Classic British Flight Sim

I've finally got around to tweaking the frame rate performance of my retro AI bundles for Manchester and Kai Tak. I'm not sure if anybody's actually using them other than me, but if so you might want to update them. The main change is to incorporate DM's dedicated AI models instead of the full models as before. I've also tweaked the visibility percentage of the traffic so that moving the slider gives a bigger improvement on frame rates without losing too many aircraft.
Updating only involves replacing the DM aircraft folders and a couple of traffic files - full instructions provided. The zips do contain all the files to install from scratch if you haven't already got them. They're both for FS9.

There are two separate bundles containing all you need for lots of working traffic (1975-1985) at two 70s airports. David Maltby's 1975 Manchester and either Fly Tampa (payware) or 9 Dragons (freeware) Kai Tak.

Download VHHX Kai Tak traffic 62Mb zip



Download EGCC Manchester traffic 56Mb zip



Ian

thank you Ian

I'm hoping I'll get this installed, correctly.

Ian,

Having played with AI off and on, I know what an amount of effort this will have been. Many thanks for sharing it! Now how about a nice IGS video to show it all off?

Best rgds,

Colin

Thanks for your (misguided) confidence, Colin

In a supporting role in the sim the AI really does help capture the 70s atmosphere at Kai Tak ... but by the time you've thrown fraps at it, it looks rather disappointing in a video - so you're excused that!

Here's a screenie showing what 74% traffic looks like. This knocks off the FPS hungry HJG 707s that I was using (for want of any decent AI 707s) and some static a/c, leaving only working dedicated AI models. With all other FS9 sliders maxed out you can see I'm getting a FPS of 24 (18 at 100% ) which is pretty respectable for a £800 laptop and a good compromise. So I'm very happy with the improvement at my favourite airport



Ian

That looks cracking Ian - I take it you were unimpressed with the Dee Waldron AI 707s?

Rgds,

Colin

Effoh wrote:That looks cracking Ian - I take it you were unimpressed with the Dee Waldron AI 707s?

Well - they're not up to the standard of the other stuff I'm using and there aren't many suitable paints for it either. TBH the Tristars aren't very good close up either (also Dee Waldron) but there's no other option. I'm not complaining, it's just that they were built for a time when PCs couldn't handle anything better. But thanks for the suggestion, Colin.

The newer AI is much more sophisticated and shows the older stuff up, but fortunately 747 classics and DC10s were the staple diet at HKG and the VC10s and Tridents add a British flavour. A sprinkling of Tristars sets it off nicely if you don't look too closely

Ian