Weekly Recap

Last week we released Sim Update 6 on all platforms. If you missed the release notes for this major update, you can read them in full here. Also, please be sure to share your feedback and vote in our surveys and submit bug reports if you encounter any issues.

Earlier this week we also released Aircraft and Avionics Update 5! This update includes enhancements to the following aircraft, upgrading them to the native MSFS 2024 framework and also adding support for appropriate Career Mode activities.

Famous Flyer 06 Ford 4-AT Trimotor
Local Legend 10: Boeing 307 Stratoliner
Local Legend 14: The Bell 47J Ranger
Local Legend 17: The Curtiss C-46 Commando

Additionally, Expert Series 1: The ATR 42-600 / 72-600 was also updated as part of AAU_05 to resolve several bugs and address feedback from the community. You can read the full release notes for AAU_05 here.

Finally, this week (August 18, to be precise) is the Sixth Anniversary of Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)‘s launch! From all of us at Microsoft, Asobo Studio, and every other company, team, or individual developer who contributes to MSFS, we wish to thank YOU, the flight sim community, for six wonderful years of MSFS! We recently compiled some player stats from six years of simulated flights across both MSFS (2020) and MSFS 2024 combined. We hope you enjoy seeing the collective simming accomplishments you have completed together over the last six years!

NOTE: There will not be a Weekly Briefing next week (August 27) because the team will be attending gamescom in Cologne, Germany. Our next Weekly Briefing will be on September 3, 2026.

Check out this week’s NEW and UPDATED releases for both the MSFS (2020) and MSFS 2024 in-sim Marketplaces.

Explore Products

Community Fly-In Friday

We are currently flying around the world as part of our celebrations for the 6th Anniversary of Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)! We started the journey on Monday in Bordeaux, France (home of Asobo Studio) and after two stages of flying eastbound, our group has now made it as far as Karachi, Pakistan. The next leg will see us contine flying east to Chongqing, China!

During Friday’s livestream, we will be holding prize giveaways to lucky viewers courtesy of Pimax and WINCTRL, so you definitely want to participate in the group flight and watch the broadcast on our official Twitch channel for your chance to win some fantastic hardware!

Suggested Marketplace Add-on: Chongqing Magic City 8D by SamScene3D (pictured in the banner image above). Please note that purchasing this product is entirely optional and is not required to participate in the group flight.

See Event Details

Highlights from last week’s Community Fly-In

Last week’s event took place in British Columbia! Here are some screenshots from the Fly-In:

Screenshot by Chladic88

Screenshot by IceManDBB

Weekly Flight Inspiration

The world is a big place! If you’re looking for ideas about where to fly this week, check out our Community Managers’ recommendation here!

Earlier this week we launched Aircraft & Avionics Update 5 (AAU_05) for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, bringing updates to the ATR 42/72-600, Bell 47J Ranger, Boeing 307 Stratoliner, Curtiss C-46 Commando, and Ford 4-AT Trimotor. If you’ve not flown these aircraft in a while, why not take one out of the hangar for a flight?!

upcoming Community Events

Gamescom 2026 B.A.R Community Mixer: We’re excited to be attending Gamescom 2026 later this month, and are once again hosting a B.A.R event for members of the flight simulation community to meet each other, members of the MSFS team, developers and content creators! If you’re attending Gamescom, or in the Cologne area on Saturday, August 29th, and you’d like to join us, register your interest via the form here.

Regular Community Fly-Ins: If you’re looking to join in with group flights, or even host your own, the best place to begin is via our dedicated Forum category. With a whole host of groups organising regular events, there’s something for everyone! Find more details here.

Community Video

Captain Carlos is bringing out his inner Maverick this week, with an amazing cinematic video of some F/A-18E Hornet operations from the carrier deck of the USS Ronald Reagan!