Fenix Simulations, the team behind the highly popular Airbus A320 in Microsoft Flight Simulator, have released the first set of preview screenshots of their highly-anticipated IAE engine variant.
In a post on their Discord page, the team announced that the block 2 update, which will include the new visual model, IAE and external engine model, amongst other things, is nearing a state of readiness, saying ‘we have finally cleared the scariest issues and worked around it all, and are moving onto the ‘wrapping up’ phase. This phase is measured in weeks, not months.’
Having originally released with just the CFM engine model, simmers finally got their first glimpse of the IAE variant, popular with airlines such as British Airways, jetBlue and many others, after the project overran its original planned release date in September. A series of snaps show the new engine variant from various angles, as well as interior shots highlighting some of the other changes expected in block 2.
As was expected in the update, the post explains the cockpit has been ‘remapped to more efficiently utilise texture memory’, adding that ‘as it stands, the entire texture set is floating just below the 1GB mark, which is less than half the memory of block 1.’
Additionally, the images also depict the Fenix’s new wing, wingtip fence, nose and landing gear. Tyre compression will be a feature of the new update, with the post explaining the team have spent ‘quite some time building a soft-body physics system for the tyres’. The model’s new cabin is also referenced, with the author hinting at new seats that will feature inside the aircraft.
Inside the flight deck, a new lighting dynamic is demonstrated, with the post describing there will be ‘a better dome light, new LCD simulation that makes flying at night a lot nicer, and some subtle improvements across the materials.’
Simmers will be relieved to read such a comprehensive report of the team’s progress, after the project has suffered delays and setbacks. But with the first-look at the aircraft itself, the message appears to be one of positivity, with the aircraft looking to be on its final approach.
