Formation flying tools - FSX, P3D

[Adamski]

I've used various tools over the years to set up formations for screenshots, but would love to have a comprehensive list of what works - and for which sim.

I'd be really grateful if people could post their suggestions/mini-reviews of what they use currently and maybe what they've used in the past.

1) Name f the utility.
2) FSX/P3D version.
3) Payware or Freeware.
4) Link for more info or download page.
5) Short review - or advantages/disadvantages.

Adam.

[Ian Warren]

That's is something I have not used, also good to find out the workings.

[Adamski]

OK - to kick things off - here's my "review" for ATFX:

Air Traffic FX
Payware: $24.95 US. Latest version: 4.2.2.
http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=airtrfcfx
http://www.simforums.com/forums/air-traffic-fx-and-geoapr_forum45.html

Originally for FSX - but appears to work in P3D, albeit with the occasional crash. Uses Simconnect, so detects whatever sim is running - point the aircraft list at the current sim.
Allows addition to a user's flight/formation, local traffic (flying), en-route traffic, or static/parked (in airport parking slots only).

PROS
1) Very easy to use - with a neat little GUI. Just select/add aircraft from your installed list. Formations can be added/removed "on the fly". Number of aircraft: unlimited.
2) Formation aircraft move around [slightly] dynamically - they don't just "mimic" the user aircraft.
3) Seems to work OK with Accusim most aircraft (not all) - either as user or AI.

CONS
1) Can't modify the flying formation/positions in any way. Added aircraft go into preset positions only. User aircraft is always at the head of a "V" formation.
2) Six aircraft maximum.



The user aircraft here is the yellow NZ1078.

Adam.

[Roelio]

I use FSrecorder 2.16 alpha. Sadly it doesn't work for P3D (at least not the formation tools). It's a simple, but very powerful program that lets you make very nice formations. Plus it's free, so that's always nice!

This picture I used last year as a screenshotcomp entry:



I also made a small tutorial a few years back on how to make formations with FSrecorder right here: http://www.myflightdirector.com/forum/v ... tion#p3440
The only thing I didn't mention in this post is that you have to record a flight first. To do so, click on "record" in the FSrecorder dropdown menu. Go and make a flight and when you're done you click on "stop recording" in the same dropdown menu. Save it and follow the steps I posted.

It does has it's flaws though. I.e fandiscs don't show up all the time, particularly PMDG aircraft seem to have this issue, and you can see it in the the screenshot above. The PMDG ANZ 777 doesn't have fans, but the PMDG 747 does.
Sometimes gears stay extended, to counter this you just need to disable the gears inside the "advanced menu. The same goes for fluttering control surfaces or doors. You can all disable them if you have to.

I hope this works for you guys!

You can download it here.
http://www.fs-recorder.net/

[Adamski]

Yes - thanks for that - I tried FSRecorder in P3Dv3 and could only use v1.33.1 without (as you say) all the advanced tools that include the formations setups. I seem to remember in FSX, you could set each individual position (x,y) and also relative height.

Adam.