“Got Friends: Month of Soaring”
Release Plans for the Month of July
Hey everybody! We thought it would be a great idea to share our Release Plans for the Month of July. Information for our upcoming releases and updates have been scattered throughout the forum, so we would like to throw it all under one post.
What’s Happening in July?
We are calling July the “Month of Soaring”. During this month we will be releasing the Discus-2c Premium and Standard Update for MSFS 2020, the new AS 33 Me Glider for MSFS 2020 and 2024, the Discus-2c Premium Upgrade for MSFS 2024 and finally, the Got Friends Towing Expansion for both MSFS 2020 and 2024.
This is a major month full of releases, however, due to the complexity of supporting two simulators, I would like to layout the exact timeline, release dates, prices and platforms for each release. Put simply, here is a list of all the action happening in July with some events even happening in June!
This Weekend:
- Discus-2c Premium / Standard Update for MSFS 2020
- Price: Free for Existing Owners of both Premium & Standard
- Availability: Got Friends Website & Contrail
- Marketplace & Xbox Series Upon Approval
Last Week of June:
- Got Friends Towing Expansion for MSFS 2020
- Price: Freeware
- Availability: Got Friends Website & Contrail
- No Plans for Marketplace or Xbox Series (Freeware Restrictions)
1st Week of July:
- AS 33 Me Release for MSFS 2020
- Price: $19.99
- Availability: Got Friends Website & Contrail
- Marketplace & Xbox Series Upon Approval
2nd Week of July:
- AS 33 Me Upgrade for MSFS 2024
- Price: Free with Previous 2020 Purchase
- Availability: Got Friends Website & Contrail
- Marketplace & Xbox Series Upon Approval
3rd Week of July:
- Discus-2c Premium Upgrade for MSFS 2024
- Price: Free with Previous Premium Purchase
- Availability: Got Friends Website & Contrail
- Marketplace & Xbox Series Upon Approval
4th Week of July:
- Got Friends Towing Expansion for MSFS 2024
- Price: Freeware
- Availability: Got Friends Website & Contrail
- No Plans for Marketplace or Xbox Series (Freeware Restrictions)
Sim Update #4: 1st Party Gliders
- Stemme S12-G LX Family Suite Update
- Taurus-M LX Family Suite Update
As you can see, we’ve been rather busy and July particularly is going to be packed with new releases scattered throughout the month. This is to ease our transition to MSFS 2024 as well as accurately track all reported bugs and feedback during this heavy period of releases. With that said, let’s talk about the new updates!
LX Family Suite Update
Included in Discus-2c, AS 33 Me, Stemme S12-G and Taurus-M Gliders
Universal Avionics System
Throughout our development on these gliders, we have had the pleasure to collaborate with Ian Lewis (B21) to fully update the LX Family Suite, making it one of the most powerful avionic suites available in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Every update will include this Universal System and this updated package will eventually make it way to our 1st Party Gliders in MSFS 2024 in a future Sim Update. Here is a quick glance at some of the most exciting changes:
- 2.1.8: Added Third Party Maps (Google, National Geographic, Topography, Satellite, Bing)
- 2.1.8: Added B21 Logger Support for External Flight Plans
- 2.1.8: Added New Polar, Sink, and Weight for Vario Calculations
- 2.1.8: Added PLN Change Support to the Navigation Engine
- 2.1.8: Added Custom Pop-Up Messages
- 2.1.8. Added Dashboard & Aircraft Settings Pages
- 2.1.8. Added New Grid Overlay Options
- 2.1.8. Full Hotkey Support for all Buttons & Knobs with External Hardware
If you are interested in checking out all the new features before release, feel free to look at the New Flight Manual that we are making available to the public:
Discus-2c Premium / Standard Update:
What to Expect
The Discus-2c has gone through a complete overhaul. We did this primarily to keep the Discus-2c up to speed with the current era of flight simulation. The Discus was one of our original projects as Got Friends and it needed a variety of fixes. Here is a quick look at some of the most important fixes going into the Discus-2c Update:
- Updated Coding for Entire Project to Modern Standard
- Updated 3D Model, Added New Elements and Improved Animations
- Added New LX Family Avionics Suite (Latest Version v2.1.8)
- Added New WWISE Soundpack with Headphone Mode Support
- Added New Flight Model and FES Motor Dynamics
- Added New FCU Functionality, Messages and Recharging Systems
- Added a New Electrical System with Circuits for Avionics
- Added Aircraft Settings Page to Support Customization Options
- Added New Yawstring and Animations
- Added VR Controller Support
- Added New Wing Flex Animations
- Added New Tooltips System
- Added Multi-Function Tow Release Cable (Native & 3rd-Party Support)
