Weekly Recap

Earlier this week, we released the Airbus Helicopters H125 for Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020). This aircraft was previously only available for MSFS 2024, but it can now be enjoyed by simmers on both versions as part of our continued support of MSFS (2020).

Also this week was the launch of the Carenado CT206 as an exclusive release on the in-sim Marketplace! As simmers have come to expect from Carenado, the CT206 is beautifully modeled to the highest standard of visual fidelity. We recently caught up with artist Mauricio Illanes from Carenado to discuss his passion for aviation art (in both digital and painted media). You can read our interview with Mauricio in the Developer Spotlight section below.

Finally, as we prepare for the launch of Sim Update 7, we once again encourage everyone participating in our public beta test to share their feedback and vote in our forum surveys. Your bug reports and feedback (both positive and negative) are invaluable in helping our team deliver the best possible sim update. We also recently released a new beta build last Friday (on PC and XBOX) and Monday (on PS5). You can read the release notes for this test build (v1.9.16.0) at this link.

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

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Developer spotlight: The Art of Carenado

To celebrate this week’s launch of the Carenado CT206 on the in-sim Marketplace, we recently connected with Mauricio Illanes from the Carenado team. In addition to being both a talented graphic designer and a real-world pilot, Mauricio is also a painter with a strong passion for aviation artwork. He was kind enough to share some of his paintings to accompany this article.

What is your name, and what is your role on the Carenado team?

My name is Mauricio Illanes. I am the Creative Director and Co-Founder at Carenado. By trade, I am a graphic designer, but my connection to aviation goes back to early childhood. My grandfather was a pilot, and when I was a child, I used to fly with him. While he stepped away from the airplane after landing, I would stay behind, observing the aircraft with great attention, drawing and painting them. Those moments left a deep impression on me — I developed a very special affection for airplanes and fell completely in love with aviation. Years later, after studying graphic design and immersing myself in art and painting, I was able to materialize all those childhood memories and that deep passion into my work.

That lifelong love was a major inspiration when my partner and I founded Carenado — I wanted to capture and transmit all those visual nuances. Carenado has always been dedicated to creating the most faithful representations of real-world aircraft, and that core philosophy has been my guiding motive in taking charge of everything visual within the company — including shape, textures, and behavior. In short, I oversee the product in its entirety, primarily focusing on graphic design and visual representation. I am also a real-world pilot, which further informs our attention to detail.

How long have you worked professionally in flight simulation add-on development?

Phew, it has been a long journey! I’ve been doing this for a little over 25 years alongside my partner, Fernando. It’s been an incredibly fun and rewarding adventure — navigating so many simulators, continuous updates, different Windows versions, and witnessing the amazing evolution of the industry into what it has become today, which is truly spectacular.

In the simmer community, Carenado has a reputation for releasing products with highly realistic visual modeling. What tools and techniques do you use to ensure the visual depiction of Carenado’s aircraft have the best possible level of visual fidelity?

While we use industry-standard 3D modeling and 3D painting software, our true level of fidelity comes down to observation and interpretation rather than just the software itself. We don’t rely strictly on detailed blueprints or exact measurements beyond the general dimensions found in aircraft manuals. Instead, it’s about simple, deep observation and capturing the soul and spirit of the aircraft.

Much like motor vehicles, aircraft have a distinct “face” and personality that you have to replicate: how they sit on the tarmac, their stance when braking, the way they move and taxi, and how they fly. As a real-world pilot, I’ve had the chance to fly many of the aircraft we model, which allows us to translate that authentic experience into the simulator. We aim for a sweet spot that balances realism with pure enjoyment — capturing details like subtle vibrations, dirt buildup in specific areas, and the precise textures of the upholstery. Since physical sensations and smells can’t be replicated on a screen, we pour everything into those visual and behavioral nuances to make the virtual aircraft feel as true to life as possible.

What excited you the most about working on the CT206?

The CT206 is a true icon of general aviation — it’s like a Swiss Army knife. It can do almost everything: off-field bush flying, amphibious operations, diverse missions, cargo transport, and passenger haul. Powered by a 300-horsepower engine and carrying six seats, it is one of the most versatile and produced aircraft in its class. What excited us the most is how perfectly it fits into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, especially within Career Mode. Given all the roles it can fulfill and the wide range of experiences virtual pilots can enjoy in it, we are extremely thrilled about this release. Plus, it’s just a beautiful aircraft.

Are there any visual features of the CT206 that you are especially proud of?

It’s hard to pick just one, but if there’s something I’m particularly fond of and that we paid close attention to, it’s the aircraft’s stance on the tarmac. The CT206 is a relatively heavy aircraft, and over the years, the front nose gear struts tend to decompress, giving most of them a slightly nose-high, tail-low posture. It sits on the ramp almost like a resting beast. To truly emphasize that ground attitude, we even modeled tire deformation under the aircraft’s weight, which adds a great layer of realism.

Additionally, I’d like to highlight the amphibious model, which is a true gem to fly. We put a lot of work into the water effects and how the aircraft interacts with and moves through the water, and we are extremely proud of how that turned out.

Is there anyone to whom you would like to give special thanks?

As always, this is the result of a multidisciplinary effort by a truly talented team: 3D modelers, graphic designers, sound engineers, and programmers. My special thanks go to all of them. They are always completely aligned with Carenado’s vision and philosophy, pushing to achieve these high standards together. It is an absolute pleasure working with such a close-knit group where camaraderie, friendship, and teamwork come first.

On a personal level, I also want to give a special thanks to my wife, who has been by my side and supported me throughout all these years.

Ultimately, this is the exact type of aircraft we love most. It truly embodies general aviation and speaks directly to the community of pilots — a community we proudly belong to ourselves. Planes like this, which can adapt to diverse weather conditions and undertake special missions, represent the core spirit of everything we have worked on since day one.

Community Fly-In Friday

Our Circumnavigation tour continues this week with a flight across the majestic scenery of Alaska and British Columbia! Departing from Anchorage, we will have touch & go landings in Juneau and Vancouver before arriving at our full stop destination of Seattle (with flyover of Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in nearby Redmond, WA).

See Event Details

upcoming Community Events

FSimUK 2026: There’s finally a dedicated flight simulation event taking place in the UK again, with the inaugural FSimUK event taking place this week in Bristol. With some of the leading industry developers exhibiting, set amongst the stunning display of Concorde, this isn’t an event to miss! Registration can be completed 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

KLM have just taken delivery of their first Airbus A350, so to celebrate the occasion, we’re joining Alpha Originals as they embark on the first long haul trip in the aircraft to Toronto, Canada!