That's right, flight sim fans, Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Acceleration hits master-copy status and should be entering mass production phase right about now. The new expansion to the two-decade running flight sim series is highly anticipated for Microsoft Flight Simulator X fans, especially the DirectX 10 support update that should release together with the expansion pack.

Now while details are sketchy on Microsoft Flight Simulator X Service Pack 2's actual release date, we're absolutely sure that Acceleration would still be available for Windows XP gamers on Service Pack 2. The pack should add more content for single player and multi-player, including air races, new flight missions, plus the F/A-18A Hornet, the EH-101 chopper, and the classic P-51 Mustang.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Acceleration should hit store shelves in North America by October 23, 2007, about a year after the original Microsoft Flight Simulator X released. It shall be available at a suggested retail price of US$ 29.99.

For the n00bs of the sky, or pro pilots who need a home sim, there's Microsoft's Flight Simulator (current standards: 2004: A Century of Flight and X). The nice thing about FS2004/X is that it's easily customizable: users can add updated scenery, new planes, the whole aviation works, by using a ton of pro and freeware add-on packs from the sim community.

Now, one of those pro add-on manufacturers, UK-based First Class Simulations, has announced the release of the Airbus A380 Special Edition add-on pack for FS2004/X, which puts the biggest passenger mutha-shut-yo-mouth in your hands - or in your Flight Simulator, to be exact.

Big deal, there are shareware/freeware add-ons of the A380 available out there. True. Many of them are actually more than flightworthy. By paying £19.99 for a professionally-constructed package, though, you do get a number of features out of the box that you know they've painstakingly researched and crafted onto the model, such as:

• Four models of the A380: the -700, -800, -800F, and-900
• On-board Flight Management Computer (FMC) that makes flying the big bad mike-foxtrot a breeze (not the one coming out from your a**, but the breath of spring)
• Liveries for launch customers of the A380, such as Singapore Air, Lufthansa, British Airways, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic, and including the Airbus house colors
• Enhanced scenery of Tolouse Airport, home to the Airbus Industrie factory and birthplace of the 380
  

Enjoy an A380 load of screens of this newest workhorse of the sky - unless you're a Boeing fan (*ahem*). Our only rant is that there are no announcements of a US or worldwide release, just the UK, Scandinavia, and Germany - what, we gotta import the thing?

More pictures of the simulated big-ar*ed queen of the skies after the jump. Although you may have also jumped because I just landed an A380 right next to your house. It's not nice living next to a busy airport, is it?