What I'd really like to know is if the A321 will actually "feel" like an Airbus 32X. Will you be able to easily point it to a new attitude then let go of the stick knowing that the Fly-By-Wire system will have retrimmed it for you perfectly?Of course I know I wont get the strange sensation that comes with using a left-handed joystick because I wont buy a special stick for that one aircraft.

I'd like to know if it will actually "look" like one. :-) Cheers,Todd

very unlikely (fly by wire).of course it will look like one..

You'll just have to hope they make easyFBW for FSX because I figure FBW won't be included by MS. If PSS can't be bothered (or anyone else for that matter) why should Microsoft?

>very unlikely (fly by wire).>>of course it will look like one.. Have you ever looked at the current 777 or 737? ;-) But I must say the screenshots of the 738 and CRJ look hopeful.Cheers,Todd

"If PSS can't be bothered (or anyone else for that matter) why should Microsoft?"See, PMDG in 2007. =) A320

Wait a second, can't you just put your joystick on the left side of the keyboard?:-)Thomas[a href=http://www.flyingscool.com] http://www.flyingscool.com/images/Signature.jpg [/a]I like using VC's :-)

"Wait a second, can't you just put your joystick on the left side of the keyboard?":-lol Wouldn't work real great with my current "weapon of choice" but my old(er) Saitek Cyborg is still connected and just down on the lower shelf... could probably do it with it. ;)But the point I was trying to make is that the Airbus planes in this series have very distinctive handling. I "flew" the A320 level D full motion sim in '04 at the AVSIM Conference and it feels very strange to find yourself grabbing a joystick with your left hand... and I'm left handed. On my landings I had to learn to aim a bit left to put it on the runway dead center because I had a tendency to pull a bit right in the last couple of miles before touchdown.But the main thing is the FBW system. If MS can't come up with some way to approximate that then they shouldn't bother with doing an Airbus... if it feels like a smaller 737 it will not make it with me. :)

>If PSS can't be bothered>(or anyone else for that matter) why should Microsoft?Well someone's evidently bothering us, cause we're doing it... ;) :D

Question for the experts (I have no idea, I admit), what difference does fly-by-wire mean for a simluation ? I wonder how one would notice (in FS) whether the rudder/elevator/etc are mechanically linked or are moved purely by servos ? Why is this FBW so essential to have in FS ? Perhaps someone can it explain this here ?Cheers,Siggy

It is not essential to have FBW in FS. It is only neccessary to replicate the Airbus behaviour e.g. the flight envelope protection, control laws and autotrim that make it different to a conventional aircraft. Hence you will not be able to fly outside a safe envelope, you will not have to trim (other than setting it for take-off), the aircraft will roll back to 33 degrees bank etc. Hopefully these things will be implemented to some degree otherwise there will be no difference to a conventional aircraft.

What he said. =)

The Control Laws are the big change here between flying a Boeing and Airbus. My favorite example is the Engine Out handling of an A320.On a Boeing you will have to adjust the airplane to keep wings-level with an engine failure. The A320 will continue to fly straight and true (while automatically adjusting pitch, yaw and roll to maintain proper envelope protection). It's quite a surprise. Edit: Howard, I love your user name =)

Howard,I'm not entirely sure but I think you just said what I mean. :)And you did it so nicely! :-lol

Yes, I gave up trying with the left seat. Much easier on the right. Also if you want to try and stall it you need to apply a great deal of force when pulling against the spring loading on the stick. Easier with the right if you arm are right handed.