Active Sky Next FSX 16: A Review
Active Sky Next FSX 16 (AS16) is a weather simulation engine for Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) and FSX: Steam Edition (FSX:SE). It is developed by HiFi Simulation Technologies, a company that has been creating weather add-ons for flight simulators since 2002. AS16 is the latest version of their flagship product, Active Sky, which aims to provide the most realistic and immersive weather experience possible for FSX users.
In this article, we will review some of the features and benefits of AS16, as well as some of the drawbacks and limitations. We will also compare it with other weather add-ons available for FSX, and give our verdict on whether AS16 is worth buying or not.
Features and Benefits
AS16 boasts a number of features and benefits that make it stand out from other weather add-ons for FSX. Some of these are:
- In-Cloud Motion Effects: This feature simulates the sensation of flying through clouds, with realistic turbulence, wind shifts, and visibility changes. You can feel the speed of motion and the density of the clouds as you fly through them, adding to the realism and immersion.
- Weather Scenarios System: This feature allows you to choose from a variety of predefined weather scenarios, such as thunderstorms, fog, snow, clear skies, etc. You can also create your own custom scenarios using the map-based weather editing system. This gives you more control over the weather conditions you want to fly in, and also allows you to practice different situations and challenges.
- Airborne Weather Radar: This feature adds a realistic weather radar gauge to your aircraft, which shows you the precipitation, cloud tops, and storm cells around you. You can use this to avoid hazardous weather, plan your route, and monitor the changes in the atmosphere.
- Navigraph Data Integration: This feature allows you to use the latest Navigraph data cycle for your flight planning and navigation. Navigraph provides updated information on airports, airways, navaids, procedures, etc. You can also use Navigraph charts within AS16 to view your departure and arrival procedures.
- Universal Web Companion App: This feature allows you to access AS16 from any device with a web browser, such as a tablet or a smartphone. You can use this to view and edit the weather, check your flight plan, monitor your progress, and more. You can also use this to control AS16 remotely from another computer.
- Active Sky Cloud Art (ASCA) Integration: This feature allows you to use AS16 with ASCA, a graphics add-on that enhances the cloud and sky textures in FSX. ASCA also introduces a new feature called Real-Time Dynamic Cloud and Sky Textures, which changes the textures according to the weather conditions and time of day. This creates more variety and realism in the sky.
Drawbacks and Limitations
AS16 is not without its drawbacks and limitations. Some of these are:
- Price: AS16 is not cheap. It costs $49.99 USD for either FSX or FSX:SE version. If you want to use it with both versions, you have to buy two separate licenses. If you also want to use ASCA with AS16, you have to pay another $22.99 USD. This makes it one of the most expensive weather add-ons for FSX.
- Performance: AS16 can have a significant impact on your system performance, especially if you use high settings and complex weather scenarios. You may experience lower frame rates, stuttering, or crashes if your system is not powerful enough to handle AS16. You may also need to tweak some settings in FSX or AS16 to optimize your performance.
- Compatibility: AS16 may not be compatible with some other add-ons or mods that affect the weather or graphics in FSX. For example, some users have reported conflicts with REX Sky Force 3D, another popular weather add-on for FSX. You may need to disable or uninstall some add-ons or mods if they cause problems with AS16.
- Support: AS16 may not be supported by HiFi Simulation Technologies in the future, as they have already released a new product called Active Sky P3D (ASP3D), which is designed for Prepar3D (P3D), another flight simulator platform. ASP3D has more features and improvements than AS16, and is compatible with the latest versions of P3D. HiFi Simulation Technologies may focus more on ASP3D and less on AS16, which may affect the quality and frequency of updates and bug fixes for AS16.
Comparison with Other Weather Add-ons
There are several other weather add-ons available for FSX, such as REX Sky Force 3D, OpusFSI, FS Global Real Weather, etc. Each of these add-ons has its own strengths and weaknesses, and may suit different preferences and needs. Here is a brief comparison of some of the main features of these add-ons with AS16:
| NOAA, VATSIM, IVAO, custom |
| User-defined, up to every 10 minutes |
| User-defined, up to every 10 minutes |
| User-defined, up to every 10 minutes |
| User-defined, up to every 10 minutes |
| Navigraph Data Integration |
As you can see, AS16 has some advantages over other weather add-ons, such as the in-cloud motion effects, the airborne weather radar, and the Navigraph data integration. However, it also has some disadvantages, such as the price, the performance impact, and the compatibility issues. Ultimately, the choice of which weather add-on to use depends on your personal preference, budget, and system specifications.
Verdict
AS16 is a powerful and realistic weather simulation engine for FSX and FSX:SE. It offers a lot of features and benefits that enhance the weather experience and immersion in flight simulation. It also integrates well with ASCA, a graphics add-on that improves the cloud and sky textures in FSX. However, AS16 is also expensive, demanding, and potentially incompatible with some other add-ons or mods. Therefore, we recommend AS16 to those who are looking for the most advanced and immersive weather simulation possible for FSX, and who have a high-end system and a generous budget. For those who are looking for a more affordable, simple, or compatible weather add-on for FSX, there may be other options that suit their needs better.
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