Timberleaf

Side note: years ago, I made a request to Flightsim.com to make a separation of the P3D forum versions (ie: P3D3, P3D4, P3D5*), because I saw, and experienced, significant version differences that I thought there should be a separation. Instead, they are ALL clumped into one, as though all versions are the same (and they're not). *version 5 didn't exist at the time

I am a long-time user of Active Sky and REX. Both have provided improved experiences with weather and clouds. I know nothing of Pilots, and would be unfair to compare. My point, I enjoy still both AS and REX. I currently use AS for weather, and REX for clouds. I think the combo works well. How it works for me, I pre-select the REX Sky Force textures (then close it), then start REX Environment Force (run in background), then start Active Sky, then P3D4.5 (I don't have v5). This combination requires RAM, and a video card, but it works, and looks great with real weather. I almost never see visual artifacts, I don't run out of memory, my video card doesn't get too hot, and crashes just simply are rare. I also use PMDG 737NGXu and 747-400/8 QOTSII (w/ their respective FS2Crew), along with Navigraph manual up-to-date download database installs for AS, Carenado, Simbrief and PMDG. The experience is (imho) great. It is a lot, and more than you asked, but this works well, for me. Lastly, I have ORBX base sceneries and many addon areas and airports, as well. I truly don't like to think about the $ I have spent, but it is, after all, a hobby. PS: I don't see the jump to v5 worth the immediate loss of my current addons. Not yet, any way. If this wasn't helpful, sorry.

Once MSFS 2020 comes out, are there any thoughts on what physical locations we should visit FIRST? Any thoughts on places around the world that would be of interest from the air (if rendered in the sim), or for that matter, an interesting airport? I was thinking that some of the USA locations to visit from the air might include some of these (this is by no means an exhaustive list): Alaska Kenai Fjords National Park, Mount McKinley / Denali National Park, Inside Passage Arizona Grand Canyon, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona Red Rock Country, Saguaro, Phoenix/Scottsdale Arkansas Ozark Mountains California Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur), Hollywood, Golden Gate Bridge, Griffith Observatory, Disney Land, Yosemite National Park, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Queen Mary Hotel (L.A.), Wigwam Motel (San Bernardino), Napa Valley, San Diego, Death Valley, Redwood, Sequoia, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe Colorado Blue Lakes, Aspen, Telluride, Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountains, Denver District of Columbia Washington Florida St. Augustine, Key West, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Miami Beach, Cape Canaveral, Silver Springs, Everglades, Orlando Georgia Forsyth Park, Driftwood Beach, Jekyl Island, Atlanta, Savannah Hawaii Islands of Hawaii (Kauai, Maui's Honokohau Falls, Sea cliffs of Molokai, etc.) Illinois Chicago Indiana Indianapolis Maine Lighthouse on the coast, Acadia, Portland Maryland St. Michaels Massachusetts Nantucket, Cape Cod Missouri Cathedral Basilica / Arch Montana Cathedral of St. Helena, Glacier Nevada Las Vegas Strip, Area 51 New Jersey Cape May New Hampshire Bretton Woods (IF we get seasonal changes) New York New York City, Statue of Liberty, Martha's Vineyard, Niagara Falls North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway Mountains, Ashville Ohio Kings Island Oregon Multnomah Falls, Bridal Veil, Portland, Crater Lake, Columbia River Gorge Pennsylvania Lancaster Rhode Island Newport South Dakota Mount Rushmore Tennessee Lookout Mountain, Dollywood, Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Smoky Mountains Texas Bluebonnet Blooms, San Antonio, Big Bend National Park Utah Arches, Zion, Bryce National Parks, Canyonlands Vermont Manchester Virginia Williamsburg, Shenandoah Washington Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Snoqualmie Falls, Seattle, Mount Rainier Wyoming Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton

I think those are $ amounts spent, maybe. I don't have that kind of $ to spend. I am very blessed to have my system, now. I waited nearly 10 years for it, too (I don't buy computers often).

I have a curved 34" screen. My normal resolution is 2560x1080 (sometimes higher to 3440x1440 WQHD, sometimes lower to 2100x885). My older eyes can't always see the exceptionally small print with the higher setting, so I often go to a lower res for bigger print.

