This Sim is the most flexible and adaptable Sim of them all. Its the most customizing Sim in the market period. There is so many mods you can add to it and changes you can do to it that can simply leave you mesmorize.

With the capability of having different Theaters you actualy make your self a totaly different Sim that was not intended by the designer of this Sim.

For example now you can make yourself two theater of you so desire and perhaps fly in the Pacific Theater in one and after that fly in a other install on the Eastern Front in a Mig 3 vs Me106G Dogfight if you so desire. WoW!

There is another option to get rid of the stock AC if you so desire. I bet you do not want to fly or see a Corsair or a Zero Ac option in your early war ETO install.

FIRST METHOD
Go into Quickcom......open up and replace planes. .....i..e..Get rid of Japneses planes and replace with German and US planes are replaced with British planes..

Then go to Info File and delete the planes that were replaced.

Then open ' mdlnames' and delete planes there....

Most planes have an 'Alias' Sound file...set up a new file in Aircraft with only engines sounds..

You will need to make a folder with all the stocks sound since they are use by many addon planes.


The first method is the best way of doing it. But Iäm recommending is not as sofisticated but it also works and is a simpler way of doing it.

Just go inside your Microsoftgame/Combat flight Simulator 2/Aircraft folder and look inside each stock AC Folder/ look for the Panel and Texure Folder and delete its content or delete the folders themself.thats It!

There is only one draw back to this method. CFS2 will still recognize this folder as working AC. They will not show up any more on your display option as flying AC but they will ocuppy a AC slot on your Hanger. There for you will still be able to have between 72 to 82 addon planes in your Hanger but with Bretnuts method you will be able to have between 90 to 95 addon AC in each Hangar in your install Theater.

The difference is that the secound method is simplier. But if you do not want to see the the stock AC try the method that works best for you. They are both good method of getting rid of those beautiful stocks AC where they do not belong.

I hope I have been helpful.

The first method given by a member of SOH. I want to thank him!

James007

New Website with Flight Dynamics Workbook, AirUpdate Utility - an air file editor, Special Utilities - M3Ded, Special Utilities - CFS2 Aim_it.


                      http://www.mudpond.org/utilities_index.html



James007

This webpage on Simviation has all types of Tips and advice for the Fligh Simulation World.

http://www.simviation.com/downloads.html


Check it out!

How to install and use planes in CFS2!

The best utility that know of that will make any plane in your hangar a opponent is this one CFS2 Imroved Quick Combat file.Located here http://www.simviation.com/cfs2utilities1.htm and here http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.ph...ype=cfs2-other utlity only works for quick cambat mode.

HOW TO INSTALL THIRD PARTY PLANES INTO CFS2



This post will be dedicated for those who are having problems in installing AC into CFS2.


Installing AC into CFS2 is real easy once you have learn what to look for and how this program works.

The first thing I recommend is for you to get familiar with the inner working of CFS2.

Go to: Mycomputer C/Local Disk(C/Program
files/Microsoft Games/Combat Flight Simulator 2

Get familiar the all the its folder the names of the files before you start to down loading anything.

Now find the Website you want to down load your new plane from.

You can start by browsing through this post. It has many Website dedicated to the improvement of CFS2 in it.


1.http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1117604819/all
read it from page one to the last page. It not only has the address of diferent Websites dedicated to this Sim but it alos has lots information on other subjects as well. I if you have a question you can always come back to this forum and we will help you along.

Lets start with the CFS2 section dedicated to AC in this Wedsite.

2.http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.ph...downloads_cfs2

3.http://www.simviation.com/cfs2aircraft1.htm

There are many more Websites with AC for CFS2 as well.


The next thing for you to do is to down load the new third party plane into a New folder created by you. You place this folder any where you like. You can call it New AC if you want or give it any name you like. Now you go to your Web site that you want to down load the new AC. Down load it to this new AC folder or directly load it to the AC folder.The AC forlder is call AIRCRAFT.

You need to get familiair with the content of the AC and what is needed to make it work properly.

Every AC has this basic folders inside their respective AC folder. I picked the A6M2_ZERO as example:

1.MODEL: the configuration of the AC.

2.PANEL:The panel and its working

3.SOUND: Sound of the AC.

