FeelThere/Wilco Airbus Series Vol 1 Airbus A321

Feelthere developed a package that contains the whole Airbus A320 family: The A318, A319, A319CJ, A320 and A321. All models are complete with 2d panel and virtual cockpit. Separate models and engine sounds for CFM and IAE powered versions are available.

Their A321 is a beautiful aircraft and represents it's real world counterpart very well. All usual animations (except flexing wings) are present and there are many small details on the exterior model. A configuration tool can be used to set the realism level, IRS align time, cold & dark default startup, etc. Other configuration functions are a fuel planner, load manager and key configuration tool. The fuel planner is a bit basic, you have to insert the amount of fuel that it calculates manually in the fuel tanks inside FS. The 99 pages .pdf manual is well written and contains many images to help you understand various systems of these aircraft.

Almost all systems are modeled, accessible from the 2d panel and also from the virtual cockpit (all buttons and handles are clickable). Both the 2d panel and virtual cockpit looks very realistic and the displays are clear and bright. The FMGC (Flight Management and Guidance Computer) is completely modeled, something I haven't seen often in payware packages. Also systems like TCAS and GPWS are modeled, as well as all the systems located on the overhead panel. Even the autoland function works like the real thing, which I haven't seen in many payware packages either. Typical Airbus fly-by-wire systems are also realistically modeled. A weather radar however, is not present.

The flight dynamics are very well balanced, although this type of aircraft aren't meant to fly manually. Since you'll fly most of the time by using the autoflight system, it's nice to know that the whole passenger cabin is modeled in the virtual cockpit, so you can sit down, relax and look out one of the windows. If you are using FS2004 and don't have a program like Active Camera, you can use one of the two predefined wingviews which you can access via small icons on the 2d panel (screenshot #6).

Feelthere developed a package that contains the whole Airbus A320 family: The A318, A319, A319CJ, A320 and A321. All models are complete with 2d panel and virtual cockpit. Separate models and engine sounds for CFM and IAE powered versions are available.

The flight dynamics are excellent and the autopilot is working perfectly. A very neat option is that you can load the FS IFR flight plan into the CDU with one click. Then you only have to fill in the data of the other pages and your auto flight system is ready to go. Of course, if you prefer to enter the flight plan yourself, you can do that too. Usually, when flying IFR, you follow the altitude instructions of the ATC. In that case you might hear an annoying horn and get the message 'RESET MCP ALT' on the CDU. It means that you have to reset the altitude on the autopilot panel. Doing that does not silence the horn, you have to go to the overhead panel and find a button with the text 'ALT HORN CUTOUT' and click on it. Now the horn will not sound again. That warning horn is just an example of the realism of this package. Many other sounds are included, like the realistic pitch trim sound that you hear all the time during autoflight. The engine noise inside the cockpit is great, although the external engine sound could be better.