Real weather Static and every 15min updates

[johnnp]

Hi,
I tried using for the first time the real time weather updating for FS X.  I tried flying a C130 Weather plane during hurricane Dean.  I wanted to semi experience the high winds effects etc.  My updates did not give me anything but clear skies. Any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
johnnp in ocala fl

[garymbuska]

[quote]Hi,
I tried using for the first time the real time weather updating for FS X.

[BuggsK100RS]

What about X Graphics is that worth the cash too just wondering as thay have a discount i you buy both Addons togeather at the moment

[garymbuska]

What about X Graphics is that worth the cash too just wondering as thay have a discount i you buy both Addons togeather at the moment

From what I can see it will make a good bit of differance. I saw the sam add you did not a bad price. I have not got the version for FSX as of yet still not sure if I may wait till I upgrade my sysytem. I hope to get a sysytem from my son that has a faster processor 3.2 gig and has over 2 gig ram plus the SATA drive inputs. My system has a 2.3 gig cpu and only 1 meg ram and it is maxed out. 8-)

[MattNW]

That's what is keeping me from getting Active Sky X. Even the default weather in FSX has smoke rolling off my processor.  ;D

[johnnp]

Thanks. But why doesnt FX weather give real updates.  There are always better options one can purchase, but why not make it work?
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
JP

[macca22au]

I think the quality of the updates has more to do with the Jeppesen service and the rate at which it acquires information, or polls, the various stations worldwide.

I have just bought and installed the Active SkyX and X graphics and the quality is extraordinary.  What this bundle does is to install textures that match the sky conditions, so the ground looks more like the real thing when you are flying under overcast, or in rain.

It is a transformation for me, and I haven't yet begun to select alternate themes to suit my view of reality.

I haven't tried to fly into Hurricane Dean.  I'm glad that we can press escape on the keyboard - anyone flying into it for real would have a hard time.

Stupidly I once took a Seneca, real world, into a squall line at night. (it had no weather radar, except a swinging ADF needle). The vertical currents up and down were absolutely violent. Zero throttle and a steady descent in the updrafts, and full climb power in the down. And then I was spat out into clear air behind the line - so smooth the previous ten minutes were like a bad dream.  I was too busy flying to be scared at the time, but I sure had a big whisky when I got into my hotel.  A Category 4 hurricane would be fatal to small planes I suspect.

[garymbuska]

I know this is going to sound crazy but but I belonged to VW4 (more commonly know as the Hurricane Hunters) A weather reconnaissance squadron that was stationed in my home town Jacksonville Florida at NAS JAX. There mission was to hunt and track hurricanes during the hurricane season and during the winter we would track winter storms. I only flew through one hurricane myself and it was scary to say the least. We used a WP3-c which is the same aircraft the air force is now using. The biggest difference in what we did versus what the air force does now is we flew through the storms at around 500 feet above ground level while the air force flies at a much higher altitude around 20,000 to 30,000 feet or so.
We used to call them chickens but I sometimes wonder if we were just more crazy and they had the right idea 8-)

[macca22au]

What a fantastic experience!  I would worry that at 500ft AGL it would be impossible to recover in a severe downdraft.  

Last night the east coast of Australia was suffering severe weather.  Using Active Sky X I set up a flight from the Gold Coast (YBCG which is some 60 miles or so south of Brisbane YBBN) and flew to an airport north of Brisbane (Bundaberg YBUD).  The Active X map facility, which opens as a window showed intense rain over the Brisbane region.  I used the FSD Navajo, took off in 25knots wind and low cloud and flew into the cell.  The simulated thunder, lightning and turbulence was impressive - I think a force feed back yoke and pedals would work well with Active Sky.  The flight ended in a GPS arrival into Bundaberg.  But I few Navajos in the real world, and I would not have wanted to be in that system last night.  In fact I think ATC actually suspended departures and arrivals for some time until the cell moved away.

[garymbuska]

[quote]What a fantastic experience!

[Katahu]

I normally use Weather Maker for my real-weather experience. It's very accurate and the RX version even provides an early warning radar system. However, it does have its high operating requirements.