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  1. Aircraft Review : ToLiSS319 (A319-122) by ToLiSS In the last few years the "Study" grade aircraft have slowly filtered in to X-Plane. Study means that the aircraft systems are so exactly replicated by the aircraft that you can learn or actually fly the real aircraft from what you do on the simulation model. To what point is it a "real" study grade aircraft is still however debatable, as developers love to stick the moniker on their product to attract higher sales, and don't get me wrong in that in many cases these aircraft are very good at replicating the aircraft's systems and their behaviours correctly, but there is still the line were as every system or even certain areas of the aircraft's systems are not actually covered and in fact they are in reality a "Study Lite" than a full study aircraft. But X-Plane users are now getting some aircraft which are more "Study deep" in that the system detail is far more detailed and really does reflect the real system of a real aircraft or at least are coming up to the standard of a real aircraft simulator as used to train and test pilots for flight on the actual aircraft. To a point this is the actual goal of any commercial based simulation product, in it either being X-Plane or any other simulator, to take out the huge cost of renting or using an airline simulator but still deliver the same technical knowledge and understanding of how real aircraft work and fly. So these A Grade Study aircraft are the Holy Grail of home or training based simulation, and if the product is very good you get not only the accolades of a delivering a great product, but the high financial returns as well. But to get to those extremely high goals there is also a serious amount of work and testing to be done in the developing stages. In the Boeing arena then study grade aircraft have been the prolific choices with the FlightFactor/Vmax Boeing 757/767 series and FlyJSim's Boeing 727 Series and their recently released and very comprehensive Boeing 737 TwinJet. In Airbus territory then it has been dominated by the JARDesign A320neo and A330 Series, but that is debatable if they are "Study" level deep, but more like study level lite or even "very lite". But don't discount the excellent work of JAR here as a lot of users have learnt the basics of airbus's complex systems and the methodology via their aircraft and the upcoming Airbus A330 v3.0 is more deeper in systems again. Obviously now there are two aircraft that will change that scenario with the FlightFactor Airbus A320 Ultimate and now with this release of the Airbus A319-122 from ToLiSS as both are seriously graded as "Study" aircraft and are very much positioned in the "very deep" study arena. The first important point to make is that the first question is "which one is best?" or "which one should I invest in". The answer in reality is neither or either. In reality they are totally almost similar in the main areas of replicating Airbus systems and flight performance and Airbus logic. It is in fact like having a room with an Airbus A319 simulator next to a A320 simulator and you just pick which one you want to train on. So in many ways both aircraft are like the Boeing 757/767 pair in use and flying. No doubt for features and quality and price the A320U would signify it as the better of the two, but the A319 has benefits in other areas as we will cover here that levels the game, so again they come out equal in the important areas. To choose between these Airbuses is like choosing which son is to go off to war, in that you don't want either to go. ToliSS This matter is made more complex with the developer of this A319 "Gliding Kiwi". If you have been around X-Plane long enough this developer is very well known, but more so when associated with Airbus aircraft systems and performance. Mr Kiwi was with QPAC the first in X-Plane to bring to the simulator pure Airbus system but more so in the area of Airbus dynamics or modes with the "Fly-By-Wire" and flight "laws" in normal, alternate, direct and mechanical laws, these laws are mostly protections of the performance of the aircraft, but the laws also allow the pilot to also take direct aircraft control when required. The first X-Plane aircraft with these systems was the QPAC A320. In a strange arrangement the QPAC company was designing a full simulation of the A320 systems for simulation use, and Gliding Kiwi was a contributor to that project. For X-Plane it did at least allow for the first time the simulation of a real quality simulation of Airbus dynamics. The QPAC A320 in time languished and the project went static, but the basic quality systems created there was translated to other X-Plane projects including mostly Peters Aircraft A320/A321/A319 and A380 and FlightFactor's A350 (which is really good in the flight dynamics, not so good with the FMS). So is this A319 from ToLiSS then just a QPAC A320 Mk2, the answer to that is no, but a few foibles from that original aircraft are still very recognisable, but in an ironic twist, this A319 is very much the conceived aircraft that QPAC set out to create in the first place with their initial project. External The developer makes it very clear that the A319 is all focused on the "Study" side of the aircraft and rather than the general "Features" or what is known as "Eye Candy" which is certainly not the priority here, so don't expect moving armrests, flip out work shelves, animated shades or opening cockpit windows. Yes they are fun to wind away the hours in flight, but you will have to find other ways to amuse yourself here. (opening the cockpit windows in flight is only for the brave unless you are on the ground). External modeling is very good but not outstanding as the X-Plane quality is now extremely high in this range, as in many of the curves are not absolutely smooth but have slight straighter lines to create a curve. The livery quality even if it is 4K (4096x4096) doesn't help in this matter either. There is .NML mapping that creates the joins and joints and it is all very well done more than excellent and some of the livery detail is inconsistent. This should improve when quality painters get to deliver liveries of a higher standard. This livery detail is quite noticeable around areas like the cargo hold doors with no detailing except outlines and around the nose, and this is a few shades of the QPAC A320 here. In context though the A319 looks really great and the other detailing is very good and there is a lovely shine to the fuselage in that the PBR