My Saitek yoke & pedals first and foremost, but also all of the photoscenery I've bought (payware) or acquired (freeware).

 

UK2000 UK airports are also a must for me.

 

ENB has been very useful

 

I'm quite keen on a recent (free) addition too - Followme2.

 

Tileproxy was fun, though I've not used it so much lately.

 

IAN

FSUIPC (all bow down to the sainted Mr. Dowson!)   B)

Track IR5

REX 2

Sweet FX 1.4

Indispensable.  Hmm.  I've got many add-ons that I'd hate to do without, but if I think of showstopping, probably wouldn't fly FSX AT ALL, truly, unequivocally, INDISPENSABLE, it's down to hardware and two subsequent pieces of software.

 

I would not fly without my yoke, throttle quadrants, radio panel and multi-panel - in my case these are Saitek due to price constraints.  To make these pieces truly useful, two other pieces of software then become essential - SPAD, to replace the default Saitek drivers and add functionality and versatility, and of course FSUIPC to make it all work even better than better.

 

Lots of other "I'd hate to be withouts", but these are truly essential.

 

Scott

My Wife! She makes the best tea and don't even get me started on her casseroles! :lol: And my second PC.

 

 

Patience and understanding from the family!

 

Best answer yet. :lol:

 

I could list my indispensables, but I'd only be repeating what's been said over and over.  Essentially, hardware controls (yoke or stick, depending on the plane, switches, tq's, etc) and the software to make that hardware play nice (FSUIPC).  Anything else is purely subject to the whims of the moment.

 

 Photo scenery is not a good idea

 

I disagree, while it might not be for you, photoreal has transformed my sim experience. I rarely fly outside of photoreal now.

My essentials are:

 

(1) A pocket full of cash.

(2) FSX Global Textures. Completely transformed my level of immersion.

(3) SweetFX. Ditto on transforming level of immersion.

1) FTX Global

2) OrbX Scenery

3) OpusFSX (weather and cameras)

4) REX textures

5) FSUIPC

6) FS Global (mesh)

7) Plan G

I echo the sentiments on the hardware.  Flying with a yoke, pedals, and one dedicated throttle axis per engine for GA and comericial is an essential part of the feel, just as using a good Joystick is important for those planes that have a Stick, or a helicopter.  Without the underlying hardware to control the airplane, all the other essentials like exdok and TIR would simply not have the same multiplying effect on the experience. 1 x 2 = 2, but 2 x 2 = 4.

OPUSFSX. We fly in and through the weather. OPUS has been without doubt the most impactful addon to my sim experience. There is a demo and I suggest you give it a try. OPUSFSX combined with REX textures is just outstanding.

 

Regards,

 

Danny

Side-topic... I see FSUIPC come up a lot here - a couple of posters even suggest that without it, FSX doesn't work right. I don't have it. I seem to do fine. What am I missing?

Side-topic... I see FSUIPC come up a lot here - a couple of posters even suggest that without it, FSX doesn't work right. I don't have it. I seem to do fine. What am I missing?

 

Do you have a lot of hardware?  It does many things, but the most important is the ability to assign your hardware appropriately.  It's especially useful for switching between categories of aircraft like pistons, turboprops, and jets, making your throttle quadrants do different things for different planes.  Not only that, but it gives you the ability to use your hardware switches for things that are beyond what can be assigned with only vanilla FSX.

All of my hardware is essential:

 

1. Yoke, rudder controls, throttle quadrant...not sure the brand is important
2. Saitek multiswitch...hate to be without a good gear handle!
3. VRInsight EFIS/MCP/Comm Combo....hate the rotary knobs but can't live without them (until I can afford something better)

Software:

1. FSUIPC
2. EZDoc
3. ENB
4. ActiveSky
5. Flight1 SoundStream
6. Accufeel...well, I *could* live without it but I don't want to!

Do you have a lot of hardware?  It does many things, but the most important is the ability to assign your hardware appropriately.  It's especially useful for switching between categories of aircraft like pistons, turboprops, and jets, making your throttle quadrants do different things for different planes.  Not only that, but it gives you the ability to use your hardware switches for things that are beyond what can be assigned with only vanilla FSX.

Pretty basic - Thrustmaster X-Flight Joystick and Throttle quadrant, and Saitek pedals. I guess I use my mouse to do things other guys would assign to their controllers.

 

My TrackIR 5 now, that I would NEVER part with - esp. since I have to use click around the VC so much.

In no particular order...

FS2Crew (for whatever my favourite aircraft is at that moment) 

FSUIPC

EzDok

REX

Weather

 

Billy