4.TEXTURE: The texture of the AC.

they also have this basic files.

aircraft CFG: It give the AC its Identification and name within the CFS2 program. It also has some other basic information.

a6m2_zero DP: Damage properties and weapons points and load.

a6m2_zero AIR file: its Arial abilities. In other words how this plane should fly according to its developers.

a6m2_zero CDP : This files keeps a record of the AC previous files. Now this is replicated every time you fly with this AC. You can and should deleted it every time you add somthings new like weapons to the AC. Do not worry it will replicate itself evey time Automaticaly. If you do not deleted it the new weapons or other install may not show up.

Now down load your new AC in to the folder you chose by routing it through Save and not Open option.

Go inside the new AC folder and look for the AC folder and see if it has the all of its proper folder and files. Some times you may find additional folder within the AC folders and some times the AC is insde the folder with the same name. You always need to go inside the AC folder to make sure if the AC is inside of it.

If it has additional folders you need to copy and paste them to their respective folder to enable the AC to show and fly properly in this program.

After you have done that you need to go inside the new install Aircraft folder and see if in has additional folder you need to install. Sometimes within the Aircraft folder there are additional folder that need to be install. Like gauges and weapons. If its gauges all you need to is to copy the content inside the Gauge folder and copy them into the main gauges folder. You need to make the to do same steps with any aditional folder you might find inside the Aircraft folder.

If you need to add new weapons you need to go inside the SCENEDB folder and look for a folder call weapons. Go inside of it and you will find two folders call scenery and texure. Copy and the new weapons in the appropiate folder.

This way your new addon plane will show up in the game. Most planes doe are install ready. In other words all you need is to install them and they will show up in the Sim.

make sure they have the appropiate content inside of them. The most common missing element is no sound inside the Sound folder. Thats easy to fix. All you is get a new sound from another plane of the same model with sounds and copy and paste inside the new planes sound folder.

Now you should be able to fly the legandary Wildcats and Hellcats plus the Avengers and SBD and sink enemy carriers like our for fathers had to do in World war two.

If you take them to the next level you feel the thrill of shooting down a Zeros or been shot down by one. You will feel the danger of Naval arial combat during that Era. Believe it or not the Pacific Arial war was a lot tougher than what we have been told.

I also recommend you scroll through this post. It may help improve your enjoyment of this Sim:

1.http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1117604819
How to add planes into CFS2 by Jaxons:

2.http://www.michael-reimer.com/CFS2/CFS2_Tips.html

By Hagar:
BGL files go in CFS2\SCENEDB\weapons\scenery
BMP textures in CFS2\SCENEDB\weapons\texture
& DP files in CFS2\OBJECTS_DP

With this c

I also recommend you learn how to Build missions and campaings. Thats where this Sim really rocks. Look for Coyotes Mission Builder Ttorial:

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/syb2.cgi?section=cfs&file=cc_handbook.zip

and here is his latest upgraded tutorial Hand book on how to Build mission through CFS2 http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&page=down.. . ad...



You may ask:what is the MODEL_DBG file that is inside the stock AC folder.

I would not worry about it. The addon planes do not need this folder to be able to work properly in this Sim.

I recommend you install only three to four AC at any one time for them to show up in the Sim.

Thre is also a limitation of one 90 to 100 planes per Hangar. Hangar it simply means inside the AIRCRAFT folder.

There is a utility that will enable you to install a lot more planes per install.

With this program you can install more than one thousand planes. Its call AC man:

http://fly.to/mwgfx

You need to look for the CFS2 AC utlilities section. Its real easy to install and use. this utility will make it possible for the user to have as many as eighteen Hangars within one install. You can use it in different installs. This will allow you to have unlimited amount of AC to fly with in this program.

I have decide to make a post placing most of the links I have with CFS2 planes. I hope to you like this post. My only objective is to help fellow members to find most of the planes that have been develope throughout the years for this community by its dedicated developers.

My first recomdation if you to install Acman from this Website that will anable you to install most if not all this planes in different Hangars and in different CFS2 Installs.

1.http://fly.to/mwgfx#

A WORD OF CAUTION

When you use the Acman and create a new Hangar you need to include the stock planes. What you can do is to make a New Folder and place a copy of the Stock planes in it. When you make the new Hangar just copy the stock planes from this Folder. Remember also that you are limit to 95 to 100 planes per Hangar. You do get up to18 Hangar with this program.


