If there’s one aircraft in the Microsoft Flight Simulator community that feels almost mythical at this point, it’s Majestic Software’s Dash 8 Q400. First teased years ago, the project has remained shrouded in uncertainty, with only occasional glimpses of progress. While the developer has maintained that work is ongoing, concrete updates have been scarce, leaving simmers wondering when they’ll ever get to fly the aircraft in MSFS.
Now, buried within a new update about the P3D version of the Q400, Majestic has quietly shared a new tidbit about the MSFS development. While it doesn’t bring a release timeline, it does confirm that progress is happening—but a significant roadblock remains.
The biggest hurdle Majestic Software currently faces is securing a 3D modeler to work on the aircraft’s visuals. According to the developer, this task will be “very time-consuming,” and work cannot proceed until they find someone to take on the job. This aligns with previous statements from Majestic, which have pointed out that most of the aircraft needs to be built from scratch for MSFS due to differences in technology compared to P3D.
Confirmed progress and technical compatibility
On the systems side, Majestic has indicated that the Q400 already “works very well” in MSFS 2020. This suggests that the underlying flight dynamics and systems simulation—which Majestic is known for—are in good shape. However, the update also confirms that MSFS 2024 will require additional development work, as the team is still evaluating its new technologies and how they might impact the aircraft.
This is an important point, as it hints that Majestic is not just aiming for a basic port but is actively considering how to integrate MSFS 2024’s newer features into the Q400. Given Majestic’s reputation for deep systems modeling, this could mean enhancements beyond what was originally possible in older simulators.
When will the Q400 be released?
For now, Majestic has not provided a timeframe for the release. Their last major statement, in May 2024, suggested that 2025 was the earliest possible window, and today’s update doesn’t indicate any significant acceleration of that timeline.
The wait continues
While this latest update doesn’t bring the kind of progress many were hoping for, it does at least confirm that the Dash 8 Q400 for MSFS is still moving forward. The development remains heavily dependent on overcoming the 3D modeling hurdle, and the project is not yet at a stage where a release is in sight.
For now, those eagerly awaiting a high-fidelity Q400 in MSFS will have to remain patient. We’ll continue to follow Majestic’s progress and share any significant updates as they become available.
