Introduction

The Airbus A330-900 is the neo version of the well-known Airbus A330. With "neo" standing for New Engine Option, the A330-900 is an upgraded and improved variant of the original A330 with new engines and a variety of other modern upgrades. The original variant of the aircraft saw its first flight in 1992, while the new neo variant did not take to the skies until 2017. There are two variants of the neo version of the aircraft: the -900 and -800, with the -900 being the larger of the two. In total, 141 A330neos have been built, and production is ongoing.

ToLiss has just released its rendition of the A330-900 for both X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12. Today, we are taking a look at this newly released aircraft for the X-Plane community.

First Impressions

After not having flown an Airbus A330 in the simulator since my days with Prepar3D, it was lovely to jump back into the flight deck of a long-haul Airbus. Although the cockpit layout looked just like the original A330 cockpit, I did notice the differences on the outside making it a neo.

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Like many others, I have fully switched over to Microsoft Flight Simulator. After recently taking a few flights back in X-Plane and now with this new aircraft in my simulator, I definitely have divided my time a lot more between MSFS and X-Plane.

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When I first boarded the plane, it seemed simple to operate, similar to other Airbus planes. I observed that there were many intricate and well-designed systems, although I hadn't learned about them yet. The HUD provided was impressive. I don't usually use the HUD in a plane, but I found this one really appealing. The flying experience was pleasant; the aircraft felt large and heavy, yet it handled like a typical Airbus. For those unfamiliar with A330, comprehensive documentation and manuals are provided, so there's no need to worry.

Aircraft Systems

Being my first ever ToLiss aircraft, I was really impressed by how complex the aircraft and its systems are. Featuring 3 independent MCDUs and 2 independent autopilots, one is able to fly the aircraft as realistically as possible. Most of the included systems, such as the fly-by-wire system, hydraulic model, and more, have been made as accurate as possible. And for the thrill-seekers, there are over 250 system failures to try out and see how the aircraft will handle it. The plane also comes with a variety of new and specific features to this add-on such as a head-up display, Airborne Traffic Situation Awareness, takeoff surveillance, and more. One of my favorite new features is the HUD; I found it really helpful and fun to use.

Flight Model

The aircraft feels and flies really well. I have flown various long-haul planes before, and this one does not disappoint. You can feel that you are flying a big and heavy plane, but you still have full control over it. Being a typical Airbus plane with fly-by-wire, it was really easy to fly. Since I have flown other Airbus planes before, I quickly got the feeling and control over this plane.

Sounds

From the engine sounds to the individual cockpit switches, they all sound just like the real thing. ToLiss made sure to make the sounds as good as any other add-ons. Through the ToLiss ISCS (Interactive Simulation Control System), one can control different categories of sounds and their volumes, giving users the opportunity to fine-tune the sound volumes to their liking.

Exterior model

The external design of the ToLiss A330-900 impressively strikes an ideal balance between intricate detailing and an aesthetically appealing overall model.

Interior model and cockpit

When it comes to the cockpit, it truly represents a typical Airbus cockpit. The cockpit is highly detailed, featuring a working HUD, tray table, and windows, in addition to all the standard cockpit features. The flight deck also includes an EFB that can be used for various functions such as takeoff and landing performance, weight and balance, and checklists. Visually, the cockpit exhibits some noticeable wear and tear and can appear slightly light in color in various conditions, but overall, it accurately represents a real A330-900 flight deck. Additionally, the detailed cabin is divided into two different seating classes.

Performance

My setup includes an Nvidia RTX 3070 8 GB, Intel i5-12600K processor, 32 GB RAM, and a 1 TB SSD. The aircraft's performance is really good and stable. At most airports, the plane delivered stable frames at around 60 or more. Even in FPS-heavy airports like FlyTampa Amsterdam, I managed to keep around 45, making the plane perfectly flyable wherever one might fly.

Conclusion and final thoughts

I was really impressed with the ToLiss A330-900. As someone who enjoys modern planes, this aircraft was a perfect fit for me. It has complex systems and many features that I still need to explore, making it very enjoyable to fly. The add-on is priced at $89.99, which is not the cheapest, but considering all that is included, I think it's worth it. Combining all the great features ToLiss is known for with a variety of new ones, this add-on is highly detailed and offers a lot to learn and do. I will definitely be flying this plane regularly. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in trying out a relatively new long-haul aircraft, especially if you're looking for complex and accurate systems. Time to take to the skies again, until next time!

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A big thank you to ToLiss for providing us with a copy to review!