Page 1 of 1

New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:16 am
by amaru
Hi all,

I just converted to FSX after years in FS9. A couple of questions...1) how do you install aircraft? 2)what's a really good website for FSX aircraft?

If there are any guidelines you can give me for new users of FSX, that would also be highly appreciated.

Many thanks
amaru

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:42 am
by Fozzer
Flight  Simulator X, FAQ's, at the top of this  FSX Forum... ;)...!

Paul....G-BPLF...FS 2004/FSX.... 8-)...!

I love Instruction Manuals!...;)... ;D...!

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 12:25 pm
by Daube
Hi all,

I just converted to FSX after years in FS9. A couple of questions...1) how do you install aircraft? 2)what's a really good website for FSX aircraft?

If there are any guidelines you can give me for new users of FSX, that would also be highly appreciated.

Many thanks
amaru


Hi Amaru, welcome to the FSX world (the "dark side", as they say).
Don't worry about installing aircrafts. In fact, it EXACTELY the same as in FS9, excepted that you do not put them into \aircrafts\, you put them into \simobjects\airplanes.
  • Gauges go to the same place as in FS9.
  • Sounds go to the same place as in FS9.
  • To appear correctly in the list, you must ensure the plane has nothing aliased (sounds or panel) to a non-existing plane.
  • To appear correctly in the list with a nice little picture, the plane must have a file nammed 'thumbnail.jpg' in each of its texture folders. There's an utility which will create easilly those thumbnails, it's called autothumbnail, you can download it here at simviation.
  • Sceneries go to the same place as in FS9.
  • Additionnal textures are installed exactely in the same way as in FS9.
If you have any doubts, never hesitate to ask.

The only important things that you need to know are about the usage of FS9 planes in FSX:
  • if you do not disable the "DX10 preview" option in the game, they will appear completely white
  • if you do not deactivate the light bloom option in the game, the whole screen will turn to white, you won't see anything anymore
  • if you are using FSX SP2 or FSX Acceleration, there's a good chance that the windows of the plane get opaque, you can't see through them anymore. This can be fixed using a tool nammed DXTBMP. Just make a search on the forum, using "DXTBMP" and "Alpha Channel" as key words.

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:04 pm
by amaru
thanks a lot Daube, you have been very helpful...do you know any good websites for FSX aircraft downloads other than avsim, anyone?

thanks

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:12 pm
by Thai09

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:26 pm
by Steve M
Then of course this site.
http://www.simviation.com/menu.html

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:45 pm
by olderndirt
As 'Thai09' mentioned, Phil Taylor's blog about available FSX freeware - actually the third sticky at the top of this thread.

Re: New to FSX

PostPosted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:18 pm
by Daube
I agree with the answers above.
The blog made by Phil Taylor (former FSX developper/team leader at microsoft) contains most of the current freeware FSX native aircrafts.

Here is another link: on a french forum, we have maintained a small list of planes for FS9 and FSX, with screenshots, download links and accurate description, specifying the various features and telling if the plane works in FSX or not.
With Google Translator you can read it directly in english:
http://translate.google.fr/translate?u= ... =&ie=UTF-8

Read the descriptions CAREFULLY. Some of those planes are FSX native, but most of them are FS9 planes, and very often they need some minor changes to work properly in FSX SP2 or FSX Acceleration. However, 100% of those planes listed there are beautifull and all of them have a virtual cockpit. You've been warned. :)