effects are working very well in for the A319's favour. The A319 is not the "baby Bus" as that is the A318, but mid-way between the A320 and the A318. A319 carries up to 160 passengers and has a maximum range of 3,700 nmi (6,900 km; 4,300 mi). The size is created by the removal of four fuselage frames fore and three aft the wing, cutting the overall length by 3.73 metres (12 ft 3 in) in comparison to the A320. Undercarriage detailing is excellent and very realistic for both front and rear assemblies, gear movement animation and reaction is also very good. Glass is also a highlight, with great rainbow glass effects that makes it look realistic in the right lighting conditions. The X-Plane11 lighting effects (PBR) do go a very long way in creating great shine and reflections on the aircraft's surfaces, and certainly lifts the A319's overall appearance up to a very "nice little airliner" status. There is also a choice of engines with either the CFM56-5B6 (23,500 lbf (100 kN)) or the IAE 2524-A5 (24,800 lbf (108.89 kN)) The aircraft's performance parameters also change with the change of engine to reflect the performance within the set flight values, even in mid-flight, but you would changes engines mid-flight now would you? There is the feature to connect the aircraft and airline to the required engine type via the livery which is a nice touch of authenticity. The CFM is reflected well here, but the IAE is missing the outer vanes (noted as coming) and both the engine inlet and outlets are more a carbon feel than the silver matt metallic look in many of the lighting conditions and that makes those areas look quite dark. (a side note here... the Carbon look may be a conflict with a plugin? I have checked but have found no conflicts?). Another feature is the choice of winglet fences or sharklets. They can be changed by putting an "S" behind the engine type on the livery so: [CFM] Airbus House becomes [CFMS] Airbus House or (IAES) for the V2500 engine choice. Most are used with the CFM than more with the IAE versions and if you want both styles active then you have to have two different liveries with one with the S added or the other with not. Modeling is excellent, and certainly with the lovely shape of the curve on the sharklets which look excellent. Internal Originally at first glance the A319's cockpit felt very different than the usual A320 cockpit, it was a more blueish/green feel (far bottom) than the current A320 colours as a few users/testers have remarked and pushed their point that it doesn't look like the A320 cockpit and so the textures were changed to the more green/blueish look here to reflect that taste. I personally liked this original feel of the A319, the textures were that not top, top quality, but they did however give you an earlier Airbus environment in a different context, and it made the transition over from the A320U to the A319 a more significant event and I felt that If I had wanted an A320 look and feel, then I will go and simply fly the A320. But with the changes they are pretty now the same style aircraft and these cockpit textures are also far more bland and flat and have lost that hard worn and scratched appeal of the original. This is a personal opinion of course but on my A319 I will certainly revert back to the original texture idea of look and feel. (Original Textures) Cold and dark and it does feel overall very dark in here, but there is no doubting that nothing was missed and the cockpit is very well equipped and the modeling and switchgear is excellent. I particularly like the worn switches on the overhead panel (OHP) left over from the original cockpit textures. Looking closely there are elements missing on the panel like the DCDU - Data Communication Display Unit of which there is only the fitted metal blanks, yes I will miss that tool but this is again an early model A319. Instrument displays have excellent reflections, but most of the switchgear works as it should and it is all very Airbus in feel and use. Authenticity is evident, switches click and buttons feel as realistic as you are expecting and consider the Airbus A320 cockpit design is now twenty years old it still feels like a very modern airliner. Cabin The detailed cabin is excellent. The style is very modern and up to date with slim-line seating. Really lovely side and roof paneling with lighting. Entry and Galleys are also a great fit-out and are really authentic and realistic in design... ... detail is excellent with lovely curtain rails and ample ideas for custom livery choices like the Lufthansa logo. Menus To access the A319's menus you go to the X-Plane Plugin pulldown menu... Here you select "Open ISCS Screen" for Toliss Interactive Simulation Control System which is a fancy name for an interactive menu. All the menus are currently fixed in position and have no scale, which makes them a bit unwieldy when wanting to look around the cockpit or using them with the FMS (MCDU). There are seven tabs available covering: Position Situations, Aircraft Configuration, Ground Services, Faults Scenerios, Reserved Page, Audio-Visual settings and Settings Actions. The default is the "Aircraft Configuration" panel Position Situations: This menu covers saving a "situation" in that you can load and save a particular situation with such that a flight can be stopped at any point in time and then continued another day from the exact same conditions where it was stopped. This is also useful to practice the same approach over and over again, without having to redo all flight planning to take-off. The trick is that unlike the native X-Plane "Situations" it saves everything including the FMS settings and route.... which is very handy, you can also auto save the situation on a timer as well in case you get an X-Plane desktop crash or freeze, this then allows you to restart exactly where you crashed and simply resume your flight. There is space also for future features including "Predefined Situations". Aircraft Configuration : This is your aircraft configuration (or loading page) It covers your Payload (Passengers and Cargo) and (Block) Fuel and everything is reflected in the weight and balances graph on the right. You can apply the weight settings and load in the set amount of fuel. But I will explain the rest later in detail when setting up the aircraft. Ground Services : This tab covers the external factors on the aircraft. You have options to provide "Ground Power" and High and Low pressure air to start the engines and provide ventilation/air-conditioning while on the ground. There are no external