Hi guys,
For those bus drivers out there that weren't aware of it, Wilco have updated their Airbus Series 1 package to SP1.
Available from
HEREThis product received a cool reception when it was released by WILCO for a number of reasons.
1) The download system was terrible and could in no way cope with the server load.
2) Both the FS2004 & FSX versions were riddled with bugs.
I am pleased to say that I have installed the new download from Wilco which incorporates the SP1 update and it a) was a very fast download (120mb in 4 mins) and b) is a vastly improved product.
It is now more in line with what we would expect from Feelthere and the Pilot in Command series from Wilco. Don't get me wrong, there are still a few bugs and I expect this topic will rumble on in the Feelthere support forum for some time to come, but it is now a pretty good product (and the FPS aren't bad either) and far better than the very old and out of date PSS Airbus.
The product comes in two versions, Airbus Series 1 and Airbus Series 1 Deluxe. The later adds the A319 and ACJ (Corporate Jet) models as well as a bit of video which is not great. IMHO save the money and go for the standard Airbus Series 1 product unless you specifically want the 319 or ACJ.
The product is currently download only although boxed versions are imminent. The download license allows you to download two separate versions of the product, one for FS2004 and one for FSX. (Great, a product that was written with both versions in mind.... Shame PMDG and LDS are not following this idea!)
So for the standard version you get the A318, A320 and A321 aircraft and all of the documentation. (The documentation is also good although of course, you need to print it off for it to be useful while flying) The product was developed for WILCO by Feelthere who have a good reputation in the business and the 737PIC product was pretty darned good!
All systems are simulated although there are some switches and click spots missing that some other products have. It does have an extensive MCDU (or FMC if you are Boeing, Boeing, Gone!) that simulates most of the real functions. The exterior models are of good quality and certainly a lot better than the equivalent PSS product. (Although the PSS model is basically a 2002 product so it should be better!) Flight dynamics have been vastly improved in the SP1 version and all of the bugs that I found are gone although there are some concerns about the descent rate being unrealistic in a lot of the forums.
On the whole, I wish I had waited till now to get it instead of going through all of the heartache of getting it as soon as it was released. It is now a good little product and although not quite PMDG or Level D standard, it is not far away and certainly the best Bus Sim on the market at the moment.
