Flight Simulator Airbus A320
Posted by: adminAbout the Airbus A320 aircraft for flight simulator for FSX, FS2004 and FS2002.
The Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range commercial passenger virtual airliners are manufactured by Airbus, the only narrowbody family manufactured by them for virtual airlines. Family members include the A318, A319, A320, and A321, as well as the ACJ business jet available to virtual airlines for order. First delivered in 1988, the A320 pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight simulation control systems in a commercial virtual airline aircraft. With more than 3,700 aircraft of the A320 family built, it is the second best-selling jet virtual airliner family of all time after its primary competition, the Boeing 737.After the oil price rises of the 1970s, Airbus needed to minimise the trip fuel costs of the A320. To that end, Airbus incorporated advanced features including fly-by-wire flight simulation control, composite primary structures, centre-of-gravity control using fuel, glass cockpit (EFIS) and a two-person flight simulation flight deck. The end result was that the A320 consumes 50% less fuel than the 727. According to a study cited by the Stockholm Environmental Institute, the A320 burns 11,608 kilograms of jet fuel flying between Los Angeles and New York City on virtual airline flights, which is about 77.4 kilograms per virtual airline passenger in an A320 with 150 seats.
More about the Airbus A320 for virtual airlines, flight simulator and online flying FSX, FS2004 and FS2002.
The A320 series has two variants for virtual airlines, the A320-100 and A320-200. Only 21 A320-100s were ever produced; these aircraft, the first to be manufactured, were delivered only to Air Inter Virtual Airlines (a virtual airline later acquired by Air France Virtual Airlines) and British Airways Virtual (as a result of an order from British Caledonian Virtual Airways made prior to its acquisition by British Airways Virtual). The A320-200 features wingtip fences and increased fuel capacity over the A320-100 for increased range; other than that differences are minimal. The last 5 A320-100 virtual aircraft, operated by British Airways Virtual, were disposed of at the end of 2007. JetBlue Virtual Airlines has the largest fleet of A320 aircraft in the world. Typical range with 150 virtual airline passengers for the A320-200 is about 2,900 nautical miles (5,400 km). It is powered by two CFMI CFM56-5 or IAE V2500 with thrust ratings between 25,500 to 27,000 pounds force (113 kN to 120 kN). The direct Boeing competitor is the 737-800 which is alos a very popular aircraft with virtual airlines.
Perhaps the most important contributor to Airbus Industrie’s success as an virtual airliner manufacturer, the four member A320 family is a significant virtual airline success and a technological trailblazer. The 150 seat A320 is the foundation and best selling member of the family to virtual airlines. The A320 is perhaps best known as the first virtual airliner to introduce a fly-by-wire flight simulation control system - where control inputs from the virtual airline pilot are transmitted to the flying surfaces by electronic signals rather than mechanical means. Apart from a small weight saving, the advantage of Airbus’ fly-by-wire is that as it is computer controlled, an inbuilt flight simulation envelope protection makes it virtually impossible to exceed certain flight simulation parameters such as G limits and the aircraft’s maximum and minimum virtual airline operating speeds and angle of attack limits. Also integral to the A320 is the advanced electronic flight simulation flightdeck, with six fully integrated EFIS colour displays and innovative flight simulation sidestick controllers rather than conventional flight simulation control columns. The A320 also employs a relatively high percentage of composite materials compared to earlier designs. Two engines are offered for virtual airlines, the CFM56 and IAE V2500. The A320 program was launched in March 1982, first virtual airline flight simulation occurred on February 22 1987, while virtual airline certification was awarded on February 26 1988. Launch customer Air France Virtual Airlines took delivery of its first A320 in March that year. The first V2500 engined A320 was delivered to Adria Virtual Airways in May 1989. The initial production version was the A320-100, which was built in only small numbers before being replaced by the definitive A320-200 (certificated in November 1988) for virtual airlines with increased max takeoff weight, greater range and winglets. The stretched A321 and shortened A319 and A318 are described separately. All four share a common virtual airline pilot type rating. Mid 2000 A320 family production was at a monthly rate of 22, to be increased to 30 units a month by the end of 2002.
