The 'Official' Screenshot & Tips thread 4 FSX enthusiasts & flight simmers.

Had my first flying lesson today, it was unbelievable!! Was really great to actually fly a plane for real, the pilot took off and landed and I flew around up in the air, it's amazing how much the little 152 moved around in the air, don't get a feel for that in FSX. The simulator helped a ton, I obviously knew what I was doing straight from the off-set which saved him a lot of time through the basics, and I already have the subconscious feeling for correcting the plane and keeping it straight and level. The pilot says he usually needs to "help" the trainee with his inputs the first time, but he didn't need to touch the stick at all when I was flying, and I'm putting that down to FSX. Imagine a 6 foot 4 me and another pilot squashed inside the 152, it was very cosy!

I would thoroughly recommend anyone interested to go and do at least an introductory flying lesson, it really is an experience. It's made my mind up that I'm definitely going to get at least my PPL in the next year or 2, and possibly further.

Goes to show how accurate FSX is, I took a picture on my flight and then matched it on FSX, it's closer than I thought.

vhr6.jpg

fbj8.jpg


Few more pics in the spoiler, I think I should stick to flying rather than photography. I just grabbed a few pics once he had taken over the controls again for landing.

wxdg.jpg

wctr.jpg

qjy9.jpg

ojfw.jpg

n11r.jpg
 
hey guys finally got fsx gold today just finished installing the game. any good sites/information for making it looks better and where is a good place for mods?

I have been reading of people using fps limiter for the game also. I have installed Acceleration I do not have service pack 2 installed. Is it worth installing service pack 2?
 
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dannywaugh1 said:
hey guys finally got fsx gold today just finished installing the game. any good sites/information for making it looks better and where is a good place for mods?

I have been reading of people using fps limiter for the game also. I have installed Acceleration I do not have service pack 2 installed. Is it worth installing service pack 2?
Click to expand...

Acceleration contains SP2
 
dannywaugh1 said:
hey guys finally got fsx gold today just finished installing the game. any good sites/information for making it looks better and where is a good place for mods?

I have been reading of people using fps limiter for the game also. I have installed Acceleration I do not have service pack 2 installed. Is it worth installing service pack 2?
Click to expand...

With regards to your other question about how to start improving you FSX experience; I need a little more info from you before I can start making recommendations.

What are your system specs?
What type of flying do you want to do? (single engine Cessna / Long haul airliner / Fast military jet etc )
Do you have any budget for addons or are you only interested in freeware?
What peripherals are you using to fly? (Joystick / Yoke / Rudder pedals etc)

An excellent place to start "tuning" your FSX is this guys guide - it will give you guidance in configuring your FSX to get best performance out of it.

http://kostasfsworld.wordpress.com/fsx-software-and-hardware-guide/

Please add the 'Highmemfix' tweak to you FSX.CFG as a matter of priority - this was a fix that the developers forgot to implement in FSX, it allows the program to use more system memory and is essential.

Like so:

mtaq.jpg


Word of warning - don't just throw all the tweaks in the guide in at once - add a tweak and test it on your system. If you like the results keep it, if not move onto the next one. You may not NEED all the tweaks suggested to get a smooth performing FSX - everyones mileage varies with this type of FSX tweaking.

If you dont know how to find your FSX.CFG here are the instructions:

(I'm assuming your running windows 7)

Open start menu
In the search box at the bottom of the start menu type %appdata%
This should take you straight to a folder called "roaming"
Open "Microsoft folder"
Then open "FSX" folder
In the FSX folder you will see FSX.CFG - you can open this file with Notepad to make any edits and save it.

Note - you must run FSX at least once for the program to create the .cfg file

If at anytime you completely screw up the .cfg and dont have a backup - then just delete the FSX.CFG file and start FSX and it will create a new default one.
 
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ghutchison14078 said:
With regards to your other question about how to start improving you FSX experience; I need a little more info from you before I can start making recommendations.

What are your system specs?
What type of flying do you want to do? (single engine Cessna / Long haul airliner / Fast military jet etc )
Do you have any budget for addons or are you only interested in freeware?
What peripherals are you using to fly? (Joystick / Yoke / Rudder pedals etc)

An excellent place to start "tuning" your FSX is this guys guide - it will give you guidance in configuring your FSX to get best performance out of it.

http://kostasfsworld.wordpress.com/fsx-software-and-hardware-guide/

Please add the 'Highmemfix' tweak to you FSX.CFG as a matter of priority - this was a fix that the developers forgot to implement in FSX, it allows the program to use more system memory and is essential.

