August 10th, 2023 Development Update

Yesterday, we released the first public test build for Sim Update 13 (1.34.10.0) to those players who have opted in to receive beta builds. You can read the release notes for this pre-release build on our forums here. If you are not enrolled in the beta and would like to help test the next major release of Microsoft Flight Simulator, you can find instructions on how to enroll here. The beta is available to players on PC (MS Store and Steam) and Xbox Series X|S.

Earlier today, we released updated versions of three aircraft in the Local Legends and Famous Flyers series: Ford 4-AT Trimotor, Latécoère 631, and Boeing 307 Stratoliner. You can read the release notes for these three updated planes here. You can download the updates from the in-sim Content Manager.

– MSFS Team

SDK UPDATE

Asobo

• The Sim Update 13 SDK is not available at this time but will be coming soon. Check the DevSupport forums for the latest information.
• Added use_intake_density_on_mixture, density_to_boost_table, mixture_lever_to_ratio_table, mixture_ratio_to_engine_efficiency_table, use_volumetric_fuel_flow, and rpm_on_volumetric_efficiency parameters to piston engine cfg to address turbo, mixture, and fuel flow issues
• Added support for helicopter engine trim control via RPN code. See SDK for details.
• Slew mode cannot be activated anymore through SimConnect or JS when playing an activity.
• Fixed changing runway number not updating runway taxi paths.
• Blender plugin added to Core SDK.
• Fixed GDI+ FillPath filling the whole framebuffer instead of the provided path.
• Fixed crash when opening Debug Sim Forces.
• User Lights debug : fixed light emitter permitted range.
• Update of the glTF schemas.

• DevMode
  • Fixed typos in CFD Debug window.
  • Fixed potential corruption upon saving a project that uses special characters.
  • Packages & Publishing Groups metadata directories are now deleted upon using the Clean All command.
  • Fixed the behaviour of the Remove buttons in the Asset Groups section of the Package Inspector.
  • Added a meaningful warning message instead of a misleading error message when an empty filename is given as an Extra file.
  • Fixed package building issues when using path names with special characters.
  • Added a way to communicate between JS and Wasm. (A Coherent listener for Java, and the “CommBus API” for WASM).
  • “FastWasmCompilation” option has been renamed to “Wasm Debug Mode”.
  • Fixed incorrect console position in devmode default layout.
  • Fixed Material Editorcrash when opening several time projects with material libraries.
  • Lights are not removed in Scenery Editor when switching to a non lighted type.
  • Fixed an issue that show a white dot when using the mouse to move the camera in game while focusing another window.

• SimConnect
  • Jetway API has been fixed:
    • PBH should now have correct values.
    • If an error occurred while listing jetway, the wrong one will be ignored.
  • SimConnect_EnumerateControllers has been added. Using this function, it is now possible to have more information about hardware devices.
  • SimConnect_AddFacilityDataDefinitionFilter and SimConnect_ClearAllFacilityDataDefinitionFilters have been added. Using those functions, it is now possible to add filter to the NavData API in order to reduce the number of messages sent by the server.
  • Requesting some data using the NavData API shouldn’t freeze the sim anymore.
  • SimConnect_ExecuteAction, SimConnect_EnumerateInputEvents, SimConnect_GetInputEvent, SimConnect_SetInputEvent, SimConnect_SubscribeInputEvent, SimConnect_UnsubscribeInputEvent and SimConnect_EnumerateInputEventParams have been added to handle input events using SimConnect. See documentation for more information.

• SimVars
  • Fixed ROTOR_LATERAL_TRIM_SET and ROTOR_LONGITUDINAL_TRIM_SET events: now they can also take negative value.
  • Added a new simvar for the Helicopter’s Master Throttle Position.
  • Added a new simvar to detect that every water ballast valve in the aircraft is open.

• SimvarWatcher
  • Fixed SimvarWatcher writing to user simobject instead of selected one.

• Aircraft Editor
  • Increased the number of lines that can be set as InputOnlyLines or OutputOnlyLines from 3 to 10 in the modular fuel system.
  • Added missing engine_type value.
  • Added TCAS parameter in Radios section.
  • Added new engine parameters.
  • Added Loading section in Aircraft.cfg.
  • Changed n1_to_shaft_torque_table from 5 to 10.
  • Made display size adaptable to system scale.
  • Removed obsolete parameters.
  • made gizmo window match current parameter unit.
  • Fixed stringlist type parameters.
  • Fixed power_absorbed_cf parameter.

• WASM
  • Added a “Vfx API” in WASM to spawn and control Visual Effect.

 

Working Title / MSFS Avionics Framework

• No update this week.

 

THIRD PARTY UPDATE

Community Video

It’s Throwback Thursday! In this video from YouTuber fs10inator, we see lots of vintage footage recorded in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight. Look how far our hobby has come in 20 years! Updated versions of many of the aircraft featured in this video — including the Wright Flyer, Curtiss Jenny, Spirit of St. Louis, Ford Trimotor, and Douglas DC-3 — are available in the current Microsoft Flight Simulator! If watching this video makes you feel nostalgic, why not start a flight in one of these classic planes?

 

Screenshot Challenge

You can submit your screenshot via Twitter with #MSFSchallenge or the Weekly Forum Post! This week’s screenshot challenge: Wildlife Photography

This past week’s Screenshot Challenge was “Circles, Squares, and Triangles“!

Weekly Screenshot Challenge Winner: Parorng (Forum)

Screenshot by AvionChibi (Twitter)

Screenshot by B16M4NN (Forum)

Screenshot by CpuGeta486 (Twitter)

Screenshot by Crowobarr1 (Forum)

Screenshot by EejayX (Forum)

Screenshot by FlyingSubset2 (Forum)

Screenshot by HeKa48 (Forum)

Screenshot by Ikulin09 (Twitter)

Screenshot by Stanty16 (Forum)

Screenshot by pommes_l (Twitter)

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NEXT DEVELOPMENT BLOG UPDATE – August 17th, 2023

Sincerely,

Microsoft Flight Simulator Team