Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) designs such as Joby Aviation’s air taxi are now featured in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]
Key Takeaways:
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS2024) has been released, introducing a new category of powered-lift aircraft, such as eVTOL air taxis and personal flying vehicles, for players to experience ahead of their real-world commercial deployment.
The game features an improved physics engine, with manufacturers like Joby Aviation collaborating to ensure realistic controls and flight physics for their digital aircraft.
MSFS2024 offers an expanded fleet of over 70 aircraft, including traditional planes, hot air balloons, and powered parachutes, across a highly detailed virtual world with thousands of airports.
A major new "Career System" allows players to embark on a pilot's journey, undertaking diverse missions like search and rescue or aerial firefighting, complete with flight planning and aircraft ownership simulation.
The FAA in October outlined how pilots will learn to fly powered-lift aircraft—the agency’s first new category in decades that covers vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air taxis and other futuristic designs. Commercial powered-lift models will not fly until next year, at the earliest.
But you no longer need to wait—or train—to experience them yourself.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
