everytime i see screenshots it seems that every other persons flight sim is different to mine. Everyone has got different airports, proper airlines AI, better clouds and water, totally different skies and clouds, detailed cities, so ive decided that im going to buy a load of FS stuff for my birthday (july1st) but ive just got no idea where to start with fs.could someone make a list or something of the main addons i need, thanks.willg

I use Active Sky 2004.5 and Flight Environment for clouds/water/skies with great results. You might want to try the new ASV just released, and i believe another version of FE is on its way too. CheersDan

how about VFR scenery and airports?

I have VFR England and Wales and the VFR San Francisco scenery.Personally, i like them but some people dont. For high altitude flying photoreal looks good and is fun (following roads, coastlines etc), but their are drawbacks. For example, frame rates may be a problem, although i find them acceptable on my system. Also the UK scenery has no night lighting effect so dont expect to see much at night. You lose all autogen as well. However, these issues aside, for VFR flying (say above 2000 feet) photoreal scenery is a world apart from MS default. There is of course the Megascenery photoreal series, but i dont have any yet so cannot comment.Airports??... Simwings, Heathrow Pro, Fly Tampa plus the freeware library, so much choice!CheersDan

I reccomend ActiveSky V and Flight Envirnonment too. Huge difference and worth every penny.For AI, they easiest way to go is to head to the Project AI website, follow the steps and get to downloading. Free and awesome.If you're like me and don't have tonnes of cash but want a nice view of Europe, just do a search for Pietro Mauri. You can get the mesh sceneries for most all of Europe from him. Doesn't affect the textures, but at least they show all elevations and everything won't be so flat. It's a huge improvement. But get Suisse2004 from the library for switzerland, it's free and awesome.As far as aircraft, Project Fokker has my fave freeware F100. I then bit the bullit and bought Eaglesoft's CitationX for a charter craft, and will bite the bullit and get PMDG's 747-400 when released.Hope this helps!