My secound recommendation is for you to install this utility from Sim-outhouse that will allow you to change planes and ships with in a Miision and Campaigns in secounds.

It also will give the ability to change whole planes Hangars and convert them into Ai Bandits in Quick mission.

This way you do not have activate plane after planes manualy. Its call mk_cfs2_uti2v.zip

2. http://www.sim-outhouse.com/index.php?lloc=downloads&loc=downloads&FileType=cf s2...

How to install new texure so will show up to the Mission Builder. That real easy. All you need to do is to install the new texutes in to the AC Texure folder. If you want to use it as new texure in a new plane like for example you want the stock plane with the new texute to show up as a addon in the Mission Builder. All you need to do is to create a new AC folder. Here I will explain it in a step by step process.

1.Go inside ADDON folder

2.Create a new folder

3.Give the new folder the AC name plus the new texure name.

4.Copy and paste the content of the original plane inside the AIRCRAFT you wanted to chage the texure from into the new AC folder foder inside the ADDDON folder.

5.Go and copy and paste the new TEXURE call kamuri into the texure folder.

6.Go inside the new AC folder and look for the file call CFG and open it up with your notepad.

[fltsim.0]
title=A6M2 Zero
sim=A6M2_Zero
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
KB_checklists=a6m2_zero_check

Change the title name form A6M2 Zero to A6M2 Zero Kamuri.

[fltsim.0]
title=A6M2 Zero kamuri
sim=A6M2_Zero
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
KB_checklists=a6m2_zero_check

Now you have a new AC that will show up as a new AC with a different TEXURE.

7. Now cut the new plane and paste it inside the AIRCRAFT Folder.

Thats it!

I hope I have been helpful

If you have any question do not hesitate and come back to this forum and I and other members will more than thrill to help you out.

Combat Flight Simulator Pacific Theatre
Bomb Runs
Basic requirements for Bomb Runs
The main requirement is that you obtain the airfiles for making your AI (computer controlled) aircraft flyable.
CFS 2 Air files download here

Ideally all players should be able to see the correct aircraft in a game, to ensure this stick to the stock and game AI aircraft. However an excellent range of bombers for CFS 1&2 can be found at RAF662.com. and some excellent repaints of stock aircraft can be found at AluminumCloud
In addition to these basics extra game immersion can be provided by using an application called Multiswap.
This enables effects such as flak and the addition of AI aircraft and scenery to the game.

You can download Multiswap for CFS1 and CFS2 these are two different programs, if you have difficulty running Multiswap you will need to download the Visual Basic runtime files from here.
Someone should be up to speed with navigation, the RAF662 site has ADF utilities which will aid navigation in CFS 1. For CFS 2 here is a GPS gauge.

Extras, missions, Alpha Bombers etc can be found at RAF_MShines site.
See CFS 1 essential Files and CFS 2 essential files page for useful add ons for Multi Player Bomb Runs.


Lae-Salamaua Bomb Run
This is the one most commonly played bomb run scenario's in CFS2:
Start point: Lae
Escort: Bomber and Escorts , aircraft to defend bomber and destroy attack aircraft.
Attack: To intercept and destroy Bomber before it can Return and land at Lae.

First stage:
Escorts: 2+F4U1A-Corsairs or 2+F6F3-Hellcats
Bomber: 1 B-24 or B-25 bomber, with AI Airfiles ONLY
Escorts and Bomber Land Below at Lae, Bomber lands first.

Attack: 2+A6M2's A6M5's Zeros or N1K2J-Georges How Ever in all Hells Angels Bomb Runs only 2 Georges
are allowed the rest MUST Be Zeros. Most Bomb Runs in CFS2 have followed suit in that rule.
Attack Flys 160 degrees approx 20 Miles to Salamaua and Land there..

Second stage:
Once both attack and escort squadrons have landed the Escorts and Bomber take off and fly to Salamaua.
Once escort is at 30,000 Meters from Salamaua. attack leader should give orders to all Zero Pilots to scramble
and intercept bomber and escort. Georges May launch at 25,000 Meters.


Object of the Game:
For Escorts and Bomber to win they must Take off and Fly to Salamaua and Fly over the Airfield NO HIGHER than 10,000 Ft
Bomber Calls Bombs away then must turn and make it back and successfully land at Lae.