physical units. There is a built in pushback... The pushback is quite basic in look and use. I always now use the BetterPushBack Truck as an alternative. The ToliSS A319 has been configured correctly for the BetterPushBack use, so it works extremely well here. Note in watching the pushback operation on the ECAM! Six doors open in the Front/Rear Left, Front/Rear Right and two Cargo (front/rear) with excellent internal hold detail... ... these doors are controlled on the ground services tab and they have three selections with Auto (default) Close and Open. The auto will open the doors when the park brake is set and the engines are off. But they do have a tendency to be a bit uncontrollable in opening/closing at the wrong times or not opening when you need it open. So the manual "Close" is my preference to control them. There is no save selection either and so every time you open the aircraft you have to then (constantly) reset the doors to your preference, as the default auto will always have the front left and the two cargo doors open every time you load in the aircraft? There are no static elements like chocks, tags, engine covers or a fuel tanker or even stairs... An option is the newly created .set by ruyjo is a GHD or JARDesign Ground Handling Deluxe set to do the work... You can get it here!: ToLiSS A319 Ground Handling Deluxe set 1.0.0 Faults Scenerios and the Reserved Page are both blank. Faults is obviously ready for system and aircraft failures, were as the Reserved Page is "Your guess is about as good as mine". Audio-Visual Settings : This menu page is split into two sections in "Sounds Settings" and "Visual Settings". Sound setting sliders cover the areas of : Master, Engine Volume, System, Cockpit sounds, Environmental, Ground Contact and Aural Alerts, there is also the option to switch off the sounds from the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) and Flaps in the cockpit. Note : When loading the aircraft for the first time two sound sliders in Engine and System are set at zero. The idea is to switch off the native X-Plane sound settings, and until you "Save" your preferences (Save These Settings) they will always default to zero (the native sounds are still set to zero)... This can cause confusion in that you won't hear the custom sounds but the native sounds in the cockpit until you set these sliders to the desired %. When loading in another X-Plane aircraft, it is also required to recheck the X-Plane native sounds menu to reset the sound levels correctly (back up to 100%) again. Visual Settings : covers the engine choice between the CFM and IAE or you can set them at "auto" so it chooses the engine type from the livery setting. Also covered is Display (Instrument) reflections and window Reflections. You can default to start in the co-pilot's seat or even start with the original (QPAC A320) 2D panel. Final choices are in having the bright strobe in cloud flashes in the cockpit or use the OPENGL custom lines feature (default on). Settings Actions : The Settings/Actions page is mostly to cover all your overall settings for the aircraft. Left panel side is first your aircraft version or "Product Info". Then a comprehensive set of "Joystick Configurations" that are for custom setups like home built panels or training as it supports the use of two sidesticks (pilot and co-pilot side) A dual input and priority logic are also available as on the real aircraft. There are separate settings for using joystick axes for nosewheel tiller, brake pedals or a second joystick and aligning them. There are full details for setting up these twin joysticks and their sensitivity and X-Plane commands in the manual. Actions cover "ADIRU Quick Align" and "Jump to Next WPT (Waypoint)" on the flightplan. AUTO-PAUSE covers that when either you enter an "ON WARNING", "ON WARN+CAUT', "ON WARN/CAUT/TOD" the aircraft will pause at that action. Or you can set the OFF which is default. Right panel side covers all the preferences. Top is the "OVED XP start or the choice to use or not use the native X-Plane "Start with Engines running option". There are three options for cold start in : COLD+DARK, EXT POWER (connected) and really all on with APU+ADIRU ON. ILS auto align is a feature that if the custom scenery that rotates the runway; for these cases the ILS and the runway are not aligned anymore. The ToLiSs A319 plugin thereby contains a feature that detects if there is such custom scenery installed and realigns the ILS in the internal database with the new runway heading. Other options include... Joystick control of NWS (NoseWheel Steering) on/off, New Flare Law - this is based on a different interpretation of the FCOM text about the flare law (default on). Use mouse wheel (default on), keys F1/F2 Toggle reversers (I use joystick trigger!), If the simulated A319 is equipped with a special mod that deflects the ailerons upward upon touchdown in order to reduce landing distances, or "Florence Kit" you can use this feature. (default off) and default Baro setting to either HPA or INHG. You can also set a universal Trans Altitude here also. At the bottom you can save all the pages settings and default values. Manipulators Developers are always coming up with different ideas to manipulate knobs and switches and here it is another variation on other but similar ideas. This is a variation on the required Airbus Push/Pull knobs, and this is a nice simple but effective way. Two dots are pull and one dot is push, but they are close together and can you easily get them mixed up, especially if the aircraft is bouncing around... ... two arrow heads are scroll or to turn the knobs, and is the most used around the panels. Spyglass is pop-out for panel and FMS pop-outs, it used to be huge, but thankfully now a more smaller and managable size. It is my guess is that this manipulator system is aimed at VR control? Setting up the A319-112 This is not a comprehensive setup of the Airbus as that would take ages or a manual full book to cover. It is instead more a hint and tip section to get you up and running quickly and to show you over the features. I am also is going to assume that most of you are familiar with the JARDesign A320neo. Another point is that the systems here are simulated as the real systems behave, so they are items you are familiar with but will behave differently with this more "Study" grade aircraft. The two battery switches bring power to the aircraft. Here the BAT 1 switch won't actually show OFF, because the actual battery switch is the power needed to drive the lights is switched off