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My Top 10 Favorite Add-Ons for FS2004

Discuss anything here...nothing political or controversial please.
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flyboy
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My Top 10 Favorite Add-Ons for FS2004

Post by flyboy »

I try out a lot of add-ons for FS2004 in scenery, aircraft and utilities. Some are free, others are payware. Here are my Top 10:


(1) ActiveSky Version 6 from HiFi Simulation Software (http://sales.hifisim.com/ASv6/) Real-world weather and graphics. Best yet now that it works with Ground Environment Professional. Changes textures according to current weather.

(2) Ground Environment Professional from Flight1 (http://www.flight1.com/). Totally changes the textures of FS2004 worldwide and matches them to the current weather using AVS6.

(3) Utlimate Terrain Packages for the US, Canada/Alaska from Flight1 (http://www.flight1.com/). Add all classes of roads, railroads, streams, power lines, Adds corrected oceanic coastlines, plus islands, lakes and rivers and now streams. Also adds new landclass for cities, adds parks, golf courses, and cemeteries.

(4) Flight Environment from Flight1 (http://www.flight1.com/) It is a scenery utility to enhance the visual quality of Flight Simulator. In particular it enhances the visual quality of the clouds, sky, sun, and water.

(5) Captain Sim's Legendary C-130 from http://www.captainsim.com/products/c130/ One of the nicest and most realistic aircraft to fly.

(6) T-37B Tweet microSimulator from http://www.t37sim.com/ Started my USAF career in one of these, brings back a lot of memories.

(7) FSHotseat from http://www.fshotseat.com/. The developer died and this program is no longer supported but it is still one of the best for sound effects in Flight Sim. You can shake your neighbors house with this one.

(8) Radar Contact from http://www.jdtllc.com/ A lot better than Microsoft default ATC, you can even declare in-flight emergencies.

(9) My Saitek X52 Flight Control System from http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/x52.htm Great with FS2004 or Falcon 4.0. Just don't hit the missile launch button in your B737.

(10) Military AI Works from http://www.militaryaiworks.com/ who has added so much to the enjoyment of this hobby.
Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the way!
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Rotten Ralph
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Post by Rotten Ralph »

I like the vfr photoreal United kingdom packages for FS9. All in all they cost me £80, but the textures go blurry all the time and it takes a while to catch up(really annoying).
There is some cracking photoreal stuff for california (and its freeware), by Gottfried Razek, a real hero that guy.
I agree, the captainsim C-130 is excelent. I have the captainsim space shuttle as well which is fab looking, but after a while you are limited to what you can do so you get bored with it.
My absolute favorite is the Iris freeware Tornado, I am flying that all the time.

Can anyone enlighten me on what smooth AI does & is it any good?

dave
flyboy
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Post by flyboy »

I have AI Smooth and its like a AI traffic controller. If the planes are too close together, it puts one into a holding pattern and spaces them out. Suppose to help with go around. The only bad thing I see is that the traffic dries up sometimes and you don't see any for a while. There is also Flight Simulator AI Traffic Separation_FSAISVv11 which does the same thing, but in a different manner.
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Rotten Ralph
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Post by Rotten Ralph »

Thanks flyboy, I might get that

dave
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sitterwolf
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Post by sitterwolf »

I also use AISmooth.
It is a good program for strongly frequented airports to avoid many go arounds.
However, one has struck me. If AISmooth sends an ac in the holding, the ac reduces the speed on 25 kt. If it is cleared now for landing, it must raise the speed again. The ac begins to sink to speed up. If the ac has now a too low height out of the holding, it chrashes with the ground and disappears.
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flyboy
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Post by flyboy »

Might be why the traffic "dries up" sometimes. I have the payware version and they tell you to start AISmooth before you start FS2004, then wait for a while till FS2004 settles down. Then you will get normal operations.
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wktjr

Post by wktjr »

I had problems with my AI aircraft defying the laws of physics. Tumbling landings, landing with the nose pointed down (lawn dart) etc, just totally unrealistic behavior so I got rid of it. Perhaps I'll give it a second chance.
Psuls
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Post by Psuls »

Yes I had problems as well

for example a b717 stuck middle air on final of EBBR, the only movement was a roll on itself.

Very funny but also very unrealistic :D
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flyboy
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Post by flyboy »

Might have to make my list above contain 11 items. Please check out the F-4 Phantom from http://www.fscloud9.com/php/products.php?lang=EN&id=95. One of the nicer and realist military aircraft simulations to fly.
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sky hag
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cloud9

Post by sky hag »

yes cloud9 it has best phantom ive ever seen
y did they stop at the phantom :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
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