For Attack to win they Must Destroy the Bomber before it can make it home. Keep in Mind Only the Bomber has
to make it home to win. So the Bomber is the Primary Target. But Watch out for her Escorts

Rules are as Follows:
1.NO Shooting until ALL have Landed.
2. If you Die in Combat, YOU'RE DEAD and MUST Return to Ready Room Immediately! NO SPECTATORS! It simply gets too confusing.
3. NO KAMIKAZE'S on the Bomber! None if it possibly can be Avoided.

These Runs Are best if run at either 95% or 100% 95% is everything on only Med Flight Model. Hard Flight Model
is a little to difficult for Most Rookies to land! So unless we know everyone can land 95% is what we usually run at mainly to
save time and avoid rookie crash Landings

To Make this run More Realistic, Turn off all aids, Radar, Pointer.


Peleliu-Korror Bomb Run
This is another one of the most commonly played bomb run scenario's in CFS2:
Start point: Peleliu.
Escort: Bomber and Escorts , aircraft to defend bomber and destroy attack aircraft.
Attack: To intercept and destroy Bomber before it can Return and land at Peleliu.

First stage:
Escorts: 2+F4U1A-Corsairs or 2+F6F3-Hellcats
Bomber: 1 B-24 or B-25 bomber, with AI Airfiles ONLY
Escorts and Bomber Land Below at Peleliu, Bomber lands first.

Attack: 2+A6M2's A6M5's Zeros or N1K2J-Georges How Ever in all Hells Angels Bomb Runs only 2 Georges
are allowed the rest MUST Be Zeros. Most Bomb Runs in CFS2 have followed suit in that rule.
Attack Flys 035 degrees approx 25 Miles to Korror or any of the 3 Airfields there on the surrounding Islands
Korror is the center one, and Land there..

Second stage:
Once both attack and escort squadrons have landed the Escorts and Bomber take off and fly to Korror.
Once escort is at 30,000 Meters from Korror. attack leader should give orders to all Zero Pilots to scramble
and intercept bomber and escorts. Georges launch at 25,000 Meters.


Object of the Game:
For Escorts and Bomber to win they must Take off and Fly to Korror and Fly over the Airfield NO HIGHER than 10,000 Ft
Bomber Calls Bombs away then must turn and make it back and successfully land at Peleliu.

For Attack to win they Must Destroy the Bomber before it can make it home. Keep in Mind Only the Bomber has
to make it home to win. So the Bomber is the Primary Target. But Watch out for her Escorts

Rules are as Follows:
1.NO Shooting until ALL have Landed.
2. If you Die in Combat, YOU'RE DEAD and MUST Return to Ready Room Immediately! NO SPECTATORS! It simply gets too confusing.
3. NO KAMIKAZE'S on the Bomber! None if it possibly can be Avoided.

These Runs Are best if run at either 95% or 100% 95% is everything on only Med Flight Model. Hard Flight Model
is a little to difficult for Most Rookies to land! So unless we know everyone can land 95% is what we usually run at mainly to
save time and avoid rookie crash Landings

To Make this run More Realistic, Turn off all aids, Radar, Pointer.


Lae-Tsili Tsili Bomb Run
This is another bomb run scenario's in CFS2:
Start point: Lae.
Escort: Bomber and Escorts , aircraft to defend bomber and destroy attack aircraft.
Attack: To intercept and destroy Bomber before it can Return and land at Lae.

First stage:
Escorts: 2+F4U1A-Corsairs or 2+F6F3-Hellcats
Bomber: 1 B-24 or B-25 bomber, with AI Airfiles ONLY
Escorts and Bomber Land Below at Peleliu, Bomber lands first.

Attack: 2+A6M2's A6M5's Zeros or N1K2J-Georges How Ever in all Hells Angels Bomb Runs only 2 Georges
are allowed the rest MUST Be Zeros. Most Bomb Runs in CFS2 have followed suit in that rule.
Attack Flys 160 degrees approx 20 Miles to Salamaua

Second stage:
Once both attack and escort squadrons have landed the Escorts and Bomber take off and fly on a course heading of
255 degrees approx 40 miles to Tsili Tsili.
Attack launches at the same time and fly's an Intercept course heading of 285 degrees to Destroy Bomber
either Before she bombs Tsili Tsili or on her way Back to Lae.


