Let me start by saying FS9 is beautiful. It really is, but it cant do what I need it to do. I know the topic has been well worn now, but Im back for one last search for a work around. After this I remove it and sell the disks to a friend.I need to be able to create solid ceilings and low visibilty without cutting my frame rates to 1/3 of normal so I can practice approaches like I did with FS8. This means I need to use 2D clouds and as far as I can tell the program cant create a solid ceiling with 2D clouds. Unless the problem has to do with my video card (see below).The following picture shows what I get when I try to create a ceiling with 2D clouds. I have three seperate cloud layers here (I get the same result with 1,2, or 3 layers) Stratus set to 8/8 500' - 2000' Cumulus set to 8/8 2000' - 5000' and even a Cirus layer set to 8/8 from 5000' to 6000'. Yes i have tried a single stratus layer set to 8/8 from 0 to 20000' and the image below will look the same. Also I have the visibility set to 1/2 mile from the surface to 6000'.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/38005.jpgWhat is worse is that when you are in the clouds it looks pretty good (you can always see the ground around you though), but I can see approach and runway lights through the clouds 10 miles out when the visibility is set to 1/2 or below. Pretty much makes it unusable for approach practice.Am I having a computer/video card issue or is this just a fault in FS9 design? Yes I can create a solid deck with 3D clouds, but that lowers fps to unusable levels. The reality is that FS8 works just as well for approach practice and I can create the ceilings I need and It runs faster. Im not seeing any reason for sticking with FS9.P4 2.4GHZ512mb Ram GeForce 4 128mb Ti4400

I've been doing approaches with it also. I understand what you are talking about regarding being able to see through the clouds and low visibility from up at altitude. But once you are on final and descending into the low vis, it works fine and you will have to be on instruments for the period that actually matters. The key factor in getting a white knuckle approach experience is the visibility, not the ceiling. Set the vis to minimums and you will be rewarded with a approach lights and runway that fade into view realistically at the end.Before you delete it, try this. Go to your favorite airport. Go to the customize weather menu and set surface visibility to 1/2 mile all the way up to above whatever altitude you'll get up to. Takeoff and come back around for an ILS. Report back with whether you saw anything out the window, when you saw the runway on final and your framerates.

As is mentioned above even with visibilty set down to 1/2 I can still see runway and approach lights well beyond 1/2. Just tested it out and they came into view at about 4 miles. This method kind of works for a ILS. There is no way around for a non-precision approach that requires 1-2 miles vis to begin with. With 1-2 miles set I can see lights 10 miles out.FS2002 can create low vis and ceilings very well and The panels are identical. Im thinking I did not really need or want FS9 in the first place.

Set the visibility top above your altitude.

I have 1/2 set from 0 to 10k and Im usually only flying under 4000. I also have a matching 8/8 layer of stratus. In display Im running simple clouds with all above cloud sliders set to max.I should say had. Just took FS9 off of my machine. A friend of mine really wants it and I dont need it. Thanks for the help.

You're welcome. I just did an approach to Rwy26 at KIAH and didn't see anything after takeoff until the approach lights materialized at 250'agl. I have simple clouds set just like you do. That's too bad that you are unable to find the same experience.

No biggie I finally realized. The way I use FS there really is no advantage to using FS9. It looks nice, but with visibility set to nil on Fs2002 there really is nothing I use that sets the two apart.Im a little suprised though that they left such a huge glitch in FS9. I know they were focused on the 3D clouds, but they certainly knew they would be system hogs. I cant beleive they did not include working 2D clouds.