The Airbus evolution has landed, at last. Despite my reservations, i wanted to test this product. The version tested is the Airbus vol.2 Upgrade. I bought it directly on Wilcopub website but it's definitely not the best thing to do. ../.
Installation :
I don't like to spread out my visa card datas and Wilco has not the best payment process. I went through something called Ogone secure interface (never heard of it), then, there was some identification for the HUD feature and then, an error message appeard about some hash. It's not finished, i had difficulties to download the file and had to re-enter into my Wilco account to use the link. The whole thing took 20 mn. You will probably need to reinstall the original product. Mind also that the evolution manual requires to reinstall liveries too.
I don't like to spread out my visa card datas and Wilco has not the best payment process. I went through something called Ogone secure interface (never heard of it), then, there was some identification for the HUD feature and then, an error message appeard about some hash. It's not finished, i had difficulties to download the file and had to re-enter into my Wilco account to use the link. The whole thing took 20 mn. You will probably need to reinstall the original product. Mind also that the evolution manual requires to reinstall liveries too.
New features :
Once in hand, i tried the weather radar (RealityXP) but apparently, it failed to work on the A330-200 GE. On the RR, hourra, and very good surprise the radar even worked in the virtual cockpit. I handled different views and the radar was still there, on both navigational displays. My advise ; set immediately a real bad weather with a stormy situation to be shure to see it working otherwise you will think something's wrong. Be warned that this is a very simplistic weather radar without any tilt angle setting. And without the tilt tuning, its quite harder to scan something in the sky... RealityXP is certainly not to be blamed on this. Normally when you are climbing you wish to scan weather ahead of you, but not just ahead, there is an ideal angle. How Wilco defined this angle, we don't know and there is nothing about it in the evolution manual.
Weather radar working on both ND.
The HUD worked immediately but Wilco advises to use it in full screen mode because characters sizes are pretty small. I did not succeed in using it in the VC... Wilco is not PMDG...
The external model :
It's not a surprise, the outer model hasn't change apart two or three high definition textures, maybe on the wings (hard to tell) and the pilots have also a better resolution texture but seriously, two clones with the same face.. Was it so difficult to update that Anyway, its still possible to make a merge from this model and, Airbus OpenSky projet for instance.
Inside the virtual cockpit :
The main board looks better and might have been updated with higher definition textures. An other pleasant surprise, is the good old rain effect on the windscreen. But everything else hasn't change ; same awful overhead and the flood light button is not working in VC mode (updated / to be checked. normally with the upgrade proper electrical buttons must be activated). 65-70 % of buttons are functional and its possible to start from a cold and dark status. Lights are a real problem. I tested a night flight and i can't read the pedestal 2D panel. How can these guys can't even check that. Old recurrent problems. I also launched a flight from Vroute, downloaded via the FMC (import fsplan in menu) but got a fatal runtime error. I will try to delete the .cfg file in Airbus\fmgc\ folder. Okay problem solved this time. The bug appears in full screen mode apparently (but it can be occuring on my own configuration).
Conclusion :
For 20 €/24$, this upgrade add two interesting features, the weather radar and the HUD. And i already wrote in a previous post that the FMC is the true ultimate addition to this new product. Does it worth buying the upgrade, finally yes. And the full package ? Oh no, you don't want to do that. The graphic model doesn't desserve your 38 €/43$...
Updated : mind that there isn't quite a lot of liveries eventually. Wilco (old) website has been swept out and the free liveries are all gone. McPhat studios had a few ones but same problem, you cannot find the extra (wonderful) liveries...
Updated 01/04 : after several flights, i note that the framerate is far from excellent and maybe a bit worst than with the previous version. For instance, i get a 12/15 fps with the Quality wings B757 and a 10-11 with the Airbus evolution (under IVAO environment). I can't explain it. And this is with a basic Airbus livery... Sorry for this bad news.
Incoming tomorrow : evolution final test 2/2 : the FMC
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