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, allowing players to immediately experience a new category of powered-lift aircraft, such as eVTOL air taxis and personal flying vehicles, before their commercial availability in the real world.
The game features an improved physics engine and includes several futuristic aircraft models from manufacturers like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, and Jetson, some developed through direct collaboration for realistic flight dynamics.
MSFS2024 introduces a new "Career System" mode designed to simulate a pilot's progression, offering missions like search and rescue or aerial firefighting, along with features for flight planning, logging routes, and aircraft ownership/maintenance.
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.
