While I love the classic jets, I like a change of pace, so I used a voucher from an FSX purchase and picked up the A320 Pro on the cheap. Interesting. It seems pretty decent, although I've had a few CTDs when I apparently clicked the wrong thing. On vanilla flights without traffic or weather, I've had no problem, and it'll probably be fine once I'm 100% comfortable with the thing. I'm happy with it. (I have the FSLabs one, but never got interested.) So, my first question is about the EFB. I see no reason to buy Aerosoft's LIDO product when I already have Navigraph and it works fine. (Sometimes the A320 EFB is a bit twitchy, but nothing I can't live with.) If I'm missing something big, please advise. I was also looking at their A330, which was supposedly developed later and avoids some issues the A320 has. Has anyone found this to be the case in fact? With the voucher, the A320 was fine, but I'd hate to sink considerably more into an A330 unless it represented an improvement. A330 owners pretty happy?

Also, did I imagine it, or was there a feature mentioned somewhere about the cockpit door camera? Lots of documentation I'm going through and I can't always remember what triggers it. Also, when I follow the instructions to get a message from the company, nothing every seems to happen. (I believe I'm requesting arrival metar.)

The A330 is 'fine'. It has more PBR textures in the cockpit and independently operating PFDs (unlike the smaller siblings' version), plus working CPDLC.

After that, I'm not sure there's anything to really get overly excited about, IMO. If you're desperate for a long-haul Airbus, it *may* scratch the itch for you.
However, with only the Rolls-Royce engined -300 series variant offered, it feels a little pricey compared to the 'A320 Family professional Bundle' which has four types and multiple engine versions included in the package.

Taking off sales tax, the A330 is ~$69 on Aerosoft's US website. Meanwhile, QualityWings' 787 costs just $10 more at $79.95.
I know which one I would choose in a heartbeat...
 

9 hours ago, Tim_Capps said:

While I love the classic jets, I like a change of pace, so I used a voucher from an FSX purchase and picked up the A320 Pro on the cheap. Interesting. It seems pretty decent, although I've had a few CTDs when I apparently clicked the wrong thing. On vanilla flights without traffic or weather, I've had no problem, and it'll probably be fine once I'm 100% comfortable with the thing. I'm happy with it. (I have the FSLabs one, but never got interested.) So, my first question is about the EFB. I see no reason to buy Aerosoft's LIDO product when I already have Navigraph and it works fine. (Sometimes the A320 EFB is a bit twitchy, but nothing I can't live with.) If I'm missing something big, please advise. I was also looking at their A330, which was supposedly developed later and avoids some issues the A320 has. Has anyone found this to be the case in fact? With the voucher, the A320 was fine, but I'd hate to sink considerably more into an A330 unless it represented an improvement. A330 owners pretty happy?

Also, did I imagine it, or was there a feature mentioned somewhere about the cockpit door camera? Lots of documentation I'm going through and I can't always remember what triggers it. Also, when I follow the instructions to get a message from the company, nothing every seems to happen. (I believe I'm requesting arrival metar.)

Bit twichy? no reason to use the EFB at all everythings done via navigraph and importing to the fmc. Make sure to tick realistic company routes in configurator import set alt and zfw. Aerosoft a330 has issues where youll see lightning flashes over cockpit. Still better models than the fs2020 a320.

Edited November 2, 20214 yr by 40track

I've tried my hardest to like the Aerosoft Airbus but something with it doesn't click with me.

Even when I got it working I'll actively choose the MD80 or 737NG over it almost every time for short-haul. It's not a bad aircraft per say but I don't enjoy flying it. Maybe my standards are just too high with the amount I fly PMDG/ Leonardo Aircraft. The utilities don't help I guess, I always felt the fuel/load planning could be a little better implemented.

I have been tempted to take a look at the A330 but I can see myself doing exactly the same when faced with the choice of flying that vs the 747-400.

I allways was a Boeing concept advocator, but in last weeks I am digging more and more in the Airbus philosophy using both Aerosoft airbusses 320 and 330, guided by Mike Ray's Airbus handbooks and I must say I love it. Both AB 320 and AB330 are modeled very well and for me they fly, look and feel very well!. No issues with functions etc. And the 330 compared to the 320 really gives you the feel of a heavy! The Aerosofts AB's often got less optimal reviews by self named FS specialists, but for me I am very happy flying these birds.

I'm pretty casual, so am not really looking for a super-sim. I've enjoyed the change of pace from my usual Boeing or Douglas airplanes. I was pleasantly surprised to find the A321 to be more of a 757 replacement than one for the 737-300. (My sim world doesn't extend beyond the 80s.) Besides the DC-8 (which is its own experience) my long haul airplane is the competent Captain Sim 767. I like to have a choice. Bottom line, then, seems to be if I like the 320, I'll probably like the 330, but making a buying decision on expectations of something significantly better is probably unwise. Thanks for the feedback. That's exactly what I was looking for.

On 11/2/2021 at 3:20 PM, Tim_Capps said:

I'm pretty casual, so am not really looking for a super-sim. I've enjoyed the change of pace from my usual Boeing or Douglas airplanes. I was pleasantly surprised to find the A321 to be more of a 757 replacement than one for the 737-300. (My sim world doesn't extend beyond the 80s.) Besides the DC-8 (which is its own experience) my long haul airplane is the competent Captain Sim 767. I like to have a choice. Bottom line, then, seems to be if I like the 320, I'll probably like the 330, but making a buying decision on expectations of something significantly better is probably unwise. Thanks for the feedback. That's exactly what I was looking for.

 

Hi Tim,

Just to add, if you own the Aerosoft A320 Pro series (or similar), there's an upgrade available from Aerosoft where you dont have to pay full price for the A330.You can get approx a 30% discount if you already own one of their A320x Pro products.

