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HighBypass

BBS Widebodies... worth the hate?

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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.. :cool: from a non-pilot and definitely non ATPL (me!) :happy:

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. 🍻


Mark Robinson

Part-time Ferroequinologist

Author of FLIGHT: A near-future short story (ebook available on amazon)

I made the baby cry - A2A Simulations L-049 Constellation

Sky Simulations MD-11 V2.2 Pilot. The best "lite" MD-11 money can buy (well, it's not freeware!)

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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 by Luis Hernandez
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Best regards,
Luis Hernández 20px-Flag_of_Colombia.svg.png20px-Flag_of_Argentina.svg.png

Main rig: self built, AMD Ryzen 5 5600X with PBO enabled (but default settings, CO -15 mV, and SMT ON), 2x16 GB DDR4-3200 RAM, Nvidia RTX3060 Ti 8GB, 256 GB M.2 SSD (OS+apps) + 2x1 TB SATA III SSD (sims) + 1 TB 7200 rpm HDD (storage), Viewsonic VX2458-MHD 1920x1080@23-144 Hz (locked at 120 Hz, FreeSync ON), Windows 10 Pro. Runing FSX-SE, MSFS and P3D v5.4.

Mobile rig: ASUS Zenbook UM425QA (AMD Ryzen 7 5800H APU @3.2 GHz and boost disabled, 1 TB M.2 SSD, 16 GB RAM, Windows 11 Pro). Running FS9 there... sometimes on just battery! FSX-SE also installed, just in case. 

VKB Gladiator NXT Premium Left + GNX THQ as primary controllers. Xbox Series X|S wireless controller as standby/travel.

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Any input from other users? :unsure:


Mark Robinson

Part-time Ferroequinologist

Author of FLIGHT: A near-future short story (ebook available on amazon)

I made the baby cry - A2A Simulations L-049 Constellation

Sky Simulations MD-11 V2.2 Pilot. The best "lite" MD-11 money can buy (well, it's not freeware!)

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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 by scianoir
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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 :happy:

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.. :wink:

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 🍻

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Mark Robinson

Part-time Ferroequinologist

Author of FLIGHT: A near-future short story (ebook available on amazon)

I made the baby cry - A2A Simulations L-049 Constellation

Sky Simulations MD-11 V2.2 Pilot. The best "lite" MD-11 money can buy (well, it's not freeware!)

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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

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