SteveW

Ordinarily, that's not happening with 3.3.5.17625 out of the box. Perhaps some odd interaction with an external app or addon exe.

The simconnect setup shown is perfect.
 
61259 comes with SP2 or Acceleration, whereas 61242 comes with Standard and deluxe with SP1a update. Not long ago addons were built to run with 61242 since it works with no user intervention if the user had not upgraded with Acceleration or updated to SP2, any addons using 61259 would require the user install simconnect.
 
When we install P3D it installs only 1.0.20.0 and would be sufficient if using P3D only addons, but P3D works with all versions of simconnect.
 
When using any addons converted from FSX they may still use 60905, 61242, or 61259. Most recent addons that work specifically for P3D v2/3 and FSX SP2 use 61259 and require FSX has SP2 update.
 
In short 61242 is the most common simconnect across FSX addons, but 61259 is most common with recent FSX SP2 and P3Dv2/3 compatible addons.
 
Best to install all three FSX simconnect versions if you plan to try loading up any old addons from the FSX era.

Yes, you can at least check the folders specified in the cfg are correct. And then another thing is to ensure you have no repeating aircraft in those folders.

Try updating your USB and controls drivers.

You need to set "Filtering" on the Display Settings page. Generally set to "Anisotropic".

run regedit
 
go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\microsoft games\flight simulator\10.0
 
double click SetupPath
 
place the location of FSX in there, e.g.:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\
 
With Explorer Properties, Security, "Edit" and Add "Write" and "Modify" permissions for the "Users" group on that folder, allow subfolders.
 
Install PMDG

Maybe it's just random FSX thermals, you could try renaming ThermalDescriptions.xml to ThermalDescriptions.xml.sav and restart FSX. Look in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X" or wherever you installed FSX.