Considering that some YouTube channels are suggesting that many 3rd party developers are getting on-board and involved, this FS platform is going to be the next generation for some years to come (assuming no more global pandemics, wars, famines, droughts, a planetary orbit change, an asteroid impact, death of all humans left on earth... yes, I am being sarcastic... it makes me feel slightly better w/ our current issues). I realize there will be things that will need to be addressed, but imagine the ramifications of a global VFR platform - trains... ships/boats/submarines (assuming you can go UNDER water)... planes... space flight (at least to low earth orbit, maybe)... cars/trucking... fishing... In the infancy of the project, I get it; but the possibilities... that's my point. Then when VR is adapted to the system... Fly anywhere in the world, truck anywhere, boat anywhere, literally SEE anywhere. It starts with a dream, and this helps realize how achievable some of that dreaming and imagination exploration is. I can't wait to see what they do with this, and what comes next. I am amazed, not just for what they have shown, but for the reinvigoration of a dream. Not to mention, this post is about system specs. Obviously, the more you want, the better it looks, the more "computer" you'll need. If the internet is the next "wave" of technology within the next decade to explode (to say nothing of what it has already done in 20 years), accessibility and possibilities will grow (ie, SpaceX launching hundreds/thousands of satellites into orbit for global internet).

I am SOOOooooo looking forward to this coming out.

Being there is a new version 5 of P3D, have they updated ANY of the severely outdated navaids? Airports? Runways? Sids? Stars? Etc... Being that some of the license purchases are in the hundreds, if not thousands, and is advertised as a professional niche, wouldn't it be in their best interest to update this?

Nevermind. I figured it out. Simply had to restart. For the record, the game is Tomb Raider.

I have a high-end computer. It is by NO means the best, but it isn't low end. On one game, when I put the graphic slider ALL the way up to "ultra" vs. a lower setting (such as medium or high), I see on reflective surfaces "miniscule dots" instead of a "better" reflective resolution. When I reduce the slider to a lower setting, such as "High" or "Medium", the dots minimize or disappear, and a better reflection returns (although I have no frame of reference what the Ultra should do over Medium or High). Having an RTX 2080, I don't expect the moon, but I am curious why I am getting dots on reflective surfaces instead of a better reflection from Medium - Ultra. Any thoughts?

I know it is hard to be patient. It is ok to show interest. I believe the developers are highly interested to get the program out there. Surely their love and joy are seen and felt with the videos they share online. With that kind of passion, it will be worth the wait.

I realize those who are testers will not be able to share anything they have experienced with the new MSFS platform. I realize that many have spent a lot of money on scenery enhancements, airport addons, aircraft, etc. But, if what the developers of MSFS 2020 have shown is not stimulating, wherein you have a world wide flying platform that is years ahead of the previous versions, with VFR capabilities, why wouldn't developers have a wonderful time making addons, both scenery and aircraft, alike? I can't wait.

Remember, those that are testers will be under a Non Disclosure Agreement. Whether any of the above will or won't be supported wouldn't be able to be disclosed.

For all the people who enjoy the old-style arm-chair flying simulators, I grew up with Solo Flight on the Commodore 64 - many yrs ago, with many hours of enjoyment and imagination stimulation. That doesn't mean I would prefer IT over what we have now. I, for one, am looking forward to the progress made in flight simulation. I don't want to go backward. I want to keep going forward with Lockheed, Microsoft, and Laminar. I believe a new standard will be set, and with time, the jump-over will be made because the model is so far ahead. I also believe the global platform of VFR will grant new positive challenges for developers of scenery and planes, addons that perhaps haven't been conceived before, until now. The new graphics engines are being integrated into these newer flight simulators. Be patient. Enjoy your current flight platform. The future of gaming continues to morph into bigger and better entertainment opportunities, education, and experiences. Peace to all.

