Laminar Research has pushed out two beta builds for X-Plane 12.2.1, each packed with community-voted scenery models, a brand new Zermatt Helipad, hardware integrations and quality-of-life improvements. Beta 1 went live on July 4, 2025, and Beta 2 followed on July 7.
Beta 1 adds art assets and scenery elements chosen by community vote, along with new hardware integrations and several quality-of-life settings. Beta 2 focuses on audio enhancements, ATC refinements and a series of compatibility fixes.
The update also includes custom scenery for the Zermatt Helipad (LSEZ). Located at 1,400 m above sea level near the car-free village, it supports narrow-valley approaches, direct lift access from the valley floor and provides Matterhorn views during steep climbs or descents.
You can read the full changelog and developer post on the official X-Plane website.
Beta 1
Airports
- New custom-built Zermatt Helipad (LSEZ)
- Updated versions of Gateway airports
- Many additional library objects for airport designers:
- Fire trucks
- Cherry pickers
- Construction vehicles
- Police SUVs
- Grass runway markings
- Compass roses
- Coloured polygons
- Hangars and utility sheds
- Class F jetways
- New apron lights
- Mobile helipads
- Angled roofs
- Weather effects added to all flat roofs
General
- New setting to disable mouse-wheel zoom separately for external and internal views (Settings → Accessibility). You can assign a modifier key so zoom only works while holding it, preventing accidental zoom during normal mouse use.
- Birds no longer cause damage unless “birdstrike” is enabled on the failures screen
Hardware Support
Thrustmaster
- Full support for the SOL-R 1 Flightstick
MOZA
- Full support for the AB9 FFB Base, MH16 Flightstick, MTP Throttle and MTLP Panel
SimFlight Services
- Support for rotAIR modules
Fixes & Enhancements
ATC
- Added support for continual circuits (touch and go)
General
- “Resume Flight” now returns you to the last airport where you parked on the ground
- Fixed various translation issues
Removed Features
- Checklist feature removed
- Text-file panel removed
Technical Notes
Linux
- Fixed an issue when running X-Plane from a Steam snap installation (XPD-16840). Note that Valve does not officially support snap installs.
Beta 2
Fixes & Enhancements
General
- Improved environmental sounds
- Re-added former checklist commands for compatibility
