MSFS2024 iniBuilds A330 - it's good!

[Cpt_Piett]

As much as I like the Fenix A32x aircraft, it's good to try something new. I've got the iniBuilds A300-600 premium edition, which, although good, is an older generation Airbus with quite a few differences in terms of operating. 

Enter the MSFS2024 default A330-300 and -200. As with anything iniBuilds, it looks awesome - but does it operate and handle in a realistic decent way? I guess A330 driver has the answer for that, but I don't watch many of his videos. 

IMO, it's a fun aircraft. The ground handling seems much better than that of the Fenix (still experimental in 2024). I find it tricky to land the Fenix in 2024—not so with the A330 (and the A300). The aircraft seems to do normal operations (LNAV, VNAV, fuel calculation, ILS approaches) without any major issues. 

And at the moment I'm getting into medium and long-haul flights. With a range of 6100nm (vs 3600 in the A306 and 3200 in the A321), it opens up a lot of opportunities. LA to Brisbane (6300nm) might be stretching things a little. But Paris to Seoul at 5900nm should be doable. Still quite a way to go to A350-900ULR's JFK to Singapore though (8300nm).

Combined with BATC and self-loading cargo, those longer flights aren't as tedious 🙂

There are a few liveries available via the iniManager, and a few on .to. Hopefully more will be available soon! I'm also really looking forward to a mobiflight profile for my miniFCU. 

What do people think? Do you have any favourite liveries or routes? What's the longest you've flown in the A333?

Edited January 20 by Cpt_Piett

[Lotharen]

This does seem to be a fantastic aircraft! I really like that China Airlines livery. The place seems to handle well and once I figured out my issue surrounding the performs data error it worked fine! (user error)

The iniBuilds a320 is just as good and I love flying these aircraft.

[carlanthony24]

Have been enjoying the 330 few bugs but nothing major. Still wouldn't mind a Fenix or FSLabs one.

[MrFuzzy]

5 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

I guess A330 driver has the answer for that, but I don't watch many of his videos. 

He reported a plethora of issues. It may fly decently but not realistically.

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/u/emi737/activity/topics

Edited January 20 by MrFuzzy

[Simon_C]

I think there is a general negative mindset around default aircraft, especially for long-time simmers, since previous versions of sims definitely didn't bring anything really usable. The difference between addon and default was very high. However, I find that MSFS2024 made a step forward with default aircraft and this gap has been considerably decreased. Although they still often fly miserably, most, at least visually, are quite good in my opinion. I rather enjoy flying some GA, I think they are just enough for some career (not internal career mode any more) grinds, as they are often done with lots of autopilot.

I would however buy almost any high quality addon, be that GA or Tubeliner, which comes with real-to-life or close systems and same for the flight model.

[Claudius_]

It crashes my sim on exiting the flight like other inibuilds planes in fs24, it's a well known bug from their efb. But it is decent and lands more realistically than the Fenix.

Edited January 20 by Claudius_

[jcomm]

Thank you! 

Haven't even loaded it a single time since I installed FS 2024 4 days after release.

The other day I tried the 737 MAX BBJ2 ( I have the Standard Edition ) and it was kind of a negative inspiration, and made me decide to not even try the other default airliners, returned to the FENIX and stayed calm there 🙂 

The MAX doesn't even allow you to properly interact with some rather basic / important instruments / systems, the Transponder being a remarkable example 😕  I had to use a trick, suggested by another forum member to be able to set squawk codes ...

But from your post the 330 is surely different and got additional attention from the devs @ IniBuilds (?)

Great inspiration !!!  I will try it !!!

Edited January 20 by jcomm

[Cpt_Piett]

2 hours ago, MrFuzzy said:

He reported a plethora of issues. It may fly decently but not realistically.

None of those issues are dealbreakers - for me.

I'm currently a couple of hours into a flight from OMAA to EIDW. No issues at all so far. That goes with the other flights I've done as well - so far about 3000nm or so in total I would guess. 

