After offering the community its first glimpse of the project during FSWeekend earlier this year, and again back in May, Vector Sim returned to the stage at FlightSimExpo 2026 with a much more substantial look at its upcoming Boeing 787-9 for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Rather than focusing on announcements or future promises, the presentation centred on demonstrating systems and features that are already functioning within the aircraft. Throughout the showcase, the team emphasised a key development philosophy: building a complete and interconnected aircraft where systems, workflows, visuals, and functionality all work together as they do in the real world.
Using United Airlines 787-9 N27958 as the presentation aircraft, attendees were treated to a detailed look at several areas of development, including the aircraft’s hydraulic systems, integrated Electronic Flight Bags, checklist functionality, cockpit presentation, and sound environment.
A Flight Deck Designed Around Connectivity
One of the recurring themes throughout the presentation was connectivity.
Vector explained how the aircraft has been designed around a common network architecture that allows systems throughout the aircraft to communicate with one another. During a live operational scenario, the team demonstrated interactions between the cockpit displays, CDU, EFBs, and aircraft systems, all sharing information across the aircraft.
The result is intended to create a more authentic operational environment, where information is available where pilots would expect it to be, and systems react appropriately based on aircraft state and pilot actions.
The developer summarised the philosophy simply: “one aircraft, one network, one connected experience.”
A Closer Look at the Hydraulic System
Following a previous spotlight on the electrical system, FSExpo attendees were given a detailed look at the 787’s hydraulic architecture.
The demonstration showcased both the Synoptic and Maintenance pages, highlighting how hydraulic flow is visualised throughout the aircraft during engine start and normal operations. As engines came online, attendees could see pumps activating, pressures building, and fluid flow being represented throughout the system in real time.
What stood out was the level of detail being presented. Rather than simplified indications, the displays showed realistic values, timings, and behaviour intended to mirror the aircraft’s real-world systems.
Vector also highlighted the flexibility of the Boeing 787’s display architecture, with the Multi-Function Display capable of presenting information across different display units, just as it can in the real aircraft.
Three EFB Environments Included
Electronic Flight Bags have become a major part of modern airline operations, and Vector appears to be taking a comprehensive approach.
The team showcased three separate EFB environments that will be available within the aircraft:
- The integrated Boeing EFB
- Vector’s “vPad platform”
- The Microsoft Flight Simulator tablet
From charts and operational information to aircraft-specific tools and flight preparation workflows, the various EFB solutions are designed to support pilots throughout every phase of flight. The vPad will be used as a way to interact with other elements of the sim, for example, GSX, auto climb functionality, and SimBrief.
Vector revealed that it has developed internal tools to document and map the entire Boeing EFB environment. According to the team, every menu, page, and available function has been catalogued as part of the development process, allowing them to recreate the integrated Boeing experience in significant detail.
More Than 3,300 Checklist Actions
The scale of the aircraft’s integrated checklist system was another area highlighted during the presentation.
According to Vector, the aircraft currently features more than 700 pages of checklist content, covering 3,366 individual checkpoints across Normal Procedures, Supplementary Procedures, and Non-Normal Procedures.
The developer explained that dedicated internal development tools have played a significant role in managing and implementing the enormous amount of procedural data required for the system.
For pilots who enjoy operating complex aircraft according to real-world procedures, the integrated checklist system appears set to become one of the aircraft’s standout features.
Recording the Real Aircraft
Vector confirmed that it has been conducting dedicated recording sessions aboard real-world Boeing 787 aircraft, capturing everything from switch clicks and alerts to system sounds and engine audio directly from the source.
The developer says these recordings will form the foundation of the aircraft’s audio environment, helping deliver a more authentic representation of what pilots hear during normal operations.
The team hinted that a future development spotlight will focus entirely on the aircraft’s sound package.
“No Planned Features, No Placeholders”
To conclude, Ellie spoke about how they are taking no shortcuts with their 787-9. “Everything we are showing here already exists, is already developed or in active development, and is already working,” the team explained.
The developer went on to state that there will be “no planned features, no coming later, and no placeholders” when the aircraft releases.
While a release date remains under wraps, the FSExpo presentation provided the clearest indication yet of the project’s scope. With deep system simulation, multiple EFB environments, thousands of checklist items, real-world audio recordings, and a strong focus on operational authenticity, the Vector 787-9 continues to shape up as one of the most ambitious widebody projects currently in development for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Still Planned for 2026
During our interview with the team, they also confirmed that the plane is still planned to be released in 2026.
