Reader Question – Airbus Fenix versus FSLabs
In recent weeks I’ve had a few emails from readers regarding the various options available or soon to be available in the Airbus A320 family of aircraft. I’m going to sort of summarize the main general question which each asked and provide my own opinion and plan towards the topic.
In a nutshell, the general question was regarding whether to purchase the Fenix A320 and wait out their A319/A321 projects or simply to wait until MSFS 2024 and purchase the FSLabs Airbus series. This is a good question and for many reasons it really is somewhat difficult for me to provide advice. I’ve always been hesitant on telling anyone how to spend their hard earned money. But in this one exception, I’m going to provide my own opinion and the reader can draw from that what they will.
Fenix versus FSLabs
Back in my P3D days I owned all three Airbus offerings from FSLabs and considered myself a very happy customer. Even despite the little stunt FSLabs pulled…I was very pleased with all three of their Airbus A320 family aircraft. So much so that I did hesitate briefly on purchasing the Fenix A320 when it was first released. But at that time, we really hadn’t heard much from FSLabs other than they planned to bring their aircraft to MSFS at some point in time. As I was really wanting a good study-level airliner for MSFS, I went ahead and purchased the Fenix A320 and to this day I’m not disappointed in that decision.
I’m of the opinion that if you truly want a good, study level Airbus A320 in MSFS today, you can’t go wrong with the Fenix A320. Now with their A319 and A321 expansion package the Fenix lineup fills a very much needed gap in the virtual hangar for me and I’m sure for many others.
While Fenix may have had some pain points in their very early days after the release of their A320, they have produced an Airbus A320 which in my opinion is just as good as the FSLabs was back in P3D. As both the A319 and A321 has been built on the solid foundation Fenix as given the A320, and all three from Fenix rival the FSLabs products back in P3D.
The only information we’ve been given from FSLabs is that they plan to bring their lineup to MSFS once the 2024 version releases sometime later this year. While their A320 family was certainly top-notch in quality for P3D, the price tag was certainly a lot more expensive than the pricing Fenix introduced their A320. While FSLabs can certainly price their products however they wish, I believe in order to be competitive they’ll need to fall closer in line to the pricing Fenix set the bar with.
What are my plans?
In short, my current plans are to stick with Fenix for my Airbus A320 family of aircraft. They have won me over as a customer just like PMDG has done with their Boeing lineup. I don’t need duplicate aircraft of the same type in my virtual hangar. It’s already apparent their A319/A321 expansion is just as awesome as their A320 has been and all will provide me countless hours of enjoyment as I fly around the world for many years to come. So my advice to everyone else is to do what you want, but honestly, why wait? Fenix in my opinion is the way forward.
Until next time…
Happy Flyiing!!!
Jerry
