If you work with any of these packages, you will eventually want to add updated models - which will be a significant improvement in FPS.You really need the free download of ACM - Aircraft Container Manager - and check to see which models have the most polygons and the least number of LOD. Those need to be replaced first.BTW - the full version of ACM is fantastic - need to see the latest repaints without having to start FS, need to change the contact points because the aircraft doesn't sit right, need to add a taxi light, etc.. and so much more.Don't get me wrong, I own My Traffic, I use UT as my main AI interface, and I've ordered Traffic 2005 (DVD/CD version) and will probably use some of it.I have each of these and all the Project AI freeware packages in individual files for AFCAD and scenery testing.But I USE Ultimate Traffic. Not alot of the original models - but that should not deter anyone from buying any of these products.Traffic 2005, My Traffic and Ultimate Traffic all will give you a working AI world. If you go the complete manual route - you are 250-500 man hours of work away from reaching the point you will have one hour after installing UT, MYT or Traffic2005.As a newer product, I'm really hoping Traffic 2005 has made improvements in models, textures and easy of use. I might be disappointed. I expect newer developed products to learn the lessons and make improvements on the earlier releases in the field.One additional note - They appear to work pretty much like extremely stol planes.That is true - FS2004 cannot handle AI helicopters. It simply will not allow them to appear as AI traffic. The only way to get AI helicopter traffic is to make FS think they are STOL aircraft.Most of the successful freeware AI helicopters all use a motorglider flight dynamics set.Also helicopters are FPS hogs. They are simply too complex of models at this stage of development.Some of the AIA and FSP AI models are third generation AI aircraft. Extremely good models at very good polygon for detail tradeoffs. Modelers learn and the great ones get better.

Hi all,nice summary of available options, Reggie!As one of the developers of those motorglider-based AI choppers I'm very curious how the My Traffic 2005 flight dynamics do in comparison. Anyone out there who can comment on that? Also, are the AI helicopters mixed in with GA and commercial aircraft at airfields or do they use their own AFCAD overlays?Cheers, Holger

>Hi all,>>nice summary of available options, Reggie!>>As one of the developers of those motorglider-based AI>choppers I'm very curious how the My Traffic 2005 flight>dynamics do in comparison. Anyone out there who can comment on>that? Also, are the AI helicopters mixed in with GA and>commercial aircraft at airfields or do they use their own>AFCAD overlays?>In traffic 2005 the helicopters are just GA aviation with helicopter models and short take offs. They use GA parking and taxi to the runway to take off in the same way as any other ga ai.then there are the landings... :-)Marc.

Thanks for the very informative post Reggie, a great read.Cheers :)Josh

Now if only AIA and FS Painter would offer full autoinstalling packages - I'd even pay for that. That's the main reason I don't use them - I just don't want to, nor do I really have the time to do all of the customization work that is involved. I hate it when I spend more time tweaking FS then using it, though that is often the case lol.

Been there, done that, still doing that to some extent.My wife forced a rule - before I can download or configure stuff - I must fly for an hour.Mostly I stick to that.

I've been using the freebis PAI for the past couple of years, but just took the plunge with Traffic 2005...I like it! Loads more aircraft and airlines, but I now have to run at 45% traffic volume to maintain usable fps, whereas before, with PAI, I used 70%. Even at 45% though, there is far more traffic around and major airports are a regular shark-tank, with all those fins sticking up everywhere! OK, the models aren't perfect, but they do the job well enough, and look good.One funny thing I've noticed with this though is that, as is mentioned in the manual, it takes a good 10 mins for the AI to sort itself out........even with AI Smooth running, at large airports you'll see a huge knot of aircraft all trying to land at the same time, and a great rush from the aircraft due, and just past due to take off, all scurrying to the active runway!! I did a low and fast flight over Hong Kong CLK in an A10 and was amazed, and amused, to find what looked like a new Hong Kong/multi corporation aerial disply team with 737's/747's/A330's, all within a few feet of each other zooming in low to the runway, then all performing a go-around simultaniously, and then peelng off from the formation.....see attached piccie!Perhaps retired Red Arrows pilots get together from time to time.....ha, ha :D :D

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