Simulate Real Airports: Adding Scenery To Fsx

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) offers a wide range of downloadable scenery add-ons to enhance your gameplay experience. Installing these add-ons can be done in two ways: the Scenery Library approach or the Direct Copy method. Both methods involve downloading the relevant files, unzipping them, and placing them in the correct folders within the FSX directory. The Scenery Library approach involves activating the scenery through the in-game Scenery Library menu, while the Direct Copy method requires copying files directly to their destination folders. With these methods, you can easily add new airports and other scenery to your FSX game, increasing the variety and immersion of your flights.

Create a folder for FS downloads

It is best to create a folder on your PC specifically for FS downloads. This can be done on your 'C' Drive and you can name it 'FS Downloads'. Once you have created the folder, download the scenery file into it.

Download the scenery file

To download the scenery file, you will first need to create a designated folder on your PC for your FS downloads. It is recommended that you create this folder on your 'C' Drive for convenience. You can name this folder whatever you like, for example, 'FS Downloads'.

Next, download the scenery file into the designated folder. You can find scenery files for FSX on sites such as FlyAwaySimulation.com and Simviation.com. Once you have downloaded the file, use an unzip client such as izarc to unzip the file into the same folder.

Now, open both your Flight Simulator X directory and your FS Downloads directory in Windows Explorer. Resize the windows so that you can view both side by side. Move the scenery file containing the subfolders 'Scenery' and 'Texture' into the 'Addon Scenery' directory in FSX.

The file location is typically:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Addon Scenery

However, if you are using a 64-bit system, the program folder will be named "Program Files (x86)".

Unzip the file

Unzipping the file is a crucial step in installing airport scenery for FSX. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

First, create a dedicated folder on your PC, preferably on your 'C' drive, specifically for your FSX downloads. You can name this folder something like 'FS Downloads'. This step is optional but highly recommended as it helps keep your files organised and makes the installation process smoother.

Once you have downloaded the airport scenery file, locate it in your 'FS Downloads' folder or wherever you saved it. The file will typically be in a `.zip` or `.rar` format. To unzip or extract the contents, you can use the built-in Windows extraction tool or a third-party utility like 7-zip, WinZip, WinRAR, or izarc.

Right-click on the file and select the appropriate option, such as 'Extract to...' or 'Extract Here', depending on the software you are using. Choose to unzip the file into the same folder, which will create a new folder with the same name as the zipped file, containing the extracted contents.

Now, you should have a folder with subfolders named 'Scenery' and 'Texture'. These subfolders contain the actual scenery files that need to be copied into the correct directories for FSX to recognise them.

Make sure you scan any downloaded files with your anti-virus program before proceeding. This ensures that the files are safe and won't cause any issues with your system.

With these steps, you will successfully unzip and extract the airport scenery files, ready to be installed and activated in FSX. Remember to follow the subsequent instructions to complete the installation process and enjoy your enhanced flight simulation experience.

Move the scenery file to the 'Addon Scenery' directory

To add airport scenery to FSX, you will need to move the scenery file to the Addon Scenery directory. This process will allow you to install new scenery to enhance your flights.

First, create a folder on your PC, ideally on your 'C' Drive, specifically for your FS downloads. For example, you could name the folder 'FS Downloads'.

Next, download the scenery file into the 'FS Downloads' folder. You can then use an unzip client, such as izarc, to unzip the file into the same folder.

Now, open both your Flight Simulator X directory and your 'FS Downloads' directory in Windows Explorer, resizing the windows to view them side by side. You should then move the scenery file containing the subfolders 'Scenery' and 'Texture' into the 'Addon Scenery' directory in FSX.

The file location for the 'Addon Scenery' folder is:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Addon Scenery

Note that for a 64-bit system, the program folder is called "Program Files (x86)".

After moving the file, you can activate the scenery in FSX. Start FSX and go to World - Scenery Library. Click 'Add Area', then select the new scenery from the 'Addon Scenery' folder. If you have selected the correct directory, the 'Directory' field will display the name. For example, 'Scenery\addon scenery\LFLV - Vichy Charmeil'. Finally, click OK to activate the scenery.

You can even add scenery mid-flight in FSX. Your computer will reload the scenery file, and you should see the changes out of the cockpit window.

Activate the scenery in FSX

To activate the scenery in FSX, follow these steps:

Firstly, start FSX. Then, navigate to the 'World' menu and select 'Scenery Library'. From there, click on 'Add Area'. This will allow you to select the new scenery from the 'Addon Scenery' folder. You will know you have selected the correct file when the 'Directory' field contains the name of the scenery file. For example, if you have downloaded the Scenery LFLV Vichy Charmeil, the 'Directory' field should read 'Scenery\addon scenery\LFLV - Vichy Charmeil'. Once you have selected the correct file, click 'OK'.

If you have chosen to make the change mid-flight, your computer will reload the scenery file, and the changes will appear outside the cockpit window. You can also activate the scenery before starting a flight by navigating to the Scenery Library and clicking 'OK'. The program will then present the new scenery when you start the simulator.

Another method is to copy the files directly to their destination. First, download the original files and copy the scenery folder into the addon scenery folder in FSX. Then, copy the texture folder from your download to the texture folder in FSX. When you start FSX, it will automatically find and activate the new scenery. If you are already running FSX, simply navigate to the Scenery Library and click 'OK' to see the new scenery.

Frequently asked questions