Microsoft FSX Real-Life Weather

Jay Honeck writes:

While they were waiting, I set him up in our newly upgraded Kiwi
flight simulator (see it he http://www.alexisparkinn.com/flight_simulator.htm),
at their home airport. I knew he would want me to program in some
crosswind (to better simulate the landing at home) and while tinkering
I ran across a choice I had never used befo "Download real-time
winds and weather."

I clicked on it, not knowing what to expect. Well, quicker than I can
check ADDS weather, Flight Simulator X had gone on-line and downloaded
the current weather at their home airport. It then incorporated this
weather into the sim, and within moments our guest was getting tossed
around in real-life turbulence, fighting a stiff, 80-degree cross wind
to land -- at his very own airport -- EXACTLY like he was about to do
in "real life". Very cool!

I know there are those here who don't think sims are very useful, but
this new (to me) feature really enhances the overall experience. And
our pilot-guest certainly agreed!

This option exists in FS 2004 as well.

MSFS is surprisingly good at weather from version 2004 on. Vast improvements
were made and the sky really does look realistic, and the weather really does
match the correct and current weather at your sim location (if you choose to
download real weather). However, if you want the absolute best in simulated
weather, download and install ActiveSky (about $37, http://www.hifisim.com).
This is the standard for MSFS weather for serious simmers and it is
astonishingly realistic. It was designed by pilots and weather fanatics and
goes into extraordinary detail. Many weather scenarios in the sim are pretty
much indistinguishable from real life with ActiveSky running. Even more
amazing, frame rates are the same or slightly better with ActiveSky, as
compared to MSFS' own weather engine.

I was walking home a few days ago and looked at the sky and thought "that
looks as nice as ActiveSky," before I realized the absurdity of that thought.

A few days ago I nearly ended a flight in tragedy when I got caught on the
outer edge of some thunderstorm activity while trying to reach KJFK (I use
ActiveSky now). I diverted to KEWR and survived, but not without injuring a
FA in turbulence. I saw the anvil-shaped thunderheads from miles away, but I
didn't make the connection and recognize the danger until I was nearly in it.
And lately the winds along the Pacific coast have been quite hellish,
too--great for challenging simulation but not something I'd want to fly in for
real. You also get turbulence over the mountains, thermals to order, and wake
turbulence, as well as severe icing if the circumstances warrant it.