Real Airbus Pilot First Impressions of Thrustmaster Airbus Add On! Real Controls for MSFS?
Vložit
- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- The Thrustmaster Add On for the TCA Quadrant provides some more realistic Airbus controlsd to our hardware. Today I take a look and give you some first impressions!
Support the channel through our merchandise store! teespring.com/stores/320-sim-...
Discord server for the latest videos, upcoming streams and general x plane and airbus chat! / discord
I am a real world Airbus pilot with thousands of hours flying the real aircraft and thought it would be fun to have a look at the new detailed simulation of the longest baby 'bus by Toliss as well as the new MSFS a320 NEO. Hopefully you find this useful and it brings another perspective to your simulation. Any thoughts or comments are welcome!
This video is intended for home entertainment only and does not reflect or represent any real world aircraft or airline procedures. It is for home flight simulator enthusiasts only and has no real world application. All views expressed are my own.
Simwings community support project:
www.simwingssupport.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intro Music by Fly24: • Distance Too Far. - Hry
Very underrated channel. They reviews are superb because very in-depth and cool insigts and always nice to hear a real pilot's opinion on the functionality and realism.
Thanks Max, very kind of you! Really appreciate it.
It looks cool for sure but I think some things like the speedbrake arm mode and the flap lever could have been done a bit better
I've said it before and I'll say it again, arming the speedbrake is such a simple thing to implement from an engineering pov so it's actually embarrassing that they didn't include it. I hope someone makes a mod kit for it, should be easy enough.
@@NickyNiclas probably down to manufacturing cost
yeah.. so low quality and effort from thrustmaster, compared to the price.. really disappointing
@@NickyNiclas someone has made a 3d printed mod for it which goes into the bottom, essentially makes the 'arm' function a detent at the top whilst the rest of the movement remains smooth. Only issue is that it's $7-8, but $40-50 shipping 🤣
I set my first detent for Arm Auto-Spoiler and remove the spoiler axis entirely. And everything else is using digital input coming from the detents virtual buttons. So the top position is Retract spoilers, first detent is Set Arm Auto-Spoiler, second detent is retract spoilers, third and full detent is Spoiler Full Deploy. The only downside here is that I can't gradually deploy the spoilers, but on the plus side is that I can arm the spoilers with a similar way to how Boeing does it. But also by removing the spoiler axis, the analog input won't "override" the autospoiler.
From my experience as long as the spoilers axis is bound, it'll feed into the sim all the time. So even if you arm the spoilers, it won't deploy as long as your spoiler axis position is at the retracted position. So I had to remove them, and use digital bindings instead. That way I can still manually full deploy or retract whenever I want, but also set it to Arm autospoiler, and it will deploy correctly.
It's not perfect, but I'm happy I can workaround it this way.
I know I'm a year behind on this one, but I just bought the full Captain Pack, and I'm really grateful to see it on Plane as well as MSFS (which I'm considering getting as well). And also to see it used on a 737. As always, some of the best Fight Sim content available. Many thumbs up.
Very good. Thank you for the feedback and the comparisons against the real aircraft. I removed my speedbrake detents following your advice. I also received my addon last week after waiting since December. Paid RRP and low postage costs but it was a long wait and came from Germany.
Great timing - I’ve just managed to get hold of a set which should be with me in the next few days. Good, honest review as always - thanks Cpt! 👍
Excellent Ed, enjoy!
14:30 The reason behind this is that if they would have used one button per auto break setting then thy would have been required to provide some visual feedback showing what mode is armed aswell. And I am almost sure that there is no public simconnect variable for that yet :D When I built my own hardware I had a lot of issues like that and it really needs some effort to make sure your hardware is always in synch with the virtual plane. So building dumb stateless hardware is way eaysier and less prone to bugs.
i think by providing 3 dumb buttons is already suffice.. no need the light feedback on it.. but thrustmaster is too lazy to do that 🙁
That is very interesting and makes sense! Thanks for the info and for watching.
Thank You! Your channel is the best!
PS A bit disappointed as your cat is not in video like last time. Miss her so much.
Good point! I'll see if she is interested in being in any other videos!
Fabulous review, thank you! A320 my favourite aircraft to fly in and fly in the sim. I’ll probably re-assign the rudder trim to another control output. 🥳👍
The bar that links the throttle levers also has a philips screw driver head. A nice touch!
