I enjoy filling up MSFS skies with AI traffic of all types. My decompiled aircraft file (I have only one) has several hundred aicraft. I wonder how many aircraft and flight plans fellow simmers find that they can get away with without seriously compromising performance with AI set to 100%? CheersIsmetM

I have done a lot of work with AI (aircraft, AFCAD, etc), but I don't claim to be any expert. That said, it is my understanding that the bigger issue is how many ai a/c you have at a given airport at a given time. "Several hundred" ai a/c are not a problem if they're uniformly distributed, however "several hundred" on the ground or in the air at KLAX will be a FR problem.In FS9, I have built my ai traffic to include all mainstream US domestic airliners and commuters and I run at ~ 18-23 FPS even with full weather on a 2.8 P4 / 9800 Pro combo with AI at 100% all the time. I use the default GA ai traffic, however I have removed all default airliners (Orbit, landmark, etc). I have also removed all but one Caravan Amphib as that seems to occur way too frequently in the default MSFS world. I still need to add cargo fleets (UPS, FedEx, etc).

Yes, you have a point. I've certainly noticed that dense traffic areas produce the biggest drop in Frame rates. in my case around London UK, and if I fly somewhere more remote, the frame rates and smoothness improve considerably. It's just that I got to thinking as I kept adding more AI aircraft and FPs, I wonder how much of an issue it was having so many different aircraft for MSFS to take account of when computing the AI traffic. There are so many repaints and airlines.....I'm not complaining, it's great seeing the variety. I must admit that apart from having to wait longer when choosing a plane to fly at the 'Create a Flight' stage it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. Thanks for your comments Dennis. Like you I've got rid of all default airliners and most of the Cessna Caravans except where I think they might be appropriate. Best wishes

Also, bear in mind that if you use the new Afcad 2 files that are being posted, these are opening up a lot more gates and parking areas than are available in the default airports with the result that there may now be almost double the amount of AI traffic at what was once an already busy airport....Heathrow is a good example of this! Obviously, the net result is that performance will suffer, and so it's important to try to balance the % of traffic in order not to be running a slide-show! Plus of course, it can mean some VERY long waiting in line at the head of the runway prior to take-off ;)Please not though, that the above is merely stated as an observation and not a critisism of the excellent 'Afcad 2' by Lee Swordy.

I love heavy AI traffic. But unfortunatly all models (default and PAI) are FPS eater. The only exception are AI Aardvark models. It would be very nice, if there were more models with their standard. They made already the B727 -737 - 757 - 767 and DC9. If the new makemdl SDK comes out, I will publish the Airbus models with the Aardvark standard. This will, on my computer, change the framerate on a big airport from 4 to 13.

I have some AI Aardvark but mainly PAI, for the same reasons you point out...not enough models, but I hadn't realised that they were better on FPS. Thanks for the infocheers

I'd agree to that too, about the AI Aardvark, but, I don't use them as AI....they are so nicely made and painted, by most AI standards that, with the right ones (ie: where the .air file has been modified) they can make great aircraft for flying! Some work needs to be done in the aircraft.cfg I guess as a 737 I have does not have working flaps, and a 767 will frequently refuse to raise the nose gear!!! Other than that, if you're struggling with frame-rates, these planes will do you well for flying - that 767 in Thomas Cook livery looks superb :)

Thanks for the suggestion. I might just try that!

I just discovered for me new framerate friendly AI models.Go to: http://www.arnz.myhost.co.nzThere are A319 - 320 - 321 and also B737's.Regards, Daniel.