Sky Blue Radio

SAINT PAUL - June 9, 2026 - The flight sim convention for enthusiasts, aviation professionals, and pilots is coming to Minnesota
this weekend! Held at the Saint Paul RiverCentre on June 12-14, FlightSimExpo is one of the world's biggest flight sim celebrations.


If you're not able to join the community in-person, you can still support the event and watch from anywhere with FlightSimExpo
Online, available for just $15 at flightsimexpo.com/watch.


What's Happening at FlightSimExpo 2026


The three-day event starts on Friday, June 12, when hundreds of attendees will participate in pre-event experiences like
workshops, classes, and 'behind-the-scenes' tours at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. #FSExpoFriday, a series of new
product reveals from some of the biggest names in flight simulation, begins at 12pm CDT. The Exhibit Hall opens at 4:30pm CDT
on Friday, and FSA Captains with tickets are invited to the FlightSimExpo Banquet later that night.
Weekend show hours are 9am-6pm CDT on Saturday, June 13 and 9am-3pm CDT on Sunday, June 14. Alongside 70+ interactive
exhibits, the FlightSimExpo 2026 Exhibit Hall includes:

The Pilot Club has made what it is calling one of its biggest announcements yet, introducing the Aviation Career Center, a major step forward in its mission to help inspire, educate, and guide the next generation of aviation professionals.

For years, The Pilot Club has been known throughout the flight simulation and aviation community as a place where pilots, simmers, air traffic controllers, students, and aviation enthusiasts can come together, learn, fly, and build friendships. Now, with the Aviation Career Center, that mission is expanding beyond the virtual flight deck and into the larger world of aviation education and career development.

The Aviation Career Center is designed to give students early exposure to aviation career paths while building a stronger bridge between passion and profession. Through structured learning, digital coursework, instructional media, mentorship, and career exploration, The Pilot Club is creating a pathway for students who may be curious about aviation but unsure where to begin.

The program introduces learners to important aviation topics such as aircraft systems, airspace structure, aviation communications, flight operations, and other foundational skills that can help prepare them for future training. Whether a student dreams of becoming a pilot, engineer, technician, air traffic controller, or aviation operations professional, the Aviation Career Center aims to provide the first spark and the first steps.

This announcement is especially meaningful for the flight simulation community. Many real-world aviation journeys begin at home, behind a yoke, joystick, throttle, or keyboard. Flight simulation has long been a powerful doorway into aviation, giving people the chance to explore procedures, navigation, communication, and decision-making in a hands-on way. The Pilot Club is leaning into that connection by using home flight simulation as an educational tool that can inspire real-world opportunity.

The Pilot Club describes its mission as promoting and inspiring interest in aviation through home flight simulation while providing education, support, and mentorship to its members. The Aviation Career Center takes that mission and gives it more runway.

This is not just another community update. It is a statement about where aviation education can go when passionate volunteers, educators, pilots, and industry professionals work together. It is about making aviation more approachable, more understandable, and more accessible to students who may one day become the people flying, maintaining, designing, dispatching, and managing the aircraft of tomorrow.

Sky Blue Radio congratulates The Pilot Club on this announcement and its continued commitment to the aviation and flight simulation communities. Programs like this remind us that aviation does not begin only at the airport. Sometimes it starts with a curious student, a simulator at home, a welcoming community, and someone willing to say, "Your flight path starts here."

To learn more, watch The Pilot Club's announcement video on YouTube and visit The Pilot Club online.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/06/05/the-pilot-club-announces-aviation-career-center-initiative

A few years ago, I was given the privilege to test and review the King Air 350 by Black Square. It was my first review for Sky Blue Radio so I was bit worried when I discovered it was a base model with revised avionics and systems. I thought my review was going to be two paragraphs of bashing and boredom. Not how I wanted to start. But to my joyful surprise it ended up being a master class of systems integration that turned the realism up to eleven. So naturally I was pumped to check out their newest endeavor, the Cessna Caravan 208.

