TFDi Design has posted a sizeable development update on its MD-11, covering progress across art, systems, and the new Extended Simulation package. While the original 60-day target for MSFS 2024 support has now slipped, the aircraft is receiving a significant visual overhaul, enhanced systems depiction, and a clearer roadmap, towards both MSFS 2024 and Xbox.

As previously teased, the aircraft has received a major art overhaul, starting with a completely rebuilt exterior model. Animations have been corrected, surface textures reworked, and missing details have been filled in. Service ports now carry legible labels, while flap and slat internals animate with a new layer of mechanical fidelity, with more physical parts depicted. Rivets, dirt, and fine panel work have also seen major attention, overall raising the visual fidelity of the aircraft.

Furthermore, Pratt & Whitney engine options will be released alongside the upcoming art update. Behind the scenes, the throttle control system and engine simulation have also been reworked.

Moving to the interior, the cabin has seen a similar overhaul of visual fidelity, being almost entirely reworked. Included are new textures, remodelled geometry, and glass/rain surface effects on the windows, with the team also hinting at a few surprises yet to be shown. 

In the cockpit, smaller missing items are being addressed, including the manual gear handle, oxygen test buttons, and a few immersion items, including openable cockpit windows.

Another large iteration on the code side is the Extended Simulation package. TFDi has implemented more than 160 failure scenarios, with user controls to adjust likelihood and scope, so that IVAO and VATSIM flying remains viable. 

A new maintenance system has replaced the instant “fix all” pop-ups with maintenance flows, repairs, and routine service checks. Each airframe also builds its own local log over time, tracking its own maintenance history.

When it comes to core systems, PROF descent logic has been overhauled for steadier vertical profiles, step climbs now handle multiple S/C and T/C points, and support for ATO waypoints has been added. A custom simulation for oil, vibration, and EGT has also been implemented across both P3D and MSFS, alongside display improvements and many bug fixes.

MSFS 2024 and Xbox

While the art update and Extended Simulation package are nearly complete for MSFS PC, work on FS24 is taking longer than expected. TFDi plans to split the model where necessary, adopt the sim’s new texture streaming format, and integrate FS24-native features, so the aircraft feels at home in the new platform. Xbox releases are expected to land alongside FS24 PC, once testing is complete. There is still no firm release date. 

TFDi reports that QA feedback on the refreshed model and Extended Simulation has been positive, and the team maintains that it remains focused on delivering the MD-11 as "originally envisioned". The team admits the delay is not ideal, but states the wait will be "worth it", and TFDi characterises the remaining work as a matter of “a few weeks”. 

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For the full details, you can read TFDi's development update on their website.

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