Considering FS9 to be dead?

Using Pale Moon here, great browser.

FS9 isn't dead nor will it go anywhere soon. With FS2002 still hanging on, I think we will see a similar longevity to FS9. And likely longer.

Lets say you were going to introduce someone to flight sim who was hardware challenged, wasn't going to want to join the tweak fest that is FSX, has an interest in commercial flying, or all the above. You can make FS9 look great, with sweeping addons like the now free UK2000, VOZ(Australia), and NL2000(Netherlands). Also all the scenery improvements like HD water and clouds, ground textures, etc. Tons of freeware airports from FRF, Mach1DG, Gregory Putz, etc and so on. And for the time travelers like me, CalClassic, 9Dragons, and HJG.

A lot of the payware thats still available is affordable also. So flying an iFly 737 from a FlyTampa scenery to an Imaginesim scenery is quite an immersive thing. Especially with a load of WOAI traffic.

I enjoy flight sims, and will use whichever ones my PC allows me to use. No law says we have to use one. Usage of FS9 will dip over time, but I actually don't need an audience to enjoy it. I still use old games all the time that I have no idea if anyone else plays. Rogue Spear/Urban Ops, Civ 3, BF1942, MVP2005, Tiberian Sun, etc.

@ussmidway:

"Tweak Fest"! LOL that is a great way to put it! Thanks!

As an ai fan there are so many models for my FS9 setup that need "tweaking" to get to work in the subsequent sims as well as other stuff! I simply don't want to bother as long as I am enjoying FS9 and I am. I personally don't think that ai aircraft need HD textures as they are supposed to be viewed from a little distance and are just eye candy for the experience (in my humble opinion).

Well, on Day 3 after reinstalling FS9 I'm up to 3 installations already, set up for modern (stock with enhancements), 1930s (Golden Wings 3) and 1960 (Cal Classics). I have had some of the Cal Classics airports installed in FSX, but they do not seem to be optimized for that sim and they really break the frame rates, especially if you're over Queens where you can see 2 of their airports at once. In FS9, they still permit frame rates as high as 150 fps if I don't set a limit. I'm currently refamiliarizing myself with David Copley's P-38s which are a good example of a very fine aircraft built only for FS9.

From the standpoint of using addons, I can see the perspective that it's FSX that's dead, provided you have both FS9 and P3Dv4/5. Almost everything that works in FSX is either a warmed-over FS9 product that works better in FS9, or if it's "native" FSX, it works better in P3D.

August

Well, on Day 3 after reinstalling FS9 I'm up to 3 installations already, set up for modern (stock with enhancements), 1930s (Golden Wings 3) and 1960 (Cal Classics). I have had some of the Cal Classics airports installed in FSX, but they do not seem to be optimized for that sim and they really break the frame rates, especially if you're over Queens where you can see 2 of their airports at once. In FS9, they still permit frame rates as high as 150 fps if I don't set a limit. I'm currently refamiliarizing myself with David Copley's P-38s which are a good example of a very fine aircraft built only for FS9.

 

From the standpoint of using addons, I can see the perspective that it's FSX that's dead, provided you have both FS9 and P3Dv4/5. Almost everything that works in FSX is either a warmed-over FS9 product that works better in FS9, or if it's "native" FSX, it works better in P3D.

 

August

Out of curiosity, did you install one in the default location?

Well, on Day 3 after reinstalling FS9 I'm up to 3 installations already, set up for modern (stock with enhancements), 1930s (Golden Wings 3) and 1960 (Cal Classics). I have had some of the Cal Classics airports installed in FSX, but they do not seem to be optimized for that sim and they really break the frame rates, especially if you're over Queens where you can see 2 of their airports at once. In FS9, they still permit frame rates as high as 150 fps if I don't set a limit. I'm currently refamiliarizing myself with David Copley's P-38s which are a good example of a very fine aircraft built only for FS9.

 

From the standpoint of using addons, I can see the perspective that it's FSX that's dead, provided you have both FS9 and P3Dv4/5. Almost everything that works in FSX is either a warmed-over FS9 product that works better in FS9, or if it's "native" FSX, it works better in P3D.

 

August

Dont forget to have a look at http://ford-tri-motor.net/

There is enough there for a separate install, or combine with Golden Wings. That site will be closed down at the end of November & is very worthy of have a look at. Some special stuff there, Oval runways & ramps.

I have long been a tri-motor site fan, and it is said it will be going. It is so quirky and fun to browse that it reminds of when the internet was a more enjoyable place. Time for a final visit/scrape before saying good bye.

I think I will just drop a few bits of tri-motor scenery into Golden Wings, with any other good 20s-30s things I find. A lot of the better vintage airplanes come with an airfield or two.

