In an exciting update for the flight simulation community: A2A Simulations has hinted at the possible arrival of their next aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator later this year.
There has been a lot of speculation about what A2A would do next after the excellent Comanche 250, but this doubt now seems to have been put to rest with an understated announcement from Scott Gentile, the owner of A2A Simulations, in a statement shared via an email from FSExpo, spotlighting some of the event’s key supporters.
Scott Gentile expressed his gratitude to Microsoft and the flight sim community for the success of their Comanche 250, the first aircraft built with Accu-Sim 2.0 technology. He claimed, “We’d like to thank Microsoft and the flight sim community for making the Comanche 250 such a huge success. It is our first aircraft built with Accu-Sim 2.0 technology and now we use the same physics to develop an Aerostar 600.“
The legacy and troubled history of the Aerostar 600
The Aerostar 600 has a rich history, both in the real world and already in A2A’s efforts to bring it to the flight simulation community. Scott Gentile, who owned and operated the Aerostar for several years, emphasized the personal connection and passion that A2A Simulation brings to their projects. “Like the Comanche, it is an aircraft that I have owned and operated for a number of years and it is our passion at A2A to truly bring this aircraft ownership experience to life,” Gentile added.
However, the development of the Aerostar 600 for MSFS has faced significant challenges. The project suffered a major setback when Scott Gentile’s personal Aerostar, used as a reference model for the simulation, suffered damage during an emergency landing. On New Year’s Eve, Scott and his son Jack were forced to land the plane without the left landing gear extended, resulting in damage that made it impossible to fly again.
Despite this incident, A2A Simulations managed to collect much of the necessary data before the accident, allowing them to continue development of the virtual Aerostar 600. Below, watch an early video recorded by the team in the actual Aerostar 600 flying they are modeling for the sim, registration N122PC, which shows some of the quirks of that particular aircraft that will likely be encountered in the upcoming run for MSFS.
Building on the success of the Comanche 250
The Comanche 250 set a new standard for flight simulation with its Accu-Sim 2.0 technology, delivering an unprecedented level of realism in flight dynamics and systems management. The same advanced physics and simulation techniques will be used in the development of the Aerostar 600, ensuring that virtual pilots can expect a highly detailed and authentic flying experience.
The development of the Aerostar 600 is not just about adding a new aircraft to the MSFS range, but also about expanding the skills and experiences available to simmers. The transition from a single-engine to a twin-engine aircraft introduces new challenges and learning opportunities, increasing the depth and realism of the simulation.
Scott Gentile highlighted the Aerostar’s unique flying experience, saying: “A piston twin like the Aerostar feels radically different to fly than the Comanche, and our physics engine does a great job of replicating this ‘feel’. It also allows you to hone your skills as a pilot in whole new ways.“
Looking forward
Scott Gentile concluded his announcement with an exciting prospect for the community: “We hope to be able to offer you the first Accu-Sim twin later in 2024!This marks a significant milestone for A2A Simulations and the flight simulation community as this will be the first twin-engine aircraft developed with Accu-Sim technology for MSFS.
Last year the Comanche 250 was a highlight of FSExpo. Will we see A2A preview the Aerostar 600 this year? It’s unlikely as it’s apparently still a few months away from completion, but we can only hope. Still, this announcement sets the stage for renewed new interest in A2A Simulations’ aircraft and simmers can finally prepare for what is sure to be another fascinating aircraft simulation!
