After some weeks with little news from Fenix Simulations and its exciting Airbus A320 simulation for Microsoft Flight Simulator, Aamir Thacker is back this week with a new development update, where the A320’s electrical system is the star of the show.
We already know that the team over at Fenix Simulations is going to extreme depths to create an unprecedented virtual replica of the A320, implementing the systems up to a level of detail that has never been seen before in any desktop flight simulation platform. From the hydraulics and fuel systems that we told you about before, to the electrical system that serves as the entire backbone of the very complex mechanics that makes this machine fly, Fenix is promising a lot with this project.
This latest development update, available as a lengthy video on the team’s YouTube channel, showcases in great detail how this entire electrical system works, how it’s interconnected and provides the necessary power to every single electrical component of the aircraft. It’s another fascinating hour of pure in-depth knowledge about the underlying systems that power the A320, and how significant they are to the whole experience.
In the video, Aamir shows a wide range of very cool bits of information. A particularly nice one is that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) is fully simulated, and will provide power to the blue hydraulic system in case of an emergency, if the aircraft is flying at roughly above 100 knots. Another feature that is shown is the implementation of failures, a great way to test the skills of the most enthusiastic pilots.
While the A320’s ELEC system is the highlight of the update, Amir also tells us about other areas of development. For starters, and in stark contrast with what we’ve heard lately from other developers such as PMDG, the Fenix team is currently “very happy” with the direction that MSFS and its development tools are taking. Even Sim Update 7, which caused issues for many third-party developers, seems to have been no problem for Fenix and its work on the A320. It’s certainly refreshing to hear this, after yesterday’s worrisome development update from PMDG with regards to their 737 for MSFS.
Another great feature that was discussed on this latest update from Fenix Simulations is the EFB, which will provide many useful features. For example, pilots will be able to take notes on the Navigraph charts, even on a real iPad! We’ve also learned a couple of months ago that even the electrical discharge of the EFB will be simulated, so you will actually need to keep it charged!
Finally, the entire flight model has also been revamped, with a significantly more settled autoflight profile. If you remember a previous video that showed the A320 performing an autoland in Sydney, then take note of this new video that shows the aircraft lining itself up on an RNAV approach with a 30kt crosswind. The A320 is now more stable and composed in its movements, even under strong winds.
As usual, the entire development update is well worth a look, if not just to appreciate the impressive work this team is doing in this project. From now on, Aamir says that further updates will be less frequent and will happen only when the team has something to share. As development dives further into more critical sections of the aircraft, the team will be more focused on the job at hand. As usual, we will continue to keep a very close eye on this project and share with any new information as it gets released.