also. Make sense, it does in here as you are used to turning on or off the powered battery buttons. All buttons give a nice definitive click and anything connected to the power is reflected in the a dim or the short change to the new state. Background sounds show the power is connected as well in the cockpit as the systems are now powered up and live. ADIRU (Air Data Inertial Reference Unit) alignment is on battery as noted until you add in either APU or GPU (Ground power). Display panels show you they are doing a "Self Test" that will take a minute or so, and every time if you power down the Self Test will restart... very authentic. I found you had to adjust all the display brightness before connecting power to the aircraft via all the knobs on each side of the panel, and the two for the ECAM on the pedestal, the two MCDUs (FMS) and the overhead and pedestal lighting.... and the flood lighting for both the captain and first officer, once or twice is fine, but every time you start up is a bit slow and time consuming. Instrument panel is now live, but ADIRU alignment is in progress, this alignment procedure is now very familiar... and takes about 7 min. The ToliSS uses the X-Plane native navigation data and that means the data is updated if you update via the AIRAC cycles from Navigraph or Aerosoft. The cycle is noted on the start up screen "A/C Status" on the MCDU (Mulitpurpose Control & Display Unit). (not the current AIRAC cycle) Even though the ADIRU is aligned it still is not active till you tell the system where the aircraft is situated or what your departure airport is? To do this you type in your route (LEBL - Barcelona/EDDF - Frankfurt) and press RK1 (Right Key 1), this then brings up the "Align IRS" and you press RK3 to activate that and you are now aligned. The rest of the INIT page can now be filled in with ALTN/CO (Alternative Destination), FLT NBR (Flight Number) COST INDEX, CRZ/FL/TEMP (Cruise Flight Level & Temperature). An important choice is the "Wind" Info and you press the "Wind Request" to get the information. Next we set up the aircraft configuration... first set up your loading in Passengers, Cargo and Fuel (load fuel by pressing the "Quick Refuel/Defuel") I would have liked this to be more real time like it is on other aircraft, so that may a future feature or a request? The important thing is to keep the CG (Center of Gravity) limits within the red zone on the graph, when the loading is done and correct then press the "Apply These Load Settings" which gives you the setting numbers. These numbers are transferred on to the INIT 2 -> page of the Flight Management & Guidance System (FMGS). The correct inputs here are important and like others you have to get them right. The top line is inputted in one line... 27.7/55.7 or 27.7 Zero Fuel Weight Center (of) gravity / 55.7 (55690Kgs rounded up) Zero Fuel Weight.... which is the weight of the aircraft loaded with out the fuel weight. The fuel weight is inputted on the "Block" fuel weight 09.6 or 9580 Kgs rounded up. (block is from the moment the blocks on the wheels (chocks) are removed to the point they are replaced at the destination, so "Block to Block"). Takeoff performance data is provided for you on the Aircraft Configuration page, but first you have to complete your route planning (I use SimBrief) and once the takeoff runway in set you can then go to the S/F Config(ure) selection and select your flap setting (arrowed left), mostly it is 1+F... On the "PERF" TAKE OFF page you can then input the performance data... the Vspeeds, Flex Temperature and CG/THS (Centre (of) Gravity) / Trimmable Horizontal Stabilizer setting for the assigned and noted runway "LEBL25R". Now the important input is the CG/THS (arrowed above right), and get it wrong and the aircraft is simply unflyable as this sets the trim correctly at takeoff and if the runway is sloped you have to also adjust that slider from the airport charts manually. The CG position for takeoff is 29.4 but how it is inputted in is like this 1/UP0.3 or Flap position 1/UP as in UP or DN (Down) 0.3... and get that wrong and it is not very pretty. PRESEL or Pre Selecting speeds makes the aircraft more automatic on how it handles it's performance. In CLB (Climb) the speed is in knots... ... in CRZ (Cruise) it is in Knots and Mach numbers, important here is the input, many other aircraft just use the knts as input, but here it is inputted as 309 (knots)/.76 (Mach) and note the .M as most other aircraft (i.e. JAR) don't input the . as the mach input, try that on other aircraft and you get a CTD! On the APPR (Approach) phase the display gives you your FLAP RETR (Retract) speeds in F: FULL, S: Speed and O: OPERATING or clean. The important number is the VLS or Lower Selectable Speed which is your landing speed. The FUEL PRED (Fuel Prediction) page is now ready for engine start, and note once you start the engines the INIT 2 page disappears so you can't change anything in flight, so double check your data inputs are correct before you start the engines. The settings here are very similar as you do the same in the FF A320U, but the ToliSS A319 does give you more configuration data and the ideas and layouts here to help you are simply excellent is setting up the important performance points of the aircraft. Final points: On the FMGS the route inputs include AIRWAY's including those tricky numbered waypoints on airport approaches. But Airbus route inputs are different from say Boeing's in one area... In a lot of FMS Route inputs you can input a DCT or Direct waypoint from the AIRWAY input page, but here in the Airbus FMGS you have to go back to main routing and input the DCT in this case ESOKO directly into the route and then continue inputting airways from another waypoint. All FMGS inputs can be direct from your keyboard, but remember to click on the background to go back to the X-Plane interface. Switching between the direct key input and the X-Plane background is really well done here and not as fraught as the A320U, you will mostly find this area is quite seemless. Completed route data provided is excellent and over two pages -> Nice authentic touch is the noted Flight Number "LHA366" Both the two MCDUs and autopilots are independent of each other to replicate the real systems, this will certainly be born out more as the custom failure and training features are applied. However these areas of ECAM (Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor) actions are already supported with numerous system failure scenarios, e.g. engine failures, generator failures and