19 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

explain why they might favor one or the other?

An important factor for me is always the 3rd party software / hardware support... Here's Fenix the winner also, IMHO.

33 minutes ago, jlund said:

What is the "Mel" that FSL apparently has and that Fenix doesn't?

And how does the FBW A320 compare system wise to Fenix and FSlabs?

MEL is Minimum Equipment List - so I think you can fly with a minor broken system like one would irl.  You just "MEL" it meaning you mark it as inop and still fly, and send a report to maintenance to be fixed.  Usually something semi minor.

Thanks for the responses.  Seems like Fenix is the way to go.  Sadly I have to get the bundle if I just want the 319 lol.  Don't think I need it that much.  The 319 looks a lot better and has most of the ACJ paints (although it appears most aren't compatible with the BFU grrrr).  I will think on it for now.

4 hours ago, FPVSteve said:

Also consider the FBW A320neo if you want to get your hands dirty without paying - it's completely free.

For me, the ground handling (taxiing) in that aircraft is superior to any other aircraft in the simulator and the EFB is a work of art with a really intuitive flow to it.

This is great advice in general.

Not so much whether the FbW is peer level, but that there’s a great option (particularly if it has some standout features like ground physics).

Which the brings to mind: where do the Default v2024 Airbus A32x’s stand in all this…?

the FbW came In from the original v2020 320, but the v2024 is an iniBuilds project. 

?

(not that I believe they’re as good as Fenix or FSL 😉, but they had gotten decent reviews, etc)

3 hours ago, BrammyH said:

Is there any update on this? Six months ago they were in testing, and now crickets.

Actually, there is news - posted a few hours ago. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but ...

https://www.flightsimlabs.com/index.php/quick-news-update/

8 minutes ago, SierraDelta said:

Actually, there is news - posted a few hours ago. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but ...

Thanks. 

I never bought it since the PWs are what I am interested in.

Well I bought the A320 standalone.  And I'll have a screenshot post to follow!

For now just one...

 

Very keen to see what you think. 'Subscribe' 

Alright...  here's my first Fenix flight

 

4 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Which the brings to mind: where do the Default v2024 Airbus A32x’s stand in all this…?

They are excellent for a free, bundled plane. Gives you everything you need to learn the flows and enjoy the plane. You don't HAVE to buy a third-party (or even FBW), you can easily spends dozens or hundreds of hours learning on the default planes. 

 

On 12/22/2025 at 7:23 PM, ryanbatc said:

Well I bought the A320 standalone

Good Decision - A320 from Fenix is highly regarded in the community (Both by flight simmers and professional pilots) - not to mention you get sharklet variants too so lots of options regarding where and what to fly. You can also customise some of equipment (just like PMDG) through their tablet. 

On 12/22/2025 at 4:57 PM, ryanbatc said:

Thanks for the responses.  Seems like Fenix is the way to go.  Sadly I have to get the bundle if I just want the 319 lol.  Don't think I need it that much.  The 319 looks a lot better and has most of the ACJ paints (although it appears most aren't compatible with the BFU grrrr).  I will think on it for now.

The A319 for what it's worth is the most difficult to fly. Because the engines are overpowered for its weight.

On 12/22/2025 at 6:53 AM, jlund said:

What is the "Mel" that FSL apparently has and that Fenix doesn't?

And how does the FBW A320 compare system wise to Fenix and FSlabs?

Minimum equipment list.

https://skybrary.aero/articles/minimum-equipment-list-mel#:~:text=A minimum equipment list (MEL,established for the aircraft type.

 

For example On the fsl I believe you can arm/equip a defect or an mel item.

A simple one for example...In the real world for example you might have a taxi light INOP, but You can 'MEL it" so long as you replace it within 7 days so you can operate the aircraft, but you have to replace before that 7 days is up , at this point the aircraft "drops dead" at midnight on that day 7 and the aircraft is AOG / unserviceable due to the defect

More complicated example is you might have a item that is MEL'd and it gives you a fuel or performance penalty until that item/defect is fixed.

 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2025Dec 27 by fluffyflops

Well it's been a little over a month.  I'm back here to say that I've not flown the Fenix in almost a month hehe.  It's a beautiful addon but after trying a few more flights I just found it to be so boring.  It's so automated lol (as expected).  And even if I simulated an ACJ private flight, it's still fairly limited to where you can go. 

For airliners it appears the emphasis/fun is really set on setting up the flight.  Getting a flight plan, getting the W+B (but everyone just uses simbrief lol), using nice airports and services like GSX to perform boarding, and loading.  Then it's pushback and taxi (in what seems like forever after I got into the cockpit haha - I'm sure this does speed up after knowing the plane well, but it's still extremely slow).  After takeoff, it's like AP ON.  And then setup some MCDU stuff for arrival, or editing winds aloft or CRZ settings.

I just don't think airliner flying is for me.  

Even if I do a W+B manually, I can still be in my bug smasher (even after a "preflight"), and departing a small airport in like 5-10min.  But honestly it's simbrief for me if I'm using anything larger than a light piston single or twin...so it's even quicker.

This post is not an attack on the Fenix, the product itself is incredible, from visuals, sounds, flight model, and everything in between.  I don't regret my purchase at all.  I'll try to fly it occasionally though 🙂

That’s OK, Ryan.

As they say:

Home is where the heart is…🙂…