I have currently installed FS9, FSX, and now MSFS. I use FS9 hands down over everything else.

Just my .02, thanks everyone for good and interesting forums.

Mike

Good news is that the Ford Tr-Motor site will be carrying on, thanks to SOH.

Dont forget Bill Lyons's aircraft & downloads. Most come with a plane, a story, scenery & a boat or something else. He is also a 'forgotten' developer who made great stuff.. Perfect for GW!!

Good news is that the Ford Tr-Motor site will be carrying on, thanks to SOH.

That FORD TRIMOTOR is "a superb" simulation.

I have it .... and use it .... myself .... and featured it as part of my following presentation on another FS forum several years ago ....

http://tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/5819/canyon-caper-trying-out-motor

Just a pity that my supporting imagery within the above presentation is among that being adversely (shall we say) influenced by PHOTOBUCKET's reversals of policy during the past few years, but, I just don't have time at the moment to resolve this.

MRC

That FORD TRIMOTOR is "a superb" simulation.

And thank you for all the superb Historic Jetliners Group aircraft. I almost feel HJG is a part of FS9 itself as it's played such a critical and long term role together with FS9. California Classics you could suggest the same. Invaluable add-ons and sites for what really was and still is the pinnacle of flight simulation, Flight Simulator 2004.

And thank you for all the superb Historic Jetliners Group aircraft. I almost feel HJG is a part of FS9 itself as it's played such a critical and long term role together with FS9. California Classics you could suggest the same. Invaluable add-ons and sites for what really was and still is the pinnacle of flight simulation, Flight Simulator 2004.

Agreed. Planes like the HJG DC-10 and DC-8 is one of the best freewares you can get out there for FS2004

I Like to think of Tom GIBSON's site as HJG's "sister" .... and that of David MALTBY HJG's "brother" .... each related to the extent they can probably be considered members of the same family by virtue of the fact they all try to do a similar job .... to try'n please those whom care to partake of their offerings :)

And of course there are a number of other sites/groups whom can be accommodated into this extended family of FS specialists too ..... between us all we have the 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 80's, and 2000's up to relatively recent times "covered/represented" ;)

I do agree that HJG is "a part of FS9 itself (it was formed back in 2000 .... and has transitioned through FS2000/FS2002/FS2004/and FSX too ..... the latter to some extent only). It will likely remain as-is though for "resource and other reasons" (as was explained recently to a very well intentioned prospector offering assistance) .... BUT .... that's the way it "IS" ans has to be/remain :( :)

MRC

Maybe it is because FS2004 Century of Flight was the only major sim edition ever released with a historical focus in its stock form, that it has become a persistent favorite with vintage buffs.

My new GW3 install is starting to get swollen with planes and scenery, and there have been some headaches. You can see that these add-ons evolved through a community that kept up with everything new. It's hard to reconstruct years later, from scratch. You download a package that seems cool, the readme tells you it requires you have installed 8 previous add-ons you don't want, half of those are from defunct sites and now cannot be found, several of them in turn each require 6 more add-ons you don't want, and it frankly admits there might be more required files that the author has had so long that he has forgotten that not everyone has them. I have contented myself with getting most of the add-ons mostly working. It's not exactly clear what-all scenery each mod adds, so it's a fun easter egg hunt flying around looking for built-out airports.

I find that Flight Ontario's scenery for 160 Canadian WWII training bases fits nicely into GW3. It isn't strictly within the time period, but it works well with the ruralized countryside and doesn't step on GW3 or the major mods, which don't do too much with Canada. The bases are beautifully built and many are populated with 100+ static airplanes, which is a frame rate killer on FSX but doesn't slow down FS9 at all on a decent rig.

The most amazing thing for me is how new stuff continues to come out for this old sim. These new Austers that just showed up on SOH are dandy planes, and the J-2 Arrow is near enough as never mind to a Taylorcraft BC-12D, a type that I've always liked but that nobody has seemed interested in doing for a flight sim.

August

And thank you for all the superb Historic Jetliners Group aircraft. I almost feel HJG is a part of FS9 itself as it's played such a critical and long term role together with FS9.

+1

Hi,

I found out about HJG only last year, after I got interested in 3-engine jetliners, the L-1011 and later the B727. And they came with this INS (which I didn't know about until then) and working WX radars, and those great panels...

I'm sticking with FS9 for now. I may give FS2020 a try, eventually, when (if?) it'll be "finished".

Regards,

DDP.

Maybe it is because FS2004 Century of Flight was the only major sim edition ever released with a historical focus in its stock form, that it has become a persistent favorite with vintage buffs.

