These gmax generated clouds will mark thermals in FSX. There are four clouds that are quite distinctive and should be easy to recognize as not the usual FSX clouds. The photo, CloudsForThermals.jpg, shows their distinctive shapes. When the “Natural” thermal visualization is selected these clouds will replace the default birds, which are nearly impossible to see.
Each thermal in FSX will have one cloud selected at random from the four available.
Installation:
Copy the four scenery files, Jumbled16.bgl, Jumbled17.bgl, Jumbled18.bgl, and Jumbled19.bgl into your FSX\Addon Scenery\scenery folder. You will not need new texture files.
Make a backup copy of the AirObjectVisuals.xml file located in the FSX root folder. Put the original in a safe place. Copy the new AirObjectVisuals.xml file into the FSX root folder to replace the original.
In the FSX main menu go to Options/Settings/Display/Weather, and for the Thermal visualizations option select Natural.
Flying:
The new clouds are scenery objects and are not the usual FSX clouds. They can be seen in the top-down view when you zoom out far enough. You can use this view to locate thermals, but in most cases it is not needed. You can simply fly under the cloud, and the thermal will be there. The clouds always look better viewed from a distance. The cloud base will be at an altitude of about 6000 to 7000 ft agl.
I hope you will enjoy soaring with the new clouds.
