATR brings that experience in a big way and Microsoft, Asobo and Hans Hartmann still have something of a monopoly on the modern turboprop airliner experience.
The nostalgia for me is significant then but that is up against some real challenges that the aircraft has had in the sim. What has been done to address them? Let’s have a look!
Visual and system changes… and bugs
Visual updates inside and out
The A&AU 04 update was a big moment for this aircraft (with A&AU 05 coming with some smaller ones) as it has seen some big changes to the entire airplane. It’s not quite a V2 overhaul but it is still significant.
The changes include a visual refresh of the exterior and interior model changing the effects, updating the textures and materials rendering, and adjusting the geometry. The nose in particular looks to have been adjusted to better match the real airplane and propeller effects are much improved too…
Comments (0)
No comments yet.