- Added Persistence to Customization Options
- Added Hangar Chocks, Covers and Pitot Tube Components
- Added Yoke Hide Feature with Camera Selection
- Added Various Messages to LX Family for Ballast, Tow Cable and Emergency Warnings
- Added Hotkey Support to LX Family and Various Aircraft Controls
- Added Variometer Smoothing for Real-Time Weather Support
Discus-2c Premium Upgrade:
What to Expect
When the Upgrade is released for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you can expect to see these additional features in addition to those listed in the above update:
- Walkaround Preflight
- Door & Seatbelt Interactions
- Updated Visual Effects
- Character Compatibility with Asobo’s Avatar System
- Improved Flight Model and FES Motor Dynamics
- Custom Registration Colors and Fonts Support for Livery Artists
AS 33 Me for MSFS 2020 & 2024:
What to Expect
The AS 33 Me will be marketed as an Expert Level Glider. We don’t use that term lightly. This is a flagship release for our team and represents a major milestone in our development. The visual fidelity is stunning, and our team has dedicated countless hours to perfecting every detail. System depth is at an all-time high, offering advanced, fully functional, and highly customizable features—everything from circuit breakers to bug wipers. The AS 33 Me pushes the boundaries of Microsoft Flight Simulator and sets a new benchmark for realism. We truly believe this is the most high-fidelity glider ever created for any flight simulation, and we can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself in early July. Some of the features we are most excited about include:
- Two Wingspan Variants: 15m and 18m
- Official Collaboration with Stefan Langer
- Dashboard Customization and Instrument Selection
- Fully Simulated Electric Motor with Dedicated Powerplant Interface
- Fully Interactive Cockpit including Circuit Breakers, Bug Wipers, Switches and Indicators
- Surface Contamination Drag Effects (Bugs, Dirt, Grime and Rain)
- Complete Ballast System with Refill Sliders, Discharge Valve Control and Visual Effects
- Realistic Soundscape using WWISE, Including Optional Headphone Simulation
- Canopy Jettison, Full Hotkey Compatibility and Hardware Integration
- Adjustable Settings on-the-fly like Cockpit Additions, Adverse Yaw and Surface Grime
- Advanced Soft-Body Animations including Wingflex, Yawstring and Wire Animations
- Multiple Liveries including Stefan Langer’s Personal Design
- The Full LX Family Suite with Additional Quick Winch Software, FLARM, Multiplayer Towing, Ai Tow Plane Spawning, Third Party Map Support, Dashboard Settings and Aircraft Settings
- MSFS 2024 Features including Walk-Around Preflight, Improved Visual Effects, Fine-Tuned Flight & Motor Dynamics as well as Character Compatibility with Asobo’s Avatar System.
Got Friends Towing Expansion for MSFS 2020 & 2024:
What to Expect
Throughout testing, we unfortunately noticed the lackluster behavior and lack of variety when it came to Towing in Microsoft Flight Simulator. We are releasing a Freeware Expansion that will add a variety of tow vehicles to the simulator as well as enable various Asobo aircraft for aerotowing. This Freeware Add-on will include the following vehicles on release:
- Wilga 35A (Got Friends)
- Ford F-150 Winch Truck (Got Friends)
- CyberWinch Truck (Got Friends)
- Cessna 172 Improvements (Asobo)
- Robin DR-400 Remorqueur (Asobo)
- Savage Cub (Asobo)
- CubCrafter XCub (Asobo)
It’s worth noting that the Wilga 35A Towplane Variant and Ford F-150 will be removed from the Wilga Series and Discus-2c in favor of this standalone add-on. This will reduce file size requirements considerably as well as alleviate conflictions between products. It also allows us to expand this add-on in the future with more vehicle types.
As we head into July, I just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who’s been along for this wild ride. Developing this many updates and new releases at once has honestly been one of the toughest challenges we’ve faced as a team—but it’s also been the most rewarding. Every feature, fix, and detail you see here is the result of countless hours, late nights, and genuine passion from everyone at Got Friends.
This “Month of Soaring” isn’t just about new aircraft or updates. It’s about pushing boundaries, listening to your feedback, and creating something that gliding fans can be truly excited about. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and can’t wait to share it all with you.
Thanks for your support, your ideas, and your patience. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the skies and hearing what you think as these new projects go live. Here’s to a packed month, smooth flights, and an awesome journey ahead.
- The Got Friends Team