The renowned team at Fenix Simulations released Airbus A319 and A321 renditions for Microsoft Flight Simulator today. The release follows a long, but interesting, blog post shared a few days back that detailed the new expansion pack in-depth.
Both the A319 and A321 have two engine variants, each with its own respective performance and 3D models. The A319 has CFM56-5B6 and IAE V2524-A5 engine options, while the A321 has CFM56-5B2 and IAE V2533-A5 engine options. Fenix promises accurate behaviour based on the aircraft and engine variant you fly with. “[from] the high approach speed of a heavy A321, to the rapid take-off performance of an empty A319“, mentions the product description.
The A321 comes with a two-class configurable cabin and an optional noise-reduction package with a modified exhaust. The A319, on the other hand, comes with configurable single or double overwing emergency exits.
The developers at Fenix also recreated the slightly different fuel system of the Airbus A321, featuring extra wing tanks and jet pumps.
Needless to say, the team also accurately recreated the differences in various ECAM pages and other systems in the two aircraft. Whilst both the A319 and A321 are part of the same Airbus family, Fenix stresses that the aircraft will handle differently and appeals to the community not to send feedback immediately but rather suggests that people should try to let it settle for a few days.
Similarly, Fenix warns that the Airbus A321 is an aircraft that, in some instances, might not have enough power to operate safely with one engine inoperative. The developers recreated this behaviour in their adding for Microsoft Flight Simulator, and this is a feature, not a bug.
On the bright side, both the A319 and A321 for MSFS feature accurate performance calculators in their EFBs (Electronic Flight Bags) in the cockpit, and the team is working on introducing some sort of prevention system to prevent users from unintentionally entering situations where OEI (One Engine Inoperative) conditions would be unsafe.
The team also released an A320 update to bring the previously released A320 to the same level as the A319 and A321.
This update to the A320 includes a wide range of changes, from bug fixes in the EFB to reworked flight dynamics. The developers, for example, improved the A320’s sounds, reworked some textures, improved the behaviour of reverse thrust, or slightly untwisted the wing root.
You can get the A319 and A321 for MSFS as an Expansion Package to the A320 for 39.99GBP through the Fenix website. The Base Package (the A320) is required. This is also why Fenix also introduced the A319, A320, A321 Bundle which costs 79.99GBP instead of 89.99GBP, which would be the price if you were to buy the addons separately.
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