I skipped FS 2002 when it came out. Yesterday, I created an Excel spreadsheet to list all the upgraded planes, utilities, and sceneries available for FS 2004, i.e., the stuff that doesn't carry over from FS 2000 (hardly anything does) and that I would need to buy new. The list isn't complete, but the grand total would be about $1,500. Wow!ricardo

Ricardo,I'd be interested to see a list of the add-ons you can't live without.Tony

Me, too - as I haven't got even one FS2004 addon yet. I am finding just as it comes right out of the box is enough to keep me fully interested.Maybe this is one of the reasons I don't have any problems with FS2004.David

>Ricardo,>>I'd be interested to see a list of the add-ons you can't live>without.>>Tony>This is an incomplete list. Only payware included. ricardoFlight One Cessna 152 AirCraft $17.95 Dreamfleet Cessna 310 AirCraft $22.95 Greatest Airplanes: Archer AirCraft $19.95 727 Professional AirCraft $35.00 Phoenix Simulation A 320 AirCraft $50.00 Phoenix Simulation A 330/340 AirCraft http://www.phoenix-simulation.co.uk $183.00 747 200 Ready For Pushback AirCraft $35.00 Dassault Falcon 3 AirCraft http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/bss Cheyenne 400 LS AirCraft http://www.fsd-international.com $28.00 Raytheon Hawker 400 XP AirCraft www.eaglesoftdg1.com $25.00 Raytheon Beechjet 400A AirCraft www.eaglesoftdg1.com $25.00 Boeing 737 PMDG AirCraft PMDG $40.00 Flightsimulator 2004 AirCraft $50.00 Megascenery USA 2004 Scenery $40.00 FS Scene 2004 USA & Canada Scenery www.fscene.com $29.00 FS Scene 2004 Europe Scenery www.fscene.com $53.00 UK 2000 Scenery Scenery http://www.uk2000scenery.bizland.com/puplic/index.htm $141.00 Miami International Airport Scenery http://www.flytampa.com/products.html $16.50 Tampa International Airport Scenery http://www.flytampa.com/products.html $16.50 FS Genesis Scenery http://portal.fsgenesis.net/ $45 Zuerich 2004 Scenery http://www.mailsoft.com/zh2004/zh2004.htm $38 German Airports Scenery http://www.aerosoft.de $47 Scandinavian Airports Scenery http://www.aerosoft.de $188 London Airports Scenery http://www.uk2000scenery.bizland.com/puplic/index.htm $33.00 FS Meteo Utility http://www.fsmeteo.com/ $34.00 FS Addon Manager Utility http://www.fs-aom.com/index.php $25.00 Ultimate Traffic Utility http://ultimatetraffic.flight1.net/ $30.00 SimCharts by Jeppesen Utility http://www.pcaviator.com $140.00 FS 2004Official Strategies & Secrets Utility $17.00 Mexico 2004 Special Edition Scenery http://www.flymex.com.mx/mex2004v1/mex2004eng.htm $30

Is this stuff that you "need" or "want?" Just clarifying the "can't live without" comment. :)Zane

This is, roughly, the stuff I had used in previous installations of FS (of course, new sceneries and aircrafts have been added). I tend to buy/download most high-quality pay/freeware stuff.I think I have about 50 to 60 zip disks filled with FS2000 add-ons.ricardo

