Research aircraft and systems

Airbus A350 ↗Pilot account

Extending the horizon: inside the A350-1000ULR’s longest development flight

Xavier Pepin · July 2026

Airbus A380 ↗Simulator documentation

A380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

Fuel trim and flight controls are different systems

FlyByWire's A380X documentation separates trim-tank fuel management from the flight-control checks performed with the sidestick. It also identifies autopilot engagement and hydraulic shutdown procedures. Fuel transfer manages balance, while the sidestick checks concern the flight controls.

SOP snapshot; dated pages; installed aircraft build not observed · PDF pp13,29,40,83; after-start control check and climb

Airbus A380 ↗Simulator documentation

A380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

Released product and variants

The free A380X is publicly available through the FlyByWire installer for both MSFS generations, including a native 2024 version. FlyByWire still describes it as an open alpha and maintains a list of unimplemented systems; several systems remain unimplemented.

Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14

Airbus A380 ↗Research-based aircraft background

Airbus A380

The A380 arranged two passenger decks within a very large four-engine airframe. Its programme targeted heavily travelled routes and major hub airports. The aircraft's wide wing and extensive landing gear reflect the scale of the design.

Airline interiors vary substantially, so a single seating figure does not describe every A380. The simulator products also differ in the cockpit functions and systems they model.

Aircraft / family

Airbus A380 ↗Pilot account

Flying the Airbus A380

Robert P. Mark · June 2009

Airbus A380 ↗Pilot account

Flying Airbus’s gentle giant – test-pilot’s first impressions

Mike Gerzanics · 18 September 2006

Airbus A380 ↗Pilot account

Behind the scenes with Airbus A380 pilots

Ali Kashwani · April 2019

Airbus A380 ↗Pilot account

Exclusive – Qantas QF32 flight from the cockpit

David Evans · 8 December 2010

Airbus A400M Atlas ↗Simulator documentation

A400M Atlas · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024

Use the cockpit keyboard for flight-management entries

The guide specifies the KCCU keyboard for manual entries. A physical keyboard can trigger other simulator controls; ENT confirms variable-length fields.

iniBuilds A400M manual v1.0 · PDF p.25; OCR checked against rendered original

Airbus A400M Atlas ↗Simulator documentation

A400M Atlas · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024

Import a prepared route from the initialization page

The INIT REQUEST control imports a SimBrief plan. Departure runway, SID and transition selection then uses the temporary-flight-plan confirmation.

A400M manual · PDF pp.25–27; documented simulator workflow

Airbus A400M Atlas ↗Simulator documentation

A400M Atlas · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024

A visual cockpit guide for the Atlas

The Atlas uses multifunction displays and keyboard/cursor control units for flight-management entries. The iniBuilds guide shows how those controls connect to predictions for time, distance, speed and altitude. Its illustrated cockpit maps are useful for locating the displays and their associated keyboards in this MSFS implementation.

iniBuilds A400M manual v1.0, 18 September 2024; documented simulator behaviour · PDF pp.22–23

Airbus A400M Atlas ↗Simulator documentation

A400M Atlas · Microsoft Flight Simulator · MSFS 2024

The cargo door needs hydraulic power

In the simulated Atlas, a cargo-door command can produce an insufficient-pressure message. The manual traces this to the blue hydraulic system and identifies its guarded electric-pump control on the aft overhead panel. Door operation therefore involves both the tablet command and the aircraft's powered systems.

iniBuilds A400M manual v1.0, 18 September 2024; documented simulator behaviour · PDF pp.16–17