A brand new rendition of an Airbus A321 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is now available, brought to us by the team at FSLabs. Renowned mainly for their Airbus A320-family product for Prepar3D, this is FSLabs’ debut product for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The A321 for MSFS from FSLabs promises to bring the skies to life with unprecedented realism. According to the feature list, the aircraft model showcases every detail inside and out. The textures are said to capture even subtle surface features and dynamic lighting effects. On top of that, the aircraft visuals respond to various weather conditions, for example, by accurately accumulating snow, visible de-icing fluids, or depicting the rain effect on the windshield. These weather effects also have an impact on how the aircraft behaves.
Unlike other add-ons in the market, the add-on already comes with the IAE V-2500 and CFM-56 engine options and the Wing Tip Fences and Sharklet variants.
System-wise, FSLabs didn’t spare nice words on their website. According to that, their A321 for MSFS comes with an accurate Fly-By-Wire system simulation that balances ease of control with the precise feedback and features that season aviators expect.
What is worth pointing out is that the FSLabs A321 simulates GPS jamming based on real-world data. Moreover, FSLabs modelled and simulated each circuit breaker with realistic time delays and system impacts reflective of real-world behaviour.
No real aircraft is perfect, so airlines and manufacturers publish MEL (Minimum Equipment List). This list specifies the requirements for the equipment on board for the flight to be safely conducted. FSLabs modelled this feature in the A321 to allow pilots to manage inoperative equipment and thus create a more authentic and complex flying environment.
The Minimum Equipment List (MEL) in the FSLabs’ A321 isn’t just an on-off switch, but is visually represented in the EFB, providing instant access to documentation and respective procedures.
The model also brings the virtual environment to life by simulating small details like bug impacts on the windshield. Speaking of the windshield, wipers are a crucial aspect of safe operations in rainy conditions. The FSLabs A321 simulates realistically wiper operations by, for example, possibly braking if used beyond speed limits.
Failures often serve as the ground metric for how “study-level” an aircraft add-on is. Whether or not this is a good metric we won’t discuss, but FSLabs surely put a lot of attention to this aspect of their add-on. Their A321 features not only a failure system but, according to the feature list, simulates the ageing of aircraft systems, directly affecting the failure system itself.
Not only can failures show up on your ECAM when flying the A321, but wear and tear can show up on the aircraft model based on its operating history, “adding authenticity to each flight“. Pilots can expect to see dirt across the cockpit and various elements of the aircraft based on the aircraft’s history.
Last but not least, FSLabs included an EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) in their A321. It can be used to control doors on your aircraft, brief your OFPs fetched from SimBrief, calculate your performance and loadsheets, go through the MEL, or serve as the aircraft’s flight log.
You can also use the EFB control GSX Pro, which is fully compatible with the add-on. You can, for example, call the ASU unit, set chocks, request stairs, or request catering for the passengers, and most-importantly, the crew.
The FSLabs A321 can be bought exclusively through their website for $69.95 with VAT excluded. Please keep in mind that although Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has been released, this add-on is available exclusively for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. It is also not compatible with Xbox, just PC.
Since the add-on can be demanding on the computer, as seen in the image below, feel free to read through our ultimate PC build guide, which has many tips on what components you should pick for the best value-to-performance ratio.
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