Precision Manuals Development Group
A commercial developer of high-fidelity aircraft add-ons for major civilian flight-simulation platforms.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Precision Manuals Development Group, commonly known as PMDG, is an American commercial developer of aircraft add-ons for civilian flight simulators. Its products reproduce the systems, cockpit procedures, performance characteristics, and operational details of real-world airliners and other aircraft for platforms including Microsoft Flight Simulator, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D, and X-Plane. The company is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, while its development organization has also included personnel in Belgium, South Africa, Canada, and other locations. PMDG has operated with a relatively small core team supported by a broader group of beta testers and community participants. The company was founded by Robert S. Randazzo in January 1998. It was initially conceived as a technical publishing business rather than solely as an aircraft-software studio. Its first known product was the 747-400PS1 User's Guide, released in February 1998 to help users understand and operate a simulated Boeing 747-400. PMDG subsequently developed the FS98 Series Aircraft Operating Manual line for Microsoft Flight Simulator 98. These products combined documentation with installable software intended to improve or extend the simulator experience, including aspects of the aircraft flight model. PMDG expanded into aircraft add-ons for several simulator platforms during the late 1990s. In August 1999, it announced formal support for Terminal Reality's FLY! simulator, and released a Boeing 757-200ER for that platform in December of the same year. Its early FLY! work also included a Boeing 767-200/300. The company later became particularly associated with detailed Boeing and Douglas airliner simulations for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and Flight Simulator X, producing aircraft families such as the Boeing 737, 747, and 777. Its products were positioned toward users seeking a more technically demanding and procedurally realistic experience than that offered by default simulator aircraft. PMDG's portfolio broadened beyond the Microsoft ecosystem with the Douglas DC-6 for X-Plane, released in January 2016. This was its first and, according to the cited reference material, only aircraft released for X-Plane. The company later reassessed its platform strategy as the market moved away from 32-bit simulation software. In 2019 it announced that it would stop creating new products for 32-bit platforms, including FSX, FSX Steam Edition, and Prepar3D version 3, while continuing to support existing products for a period. It also ended new X-Plane development in favor of Prepar3D version 4 and the then-upcoming Microsoft Flight Simulator. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 became PMDG's principal growth platform. The company retired its older FSX and X-Plane products in 2021 ahead of its new-platform releases, beginning with a Microsoft Flight Simulator version of the Douglas DC-6 in June 2021. It then introduced the Boeing 737-700 in May 2022 and followed it with additional 737 Next Generation variants, including the -600, -800, and -900. PMDG later shifted to widebody development, releasing the Boeing 777-300ER in June 2024 and the 777F freighter in December 2024. Development plans have also included additional 777 variants and a Boeing 747 family for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. A notable commercial change accompanied the move to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. Historically, PMDG often sold aircraft families through a base package containing selected variants and separate expansion packages for additional models. Under its newer approach, individual variants can be purchased separately, allowing customers to select a specific aircraft configuration without first buying a base pack. The company remains focused on specialist, premium flight-simulation software, emphasizing detailed systems modeling, airline-style operations, and compatibility with current simulator platforms.