hydraulic failures. In other aircraft the ECAM can be known as the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS). Flying the Toliss319 Passengers, "oh yes you need passengers!" A quick engine start up to head over to the Terminal and I got an alert (set deliberately) on the two right wing tanks are not activated. Startup sounds and alerts are very good, not the very best like BlueSkyStar package but more than passable in context... Taxiing is nice with the weight feel in the throttle to thrust power, the steering is pure airbus in that slightly disconnected and slow input but smooth turns, very QPAC 320 and FF A320U there. At Gate 258 and the A319 aircraft feels a bit lonely with no ground equipment and I got refused by the native X-Plane ground services as well? The TCAS and weather radar is not fully completed yet, but you still have to activate the panel to allow the system to still work or you get the alert lit "TCAS STBY" which can be slightly distracting, but it disappears on takeoff on the ECAM. Transponder input is excellent and easy via two knobs and four adjustments. The ECAM is excellent and fully modeled with all systems represented and the detail is excellent in use and realism, as some noted areas such as system alerts and failures are not all totally completed yet, but will be added constantly with updates. there are many highlights on the ECAM display system, but one is when using the BetterPushBack plugin as when the truck connects it shows on the F/CTL page and updates you on what the pushback situation is... that is very well intergated. Engine start on pushback is excellent, external and internal sounds are not bad, and the aircraft responds well under the pushback control. Aircraft systems and testing is excellent and pure airbus, there is no specific sets of checklists with the aircraft, but it is sure someone will easily provide one. Departure is smooth and the passengers have a great view as the aircraft moves forward. Sound is 180º and the cockpit to cabin sounds are different and realistic, not ultra realistic but again still pretty good. You feel the depth of the systems in this aircraft including the minute in like the TO CONFG (Takeoff Configuration) This is the button which checks the aircraft's takeoff configuration like trim (see that setting was important), flap position, power settings... can be tested and checked via the button TO CONFG below the ECAM, if you get back the message TO CONFG NORMAL, your ready to go. Besides the MCDU pop-up's you can also pop-up the main PFD (Primary Flight Display) MAP/NAV screen and ECAM screens for detailed use, but they are not scaleable but can be moved around you screen or rearranged. LEBL - BCN is very busy today but that is fine, At my hold point waiting for an Air France A320 to land I did a save in the "Position Situation" in case I wanted to redo my takeoff and I can confirm this feature is excellent in reloading the aircraft perfectly at the same point with everything inputted intact, including all the correct routing and FMGS inputs, I was very impressed with that feature as it saves from a reviewers or training point of view a lot of time reinputting everything back in or resetting up the aircraft from scratch and that is usually to do just one thing. Once the AF A320 had cleared the runway, I was cleared to go. The flightplan gave me a very hard right on departure, so I decided to fly manually to smooth out the curve of departure and collect the flightplan later, most pilot's do this anyway on departure, but many also rely on the Autopilot (AP) as well. Power up to MAN -TOGO and you get the push as you roll, tracking is great and rotate is at 152kts + 10 and it is a clean departure. Once you feel this airbus aircraft in the air, there is only one exclamation... "Oh Wow!" this aircraft feel is amazing. You are busy of course doing the climbout, upping the gear, putting the throttles to CL (Climb Thrust) switching off the landing lights.... ... then you go into the left bank and the aircraft is simply amazing. I don't think I have flown an Airbus as good as this manually, that is certainly going to be debatable with the FF A320U? But personally I think the ToliSS319 has the edge... flights on both aircraft in time will claim that argument, it is you now adjusting to the new environment, but it is light years away from anything in the past for airbus aircraft. The PRESEL climb of 250kts (arrowed) now clicks in as you line up the flightplan and activate the AP. I also check the FUEL PRED (Fuel Prediction) to EDDF, which is highly detailed.... once the climb is completed the pre-selected .78m speed will also click in as well. Detail includes Pre-Selected the Mach setting and speed displayed in the PFD upper left, other PRESEL speeds are shown as well. Reaching the FL340 (34,00ft) was mostly to FL320 then a single step to FL340 after clearance, but you can set (automate) the steps as you want to. Now over the Alps and Dusk is approaching and X-Plane11 shows off its excellent lighting features, xEnviro is at work here as well. I will note the sounds again here. In most cases the sounds are not too bad, but in some areas are not aurally as good, but with tight loops and it is like sitting by a quiet washing machine in the cruise phase, they have already had attention as the originals were more "ding, dong" and here they are certainly far better, but not brilliant. Passenger sunset views are amazing and the fading light shows off the lovely feel of the aircraft in the air... and that "nice little airliner" status is certainly very much alive and well here. Lighting As the night covers the aircraft, then lets look at the lighting. The cockpit is very nice place to fly in at night, the aura is lovely in a blue glow cast. The instrument panel lighting is different than on the A320. Both instrument panel and pedestal are fully adjustable to create lighting in different areas, but an overhead rear spot light doesn't work? Importantly (for me) I could get the perfect lighting with the pedestal softly lit and the main panel slightly dark for landing and just as I really like it, so night flying is excellent in here. Overhead panel is nice at night, but backgrounds are overly dark and it is a very dark panel in the day as well as in the night as is a lot of the cockpit in most lighting conditions. Smaller chart spot left and right window pillar lights don't work and neither does the two under panel adjusters. A nice touch is the Autopilot displays are white in the day and more orange at night as per airbus, not