FSWeekend 2025 Day 1 Roundup

It was quite the day in Lelystad, Netherlands, today, with FSWeekend kicking off a jam-packed weekend of announcements, presentations, and more flight sim news. Saturday saw five hours of presentations, and we’re here to round today’s big announcements up for you right in one place!

Threshold is also on the ground, covering the event in person, so if you see any of us around, feel free to say hi and chat!

Sayintentions.ai

First up was Sayintentions.ai, CEO Brian Shellabarger making three big announcements regarding their AI ATC add-on: AI Living World, OpenSky Beta, and SkyNet.

AI Living World is Sayintentions’ new traffic injection and sequencing feature, connecting AI traffic to their existing AI ATC. According to Shellabarger, each injected aircraft is an individual AI entity, following real-world schedules, with the AI ATC sequencing every aircraft according to actual weather conditions. AI Living World is set to launch for partner customers on April 15 for MSFS 2020 and 24, with X-Plane support coming later this year.

SkyNet, Sayintentions’ basic AI ATC service currently in closed beta, is now free. It will boast features such as premium neural voices, authentic phraseology, radio chatter, and more, all fully cloud-based. However, the service will be ATC only, limited to IFR gate-to-gate operations with little flexibility.

Wrapping up their presentation was the announcement of the release of SkyNet, which is now available to all Sayintentions.ai customers for MSFS 2020 and 24. SkyNet is a real-time multiplayer network featuring model matching, cross-platform support, and the ability to create/join private groups. It will be available for the whole community early this summer, with AI sequencing and X-Plane support planned for the future.

Navigraph

Navigraph was next, having announced a new feature for their popular Charts software called Scratchpads. Scratchpads will give users templates to write notes, such as ATIS, CRAFT clearances, and takeoff performance. No exact release date has been provided, but Navigraph CEO Magnus Axholt says it will come “very soon”.

FlightSim Studio

Swiss developers FlightSim Studio have announced the 727 Passenger for MSFS 2020, coming next month in April 2025. It features a fully modelled cabin and more. Along with that, they announced the Super 27 Expansion, which includes more powerful JT8D-217 or JT8D-219 engines and a modern avionics package with a new autopilot, FMS, EFIS, GPS, and more. According to FSS, the Super 27 Expansion will come later this year.

FSS also announced progress for their E-Jets series for MSFS, which will soon include a new MCDU with support for custom nav data importing, performance improvements, new MFD modes, weather radar, enhanced LNAV, and more. However, FSS did not mention a release date for this update.

WinWing

Finally, there was WinWing, who announced a slew of new hardware products. On the roadmap for 2025 are additions to the Ursa Minor lineup, the MIP series, and the new Cyber Taurus joystick bases.

The very popular Ursa Minor lineup will be getting an Airbus A320-style throttle quadrant and pedestal controls, priced at $127.95 and $107.95 respectively, will boast metal construction and detents, authentic backlighting, and the ability to switch between detent and detentless modes with one button.

Following their highly successful MIP panel releases, WinWing announced the MIP Airline PAP 3 Panel, this time styled after the Boeing 737 MCP, which will feature full backlighting, realistic knobs, and more, for $149.95. The PAP 3 Panel can be upgraded with the MIP MAG Switch, a magnetic switch for the autothrottle function, which will be available for purchase either separately for $49.95 or pre-installed to the PAP 3 panel for $199.99. Along with the PAP 3 Panel will be the MIP Airline PDC 3N Panel, modelled after the 737 EFIS Panel, and will be available for $84.95. Concluding the MIP series additions is the MIP Combat 13 CNI-MU Panel, styled like the 737 FMC, but with combat-focused functions, priced at $129.95.

Lastly, WinWing announced additions to the Cyber Taurus series, with three new joystick bases and a rudder pedal set, all being force-feedback driven. The base tier Cyber Taurus joystick base will include electronic load control, belt-driven construction, and a rated output of more than 20 NM, priced at $414.95. The higher tier, the Cyber Taurus (D) joystick base, will have two versions: a gear-reduced model and a direct drive model. The gear-reduced model will have a rated output of more than 60 NM, and the direct drive model will have a rated output of more than 16 NM. Both will be available for $699.95. Closing out their presentation, they showcased the Cyber Taurus Electronic Load Control Rudder Pedals, which will have a rated output of more than 170 NM, and a pricetag of $799.95.

That closes a very packed day at Europe’s largest flight simulation convention! But there’s still another day, so stay tuned to Threshold for coverage of Day 2! If you enjoy our content and want to support Threshold, consider joining us on Patreon!

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