History
Precision Manuals Development Group was established by Robert S. Randazzo in January 1998. Its original concept was a small technical publishing operation serving flight-simulation users. The first product identified in the available reference material was the 747-400PS1 User's Guide, issued in February 1998. Although presented as a guide, it was aimed at helping users operate a simulated Boeing 747-400 and reflected the company's early emphasis on documentation and procedural learning. The guide was later withdrawn from availability in the early 2000s. PMDG then introduced its FS98 Series Aircraft Operating Manual line for Microsoft Flight Simulator 98. The line included installable add-on functionality intended to improve the simulation, including the modeled flight physics of the aircraft. This combination of technical explanation and software implementation became an enduring feature of PMDG's product identity. During 1999, PMDG began pursuing additional simulator platforms. In August it announced formal support for FLY!, a simulator developed by Terminal Reality. On December 18, 1999, it released a Boeing 757-200ER for FLY! and later worked on a Boeing 767-200/300. The latter was described as the company's last FLY! aircraft to use the simulator's default autopilot system. Over subsequent years PMDG developed a substantial catalog for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and Flight Simulator X. Its principal subjects were commercial aircraft, especially Boeing 737, 747, and 777 families. The company became known for complex systems, detailed cockpits, airline operating procedures, and numerous aircraft variants. It also supported users through AVSIM forums for many years, before making its own website available in 2018. A relocation of the headquarters to Virginia was announced in 2012, although the company is identified in the cited reference material as being based in Las Vegas, Nevada. PMDG's platform coverage expanded to X-Plane with the Douglas DC-6, released on January 6, 2016. This was its first and only X-Plane aircraft in the cited account. The company subsequently concentrated on newer 64-bit platforms. In February 2019 it announced that it would no longer develop new products for 32-bit environments, including FSX, FSX Steam Edition, and Prepar3D version 3. In November 2019, it released the NGXu, an improved 737 product for Prepar3D, with several passenger, freighter, and business-jet variants offered through expansions. The company also announced that new X-Plane and 32-bit development would be canceled in favor of Prepar3D version 4 and preparation for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. PMDG announced that a 777X family was in early development in October 2020. In June 2021 it retired its X-Plane and FSX products as it prepared its modern Microsoft Flight Simulator lineup. The Microsoft Flight Simulator version of the Douglas DC-6 launched on June 18, 2021. The Boeing 737-700 followed on May 9, 2022, with the -600, -800, and -900 variants released subsequently. A planned 737 MAX project was halted so that development resources could be directed toward the Boeing 747. The company then moved into modern widebody products. Its Boeing 777-300ER launched on June 25, 2024, followed by the 777F on December 6, 2024. Additional 777 variants, including the 777-200ER and 777-200LR, have been identified as intended follow-up products. PMDG has also been developing a Boeing 747 family for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, with plans covering classic variants as well as the 747-400 and 747-8. PMDG's sales model also evolved. Earlier aircraft families commonly used a base-pack and expansion-pack structure, in which customers purchased a package containing selected variants before adding other versions. With Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, the company moved toward separately purchasable variants, allowing customers to buy only the model or configuration they wanted. This approach is intended to continue for later products. PMDG remains a specialist developer serving the international flight-simulation community, with a small core workforce supplemented by beta testers and a distributed development presence.
- 2024
Modern Boeing 777 lineup begins
[1]PMDG released the Boeing 777-300ER in June and the Boeing 777F in December.
- 2022
Boeing 737NG lineup begins on Microsoft Flight Simulator
[1]The Boeing 737-700 launched on May 9, followed by further Next Generation variants.
- 2021
First modern Microsoft Flight Simulator release
[1]PMDG launched the Douglas DC-6 for Microsoft Flight Simulator on June 18.
- 2019
Shift away from 32-bit and X-Plane development
[1]The company announced that new development would move away from 32-bit platforms and X-Plane toward newer Prepar3D versions and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- 2018
Company website becomes available
[1]PMDG began making its own website available after years of relying heavily on AVSIM forums for announcements and user support.
- 2016
First X-Plane aircraft
[1]PMDG released the Douglas DC-6 for X-Plane, its first and only aircraft for that simulator platform in the cited history.
- 1999
Entry into the FLY! platform
[1]PMDG announced support for Terminal Reality's FLY! simulator and released a Boeing 757-200ER for it later that year.
- 1998
Company founded and first technical guide released
[1]Robert S. Randazzo founded PMDG in January, and the company released the 747-400PS1 User's Guide in February.
Products and positioning
Premium, technically detailed aircraft simulations for serious hobbyists, virtual airline operators, and users seeking realistic airline procedures and systems modeling.
