I notice that flying through clouds in FSX and FS9 doesn't have the same "speed" as in real life.

 

In real life, you can see the clouds coming in extremely fast as they get closer to the cockpit, and even faster as you fly through them.

 

It's something that's etched in my brain since a long time ago when I visited the cockpit of a 767 during flight.  It was amazing and unforgettable. 

 

So what is it in flight sims that can't replicate this?

Maurice,

 

There are a couple of problems in regards to this. The main reason is because cloud sprites (texture groupings) rotate around the camera (field of view) as you pass through them, hence keeping them in view for a longer duration. In most instances the programmed sprites actually disappear from view while in-cloud, this is the way it was designed unfortunately.

 

I believe the developers tried getting around this by revealing specific angles between texture sprites and positioning towards the camera, meanwhile while adjusting transparencies. However, as stated above, the major drawback was in-cloud transparency issue.

 

Perhaps you'll be happy to know that in P3D v.2 this has been changed and gives a much more realistic feeling of passing through and being immersed within clouds.

 

Hope this helps!

Maurice,

 

There are a couple of problems in regards to this. The main reason is because cloud sprites (texture groupings) rotate around the camera (field of view) as you pass through them, hence keeping them in view for a longer duration. In most instances the programmed sprites actually disappear from view while in-cloud, this is the way it was designed unfortunately.

 

I believe the developers tried getting around this by revealing specific angles between texture sprites and positioning towards the camera, meanwhile while adjusting transparencies. However, as stated above, the major drawback was in-cloud transparency issue.

 

Perhaps you'll be happy to know that in P3D v.2 this has been changed and gives a much more realistic feeling of passing through and being immersed within clouds.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Thank you, Tim.  I really appreciate your help.  Great to hear from someone who knows more about FSX clouds than others (REX).  Now it makes sense.

I noticed the clouds disappearing as I fly through them if I look hard left or right.

Even though the clouds may be slow in FSX and FS9, it's only a very minor issue for me and I don't really notice or pay attention to it unless I'm in cruise and not doing much at all but stare out the window lol.

I should also mention that I LOVE your products :smile: .

 

Thanks again.

If you are spending all that time looking at the clouds when you fly thru them you are gonna be in trouble-just sayin...

You should be watching the instruments-watching the clouds gonna give you vertigo...

If you are spending all that time looking at the clouds when you fly thru them you are gonna be in trouble-just sayin...

You should be watching the instruments-watching the clouds gonna give you vertigo...

 

LOL.  I hear ya.  I keep an eye on the instruments, but when doing a 2 hour flight on a computer sim with failures disabled, it's kinda hard not to enjoy the view between waypoints.  Not to mention all the time I also spend admiring the plane and scenery using external view.  I guess I'm not as hardcore as a lot of simmers.  I also enjoy "lite" and complex airplanes.

I like to have my atlas with me and compare the accuracy of the sim vs atlas.

...watching the cloud, ha........ didn't see anything in FAR part 91 covering this thing ....just hope that whoever is on board, is comfortable with their PIC keep his mind with how fast the cloud are moving ...... :dance:

Cheers

 

Yair

Just enjoying the immersion FSX, AS2012 and REX gives me :wink: .  After all, if we shouldn't be looking at clouds, we would all be using default textures.

 

No, I don't stare at them for long periods :smile: .  I did not mention, but I spend most of my cloud spotting when I see interesting build ups. 

 

Wanna hear something even more scary?  I use default flight plans, even with PMDG! :dance:

Hi,

 

I agree with Groovin_DC-10, the whole thing can get so immersive, especially if you use REX or GEX, UTX or in my case all three, I just sit there in the cruise staring out the window at the amazing scenery out there in FSX world!

 

Well I don't want to be a slave to the instruments when the computers flying anyway!

 

When you think about it, there isn't much original FSX left, we replace the airports, the planes, scenery, landclass, sky, clouds, and winds...........to improve things out there, so lets all enjoy the view!