At first glance, the external model is noticeably more detailed than the stock 208 with detailed rivets and more pronounced panel lines. At the front are smears where many a bug have met their fate. Visually, it's spot on. All doors and even smaller cargo pod doors are interactive. The interior is even more impressive with steam gauges everywhere just as the good Lord intended. Now you do have the option to slap on a few high-tech Garmin's if you feel the need for more screen time in your life. But I prefer a little analog dopamine myself.  Lighting is another big improvement with multiple adjustment knobs, and each analog dial has its own little dedicated light just above. The nighttime aura is real.

In typical Black Square fashion, start-up requires you to do things by the book or suffer the consequences of your hastiness. You could damage the starter, fry your battery, or just cook your engine all together. However, doing it right will gift you that sweet sound of that Pratt & Whitney PT6 engine coming to life by Boris Audio Works. And to keep a visual check on your engine status, there is a flight tablet with a colorful engine flow diagram. It can be satisfying or terrifying to look at depending on your engine status. The tablet also lets you load and fuel the aircraft as well as a whole host of other options. If you feel a need for more of a challenge, there are tons of failure options along with a fully functioning circuit breaker to mess with just next to your left knee.  Click points, switches, and knobs feel more direct and precise compared to the MSFS model, which is expected.  

Taxi and takeoff will keep you in check as well. Once off the brake the aircraft instantly begins to move forward and if you do not apply the reversing beta range, you'll find yourself doing 30 plus knots withing seconds. But the sounds of a reversing PT6 make taxiing so satisfying. Takeoff requires a bit of finesse since throwing the levers to the firewall will almost certainly destroy your engine. Slow advancement and 80% throttle seem to be the sweet spot. Performance depends deeply on your weight, so the range goes from "Wow" to "are we up yet"? The Caravans strength lies in its ease to fly and short field performance for landing. No matter what weight or landing configuration, I was able to consistently grease the landings.

Other details that make this aircraft special are the little things. Navigational aids such as VORs and NDBs react like they would in the real world. You have to be within range to pick these signals up and even then, the needles will sway back and forth during the flight. Fuel needs to be monitored closely as well. I noticed the left fuel tank uses more fuel than the right tank. This slowly caused a weight imbalance issue that started to affect my aircraft. Fuel flow, Propeller RPMs, ITT, everything needs to be scanned and monitored, and that is what makes this bird so fun.

Black Square is one of the most consistent developers in the flight Sim world to date. They know who they are and what they do best and that is refreshing in a sim world that always seems to be in an arms race of Boeing and Airbus products. Black Square took what was already a legendary utility aircraft and turned it into one of the most immersive, systems-deep GA experiences in MSFS. It's not just an airplane. It's a flying pickup truck with a turbine engine and a passive-aggressive personality.  Once again, they made the ordinary extraordinary.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/06/04/regan-reviews-black-square-cessna-caravan-208

Sky Blue Radio recently sat down for a special panel interview with Brian, also known as B2, from SayIntentions.ai, for a conversation that covered development, community, flight simulation, and a few hints about what may be coming next.

Hosted by JT, the interview also featured Serge from The Pilot Club and Tony from Bravo737, bringing together a relaxed panel of flight sim voices for an inside look at one of the most talked-about platforms in the virtual aviation world.

Brian serves as the Senior Web & Mobile Engineer at SayIntentions.ai and has been heavily involved in several major products and features across the platform. During the conversation, the panel discussed his work on PocketSky, the tracker website, Checklist Tuner, StreamKit, the main SayIntentions.ai website, the new ticketing system and knowledgebase, and the new Flow Pro widget.

The discussion gave listeners a peek behind the curtain at how these tools are built, how they continue to evolve, and how SayIntentions.ai is working to make the flight simulation experience more immersive, more connected, and more useful for virtual pilots.

The panel also talked about the community side of flight simulation, the growing relationship between SayIntentions.ai and virtual pilots, and how features like Flow Pro and StreamKit are opening new doors for creators, streamers, and everyday simmers alike.

And yes, there may have even been a little discussion about future developments. We will not spoil the whole flight plan here, but let's just say there may be more on the horizon.