Technical flight-simulation guide · 1998
747-400PS1 User's Guide
PMDG's first identified product, released in February 1998. The guide was designed to help users who were not professional pilots understand and operate the simulated Boeing 747-400. It represented the company's original publishing-oriented business and established its focus on detailed aircraft procedures.
Flight-simulation software and documentation
FS98 Series Aircraft Operating Manuals
A product line for Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 that combined operating documentation with installable simulator add-ons. The software was intended to improve the simulated aircraft experience, including elements of the flight-physics model, rather than functioning only as static reference material.
Commercial-airliner simulation
Boeing 737NG series
A major PMDG product family covering Boeing 737 Next Generation variants. Earlier releases used base and expansion packs, while the Microsoft Flight Simulator generation moved toward individually purchasable variants. The lineup has included passenger, business-jet, and freighter configurations, with the modern rollout beginning with the 737-700 and continuing through the -600, -800, and -900.
Commercial-airliner simulation
Boeing 747 series
PMDG's Boeing 747 products form one of its best-known widebody families. Earlier versions were developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator platforms, and a new 747 program has been planned for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The intended scope includes classic variants alongside the 747-400 and 747-8.
Commercial-airliner simulation · 2024
Boeing 777 series
The 777 family includes PMDG's modern widebody work for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The Boeing 777-300ER was released in June 2024, followed by the 777F freighter in December. The 777-200ER and 777-200LR have been identified as planned follow-up variants.
Propeller-aircraft simulation · 2016
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a detailed simulation of the classic four-engine piston airliner. PMDG first released it for X-Plane in January 2016 and later produced a version for Microsoft Flight Simulator, released in June 2021 as the company's first product for that modern platform.
Commercial-airliner simulation · 1999
Boeing 757-200ER for FLY!
Released on December 18, 1999, this was PMDG's principal documented aircraft release for Terminal Reality's FLY! simulator. It marked the company's early expansion beyond Microsoft Flight Simulator and demonstrated its interest in reproducing operational airliners for multiple platforms.
Brand decisions
2022
Prioritize the Boeing 747 over the planned 737 MAXGeneration changeBackground
PMDG had previously indicated that a Boeing 737 MAX project was being developed alongside its broader aircraft roadmap.
Action taken
The 737 MAX project was halted so that development could prioritize the Boeing 747.
Aftermath
The company's future roadmap emphasized the 747 family for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
2021
Adopt a modern-platform product focusStrategyBackground
The release of Microsoft Flight Simulator created a new platform opportunity while PMDG's previous products were tied to older simulator generations.
Action taken
PMDG retired its X-Plane and FSX products and began concentrating its commercial lineup on Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Aftermath
The company launched the DC-6, 737NG variants, and later the 777 family for the modern simulator.
2021
Move to separately purchasable aircraft variantsStrategyBackground
Earlier PMDG aircraft families commonly required a base pack before customers could buy additional variants through expansion packs.
Action taken
For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, PMDG changed its model so that individual variants could be purchased separately, including certain freighter and business-jet configurations.
Aftermath
The separate-variant approach became the company's stated model for subsequent Microsoft Flight Simulator products.
2019
End new development for 32-bit platformsStrategyBackground
PMDG's older product base included FSX, FSX Steam Edition, and Prepar3D version 3, all associated with the older 32-bit generation of flight-simulation software.
Action taken
The company announced that it would not create new products for those platforms, while not necessarily ending updates for existing products.
Aftermath
Development resources were redirected toward Prepar3D version 4 and preparation for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
2019
Cancel new X-Plane developmentStrategyBackground
PMDG had released the Douglas DC-6 for X-Plane, but the company was preparing to focus on newer simulator platforms.
Action taken
The company canceled further new-product development for X-Plane and concentrated on Prepar3D and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Aftermath
X-Plane and FSX products were later retired ahead of the modern Microsoft Flight Simulator launch.
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