Airfoillabs King Air 350 XP12 Version 2.0.0 Release
Sharper Visuals, Smoother Autopilot & Corrected Systems
Hi King Air 350 pilots, after a longer pause we're happy to say it clearly: we're back on the King Air 350 XP12, and version 2.0.0 is now ready for you. This update focuses on three main areas - sharper cockpit and interior visuals, a much smoother autopilot with RNAV vertical guidance, and more correct electrical, avionics and engine behavior. It's also the first step of a renewed, more regular update cycle for the KA350 going forward.
Thanks a lot to everyone who kept flying her, reported bugs, and pushed us to come back to it properly.
Airfoillabs Team
Highlights of Version 2.0.0
Visual & 3D
Reworked interior textures and materials for a higher-resolution, cleaner cockpit look.
Integrated X-Plane 12 detail textures for more believable surfaces.
Fixed normals, object placements and animations for better shading and more natural movement.
Autopilot & Navigation
Fixed roll oscillation and bank hunting in HDG and NAV modes - the autopilot now holds heading and lateral paths much more steadily.
Improved pitch and roll stability overall for a calmer, more predictable ride.
Fixed RNAV approach glidepath capture - the aircraft now correctly captures and flies RNAV vertical guidance in FMS mode.
Corrected FMS/GPS vertical guidance logic across the route and approach.
Fixed unwanted autothrottle activation on landing in the default FMS variant - no more surprise throttle grab on rollout.
Electrical & Avionics Logic
Correct gen-bus behavior - buses stay powered appropriately with engines off (for example in a glide).
Fixed external GPU behavior so it actually powers the aircraft and prevents unnecessary battery drain.
Reworked Battery Fail / Fix / Consequences logic for more realistic outcomes.
Fixed DME power logic - DME is now tied to the correct avionics bus and works as expected from Cold & Dark.
Fixed transponder ALT mode output - correct Mode C squawk when in ALT.
Handling & Engines
Fixed incorrect yaw on takeoff roll - no more "wrong-way" tendency; behavior is tuned toward the expected rudder input.
Corrected gust lock activation, deactivation and conditions (for example, it cannot be activated in flight).
Updated engine starter torque, RPM and time from 0 to IDLE based on real aircraft data for a more believable start sequence.
Full 2.0.0 Changelog
The complete changelog for version 2.0.0, as it will appear in the manuals and the store:
3D / Visuals
3D - Reworked interior textures and materials for higher resolution.
3D - X-Plane detail textures implemented.
3D - Fixed normals.
3D - Fixed object placements and animations.
NAV / Autopilot
NAV - Autopilot roll oscillation in HDG/NAV modes (stopped constant bank hunting).
NAV - Fixed autopilot not stable enough in pitch.
NAV - Fixed autopilot not stable enough in roll.
NAV - Fixed RNAV approach glidepath capture (autopilot sometimes failed to descend on RNAV approaches in FMS mode).
NAV - FMS/GPS vertical guidance route/approach fixed.
NAV - Fixed unwanted autothrottle activation on landing (throttles taken over in default FMS variant).
Electrical / Avionics
Electrical - Correct gen-bus logic: buses remain powered appropriately with engines off (glide).
Electrical - Fixed external GPU not providing power (no more battery drain with GPU connected).
Electrical - Battery fail / fix / consequences logic corrected.
Electrical - Fixed DME power logic - DME now tied to correct avionics bus.
Other Systems & Handling
Gust Lock - Activation / deactivation / conditions fixed (can't be activated during flight).
DME - Fixed inoperative DME on Cold & Dark start (GPS variant) - DME now displays distance/ID when started from Cold & Dark or Before Start states.
Transponder - Fixed ALT mode output - correct Mode C when knob in ALT.
Takeoff Roll - Fixed incorrect yaw on takeoff roll (no more "pull to the wrong side").
Engines - Starter torque / RPM / 0 to IDLE time fixed based on real aircraft behavior.
Visual Work: Before / After Comparisons
A big part of this update is the reworked interior. The links below open interactive before / after comparisons - drag the slider to see the difference between the previous and the new textures:
Comparison 01, Comparison 02, Comparison 03, Comparison 04, Comparison 05, Comparison 06, Comparison 07, Comparison 08, Comparison 09, Comparison 10, Comparison 11, Comparison 12, Comparison 13, Comparison 14, Comparison 15, Comparison 16, Comparison 17, Comparison 18
What We're Working on Next
With 2.0.0 out, we're not disappearing - quite the opposite. The KA350 is back on our active list and we're already working on the next round of fixes and refinements.
Here are the main areas on our current radar:
Add official TDS Sim GTNXi 750 integration for the GPS variant.
Fix CRS XFR course transfer button and restore documented course-preset swap behavior.
Refine propeller flight model, then lever axis mapping (currently mis-assigned to cowl flaps axis).
Rework rudder boost, including overspeed governor test.
Fix landing gear strut clipping through the aircraft model (visual bug).
Revamp interior and exterior lights.
Reduce excessive wing flex in replay (tone down unrealistically large wing deflections).
Improve cockpit switch sound (remove unrealistic long reverb on flip switches).
Adjust propeller sound volume (engine/prop noise in cockpit is too loud).
Improve engine oil check feature (enhance realism and feedback of oil level/maintenance check).
Implement functional weather radar (working X-Plane 12 weather radar).
Add optional headset simulation (noise-cancelling headset to reduce engine noise in cockpit).
Enable opening wing locker compartments with visible stored items for added realism.
Add cabin snack/drink cabinets as interactive or visible cabin details.
Refine nosewheel steering dynamics and add optional yoke-to-yaw control for users without pedals.
Rework BAT BUS "EMER OFF" so it actually cuts electrical power.
Fix right-side radios not working in CDU variant.
Persist payload/fuel edits via X-Plane 12 native interface (stop automatic reset).
Rework fuel system.
Add an optional auto rudder-aileron coordination toggle.
As always, we'll adjust priorities based on your feedback.
How You Can Help
If you run into issues on 2.0.0, it helps us a lot if you can:
Include your X-Plane version, OS and KA350 version (2.0.0).
Attach your log.txt and, if possible, a short description of the steps to reproduce.
Post in the King Air 350 XP12 support forum on X-Plane.org, or reach us via our support channels if you prefer.
We read your reports, even if we don't reply to every single one - and version 2.0.0 already contains fixes driven directly by community feedback.
Back in Active Development
Thank you again for your patience during the quieter period and for sticking with the King Air 350. We're excited to bring this aircraft back into active development and to keep iterating with you.
Clear skies,
Juraj, Airfoillabs
Join the discussion of this update on the X-Plane.org forum.
