At long, long, long long loooonnnnnnng last, the single most desirable, capable and functionally beautiful aircraft ever devised by man - and also possibly the greatest invention itself since the frozen burrito - is available for MSFS2020/2024.  That's right, I'm talking about the American Champion Aircraft (ACA) 8GCBC Scout!!!!

Longtime simmers with fond memories of the RealAir Scout package for FS2004 and FSX have been waiting for something to come along that could possibly come close to that package, and while this offering can't possibly be entirely 100% accurate to that product, it comes awfully dang close.  Clearly this has been a labor of love by Hangar 713 Studios, with the developer doing his level best job to step up in the absence of legends Rob Young & Sean Maloney.   As someone who was a RealAir aficionado with hundreds of hours in their RealAir Scout package (I flew it exclusively for almost a year across thousands and thousands of miles from SoCal to the PNW and beyond in FSX, also creating several addon liveries for it along the way) I was curious as to how close this new addon compares and I will say that so far based on my flying time with it so far today I am extremely impressed and very pleased with my paltry $19 purchase.

And lest ye be fooled into thinking this is "yet another tandem taildragger bush plane" I'd encourage you to look at it with fresh eyes.  It has a wonderful flight model, lots of custom effects, 3 very cool variants and interesting features such as shifting payload weight in the optional cargo pod that can alter flight dynamics, and (from what I've read on their discord channel) shifting fuel payload from one wing tank to the other in the event of a careless bush pilot parking it on unlevel ground - be careful out there, kids!   Lots of great info on these and other features in the well-written user manual. 

Full deets n'such at the Hangar 713 Studio link here:   https://hangarstudios713.com/products/american-champion-scout8gcbc

A few obligatory screenies from my first shakedown flight (in MSFS2024 where it flies just perfectly, by the way):

Edited August 23, 2025Aug 23 by Stoopy

"While it has not yet been rebuilt natively for MSFS 2024"

 

pass

Great news! Thanks for posting.

5 hours ago, chapstick said:

"While it has not yet been rebuilt natively for MSFS 2024"

 

pass

I just wrote a post on the official forums about all of these "compatible" products for 2024. My concerns were more driven towards scenery, but the same holds true for some aircraft as well. I'm in the same boat. I'm done purchasing 2020 products that are "compatible" with 2024.  

I rented the Decathlon for 24 hours last week. The interior textures were, to put it kindly, not great. It reminded me of the 2004 version in that respect.

I decided not to keep it.  

11 hours ago, Stoopy said:

RealAir Scout package for FS2004 and FSX

CLUNK! CLUNK! 

Go the flaps. Great times on bush strips around PNG 😊

15 hours ago, Stoopy said:

At long, long, long long loooonnnnnnng last, the single most desirable, capable and functionally beautiful aircraft ever devised by man - and also possibly the greatest invention itself since the frozen burrito - is available for MSFS2020/2024. 

This is interesting, I said the same thing a couple weeks ago about the newly released 'FlightFX Citation X' (go figure)...😶

 

Edited August 24, 2025Aug 24 by Dillon

11 hours ago, St Mawgan said:

I rented the Decathlon for 24 hours last week. The interior textures were, to put it kindly, not great. It reminded me of the 2004 version in that respect.

I decided not to keep it.  

I actually quite like the Decathlon. It’s a blast to fly in VR pulling off barrel rolls and other maneuvers. And I love the colorful livery pack!

 

13 hours ago, Keirtt said:

I just wrote a post on the official forums about all of these "compatible" products for 2024. My concerns were more driven towards scenery, but the same holds true for some aircraft as well. I'm in the same boat. I'm done purchasing 2020 products that are "compatible" with 2024.  

I feel the same way. I’ll pick it up when he’s completed the 2024 native version.

Edited August 24, 2025Aug 24 by Gulf76

2 hours ago, Dillon said:

This is interesting, I said the same thing a couple weeks ago about the newly released 'FlightFX Citation X' (go figure)...😶

 

🤣

What Autopilot functionality, if any, do the Analog & Glass variants have?

T45

13 hours ago, Treetops45 said:

What Autopilot functionality, if any, do the Analog & Glass variants have?

T45

From the dev website

 

Glass version features the G3X Touch with G5 backup, AS430 GPS, and AS307 autopilot integration

the As307 apparently is the GFC 305

Edited August 25, 2025Aug 25 by Rene_Feijen

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review — it honestly means more than you know. Seeing someone dive into the Scout on day one and appreciate the little touches, the variants, the FX, and the dynamic systems really makes the entire development cycle worth it.

And to be totally upfront: I actually had no prior connection to RealAir nor did I know the developers before this project.
I’ve since learned how respected they were in the FS2004/FSX era, and being compared to them is a huge compliment — but the Scout wasn’t built as a homage or recreation of anything. It was created entirely from the ground up, simply because I love this aircraft and wanted to bring something authentic and high-effort to the sim. If it evokes nostalgia for RealAir users, that’s an unexpected bonus, but all the work here is original. Thank You!

---

Regarding MSFS 2024 — Clarification From the Developer Side

There’s been a lot of curiosity about what changes in 2024, so here’s the straightforward truth:

The MSFS 2024 version uses the exact same flight model you're flying right now.
Same performance, same handling, same physics, same systems. Nothing gets nerfed or altered for 2024. If it flies perfectly for you today in MSFS2024, that’s because it is the same aircraft under the hood.

Where 2024 does expand the experience is in the extra features the new sim enables. So the enhanced 2024 version will include:

• Mission availability integrated directly into the new sim’s mission framework

• Tow plane functionality

• Tow banner capability

• A full walk-around inspection mode

These additions come purely from what MSFS 2024 natively supports — nothing about the Scout’s flight model or quality is being altered between platforms.

Think of 2024 as unlocking extra toys, not changing the airplane.

Next update might even have a ski variant 😉 And yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus (Auto Pilot!) <--- Glass Variants only(but it still works in the analog if you have the setup 😉)  Yes, I read the comments... 

---

A Small Honest Developer Note

THE walk-around feature — and I’ll admit something with a smile:

It’s one of those features devs spend an insane amount of time building…
people try it once…
say “wow, that’s cool!”…
and then never touch it again.

2024 brings me joy — even if deep down I know most folks will still use it once and move on. Part of the job, I suppose!

---

Closing Thoughts

It’s incredibly rewarding to see the Scout resonate with simmers who appreciate the depth and detail put into it. This aircraft was built with passion from the very first vertex to the final test flight, and reviews like yours remind me exactly why I love doing this.

Thank you again for your support, your enthusiasm, and for giving the Scout a proper shakedown run.
Keep those screenshots coming — and keep having fun with it in both 2020 and 2024.

P.S. I'm just a normal guy who likes to sim and has the luxury of self learned development over the years.

17 hours ago, Hangar Studios 713 said:

A Small Honest Developer Note

THE walk-around feature — and I’ll admit something with a smile:

It’s one of those features devs spend an insane amount of time building…
people try it once…
say “wow, that’s cool!”…
and then never touch it again.

2024 brings me joy — even if deep down I know most folks will still use it once and move on. Part of the job, I suppose!

 

Not me!  I enjoy doing the walkaround because it's like I would do in real life.  I'll never own a REAL Scout so this is it.  Although it is nice that Asobo have added a key command to bypass / autocomplete the walkaround for those who don't enjoy it.

It would be nice if the Scout's GTN650 were TDS instead of PMS.  Fun plane , otherwise.

Same with me - walk around all the time