many knew that and usually set them as one or the other colour. Dome lighting is OFF / DIM (below left) / BRT (below right) and and light up the cockpit well. Cabin lighting is separated from the cockpit of which I am a huge fan of (note to FF A320U), but it is very bright? A few notches down would be perfect. On takeoff or landing and the cabin lighting goes dark as it does in a real Airbus, but it is REALLY dark at night, maybe a more low-dim look would be nicer The Cabin lighting is very visible externally and the aircraft actually looks quite dark with tail logo off, beacon and navigation lights are okay but a little bit of adjusting would be nice as they are a little large. Strobe is very good. In a few clicks there are a few more external lighting notes. At arrival at EDDF - Frankfurt you switch the phase to APPR (Approach) and confirm it... this gives you the latest or any changes to the landing data. As I pass through 6000ft the tail-logo light comes on. and I set myself up for the approach to EDDF RWY 07C. This time I activated the Terrain display on and for both pilots PFD. I didn't need it at BCN as the departure was over water, but Frankfurt is surrounded by hilly countryside and I wanted a more visual aspect of the terrain, it is very well done with built in terrain elevation data. Turning on the wing lights and they are very effective, they look great from the cabin view as well for an authentic landing look. Turn to Approach Finals and note the excellent feel of the cockpit lighting during landing and the terrain radar images. Main landing lights are effective, but more refinement would be nice, the nosewheel T/O lighting is active here as well. Lock on to EDDF RWY 07C ILS (110.95 IFSE) and all the info is noted on the LS display. Unlike here in an automated landing I have done a lot of manual landings in the ToliSS319. In this area the aircraft I think is overwhelmingly impressive in your feel but also in the aircraft's reactions to your inputs. In fact a few landings I couldn't and even tried to do in the past but didn't were easily flown in the A319. This included a landing at Nice - LFMN RWY 05R where the ILS was totally out of alignment and I quickly disabled the AP and realigned the aircraft and landed perfectly, with total control. Another landing was at EGCC - Manchester RWY 05L where a STAR approach from the south has an extremely tight turn to finals and a close finish radius point very close to the threshold, most aircraft didn't fly the radius cleanly or tightly enough to make a clean landing, the A319 was the only one that did the aerobatics perfectly and completed the landing? You just have a lot of confidence in the aircraft to what is required. As a side note the A320U failed that same test... (note in both landings the aircraft's configuration was correct, like altitude, speed and flap position) Over EDDF RWY18 and the aircraft goes into "LAND" mode.... then "FLARE" mode, altitude callouts are very good and authentic with "Retard" the one you want to hear and then "ROLLOUT" is on the PFD Great reverse thrust action and noises as the cans open. I am set with the autobrake on LO, and I get a HOT BRAKES warning even if the BRK FAN was already on.. Landed and I quickly clean the aircraft up, with Spoilers and Flaps retracted and turned off to Taxiway L11. The main landing lights are switched off and the "Runway Turnoff" lights on the front gear support go on and illumination is very good for taxiing around complex taxiway systems at night, with a great lighting spread to the edge of the taxiways and for the ease of reading taxiway signage. Main Taxiway N takes us to our assigned gate which is B27... and the aircraft is easily manoeuvred into position and "brakes on" Engine shutdown and the passengers start disembarking, this time there is an active gate to deplane from, which is good for business... At least at Frankfurt I get a service request from the native X-Plane ground services... A final say in that this Airbus is great for either flying conditions in Full Manual control, Full Automated Flight (as long as the FMGS inputs are completed) or a mixture of both manual and automated flying as per Airbus conditions and laws. Liveries There are no liveries provided except for the default ToliSS319 design. All the liveries in this review are custom (and Free) and there is already a few published that you can use. Emma Bentley and matthew007800 are the main contributors and their work can be found on the X-Plane.Org Downloads/Aircraft Skins-Liveries. Note a few custom liveries here were provided for the review, but they should be released soon! Here is a nice livery selection of the some of the already available or coming soon... the list is long and comprehensive so for the one you want you may have to be patient. _______________________________________ Summary On my first flight in the ToliSS319 I went from Dusseldorf to Schiphol, a bare jump in route terms, and on approaching EHAM's RWY36R I encountered a stiff crosswind and I was doing a full manual approach. The control the aircraft gave me and the feedback on the landing made me go "Oh man that is simply brilliant!" and I am not one for all these sort of fist in the air or "Awesome" actions persona, but this A319 was simply a really great little aircraft to fly! I could leave the summary there but there is a lot more to this aircraft as well besides that point. I am not either going to get into which Airbus is better with the FlightFactor A320 Ultimate or the ToliSS319 either. Because there is a lot of differences but there are also a lot of similarities, and like I said at the head of this review there are plus and minuses on both, and my point is still that they are more a side by side in like their fleet use than in direct competition with each other, one is useful to the other and vice-versa. In one area the FF A320U is better in the modeling and features, but as the developer notes the ToliSS319 is focused on the flying dynamics and systems than the overall feature count, it is not a fair comparison either in the the FlightFactor is created by a large team of developers and ToliSS is just one developer with a few contributors helping out. That is reflected in the still some areas to be addressed in some more system development and a bit of fine tuning still to come through updates... but when you fly this aircraft you are more than willing to go along for the ride because this A319 is already an classic iconic X-Plane aircraft. Minuses? mostly in fine tuning that will be covered. The sounds have 