Hi, Looking for a good Airbus to fly. Don't want the Wilco. I came across the Air Simmer from my other post. How do you like it? Anything bad about it?Thanks,Greg

From what I've heard (I don't have it), the Airsimmer is currently limited to the A320 (there's no 318/319/321), and there's no support for time acceleration (at least Wilco can go up to 8x with no problem at all). On the other side, I've heard that that the VC and the FBW are excellent.Best regards from Colombia,Luis Miguel

AirSimmer is a love or hate type of addon. Due to bad PR policy of its developers and long time of virtually no support it has more bad opions than good ones.For me it is a huge love. I am an Airbus freak and I never really liked the Wilco one. To run AirSimmer fine you need to apply some tweaks which are well described at the AS support forum (now successfully led by Rob Prest).Now I am flying nothing else and have no problems with it. It looks excellent, flies great and has a wonderful FBW implementation.You have to learn flying it the Airbus style which is difficult for all of us, brought up on boeing addons (I've seen many simmers calling it a bug!).It does have some bugs but none of them is a stopover if you ask me. I have some favourite aircraft in my FS9, like LH MD-82, DA F100, iFly 737NG and now this one.I started working on an AirSimmer HD video, but I can't say how much time it will take before it is finished.One of the reasons being I am having too much fun with it! The two disadvanteges you need to accept are:- not being able to save the flightplan (not a big deal to me, I love making CDU entries!)- not co-operating with FSUIPC as for axis assignments and callibration (but this can also be done a way around)The version currently available is called BASIC because it has some limitations (like e.g. PROG pages or different FLEX values).But despite its name it is a complex and very elaborate simulation. The Advanced is said to come soon but please do not take my word for it.

Edited January 25, 201214 yr by Rafal

Greg, I've owned the Airsimmer A320 since it was first released. It's a love hate relationship. It's probably the most accurate bus there is for either platform that exists right now. The VC and the lighting are exactly as they appear in real life. All systems are not modeled. The FMGC is not completely modeled but it's enough so you can fly with no problem. All of your flight plans must be loaded manually. There is no provision for automatic load from your favorite flight planner. The aircraft has some quirks and I'm sure there will be folks who say it is unflyable or they have a lot of crashes with it. There are work arounds that users have come up with that alleviate a lot of these problems. One of the biggest complaints about Airsimmer was its' support. That had been a very big problem. Airsimmer was lucky enough to get the help of a gentleman by the name of Rob Prest, who has taken over the customer support role. Rob has made a huge difference in the support aspect of this product. He knows the airplane and the software and is in touch with the developers on a regular basis. The AS320 is the only reason I keep FS9 on my computer.

I thought I would chime in since I help out with tech support over there and handle the Beta testing with the Advanced. The Basic is still missing a lot of features in the MCDU, for example gross weight, CG calulation, OPT Climb and fuel predictions. CG and gross weight is calculated for you automatically so you dont have access to the INIT-B page to experiment. System logic (HYD,ELEC,FUEL, ELACS,SECS,FBW) on the Basic are the same as the Advanced regarding fidelty so you can still use it to refer to the FCOM and it will behave as expected, however you wont get the full ECAM memo's on the Basic.So here's the honest unbiased truth from what I have seen providing tech support over the last year. One user can load up the aircraft and have almost no issues at all and the rest can be solved with a few tweaks (which is why I decided to stick with it) Another user can have huge issues at times. 90% of time I can work with those users 1 on 1 to to get there system running smoothly and setting up active sky, fsuipc etc but at the end of the day things still need to be done on the dev side to avoid some issues in the first place.Regrding the Advanced version - It is the main aircraft I fly now, I am in the process of editing and uploading a video from LGAV - LIMC should be on the main forum in a day or so, however I have no idea when or dare I say If it will be released, it would be a shame if it wasn't.Best thing to do is have a read of the forums, have a good idea of how the systems on the A320 work - Managed/Selected, OP CLIMB, A/THR operation and correct loading and CG calculation.Oops - was typing at the same time as everyone else!Regards

It's basically a simplified product much in the same way as the QW757 is. The QW757, after being patched and upgraded, is a superior product in my opinion. But the AS320 is ok and with Rob's dedication to helping out wherever possible, it'll do. It doesn't come anywhere close to the iFly 737NG series or anything by PMDG, LDS, etc.

Thanks Rob I'll have to read up on the forums (need to save up for it!)

It's basically a simplified product much in the same way as the QW757 is. The QW757, after being patched and upgraded, is a superior product in my opinion. But the AS320 is ok and with Rob's dedication to helping out wherever possible, it'll do. It doesn't come anywhere close to the iFly 737NG series or anything by PMDG, LDS, etc.

