I posted up my latest flight in the 330 freighter over in the Screenshots forum, but I hope it's OK to link to it here to further a discussion with a wider audience..  from a non-pilot and definitely non ATPL (me!) 

Please note I am not referring to the hate over the business conduct of BBS (that is quite justified!), just the actual criticism of the Wideboy Prologue as it currently stands. It seems to work for me - I'm not going to retire it, never thought of asking for a refund, but I am of course interested in why some won't even touch it with a barge pole. Granted, there are other Airbus sims which are far superior (basing this on what I've seen and read from their users and no doubt true), but do they cover the 330 and 340?

Do the big 'Buses work for me because I'm somehow not following a proper approach procedure? Just curious. 🍻

Don't expect any comments from me 😁. I've made my decision, I'm just waiting for a Black Friday sale. Luckily it works in P3D4.

Edited October 27, 20205 yr by Luis Hernandez

Any input from other users? 

I don’t have any of the Blackbox products Mark so I can’t really give any input but reading your thread made me curious as to what the Widebody Prologue was so I had a look at the BBS site. As far as I can see from the description the Prologue package provides pretty good systems depth as well as a comprehensively functional MCDU/FCU. 

Most of my experience of Airbus systems comes from the Aerosoft A320 series and although initially the Airbus operating ‘philosophy’ took a little bit of getting used to, once I had reorientated myself from Boeings, operating them became fairly intuitive. Indeed being familiar with the Boeing FMC, programming the equivalent on the Airbus was relatively easy.

I have the CLS A330 but I don’t really fly it much as it is fairly basic but I have avoided buying anything from BBS because of the various negative comments I have read about them. I do however like the A330 and having read through the BBS description of their product I must admit that now I’m tempted, although the last thing I need is another aircraft! Although I don’t necessarily want PMDG level systems depth in an aircraft (I find I get quickly bored of too much switch pushing before I can have a flight!) but I do like an aircraft to be reasonably immersive, so I would be interested in how you rate the BBS product?

Cheers,

Bill

Edited November 15, 20205 yr by scianoir

Bill,

I do actually rate the BBS Airbus as something more than just a "prologue" - the visuals, the  systems depth - in that if you push buttons and operate the controls then stuff happens on the MFDs which seems to model stuff happening on real Airbus screens very well, and the way it flies IMHO all seem to be a great representation of a widebody Airbus. I have only had experience of freeware Airbus models prior to me checking out the BBS. I would suspect that thanks to Airbus' design philosophy, as you know, then I suspect there's not much difference between the 320 and 330 system wise. As the Airbus is an electric jet then there isn't much button pressing to do 

The MCDU appears to be a proper FMS although I'm a rank novice when it comes to programming them. I will say however, that one would require a Navigraph subscription to make the FMS data current (which I've just acquired). It will however, for the most part, handle an external flight plan (in FS9 format) placed into the Company Routes folder even in the Demo version.

The Preflight Manager is excellent for configuring your selected Airbus for its next flight. Just make sure the sim is running so that you can send the fuel quantity & pax and cargo weights across. It is even a livery manager too.

All the above are my opinions and I'm not a real Airbus pilot.. 

5 hours ago, scianoir said:

I do however like the A330 and having read through the BBS description of their product I must admit that now I’m tempted, although the last thing I need is another aircraft!

If you have the time and space, then try the demo 🍻

Thanks Mark - that’s very useful. I’ll give the demo a go and maybe treat myself to an A330 for Christmas!

It certainly appears from the description that the MCDU/FMS is fully functional. Like you I didn’t know much about programming an FMS until a few years ago when I bought a very useful book by Captain Mike Ray on flying the Boeing FMS in FSX and worked my way through it using the Quality Wings 757. It is an excellent book and made what seemed like quite a daunting task quite easy and straightforward. He also has produced a similar book on flying the Airbus which I’m sure would be very useful if you ever feel the urge to delve more deeply into the mysteries of the MCDU. 

Bill