Headwind A330 Showcase!

Last Saturday we had the opportunity to test and showcase the new A330 cockpit update from Headwind Simulations before it was released. During the stream, Headwind also answered questions from our viewers in our live chat. We would like to summarize the most important points for you here:

When asked whether the A330 would also be available for MSFS2024, Headwind replied “You already can use the A330 in MSFS 2024 – but we won’t support this at the moment. 2024 (and SDK) is still broken so we wait before we will officially give support.”

The current status of the update is that the modeling is complete and currently only the new flight model is being adapted with the help of Type Rated A330 pilots and small details are being improved.

Headwind also told us that “Overhead Panel will be Phase 2 yes. The Modelling and Texture is quite easy and almost done. What needs time are the underlaying systems, changes to the different flight computers (as example no ELAC), the different fuel system – this will need more time and we cant say when exactly this will be released. It will be announced (like with phase 1) some weeks before.” and refers to the different phases in which the major updates are released – Phase 1 is the upcoming update with the pedestal, glare shield and the flight model, as well as some other small but fine improvements.

Headwind also told us that in further phases we can expect a completely new exterior model and a completely redesigned cockpit, although they cannot give too much information on this yet, and in addition to the Sukhoi Superjet 100 there will also be the complete Airbus A330 family (-200, -300, -800, -900).

xBox users have to be disappointed at this point: The A330 will not be coming in the simulator’s own marketplace in the future either, since “So most likely, if MS/Asobo didn’t changed ToC / CoC – no. We had this discussion internally, but the last time we have checked, you need to “sell” it – this is the requirement by MS/Asobo for Marketplace – and then this wouldn’t be freeware anymore. […] Marketplace would need a Freeware Section with no costs for devs and consumer – then this can be discussed to make it available. And of course wasm assemblies needs to be running by the xbox console. I think there was an update to support that kind of stuff, but im not sure at the moment. […], due to legal concerns regarding copyleft licenses, Microsoft does not permit GPL-licensed projects to be listed in the marketplace.”

Finally, Headwind addresses their critics a little and says “But yeah, we are not “dead” like much said and thought in the last months about us – we were just very busy with stuff and nobody thought in beginning of december they will see so fast cockpit model updates.”

We are very happy that we were able to test this update and are absolutely thrilled with it and can hardly wait for it to be released to everyone soon and are excited about what else awaits us from Headwind Simulations.s.