Simple question: What addons have had the greatest impact on your MSFS experience over the years and why? Not just for FSX, but for any versions you have used.For me....Top of the list is Pete Dowson's FSUIPC. To me at least Pete is the unsung hero of this hobby. Without FSUIPC so many advanced features of so many addons over many years would not have been possible.The aircraft addon which perhaps has had the greatest value to me over the years is the Level-D 767 and its lineage going back to the Wilco 767 Pilot In Command for FS2000/FS2002 and Eric Ernst's 757/767 panels for FS98. They've been a permanent fixture in my FS installation for as long as I've been using MSFS and the enjoyment and education I have got from them is second to none.Ernie Alston's FSBuild has also been a permanent supporting act to my MSFS for many years. A very modest and spartan looking programme which I have got a huge amount of value from generating realistic IFR flight plans for so many years.I can't imagine MSFS without real world weather depiction - pioneered if I remember correctly by Marc Philibert's FS Meteo back in the days of FS2000. This revolutionised MSFS for me and added massively to the immersion and enjoyment. Then of course I have to tip my hat to Damian Clark and the team at HiFi who have brought us the superlative Activesky series of weather generating programmes which I believe for so many of us have become and integral part of MSFS.Helger Shroeder's FSNavigator was an ingenious module that is sorely missed by many in FSX. To this day I don't think there has been anything that can directly match the functions and utility of this addon - a genuinely useful map and flight planner that can be displayed within the sim just by hitting a single key.The terrain mesh addons from FS Genesis and FS Global have seen a lot of use from me over the years. A one-stop topographical upgrade for the entire MSFS world.The Ultimate Terrain series has proven to be a must have for those who fly in North America or Europe - more accurate and featured scenery easily installed and configured.Likewise the Ground Environment series has been another must have ever since it first appeared for FS9. Combined with the above UT they dramatically improve the horrible default scenery of FSX.Gary Summons' UK2000 series of scenery products have been a favourite of mine for many years. Put simply, extremely high quality sceneries for the airports of my home country.ATC addons like Radar Contact have also added hugely to my enjoyment of MSFS. My current choice is Pro Flight Emulator which made me realise just how good Pro Flight 2000 was all those years ago.Orbx FTX series of scenery areas and airports. A remarkable series of sceneries that seem to bring FSX alive. I've derived huge amounts of enjoyment from them.More recently, Code Legend's Ideal Flight has proven to be a very useful addition to FSX. At its heart it's a flight generator but it is growing with more and more features with every release. A very simple idea that really adds a lot to the FS experience.So then, what stuff really made an impact on your MSFS experience?

I would have to say that FSX would not be complete without:UTX/GEXREX 2 (Can't Live Without It)ORBX Regions & AirportsFSDT AirportsFlyTampa Airportsand all the great add-on planes. RV7, Realair Duke, Flight1 Mustang, 737NGX, and the L-39 (A GEM)They are all in my signaure, but it was worth repeating.

Couldn't live without REX.

I have to say DREAMFLEET.I was running FS2002 out of the box. I was enjoying it, but it all seemed a bit basic. And then in PC World I spotted a boxed edition of the Dreamfleet 737-400, complete with a proper manual and VHS of a real flight from London Stansted to Lisbon.I remember being totally overwhelmed by the aircraft's systems and how airliners were actually flown in real life.I read the tutorial in the manual - written by a real FO - and followed the video procedures as much as possible. Gradually I got the hang of it, and started to really enjoy the complexities of 'real' airliner ops.This purchase led me to AVSIM and Dreamfleet's own forums, and I was amazed at how many real pilots were there, the amount of freeware available, and what a 'big thing' flight simulation was.And as the old cliche goes, I haven't looked back since....Ian

My list of what addons have had the greatest impact for me - this would be for FSX as while I owned several previous versions, I never really took to it and got seriously involved with MSFS until FSX came along. My list is short and sweet, and there is NO way I could fly FSX without these addons:FS Genesis terrain meshUTXGEXREX2 with OverdriveThese 4 above, without a doubt have had the largest impact on my enjoyment with FSX.Others I have I would consider I guess " icing on the cake" so to speak, and could live without them if I had to - but not these 4...

So far:nvidia card

UTX and REX with OD for me at this point. I've gotten hooked on Orbx though,and my first purchase is the Harvey Field DVD which is on the way in the mail :( Will update soon!

I would say RealAir aircraft and Reality XP avionics, with Orbx scenery being the icing on the cake!Current favorite, however, is the Baytower RV7 with Reality XP GNS530 in the panel, flying over Orbx PNW scenery.

Fs Genesis terrain meshes (I have all of them for FSX now, thanks to 50% and 70% off sales)Real Environment Extreme Ground Environment X Africa-Middle-East, Europe and TropicalActive Sky EvolutionSbuilder X (not really addon, but I am developing my own sceneries with it)

Great thread idea. Brings back some fond memories!VATSIM and IVAO (very sweaty palms and a failing voice...)David Maltby's Trident and BAC 1-11 (highly underestimated)Old PMDG 737 and LevelD 767 (of course)VOZ (Vista Australis, the amazing freeware scenery project)Aeroworx B200 (esp.with an RXP GNS)Etc etc...

There are many............ but if I were to pick one;-Already, (it's in it's youth) I would say Accu-feel. And I have been simming for 14 years, so there were a lot to choose from.If we're talking hardware, it would be TrackIR 100% ! :(

PIC 767 actually got me into serious simming.The thing was amazing for its time.PSS 747 in a time where its software was at the topDreamfleet 737 was a classic.The panel was awesome even by todays standards!!LDS 767,which although dated by todays standards is still a great addon!!FS NAvigator!!Wish someone could rework for FSX!!

LDS 767,which although dated by todays standards is still a great addon!!

My first payware aircraft and my first stab at learning Boeing systems. That add-on introduced me to the world of quality payware (at the time, I had to decide between the LDS 767 and the DreamFleet 727). Which leads me to the DreamFleet 727. I finally started appreciating and understanding more complex aircraft systems. I was a hit with my nerdy aviation fan friends thanks to these two.Today, I'd say TrackIR and Active Sky have had the largest impact on simming for me.

Orbx, FSDreamTeam, FlyTampa, PMDG, A2A Simulations, Carenado, REX 2+OD (upcoming Essential), CaptainSim, QualityWings, Project Airbus, Thomas Ruth, Project Opensky/Free Sky Project.

If I could only have one addon, it would be Advanced Sky (any version). Without a doubt, it has completely changed FSX for me-- the more accurate weather depiction, graphics, etc.