Sorry old chap, but this is wrong. The Airsimmer A320 Basic is clearly an advanced product that has been intentionally neutered by the designers in order to make it 'Basic', not the other way around. They did this I believe to generate funds towards the final advanced product. That was over two years ago. Make of that what you will.I would however recommend the Airsimmer as the 'go to' product as far as Airbus FBW is concerned. It's a gorgeous fly until the AP goes on. You can put this baby into a 25 degree bank and it will still be there when you get out of the bath. But I can't wholly recommend it because of its infamous CTDs. This is the only addon aircraft I have that does this. And yet still I love it.I counted myself one of the lucky ones...I had over 6 months of CTD free flight. And then bang! 3 CTDs in as many flights. A navigraph upgrade may have been involved, perhaps there is a reason you can't import or save flight plans with this aircraft. Navigation seems to be key to CTDs with me at least.Anyway...its a love/hate relationship at best, as others have noted. But much like Alan Partridge and his Toblerone issues...I just can't keep from going back.Cheers

Actually Gavin is one of the guys I know best around these forums and I also like and respect him very much.What is more, we agree on 99% of things - looks like we just think the same way. :( So it comes very hard for me to say this time I must... well... disagree, at least to a degree (forgive me, mate!).

It's basically a simplified product much in the same way as the QW757 is. The QW757, after being patched and upgraded, is a superior product in my opinion.

Like Wiseblood mentioned above, AirSimmer is not a LITE series product, but a full feature one, deliberately void of some features left for the Advanced to be paid for separately (good or bad, doesn't matter now).I admit I do not own the QW 757 but I to my knowledge it is a lite product by design in the terms of symulated systems. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It doesn't come anywhere close to the iFly 737NG series or anything by PMDG, LDS, etc

Maybe, mate, maybe. But I believe such comparison is not really possible. It is an Airbus, quite a different birdie.With AirSimmer I follow real world A320 checklists and I don't think I skip anything (apart of some above mentioned CDU entires - none of the crucial though).Moreover there are some incredible features this aircraft has which not necessarily jump out in the very beginning.The more you fly it (but you do need a lot of flights for some things to come out) and learn it, the more enjoyable it becomes. At least for me.A fresh example. Last night I had a great flight from Berlin Tegel to Munich with an A320 of Air Berlin. After vacating the runway I had a long ride to the given stand.I admit I was looking around too much, so I didn't drive as straight as I could even though I was guided but an AES followme car (another outstanding addon!).So I was braking far more than usually. Much to my surprise I found it hard to stop the plane when getting close to the gate. Not knowing what to do I paused the sim for a moment (I never do it ususally).I noticed the brake fan switch which I could easily take as a dummy toy. I switched it on I heard an incredibly exciting sound of the fans working. After choosing the WHEEL page on ECAMS I noticed much too high brake temperature.But it was going slowly down with the fans. What a thrill! :good:Now one word on handflying the bus. Like most of you, my dear friends, I spent years flying boeings with my (CH) yoke. When I started riding AirSImmer with my newly bought joystick (ATK3), I initially though it flies like @#$%^&.BUT I went to Smart Cokpit and other great sites and started studying. A lot. I also watched some videos, consulted Rob and finally had a chance to talk to a pilot flying buses for a living (for certain European airline).The term I learned was 'oversteering'. It really takes time to learn not to fight with the FBW system. The less input you have on the control surfaces, the better control your Airbus gives you. Both in reality and with AirSimmer, I believe.Another thing I did (part of the tweaks I mentioned in my initial post) was thorough recallibrating my controllers. It was not easy, as I am used to FSUIPC, but it can be done.Now the feeling I have when handflying the AS A320 is uncomparable to anything else I experienced before. I just think I am an airbus animal (kill me with your yokes, guys, lol!).Another thing is, in my eyes, the incredible atmosphere the gorgeous VC creates. I guess this is one of the things Gavin is missing, being still a 2D panel guy (hint, hint!).This is the best VC (iFly comes right after) I have ever been in (saying that after trying also some FSX addons). Very precise and very well done. This is the perfect environment I love to work (virtually) now.The bugs? No stopovers for me - let me repeat it. Something irritating? Well, I am the lucky (?) one with no CTD's. Really! And I do have the latest Navigraph update.Maybe it is a question of the airports and airways (waypoints) you use in a particular flight, I do not know.The only thing which happens to me sometimes and I would like to have it corrected in future is the way the CDU calculates the flightplans and draws it on the ND. Sometimes the route's parts take strange shapes.It can be quickly corrected manually, but I hope it will work 100% fine one day.Once AirSimmer releases also A319&A321 (not to mention the long haul buses), preferably with a polished advanced version, there will be little necessary for me to have my FS9 world complete.

