A brand-new 2-hour-long podcast with Blu Xperience Media has been shared, and the FlyByWire Simulations team members joined the duo to discuss the A380X on Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Both Blu Games and XP72 were hosting the podcast and were joined by Repol, Florian, and Dave from the FlyByWire Simulations team. Repol is responsible for the 3D modelling, Florian works mostly on avionics, and Dave is handling the hydraulic system, flight controls, and advanced things like wing flex. The 2-hour+ discussion was rather in-depth and certainly deserves a full listen, but we’ve recapped some of the best parts of the discussion.
The discussion began with talk about how complex it is to bring the plane to life in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The avionics alone have been hugely challenging, with continuous work on the flight displays, navigation systems and other programming that people will never visually see. The 3D model was also discussed in detail, specifically showcasing the cabins included such as the economy and first-class areas, with Emirates being their reference cabin layout. They have tried to balance textures and performance.
Dave also spent time speaking about his work on the hydraulic and flight control systems. There are lots of physics-based behaviours with the plane, including wing flex and engine wobble. There is also realistic movement as the plane is fueling and when you enter areas of turbulence. They have also simulated redundancy systems for added realism.
With the A380 having four engines compared to the A32NX’s two, it presents its own type of challenge for the team. This led to many situations the team had to come up with creative solutions, including the controls for the inner-engine reverse thrust mechanisms.
Overall, the team is aiming to achieve a high level of simulation with the A380X, including real-time behaviour changes like overheating conditions and pressure failures, which then have a dynamic impact on the aircraft. As such, this all takes time, and FlyByWire want to produce something special for the community when the A380X does eventually release for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
Release Date
No specific release date was mentioned. However, the team said that they are looking to release a ‘development preview’ version to the community to contribute to testing and providing feedback. The team will then continue to improve the plane based on this, just as they did with the A32NX.
FlyByWire Simulations did emphasise that the development preview release will happen once key systems are polished and in a staple enough state for a broader audience. They are purposefully avoiding a concrete date due to the complexity of the project and ongoing work by the volunteer team.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
One of the biggest questions of course is whether the A380X by FlyByWire Simulations will come to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Whilst the team is excited by what the new simulator will have to offer, they are focused on MSFS 2020 right now and will assess how to port the plane over once MSFS 2024 is out. They said that they are excited to see more on the 3D modelling, lighting and visual effects of the new sim and how FlyByWire can take advantage of that for their plane.
