Must Have Global Scenery Add-ons?

[Virtual-Chris 682]

What are some must have global scenery add-ons that enhance the sim... I'm talking about add-ons that work across the world or at least a broad region.  Ideally minimal impact to performance. Please mention if they are freeware or payware.

I'm guessing a few good ones I've used in the past are:

- GAIST (ship traffic) - what's the FPS impact? (freeware)

- Marinas: https://nl.flightsim.to/file/38499/mamudesign-marinas (freeware - is this still good?) 

- Runway lighting? https://flightsim.to/file/28286/unknown-s-runway-lights (freeware)

- REX airport textures? (payware - is this worth it?)

 

[Shack95 2,729]

I‘d add Powerlines and Solar Farms and especially We Love VFR to the list (both freeware on flightsim.to). Project Lifts (also free on flightsim.to) is nice as well.

Edited August 21, 2023 by Shack95

[Flyfaster_MTN002 412]

1 hour ago, Virtual-Chris said:

What are some must have global scenery add-ons that enhance the sim... I'm talking about add-ons that work across the world or at least a broad region.  Ideally minimal impact to performance. Please mention if they are freeware or payware.

I'm guessing a few good ones I've used in the past are:

- GAIST (ship traffic) - what's the FPS impact? (freeware)

- Marinas: https://nl.flightsim.to/file/38499/mamudesign-marinas (freeware - is this still good?) 

- Runway lighting? https://flightsim.to/file/28286/unknown-s-runway-lights (freeware)

- REX airport textures? (payware - is this worth it?)

 

flightsim.to and select most popular/downloaded

[Malaromane 486]

If you're flying GA aircraft, then as @Shack95 mentions above, We Love VFR is a fantastic global scenery add on.

There's three regions available (all freeware):

Region 1: https://flightsim.to/file/2605/we-love-vfr-region-1 (covering Europe & Africa)

Region 2: https://flightsim.to/file/16674/we-love-vfr-region-2 (covering North & South America)

Region 3: https://flightsim.to/file/52211/we-love-vfr-region-3 (covering Asia and Oceania)

While not "global", if you fly in Southern California then the freeware airport sceneries by @vbazillio are a must-download. You can really see the care and love he puts into each of his creations. You can find all of his offerings at: https://flightsim.to/profile/vbazillio. Every single airport he's published is worth the time to download, install, and discover.

Edited August 21, 2023 by Malaromane

[Bert Pieke 7,628]

1 hour ago, Virtual-Chris said:

- Marinas: https://nl.flightsim.to/file/38499/mamudesign-marinas (freeware - is this still good?) 

Really good - worth having.

[SuperKaro2014 285]

A great list here:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/your-top-5-world-enhancement-mods/509855

[Virtual-Chris 682]

Related to this, what are people using for seasons these days?  Rex or Bijan or nothing?

[Bert Pieke 7,628]

2 minutes ago, Virtual-Chris said:

Related to this, what are people using for seasons these days?  Rex or Bijan or nothing?

Nothing, for me..

[Virtual-Chris 682]

1 hour ago, Bert Pieke said:

Nothing, for me..

Yeah, I'll probably live without for now. A quick search reveals that REX has still not implemented terrain masks despite promising that a year ago, and the Bijan product seems to be neglected as well.  

[Alvega 2,127]

1 hour ago, Bert Pieke said:

Nothing, for me..

Same.

[Max Kraus 358]

It just shows where we are with FS when there is only a very small handful of global addons. Gone are the days of searching for mesh, landclass, textures and terrain and road enhancements.

[faldrath 3]

Honestly, the fact that Bijan's seasons mod hasn't been updated in a while doesn't mean it's not very good - because it is. I've been using it for years now and never had any issues.

[Stearmandriver 2,365]

Yeah, Bijan's yeilds the best vegetation possible in the sim.  I figured the Rex product would be similar but it seems not to be; less variety of vegetation, less regionally accurate etc.  It *looks* nice, but... well for instance, the jungle vegetation in PNG in Rex is basically a sea of palm trees, which isn't close to correct.  Bijan's depicts a nice variety of broadleaf trees and shrubs with just an occasional palm tree... Much more accurate.  I didn't expect that to make as much of a difference as it does.  Bijan's is still highly recommended.

[micstatic 4,510]

I'm pretty sure the seasonal ones like REX accuseason will be moot come FS2024 where it looks like we are getting seasons included.  Atleast I thought I saw that...

[Sethos 4,822]

Stay away from Bijan's, if you intend to get a vegetation addon. He has abandoned the project, it has known issues and an FPS hit to boot because he hasn't made some necessary modifications. They strung people along on their Discord for a long time while he was away, he returns, doing some weird announcement through someone else and promises an update but it never arrived. They even locked down the Discord and never opened it again. They are just stringing people along, hoping to squeeze the last money out of the project.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Sethos