4 hours ago, 787flyer said:

you dont have to pay full price for the A330.

I got a discount for the 320 because I had owned the previous version. I did not see anything about a discount on the A330. Well, darn. Aerosoft and my Apple credit card apparently don't like one another and I got it from SimMarket at full price. (Still trying to get my Aerosoft account issue resolved.) I suppose I could ask for a credit, but I can't really expect that from someone.

I do like it. Nice and shiny. Very big. A lot like the A20, of course. I happen to like the LIDO charts and the EFB. Checking my course by referring to navigation aids gives me something to do. I also like the extra features--it's loaded. But  I was over half-way through my first flight, London to Las Vegas (Virgin 155) and had a sudden CTD when going back and forth between VC and Spot. That doesn't happen with any other airplane of mine, so I still think it seems a bit temperamental, but it's too early to say so definitely. The 787... It comes down to how much glass you can tolerate. The A330 at least looks familiar. The 787 has wide-screen TVs on the flight deck. I'm sure it's very nice, but it comes down to personal preference.

2 minutes ago, Tim_Capps said:

But  I was over half-way through my first flight, London to Las Vegas (Virgin 155) and had a sudden CTD when going back and forth between VC and Spot. That doesn't happen with any other airplane of mine, so I still think it seems a bit temperamental,

I do remember one of my issues with the Aerosoft busses was they did seem to be more likely to CTD than any other aircraft. Thankfully they do (or at least did in the past) reply quite promtly in the forums if you give them enough to work with. I also flew it quite a bit when it was newer so hopefully more stable nowadays.

5 minutes ago, Tim_Capps said:

The 787... It comes down to how much glass you can tolerate. The A330 at least looks familiar. The 787 has wide-screen TVs on the flight deck. I'm sure it's very nice, but it comes down to personal preference.

For me I like glass if it's CRT Glass, LCDs not so much and especially not as big as they come on the 78s and 350s! I do also like my analogue style analogue instruments as well. One of the reasons I love the 747-400 so much is it's that right balance of automation and retro; I can take it off and put it in climb and (assuming I remember to tell the PMDG autocruise screen to auto-step climb and switch fuel schemes if required) I don't need to do anything until ready to plan the descent.

On 11/4/2021 at 4:59 PM, Tim_Capps said:

I got a discount for the 320 because I had owned the previous version. I did not see anything about a discount on the A330.

 

May be too late now, but the info can be found in the Upgrade Service tab on the product main page of the Aerosoft A330.

https://www.aerosoft.com/en/flight-simulation/prepar3d-v4/aircraft/2886/aerosoft-a330-professional

Oh, I didn´t know about that, Mark. I was waiting until Black Friday to get the 330, but this discount is slightly better (against the 25-30% they usually offer), and I don´t know if they can be accumulated. I'm enjoying the small buses already.

Edit: I guess the answer is no: 

https://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/topic/142255-cant-get-the-upgrade-discount/&do=findComment&comment=918255

 

Edited November 6, 20214 yr by Luis Hernandez

P.S. Both the A320 and A330 are solid BUT I had some teething problems. There are some good tips scattered around on the Aerosoft forum. It's all about the FPS. I have a pretty decent system but I had to create a special display profile for the Airbus that has the World sliders backed down quite a bit. The biggest Display improvement in FPS was dropping 8XSSAA to 4X. Just needed some patience to wring out as many FPS as I could get. I'm running unlimited now and getting between 30-40 at EGLL and 70 in cruise with the A330; higher with the A320. But that's with clear skies and no traffic so far. (Still in the "gee whiz look at that" stage.) Pretty sure I'll have headroom to add those but it hits my CPU pretty hard.

I'm not an Airbus guy but after eight flights with complex scenery (including the manual approach at Corfu), once I got it dialed in, it seems polished with a satisfying amount of extra features and performs well. (Probably more CTDs and slideshows before that.) Decent amount of liveries, too.. I tried the NavDataPro and it was okay, but the EFB works fine with Navigraph Charts (and I have it on my iPad for en route). It doesn't like to stay logged into Navigraph between flights, but no big deal.

This month is Joyvember. Yoke replaced by trusty Logitech joystick and I'll fly whatever has a stick. Been a while since I've flown a helicopter.

On 11/6/2021 at 2:27 PM, Luis Hernandez said:

Oh, I didn´t know about that, Mark. I was waiting until Black Friday to get the 330, but this discount is slightly better (against the 25-30% they usually offer), and I don´t know if they can be accumulated. I'm enjoying the small buses already.

Edit: I guess the answer is no: 

https://forum.aerosoft.com/index.php?/topic/142255-cant-get-the-upgrade-discount/&do=findComment&comment=918255

 

That's right Luis.

Its not combinable and what I have found is if the A330 product is on general sale the upgrade service is not available until the sales period is oevr. At least that happened to me once  some time ago  on the Aerosoft site.

On 11/8/2021 at 3:45 PM, Tim_Capps said:

P.S. Both the A320 and A330 are solid BUT I had some teething problems.

Biggest issue I found wit the Aerosoft A320 was the installers and the Livery Manager.

Apart from that the A320 Prof is a decent aircraft with a middle of the road feature set but is not at the level and complexity of the FSL Bus.

I do get decent frame rates and smoothness with the A320 even at Simwings Heathrow however I have my graphics set to MSAA and that improves the performance at demanding airports.

I recently flew the A320 around the world to approx 20 different airports and really enjoyed the experience.

One thing that I wished they would enable is the ACARS and CPDLC functionality that the A330 has.

3 hours ago, 787flyer said:

Its not combinable and what I have found is if the A330 product is on general sale the upgrade service is not available until the sales period is over.

That's what I thought. I've just purchased mine.