31st August 2025 - Development Update

As you may have noticed, the Bo 105 has not been released yet. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered bugs in the SDK which have halted progress on key systems. Over the past two months, we’ve shared updates on our Discord server about partnerships, flight model development, and these SDK challenges. In this post, we’ll recap those discussions, highlight new cockpit and livery progress, and delve into what’s next.

ECHO 19 COLLABORATION

Back in June, we announced our collaboration with Echo 19 to create a full Wwise sound package for the MBB Bo 105. They’re well-known for their work on other high-quality aircraft add-ons. Thanks to their efforts, Echo 19 even managed to get access to Roman Atwood’s Bo 105 and used it to record authentic engine and rotor sounds:

These recordings may play a role in a future upgrade for MSFS 2024, helping bring an even more immersive experience. Our earlier approach to sounds was limited in scope, so working with Echo 19 has been a big step forward.

TESTING FEEDBACK

Beta testers have shared positive feedback on the Bo 105 so far. They’ve mentioned that it’s fun to fly, with visuals that look great and flight dynamics that feel agile and responsive. We’ve managed to find a balance between staying true to reality and keeping things fun and smooth for casual players. One tester even highlighted that the flight model is nimble, without being “fidgety” like some other helicopters on the market.

ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG (EFB)

The EFB was originally planned for the MSFS 2024 version of the Bo 105. However, the development delays have created an opportunity - and the EFB will now be included in the initial MSFS 2020 release. These delays have given our designers and programmers extra time to redesign the UI, resulting in a more modern and visually appealing experience:

The EFB has been implemented into the aircraft and is currently undergoing testing. We aim to have a completely functional (and bug-free) EFB within the next two weeks.

LIVERY SHOWCASE

Atarium Liveries has been hard at work creating a set of high-quality paints for release. Two notable additions are the Evergreen (N730TS) and Indonesian Navy (NV-409) schemes, which replaced the Red Bull liveries due to licensing issues. You can check out the updated list here.

We are also collaborating with additional livery developers to create a separate package featuring 20 liveries. This collection will include popular schemes not available in the main package, such as the Flying Bulls, the updated German police livery, and several others.

COCKPIT SHOWCASE

The cockpit is essentially complete. The only exceptions are two main switches that are currently dysfunctional due to SDK limitations.

CONCLUSION

After having worked with the SDK for the past year, it has become apparent that the simulator was not originally designed with helicopters in mind. Systems that are straightforward to implement in airplanes require significantly more effort when implemented in a helicopter. In particular, the power levers and engine trim switch continue to present difficulties.

The Bo 105 project has now reached a critical final stage where everything is complete with the exception of these key systems. These switches are vital to the helicopter, and we cannot release the helicopter until they are resolved. We are actively reaching out to experienced FM developers who may be able to assist our team. We invite anyone with experience in implementing these systems for helicopters to contact us on Discord. Assistance provided will be acknowledged and compensated appropriately.

Thank you all for sticking with us, your support and feedback mean a lot.