Finally someone who understands lol.  Thank you, Dave.

 

I agree.  There is nothing original with our FSX and all those add ons combined give us great immersion that we can just sit back and enjoy the view.

 

Doing a departure from a busy airport at dusk with UTX night lights and the right sky textures is something that almost brings a tear to my eye, everytime.  Extremely nostalgic for me.

Maurice,

 

Are you using the limit visibility in clouds option in AS?

Just enjoying the immersion FSX, AS2012 and REX gives me :wink: .  After all, if we shouldn't be looking at clouds, we would all be using default textures.

 

No, I don't stare at them for long periods :smile: .  I did not mention, but I spend most of my cloud spotting when I see interesting build ups. 

 

Wanna hear something even more scary?  I use default flight plans, even with PMDG! :dance:

To be honest, we don't sit and stay locked on the instruments while in the clouds unless you are hand flying, on a SID, or on approach. The AP handles the jet just fine ine the clouds. One thing we do look to is the TAT/SAT before entering since our SOP has us turn on engine anti-ice in visual moisture below 10C. I also turn on the seatbelt depending on the look of the cloud. Would be nice if FSX simulated the turbulence associated with clouds when in them.

 

 

Would be nice if FSX simulated the turbulence associated with clouds when in them.

 

Soon Rick, very soon.

REX has the best environment textures so I purchased their product just to export the weather related textures to fsx. Then I run Active Sky 2012 since I believe it's the best weather engine program. I definitely get a sense of speed through the clouds even on lower cloud resolutions.

 

The one downside with rex textures in as2012 is strange looking visibility when the engine tries using cloud textures to limit visibility distance.

I Love looking at clouds ! I just started using larger REX sized clouds with my new computer and they are pretty amazing! From the canopy of the Lancair you get some amazing views!

Maurice,

 

Are you using the limit visibility in clouds option in AS?

 

Hi Jim,

I just looked at the cloud options in AS2012 but couldn't find a setting for "limit visibility in clouds".  Maybe I'm looking in the wrong options setting? 

In the visibility options, maximum surface vis. is set to 50mi and max upper visibility is 60mi.

 

 

To be honest, we don't sit and stay locked on the instruments while in the clouds unless you are hand flying, on a SID, or on approach. The AP handles the jet just fine ine the clouds. One thing we do look to is the TAT/SAT before entering since our SOP has us turn on engine anti-ice in visual moisture below 10C. I also turn on the seatbelt depending on the look of the cloud. Would be nice if FSX simulated the turbulence associated with clouds when in them.

 

Thank you for the tip, Rick.  I'm going to keep an eye more on TAT/SAT before and while entering.  Never really paid attention to it before.

 

For turbulence in clouds, take a look at Active Sky Next.  I believe it's still on beta but things are looking great.  I will probably get it when it's out because I hear you can finally have turbulence enabled within FSX and not mess up some complex add ons like PMDG MD-11.

 

REX has the best environment textures so I purchased their product just to export the weather related textures to fsx. Then I run Active Sky 2012 since I believe it's the best weather engine program. I definitely get a sense of speed through the clouds even on lower cloud resolutions.

 

The one downside with rex textures in as2012 is strange looking visibility when the engine tries using cloud textures to limit visibility distance.

 

Same here.  I'm using low res clouds but I also have compression set to bump up my fps.  And since I fly airliners, my water res is set to the lowest setting and it still looks great.  The difference is not that noticeable when flying jets.

 

 

 

I Love looking at clouds ! I just started using larger REX sized clouds with my new computer and they are pretty amazing! From the canopy of the Lancair you get some amazing views!

 

Congrats on the new PC.  I bet it looks awesome with HD clouds from REX. 

I tried this in the past but my fps goes way down in heavy weather.  So it's 256 res. with compression for me.

I hope to upgrade in a few years.