Microsoft Flight Simulator is gaining A330s at a rapid pace right now with freeware and payware options available or soon to be available for purchase. Let’s have a look at what is out there now and on the near horizon for the widebody airliner.
LatinVFR announces A330/340 family
The folks at LatinVFR have been mostly known up until now for their wide selection of A320 variants including an A318, A319ceo, A320ceo, and A321neo. Their aircraft have aimed at a middle ground in the market offering less detailed avionics and systems while maintaining a lower price and ensuring that Xbox players have access to airliners that can satisfy the need for a point A to B experience without some of the complexities of the higher end, high fidelity options.
Now, LatinVFR are expanding their efforts while it appears also aiming to up their game with more detail to avionics and systems than before. Their announcement of the A330-900neo has certainly sparked some attention.
Following the A330-900neo, the team intend to do a A330-200ceo and an A340. Screenshots of the A340 and A330neo have both been relesed via the LatinVFR Facebook. Here are a couple of A330neo images.
And the A340 as well.
Not all of that attention has necessarily been good as LatinVFR have also had, until now, a fan based mod team called Horizon Simulations who have extended and expanded on LatinVFR’s simplified airliner releases. An initial post, made by LatinVFR, suggested that future updates would not allowed modifications. The mod group, Horizon Simulations, responded on their Discord server saying that they would move on to other products after publishing their last LatinVFR update.
LatinVFR have responded by removing their original post and posting another one addressed to the mod team expressing their gratitude for their work, openness to continue working together, and then stating the following on their A330/A340 family:
Our A330/A340 family will not have initially a mod because our plan is to have a product that has higher offerings that don’t require a mod. However, later on we can see in what respect or area can a mod by Horizons help or improve the A330/A340 for those who are more interested in in depth systems. We can later on if Horizons wish to try, see what they want to do or can do.
Anything that makes our customers happy we will agree too, however we also have to take into account that we are investing in long term projects and moving forward LVFR to improve without external help. We will find a middle ground somewhere when it comes to this.
Latin VFR on Facebook
It’s unclear what will happen from here but it hopefully this conciliatory message helps set a more positive tone with future communications between the two groups.
The A330 from LatinVFR is coming to the MSFS Marketplace soon together with a series of updates to their A320 line.
Headwind Simulations A330 series
Freeware airliners are sometimes like diamonds in the rough and it looks like Headwind Simulation A330neo might end up being one of those diamonds.
The freeware team have been working with FlyByWire’s systems and avionics as a base to make their A330 project. The exterior is coming along nicely while their cockpit has, until now, been making do with the A320neo cockpit. The team, however, are working on a highly detailed A330neo cockpit to match the exterior and that together with some already good systems has made for a pretty good combination especially when its free.
They have an A330-900neo out and an A330-800neo and A330-300ceo in the works. The A330-900 is available right now via their own custom installer available from their website. Like the FBW project, Headwind are slowly improving their airliner all the time.
Aerosoft’s A330
I’ve already written several updates on Aerosoft’s A330. There hasn’t been a recent update but their A330 is looking great in screenshots. It will be joining what is now a busy space in the marketplace.
Their A330-300 represents the common engine option variant, an older A330, as their first outing with a A330neo variant planned as a follow-up. Essentially the opposite of their competitors plans.
Aerosoft’s had their share of challenges with prior product releases in MSFS. Their DHC-6 Twin Otter took time to come together and is no longer being sold. Meanwhile their CRJ was the sim’s first mid to high fidelity airliner and while quite good maintains some long standing bugs. It seems like the A330 is going to be a key product for them to hopefully boost their reputation – though I’d love to see them revisit their past products too. They have even created a mini-website to showcase the work that they are doing.
It’s unclear if their A330 will release this year or next.
Choice is good
With the size of MSFS’ footprint and the limited number of airliner models out there, its inevitable that companies will put out products that overlap with other companies. With lead times that can be several years in the making, its also unsurprising that a bunch of products are showing up around the same time.
Choice is generally good and while there may be concerns on market size ultimately, I do hope that the choice of airliners, systems depth, and pricing will ultimately benefit all simmers and propel each of the developers to impressive heights.
Stormbirds 
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