You can listen to the full interview now on the Sky Blue Radio YouTube page at:

https://www.youtube.com/@Skyblueradio

The interview will also air during Hour 1 of The JT Show this Friday night at 5 PM Mountain Time on Sky Blue Radio.

Listen live at:


Home

A big thank you to Brian "B2" from SayIntentions.ai, Serge from The Pilot Club, and Tony from Bravo737 for joining the conversation.

Come have a listen and hear what came out of this great panel discussion.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/06/04/sky-blue-radio-panel-talks-sayintentions-ai-with-brian-b2

NextGen Simulations has shared its June 2026 development update, and the headline is a big one for turboprop fans: the EMB-110 Bandeirante V2 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is ready for release.

The long-awaited update from Carlos Daniel Gonz lez G mez, CEO, Founder, and Lead Developer of NextGen Simulations, confirms that the aircraft has completed a demanding internal testing and validation process. According to the developer, the release timeline was extended while the team worked through a number of critical bugs across multiple areas of the product.

In other words, the Bandeirante spent a little extra time in the virtual hangar getting its final checks, rivets, and gremlins sorted before being pushed out to the ramp.

A New Bandeirante for MSFS 2024

The EMB-110 Bandeirante V2 is built for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and represents a major step forward from the original MSFS 2020 version. NextGen Simulations says the new version includes upgraded modeling, improved textures, enhanced systems, a redesigned experience for MSFS 2024, and a newly remastered soundscape.

One of the major points in the update is the aircraft's audio. The developer thanked the community for its feedback on the original MSFS 2020 sound package, noting that much of the motivation behind the updated V2 soundscape came directly from user reviews and comments.

That feedback appears to have paid off. The new sound environment has received positive community response, and NextGen says it may assess whether the improved soundscape can be backported into the MSFS 2020 version in a future update.

Pricing and Upgrade Path

NextGen Simulations also confirmed pricing for the EMB-110 Bandeirante V2.

For new customers, the aircraft will be priced at:

$34.99 / €34.99

Existing owners of the MSFS 2020 version will receive a discounted upgrade price of:

$13.99 / €13.99

These prices are listed before VAT.

That upgrade path should be welcome news for current Bandeirante owners who have been waiting to bring the aircraft properly into the MSFS 2024 era.

Release Plans

The EMB-110 Bandeirante V2 is expected to arrive on the in-game Marketplace in mid-June 2026, assuming all final checks and validation steps are completed successfully.

The initial release will be for PC and Xbox Marketplace users. A PlayStation 5 release is not possible yet and remains on hold until further notice.

NextGen also noted that release through third-party stores is expected to follow within the next couple of months.

Documentation, Repaints, and Tutorials

Some supporting materials are still in progress. The product documentation, repaint kit, and YouTube tutorials are all currently being worked on.

That means simmers may see the aircraft arrive first, with additional resources following as the rollout continues.

Saab Development Resumes

The June update also touches on NextGen's Saab projects. With work on the EMB-110 V2 now reaching the release stage, development on the Saab aircraft is set to resume.

NextGen says the renewed focus will prioritize Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, citing results from Navigraph's Flight Sim Community Survey, where MSFS 2024 has overtaken MSFS 2020 as the dominant flight simulation platform.

That is an important signal for where the developer is pointing its nose next: toward the new sim platform and the next generation of aircraft development.

Final Approach

For fans of classic regional turboprops, the EMB-110 Bandeirante V2 looks to be one of the more interesting MSFS 2024 aircraft releases to watch this month. With upgraded sounds, MSFS 2024-focused development, Marketplace support, and an upgrade discount for existing owners, NextGen Simulations appears ready to send the Bandeirante back into the virtual skies.

You can watch the official trailer now on YouTube:






via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/06/04/nextgen-simulations-emb-110-bandeirante-v2-cleared-for-msfs-2024-release

The superjumbo may finally be taxiing toward the spotlight.

iniBuilds has teased new progress on its long-awaited Airbus A380 project for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, signaling that a fuller reveal could be coming soon. The developer reportedly posted a short teaser message referencing "four engines," "two decks," and "a global icon," alongside new work-in-progress screenshots of the aircraft.

