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The next couple weeks of flight sim releases might be the fastest way to drain your wallet, so we sit down and sort out what’s real hype versus what actually changes how you fly. We talk through Bluebird Simulations bringing a Boeing 757 to Microsoft Flight Simulator with a firm release window, early looks now that NDAs are lifted, and why so many of us have been waiting years for a modern, high-quality 757 add-on. We also get honest about what matters: performance differences from system to system, texture expectations, and why a “solid and believable” airplane beats chasing microscopic details.

Then we get into the messy part that every simmer cares about when money is on the line: pricing and platform support. The $80 USD conversation turns into a bigger look at MSFS 2020 vs MSFS 2024, what “native” really means, and why clearer communication from developers can make or break trust. We also talk GSX integration expectations, licensing and delivery servers, and how day-one demand can stress even well-prepared launches.

From there, we pivot to the Fenix A320 overhaul that’s packing serious changes like flight model improvements, inertia and ground friction updates, and deeper FMS behavior. We round it out with X-Plane 12 momentum, including Aerobask’s officially licensed Falcon 8X beta plan, how it might compare to top-tier business jets like the Hot Start Challenger 650, and why it’s a great time to be a simmer no matter which platform you fly.

If you enjoyed the breakdown, subscribe, share the show with a flight sim friend, and leave a review so more simmers can find us. Which drop are you flying first, the 757 or the A320?

Website: www.closedtrafficpodcast.com

Facebook: @Closedtrafficpodcast

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We sit down with repo veteran and TV personality Ken Cage to unpack what it really takes to recover aircraft and boats when payments stop. Then we shift gears into Microsoft Flight Simulator talk with candid takes on the iniBuilds A380, GSX jetways, and the latest add-on releases.

• Ken’s background in repossession and government contracts
• What the repossession timeline looks like from past due to recovery
• Why Ken hires pilots and never flies the repossessed aircraft himself
• How economic cycles change repo volume and asset values
• What was real vs recreated on Airplane Repo and why releases matter
• The mix of assets recovered including boats, aircraft, exotic cars, and the one racehorse
• Ken’s new collaboration with Cloud Yachts and the remarketing angle
• Renegade Repos on YouTube and the promise of fully true stories
• iniBuilds A380 early impressions including performance, flight feel, and avionics options
• Pain points with GSX, boarding flow, and multi-jetway support
• Hardware and immersion notes on tiller control and heavy-aircraft sound design
• Rapid-fire updates on new scenery, aircraft updates, and what we’re watching next
• Thoughts on AI decision support entering air traffic management

Check out Ken Cage on his socials, check out Renegade Repos coming soon.

Website: www.closedtrafficpodcast.com

Facebook: @Closedtrafficpodcast

Follow us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/closedtraffic

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We catch up with FlightFX and dig into how the Hawker 800 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 went from “why this jet?” to a deeply detailed aircraft with real pilot workflows and smart sim-friendly improvements. We also get an unfiltered look at launch strategy, community feedback, and why 2024-only development is becoming the only sustainable path.
• remembering 9/11 and how shared events reshape communities
• why FlightFX picked the Hawker and what real-world access changed
• how the 3D and systems pipeline becomes a “toolbox” for future aircraft
• using real Hawker pilots in beta and how that pressure improves fidelity
• balancing realism with usability so single-pilot sim flying stays fun
• why the Pro Line 21 can feel cumbersome and how they streamline charts and checklists
• adding advisory VNAV to handle vectors and discontinuities for network flying
• designing cabin music, from airline inspiration to AI-assisted tracks and integration
• why maintaining MSFS 2020 and 2024 splits work across art and avionics frameworks
• console constraints, mod conflicts, and the optimization reality developers face
• why the Marketplace matters for updates, support, and the sim’s infrastructure
Don't forget to uh check us out on closed trafficpodcast.com. We're also on Instagram as well. Shout out to our Patreon backers and Flight Sim Expo 2027. If you guys haven't heard, bookings have already opened up, so check it out on https://flightsimexpo.com/

Website: www.closedtrafficpodcast.com

Facebook: @Closedtrafficpodcast

Follow us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/closedtraffic