Our neighbors insist on parties, in the street erecting blowup slides and forts, in their front yard, in the circle of the dead end street, car after car, family after family, all continuing to get together, blaring the loud car stereos, pool-side music and get-togethers, smoking the good stuff, yelling, screaming, all outside, with high temps reaching 95 degrees as though it were summer. Unincorporated areas of the county still having bands outside, as though staying at home is reason to have a weekend party EVERY day. So when all these people get Covid-19 after pretending they are all immune, are they then going to believe, or blame all us staying home that they got it?

Has anyone else had, heard, or have the same problem as we do in our neighborhood? With the curfews, lock-downs, closures, stay-at-home orders, no one seemingly going to work, no school, etc, that it would seem almost every neighbor insists on excessive noise, music, bass booming, rocking the streets, houses, walls... like it's one big frat party! To the point that there is NO peace? Why the excessive noise? Why can't there be quiet? Why must the noise someone else wants to make... on another street... be so loud that it shakes my house walls more than 500 ft away, like it is playing in MY living room? In a time where REST and PEACE is not just nice but necessary, are we so afraid of quiet because we don't want to think? Is it just me?

It is funny, and absurd. We don't use any more toilet paper now than we ever did. Yet, toilet paper is no where to be found.

I have started to see reports that the U.S. Gov't is trying to get a financial relief bill passed to assist persons and businesses. What is not being reported (so far as I can see) is whether this is going to be a loan, or whether it is "cash". If it is cash, is it taxed income? What's more, people being laid off from work cannot possibly pay bills, electric, car, water, etc., wherein it becomes an unprecedented time for many, if not soon for most. This is not a small oversight. The gov'ts control this. It is disconcerting to know that gov't entities expect people to continue paying home-sustaining bills and having to choose to buy food, with no income.

As we all contract in an attempt to refrain from gatherings, as we are all stocking up on supplies, and seemingly hunkering down, I just wanted to give a heart-felt shout out to everyone in our Flight Sim community. Be strong, be safe. I know we all have questions, concerns, and uncertainty of what is immediately ahead of us amid this world wide epidemic / pandemic outbreak. Let us not panic, but be sober thinking in all situations. With much love and appreciation to our Flight Simming community, peace to all.

After installing Lorby Addon Organizer for P3D 4, organizing the layers, adding the scenery/elevation fix to "play well together" update for FTX SC and FSDT KLAS, and running FTX Vector with a disable to KLAS, seems that I am back to what I am familiar with, so far, with sceneries working together. Wouldn't it be nice if all this nonsense of user fixes to get a harmonious flying experience were a wives-tale of the past?

Alright, I finally purchased the new PMDG 737 NGXu. Had to wait until I had the $. Yes, there is a steering requirement due to a reworking of the way steering is performed on the NGXu. Using the mouse + keyboard combo does not steer the plane. I have a Thrustmaster control stick/throttle unit. It works fine, just very sensitive. I already had the slight stick/throttle unit, so it wasn't a big issue. But, PMDG is correctly stating that a mouse + keyboard combo is not sufficient for steering the plane. The NGXu is a nice upgrade/update to the NGX. I am enjoying it.

I have an ultra-wide screen, 34 inch, and with most everything activated and sliders up, I get about 18 - 20 sustained fps, smooth.

I am happy to announce I figured this out: I had to remove to a separate folder the conflicting airports from the FTX Southern California Scenery folder [ADE_FTX_SCA_(airport code)_CVX.BGL and ADE_FTX_SCA_(airport code).BGL] files. In this way, the overlaying layers are no longer conflicting. This is the only way I could omit the conflict since layer editing is beyond my ability, at the moment.

I expect this to be a layering issue of the Scenery Library. This is what I see in the sim when both sceneries are active. It is important to note that it isn't just one airport, as though repeat sceneries are visible at the same time. I can obviously fix this by disabling one of the active sceneries.

I cannot edit the list of priority from the Scenery list when at the load screen. Most of the sceneries listed are greyed out with a check mark in the box. Only a remote few are selectable to move up, or down, the list. The P3D EXE is "Run in Admin" mode. I tried loading up the scenery CFG, to edit there. The sceneries I need to raise or lower are not listed there. I also have a SSD, and to conserve space, installed to a separate DATA drive. Would that be why I cannot edit the priority of almost all of the installed sceneries?