For flight sim fans, the A380 has always carried a certain thundercloud-sized presence. It is not just another airliner. It is the double-deck giant, the flying cathedral of long-haul aviation, and one of the most requested aircraft types in the Microsoft Flight Simulator world.

The iniBuilds A380 has been a long-running topic in the community. The project traces its roots back years, with earlier discussion around an A380 for X-Plane before renewed attention shifted toward Microsoft Flight Simulator. More recently, iniBuilds confirmed that work was underway on the aircraft, including systems development, modeling, and real-world aircraft research.

What makes this tease especially interesting is the timing. According to MSFS Addons, iniBuilds suggested that "this month" would be when the curtain is pulled back on the aircraft, which could point toward a larger reveal in June.

There is already an A380 available in the sim world through FlyByWire's freeware A380X for PC users, but iniBuilds could bring something different to the table, especially if the aircraft eventually reaches the Microsoft Marketplace or Xbox audience. That would make the A380 more accessible to a wider group of sim pilots.

No release date, pricing, or final feature list has been confirmed yet, so for now this remains a teaser rather than a launch announcement. Still, the arrival of fresh screenshots and a more direct hint from iniBuilds is enough to get long-haul fans reaching for their virtual pushback tug.

For Sky Blue Radio pilots, this could become one of the biggest heavy-aircraft releases to watch in MSFS 2024. Whether you are dreaming of London to Singapore, Dubai to Sydney, or a full-fat long-haul across the Atlantic, the A380 could bring some serious big-jet energy back to the virtual skies.

Stay tuned to Sky Blue Radio as we continue watching this one. The whale is awake, and the ramp crew may want to bring the extra-wide stairs.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/06/02/inibuilds-teases-airbus-a380-for-microsoft-flight-simulator-2024

One of the busiest airports on Earth has officially touched down in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Orbx has released KATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, developed by Matteo Veneziani, bringing a major U.S. aviation hub into the newest generation of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Atlanta is not just another dot on the route map. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world's most important airline crossroads, serving as a massive hub for domestic and international operations. For sim pilots, that means endless possibilities: Delta-heavy airline schedules, cargo runs, VATSIM events, long-haul departures, short regional hops, and enough traffic flow to make your virtual dispatch desk start sweating coffee.

According to Orbx's forum preview, this scenery was designed as a highly detailed and up-to-date rendition of KATL, including recent airport expansions such as the Concourse T extension. Orbx also described the project as being built with a consistent art style, strong optimization, and a focus on realism.

For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 users, KATL fills a major gap in the U.S. airport network. Atlanta is a key piece of the airline simulation puzzle, especially for pilots who enjoy real-world routes, hub-and-spoke operations, and busy terminal environments. From early morning departures to late-night arrivals, this airport gives virtual airline crews and online network flyers a heavyweight destination with plenty of operational flavor.

Developer Matteo Veneziani is already known in the Orbx catalog for detailed airport work, and this Atlanta release continues that trend. FSElite notes that the new KATL package has now been released for MSFS 2024, giving pilots another major North American hub to add to their scenery library.

For Sky Blue Radio listeners flying the virtual skies, this is one to watch. Whether you are loading up a Delta 737, launching an international heavy, or just trying not to get swallowed by Atlanta's legendary arrival flows, Orbx's KATL looks ready to bring serious big-airport energy to MSFS 2024.

Clearance delivered, radios tuned, and welcome to Atlanta. The taxi instructions may require a snack.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/05/30/orbx-releases-hartsfield-jackson-atlanta-international-airport-for-microsoft-flight-simulator-2024

PMDG has brought one of flight simulation's most beloved classic airliners into the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 era. The PMDG DC-6 Cloudmaster has been updated to work in both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, giving virtual pilots the chance to keep this four-engine piston legend flying across both platforms. PMDG notes that the May 2026 update allows the original MSFS 2020 version to operate smoothly in MSFS 2024.

