iniBuilds has shared a fresh development update across its growing airliner lineup, headlined by the long-awaited Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, which is now firmly on final approach for release.
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Airliner
Following the last update back in December, the team has been pushing ahead at full pace, with the TriStar now entering its final stages. Earlier this week, the “Welcome to the TriStar” preview video gave the flight sim community its first proper in-sim look within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive.
One of the standout features is the fully realised three-crew cockpit. iniBuilds is introducing a Virtual Flight Engineer, allowing simmers to trigger automated flows for different phases of flight, complete with authentic switch sounds and spoken callouts. Combined with dynamic cabin crew interactions that respond to events like turbulence and arrival, the aircraft aims to deliver a far more “alive” experience than typical airliner releases.
At the heart of the workflow is the Paper Flight Bag (PFB), a period-inspired alternative to modern EFBs. It blends classic aesthetics with practical tools, offering SimBrief integration, performance calculations, ground services, and aircraft state management. Features like “Auto Complete” for engineer tasks streamline procedures, while a visual loadsheet system dynamically adjusts the centre of gravity as you configure payload and fuel. Performance data is presented via handwritten-style cards, reinforcing the TriStar’s retro identity, and an integrated chart pad with Navigraph and LIDO support rounds out the experience.
Partnering with Echo19 Audio, the team recorded a real Lockheed L-1011 TriStar to recreate the iconic Rolls-Royce RB211 engine sounds alongside cockpit and cabin ambience. The result promises a highly authentic soundscape designed to match the character of the real aircraft.
Visually, iniBuilds is leaning heavily into the TriStar’s “golden era” roots with richly detailed cabins, warm incandescent lighting, and unique features, including an optional lower lounge and a fully modelled cargo bay. A POD variant will also be included, offering altered performance characteristics and procedures for those wanting a different operational challenge.
The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Airliner is slated for release later this month, with the finishing touches now underway. Attendees at FSWeekend 2026 will be able to go hands-on, while media previews and a full trailer are expected soon.
Synaptic Simulations A220
Elsewhere, the Synaptic Simulations Airbus A220 project continues to make strong progress, with the aircraft now approaching release-candidate status. Since its showing at FSExpo 2025, the team has implemented a fully reworked fly-by-wire system, a custom engine model, and a wide range of core systems, including autopilot, autoland, hydraulics, electrics, and radios.
The flight management system has been rebuilt from scratch, allowing for deeper system integration and more advanced behaviours such as accurate navigation transitions and autoland logic. iniBuilds says the focus remains on high-fidelity simulation, highlighted by a complex crew alerting system driven by thousands of inputs.
With development entering its final stretch, attention is now turning to refinement and testing.
Airbus A380 Airliner
Looking ahead, iniBuilds has confirmed that development focus will soon shift towards its Airbus A380 project, which has been quietly progressing in the background. Building on lessons learned from previous widebody releases like the A340, A350, and upcoming TriStar, the A380 is targeting a high level of system depth and performance from the outset.
Development has been progressing across several departments, with both systems and sound teams now well into their work, forming the backbone of the aircraft’s functionality and overall experience. That said, they want to highlight a crucial aspect of any major aircraft project: data collection and real-world reference gathering.
Creating an aircraft of this size and complexity relies heavily on accurate reference material. In recent months, they have carried out extensive research, compiling a vast range of documentation, measurements, and operational data to ensure the final product closely mirrors its real-world counterpart.
The modelling process of the Airbus A380 has been driven by detailed real-world references, including thousands of high-resolution photographs. This allows them to validate proportions, surface contours, panel layouts, and structural details directly against the real aircraft, rather than depending solely on drawings or publicly available sources.
iniBuilds has also carried out a number of real-world data collection trips, including visits to full-motion simulators and the aircraft itself. These sessions have allowed the team to gather additional photography, precise measurements, and operational insights directly at the source. This hands-on approach plays a key role in ensuring the cockpit environment is recreated with the highest level of accuracy possible.
To celebrate the upcoming release of the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar and FSWeekend 2026, iniBuilds is also running special discounts this weekend across a selection of its aircraft.
Stay tuned to FSElite for the latest updates and FSWeekend 2026 coverage.
