After an extensive four-year development, FlyByWire Simulations has officially launched the much-anticipated A380X for Microsoft Flight Simulator - free of charge. FlyByWire is offering the A380X as an open alpha developer preview with limitations and ongoing development efforts.
The A380X open alpha includes several operational systems and features, although not all are fully optimized:
- Flight Management and Navigation: A custom-built Flight Management System (FMS) based on FlyByWire's latest framework, designed to support various flight procedures and precise waypoint sequencing for more realistic navigation.
- Flight Displays and Checklists: Primary Flight Display (PFD), Navigation Display (ND), and other flight instruments are included in the release, along with electronic checklists for normal and some abnormal procedures.
- Aircraft Systems Simulation: Systems such as electrical, pneumatic, and environmental controls are modeled to provide a realistic aircraft environment, with over 140 failure scenarios available via the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).
- Dynamic Wing Flex and Control Surfaces: The aircraft’s wing flex and control surfaces respond dynamically to factors like fuel load and aerodynamic forces, simulating the distinctive “Valse Des Ailerons” effect unique to the A380.
- Enhanced Awareness Features: The A380X includes features like Brake to Vacate (BTV) and Runway Overrun Protection (ROP), systems designed to assist with braking and landing. An onboard Airport Navigation System (OANS) offers airport moving maps, further supporting situational awareness.
The download of the aircraft comes with an 4K or 8K Texture Option, both with different system requirements. The full Release Notes can be viewed on the FlyByWire Documentation site. To download and install the aircraft, use the FlyByWire Installer. The aircraft is currently not available on the in-game Marketplace. Liveries can be downloaded from Flightsim.to - A380X Aircraft Liveries category. Other available mods and add-ons such as Custom Views can be found on the dedicated add-on page of the A380X.
For an enhanced download experience, consider upgrading to Flightsim.to Premium and enjoy faster download speeds without the hassle of captchas. With the release of the FlyByWire A380X, there’s no better time to go Premium — especially with our limited-time offer! Use code A380X at checkout to save 25% until November 3rd and download your favorite liveries even faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
FlyByWire has also shared answers to frequently asked questions. As for performance, users can expect a performance reduction of up to 25% compared to the default A32NX, as the A380X is still in an alpha state, with certain models and textures awaiting optimization. Improvements are planned as the project evolves. Some cockpit features have limitations: for example, the foldout keyboard below the PFD/ND is currently non-functional, as it would primarily interact with the OIT, a system yet to be implemented in the A380X. The sim also restricts the use of a taxi cam on the instruments, though preset camera views are available as an alternative. The A380X supports various approach types, with the ILS approach, including CAT/LAND 3 DUAL with AUTOLAND, fully operational. However, FLS, F-G/S, and F-LOC approaches are not yet supported, and non-precision approaches currently offer lateral guidance through NAV mode, with vertical guidance available only in FPA mode.
SimBrief integration is available for both the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and FMS initialization, allowing users to load profiles using a Navigraph account or SimBrief ID. While no subscription is required, users relying on SimBrief’s free tier should note that older AIRAC cycles may lead to import errors or missing procedures, requiring careful validation for flights on networks like VATSIM.
Looking ahead, FlyByWire plans to adapt the A380X for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. However, this may take time as optimizations and adjustments for the new simulator are underway. Remember: FlyByWire Simulations is a community-driven team dedicated to enhancing your flight simulation experience with high-quality freeware. If you appreciate their work, consider supporting them on their OpenCollective page to help keep these projects thriving.