07/08/2026
Miltech Simulations V-22 Osprey Re-Review | Has the Manual Changed My Opinion? | MSFS 2024 PS5
Following my original review of the Miltech Simulations V-22 Osprey for Microsoft Flight Simulator on PS5, the developers reached out with a detailed response to many of the points I raised. Rather than simply dismissing the criticism, they took the time to explain the aircraft, point me towards the official flight manual, and clarify several systems that I hadn’t fully understood.
Firstly, I want to say that I genuinely appreciate that.
As a reviewer, if new information becomes available, I believe it’s only fair to revisit a product and see whether that changes my opinion. That’s exactly what this video is about.
So… has my opinion changed?
Yes.
But not completely.
The biggest difference this time is the manual.
During my original review I genuinely wasn’t aware one existed. I had read the Marketplace description, followed the in-game EFB checklist and flew the aircraft as presented. After Miltech pointed me towards the manual, I downloaded it, read it properly and flew the aircraft again from the beginning.
That manual makes a huge difference.
One of the biggest examples is the blade fold sequence. During my first review I believed the aircraft was asking me to carry out certain actions. Having now read the manual, I understand that the sequence is almost entirely autonomous. The aircraft isn’t instructing the pilot what to do—it is informing the pilot what it is doing. Once you understand that, the whole process makes far more sense.
It completely changed my opinion on that system.
Likewise, several of the aircraft systems became much easier to understand once I knew the intended operating philosophy.
Once airborne, I also found the aircraft enjoyable to fly. The autopilot performed well, responded correctly to inputs and generally behaved exactly as I would expect.
Now, I have no real-world experience flying a V-22 Osprey, so I can’t honestly comment on whether the handling characteristics or response times are true to life. It’s a unique aircraft, and without access to real pilots or official military data, I simply can’t make that judgement.
Unfortunately, the manual doesn’t fix the bugs.
The biggest issue I encountered during this second review was simply trying to get into the aircraft.
Across multiple airports, the simulator repeatedly refused to allow me to spawn cold and dark on a parking stand. It appears that the aircraft’s spawn boundary doesn’t correctly line up with parking positions, meaning the simulator traps the pilot outside the aircraft.
We tested several other aircraft immediately afterwards and couldn’t reproduce the issue, so this appears to be specific to the Osprey.
The only reliable workaround was to start Ready for Flight on the runway.
If you’ve watched this channel before, you’ll know how much I dislike doing that.
One of my favourite parts of flight simulation is starting cold and dark, carrying out the setup correctly and working through the procedures exactly as you would in the real aircraft.
Having to bypass that because of a spawning issue really takes away from the experience.
The lighting also continues to behave inconsistently. Navigation and tip lights appeared, disappeared and sometimes failed to display correctly during night operations.
Those are software issues, and whilst the manual improves the operating experience, it obviously can’t resolve problems like these.
My thoughts on the manual and the EFB
There is one point where I still respectfully disagree with Miltech.
Now that I’ve read the manual, it’s obvious how much work has gone into it. It’s comprehensive and explains the aircraft well.
However, I personally think the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) should incorporate those same procedures or at least provide a checklist that follows the manual more closely.
The reality is that many simmers—particularly on console—want to purchase an aircraft, jump in and fly it using the in-game checklist.
If key setup procedures only exist within an external manual, I think it’s inevitable that some users will become frustrated and criticism will follow. That’s not because the manual isn’t good—it’s because many people simply won’t know it exists or expect such critical information to be outside the simulator.
Ironically, I’m probably the wrong person to accuse of not liking manuals.
If you’ve watched this channel before, you’ll know I’m one of the biggest advocates of real-world procedures, printed checklists and operating manuals. I regularly fly aircraft using real documentation because that’s where I get the most enjoyment.
That’s especially true with military aircraft, where publicly available information is often scarce and you have to piece together procedures from multiple sources.
So I absolutely support detailed manuals.
In fact, I wish more developers produced them.
I simply think that if the manual is essential to operating the aircraft correctly, the EFB should either mirror those procedures or clearly guide the pilot through them. I think that would make the aircraft much more accessible whilst still allowing enthusiasts to enjoy the full realism of the manual.
Miltech’s explanation
Miltech also explained that this aircraft is a legacy product originally released back in 2020 and has now been brought across to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and PlayStation due to community demand.
They’ve also confirmed that a fully native Version 2 remake is planned in the future.
I appreciate that honesty.
However, I still feel that this aircraft has arrived on PlayStation because demand existed rather than because it was truly ready for the platform.
Perhaps that’s my biggest criticism.
At around £30, I think customers have every right to judge the aircraft against other premium products available today, rather than what was acceptable five years ago.
Why I’m being so critical - Some people have asked why I’ve been so harsh.
The answer is actually quite simple.
Because I know what Miltech are capable of.
Their MH-60 Black Hawk is, in my opinion, one of the finest helicopters available on PlayStation. It’s polished, immersive and a genuinely brilliant product.
That proves Miltech can produce exceptional aircraft.
Which is exactly why I feel the Osprey currently falls below the standard they’ve already set themselves.
This isn’t criticism of Miltech as developers.
It’s criticism of one particular product.
And I genuinely hope Version 2 reaches the level I know they’re capable of delivering.
Final Verdict
So…
Has the manual changed my opinion?
Absolutely.
Several of the criticisms I made originally were down to my misunderstanding of how Miltech intended the aircraft to be operated, and I’m more than happy to acknowledge that.
However…
The manual doesn’t fix the spawning issues.
It doesn’t fix some of the lighting inconsistencies.
It doesn’t remove the feeling that the aircraft still needs another round of refinement before it truly feels at home on PlayStation.
For that reason, whilst I no longer feel this is a 3/10 aircraft…
I also can’t recommend it at full price in its current state.
⭐ Final Score: 6.5/10
There’s a genuinely enjoyable aircraft underneath, and understanding it properly makes a significant difference. But technical issues and a lack of polish still stop me recommending it today.
If Version 2 delivers on Miltech’s promises, I’ll happily revisit it again.
After all, that’s what honest reviewing is about.
If my opinion changes, I’ll tell you.
If I get something wrong, I’ll admit it.
And if a developer takes the time to engage with constructive criticism, I’ll always give them the opportunity to respond.
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