Like so:

mtaq.jpg


Word of warning - don't just throw all the tweaks in the guide in at once - add a tweak and test it on your system. If you like the results keep it, if not move onto the next one. You may not NEED all the tweaks suggested to get a smooth performing FSX - everyones mileage varies with this type of FSX tweaking.

If you dont know how to find your FSX.CFG here are the instructions:

(I'm assuming your running windows 7)

Open start menu
In the search box at the bottom of the start menu type %appdata%
This should take you straight to a folder called "roaming"
Open "Microsoft folder"
Then open "FSX" folder
In the FSX folder you will see FSX.CFG - you can open this file with Notepad to make any edits and save it.

Note - you must run FSX at least once for the program to create the .cfg file

If at anytime you completely screw up the .cfg and dont have a backup - then just delete the FSX.CFG file and start FSX and it will create a new default one.
Click to expand...


System specs:

Good old Q6600 @3.2ghz
8gb ram 1066mhz
560ti 448

Type of flying I would like to go for would be the longhaul airliners. I don't yet have a budget for addons but have been doing some research into addons and have a list that I would like to eventually get:
- Orbx - FTX: Global BASE
- Orbx - FTX: Global VECTOR
- Orbx - FTX: EU England
- HIFI TECH - Active Sky Next
- FSDreamTeam GSX Ground Services
- FSDreamTeam Los Angeles Intl (KLAX)
- FSDreamTeam Las Vegas McCarran Intl (KLAS)
- FSDreamTeam Las Chicago O'Hare (KORD)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme Glasgow Intl (EGPF)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme Stansted (EGSS)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme Edinburgh (EGPH)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme London Gatwick (EGKK)
- PMDG 737 600/700/800/900 NGX
- EZDok - Camera add-on by Flight1

Also at the moment I only have a mouse and keyboard but have been looking to get the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X or Saitek Cyborg F.L.Y. 5 Flight Stick.
I am looking into the guide now and start tweaking.
I have gone through guide and made some changes to the fsx config and the performance difference is great.
 
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dannywaugh1 said:
System specs:

Good old Q6600 @3.2ghz
8gb ram 1066mhz
560ti 448

Type of flying I would like to go for would be the longhaul airliners. I don't yet have a budget for addons but have been doing some research into addons and have a list that I would like to eventually get:
- Orbx - FTX: Global BASE
- Orbx - FTX: Global VECTOR
- Orbx - FTX: EU England
- HIFI TECH - Active Sky Next
- FSDreamTeam GSX Ground Services
- FSDreamTeam Los Angeles Intl (KLAX)
- FSDreamTeam Las Vegas McCarran Intl (KLAS)
- FSDreamTeam Las Chicago O'Hare (KORD)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme Glasgow Intl (EGPF)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme Stansted (EGSS)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme Edinburgh (EGPH)
- UK2000Scenery Xtreme London Gatwick (EGKK)
- PMDG 737 600/700/800/900 NGX
- EZDok - Camera add-on by Flight1

Also at the moment I only have a mouse and keyboard but have been looking to get the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X or Saitek Cyborg F.L.Y. 5 Flight Stick.
I am looking into the guide now and start tweaking.
Click to expand...

For starters, with your system specs you will have to manage your expectations of FSX performance and will have to set your quality slider settings to compensate.

First piece of software you want to get if your going to get into addons if FSUIPC; it's an interface program that allows 3rd party addons to work much better with FSX.
There is a free "unregistered" version you can get a hold of that will probably do but the full paid version is a GREAT piece of software for FSX addons

If long haul tubeliners are gonna be your thing then I would stick with FTX Global instead of the individual regions like England or any of the American regions. FTX regions are very pretty at low level but if your doing long haul commercial flights then they really aren't necessary, also going from different FTX regions (Europe - USA etc) can cause issues with FSX as you must set an "active" region using Orbxs control panel.

FTX Global combined with Vector and a good mesh addon like FS Global 2010 and the upcoming Landclass products from Orbx will serve you best for intercontinental airliner flights.

Also consider OpusFSX - this will give you a weather engine just as good as active sky and also the camera/view functionality of EZDok all in one package.

UK2000 and FSDT are excellent airport addons - I have the majority of the UK2000 Airports myself.