Hi,I think it depends on how 'technical' you want to get about that question. ;) What can't be lived without? The Sim itself of course! Anything else beyond it is just an addon. But there are some addons that may bemore desirable than others, depending on your personal preferences. I also have MANY addons. Here's my short-list of favorites though, with the first few being what I would call 'must haves'...http://www.mytraffic2004.com/ - MyTraffic 2004 (read review at www.simflight.com)http://simwidgets.hifisim.com/ - WeatherCenter 2.3.1http://www.fsnavigator.com/ - FSNavigator4.60http://www.reality-xp.com/ - Garmin 530 GPS (pretty close to a must have for me, I hate the look of the default)www.panelshop.com - Best 747-200.www.captainsim.com - Gorgeous payware 727.www.precisionmanuals.com - Incredible Boeing 737-700.www.dreamfleet2000.com - Cessna 310 7 Charlie Mike, as well as others.http://www.anticyclone.be/active.html - Active Camera. Move about your plane in flight. Get out on ground and walk around.SimCharts by Jeppesen is another good one if you are interested in having charts. But $140!?!? I only paid $75 (3 Regions) for my 3.0 version. You can only choose 3 regions when installing, but have the whole world from which to choose those 3 regions from. For instance I chose the entire U.S., which is split into 3 regions.Cheers!Jim

I can tell you that the improved scenery textures and improved airport facilities make add-on airports almost obsolete except for those which you frequent or base out of and want more frame eating eye candy at. Here is the list of what I use on FS9 and can tell you I am quite happy with the experience, IMHO of course.FSNavigator - carry over from FS98 and FS2k2, used it a lot in FS2k2, much less with FS9FSGenesis 38 dem mesh for entire US with landclass, 76 dem mesh for Canada, Mexico and Alaska, 9.6 dem mesh and landclass for Hawaii - the biggest bang for the buck, gets rid of lifeless scenery and repeating textures of default scenery seen at higher altitudesBill Lyons' Custom Classics I-VI - first five are freeware now, FS9 is so good at low and slow VFR flight you'll find doing this more than flying big ironFSD Cheyenne 400LS - always wanted to fly one in real life, a Cheyenne II was as close as I got, till they publish the SDK and make the VC cockpit clickable not as interestingJeppesen Simcharts 3.0 6 regions - you can buy 1 or 3 regions, uninstall then install again selecting a different region but it was more convenient to have all available without the painRealityXP/Coyote SN3308 EHSI - nice gauge for the Mooney and BaronWaiting on Mexico 2004 Centro/Sur, cause I used to live there and still have family there.I wouldn't avoid buying FS9 because of all the add-ons you feel you have to have, after just a little flying I know I am surprised looking back at FS2k2 how much improved it is. You can piece the add-ons as you find something actually lacking in the default sim.Best Regards,Zane

very confusing post! If you are going from FS2000 to FS9 then that is a major, major upgrade in itself, so the need to purchase any addon to enjoy it is irrelavent. Most on that list has probably been updated since FS2000 or wasn't out yet and since you say that you tend to use only high quality addons, then most current freeware is above and beyond the FS2000 standards! LOLAs far as "must haves" the FS9 enhanced scenery is good enough for me to keep me from adding addons to it to save on performance. I find myself going to my payware aircraft more and more, thus eliminateing most of what I had in my old hanger.Active Camera, FSNav, all eaglesoft products, all FSD, Cessna 421, the Dauphin, Gazelle, EC-130, MD500, and the Huey and I am set! LOL Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com

Sorry, forgot to mention MyTraffic. I've had this add-on since the first week it was out for FS2k4 and am completely satisfied with its quality, customer service, forum and continual development. Not a frame rate eater also, the aircraft textures and LOD are very low impact.Zane

Sim Charts works with MSFS9 as do general mesh files such as Denny's Real Scene and Terramesh Europe 2000. Large airports are much more detailed in MSFS9 then then were in 2002 so some of your custom airports might not be as compelling. The overall situation might not be a bleak as it first seems. In any case, I hardly think that you'll fall down and die if you couldn't use some of these add-ons right away and I'm sure that at least the recent ones will be upgraded over time. I would expect that from any professional 3rd party developer but these things can take time.I can tell you that after using MSFS9 for a few months now there's no way I'd go back to 2002. It's worth the upgrade for the weather alone. I think if you just buy it and fly it you'll feel much better about things and I'm sure the rest will sort it's self out over time.TonyDigital-Flight