A319 & A321 Expansion: Liveries & Art Previews
Posted August 17, 2024
If our introduction was a few too many words, today is a few too many pictures. Let's get to it!
Firstly, the core art changes for the A319 and A321. Rather than simply modifying the existing textures to ‘fit’ these variants, the art team rebuilt the fuselage textures from the ground up with all new weathering and materials. For example, the A319 is, by default, represented in a higher pressurization cycle state, with stronger skin deformation on the airframe. This is often most visible on the A32X aircraft around the nose above and below the cockpit windows, highlighted in the harsh angle of the sunlight here:
Whilst we’re looking at the A319, we’ve seen a lot of people asking which overwing emergency exit configuration we’ll be providing on our A319; in reality there’s a high density cabin layout which necessitates dual overwing exits, and a lower density layout which can be regulatorily satisfied with just a single overwing emergency exit. Anyway, the answer to the question is we’re including both, configurable per livery. This was a pretty big undertaking, but it just didn’t feel right to represent easyJet with a fake dual OWE, or cover it up for say, Lufthansa. It also goes deeper than just cutting an extra hole of course, because it also needs to be reflected on the ECAM, the cabin artwork, and the wing layout to name a few.
We also had a difficult choice to make when it came to the A321 cabin layout: two class or single class? Again, somehow, we came to the same answer: both. Livery configurable as always, and even comes with a divider curtain that will be moved depending on the phase of flight.
Since we’re here, let's also take a quick look at the A321’s double-slotted flaps. You may also notice the new window textures, which really enhances the cabin experience.
These flaps, unique to the A321, are part of a larger effort to increase lift at lower pitch angles to reduce the chance of a tailstrike on take-off and landing. These changes culminated in the Lift Improvement Package discussed in greater detail in our A319 & A321 Expansion Introduction. Note the extensions to the spoilers and the trailing edge of the wing. It doesn’t seem like much of a change, but apparently it makes all the difference.
And here's the extra strake on the outboard engine cowling (present on both IAE and CFM). These create a strong vortex that flows over the wing preventing flow detachment at high AoAs.
The A321 has another unique feature, this time on the CFM56 - chevrons on the exhaust cone. Between these and some additional noise dampening material in the reverser cowlings, it keeps the noise level in-line with the lower rated A319 and A320 variants, saving operators paying additional fees for being in a higher noise category.
Now before we get into the onslaught of livery previews, I wanted to take a brief moment to discuss sound. I’ve done my best to replicate the unique sound environment of each variant, from the A319’s howling derates, to a hot day in the A321 with full TOGA. I’ve put together a few examples of how different the experience can be across the range:
And now the onslaught I promised. Liveries! We weren’t able to show every single one here, as the livery manager now boasts over 450 liveries. That means since Block 2 release, we’ve added on average nearly 3 new liveries a day to the livery manager!
As always if you didn’t see your favourite livery here, don’t fret, we have an internal list of thousands we’re slowly working our way through.
I appreciate that this may seem like it has snuck up on you all, but we really wanted to get the product out into your hands as soon as it was ready without a protracted marketing cycle - for that reason, this will be the last pre-release marketing post. The A319 & A321 Expansion will launch next week.
P.S. There will be a bundle deal on the A320 Base + A319 & A321 Expansion for a limited time on release, so if you don't own any Fenix products yet and are thinking of purchasing the whole line up, you may want to wait until next week!