Airbus A320 Flight Simulator
The Airbus A320 is a short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliner. The first A320 began construction in 1984, had its first test flights in 1987, and were delivered to Airbus’ first customers in 1988.
The A320 is the first commercial aircraft to use digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, and that is what an A320 flight simulator has to replicate. “Fly by wire” means that computers on the plane transmit the pilot inputs into electrical signals, which are then sent through wires to actuators that move the control surfaces. (Unlike Boeing, which allows its pilots to have the final say, computers have the final say on what happens aboard an Airbus, overriding what pilots do if the computers think it is an incorrect response.)
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Indeed, the A320 flight simulator has to replicate quite a few unique configurations in its cockpit. The fly-by-wire system is unique to the Airbus, as far as commercial aircraft is concerned.
Airbus also does not use the wheel-and-control column, or yoke, that is used on all Boeing jets. Instead, Airbus pilots control the plane by moving a “side stick,” a small, hand-held joystick located to the left or right of the pilot, depending on what seat they’re sitting in. Other side-stick aircraft are such military jets as the Sukhoi Su-37, F-22, and, among home built planes, the Rutan Long-EZ.
The instrument panel of an A320 is what’s called a “glass panel”. It uses an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), which means that the display technology is electronic rather than electromechanical. EFIS normally consists of a primary flight display (PFD), multi-function display (MFD) and Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) display. Originally, cathode ray tube (CRT) displays were used, but liquid crystal displays (LCD) are now the norm. All commercial aircraft use glass panels these days.
The A320 flight simulator matches the real thing as closely as is possible, and is an interesting plane to fly. Although it is possible to fly this plane via the keyboard (as will all aircraft included in the Flight Pro Sim fleet) to get the real feel for it, the user should invest in a joystick and rudder pedals. Both of these items can be purchased for about $100 each. (No need to purchase a yoke, since the A320 doesn’t use it!)
When flying the A320 flight simulator, it’s necessary to set some parameters in the Advanced section of the launcher screen, such as how much weight you want the craft to carry, and so on. Indeed, from these advanced screens, it’s possible for the operator to start his or her flight up in the air, rather than having to taxi and takeoff from an airport. The user can also set time of day, season, weather conditions, and so on.
It takes some getting used to, to fly an A320 flight simulator, but as with all aircraft the longer the operator works with the craft, the easier it will become.
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