Hi all,
The 321XLR has been delivered to ibera for commercial service yesterday.
Can we please add this aircraft to the game?
Many thanks!
1 Like
Probably the most anticipated aircraft for a long time - I am sure the Devs already have a fairly complete model for this aircraft, I reckon next major patch.
1 Like
It’s on our radar, but we don’t have the full required performance data yet. We’ll take another look soon, but I was hoping to have a first draft of my new performance formulas ready for this model. Not sure whether that’s going to work out, though.
1 Like
As this model has made its first commercial flights, can we assume it’s coming soon?
see Martins comment one step above your question
1 Like
It’s been always the way the aircraft were introduced after the first commercial flight. I would suggest not to wait for the new performance formula, because it may take some time and as Martin himself wrote before it’s far front easy and it’s not working the way he assumed initially.
1 Like
I did see that, but since I read it as a maybe due to time constraints, I was asking if we will instead follow tradition and get it soon. This is a highly anticipated model, and I am curious as to which path will be followed. Since the first commercial flights have been completed, and this is traditionally when a new aircraft appears, I thought I would request an update.
@martin are we still waiting for the data or the new performance formulas for the XLR?
As far as I know, no new/better data has been released by Airbus since January. But if anyone has a more recent “Airport Planning Manual” than the one from January (which contains no performance charts specific to the A321XLR), please let me know.
1 Like
Hey @martin. I found this one from June 2024. Seems to have seperate data for the XLR. https://aircraft.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta126/files/2024-06/AC_A321_0624.pdf
1 Like
Maybe I am misreading the file (only on my phone right now), but as far as I can tell there’s only a payload/range chart for the „regular“ ACF versions, but not for the XLR.
On further review I believe you are correct. Plenty of data about the XLR in other areas but I couldn’t find any XLR specific data on Payload/Range either. I guess the wait goes on but i’ll keep an eye out for it.
I wonder why they haven’t released the figures yet, maybe it isnt living up to expectations?
Also I do find it crazy that the XLR can do Paris-Vancouver. Airlinesim is going to be A321XLR heavy
At the end of the day, the manuals we use are intended for “airport planning”. The actual differences between a regular A321 NEO, an LR or an XLR in terms of their handling on the ground are probably tiny. So while the total weights and fuel capacities would matter in that context to some extent, the precise performance likely doesn’t.
As far as I understand it, the only differences between the LR and XLR are the increased MTOW (almost certainly more a matter of certification, less of actual structural changes) and the structurally integrated fuel tanks (rather than just putting auxiliary tanks into the cargo bay), likely saving a little bit of empty weight. As such, we could probably get away with using the same performance characteristics for the XLR as for the LR, just with higher fuel capacity and MTOW. But even that is somewhat harder to do than it should be, given our current set of performance formulas.
1 Like
Yh that thought has been passing through my mind for some time. I mean the universal design of Airbus is for the most part pretty much just a net positive until you end up with the LR & the XLR which is essentially not far off being one of the same. There’s only small weight differences that would exist between auxiliaries & integrated, followed by the additional fuel capacity & totalling any of the other minor modifications. Combined with the existing performance with the LR & overall I recon the performance differences we’d be talking about would only be percentage points at best.
I think it would be safe to assume that your probably not going to get much more data from airport planning documents since the only things that will be of interest would pertain specially to ground operations, hazards, fuelling, safety/fire etc etc
I know for me personally I dont mind either way, if that means waiting or not since I’d view it as a niche aircraft, at least for my needs anyway. But its also worth noting that data for subvariants can take a long time if not years to trickle into the public space & even then thats not necessarily a guarantee
I guess the question Im thinking of is what could be the potential solution?
Do we wait for more data or to get the formula rework done so it would be easier to try to replicate the XLR performance
While I was looking at it, what kind of data are required for the XLR to be added that are not available currently?
From the latest “AIRCRAFT CHARACTERISTICS - AIRPORT AND MAINTENANCE PLANNING” document from Airbus, which is on the public domain, you can indeed find all the relevant weight limits, from where on, range calculations compared to payload can be made.
The rest of the required data, such as minimum runway length, can be calculated, however, this varies based on a number of factors. What is accurate and can be taken out from the document though is the TRT time, 41 minutes for the XLR and for a reason, in game it is calculated at 75 minutes for the A321neo.
Are there any specifics that are required before the aircraft can be added that you cannot get hold of?
I believe (I havent looked at it for a while so dont know if its been updated) that if you read that document, it only gives data for an “A321Neo”, not XLR or the differences between a Base A321neo vs A321XLR - its not like the LR, which is basically just putting in fuel tanks - the XLR is a different beast.
They have added details for XLR too, including the option for XLR+ACT.
So they have added a few things in it, but they are all from June '24.
A321XLR extends the range up to 4 700 nm (8 705 km) with an increased maximum takeoff
weight of 101 tons. A321XLR has a permanent Rear Centre Tank (RCT) (carrying 12900 l (3408
US gal) of fuel) and an optional forward ACT.
This shows the ranges with the different A321neo Configs.
It looks like the A321LR in AS has the config of the 3 ACT config (orange line).
Yes that info has been known for a while now. The current issue is Airbus hasnt published actual data for the 321XLR other then “Up To 4700nm” and 101T MTOW. There was a rumor that the published range would decrease because EASA wasnt happy with the RCT configuration and might explain the delay.
The 321XLRs that are currently certified and in service appears to be the 97T MTOW Leap-1A powered version. The lack of information makes it difficult to make an educated guess to get it in game now then update it later.