BlueBird Locks In the Date
After several years of development—and enough “when will it release?” questions to fill an airport departure board—the BlueBird 757 finally has a firm launch date.
In its official release-date announcement, BlueBird acknowledged that the October 23 launch moves the aircraft beyond its previously announced third-quarter target.
The developer said it understands the disappointment surrounding the additional wait but believes the extra time is necessary to prepare both the aircraft and the systems needed to deliver it successfully.
“The finish line is in sight,” BlueBird said while thanking the flight-simulation community for its patience and continued support.
The Aircraft Is Mostly Ready
According to BlueBird, the 757 itself is largely ready for release. Its systems, avionics, flight dynamics and sound packages are now receiving final adjustments ahead of launch.
Much of the remaining work involves infrastructure behind the product rather than major unfinished aircraft systems.
Because the 757 will be BlueBird Simulations’ first commercial release, the developer must establish several services from scratch. These include product activation, download distribution, customer portals, licensing and server capacity capable of handling potentially thousands of simultaneous downloads.
BlueBird wants those services tested and stable before opening the hangar doors. Few things kill release-day excitement faster than purchasing a new airliner and discovering the download server has already declared an emergency.
Sim Update 7 Creates Additional Work
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s recently released Sim Update 7 beta has also introduced several compatibility quirks that BlueBird is working to resolve.
The initial 757 release is being developed with the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 SDK while remaining compatible with MSFS 2024. BlueBird says it is addressing the new platform behavior to provide a dependable experience in both simulators.
A fully native MSFS 2024 edition is planned after the initial launch and will be provided to existing customers as a free update. That version is expected to take advantage of simulator-specific features that are not included in the compatibility-based launch edition.
Sky Blue Radio readers can follow the latest MSFS 2024 news and updates as BlueBird continues testing against Microsoft’s evolving platform.
Two Engines and Deep System Modeling
The initial package will include the Boeing 757-200 with both major engine choices: the Rolls-Royce RB211 and Pratt & Whitney PW2000.
BlueBird says each engine has been modeled with its own performance characteristics, exhaust-gas temperature behavior and sound profile.
The aircraft will also feature a custom flight-management system with LNAV and VNAV, SimBrief integration, authentic CRT-style displays and more than 200 functional circuit breakers connected to their corresponding electrical buses.
Other highlighted systems include detailed pneumatic and environmental-control modeling, three independent hydraulic systems, custom inertial-reference-unit alignment, EICAS logic, terrain displays and fuel-system simulation.
Real-time wing flex will respond to turbulence, aircraft loading, fuel weight and aerodynamic forces rather than playing a predetermined animation.
BlueBird has priced the passenger package at $80 USD.
The longer 757-300 will follow the initial launch as a free addition. A dedicated freighter package remains planned as a separate paid expansion.
Additional aircraft details and screenshots are available on the official BlueBird Simulations 757 product page.
BlueBird Sets Expectations for Launch Day
The developer is also trying to set realistic expectations for the aircraft’s first public release.
BlueBird said its internal testing group cannot reproduce every combination of computer hardware, controllers, add-ons, routes and simulator configurations that thousands of customers will use after launch. Minor bugs are therefore expected once the 757 reaches the wider community.
The team plans to monitor reports closely and issue post-release updates as problems are identified.
BlueBird also said lessons learned during the 757’s lengthy development will change how it announces timelines and release targets for future projects. The company already has a Boeing 767 in development, although that aircraft remains at a much earlier stage.
October 23 Is Cleared for Takeoff
The October 23 release date gives BlueBird slightly more than five weeks to finish compatibility testing, strengthen its distribution infrastructure and complete the final aircraft refinements.
For a project that has been followed closely since its early development previews, receiving a specific date represents a major milestone—even if it arrives later than the previously targeted Q3 window.
Barring any unexpected changes, one of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s most anticipated airliners will finally be ready for departure on October 23.
Follow Sky Blue Radio’s latest aircraft news and coverage as the BlueBird 757 approaches release.