Great review.
Thanks Dave!
Love that cheeky Lego Empire State Building behind your screens, really fun build!
I enjoyed it a lot! I especially like the yellow taxis! Thanks for watching
Great stuff as usual, thanks.
If/when you do a full review of the entire kit, it'd be great if you could redo the throttle calibration exercise for the 320nx. I followed your original video and got it set perfectly but found the process very non-intuitive in terms of the top and bottom of each detent where the "deadzone" was added. I had to manually change numbers and it all felt "backwards" to me. I'm sure it's me being dense but maybe a different run-through will give me a better understanding.
It'd also be good if you could clarify what it means when you talk about reverse idle? For me it seems my throttles are either at thrust idle or in reverse - I don't "feel" anything in reverse until I take them to full.
Very good review and detailed from an A320 pilot comparing to the real aircraft, i planning to buy them after i got the rudder pedals
Thank you!
Bought this a few months back and absolutely love it, have just ordered another throttle quadrant so I can use with a 4 engine plane which hopefully will be the A380 once flybywire release it
That should be a good fun setup, thanks for watching!
@@320SimPilot I’ve just set it up, it looks great - just a shame I’ll have to test it on the 747 😩
Great video. Finally picked one of these up. It sucks that the autobrake is designed as the a350's and not as the 318, 319, 320 or 321, but it works, so can't complain too much.
Your presentation is very calming and informative. You would make a great instructor although I sense you would prefer to fly most of the time.
makes the A320v experience completely worthwhile... now to finalize via FSUIPC7 for push/pull functions on the keyboard and other modification to make it very nice to fly indeed😁
Hmm good video :) that's interesting though about the throttle quadrant sensitivity curve. I've been using A32NX and it doesn't work if I set the curve to 0% flat, I have to set it the same as the default curve to get the detents right. Nice that you got the add-on though! Can't wait to get one when there's more stock...
I really like what Thrustmaster did with this series. Sure it is pretty shrinked in terms of size and has simplified mechanics. But otherwise both the quadrant and the addon together would cost you at least 1000 bucks. I am flight simming now for more thatn 15 years and I went through all levels of escalation. From full DIY cockipits based on several arduinos and a lot of self-written software to virtual only with headtracking and now I am using a second monitor to have the PFD, ND, and both ECAM Screens as full sized 2D panels in front of my other monitor with the 3D cockpit and the thrustmaster devices as the only hardware input devices.
I never had so much fun simming as at the moment and the reason is that it became so much more convinient and easy to maintain. Sure it was fun to build and code everything on your own and to try to build mechanics that get as close as possible to the real thing as it can get. But reality is not only does it cost a lot but more important you spend so much time on building and maintaining it that you end up with like 20 hours of work per 1 hour you actually fly.
Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing! It is indeed handy to have these controls ready to go and almost plug and play.
I really need the full Captain Pack. So cool.
This setup looks absolutely spot on. I just wish I could get some luck and find it for a normal price. Ebay guys are applying a smiliar markup to those selling 3080's! :D
Yes I would suggest not paying the eBay prices! It has reappeared occasionally on the Thrustmaster UK store, I think this time it was in stock for an hour at least. Thanks for watching as ever Jon!
@@320SimPilot how much was it at the time I just bought mine for 290$
Should be easy to modify the speed detent bracket (the one you removed) to get rid of that quater detents. If you look at the bracket you can see the 5 (detent) positions and the 4 separating "teeth" between them. If you get rid/hone down the outer/1th and 4th teeth that should remove the surplus detents, if i am not totally wrong... Thank you for your review! 💙
This is a good idea, I might try and see what DIY I can manage! Thanks for watching Ra Kon.
@@320SimPilot, should you do that, please bring an update to this video and let us participate in your success.
That rotary autobrake switch is in the largest A380. Currently only have a decent addon for XP11 if you want the real functionality.
Same switches different caps. Good video man very detailed but I'm peed off with all the joysticks being the same switches different caps
An excellent review of the TCA quadrant addon. I've just brought this addon device and I was a bit disappointed to find that flaps lever does not make that positive click noise in each detent position unlike yours does at the beginning of your video. Any ideas ?