Actually Gavin is one of the guys I know best around these forums and I also like and respect him very much.What is more, we agree on 99% of things - looks like we just think the same way. :( So it comes very hard for me to say this time I must... well... disagree, at least to a degree (forgive me, mate!).

Nothing to forgive Rafal mate. We can have different opinions and still be friends And let's get one thing clear. If I had wanted to, I could have got a refund using the 30 days method. But I chose not to. I've no complaints with the product I've got for the price I paid. I expected it to be, more or less, similar to the QW757 product and, more or less, for me it is. Whether or not it's a 'simplified product' or 'an advanced product intentionally neutered' is, in my opinion, more of a vocabulary issue than anything else. The 'progress' page works on the QW757 FMC but it doesn't on the Airsimmer - unless I'm doing something wrong and please, tell me if I am.Perhaps I need to spend more time tweeking, but I hate all that. Maybe I should take the plunge with this plane to get the full benefit of it. Yes, the VC looks great, but I just don't find them easy or enjoyable to use. I'm sorry, I wish i did but I don't - with the bizarre exception of the Supronov Yak 40 which is VC only for me.One thing though. Based on what I've seen and read of the Wilco A320, I prefer the Airsimmer one. And Rob deserves an AVSIM award of some sort for being one of very few support people who will repeatedly help out on a one to one basis without losing his patience. Good job sir :(

Rafal,Your posts always bring a tear to my eye...I envy you old chap. Such eloquence, such joy, such great pictures. No CTDs??? Damn you, damn you to hell!!! (Just kidding)I don't know what I am doing wrong! I had six months of no CTDs and then...well, every Christmas I do a British Airways Gatwick to Innsbruck and then back again flight. I usually do it in the Level D 767, this year (last year!) I tossed a coin...would it be Virtual Airlines BA in the magnificent NGX or authentic GB Airways with the CFM A320? I didn't actually toss the coin my friend, I WANTED it to be the A320! I flew a glorious visual approach onto RWY 08 Innsbruck from Gatwick with the Airsimmer. I was elated...six months of no CTDs and now this! Maybe we really can see Airsimmer come to fruition.And then I flew out of Innsbruck (Rwy26 this time) with a shitload of skiers singing my praises as I deftly negotiated the alpine passes and I ended up CTD'ing somewhere over Belgium.Agony.Oh well, glad you're enjoying it.( I did accomplish a magnificent landing in Munich a day later though.)

Edited January 25, 201214 yr by Wiseblood

One thing though. Based on what I've seen and read of the Wilco A320, I prefer the Airsimmer one. And Rob deserves an AVSIM award of some sort for being one of very few support people who will repeatedly help out on a one to one basis without losing his patience. Good job sir

+1

The 'progress' page works on the QW757 FMC but it doesn't on the Airsimmer - unless I'm doing something wrong and please, tell me if I am

True, it does not work. I even mentioned it above in post #3. One of the limitations. But I can live with it for the sake of having a decent airbus.Maybe this will go outside of the thread's core topic but, to be honest, there is NO addon I love in 100%. And I have learned compromises for enjoyment.

the Supronov Yak 40 which is VC only for me

A great addon, no doubt. BTW if you can fly it in the VC, give the AirSimmer's VC another try. The technique is the same and it also is a 3-dimentional work of art. You will love it!As a former 2D diehard I can advise that you find a good POV and a good zoom factor for your VC flying and, of course, use ActiveCamera (if possible) and FSRecorder. Without all these - I would never fly a VC!

No CTDs?

Some AIRACs ago I had a CDT at EGLL. We even had a thread about it at the AS forums. But now everything looks fine.On the other hand I have flown to Heathrow only once in the recent period (since I got my brand new rig).

+1

In the times of brutal business and many support forums becoming more and more hostile environments, pearls like iFly 737NG forum or Rob's one-man-band* AS forum shine so bright.* - It would be fair to mention that Kirk has recently joined Rob as the support staff and he is also very helpful.

Edited January 25, 201214 yr by Rafal

The Airsimmer is so buggy I can't finish an entire flight with it. If I must, I can list the debilitating bugs. This add on had the most potential of any I've seen, but failed to deliver. Have things changed?

Edited January 25, 201214 yr by ZachLW

The Airsimmer is so buggy I can't finish an entire flight with it

I am sincerely sorry for the problems you have.For the record: 100% out of my 38 AirSimmer flights (since I bought my new rig) were completely successful.

Have things changed?

I don't know if things have changed from your point of view.But if you read above posts you may have your own opinion.

Edited January 26, 201214 yr by Rafal