This article is based on an official product announcement and release notes from LevelUp / Orbx.

LevelUp 737NG Series V2 Released for X-Plane 12: A New Standard in Freeware

The flight simulation community has received a significant late-year gift with the release of the LevelUp 737NG Series V2. Launched officially on December 30, 2024, this comprehensive freeware package for X-Plane 12 (and X-Plane 11) delivers a complete overhaul of the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. Developed by the LevelUp team, successors to the “737 Ultimate” project, the release combines the industry-standard systems of the Zibo Mod with entirely new high-fidelity visuals and audio.

According to the product page on OrbxDirect, the V2 update is designed to modernize the aircraft’s aesthetics to match the native capabilities of X-Plane 12. The package includes all five primary variants of the 737NG series: the -600, -700, -800, -900, and -900ER. By offering these variants in a single, modular installation, LevelUp aims to provide a unified experience for virtual pilots seeking to simulate short-haul and medium-haul operations across the entire fleet.

This release marks “Stage 1” of the developer’s roadmap, focusing primarily on the exterior model, cabin redesign, and sound environment, while retaining a hybrid cockpit setup pending future updates.

Visual and Audio Modernization

The core of the V2 update lies in its visual and auditory enhancements. LevelUp has rebuilt the 3D model, doubling the polygonal resolution to ensure smoother fuselage curves, engine cowlings, and landing gear components. The developers state that this new architecture allows for 8K high-definition texturing across both the exterior and the cabin, significantly increasing the visual fidelity compared to previous iterations.

In their release notes, the developers highlighted the efficiency of the new design:

“Modular Architecture: Designed to share assets between variants, significantly reducing the total installation size.”

Complementing the visual upgrades is a new FMOD 2.0 sound set. Produced in partnership with FlyJSim’s Daniela Rodriguez Careri, the audio package features authentic CFM56 engine “buzzsaw” sounds and distinct audio profiles for the interior and exterior environments. This attention to audio immersion addresses a common request from the community for high-quality native sound in freeware aircraft.

Systems Powered by Zibo

While the visuals are new, the systems logic relies on the proven foundation of the Zibo Mod. The LevelUp 737NG Series V2 integrates the Zibo systems directly, ensuring that flight logic, Avionics, and system depth remain at a study-level standard. This integration allows users to transition seamlessly between the standard Zibo 737-800 and the various LevelUp variants without relearning system behaviors.

The package also introduces the “CornUI” tablet, a redesigned Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) based on the Zibo tablet architecture. This interface allows pilots to manage ground services, calculate performance data, and customize aircraft options, such as installing Split Scimitar Winglets, standard blended winglets, or removing winglets entirely.

Development Roadmap and Community Reception

LevelUp has clarified that the current release represents the first phase of a two-part roadmap. Stage 1 delivers the external and cabin overhauls, while Stage 2 is slated to introduce a completely rebuilt cockpit model to replace the current setup. The developers have indicated that Stage 2 will also serve as the technical foundation for a future 737 MAX product line.

Since its release, the add-on has generated substantial discussion within the flight simulation community. Early adopters have praised the inclusion of the rarer -600 and -900 variants, which are often omitted from other payware and freeware packages. However, some users have reported flight model discrepancies, specifically noting that the aircraft can feel “nose heavy” during rotation and landing. In response, the development team quickly deployed a hotfix (version U1.0.1) to address specific flight model behaviors and lighting glitches.

AirPro News analysis

The release of the LevelUp 737NG Series V2 reinforces a unique market dynamic within the X-Plane ecosystem: the dominance of high-quality freeware. In many other simulation platforms, a complete narrow-body fleet with this level of visual fidelity and system depth would command a premium price tag. By leveraging the open-source nature of the Zibo Mod and combining it with professional-grade modeling, LevelUp effectively raises the bar for what users expect from non-paid content.

However, the “Stage 1” designation is critical for users to understand. While the exterior is state-of-the-art, the cockpit remains a work in progress. The reliance on the Zibo backend is a strategic strength, ensuring stability, but the divergence in flight model “feel” reported by early users suggests that tuning the new 3D model’s aerodynamics to match the established systems will be an ongoing process. For virtual Airlines and serious simmers, the availability of the -900ER and -600 variants fills a significant gap, making this arguably the most versatile 737NG package currently available for X-Plane 12.

Sources

• OrbxDirect
• Threshold Forum