I am trying to get the different Airbus versions for FSX. At the moment, I own the Just Flight Airbus Long Haul package, and I like it because it is easy on frames and it accepts flight plans directly into the FMC (I am not a system depth junkie).Just Flight also offers the 320, as does the CLS site (the CLS has it 15 euro cheaper - is it the same product?). Are the 320 comparable in quallity and functionality to the Long Haul package?What about the other models? The Wilco collections - haven't heard too good things about them. How are they?are their other airbus around (VC is a must, since I use TrackIR)?Please share your thoughts and experience...

Just Flight re-publishes many CLS aircraft, so that CLS can get a broader market share. All of the CLS products in the JustFlight "F-Lite" line are roughly equal, in that they are easy to fly, frame rate friendly, and "light" in terms of aircraft systems. The more recent Airbus models do feature quite a few nice buttons to press and such, so you can simulate a more complictaed in-flight checklist, but the extra systems are often just for show. I don't consider that a bad thing. I avoid programming FMC's when I can, for example. Outide of the F-Lite line, the aircraft do get more complex, but not like a PMDG. Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

I am trying to get the different Airbus versions for FSX. At the moment, I own the Just Flight Airbus Long Haul package, and I like it because it is easy on frames and it accepts flight plans directly into the FMC (I am not a system depth junkie).Just Flight also offers the 320, as does the CLS site (the CLS has it 15 euro cheaper - is it the same product?). Are the 320 comparable in quallity and functionality to the Long Haul package?

I have the short haul Airbus (A320) package and they rate slightly lower than the more recent long haul package. Having said that they are great aircraft to fly when I just can't be bothered programming an FMC, aligning the IRS, making sure every checklist item is attended to, etc. I have the Wilco Airbuses as well and they're not too bad, and if you want a fly-by-wire system in your setup the Wilco aircraft would be a good start. If you're not a systems depth junkie then the JF long haul package would be quite a good buy. Having said all of this I do fly the IFDG Airbus the most, but that's because I find the flight dynamics very, very well done and its a joy to land manually (plus it's free and there are tons you can do to customise the panel, livery, sounds, etc).

So the short haul package from JustFlight and the one offered at CLS are the same thing, just that the CLS package is considerably cheaper?

Yup, there are a few CLS titles that are differently priced if you buy them from Just Flight, and they are usually cheaper from Just Flight, particularly if you buy a lot of Just Flight stuff, because you accrue 'loyalty points' with Just Flight, which you can then use as a discount on further purchases.The DC-10 and the 747-200/300 are also available either from CLS or Just Flight and it is the same aircraft you are getting, which means it is generally smarter to buy them from Just Flight, not just to save money, but also because then you have two sources for support.Al

Yup, there are a few CLS titles that are differently priced if you buy them from Just Flight, and they are usually cheaper from Just Flight, particularly if you buy a lot of Just Flight stuff, because you accrue 'loyalty points' with Just Flight, which you can then use as a discount on further purchases.The DC-10 and the 747-200/300 are also available either from CLS or Just Flight and it is the same aircraft you are getting, which means it is generally smarter to buy them from Just Flight, not just to save money, but also because then you have two sources for support.Al

In the case of the Airbus Pack (including the 320), CLS is

I own all the FeelThere/Wilco Airbusses and I can say they are good airplanes. (EJets are even better, though.) I don't know why they get such a bad rap here, to be honest. They look good, you can fly them from the panel or VC, they do all the neat stuff like autolands and holds, and there are ton of free liveries for them. (The McPhat ones for Vol. 2 are especially fantastic.) They come with a loading configurator and fuel calculator, and a little app that calculates your proper V speeds for takeoff.FS2Crew also makes an add-on for them, which makes them that much better. (Last night someone was smoking in the toilet again.)Service is very good, too, albeit peer-to-peer. You post something on the support website and Mr. Scobie will get you a quick answer.They aren't simple, but they're not all that complicated, either, really. They are not an in-depth procedural product, but do cover the highlights of normal operation.All I can figure out is that Wilco must have had problems with these when they first came out and upset a lot of people. But the versions they have out now are mature, stable, good-looking, and if they're inaccurate you'd have to know a lot more about real Airbusses than I do to notice. I enjoy flying mine every time. Seems like you can't be taken seriously unless you complain about Wilco here, though.In Vol 1. (which will give you the most useful ones, unless you are really into long flights) the cockpit windows are not transparent. Unless you are looking for that, you don't really notice . Oh, and they accept your FSX flight plans, too, if you don't want to manually program your FMC. (You'll still have to do some things, like aligning your IRS, but you can option that out in the configurator if it really bothers you.)

