I have tested wind shear in flight simulator numerous times and every time when I enter into decreasing wind areas my airspeed descreases accordingly. The reason I started this topic is because others were getting slightly upset with me in a 'discussion' (or what I thought was a discussion) since I claim windshear can be simulated in FS, which it can.So I started this topic to have a non-personal discussion about windshear. Warning: I have never reported anyone in this foum nor ever contacted forum moderators BUT I will report posts from now on if you degrade this discussion into a personal vendetta or just pure mudslinging (This topic is about WINDHEAR not me) so if you want to try your luck go right ahead. You have been warned.I will go and retest this again. Earlier I tried a tailwind of 42 kts now I will try 70 kts close to the ground. I think I will hit it this time. I went straight down with 42 kts loss of AIS.Daniel

Hello Daniel,I suppose if that's a difference in the horizontal windspeed between the top and bottom of a shallow layer of air then it does qualify.Personally I never had much success in setting winds with the built-in weather engine (no internet at home so no real weather). I gave up after a while as the extra wind layers I put in all seemed to have zero depth with somewhat unpredictable conditions between them. That was over a year ago, when I was fairly new to FS9, so maybe I just missed something. Let us know how you set things up as, even if I don't play around with windshear, I wouldn't mind another go at just getting winds to vary (possibly smoothly!) with altitude.Regards,D

Hello Daniel,I suppose if that's a difference in the horizontal windspeed between the top and bottom of a shallow layer of air then it does qualify.Personally I never had much success in setting winds with the built-in weather engine (no internet at home so no real weather). I gave up after a while as the extra wind layers I put in all seemed to have zero depth with somewhat unpredictable conditions between them. That was over a year ago, when I was fairly new to FS9, so maybe I just missed something. Let us know how you set things up as, even if I don't play around with windshear, I wouldn't mind another go at just getting winds to vary (possibly smoothly!) with altitude.Regards,D

In advanced weather......Set the bottom layer (surface layer) for 0 windspeed. Easy.Set the next layer (you have to create it) for 50 knots. Any direction. You can play with this and move the direction around after experiencing it. But I found getting the altitude down to about 250-500 feet (where your bottom layer should end) is a little tricky. I just had a problem with it thats all. Works though. You will know when you increase or decrease your altitude. If you turn on aircraft damage you will definitely know that a wind shear event happened. Oh and set the shear strength to strong or severe....... (you can play with this too).If you want the transition to be smooth try setting the shear strength to a lower variable.Just let me know if this is not a good guide. I will make a better one or video how I do the settings if you want. Daniel

There are two types of windshear: horizontal and vertical. How does Flight Simulator realistically model the latter?

Set the next layer (you have to create it) for 50 knots ... But I found getting the altitude down to about 250-500 feet (where your bottom layer should end) is a little tricky.

Thanks Daniel.I'll have a go tonight. I believe my problem resulted from setting the layers too far apart. If memory serves me correctly I can set the altitude for a layer numerically instead of dragging it up and down the cross-section so 250 feet shouldn't present too much difficulty. I'll let you know how it went...D

There are two types of windshear: horizontal and vertical. How does Flight Simulator realistically model the latter?

I am not sure about vertical windshear. But that is commonly associated with microbursts or vertical down/updrafts in CBs. Windshear regularly happens in clear skies.I wish cloud shadows was simulated in FS9 as a by note. But I prefer the frame rates.Daniel

There are two types of windshear: horizontal and vertical. How does Flight Simulator realistically model the latter?

+1. I too would like to know how wind variations over (short) horizontal distances are simulated.

+1. I too would like to know how wind variations over (short) horizontal distances are simulated.

No, I can't see us getting any down- or up-draught. I think vertical shear is probably beyond FS9's capability.Unless... does FS9 do thermals? I'm sure I read something about them once. Could something like that have it's characteristics modified to cover a very small area of ground (say just the end of a runway), with a strong 'negative' lift?Mmm. Cloud shadows, and sinking air around the outside of a cumulus would be nice. You'd need a beefy PC for those fluid dynamics though...D

Hi All,Is anyone going to ask someone who knows the answers to this?

