MSFS 2024 Sim Update 7.1, version 1.9.21.0, makes NCAR time trials playable and fixes issues with flight model drag and lobby browsing. The Steam announcement dated October 23, 2026 presents the update as available for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Playable time trials and clearer NCAR lobby browsing
The patch notes list playable NCAR time trials under new content and features. For players interested in this activity, that is the addition to look for in Sim Update 7.1. A separate correction addresses the lobby browser, where the way sessions appeared during scrolling could be misleading.
The lobby list could refresh while players scrolled through it, making it look as though no other lobbies were available. The team says this behavior has been fixed. The practical distinction matters when looking for a session: the apparent end of the displayed list could reflect a refresh problem rather than the actual availability of further lobbies.
This is a correction to browsing, rather than an announcement of more lobbies. Its purpose is to address how available sessions are displayed, so players looking through the list are not given that misleading impression.
The flight model gets a drag correction
The update also fixes a flight model issue that reduced drag, according to the team. This concerns simulated aircraft behavior, a separate issue from the NCAR interface correction. The notes do not quantify the size of the drag error or the resulting change in flight behavior, so the correction should not be presented as a measured performance gain.
PC loading or stability problems: check Community packages
In the Steam announcement, the team warns that outdated packages in the Community folder can affect both performance and game behavior on PC. That warning is conditional: it identifies a possible source of trouble, without attributing every loading or stability problem to Community content.
If the simulator becomes unstable or takes a long time to load, the recommended procedure is to move the Community packages to another folder, then relaunch the game. The instruction is to move the files, not delete them. It is a troubleshooting step for those symptoms, with no guarantee that it will resolve an individual problem.
NCAR time trials are the playable addition in this release, alongside corrections to lobby browsing and drag. For PC users encountering instability or lengthy loading, the Community-folder procedure provides a concrete next step before relaunching.
See also our Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 game page, our article on MSFS 2024: SU7 fixes visuals after long flights and our article on MSFS 2024 SU7: the update introduces racing.
