I've just begun flying FSX, and I'm wondering what some of the best and most popular addons are, especially ones improving scenery/textures/graphics.

Totally depends on how you intend to fly.

Up high?
Down low?

IFR?
VFR?

Slow?
fast?

Well I've just bought the B377 with Accu-Sim from A2A Simulations, so I guess I'll stay up high, and not so fast. I think I'll use IFR more than VFR

Glad to hear you got the 377 a real flagship in the latest MSFS technology.

For your other needs I believe the toss up maybe between FEX and REX. Ive heard good and bad about both and they seem to add slighty different things whilst also adding the same. The overall impression from the forums though is that getting one of these two will greatly enhance the general look of the sim. And I believe it caters more for the slower flyer than the jet tube liners but I'm not 100% sure.

Flight Environment X
Real Environment Extreme

- in case you wonder.

You might, even if your going high, consider Ultimate Terrain X as well.

MyTraffic X is important to get. The improved "scenery" will be seeing the real world liveries accurately placed in the correct airports all around the world, the in-air traffic flying to and from airports, and queuing up with you to takeoff and land. You'll also get military air traffic.

I once took off behind an F-16 Fighting Falcon (I was flying an F/A 18 to keep up) and followed it to its destination. Awesome.

heres a question. Best flight sim x software thats free... any one know?

As for free, FSWC comes to mind: http://www.fswaterconfigurator.com/index.htm


Noticed a post on Blues about an FSX enhancement article over at Boomtown.
http://pc.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=17237

I cant vouch for all of them, but I've used and have been very happy with Ultimate Terrain X, Active Sky, Ground Environment X etc.

Real Environment Extreme looks nice, probably be the next one I get when I have some spare change.

Yes, REX looks pretty unavoidable at this point. Those clouds and water look about the most lifelike that I have seen in a sim. Gotta have it.

http://vimeo.com/804582

I agree that REX is fantastic.

I'm surprised that we don't have a longer list of add-ons in this thread. I found it via Google - so excuse opening an old topic - but I think it's very useful for guys who have started with FSX and wonder "how can I make this more realistic?"

I would go with: FSFlyingSchool, FSPassengers and AccuSim