C16thFoxe

My apologies; that came across a bit more "snippy" than I meant. But, at least you have now found the tool.

35 seconds on Google could answer your question. Be that as it may, try here.

As I recall, FS9 standard mesh is 600m. And yes, FS9 can display 20m mesh (Christian Stock's 20m New Zealand mesh has been around since 2006 - unfortunately it is no longer commercially available :( ). Set your tmvl to 21 and bob's your n'uncle. Dorian

I seem to recall that it was only the FSE Exchange module that needed online confirmation. As I'm not intending to create scenery (have EZ Scenery) but rather installing several FS9 Alaskan bush sceneries that require FSE, the Exchange module should not need to be activated. If I do create any FSE sceneries, they would be primarily soundscapes anyway. Of course, all of this is moot without a copy of FSE (to see what happens). Edit: Found a copy, installed it in FS9, activated the registration tab and typed in my serial number and ... voila! Bob's yar n'uncle. Works just fine (but I suspect the Exchange aspect will not, as has been pointed out). No great sweat. Dorian

Am searching for an archived executable copy of the above software. I still have my Registration code, am just missing the software (it was on one of a number of backup disks that were trashed in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake). Can anyone help? TIA. Regards, Dorian

Just throwing the cat amidst the pigeons ... if I'm reading this correctly, the Appleman Chart suggests a range anywhere between -26.15C and -69.61C, dependent upon hPa (pressure) and RH (relative humidity). Personally, I have no idea how well the simulator models these situations at altitude, so it might be that the MS default of -30C may be a good enough compromise for FS9. Who knows?

Which is the MS default value. Your choice.

And, as I have already stated, the general consensus amongst simmers, given the limitations of FS9 as a realistic simulation platform, is -27C.

"I still don't get it. So that's what it shows. Is that a good number or a bad number?" Just to show you that Google is your friend and that the subject has been discussed previously. You could have searched it out for yourself. "And whichever it is, the temperature number is something that is set per aircraft?" Yes. "So each aircraft has to be changed separately?" Unless you have a horde of friendly elves hidden away in a cupboard somewhere who are prepared to change the numbers for you, yes. "Not something that is global?" Do a Library search for "Contrails" "And is it ai_fx.zip or ai-fx.zip?" High-Altitude Contrail 50 Miles Long File Description: FS2004 High-altitude contrail 50 miles long. Use w/ default AI aircraft. High- altitude contrails are now enabled by MS for use on each aircraft, jet or prop, single or multi-engine, by using the FS9 version of the aircraft.cfg "EFFECTS" section to specify them. The temperature below which the contrails occur can also be defined in aircraft.cfg by the user. Included in d/l are new AI contrail, and revised aircraft.cfg w/folder structure to make a extra "AI" copy of default AC. This allows default(or other)contrail to be used for "hand" flying same aircraft. Easy manual installation with all new filenames. Filename: ai_fx.zip License: Freeware Added: 28th September 2003, 19:12:42 Downloads: 14356 Author: Jan Rosenberg Size: 91kb "Are we talking about two different files?" No, I was simply suffering a case of fat finger syndrome. Dorian

My apologies. Further investigation, specifically of the default b737_400 aircraft, shows the max temp at which MS decided that contrails should appear is set at -30C (in the GeneralEngineData section of the aircraft.cfg file). Jan Rosenberg looked into the actual mechanics of the contrail.fx effect and tinkered with both the look and duration of the effect. His work is available in the file AI-FX.zip and it is from this Readme that I was quoting. If you are still confused then I suggest you contact him. As for "hits" ... that's the number of page returns when you Google "FS9 default contrail max temp". Dorian

The general consensus is that -27C is default. Discussions on various fora (Google: FS9 default contrail max temp and you will get 14600 hits) suggest a range between -25C (a tad too warm for contrail formation) and -30C. Dorian

Jan Rosenberg (AI_fx.zip) suggests -27C. This, from the Readme: " In FS2004, I tested this effect in Florida. With default ground temp of 59 deg F, the contrails occurred anywhere from 24000 to 26000 ft with the "max" temp set to -27 deg C. By setting the "max" temp to this lower value I seem to get the high-altitude contrails more often with AI aircraft." Dorian

Bill Lyon's payware (now freeware) G21 Grumman Goose contains a modified language.dll that removes these messages. Don't know if it is included in the re-released freeware model, but it's worth a try (and you get a great amphibian bird to boot). Dorian

Of course there's DAFSIM.

If you are exclusively using 3rd party AI and flight plans that do not require calling the default traffic file then yes, by all means, remove the default aircraft. I say remove, not delete. In my instance I simply created a new folder in the FS9 hierarchy called "Hanger" and moved all unnecessary aircraft across to it. But then I'm using heavy and GA AI models and traffic files that make no call on default aircraft and I haven't experienced a problem ... yet. As for gauges ... check to see if any aircraft you wish to fly needs any default gauges from aircraft you have moved to your "Hanger" folder and, if so, simply copy the requisite gauge cab file into your FS9 Gauge folder. Just my two penneth's worth.