80 custom samples, but they are also in high competition with high quality (if expensive) soundpackages, but I feel more work is needed here. Lighting needs more fine-tuning and it is dark in there but it is overall already very good in what you have. More saving preferences for doors and lighting and key choices to bring up the ISCS menu and the choice and the ability to move the large menu around your screen would be nice to have and use. You can see the focus of where this aircraft is aimed at, and in those features they are outstanding. The ability to save your Situation is an outstanding benefit in that you just don't get a reload of the situation, but it comes with the full set up fully completed (route data as well) and you are simply ready to go. This combined with the Autosave to recover a bad CTD (Crash To Desktop) is simply a gift from God himself... but the main reason here for that feature is for training and repeat performances to test your skills. The choice to move forward in waypoints in a click is very helpful for the time consumed flyer, but for me I am still a "Block to Block" flyer in real time. The ideas on the ISCS to help you set up your aircraft's configuration is expertly created and easy to use and allows even non-pro flyers access to the aircraft's systems and the deep replication Airbus systems and flight performance and Airbus logic is one of the best in X-Plane. Currently the ToLiSS Aircraft comes in both X-Plane11 and X-Plane10 versions and has a 2D cockpit panel as well. I don't know how long the XP10 version will be available for as already a few developers are leaving this X-Plane version behind. There are also Hi-Def (Definition) and Low -Def versions as well for those who have lesser powered computers, but overall I found the A319 very good on framerate depending on your settings in the Hi-Def version. Airbus and Boeing single-aisle aircraft do most of the medium range routes around the world, and so mostly it is on these aircraft that X-Plane pilots do most of their X-Plane flying as noted by the X-Plane user data. The X-Plane Boeing 737-800 (and the zibo) and JARDesign A320neo currently dominate these statistics, but I guarantee you now that in a year's time so will this ToLiSS319 have the same serious data numbers up there... this is because it is going to very popular this great A319 and with a lot of very happy pilots loving its great flying abilities, and if that is not a big of an endorsement for this aircraft from ToLiSS then what is. ______________________________________________________________________ Yes! the ToLiSS319 (A319-122) by ToLiSS is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : ToLiss A319 Price is US$69.00 Features Include: Detailed FMGS: Support of SID/STAR, including all leg types (Arc, course or heading to intercept, Radius to Fix, Holdings, etc.) Temporary and alternate flight plans Full VNAV guidance with TOC, TOD, Deceleration point, speed limits, fuel prediction, etc. Altitude and speed constraints as the real aircraft deals with them Ability to change the selected STAR while already in the STAR Support for go-arounds and diversions Step altitudes Airway support 2 independent MCDUs and autopilots Top-notch aircraft systems: ToLiss uses the QPAC Fly-by-wire and autopilot module Brake temperature model based on the detailled physics of heat transfer between the individual brake components Hydraulics model in which the pressure is dependent on usage. This is most notable when dropping to RAT mode Detailled model of each ADIRU including alignment, small pressure sensor differences between the units, switching of sources for PFDs Custom air conditioning model supporting high altitude operations at airports like Cusco in Peru or La Paz in Bolivia without spurious warnings Flight warning system with ECAM actions supporting numerous system failure scenarios, e.g. engine failures, generator failures, hydraulic failures. Eye- and ear-candy: Detailled 3D cockpit 3d exterior model with CFM and IAE engine Choice between classic wingtip fences or modern sharklets (controlled via livery names) Custom sounds for all systems, engine sounds, APU etc. based about 80 custom samples Useability features: Situation loading and saving. It is possible to save the flight at any point in time and resume it another day. This can also be used, e.g., to save the position just before approach and practice just the approach many times. Autosaving allows recovering where you left off, should the X-Plane session end unexpectedly. Jumping waypoint-to-waypoint through the cruise phase: Shorten your flight to focus on the more interesting parts as you like. Requirements X-Plane 11 (or X-Plane 10) Windows (64bit) , Mac (OSX 10.11 and up) or Linux (tested on Ubuntu 14.10) 2Gb VRAM Minimum - 4Gb+ VRAM Recommended Installation Download of the ToLiSS319 is 729mb and it is installed in your Airliner Folder as a 1.19Gb folder. On start up you will have an activation screen presented to enter your Serial Number (Key), and then press the "Activate" bar to authorise the aircraft. I recommend to restart the aircraft from your desktop to realign all your plugins and load the aircraft cleanly. There is extensive full instructions on how to set up the aircraft to your X-Plane settings (commands) and addons (Joysticks/Throttles) and other 3rd Party items in the ToLiSS A319 V1.0_SimulationManual. Documents There are Three Manuals Included with the package. All are extensive and well laid out with great details Simulation manual : Describes installation, and setup of the model as well as usage of the “Interactive Simulation Control System”. Tutorial flight, which provides a step-by-step description of a complete flight from cold & dark to aircraft shut-down after landing. This is the best manual to learn flying the aircraft. Aircraft manual, which is primarily intended as a reference after the tutorial has been completed. It provides a reference for standard operating procedures, as well as a more in- depth look into the different systems of the aircraft. Extra Airbus system information is highly recommended and SMARTCOCKPIT is a great place to start. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Review by Stephen Dutton 1st March 2018 Copyright©2018: X-PlaneReviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) Review System Specifications: Computer System: Windows - Intel Core i7 6700K CPU 4.00GHz / 64bit - 16 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 512gb SSD Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.10 Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : XPRealistic Pro v1.0.9 effects US$19.95 : WorldTraffic 3.0 Plugin - US$29.95 : BetterPushBack - Free Scenery or Aircraft - EDDF - Airport Frankfurt XP11 by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$32.99 - LEBL - Barcelona–El Prat Airport by JustSim (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$21.00