 

My new GW3 install is starting to get swollen with planes and scenery, and there have been some headaches. You can see that these add-ons evolved through a community that kept up with everything new. It's hard to reconstruct years later, from scratch. You download a package that seems cool, the readme tells you it requires you have installed 8 previous add-ons you don't want, half of those are from defunct sites and now cannot be found, several of them in turn each require 6 more add-ons you don't want, and it frankly admits there might be more required files that the author has had so long that he has forgotten that not everyone has them. I have contented myself with getting most of the add-ons mostly working. It's not exactly clear what-all scenery each mod adds, so it's a fun easter egg hunt flying around looking for built-out airports.

 

I find that Flight Ontario's scenery for 160 Canadian WWII training bases fits nicely into GW3. It isn't strictly within the time period, but it works well with the ruralized countryside and doesn't step on GW3 or the major mods, which don't do too much with Canada. The bases are beautifully built and many are populated with 100+ static airplanes, which is a frame rate killer on FSX but doesn't slow down FS9 at all on a decent rig.

 

The most amazing thing for me is how new stuff continues to come out for this old sim. These new Austers that just showed up on SOH are dandy planes, and the J-2 Arrow is near enough as never mind to a Taylorcraft BC-12D, a type that I've always liked but that nobody has seemed interested in doing for a flight sim.

 

August

Thanks for your interesting and motivated statements.

Nevertheless, all these addons you mention remain just selective improvements. It's an indubitable fact that GW3 is mostly limited to several dozens U.S. airfields, fortunately once very nicely done by a couple of meritorious 'The Old Hangar' supporters. But as we know, vintage flying was already done in the whole world. The deficit is obvious.

I could admit that vintage world isn't such attractive and fascinating than hyper photorealistic environments. On the other hand it suprise me that f.i. the CF2 community still remain quite creative. Probably boming towns and aircraft carriers might be more exciting than flying slowly and thoughtfully over sparsely populated landscapes! So let's improve GW3 as best as we can. Every new and especially innovative input will be higly welcomed and appreciated.

Bernard

The brilliance of the basic GW3 package, at least on my first impression as a newcomer to it, is that the global landclass revisions and the AI traffic give the entire world a basic vintage look-and-feel. Combined with an environment upgrade such as the converted orbx textures, this makes a typical vintage flying experience - let's say, ferrying a Stuart Green Fokker D.VII from my local airport at White Plains up the Hudson to Old Rhinebeck around sunset - about as nice and visually rich an experience as can be had in any sim. The airports are enjoyable and quirky and it would always be nicer to see more of them, but there are plenty. Even the cars are fun to drive around, although I have no immediate plans to uninstall GTA-5.

One can always collect other third-party airports, some that are explicitly historic and others that are just of small fields that haven't changed much over the decades.

One of the great things about GW3 is the era didn't have the most advanced/complicated airports. If a person has ADE or instant scenery, they could build some nifty little airfields with vintage objects and set up their own traffic.

I'm not much for flights over more than an hour or two, so I'm getting ready to set up a few airfields in and around KY, dipping slightly into IN, IL, WV, TN, OH, and MO. Trying to keep it pre 1940.

FS9=Flight sim sandbox

Speaking of being 'dead', does Flight1 now no longer sell FS9 products? They have no link to anything FS9 related.

Just give em away for free then of you think no one wants them.

What about this?

Speaking of being 'dead', does Flight1 now no longer sell FS9 products? They have no link to anything FS9 related.

 

Just give em away for free then of you think no one wants them.

I try and avoid anything Flight1 because of their million and one ridiculous anti piracy measures. Simply getting something from one PC to another can be a nightmare.

I try and avoid anything Flight1 because of their million and one ridiculous anti piracy measures. Simply getting something from one PC to another can be a nightmare.

I know, its painful. I found a link to the Level-D. I only ever had it on CD way back in the day. Long since gone. Thinking of buying it again.

I think they also had a DC-9 as well.

Anyone use the Sky Simulations DC-9? That also interests me.

I think they also had a DC-9 as well.

Anyone use the Sky Simulations DC-9? That also interests me.

The Flight1 DC-9 is great but I think it's no longer for sale. Maybe doesn't work in Win 10??? It did come from the FS2002 days.

It's a great plane to use with the Civa INS which I always intended to try out in this aircraft. So much still to do in FS9! There was a user file created to incorporate the Civa INS into the plane but I haven't found any working download link for it. If anyone has this file and could pass it on be much appreciated.

2 'modern' sims. 2 updates. 2 fails. Oh well.

Off in to the sky I go in my 'obsolete' and 'dead' sim free of worry, CTD's and poor performance....

Hey! That looks like a good flight sim! Has some decent clouds too!

I was reading the other forum, 5 patches down and they have achieved a bunch of users with CTD's without even getting to the main menu! OMG, what are people thinking??? lol

I just open up FS9 and the biggest headache I have is what to fly and from where to where.