Good Afternoon, All.I am very new to this community, and was wondering which files are considered "Must Have" for FS2004.I am really enjoying the game and have downloaded a few files.Some are simply amazing. But there are SO many files to choose from, I was wonmdering if anyone has already narrowed the field.Also, what is with the airport AFCADs or whatever. What are these things and what do they do?Finally, can anyone recommend a scenery file for the NYC area?Thanks in advance from a newb!

I would recomend doing a search for water textures. There are a few to choose from. My favorite is the water by Bill Lyons, coupled with a new bump map (I don't remember their name, but I know someone here does). Anything by Project Opensky! Search out the Bellanca Decathalon and Scout. Project AI and their traffic files. Search out the FFX DC-10's and I think they did the MD-11's. That should get you started.:-rotor

Try the new Blackhawk helicopter- easy to fly and a good looking model (from Hovercontrol)Dave

Thanks. This is a good start.One other question:What is AFCAD?

Posky's 757 combined with Lonny Payne's panel. Realairsimulations Cessna 172. There are many many more, but those two stick out as the best two planes for FS2004.

AFCAD is a very clever programme that allows you to create the correct aircraft parking spots/gates at the airports within the sim. You'll see many references to new AFCAD 2 files here now as AFCAD is new to FS2004, and even if you don't want to experiment and mess about yourself, you can always download someone elses AFCAD 2 file for a specific airport and you'll instantly see the results (providing of course that you have a decent AI traffic add-on - someone mentioned ProjectAI...it's very good, and free! Just Flight's Traffic 2002 works in FS 2004 also, and is very good too, but you have to pay for that one).For example, you have ProjectAI traffic installed and go to start a flight at London Heathrow (EGLL)....you'll see loads of traffic parked and moving, but some aircraft will be half buried in buildings, and the parking is random. Download a new AFCAD2 file for EGLL, and (providing the creator did his homework!!), you'll no longer have half buried AI traffic, and all the terminals will have the correct airlines parked, and when you land from an IFR flight, ATC will guide you to the correct terminal and set of gates, or parking area!I am still a bit of a beginner with it, but with a couple of Project AI military aircraft I have 'opened' two local USAF bases and got AI traffic coming and going on regular flights in and out, so that when I fly across the south-east of England I frequently encounter the military flights.That is a brief-ish, simplified overview of what AFCAD is. Hope that helps... :-)