This might be the controls that I will purchase. While I like the yoke of the Boeing, I also like the sidestick of the airbus. I just want a single controller system to fly Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Lear, and Cessna Citation. Basically all the two engine planes. As for the flaps detent, there is a group who have manufactured a detent setup for this controller specific to a variety of aircraft so that the lever falls in the correct position for each aircraft type.
They perhaps should have swapped the rudder trim and Park Brake Handle around with the brake rotary switch and the gear lever? On the 380 (and the 350?) The Park Brake Handle is on the back left of the pedestal. It would be in a slightly more realistic position, as the brake selector and gear lever are both more on the FO's side on the Forward Panel.
(For info I think one of the reasons there is now a rotary switch for the Brake selector is because when BTV mode is correctly set up selected using the Onboard Airport Navigation System (OANS) the switch is held in that position by a relay (and a BTV 'blue' FMA is displayed). If it has not been set up correctly the switch is sprung loaded back to Disarm, meaning you've done something wrong! Similarly if there is a runway change, as soon as the new runway is selected the BTV FMA disappears, the relay is deactivated and the switch clicks back to disarm.)
Great video. Thanks 😎
Something that this video has made me wonder. Would it be possible in future live streams for you to somehow film your hand on your control stick as you are taking off and landing. (Perhaps picture in picture) Just so we can see the inputs you're making. I know you always say "stick half forward" and "neutral" But I'm curious as to what/how you put inputs in.
Obviously I appreciate your desire to stay anonymous on the channel. So this might not be possible.
Keep up the great work.
Thanks for watching and pleased to hear you enjoyed it. If people would like a 'control' camera on the streams I can look into it. With a proper frame hopefully it wouldn't accidentally spin around and broadcast my face!
Awesome video thanks! as you know from discord we seem to have got our add on at the same time! although i didnt know about removing and changing the detent sections underneath. ive done this for the spoilers now. personally i set the black buttons under eng1 and eng 2 to arm spoiler toggle and anti ice toggle (we know msfs loves its icing). id like to see how you set your throttles on the EFB if its not too much trouble. ive tried a few videos, but if now if i slightly nudge them it throws them to reverse idle even though they are in the idle detent... would be interesting to see your numbers in the EFB. taxi is challenging, and im probably using footbrakes too much as my airbus wont taxi on idle, i need to apply thrust and the TCA throttles are very twitchy and leap from 0-45ish thrust with tiny movements :(
Hi James, thanks for watching as always, glad you liked the video! I will look into making a video of my throttle settings soon! I did one a little while back but of course this is now out of date.
I set my spoilers 'arm' mode with the left black push button on the throttle quad... and 'approach' mode on the right... may change the right bottom-(approach)-but REALLY like the spoiler 'arm' next to the lever as it just seems right😀
I set my first detent for Arm Auto-Spoiler and remove the spoiler axis entirely. And everything else is using digital input coming from the detents virtual buttons. So the top position is Retract spoilers, first detent is Set Arm Auto-Spoiler, second detent is retract spoilers, third and full detent is Spoiler Full Deploy. The only downside here is that I can't gradually deploy the spoilers, but on the plus side is that I can arm the spoilers with a similar way to how Boeing does it. But also by removing the spoiler axis, the analog input won't "override" the autospoiler.
From my experience as long as the spoilers axis is bound, it'll feed into the sim all the time. So even if you arm the spoilers, it won't deploy as long as your spoiler axis position is at the retracted position. So I had to remove them, and use digital bindings instead. That way I can still manually full deploy or retract whenever I want, but also set it to Arm autospoiler, and it will deploy correctly.
It's not perfect, but I'm happy I can workaround it this way.
@@NeoKingArthur FSUIP& and keyboard comands for certain functions is where I'm headed next. Push pull commands for the FMS is absolutely necessary... I hate hunting for the 'knob' and getting that arrow in place!
Maybe being a bit ambitious but I would really like to set up my own cockpit, from a mixture of home built panels, bought panels, real airbus screens such as the PFD (or by using tablets and monitors etc), cut out panels and switches. But what I can't get my head around at the moment is how I would connect these things up so that if I pressed a button the flight sim (which will be MSFS) would respond or how I would connect up things like the PFD's/monitors/tablets and then get those instrument displays to show on those.
