The Goodyear Blimp is now available in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Xbox Wire confirmed the aircraft on July 22, 2026. It gives players a slower way to explore US national parks included with World Update 22.
Key points
- Xbox Wire confirmed on July 22, 2026 that the Goodyear Blimp is flyable in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- World Update 22 released on July 2, 2026 and is free.
- The update adds 31 areas of interest, 46 points of interest, three guided tours, and nine discovery flights.
- The game is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Goodyear Blimp in MSFS 2024: flying requires patience
The model is based on the Goodyear-operated Zeppelin NT. Xbox describes a carbon-fiber-and-aluminum internal structure, three vectored-thrust engines, fly-by-wire controls, and a configurable gondola. It is a playable aircraft, not a static asset.
The airship responds with a delay between control input and movement. Goodyear Chief Pilot Adam Basaran recommends starting turns early. He compares flying it to captaining a large ship.
Wind matters more at this speed. For a first route, Basaran recommends flying from Wingfoot Lake in Ohio to Akron Fulton Airport. The short trip helps players learn the aircraft’s inertia.
Goodyear Blimp availability in MSFS 2024 and World Update 22 content
World Update 22 has been available since July 2, 2026. It improves US parks and monuments, including Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, and Zion. Its official page lists 31 areas of interest, 46 points of interest, three guided tours, and nine discovery flights.
The update is free according to the official World Update 22 page. Confirmed aircraft details come from the Xbox Wire announcement. More releases appear in the latest gaming news, while our news section collects recent announcements.
An aircraft made to see scenery differently
Compared with a fighter jet, an airliner, or a light aircraft, the Goodyear Blimp sets a very different pace. Official material highlights its three vectored-thrust engines, its roughly 20,000-pound mass, and the delay before its controls take effect. A fast aircraft can cross a park in minutes. The airship instead rewards a planned route and an altitude selected for the wind. That approach fits World Update 22, which focuses on national parks and monuments. Microsoft has not announced a dedicated career path or Blimp-only missions.
The player impact is straightforward. World Update 22 already provides routes and scenery that suit slow cruising, and the retained sources announce no separate Blimp price. A short Ohio flight gives players room to learn when to turn before reaching a waypoint. Stadium and park flyovers are then natural uses for the aircraft. Players expecting a co-op mode or a new dedicated activity should temper that expectation, because the official announcement does not describe either feature. Browse our gaming features for updates with a concrete effect on play.
What Microsoft has not detailed yet
- Will Microsoft add activities designed around airship flying? The answer matters because tailored missions could extend its value beyond free flight.
- Will future World Updates include aircraft connected to their themes? The answer matters because it would show whether this scenery-and-aircraft pairing will become a regular format.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Goodyear Blimp become available?It is connected to World Update 22, released on July 2, 2026. Xbox Wire confirmed on July 22 that it is flyable in the simulator.
No separate price is announced in the retained sources. World Update 22 is presented as free.
It adds 31 areas of interest, 46 points of interest, three guided tours, and nine discovery flights around US parks and monuments.
Adam Basaran recommends a short route from Wingfoot Lake to Akron Fulton Airport in Ohio.
The airship has significant inertia and a delay before control inputs take effect. Start the turn before the intended course change.
Xbox Wire lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Follow the Xbox Wire announcement and the World Update 22 page.
Verified sources
- Xbox Wire: Goodyear Blimp availability, features, and flying advice.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator: World Update 22 content and free status.
- Xbox: official game page for Asobo Studio and Xbox Game Studios.
- Official Microsoft Flight Simulator YouTube: World Update 22 trailer.
