PFPX and path to current_weather.txt

[riccardo74 36]

As many of you know once PFPX is installed it crashes if you don't enable a proper weather path. In fact, the one inside the program is no longer active and crashes PFPX. I could install ASP3D but, not using P3D anymore, I don't want to install it just to have a snapshot of the weather (current_weather.txt) and that's it. So I ask you if there is some very small free program that could download only the current_weather.txt to connect to PFPX. Is there anything? how do you get around the problem? thank you all in advance

[srcooke 52]

The PFPX online services are still active and available via subscription if you so choose.

Alternatively you can use Activesky or try w2pfpx available via Avsim downloads.

[riccardo74 36]

Thanks so much, I'll try w2pfpx

Does wx2pfpx manage wind aloft? Just now got message in PFPX that Upper winds aloft data are not available.

Alternatively I installed ASP3D but can't run it without Prepar3d installed.

Edited May 25, 2023 by riccardo74

[srcooke 52]

The winds aloft data is supplied by a seperate file when using PFPX online services so the data not available message will appear for any other weather source.

Try using w2pfpx with the full grid option selected, I think you will find it will generally suffice. However nothing appears as accurate as the PFPX service.

Do you have access to an older version of ActiveSky that will run standalone.

[riccardo74 36]

Stephen thanks so much for your kind help (I've read your thread on Aerosoft foroum about this alert).

Now I'm trying wx2pfpx and despite the red alert message I got on PFPX, seems it can download winds aloft data. This one is from my last flight LIPZ-LIRF:

AWY WAYPOINT MT ALT WND/VEL TAS REM FUEL REM / USED LEG ACC
NAME TMP FREQ GS DIST POSITION ETO / ATO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIPZ/22R 7 3.4 / 0.1
-LIMM TESSERA 229 N4530.8 E01221.6 ...../.....
CHI8D PZ461 218*CLB 085/002 6 3.1 / 0.3 :02 00:02
223 N4526.7 E01216.3 ...../.....
CHI8D PZ464 175*CLB 101/009 15 2.8 / 0.6 :03 00:05
208 N4511.5 E01216.8 ...../.....
CHI8D CHI 176*CLB 106/012 7 2.7 / 0.7 :01 00:06
CHIOGGIA 114.10 201 N4504.3 E01216.9 ...../.....AWY WAYPOINT MT ALT WND/VEL TAS REM FUEL REM / USED LEG ACC
NAME TMP FREQ GS DIST POSITION ETO / ATO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIPZ/22R 7 3.4 / 0.1
-LIMM TESSERA 229 N4530.8 E01221.6 ...../.....
CHI8D PZ461 218*CLB 085/002 6 3.1 / 0.3 :02 00:02
223 N4526.7 E01216.3 ...../.....
CHI8D PZ464 175*CLB 101/009 15 2.8 / 0.6 :03 00:05
208 N4511.5 E01216.8 ...../.....
CHI8D CHI 176*CLB 106/012 7 2.7 / 0.7 :01 00:06
CHIOGGIA 114.10 201 N4504.3 E01216.9 ...../.....

and at the end of my OFP:

WIND INFORMATION - OBS ASKY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CLIMB) PIDEP MOMOD (DESCENT)
FL320 109/021 -49 FL370 114/014 -55 FL370 114/014 -55 FL320 117/025 -50
FL260 109/019 -34 FL350 121/020 -55 FL350 121/021 -55 FL260 109/022 -34
FL190 107/015 -18 FL330 120/021 -53 FL330 121/022 -53 FL190 101/019 -19
FL130 101/009 -5 FL310 114/018 -48 FL310 114/018 -48 FL130 096/010 -6
6000 106/003 +8 FL290 110/017 -42 FL290 110/017 -42 6000 106/005 +8

 

Regarding instead the versions of Active Sky (I would like to use it intead of wx2pfpx because suppose AS is a bit more accurate) which version can run as stand-alone? I own ActiveSky Next, Active Sky 2016, ASP4 and ASP3D. If no one of them are stand alone the only chance is to create a dummy installation of FSX/P3D. Any ideas?

[srcooke 52]

I think the dummy installation would be required but not sure that is worth the effort. Possibly earier as version would work without the paths.

As a test with a flight duration of just over five hours you can see the fuel burn figures are relatively close:

w2pfpx 15944kg
asp3d  16123kg
pfpx     16063kg

An 8hr transatlantic run returning:

2pfpx   56704kg
asp3d  56321kg
pfpx     57967kg

If you are flying longhauls regualrly then pfpx will return the more accurate planning figure, as can be seen for regionals w2pfpx should be good enough.

[riccardo74 36]

Thanks so much Stephen, the difference is not so bad. Most of the time I spent with regional flights, so wx2pfpx.