Yesterday, PMDG founder Robert Randazzo shared a post over on the PMDG forums, which glanced over all their current projects for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024. He even spoke of “a new airplane project that we haven’t told you about”.
Project Updates
PMDG was hoping to release an update for the Boeing 777-300ER this weekend, which mostly would’ve focused on the model, but also has some code changes to the navigation data of the aircraft. Unfortunately it seems the navdata code is broken and the update has therefor been postponed. But we can expect an update to the 777-300ER soon.
The Boeing 777F was supposed to go into testing this week as well, but has also been delayed because of the 300ER issues and some internal staff issues.
Some members of the 777 team however, have been moved over to the 747 project, which is getting an increasing amount of attention from PMDG as it’s slowly moving closer to an undisclosed release date.
Preparations for MSFS 2024
Robert mentions that PMDG is busy with looking into techniques for their products, which will make them ready for MSFS 2024. For example, he talks about getting the aircraft exteriors ready for the new walk-around feature 2024 will have, and he includes some screenshots that showcase the level of detail PMDG is going for.
What we don’t know is which aircraft these screenshots are from. They look to be either from a wing root or an engine pylon. But after inspecting all the released aircraft for MSFS and some real aircraft photos, I haven’t been able to find a match. Could they be of a new aircraft?
New Undisclosed Project
In the same MSFS 2024 paragraph, Robert briefly mentions that PMDG is working on “a new airplane project that we haven’t told you about”. What this aircraft could be is anyone’s guess.
There are essentially two PMDG aircraft we haven’t yet seen on the line-up for MSFS: The British Aerospace Jetstream 41 and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, which both have were previously released for FS2004, FSX and P3D. However, since TFDi Design has already released a high fidelity MD-11 and MD-11F, chances are that this aircraft is not on the line-up anymore. And all we know about the JS41 is that almost exactly one year ago, there were no plans for the Jetstream to make an appearance into MSFS, according to PMDG’s Matthijs in this forum post.
There might even be a third option. Back in 2004, PMDG released a Beechcraft B1900D for FS2004. This aircraft never officially made it beyond FS2004, but perhaps it could be making a comeback over 20 years later? Could this mark the return of a PMDG turboprop aircraft? Or is PMDG switching over to a completely new aircraft, never released by them before?
Some people have even suggested that PMDG might be working on an Airbus project, since the screenshots in the original PMDG forum post have been titled: “BoebusA3797”, to which Robert replied: “I did that on purpose, because I knew SOMEONE was gonna look there for a clue… BoeBusA3797… So it could be just about anything”.
We can rule out a 737NG and 737MAX, the 777-300ER and 777F and we can rule out the 747, since all of these aircraft have either been released or have already been confirmed.
Whatever the new and undisclosed PMDG aircraft might be, make sure to check our website regularly to stay up-to-date on this mystery project, as we will be keeping a close eye on it.
