Trivia new FS

[beroun]

Being for decades FS2004 user and contemplating about switching to the new FS have couple of trivia Qs:

1/ can I plan AI aircraft in the new FS using something equivalent to Lee Swordy TTools? Are there AI aircraft available. 

2/ Can I use something equivalent to ADE to modify airports with additional gates, its sizes, airport approaches and similar.

3/ Can I add static aircraft to airports and can I add other objects like buildings, equipment and so on. 

4/ can I modify panels and interchange gauges as I might find suitable. 
5/ Can I modify aircraft to change its flight characteristic. As can be done in aircraft.cfg and air file in FS2004. 
sure will have more Qs later. 
Thanks for any knowhows. 
 

[jgf]

8 minutes ago, beroun said:

couple of trivia Qs

 

Good points, since much of what is being loaded is from the cloud how many options will the end user have.

[loki]

No details about the SDK for MSFS 2024 have been released yet, however, it sounds like it is an improved version of the SDK for MSFS 2020. You can read through the 2020 SDK at the link below. The Community folder for add-ons distributed outside of the built-in Marketplace is still supported, and most MSFS 2020 add-ons will work in 2024.

 

https://docs.flightsimulator.com/html/Introduction/Introduction.htm

 

20 hours ago, beroun said:

1/ can I plan AI aircraft in the new FS using something equivalent to Lee Swordy TTools? Are there AI aircraft available. 

 

There are AI tools for MSFS 2020, which may well work with 2024 when it is released. Asobo has been working on improving the built-in AI aircraft in the sim, so some of these tools may not be needed. We will need to wait and see to know for sure.

 

https://msfsaddons.com/2024/09/19/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-fully-detailed-a-comprehensive-look-at-the-next-gen-sim/#Air-Traffic-and-ATC

 

20 hours ago, beroun said:

2/ Can I use something equivalent to ADE to modify airports with additional gates, its sizes, airport approaches and similar.

 

There is an ADE for MSFS 2020 and, again, I suspect it may well be updated to work with 2024. Have to wait and see though.

 

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forums/airport-design-editor-for-msfs-2020.160/

 

20 hours ago, beroun said:

3/ Can I add static aircraft to airports and can I add other objects like buildings, equipment and so on. 

 

See the 2020 SDK documentation linked above for developing and editing airports. 2024 will likely build off of that.

 

20 hours ago, beroun said:

4/ can I modify panels and interchange gauges as I might find suitable. 

 

MSFS 2020 only uses 3D cockpits built into the aircraft models, there are no 2D panels. As such, there is no easy way to replace panels like one can do in FSX and prior. Someone else may be more familiar with this.

 

20 hours ago, beroun said:

5/ Can I modify aircraft to change its flight characteristic. As can be done in aircraft.cfg and air file in FS2004. 

 

See the SDK documentation linked above for how to edit the flight characteristics, at least for aircraft that use the original MSFS 2020 flight model (essentially an enhanced version of what FSX used). A couple years ago Asobo introduced a CFD based flight model, more akin to what X-Plane uses, and MSFS 2024 is building off of this. So I'm not sure how easy editing the flight model will be.

 

As I said above, we don't have the full details of what the SDK for 2024, and thus what's possible, just yet.

 

20 hours ago, jgf said:

Good points, since much of what is being loaded is from the cloud how many options will the end user have.

 

So far it looks like the end user and developers will have at least the same options as in 2020, and definitely more in the case of the built-in Marketplace.

[jgf]

1 hour ago, loki said:

no easy way to replace panels like one can do in FSX and prior

 

1 hour ago, loki said:

not sure how easy editing the flight model will be

 

So it's headed for a console, or straight-from-the-box, experience.  Not surprising, MS attitude about its software has always been "use it as we want you to, not as you want to".  But if we cannot tweak our aircraft (oh!  my apologies, Microsoft's aircraft), if we cannot customize panels or sounds or liveries, MS is removing much of the enjoyment of FS for many people.

 

All the more reason to stick with FS2004 or FSX or P3D.

[loki]

21 minutes ago, jgf said:

 

 

So it's headed for a console, or straight-from-the-box, experience.  Not unsurprising, MS attitude about its software has always been "use it as we want you to, not as you want to".  But if we cannot tweak our aircraft (oh!  my apologies, Microsoft's aircraft), if we cannot customize panels or sounds or liveries, MS is removing much of the enjoyment of FS for many people.

 

All the more reason to stick with FS2004 or FSX or P3D.

 

Did you read through the SDK docs? See what MSFS 2020 developers have been doing? You can create your own aircraft, sounds and liveries, and there are groups like FlyByWire that have been working on improving the included Microsoft aircraft (though it's now essentially a new model). My understanding is that things like changing panels is just more involved than simply swapping them out like FS 2004, in part as you need to create a new 3D model. I'm sure someone else more familiar can provide more details.

[jgf]

5 minutes ago, loki said:

you need to create a new 3D model

 

Which puts a once enjoyable sideline of the sim out of reach of many.

[tiger1962]

MSFS default panels are better than many payware panels from previous sims, there's very little to improve upon.

 

 

 

[loki]

For examples of updated flight models, see the downloads below.

 

https://flightsim.to/others/flight-physics/

 

Lots of liveries over there too.

 

https://flightsim.to/liveries

 

And one replacement cockpit example.

 

https://flightsim.to/file/78079/boeing-f-a-18e-avionics-upgrade

[jgf]

1 hour ago, tiger1962 said:

MSFS default panels are better than many payware panels from previous sims, there's very little to improve upon.

 

 

 

 

"Improved" is subjective.  Pick any GA aircraft you wish and look at cockpit photos.  How many are identical?  Each reflects what its current owner wants, whether simply moving the radios from there to here or a complete revamp that looks nothing like the stock.

[beroun]

All excellent points. Many Thanks.