Edited January 20 by Cpt_Piett

[MrFuzzy]

45 minutes ago, Simon_C said:

I think there is a general negative mindset around default aircraft, especially for long-time simmers, since previous versions of sims definitely didn't bring anything really usable. The difference between addon and default was very high. However, I find that MSFS2024 made a step forward with default aircraft and this gap has been considerably decreased. Although they still often fly miserably, most, at least visually, are quite good in my opinion. I rather enjoy flying some GA, I think they are just enough for some career (not internal career mode any more) grinds, as they are often done with lots of autopilot.

I would however buy almost any high quality addon, be that GA or Tubeliner, which comes with real-to-life or close systems and same for the flight model.

It's not mindset, it's called "expectations".

Who declared that real airline pilots were involved in the development of the aircraft? 

Well, that's the feedback of a real airline pilot (now A330, previously 737 NG pilot)

[Simon_C]

2 hours ago, MrFuzzy said:

He reported a plethora of issues. It may fly decently but not realistically.

Nice report. However, you noticed what the mod did with the posts? He moved it to the User Support Hub... as if it's not even deemed a bug. This puts me off heavily of even touching the aircraft (yeah I know, it's just how I feel about that). I am not sure if the fixes have to come from INI or Asobo, but definitely not the way to treat what seems to be an excellent report.

Edited January 20 by Simon_C

[Simon_C]

10 minutes ago, MrFuzzy said:

It's not mindset, it's called "expectations".

Honestly, looking backwards 30 or so years, I'd say it's a mindset.

I never implied an expectation of a default aircraft be tested by real pilots. Just the general setting of the simmers towards the default aircraft. And I believe that this 330 is above what used to be a standard in MSFS default aircraft.

Maybe you misunderstood my post for a negative one.

Edited January 20 by Simon_C

[xenonsk]

8 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

I'm also really looking forward to a mobiflight profile for my miniFCU.

You can try it with InibuildsA320 Mobiflight profile. 

[Cpt_Piett]

4 minutes ago, xenonsk said:

You can try it with InibuildsA320 Mobiflight profile. 

It works! Thanks!! 

[Antipodeslonghaul]

9 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

But Paris to Seoul at 5900nm should be doable. Still quite a way to go to A350-900ULR's JFK to Singapore though (8300nm).

Combined with BATC and self-loading cargo, those longer flights aren't as tedious 🙂

There are a few liveries available via the iniManager, and a few on .to. Hopefully more will be available soon! I'm also really looking forward to a mobiflight profile for my miniFCU. 

What do people think? Do you have any favourite liveries or routes? What's the longest you've flown in the A333?

That Paris to Seoul flight and generally Western Europe to East Asia have been interesting. CDG-ICN great circle distance is 4832 nautical miles. With a good jetstream and no airspace restrictions across Siberia eastbound you could potentially make that in a little over 9 hours, even in a relatively "slow" A330. But the routes have been kind of interesting going around the Black and Capian Seas and Central Asia. Or going back eastbound when you're destination is actually westbound, head out across Japan, Alaska and polar ops back into Europe.

Anyway I haven't flown the A330, just the kind of close in comparison range wise BBJ1. I think the longest I've done in that one was maybe Singapore to London, 5878 nm great circle distance, but with strong headwinds and a bit of a tedious routing, just barely made it with like three passsengers, no cargo, and a cost index of zero.

I'm just messing around with the 777-200lr in FSX at the moment. I suppose that one might become available later this year in MSFS2024. I've done essentially antipodes flights in that one with all the aux tanks, like Singapore-Bogota (10,424 nm). No problem whatsoever if you like long flights. I imagine Qantas is eyeing the geopolitical situation for their upcoming Sydney-London nonstops, as depending on the jetstreams, those might benenfit if Russian and Ukranian airspace were open again to everyone.

[MikeH99]

We know.