Object of the Game:
For Escorts and Bomber to win they must Take off and Fly to Tslil Tsili and Fly over the Airfield NO HIGHER than 10,000 Ft
Bomber Calls Bombs away then must turn and make it back and successfully land at Lae.

For Attack to win they Must Destroy the Bomber before it can make it home. Keep in Mind Only the Bomber has
to make it home to win. So the Bomber is the Primary Target. But Watch out for her Escorts

Rules are as Follows:
1.NO Shooting until ALL have Landed.
2. If you Die in Combat, YOU'RE DEAD and MUST Return to Ready Room Immediately! NO SPECTATORS! It simply gets too confusing.
3. NO KAMIKAZE'S on the Bomber! None if it possibly can be Avoided.

These Runs Are best if run at either 95% or 100% 95% is everything on only Med Flight Model. Hard Flight Model
is a little to difficult for Most Rookies to land! So unless we know everyone can land 95% is what we usually run at mainly to
save time and avoid rookie crash Landings

To Make this run More Realistic, Turn off all aids, Radar, Pointer.

Bomb Runs courtesy of H_ellsAngels Squadron



 
 
Battle of Britain
DVD
United States
UK&Europe
 
 
 Forgotten Battles
United States
UK&Europe
 
 
 Aces Expansion United States
UK&Europe
 
 
 Pacific Fighters
United States
UK&Europe
 
 
Fighter Combat
Robert Shaw
USA
UK & Europe
 
 
 Lock On
United States
UK&Europe
 
 
 Strike Fighters
United States
UK&Europe
 
 
 CFS 3
United States
UK & Europe


 
 IL2 Sturmovik
USA
UK & Europe

You can find the original post here http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/bombruns.htm

Tatics

Communication
Communication is a vital necessity, Roger Wilco (RW) is recommended but its use in flight should be limited to mission detail only, chattering hogs bandwidth, causes lag and may lead to a players call for help to not be heard. Only a team leader should use RW at any time in flight unless a pilot is in distress.
Any pilot under attack should call out 'need help under attack by (attacker)' That is all the info that is necessary for assistance to be called.

Team Play
Firstly if you are aware of your opponents strongest threat you should ensure that he is at the least kept busy.
Next target should be any plane re-entering the game after being shot down or any plane that is not being pursued or has not taken damage.
Judging which of these options you should choose depends largely on the situation you are in. Judgement calls are not always easy but you will improve with practice.
The least important targets to choose are those that are already being pursued, already severely damaged or planes that are obviously about to go in. Pursuing these targets are a waste of ammo and you are probably allowing a team mate to be attacked by another enemy.
You should break off of any engagement to assist a team mate who is under attack.  
A pilot who goes off in pursuit of a glory kill ignoring the condition of his team mates is of no use to the team.

Hitting the Enemy
The fuselage can absorb a lot of hits and  has little effect on aircraft performance, however hitting the wings particularly the tips will have a drastic effect on the plane.
In a team game pursue your target until you believe it is sufficiently crippled to be of little threat to you or your team.
Read the text in your damage info display, as soon as you see reports of damage to wing tips, rudder or elevator control  it is time to assess how badly the plane is hurt and take appropriate action, pursue the kill or break and hit another target.

Returning after being shot down
You now have time to check each of your team mates condition and time to select the target that poses the greatest threat to your team.

Restricted Ammo
In all games whether or not ammo restrictions are in place you should practice the following:
Only fire your weapons in short 1 to 4 second bursts.
Where you have cannon, only use it in close range (after your target is taking hits from your guns if you have them).





Game Views
By hitting the [ key a new view window  can be opened. By clicking on it and holding the mouse button down the window can be positioned anywhere on the screen. While it is selected (white border) it can be resized by dragging the corners or sides. The new view behaves the same as a normal window, allowing you to select chase, external or padlock views etc. You can also apply zoom to the view. In these examples padlock view is selected, enabling you to keep an eye on what your target is doing throughout engagement. It can also be used to check on positions of other opponents in the game. While selected all text will stream to the selected window, to switch to main window again click outside the new view.