  2. News! - Released : ToLiSS A319 BSS CFM soundpack BlueSkyStar (BSS) have released a soundpack for the ToLiSS Airbus A319, called "Baby Bus Symphony"? this is a far more comprehensive package of sounds than provided by the original soundpack created by Turbine Sound Studios (TSS). This soundpack currently is for the CFM engine version only, with the noted IAE engine soundpack also going to be soon available... the comprehensive sound package is noted: Honeywell 131-9 Apu operation with igniters, apu door, combustion, exhaust, all stages, contactors, heard differently from outside inside, with open and closed exit doors. Safran UBCF Brake fans with start shutdown and running 360 degrees outside and inside with exit doors open dependent volumes. Brake release and set sounds (mechanism) as well as brake "singing" on high speed usage. All electric sounds of "Electric Bus" such as transformers rectifiers, cooling air fans, coil whine, the 28DC whine and 400Hz whine. Many sounds from E&E bay, contactors, relays, resets and much more. Flaps motor sounds start, stop and run, hydraulic state dependent sounds, flaps wind (drag) sound depending on degree of flap and speed Fuel Pumps Center right and left aft and forward sounds Hydraulic pump sounds for all three systems, typical sounds heard in A320 family of modulations with pressure change. PTU sounds - bark, self test, PTU gear sounds, fast and slow dependent on state. Generally PTU can only be heard from mid cabin with engines on. From all cabin with engines off and even from cockpit with cockpit door opened, engine shut and no other loud sounds on the way. Externally of course they can be heard too. Typical Y pump operation during cargo doors opening etc. Oxygen mask test and use sounds, purge and flow Packs sounds, internal and external with open and closed exit doors, all areas. Typically with running avionic fans in cockpit packs are more "felt" than heard and in cabin you can hear them work more louder since it is more quiet environment there apart from cockpit. All vents, blowers, extractors, inlet, outlets, start run and shut as well as cabin fans and recirco fans all placed in correct locations and sound both externally and internally. You can also hear toilet fans, galley fans aft and forward galley equipment sounds, best heard when parked engines off. All switches, knobs, selectors, small and big buttons, levers - everything that is present in aircraft sounds different. There is a specific sound for each position of those, so there is no "general 5 sounds for all pushbuttons", each position sound different, so if there is a three way switch, all three positions will sound different, all recorded in quiet environment in A319 cockpit. Everything is present, so if Toliss A319 has a button that is not working yet (dummy) we already have sound for it, so it will get updated when Toliss will make them all available. EGPWS, FWC, TCAS enhanced sounds. Same thing if system wise Toliss doesn't have certain EGPWS sound, we cannot have it done until these get programmed in aircraft code by Toliss. People sounds, Flight Attendant sounds, exit doors, cargo doors, everything bumps and clicks. People talk, seatbelts get fastened unfastened depending on stage of flight Attendants will automatically announce as per stage of flight. You will be able to control general volume of those to turn them off and on completely. Turbulence sounds, depend on actual turbulence and your smooth flying, yes these overheads will shake if you fly abrupt. All sort of ambiance sounds such as airport outside, the cabin ambiance Wind external and internal, cockpit is a loud place, it is calculated and measured by decibels and cockpit wind will be according to real thing. Fuselage wind flow, engines wind flow, gear flow, flaps flow. All dependent on where you at inside the aircraft. Correct bumps on the tarmac will include bumps, cracks, panel shakes, plastic inside cabin will shake all depending on whats going on with the aircraft. Centerline light will sound if they are present, all depending on speed. Gear mechanism with gear doors slamming and gear transfer with gear rotation vibration and stoppage. Rudder pedals will sound when fully depressed each, trimmer sounds, hydraulic variation when pressured hydraulic demand Wipers all speeds and park, seatbelt and no smoking dings, seat motors, horns, beeps, self test beeps etc. Touchdown sounds, depending on the force, each separate gear and magnitude Weather wind, rain drops and many other sounds, all quality and perhaps are too many to list. Generally the whole aircraft sounds, anything that can produce sound, everything that you will hear flying as the passenger in every seat different as a pilot.CFM56. No explanations needed. You can find any video out there on internet and if you see N1% compare. It will always sound exactly the same as per videos from any position inside this aircraft. Made separately with N1 fan and N2 core sounds, jet blast. Reversers. Jet Rush, Vibration, Jet Bass, exact spool up and spooldown speeds. Sound of engine will change per speed and altitude, simulated jet blast of tarmac into gear compartment when open. 6 years of development, endless days and nights of making it sound exact the same as the real prototype. I haven't compared the default custom sounds with the newer and more extensive BSS soundpack yet, but I have always been a big fan of the BlueSkyStar packages and the enhancement they bring to the aircraft. ______________________________________________________________________ Yes! the Baby Bus Symphony A319 BSS CFM soundpack is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : BSS Baby Bus Symphony A319 CFM soundpack Price is US$19.99 ... Yes! you do need the: Airbus A319 by Toliss - US$69.95 Requirements: Toliss A319 is required for this sound pack. Will not work on any other A319-A320 aircraft Current Version: 1.02 (November 3rd 2019) ______________________________________________________________________ Blue Sky Star Developer Site : Blue Sky Star Simulations News by Stephen Dutton 5th November 2019 Copyright©2019: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)
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