As you can tell, I am right at the beginning here and fully expecting this to be a several year/decade project....and this is just in my head....and that is probably where it will stay 😂
Any advice on where to start with all of this? As I say, other than actually getting the bits, it is more how to connect (and where it would connect to) and the actually setting of the displays that I struggle with. I am assuming that I would need some sort of circuit board that the devices connect to that would then be programmed with the instructions that MSFS would then take as signals, but that is as far as my thought process goes at the moment.
If you could make a set up video of the setting i would love it !
Roger!
Great video again!
Do you use the engines switchs? I realized that with them configured under controls my speed knobs (on the cockpit) increments by 10. So i disbled them.
I'm still waiting to get disponibility of this thrustmaster addon to by it since i'm very happy with the throtle quadrant
I do use the engine switches. I have seen the issue you describe before, I had to disable the missing flap axis and speed brake axis from the controls I did not have at the time (the add on pack). Now I have the pack I no longer have this issue and created a new profile with all the axis. I hope this helps a bit, it is a confusing process!
@@320SimPilot Thanks. I'll try that work around
Incredable!
Thanks!
What would you preffer honeycomb yoke and bravo thruster OR thrustamster airbus captain pack?
still waiting for my Bravo Throttle since August 2020 looool
Man, I been wanting to get the Officer pack with this add on for that "immersive" feel, but then I thought to myself..what happens when the A380 comes out ?? I dont think this pack and add on will be able to handle the additional functionality that is needed like 4 throttle levers etc. Am I going to have to buy yet another set up? Im tellin ya flight simulation will make you go broke...things that make you go Hmmmmmm...Nonetheless another excellent and informative video by Mr. A320!
Buy two throttles. They connect for four engine aircraft. That's what I did. Other then that, there's not really anything with the a380 that requires additional functionality.
When pilots use screwdrivers.. 😂 sorry! Nice honest review, quite disappointing that the levers don't lift like the real thing. Takes away from a replica.
There’s a whole army of mechanics somewhere in the UK quivering in fear 😄
I knew someone would notice!! Thanks for watching, glad you liked the video. I agree it would have been nice if they did lift.
I would love you to make a video (for Dummies') on how you set up the Thrustmater Airbus throttle quadrent in the FBW 32NX in MSFS. My default settings work fine in the Stable version but it just won't handle the Development or Expermental versions. I have spent hours playing with the settings but have now given up. Any help would be much appreciated if. Many thanks for your very helpful and informative videos you have brought a new level of enjoyment to flying the sim.
Hi Keith, sorry to hear you are having trouble with this. I have had a few requests for this so will look into making an updated video about my settings. thanks for watching!
@@320SimPilot yes please seeing that the Add ons are coming out more in shops, I just got mine to day ,I had a lok at spad but still over my head
I would love to see a setup video for your throttles. Im having issues with mine
He already did one.
Edit: Oh, I guess he's doing another one.
Hi, thanks for watching. A few people have asked for this so I will look into doing one soon. The video I have about it is a bit out of date now as the process has changed so I will make a new one.
I’ve had the full set for a while now and prefer it over the Bravo quad with the a320. I wasn’t able to get the auto brake to work properly with the fbw experimental version, will have to try again.
Switch over to the development version as the experimental doesn't get updates for the time beeing. Also, have a look at the default settings for the tca add-on. With the last msfs update they got them to work (works even with the cfpm branch)
@@NoNamerMr thanks. That worked great.
Thanks for watching as always! As DerDude says, experimental version should work with little issues for the auto brake button. Interesting to hear you prefer it over the Brave quadrant! If I ever get to try one I shall compare.
@@320SimPilot although you could argue the build quality isn’t as good as the bravo, there is just something about the Logitech tca pack that feels much more realistic (for a total novice) as it’s all laid out like the real thing and the throttles aren’t as small as the bravo, even with the airbus levers.
