Update 1.0.3 includes a complete rewrite of the flight model, War Emergency Power, new liveries, and more.
MicroProse released Update 1.0.3 for the B-17G Flying Fortress add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This is the biggest update to the Flying Fortress since it was released. The update changes the basic flight dynamics and adds a lot of new features, content, and fixes based on community feedback.
A New Standard for Flight Fidelity
Perhaps the biggest highlight for Update 1.0.3 is the completely rewritten flight model. The new model provides a more accurate picture of how the famous heavy bomber handles in all stages of flight, and it was developed using official documentation and fined tuned with the input of the community. War Emergency Power (WEP) has also been added, which gives pilots the ability to boost their performance like crews do in combat situations.
New Features and Systems
Update 1.0.3 adds important new features to many aircraft systems. The APU, or “Putt Putt” auxiliary power unit that B-17 fans know and love, is now working.
The groundwork for the plane’s autopilot system has also been laid, and it will be fully implemented in a future update. Contrails have been added, which add a visual element that makes high-altitude operations feel more real and gives them a more historical feel.
The cockpit has also gotten a big visual upgrade with the addition of cockpit lighting as well as UV instrument lighting. UV lighting makes real gauge reflections on the instrument panels and accurately recreates the glow that crews flying at night and low-light missions during the war saw.
Three New Liveries
This update adds three liveries: Blood ‘n Guts, Sally B, and Big Poison. With these new liveries, there are now ten in total. The final release will have more liveries and a community paint kit.
Availability
You can now get the B-17G Flying Fortress for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PC and Xbox through the Microsoft Marketplace, Just Flight, and Contrail. All current owners can get Update 1.0.3 for free.