We recently received the first big development update from Lunar Simulations about their freeware Boeing 767 for MSFS project, which has been in the works for nearly three years now.
Back in January 2023, we wrote about the announcement of the project, which back then already showed us a rather complete and functional looking cockpit. The original plan however, was to release a Boeing 767-300ER variant, a plan which has now been changed.
According to the announcement on their Discord channel, there will be three 767 variants, namely the 767-300ER passenger variant, 767-300F freighter and the military KC-46 “Pegasus” air-to-air refueling variant. The latter being the first variant to be released, rather than the 767-300ER.
The reason for the change of initial release variant to the KC-46 isn’t elaborated on, except that “this would be the easiest way forward for the project”.
To develop the KC-46, Lunar Simulations have partnered up with Delta Simulations, who you may know from their Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. We can even observe the C-17 being air-to-air refueled by the KC-46 in some of the screenshots.
The KC-46 will have aerial refueling capabilities and will feature a “frankensteined” cockpit, with bits of 767, 777 and 787 incorporated into it, much like the real Pegasus.
In order to provide the air-to-air refueling capability, the aircraft will feature a functional ARO (Aerial Refueling Operator) station with a camera, which will allow you to operate the refueling boom.
Beside the KC-46, Lunar Simulations is also working on a Boeing 767-300F freighter variant, which will be the next in line after the Pegasus. The 767-300ER however, which was the initial variant that the team was working on, hasn’t been mentioned at all in this development update and so it remains unclear what the status of this aircraft is and when we can expect it to be released, if at all.
One of the reasons why they may have dropped it altogether could be because Bluebird Simulations is working on a Boeing 767-300ER for MSFS at the same time.
According to the Lunar Simulations website, we can expect their 767 variants to feature realistic flight dynamics, high-quality internal and external models and textures, realistic and functional cockpits and custom sounds and effects. Release dates are yet to be released, as well as which platform the add-ons will be available to download from. So far however, everything still indicates that all 767 variants will be freeware.
