So I completed my first night flight since installing FSX:SE. First time using FSX in general.

 

In FS9 night flying was fairly routine and easy. You could see the runway plenty far enough away to approach from a distance.

 

Last night I was flying the RealAir Duke and getting used to the new plane and GTN750 GPS. Been away for 9 years so I'm readjusting so to speak.

 

Anyhow I flew IFR out of a rainy area. Upon descent to the active ILS I was given the usual goofy vectors. Fine, I was still playing with the gadgets and relearning. Luckily my preoccupation with the panel and GPS resulted in a good experience; however, I noticed as I was cleared for the ILS and awaiting capture to the LOC that I couldn't see anything! Nothing! Eventually the LOC captured and I just pressed the APP button to pay more attention to the outside while the plane did the work. I was on the GS and probably a mile out before the runway "popped" up. I don't know if the Wx was overcast or what. The ATIS reported a ceiling of like 1700 IRCC but broken. I still think at 2,000 feet I should've seen things sooner.

 

Is this a typical experience with FSX and the autogen scenery not coming alive soon enough at night or does it sound like the Wx?

 

I'm at work (three 12s) so I can't try again until Thursday or Friday.

Could have been low clouds/fog obscuring the airport and it "popped" into view at the last minute.  FSX is very poor with such things, you don't get fade in or fade out, things just abruptly pop in and out of view.

I figured.  Too bad that things popped up in this version.  Stupid.

Mine fades in as I get closer. I only have this single shot, but the runway did fade in.

Just as the objects beyond the runway are...

 

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=550502563

Ok cool. Perhaps it as just the weather but I don't recall ever having it pop up that way in FS9. Hopefully my future flights are better. I know I'll plan better though lol

I don't remember how FS9 was. It's been a while since I touched that version.