Hi folks!

 

I've searched for answers here, but none of the posts returned seems to hit the nail on the head. I apoloqize for poor searching skills, and I hope no one expects me to go through all the posts since AS2012 was released. But I have to ask some very basic questions how to use AS2012:

 

This was posted in another thread by Vic (Beta Tester and altogether very knowledgeable guy it seems ^_^ )

 

If you want enroute weather for your flightplan you need to load it into AS2012 and process it before you fly. You will still need to load the plan in FSX for the GPS to control flight etc.

 

First question is to clear up the following misunderstanding on how DWC operates, the mode I thought was "native" and thus default mode for AS2012:

 

I thought DWC changed the weather as my flight progresses? Continuously comparing the aircraft position with entries in the station database and depicting/simulating the weather of the station that is closest ( interpolating with nearby stations for smoothness) ?

 

I've gathered that the DWC mode has been implemented to simulate high altitude winds more realistically. But I still thought that surface conditions were updated/changed as I my aircraft flew overhead a station along the route!

 

If not, I've been flying around for five months now with departure WX all along my route to the destination! And that doesn't make sense! As I'm almost 100% sure that destination WX has been different! Air Pressure being the most obvious parameter confirming this, as I compare my altitude readout with AD elevation after landing. It is always right on the money! I.e. the weather must be different!

 

Next question is an extensions of the first:

 

I thought the flight planning function in AS2012 was optional?

 

I have used it more or less by accident, because it was the easiest way to actually get data on winds aloft (in the "dispatch" weather report)!

 

(I seldom use it though. I fly short hauls, 150-300nm. And in my opinion, the upper winds are a negligible factor when planning/estimating fuel consumption and duration of flight.)

 

However, it is no doubt that AS2012 is generating winds aloft! It shows up on my ND screen. And if it is a substantial crosswind component, the difference between heading and track is also notable!

 

I have followed the instructions in the manual regarding FSX WX settings, and I'm fairly sure that FSX got nothing to do with the weather I'm experiencing.

 

I'm wondering what I've missed here?

 

My last question is about the graphics options that AS2012 comes with. It looks very exiting, but I haven't tried it yet!

 

The option to replace default FSX textures with an impressive range of replacement textures, that can be combined any way you want. Is a remarkable feature that I'm eager to try.

 

But the User Guide is very vague on what this really implies. The possible variations in depicting the weather itself is self explanatory. Replacing stock WX textures with AS2012 textures is a concept I can get my head around.

 

The various ground textures, such as roads and runways, however. Not so much.

 

So, true or false:

 

If I replace a runway texture with a AS2012 runway texture, Am I replacing ALL the runway textures in the entire FSX world with the one from AS2012?

 

And to follow up on runways specifically: Will the markings/paint on the runway be affected?

I've bought Amsterdam Schiphol EHAM from Aerosoft. This product has specialized runway textures specific to that airport. Will these simply be replaced?

 

You could argue that I should just try it. But in my experience, if you try something, as a test, in FSX. Chances are things will never go back to the way it was before. So I have been very reluctant to try these seemingly wonderful features of AS2012.

 

Hence, this looong post here. I rather hear what the experts has to say before I try anything so dramatic as replacing stock texture, or third-party texture without really understanding what is happening!

 

Call me a whimp, I don't care. I humbly ask for an explanation as to what really happens when I hit the "Install" button.

 

Have a great weekend! B)

 

Morten

Morten - Thanx for the compliment - hope I can live up to it. k et me take a shot.

 

Runways & Taxiways - yes they wll replace ALL the default textures however if a custom airport has CUSTOM textures, they will be used. The catch is how the addon implements the textures - if they just copy over the default then if AS is installed last, the AS texture will be used but if they create a unique name for the texture it will be used. Worst case - reinstall the airport AFTER instaling the textures.

 

Sometimes there can be so many options for possible graphics combs that it can be overwhelming. Personally, I just pick a preset theme and install it and fly for a while. If notice a cloud set that doesn't look realistic, then I'll change it and customize the set. More often that not I fly with one of the standard sets. I also use the snapshot option - it may take a while but I have AS generate complete set of weather influenced textures and load them as necessary.

 

Yes, the flight planning IS optional and yes AS2012 will generate the weather along your route as you fly whether you have a plan loaded or not. With a plan loaded however, AS ca read the weather at departure & destination and give you a report. If you are just flying, then AS can only read the weather as you go from area to area. More dfficult to interpolate when AS doesn't know where you are going, just tha you are currently heading in X direction. I have found that more accurate weather depiction along the route occurs when a flght plan is loaded. That is just my observation, there are others who are much more into details than I who might chime in with specifics.

 

Hope this helps a bit,

 

Vic

Hi Vic!

 

I was hoping you would answer, and you did! Thank you!

 

And your answers were exactly what I was looking for!

 

One followup:

 

OK, so using the FPL option will produce more realistic weather along the route, good!

 

However, some of my flightplans contains only waypoints (ISECS):

 

DCT ULVAK DCT GEPTU DCT ENBO

 

And AS seems only to handle NAV stations. If I import a flightplan with only ISECS, will it work then? Is this when AS creates "virtual stations"?

 

Morten

Morten - yes that's basically it. AS2012 will read the closest stations and extrapolate the weather along the route. You must have TAF processing enabled in AS2012.

 

Vic