DC Designs, whose aircraft contributions to Microsoft Flight Simulator have ranged from military airplanes to the iconic Concorde, has made a surprising announcement this end of the year. The developer has announced its final two aircraft projects: the BAC Lightning F6 and the P-61B Black Widow.
With a well-maintained fleet of 11 aircraft already in their portfolio, the developer has decided to shift focus toward long-term support and updates rather than expanding its lineup further.
The BAC Lightning F6
The BAC Lightning F6 takes center stage as the final addition to DC Designs’ lineup. A Cold War-era British interceptor, the Lightning was revered for its exceptional climb rate, supersonic capabilities, and sheer presence in the skies.
DC Design’s rendition of this aircraft will include a single variant, along with multiple liveries to provide variety for users. It will also include custom-engineered sounds, with recordings of authentic Rolls-Royce Avon engine sounds provided by Sim Acoustics. The Lightning is expected to release in Q2 2025, making its mark as the last jet-powered addition to the DC Designs catalog.
The P-61B Black Widow
The P-61B Black Widow is no stranger to DC Designs followers, as its development was announced a while back. However, this update confirms its role as part of the studio’s farewell. As a dedicated WWII night fighter, the Black Widow left its mark in aviation history but also holds personal significance for the developer—it was the first aircraft they ever created during their early days in 2017.
Much like the Lightning, the P-61B will feature a single variant with an array of liveries and custom sounds, recorded from real Double Wasp radial engines. This long-awaited addition is set to debut slightly ahead of the Lightning, also targeting a Q2 2025 release. Together, the Lightning and Black Widow will serve as fitting bookends to DC Designs’ legacy.
No more new aircraft from DC Designs
In the announcement, DC Designs cited a combination of practicality and principle as the reasons for winding down new aircraft development. With a current fleet of 11 aircraft to manage, the introduction of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 brings significant challenges, including compatibility updates, bug fixes, and adapting to the new platform’s technical requirements. For a studio that prides itself on quality and responsiveness, balancing these demands alongside new projects simply isn’t feasible.
“I could expand the company,” the developer explained, “but I don’t want to become a people-manager. I like working on as much of these aircraft myself as I can.”
Instead, the studio plans to focus on enhancing its existing lineup with new features, such as animated 3D pilots for added immersion in virtual reality, and an active weapons system to enable air-to-air combat scenarios.
The Road Ahead
While the Lightning F6 and P-61B Black Widow will be the last new additions, DC Designs’ dedication to the flight simulation community will remain strong. The studio has outlined plans to ensure compatibility with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 once the platform stabilizes. With reported technical challenges still causing frustration among users, DC Designs is taking a cautious approach, avoiding premature updates that might lead to repeated work.
Is this truly the end?
While DC Designs has framed this announcement as the end of its aircraft development journey, one can’t help but wonder if this is merely a pause rather than a full stop. The developer has hinted at the possibility of creating new projects at a more relaxed, “hobbyist” pace in the future, should inspiration strike, so the door is definitely not closed shut.
For now, the focus is on closing out their aircraft lineup with the Lightning F6 and P-61B Black Widow. Let’s hope that, together, they’ll offer a fitting tribute to what DC Designs has accomplished over the past four years in Microsoft Flight Simulator.