Well I have a honeycomb bravo on the way (finally!) but I definitely appreciate your review here. I didn't even know thrustmaster made a real cockpit throttle. Thanks Captain!
full video for a32nx throttle set up please.. also i am using a32NX from the in-sim marketplace not the installer version
you need the development version to use custom fbw and thrust.. (use installer)
What button can be used to set breaks if you don’t have rudder pedals like toe breaks etc if you are using airbus joystick
Thanks for the great review. Overall a little disappointed by the product, too many small things not quite a320 family. I think for the moment I am happy to save the money and use assigned buttons instead, I find that already immersive enough, maybe more so than looking out of the sim at my desk. But I look forward to hearing more of your opinion on this over time, maybe it’ll grow on me. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching Keith and I'm pleased to hear this video helped inform your decision. For me the thrust levers were the big leap, having thrust lever detents makes the airbus experience much better. This add on is nice but not the same leap in terms of the airbus experience. I think it comes down to how much you want the controls sitting there on the desk!
just got mine and while it generally works, the neutral of one of the thrust levers are 1% different than the other, and during full manual thrust, even I linked the two throttles using the screw driver, it still have minor imbalance in the thrust, say left being 45.6% and right 44.2% power. does that really is unavoidable due to the design and in the real bus, will the thrust levers do perfect balance themselves?
plz make video of throttle set UP
How can you arm the speedbrakes for landing and takeoff ?
Is there any fine control with the throttle? Like 1.1 1.2 1.3 up to 2 and SO on?
Some help needed how do I setup flaps on thrustmaster. When i move the flaps lever its not the on my flight sim.
Peter Wright.
Hi. I've bought the TCS Airbus Captain pack which comes with the speed brakes and flap lever pre-installed, but it seems like they won't work for some reason. Only the throttle quadrant (and sidestick) works, which is very annoying when flying. How do I solve this?
Do tutorial on how to remove detente please
Did you have to add a addon plane for msf2020 or did the throttole work by it self i heard u had to add a addon plane to get it to work is this true
We need an MCP panel now!
Absolutely! That would really ease the workload when using the AP!
good afternoon friend, what is the software that you use to configure the tca that I saw in your video?
Afternoon Software. Please be clear when explaining.
Looks great! Where did you buy it?
This was direct from Thrustmaster store!
Thank you. Lucky you are :). It is out of stock everywhere for several months now. I've ordered one on Amazon in December and still waiting...
Sim Pilot, I need your advice , I have Windows 10 and FSX, till it just would not load up. I would like to get FSX again but would like Airbus 320 and the thrustmaster Airbus add on. Would these work ok on FSX. I use CH Flight Sim Yoke but like what I have just seen. I await your Advice Many Thanks . Justin D'mellow
How do i now which switch to click? I do not have any experience but wanted to buy this set & play with the sim
Can you please make an video how to calibrate the throttles on the flypad.
A few people have asked for this so yes, that will be a project very soon!
@@320SimPilot thanks. I have got some problems with the idle zones. Btw I like your channel verry much, lots of details about flying what I am as an A330 ground engeneer didn’t know. I always look at the plane from another side.
Does anyone know if any more of these are going to produced, I have only found one on eBay but I'm not paying 300$ for it
Nice review! I ended up buying and returning the TCA Airbus stick and throttle quadrant. I was rather underwhelmed by the overall quality for the price of the products. Also, getting the throttle quadrant to play nicely with the A320 in MSFS was extremely difficult, and I still had issues even after setting up control sensitivities. I don't mean to knock the product overall, as it has it's place for a percentage of users. HOWEVER, make sure you know what you're getting in to before buying any of the TCA Airbus products. I think you'd need to be an absolute huge fan of only flying the Airbus in MSFS to make it worthwhile for most people.
Hi David, thanks for watching and glad to hear you liked the video! I plan to make a short setup video soon to show how I got it to work with the A32NX so hopefully this can help you too. I think you are right that this is for the true Airbus fans in flight sims! I was pleased with how early it worked with the ToLiss however (in X Plane)
How you get the fully functional 320neo?
It's a shame the build quality on it isn't better, but thankfully there are better built alternatives available from other manufacturers.
Would you mind sharing some alternatives?
@@calamityairlines9762 i would be interested too.
@@calamityairlines9762 FlightSimPM, Throttletek carries a regular and mini, FSC sells a motorized pro model if you're willing to shell out the cash. Lots of alternatives out there if you're willing to spend a little more to get a better product.
@@PissBoys "a little more", but yes. 😊
Nobody else fills the “affordable” niche like this though.
