Microsoft is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its revered Flight Simulator series with the launch of the 40th Anniversary update that builds on the foundation of classic PC games. This Anniversary update for Microsoft Flight Simulator includes the entire original Flight Simulator as an easter egg. In fact, there are actually four older versions of Flight Simulator available. The latest update includes 12 new planes – 2 helicopters, 2 gliders, and 8 fixed-wing aircraft.
To enable the original versions of Flight Simulator, load up in a DA62 and then switch to cockpit view. After that, you need to set the ELT to the on position. Reddit user HughsMDflyer4 shared a screenshot of the easter egg as well as the instructions to enable it. If you prefer modern features, the 40th Anniversary update for Microsoft Flight Simulator also includes helicopters and gliders. Here are the highlights, as outlined in the update’s release notes:
· 1 true-to-life Airbus A310 airliner
· 2 helicopters and 14 heliports
· 2 gliders and 15 glider airports
· 7 famous historical aircraft including the Hughes H-4 Hercules (also known as the Spruce Goose)
· 4 classic commercial airports
· 24 classic missions from the franchise’s past
The highlights here are what Microsoft and Asobo call their first “true-to-life” airliner in the base game — an Airbus 310-300 — and the Spruce Goose, the largest seaplane and wooden aircraft ever built. Other new aircraft include classics like the 1903 Wright Flyer, the 1915 Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, the 1927 Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, the 1935 Douglas DC-3, the 1937 Grumman G-21 Goose and the 1947 Havilland DHC-2 Beaver.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition is available as a free update for current players. It’s playable on the Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, and through Xbox Cloud Gaming.
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