You can find the original post here
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/tactics.htm


Essential Files you can find it here http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/essentials.htm

Carriers Ops here http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/carrierops.htm

Campaings
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/campaigns.htm

Visuals
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/visualFX.htm

Realism
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS1/realism.htm

CFS2 FAQ
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS1/cfsfaq.htm2

Tips on how to the A6M2 Zero
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/zero.htm

Tip on to fly the A6M5 Zero
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/zero.htm

Tips on how to fly the Corsair
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/corsair.htm

Tips on how to Fly The N1-K2J George
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/george.htm

Tips on to fly the Hellcat
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/hellcat.htm

Tips on to fly P38
http://www.airwarfare.com/Sims/CFS2/lightning.htm

Tatics

Carrier OPS
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_carrier.htm

Defensive
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_defensive.htm

Defletion shot
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_deflection.htm

Diving Bombing
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_dive.htm

Tactics: Drag and Bag
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_dragbag.htm

Fighter Tactics: 1942
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_fighter.htm

Formation Flying
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_formation.htm

TORPEDO BOMBING
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_torpedo.htm

Tactics: Wing
http://www.airwarfare.com/tactics/tactics_wing.htm

Advanced Image Quality/Performance Settings
for Combat Flight Simulator 2


Advanced Image Quality/Performance Settings
for Combat Flight Simulator 2
10 January 2001
One of our main development objectives for Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater was to improve the overall image quality and performance of the game. However, we also wanted to offer you flexibility to pursue image quality and performance tradeoffs that can fine-tune CFS2 to your system. With so many combinations of hardware and software available, it's impossible to replicate every configuration. So, we've added more graphics settings which can be adjusted to achieve the look and feel you want. This article will help you adjust those settings, which will help you create the best CFS2 experience.

To make general adjustments to CFS2, you will use the Settings dialog box. To make fine-tuning adjustments, you will use the Advanced Settings dialog box.

Using the Settings Dialog Box

To open the Settings dialog box, go to the Options menu and click Settings .


Figure 1: Settings Dialog
VIEW LARGER IMAGE
The Display section on the Settings dialog box includes a slider that sets the overall image quality .

Moving the slider to the left reduces the complexity and graphic detail displayed, but increases the system performance. Conversely, moving the slider to the right improves the complexity and graphic detail displayed at the expense of system performance.

You can also check the Auto-performance adjustment checkbox. When this box is checked, CFS2 adjusts several graphics settings to deliver the best performance for your system.

The Player defined check box remains dimmed until you make adjustments in the Advanced Settings dialog box. Once you do that, you can restore default settings by deselecting the Player defined check box.



Using the Advanced Display Settings Dialog Box

To adjust individual display settings, click the Advanced settings button in the Settings dialog box.


Figure 2: Advanced Display Settings-Hardware Dialog
VIEW LARGER IMAGE
The Advanced Display Settings dialog box contains two tabs at the top. Click the Hardware tab to see options for adjusting a 3-D graphics card. If you installed a 3-D hardware acceleration card, CFS2 recognizes it, automatically selects it under Device, and selects the Enable hardware acceleration check box. If you don't have a hardware acceleration card, this check box is unavailable.

Settings in the Advanced 3-D hardware options area control functions on 3-D accelerator cards. The default settings reflect our best estimate of the settings that specific cards need to deliver the best performance. The following list briefly explains each option.

No filtering: No filtering is applied to the textures on scenery and objects-they appear as pixels on the screen. This option improves system performance but reduces image quality.

Bilinear filtering: Most 3-D cards support this option; filtering eliminates the "hard lines" between different textures. However, with this option selected, you may see "flashing" lines between textures or in the distance. Selecting this option slightly decreases performance.

Trilinear filtering: This advanced filtering option tends to reduce the "flickering" when bilinear filtering is also selected, but reduces performance. We recommend always having this option checked.

MIP mapping: This basic filtering method maps "layers" of texture sheets depending on some rather complex algorithms. We recommend always having this option checked, unless you see strange things with textures, such as textures turning black or in obviously wrong colors, or "flashing."

Anti-aliasing: This option smoothes the edges of objects. Not all 3-D cards support this option, and selecting this option will reduce frame rate. With this option checked, you may also see "banding" in the sky. (Banding produces different shades of blue in the sky instead of a smooth transition from lighter to darker blue.) If you see banding, try changing your resolution to a 32 -bit mode (such as, 800 x 600 x 32 resolution).