Also look at Aerosoft, Flytampa and Flightbeam for high quality airport addons for Europe and USA

The very best long haul aircraft addon at the moment is the Boeing 777-300 from PMDG

Addons like REX4 Direct will give you much better sky and cloud textures - not entirely essential but they make your FSX much much prettier.

Here is a link to some really good freeware textures

Both "HDE v2" packages, second and third from the top on this page

http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1&keywords=hde+
 
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ghutchison14078 said:
For starters, with your system specs you will have to manage your expectations of FSX performance and will have to set your quality slider settings to compensate.

First piece of software you want to get if your going to get into addons if FSUIPC; it's an interface program that allows 3rd party addons to work much better with FSX.
There is a free "unregistered" version you can get a hold of that will probably do but the full paid version is a GREAT piece of software for FSX addons

If long haul tubeliners are gonna be your thing then I would stick with FTX Global instead of the individual regions like England or any of the American regions. FTX regions are very pretty at low level but if your doing long haul commercial flights then they really aren't necessary, also going from different FTX regions (Europe - USA etc) can cause issues with FSX as you must set an "active" region using Orbxs control panel.

FTX Global combined with Vector and a good mesh addon like FS Global 2010 and the upcoming Landclass products from Orbx will serve you best for intercontinental airliner flights.

Also consider OpusFSX - this will give you a weather engine just as good as active sky and also the camera/view functionality of EZDok all in one package.

UK2000 and FSDT are excellent airport addons - I have the majority of the UK2000 Airports myself.

Also look at Aerosoft, Flytampa and Flightbeam for high quality airport addons for Europe and USA

The very best long haul aircraft addon at the moment is the Boeing 777-300 from PMDG

Addons like REX4 Direct will give you much better sky and cloud textures - not entirely essential but they make your FSX much much prettier.

Here is a link to some really good freeware textures

Both "HDE v2" packages, second and third from the top on this page

http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1&keywords=hde+
Click to expand...

Thank you for all the info i am going to get a budget together and have look at the addons you have said. I will also keep you guys up to date with how im getting on.

Which joystick would be the best option?
 
dannywaugh1 said:
Thank you for all the info i am going to get a budget together and have look at the addons you have said. I will also keep you guys up to date with how im getting on.

Which joystick would be the best option?
Click to expand...

If your going to be flying airliners then for the sake of better 'immersion' a Yoke system would actually provide a better experience

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-044-SK

But if budget doesn't allow then either of these joysticks would be a decent start

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-053-SK&groupid=702&catid=288&subcat=352

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-002-LG&groupid=702&catid=288&subcat=352
 
ghutchison14078 said:
If your going to be flying airliners then for the sake of better 'immersion' a Yoke system would actually provide a better experience

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-044-SK

But if budget doesn't allow then either of these joysticks would be a decent start

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-053-SK&groupid=702&catid=288&subcat=352

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-002-LG&groupid=702&catid=288&subcat=352
Click to expand...

thank you for the info
 
ghutchison14078 said:
FSX and I are getting along VERY well after my system upgrade and reinstall....

FTX Scotland, REX Sky and Cloud (2048), ActiveSky Next and RealAir Duke v2 with a bit of ENB :D

Quick jaunt from Edinburgh up to Inverness for addon stability testing - Silky smooth and I don't think my frames dropped below 40 at any time during the flight

eqf9.jpg


8f3u.jpg


gce4.jpg
Click to expand...

That looks amazing with good fps, are you running DX9 or 10? Could we have a look at your fsx.cfg please?
 
Beggs74 said:
That looks amazing with good fps, are you running DX9 or 10? Could we have a look at your fsx.cfg please?
Click to expand...

I use FSX in DX9 mode

I have my anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering set in NVidia inspector

Here are my four tweaks to FSX.CFG -

[JOBSCHEDULER]
AffinityMask=14 <---- (note 14 is only good if you run a quad core with no hyper-threading)

[GRAPHICS]
HIGHMEMFIX=1
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=2048

[DISPLAY]
WideViewAspect=True

I'm using REX 4 Direct sky, sun and cloud textures here with an ENB shader mod

You can get the ENB here, third post from the top on this page - Purple Haze v2 ENB

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/53501-jvs-2013-enbseries-purple-haze/page-2

There are stacks of different ENB's available, just google FSX ENB to find one that you like the effect best, or tweak it yourself

I'm also using Active Sky Next which injects my clouds
 
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Wow all those images looks fantastic I cannot wait to get myself a joystick and some add-ons etc and make the game look good like you guys have.

I must admit using a mouse and keyboard is hard flying.
 
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