Introducing The AzurPoly Dassault Rafale

Experience the first officially licensed Dassault Aviation Rafale C^* for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024!

Developed by AzurPoly in cooperation with JFEXP, this detailed rendition brings one of France’s most advanced aircraft to the simulator with a high level of care, immersion and functionality.

Developed from the ground up over a period of more than two years, the AzurPoly Dassault Rafale includes features such as: a fully custom fly-by-wire system, functional terrain-following system, a complete custom avionics suite, payload configuration, and much more!

We recently sat down with Théo from the AzurPoly team to get a behind-the-scenes look at their latest release.

Could you tell us more about azurpoly and the team’s background?

AzurPoly was founded in 2020, following the release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. However, our story within the flight simulation community began long before then.

Around 15 years ago, we were avgeek teenagers spending countless hours on FSX, and that is how we first met. Over time, we started creating freeware scenery together. Even back then, we were already trying to innovate by using high-quality textures, optimizing our models, and experimenting with new techniques.

Our creations gradually gained recognition within the community and, despite our limited experience and resources at the time, began to compare favorably with products from some well-established developers. That encouraged us to keep learning and raising our standards.

When Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was released, it felt completely natural for us to come back together, without having the slightest idea of the journey that lay ahead.

What was it about the Dassault Rafale that piqued your interest?

As French aviation enthusiasts, the name “Rafale” has always resonated deeply with us. In France, it is almost impossible to talk about aviation without mentioning it. It is an icon, an aircraft that inspires children and adults. We are certainly no exception.

Having the opportunity to work on the Rafale as part of an officially licensed project was a dream for us. When that opportunity arose, at that particular stage of our journey and with all the experience we had accumulated over the years, it simply felt like the obvious next step.

Are there any unique features players should look out for?

This aircraft is an absolute beast in every aspect. As development progressed, we gradually came to understand not only how complex it is, but also just how capable it is. Aside from the flight model, one of our biggest challenges was recreating the terrain-following system. It is difficult to imagine that a pilot can fly at around 200 feet above ground level, in virtually any conditions, at speeds of up to 600 knots, and completely let go of the controls in order to focus on an entirely different task. And yet, the Rafale is capable of doing that. This is a feature that is not currently available on any other aircraft in the simulator. It was fascinating to push the game’s systems to their limits in order to achieve a result that was both realistic and fully functional.

We have to admit that flying so low and so fast while placing complete trust in the aircraft is an incredible experience, and one we would recommend to every player.

the Rafale features a canard design instead of a conventional horizontal stabilizer. How does this affect its flying characteristics in the simulator?

The combination of the delta wing and canards contributes to the Rafale’s excellent maneuverability and responsiveness. We focused on reproducing the aircraft’s overall behavior as accurately as possible through our custom fly-by-wire system.

Is there anyone you would like to give special thanks to for their help with the Rafale’s development?

While we are unable to mention anyone by name, we would like to sincerely thank every person who contributed to the project, whether directly or indirectly. The guidance, expertise, feedback, and support we received throughout development were invaluable. Every contribution, regardless of its scale, helped us move the project forward and bring this aircraft to life in the simulator.

We also had the opportunity to showcase our first reveal trailer at the official Rafale booth during the Paris Air Show! We would like to sincerely thank everyone involved for making this possible.

IS there a message you’d like to share with the community?

We would like to thank both our own community and the wider flight simulation community for supporting us from the very beginning. We say this often, and it may sometimes sound repetitive, but without their support and feedback, we would never have been able to come this far. It is a genuine privilege to experience our passion in this way and to share it with others.

We have put all our expertise, dedication, and heart into this Rafale, and we sincerely hope it will appeal to as many players as possible.

To learn more about the Dassault Rafale visit the AzurPoly Website or watch the full start-up procedure on YouTube:

*Trademark of DASSAULT Aviation. Official Licensed Product – DASSAULT Aviation