I am happy today that, after the recent [1.2.7.0] Update, I could (finally) fly the iniBuilds A321 on my Xbox/MSFS2024. Not sure what was my issue in MSFS2024 before this Update (could it be because I'm now able to selectively load this aircraft from my Library...?), but myself being on Game Pass (Standard Edition), haven't yet purchased MSFS2024 outright, it is really nice to have the A321 available now to me as a "default" aircraft. Since the very first announcement of the aircraft list for MSFS2024, here is one a/c, I have had my eyes on, to try out on my Xbox. Those of us from the FSX days might recall that there was an A321 included in the Standard Edition of FSX. Of course, as we have progressed in the SIM, the quality of default aircraft in MSFS has also progressed by leaps and bounds...

My (historical) interest in the A321 aircraft are two-fold: (1) First of all, there is a niche-application level, competitive analogy of the A321 (especially its longer-range variants, -LR/-XLR) with the classic Boeing 757, another plane I've always loved and flown much in this hobby). When CS first developed their B757 SIM in phased releases (QW would also do this SIM later on), I would spend daily hours on the CS Forum (had too much time on hand...🙂...also was a rather energetic younger self of mine at that time as a relatively nouveau but zealot participant of this simulation activity...🙂...).

Anyway, the (RW) 757 has been seemingly around forever in RW use...to say the least. In fact, just a couple of months ago, I flew (MCO-ORD) on a United 757-300. The reason 757 (a narrow-body and single-aisle aircraft) has been so popular is because this uniquely (conceptual) creation from Boeing has been pretty much untouched in a niche application of its own; known for exceptionally powerful performance for its size (its fuselage is very long and thin...a most peculiar look, visually speaking, and hard to overlook when spotted in the airports...!). The nearest competitor that came close to the B757 is the A321. I distinctly recall when A321 was first introduced into service in 1994 by Lufthansa, during the period when I was most active in international travel, with Lufthansa as my (usual) long-haul carrier. In fact, I recall reading about it in the in-flight Lufthansa Magazine (a magazine that always featured glossy and attractive images of the (LH) 747s and 748s etc... crisply pictured against the blue sky...similar to what you have seen in my (747) posts here from MSFS...🙂...) ...

However, until the (specific) A321LR variant arrived 6 years ago, in 2018, the B757 had reigned supreme in this niche category, for nearly 35 years (1983-2018). For this post, here, I'm flying this -LR variant, but it's also noteworthy to mention that the next A321 revision (the A321XLR) has also flown commercially, just a month ago, on November 6, 2024, when Iberia Airlines flew from Madrid to Paris. 

The versatile B757 could be flown on some oceanic routes, especially becoming popular after it was granted ETOPS approval in 1986, opening up unusual (twin-jet) transatlantic routes. Within U.S., UAL still has over 50 757s in service, and AA's fleet shows that it has (historically) operated ~180 757s in its fleet (have flown many times on AA 757s). Just like the 757, but even better, now the A321XLR has taken this (twinjet/narrowbody) transoceanic travel concept, a notch higher. The first transatlantic flight of the A321XLR occurred a few weeks ago, on November 14, 2024, when Iberia flew direct from Madrid to Boston. The -LR that you see below (and the -XLR) may not sport that "pencil airliner" look of the classic B757, but these (narrow body) A321 aircraft have (finally) matched the performance and range of the ever-popular B757, if not its (distinctly) elongated outline. So, there's now a new (single aisle) plane, the A321XLR, in the sky, that you (or I) might like to fly on our next trip over the Atlantic...

Please note, though the performance characteristics differ within the A321 variants (-ceo/-neo/-LR/-XLR), they all have the identical fuselage length (146 ft). For comparison, the 757-300 that I recently flew on, has an unimaginable narrow-body length of nearly 179 ft... fully deserving of the nickname "Flying Pencil" (it's still the world's longest single-aisle jet of its kind). BTW, hopefully, we, the virtual aviators, will be getting a B757 in MSFS soon, instead of just yet another Airbus in the SIM...🙂...with due respect for all the Airbus variants...with and without Sharklet upgrades and all....🙂...that we have now... (as a purely virtual aviator, I am wishing for a cockpit that would look different from the 737 NG and the A32X...🙂...), and still more Airbus are arriving in our SIM with the latest FSL entry...🙂...Oh well...I know, though not everyone here is looking for the 757, surely some are...

Anyway, I am pleased to say here that in my Xbox/MSFS2024 (after the 1.2.7.0 Update), this iniBuilds A321 flew remarkably well for me today, within my limited domain of expertise and knowledge. Before the latest (MSFS2024) Update, my numerous attempts to get this A321 into the sky had miserably failed (e.g., if cockpit would show up, then Camera views (usually controlled by my Xbox Controller), or/and the (Keyboard) mouse, and Thrustmaster Hotas buttons, would freeze, and when these would work, there would be blank avionics in the cockpit etc.). It was very frustrating. So, I'm indeed very happy being able to finally fly this airliner flawlessly on my Xbox. So, I've now, at least, the PMDG 736 and iniBuilds A321, two (narrow body) airplanes, that I wish to fly often, are doing well on my Xbox/MSFS2024...🙂....

Regarding the route of this flight, I've mentioned before that my only narrow-body/single-aisle flight with Lufthansa, in an A320, was from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf (for an onward long-haul connection). I recall that short ~110 miles flight very well. Here, however, I'm testing this A321 in the reverse direction, from Düsseldorf (EDDL) to Frankfurt (EDDF), river to river (I like to spot rivers in the SIM...🙂...), from Düsseldorf on the Rhine to Frankfurt on the Main. The city of Frankfurt am Main lies along Main River, 20 miles upstream from the confluence of the two rivers (Rhine and Main). If you look carefully, you'll spot both Rhine River and Main River, in some of my image below, especially River Main (glistening in sunlight), seen directly under my ILS approach path to Rwy 07L of EDDF.

Hope you enjoy this collection of pictures, from my short (virtual) trip today, in the A321LR, a trip that brings back vivid (and pleasant) memories of my (short) RW flight...many moons ago...in the opposite direction...Frankfurt to Düsseldorf...

Thanks for viewing...!

Edited December 12, 20241 yr by P_7878

Great to hear everything is working for you with the new update P, have fun flying your A321.

Fine shots, and nice to hear something has changed to MSFS2024 for you.

Always nice to hear it goes a step foreward even it may be a small step.

Foreward is foreward and if this small steps goeing on we have at someday a MSFS2020 ready state for MSFS2024 !

cheers 😉

Adam and pmplayer:

Thanks for the comments, and the wishes...I surely need some in Xbox/MSFS2024...🙂...

This airplane/airliner was a delight to fly though...

Very nice shots! 😉 

Nice set P_7878 🙂, have to try the A321 again now after the update.

On 12/13/2024 at 9:41 PM, Alaska738 said:

Very nice shots! 😉 

Will: Many thanks...glad you liked...Cheers...!

 

17 hours ago, andiflyit said:

Nice set P_7878 🙂, have to try the A321 again now after the update.

Appreciated the comment, Andreas. Even before the Patch, while you tried the base FS2024, I recall, you were able to fly (on the PC) many aircraft that would not budge for me on Xbox... 🙂...A400M was one example, which I just flew (successfully) yesterday...

Yes, retry the iniBuilds A321 now after the Update. If it worked for me on Xbox, it should work just fine for you. Try first loading/enabling only 2 airports (ORIG/DEST of your choice) and this a/c from your Library... (plus, of course, the base content that's streamed in anyway...) ...

Good luck.