I own all the FeelThere/Wilco Airbusses and I can say they are good airplanes. (EJets are even better, though.) I don't know why they get such a bad rap here, to be honest. They look good, you can fly them from the panel or VC, they do all the neat stuff like autolands and holds, and there are ton of free liveries for them. (The McPhat ones for Vol. 2 are especially fantastic.) They come with a loading configurator and fuel calculator, and a little app that calculates your proper V speeds for takeoff.FS2Crew also makes an add-on for them, which makes them that much better. (Last night someone was smoking in the toilet again.)Service is very good, too, albeit peer-to-peer. You post something on the support website and Mr. Scobie will get you a quick answer.They aren't simple, but they're not all that complicated, either, really. They are not an in-depth procedural product, but do cover the highlights of normal operation.All I can figure out is that Wilco must have had problems with these when they first came out and upset a lot of people. But the versions they have out now are mature, stable, good-looking, and if they're inaccurate you'd have to know a lot more about real Airbusses than I do to notice. I enjoy flying mine every time. Seems like you can't be taken seriously unless you complain about Wilco here, though.In Vol 1. (which will give you the most useful ones, unless you are really into long flights) the cockpit windows are not transparent. Unless you are looking for that, you don't really notice .

Well, I have seen the Vol. 1 at a friend of mine. He has a pretty good rig, but they eat his frames like no other plane, he says. Can't tell you much about how they fly, but what I have seen: In the model that is a private 318 or 319, there is a gap of nearly 1m between the cockpit and the cabin. If you look out to the front, you won't notice, but if you look backwards with TrackIR, you will start laughing at what they sell. So I think the Wilco is a complete no go for me.Just Flight reduced the CLS models to 24.95 today, so I will have a go at the three models in the Vol1 pack of them...

I have them, and there really not that great. The long haul series is much much better. I changed out the sound files for all the 'Airbus collection' models because they were just bad. But overall, they are ok. Nothing spectacular.

Vol. 1 at a friend of mine. He has a pretty good rig, but they eat his frames like no other plane, he says. Can't tell you much about how they fly, but what I have seen: In the model that is a private 318 or 319, there is a gap of nearly 1m between the cockpit and the cabin. If you look out to the front, you won't notice, but if you look backwards with TrackIR, you will start laughing at what they sell. So I think the Wilco is a complete no go for me.Just Flight reduced the CLS models to 24.95 today, so I will have a go at the three models in the Vol1 pack of them...

The corporate jet is the one I haven't flown and probably won't. If you like to look around from odd angles and visit the cabin, etc., they might not be very good. I don't know. Sitting in the left seat, though, the virtual cockpit is good. I don't know what kind of computer your friend has, or what his settings are. I know I have to compromise on settings with any airplane I have. I get decent (no lower than 10-15 fps briefly) frame rates usually into the 20s depending on where I am. I don't know if the Long Haul has an FMC, does it? If not, I'd be interested in how it is a "much much" better Airbus.Everybody's tastes are different. I would just hate people to miss decent addons without specific, first-hand objections. If there is a gap between the cockpit and cabin visible to Track IR users, that's great information. Those people to whom that would matter can take it on board in deciding whether to buy it or not. That's like the non-transparent cockpit windows. This is less than ideal, but I can live with it. It might really bother other people, so its fair to mention it when making a recommendation. When somebody else comes along with a better Airbus that is FSX native then I'll be all over it happily. In the meantime, I fly the Feelthere/Wilco Airbus a lot and enjoy it. I also like the 737PIC and especially the Ejet.You can find problems with every product. I have also been around long enough to know there are companies people just like to complain about. The great thing about the hobby is, if the CLS Airbus makes you happy, then that's great, and I still get to fly what makes me happy. I would rather fly the CLS 747 than the PMDG 747, for example. Which is better? Probably the latter by most measures. Still, I like what I like.