No, I can't see us getting any down- or up-draught. I think vertical shear is probably beyond FS9's capability.Unless... does FS9 do thermals? I'm sure I read something about them once. Could something like that have it's characteristics modified to cover a very small area of ground (say just the end of a runway), with a strong 'negative' lift?Mmm. Cloud shadows, and sinking air around the outside of a cumulus would be nice. You'd need a beefy PC for those fluid dynamics though...D

I recall seeing a lot of thermal scenery in the library for those with gliders (or those parachute thingies!-parasailing???). So you may have brought up a good point!Clouds shadows could only be done if we recoded FS9 I think? Or Microsoft?Daniel

I definitely recommend you let Jim give some advice. If anyone knows what can and cannot be done with weather in FS9 it's him...

I definitely recommend you let Jim give some advice. If anyone knows what can and cannot be done with weather in FS9 it's him...

Thanks Kiwi, I really understand now!!! I will ask him right away! And before you posted that I had no idea why Jim posted that!!! Daniel

Hi All,Is anyone going to ask someone who knows the answers to this?

OK. Hi Jim, can you answer this for me. I am no expert.Daniel

Well, I had a long play with it last night (no double entendre intended) and found the following.At DA0A, field elevation = 2454', (plenty of sunshine and no hills) I managed to get some very unpleasant variation in wind direction and speed over a small range of altitude but the sim weather bore little resemblance to the MS weather engine settings.I started off by specifying these winds1100 feet 000at0 no turbulence sharp shear900 feet 000at0 none sharp700 feet 090at60 none sharp500 feet 090at60 none sharp0-300 feet 000at0 none sharpand had this result5000 feet 004at04500 004at04000 004at03500 004at03000 360at02500 000at0fe 000at0Yes, really.I then moved the uppermost (1100') layer up to 2000 feet with this result5500 feet 135at325000 004at44500 004at44000 004at43500 004at43000 360at02500 000at0FE 000at0Stranger still.Deleting the uppermost (1100') layer like this:900 feet 000at0 no turbulence sharp shear700 feet 090at60 none sharp500 feet 090at60 none sharp0-300 feet 000at0 none sharpgave3500 and above 094at603245 116at573195 344at303050 and below 000at0I can see that the 50 foot interval is where the wind changes from 094at60 to 000at0 and there certainly is quite a thump as you descend through it. It seems from this that MS own winds are set approximately agl and the little picture of the C172 is asl. Confusing... but not as confusing as the interaction of all those layers squashed so close together. I don't understand why in the last flight the 900 foot layer is ignored (094at60 continued up to 10000 feet and beyond) but suppose MS just didn't iron out the bugs in their engine.Subsequently moving or removing the 900' layer made no further difference.My verdict? You can simulate horizontal shear but it takes a lot of fudging because Microsoft's weather engine is not really up to the job.Regards,D

Hi All,Is anyone going to ask someone who knows the answers to this?

Who would you recommend?

Well, I had a long play with it last night (no double entendre intended) and found the following.At DA0A, field elevation = 2454', (plenty of sunshine and no hills) I managed to get some very unpleasant variation in wind direction and speed over a small range of altitude but the sim weather bore little resemblance to the MS weather engine settings.I started off by specifying these winds1100 feet 000at0 no turbulence sharp shear900 feet 000at0 none sharp700 feet 090at60 none sharp500 feet 090at60 none sharp0-300 feet 000at0 none sharpand had this result5000 feet 004at04500 004at04000 004at03500 004at03000 360at02500 000at0fe 000at0Yes, really.I then moved the uppermost (1100') layer up to 2000 feet with this result5500 feet 135at325000 004at44500 004at44000 004at43500 004at43000 360at02500 000at0FE 000at0Stranger still.Deleting the uppermost (1100') layer like this:900 feet 000at0 no turbulence sharp shear700 feet 090at60 none sharp500 feet 090at60 none sharp0-300 feet 000at0 none sharpgave3500 and above 094at603245 116at573195 344at303050 and below 000at0I can see that the 50 foot interval is where the wind changes from 094at60 to 000at0 and there certainly is quite a thump as you descend through it. It seems from this that MS own winds are set approximately agl and the little picture of the C172 is asl. Confusing... but not as confusing as the interaction of all those layers squashed so close together. I don't understand why in the last flight the 900 foot layer is ignored (094at60 continued up to 10000 feet and beyond) but suppose MS just didn't iron out the bugs in their engine.Subsequently moving or removing the 900' layer made no further difference.My verdict? You can simulate horizontal shear but it takes a lot of fudging because Microsoft's weather engine is not really up to the job.Regards,DWho would you recommend?

I played with it and played with it. Thanks Dave. I think you are right. I'll keep that thing about the Cessna ASL in mind when I do another test.Thanks.Daniel