I've had the joystick and throttle quadrant since November however the flaps seem to be elusive still? Any links as to where they can be found? Thanx
They were in stock briefly on the Thrustmaster UK store a while ago, I can only suggest checking it occasionally! It did take me a lot of trying to find it!
I bought mine in Germany, as I am German. There's still one company over here selling it for 90€ plus shipping. IDK if I may post their URL here, just try the German idealo price comparison site to find them. Hope that helps.
Where could I get the set up?
Will the Thrustmaster work on macs?
I also bought such a set for xbox series x, but it does not communicate with the console at all! A couple of buttons work on the joystick, nothing more! What could be wrong? Can you help me?
But no nose, angle of attack trim?
does it work in warthunder?
I’ve been trying for six months to get the side add-ons.
same
I've been waiting since beginning of Jan, when it finally arrived last week.
@ Lol what are they making one a month?
Too bad the TCA Thrust Quadrant did not work for me based on your review, must of got a lemon.
I think he was using the Fly By Wire mod so if you're using default FS2020, it won't be the same.
@@smasheduptoaster9186 thanks for the heads up, I thought on the last update of FS2020 that they put mode updates in.? The problem I've had with the unit it does not config well in MS device setup and when in the sim the levers go craze and are at full throttle and no way to reduce them, again I think I have defective item. Unless I'm doing something wrong ?
@@slick1142 Sounds like misconfiguration, are you using the FBW mod or the default A320? Ensure: drivers are installed from TM, firmware is updates for the flight stick & quadrant via Control Panel. Let me know, I'll assist where I can as I also ran into some minor issues during the initial setup as well.
I'll go through my setup in a video soon, it will be based on the Flybywire A32NX mod!
@@symol30872 I'm using the A320 put out by Leap in FS2020 not the default A320 and not the A320 mod. I was under the impression the the new A320 was based on the modded one for FS20220?
By the looks of, I must the very unlucky Airbus TCA owner because I just had to throw it away and purchase the Warthog which works fine. The first set of TCA set with the spoiler control and the flap leaver was a real disaster. The spoiler and flap controls were fine but the thrust pack never worked. It was impossible to calibrate so 1 and 2 would be equal in thrust. One was so touchy that it just went from 1 to TOGA before it got quarter of the travel but the other was slightly better but together they were useless. I got refunded from Amazon and ordered another one but it was no better so I finally gave up. It's a real shame, because I do like the look of it and if you are flying an Airbus, then it looks the part. To simplify matters for calibration on the Warthog, I connected both engines to throttle axis so there is no real need for calibration as the are always equal. I love the FBW but I couldn't resist purchasing the Fenix, only for the RNAV/VNAV capability. So, now I'm doing the battle of the Fenix, which is a bit trying and not at all as simple as some write up I've seen. I'm finding the autopilot a little difficult but this is all a great fun.
@ceilaz7861 Real funny to get a replay 12months later. Well, I guess I'll have to setup XP12 on some Linux distro and see how that pans out. BTW, which Linux distribution do you use?
why is this unlisted?
It showed up in my recommendations just fine.
@@DerekMoore82 yeah but see I commented like 21 hours ago, it was unlisted back then (you could only access from playlist) at that time there were only 20 views, so maybe he changed after noticing my comment :)
It was in pre production! Thanks for watching!
Has anybody used this in FSX?
Thanks so much for this honest and candid review, convincing me to not go anywhere near it.
I have the sidestick and, with the other 2 addons lacking some obvious hardware quality and the shortcomings you identify throughout, the sidestick will remain as my only TCA add-on.
Really appreciated another great review, which has stopped me unloading my wallet to be highly disappointed... thank you.
Thanks for watching, very pleased to hear it was useful for your decision!
Someone will release a more realistic set of controls at some stage, but be prepared to pay heavily for them.
There's already a guy on YT modifying the engine switches to behave correctly. Hope he's investing some more time into the other controls, like parking brake, flaps lever and the like.
low quality for high price… thanks for the unboxing btw.
No problem, thanks for watching!
The one who disliked is a Boeing baby 🍼
How to be a rich gamer:
1. Be a pilot
2. Spend earnings on PC
3. Realize that you need to be a co pilot and that will take 8 years
4. Cry
atoll??wtf
very average quadrant for 2021. I won't be buying it