For existing PMDG DC-6 owners, this is especially welcome news. Reports from the flight sim community indicate that the update is free for current owners and can be installed through PMDG Operations Center 3.0 for customers who purchased directly from PMDG. Marketplace and Xbox users may need to wait a little longer while the updated version moves through the Microsoft intake process.

The DC-6 has always occupied a special place in the MSFS hangar. It is not just another airliner. It is a machine from the golden age of aviation, when radial engines, long-range navigation, and cockpit workload all came together in a roaring aluminum symphony. PMDG's version has long been praised for its depth, character, and systems modeling, and its return for MSFS 2024 gives classic airline fans another reason to fire up the sim and dust off the captain's hat.

This update appears to focus primarily on compatibility rather than a full rebuild or major feature expansion. That means pilots should expect the familiar DC-6 experience they already know, now made available across both modern Microsoft Flight Simulator platforms. One community summary of PMDG's announcement noted that the aircraft is now compatible with both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 while retaining the detail and functionality users expect from the product.

For Sky Blue Radio listeners who enjoy historic airline operations, long-haul prop flying, or something a little more hands-on than today's glass-cockpit jets, this is a great reason to revisit the Cloudmaster. Whether you are crossing the Atlantic, flying vintage cargo routes, or just enjoying the sound of those big radial engines, the PMDG DC-6 is once again ready for dispatch in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

So grab the checklists, mind the manifold pressure, and let those radials sing. The Cloudmaster is back in the modern sim skies.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/05/30/pmdg-dc-6-cloudmaster-now-compatible-with-microsoft-flight-simulator-2024

Vector Sim has released a new development spotlight for its upcoming Boeing 787-9, and this one is a big signal flare for Dreamliner fans in the flight simulation world.

In the latest update, the Vector team says development has reached a major milestone, bringing together two key pillars of the project: deep aircraft systems simulation and high-end visual fidelity. According to Vector, the goal from the beginning has been to build the aircraft "the right way," with transparency throughout development and a strong focus on realism.

The team behind the project includes real-world 787 pilots, 737 pilots, 787 mechanics, aerospace engineers, programmers, artists, and longtime simmers. Vector says the aircraft was researched extensively before coding began, including access to real Boeing 787 aircraft from multiple airlines around the world. That research has shaped everything from cockpit logic and aircraft systems to visual modeling and flight behavior.

One of the biggest talking points from the spotlight is the aircraft's schematic-level systems simulation. Rather than simply creating surface-level system behavior, Vector says its 787-9 is being built so systems interact with one another more like the real aircraft. Fuel, hydraulics, electrical systems, flight controls, environmental systems, navigation, avionics, cabin systems, and aircraft health monitoring are all part of the wider simulation environment.

Vector gave the example of the fuel system, explaining that fuel is not just represented as a number in the background. Instead, it is modeled as moving through virtual pipes, valves, and pumps. If a valve is closed or engines are shut down, the system reacts accordingly. Similar detail is being applied to other aircraft systems, including pressures, temperatures, automation, sensors, and failures.

The avionics package is also being built from scratch. Vector says the CDU, EFIS, MCP, FMC, TCAS, CPDLC, and other flight deck systems have been recreated at a deep level. The autopilot system, including LNAV and VNAV, has also been developed from the ground up and is currently undergoing tuning to match the behavior of the real Boeing 787.

The FMC will include real-world-style limitations, including the 149 waypoint route limit. Exceed that, and the aircraft will respond with a "ROUTE FULL" message, just as pilots would expect.

The aircraft's Boeing-style integrated EFB is also receiving a high level of attention, with airport charts, enroute monitoring, performance tools, calculators, conversions, stopwatch functions, and other pilot utilities included. Vector is also developing a separate quality-of-life tablet called the Vpad, which will handle simulator-focused features such as SimBrief integration, Navigraph charts, accelerated refueling, accelerated IRS alignment, doors, lighting, ground services, loading states, and more.

The checklist system is another major feature, with Vector saying it contains around 700 pages. The team says real-world 787 pilots involved in the project have described the level of detail as strong enough to be useful as a training-style reference.

