by jgf » Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:20 pm
There is a gauge, ICEV10.zip, which supposedly simulates more realistic icing conditions. I've not yet tried it, but the docs state:
"This gauge is provided as a way of making winter flying in the sim (FS9 or FSX) a little more realistic. It has been tested and works in both FSX and FS9.
Contrary to some popular belief, structural icing is simulated in both versions of the simulator. However, icing rarely appears in cloud layers generated by either the real-world download of the standard sim or from most add-ons such as Active Sky. When icing is placed in cloud layers, it is rarely more than "light" icing. The ice accumulation rate in both sims is so slow that only "severe" structural icing is liable to cause any noticable change in the aerodynamics of your aircraft, especially if you are flying a larger one.
This is good, generally, because many FS aircraft do not have working de-icing systems because aircraft panel designers haven't understood the parameters for enabling de-icing in their airplanes, and often their structural de-ice switches don't work. So, the wimpy ice simulation is offset by the ignorance about anti-icing, so all is well in the sim world.
If you want to understand the truth, and how this gauge can help you, read the 'Icing.txt' file in this package.
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I hope you enjoy this little product and the research that led to it, and happy flying whether sim or real!
Charles (Dutch) Owen"