Must-have add-ons

[FridayChild]

I have just started with FS2004 and I wonder what are in your opinion the must have addons to improve this simulator.
I am not talking about additional aircrafts and sceneries (I know there are lots of topics about this) but rather about third party utilities.
With FS98 I had added quite a lot of them, and I particularly really liked an adventure creation tool (which I modified myself) that created full ATC flights with copilot calls throughout the flight. I know FS2004 supports ATC natively, but is there a way to improve it and to add the much-beloved copilot calls?
(Newbie questions I know....)  :P

[Fly2e]

Friday,
See #12......

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 1080212396


Dave

[garymbuska]

That depends on what you are wanting from Flight simulator.Some people want as much addon scenery and terrain mesh files they can find while others like a huge fleet of airctraft.
Mysself I like a little of both I have a lot of addon scenery and mesh files as well as a sizeable fleet, but I do not have any military aircrat nor helecopters.
But what you add also will depend on what kind of system you have, as some addons can really hit frame rates hard more so on scenery but there are a few aircraft that will hit frame rates hard as well. Just make sure you do some research first to see if your system can handle the addon.

[JBaymore]

FSUIPC payware version ....... adds a LOT of functions.

best,

...............john

[MattNW]

With FS98 I had added quite a lot of them, and I particularly really liked an adventure creation tool (which I modified myself) that created full ATC flights with copilot calls throughout the flight. I know FS2004 supports ATC natively, but is there a way to improve it and to add the much-beloved copilot calls?

Try FSPassengers. It's payware but it has that and a whole lot more including a career mode. You can also download a free trial that only lets you fly from one airport to anywhere but that's enough to decide whether you like it or not.

http://www.fspassengers.com/



An add on utility that I've found handy is FSNavigator.  http://www.fsnavigator.com/download.htm

You might also want to try out Active Camera.  http://www.anticyclone.be/active.html It lets you move around the inside of the airplane if it has a virtual cabin and includes a walk around you can use for preflight inspection.

If you like to calculate fuel, wind correction angle, crosswind component, weight and balance, climb/descent etc. yourself then try the Aerosoft Flight Calculator.

These are utilities that I've found useful. It really depends on what kind of flying you do and what you like.

[Saitek]

Yeah, as far as payware goes those would be on my top 5 most wanted. I have FSNavigator (you can download a use-limited full version) and it is good.

[cstrut]

I don't remeber the exact name of the file but is (and has in the title) enhanced mountain textures. If you are going to fly around any mountains this file will really improve the 3d effects of the mountains. Steeper cliffs, more dramatic and deep definitions to all mountain surfaces. This one is a must have for anyone who flys canyon.