Microsoft has announced Local Legends 11: Aero Vodochody Ae-45 and Ae-145 for MSFS is now available. The package coincides with the release of World Update 14: Central Eastern Europe.

Designed in the late 1940s the Czech-built twin-engine Aero Vodochody is one of the most distinctive airframes in aviation history. It features two variants, the Ae-45 and the more advanced Ae-145 with supercharged engines, refined avionics and improved flight controls.

The Ae-45 earned a reputation for its excellent performance and ability to operate from untreated runways while also being easy to operate and maintain. It incorporated features that were state-of-the-art for the era, including electrically-actuated propeller pitch and electrically driven flaps and undercarriage.

The type became an immediate success throughout Europe, with models being exported to France, the Netherlands and the UK.

The Ae-45 won a high-profile air race in Great Britain and competed in several long-range expeditions, notably in Africa. In 1958 it became the first Czechoslovakian aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean. While many aviation museums throughout the globe display static examples of the Aero 45, only a handful of fully functional airframes remain in service.

The aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator was developed by Aeroplane Heaven. It includes the Ae-45 prototype and the Ae-145, each with several high-definition liveries, a detailed 3D model with a mix of 4K and 8K PBR textures with wear and tear. Other highlights include an authentic cockpit and cabin along with effects such as a scratched canopy, animated flaps and undercarriage.

The Ae-45 and Ae-145 are available as a pack on the MSFS in-game Marketplace for $14.99.