Visually, the 787-9 is being built with the same obsessive attention to detail. Vector highlighted the Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 D-ABPA in the spotlight, showing off the aircraft's exterior model, cockpit displays, landing gear, engines, tail, wing flex, and environmental wear. The team says the flight model has been built from scratch to capture the weight and feel of a modern long-haul widebody, especially during taxi, takeoff, flight, and landing.

One major promise from Vector stands out: the team says everything shown in the spotlight already exists, is developed, and is working. They specifically state that the aircraft will not release with placeholder features or systems planned for later.

The spotlight also walks through a sample ferry flight from Miami to New York JFK, with Boston set as the alternate. The scenario demonstrates live flight deck data, LNAV and VNAV behavior, EFB chart use, route management, weather considerations, and diversion planning using Route 2 in the FMC.

Vector says the coming months will bring more spotlight updates focusing on additional systems, technology, and areas of the aircraft. The team is currently targeting a release during 2026, toward the end of the year, with development reportedly progressing according to plan.

For 787 fans, this is shaping up to be one of the more ambitious widebody projects currently in development. Between the schematic-level systems, real-world research, integrated avionics, custom flight model, and detailed visual modeling, Vector's Dreamliner may be one to keep parked firmly on your radar.

Stay tuned to Sky Blue Radio for more flight simulation news, updates, and long-haul goodness from across the virtual skies.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/05/29/vector-sim-shows-off-ambitious-boeing-787-9-development-spotlight

The latest Microsoft Flight Simulator Weekly Briefing has arrived, and this week's update brings a mix of development news, community events, Marketplace activity, and a little Tuscan flavor for pilots looking for their next group flight.

Microsoft confirmed that the Sim Update 5.1 beta remains ongoing, with the development team continuing to review player feedback, bug reports, forum survey results, and telemetry from beta testers. The focus remains on improving stability and addressing issues reported during SU5, including low memory concerns and avionics-related problems, particularly for console users.

The team also noted that work continues on the remaining four aircraft from AAU_04. While many simmers are eager to get their hands on the updated aircraft, Microsoft says the aircraft are still being finalized to ensure they are ready before release. In other words, the virtual hangar doors are not open just yet, but the mechanics are definitely still turning wrenches.

This week also featured a special product demo livestream showcasing MOZA flight sim peripherals. The livestream included Community Manager SeedyL, MOZA representative Zak, and content creator Twotonemurphy. The panel demonstrated MOZA force feedback controls across several types of flying, including helicopters, general aviation, vintage aircraft, airliners, gliders, fast jets, and Red Bull Air Racing.

On the Marketplace side, Microsoft is highlighting this week's new and updated releases for both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. As always, simmers can browse the in-sim Marketplace to see what new aircraft, airports, scenery, utilities, and updates have landed.

For the community crowd, this week's Community Fly-In Friday heads to Italy in celebration of Italy's Republic Day on June 2. The route will take pilots over Tuscany and several famous Italian cities, including Bologna, Florence, and Pisa, before landing in Rome. Optional add-ons for the event include Pisa City Landmarks by IronSim and LIRA Rome-Ciampino International Airport by South Oak Co., though neither is required to participate.

This week's flight inspiration also points toward France, with the French Open underway at Roland-Garros. Microsoft's community team suggested flying visitors into the nearest airport, or for the bold rotary-wing crowd, perhaps even dropping in by helicopter. Somewhere, an air traffic controller just spilled their coffee.

The weekly screenshot challenge continues as well, with this week's theme listed as "Heatwave." Last week's "Color Series - Red III" challenge produced another batch of community screenshots, with eaglegreg1206 named the weekly winner.

The next Microsoft Flight Simulator Weekly Briefing is scheduled for June 4, 2026.

For more flight sim news, community updates, and aviation-flavored sky chatter, keep it tuned to Sky Blue Radio.

via: https://news.skyblueradio.com/2026/05/29/msfs-weekly-briefing-su5-1-beta-continues-italy-fly-in-announced-and-more-marketplace-updates