T&L (Hardware Transform and Lighting): This advanced hardware option controls how your video card handles transformations and lighting effects. Before you select this option, make sure your 3-D card supports this feature. Your system may become unstable if your video card cannot support T&L effects. Selecting this option may improve performance, but if you experience other display problems or if the game "hangs," uncheck this option.

Resolution: This option controls the main image quality by defining the number of pixels drawn on the screen. Lower resolutions produce better performance, but higher resolutions improve visual details and image quality. Cockpit instruments look better at or above resolutions of 800 x 600, and the terrain always looks better at higher resolutions. Reducing resolution to 640 x 480 x 16 produces the best performance possible.



Solving Display Problems

Unless you experience problems, you should generally use the defaults for your 3-D graphics card. If you do experience problems, try the following steps in this order. Between each step, launch CFS2 to see if the problem is fixed. If it's not, try the next option in the list.

Turn Anti-aliasing off.
Turn T&L off.
Set the Resolution to a lower value (lowest is 640 x 480 x 16).
Select Bilinear filtering.
Select No filtering.
Turn MIP Mapping off.
Uncheck the Enable hardware acceleration check box.
You might also try checking for the latest drivers at your video card manufacturer's Web site. They should have the latest video drivers available for you to download. Sometimes old drivers can create video image quality problems. As a last resort, disable your 3-D graphics card.


Adjusting Display Settings to Improve Image Quality

If you're not having display problems with the default settings, you can change the following settings to improve image quality. Proceed in the order of the list, and launch CFS2 between each step to test the effects. If you don't notice any undesirable performance changes, then move to the next step.

Select a higher resolution.
Select the Trilinear filtering check box.
Select the T&L check box.
Select the Anti-aliasing check box.


Adjusting Settings on the Image Tab

The Overall image quality slider adjusts settings for each option on the Image Quality tab in the Display Settings dialog box.  
Figure 3: Advanced Display Settings-Image Quality
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CFS2 applies a default setting for the value on the Overall image quality slider. Each value is a conservative estimate of the best tradeoff between image quality and performance. You can make fine-tuning adjustments with the individual settings to meet your performance expectations.


DEM density level: This setting determines the maximum level of detail provided for terrain elevation data. Lower values result in better performance. Higher values result in more accurate terrain elevation at any given point.

Max. terrain texture size: This setting determines the size of the textures placed on top of the terrain elevation data. Smaller sizes lower the memory requirements to store the texture, resulting in better performance. Larger textures produce greater detail and look better, but displaying them decreases performance. (To see detail on the ground at its best, move this slider up.)

Terrain complexity level: This setting determines the error allowed within the terrain elevation data. Lower values allow more error, resulting in more "popping" in the terrain. Higher values result in displaying more terrain elevation data at one time. Increasing this value reduces popping, but also decreases performance dramatically.

Max. object texture size: This setting determines the size of the textures placed on top of objects. Like the Max. terrain texture size setting, smaller sizes lower the memory requirements to store the texture, resulting in better performance. Larger textures produce greater detail and look better, but displaying them decreases performance. (To see detail on the airplanes at its best, move this slider up.)

Maximum visibility level: This setting determines the range of visibility. Just as in real life, there is a limit to how far one can see in the distance on any given day. Decreasing visibility reduces the amount of objects and terrain your computer draws. Lower visibility results in better performance. Increasing the visibility allows you to see farther, but decreases performance.

Aircraft shadows: This setting places shadows of aircraft on the ground or water. Normally these shadows won't reduce performance. Shadows look best in 32-bit color mode. See the Readme document in the CFS directory for more detail about resolution.

Ground scenery shadows: This setting places shadows for ground objects. These shadows can dramatically reduce performance, especially when they are close to the object.

Detail texturing: This setting makes ground textures flow together better, which gives more depth to the scenery. Selecting this option reduces performance slightly. Some video cards work better with this option selected. Other video cards may "flash" and create square patterns in the textures. If this occurs, make sure this check box is deselected.

High detail virtual cockpit: This setting provides a higher level of detail in the Virtual Cockpit view but reduces performance. You may want to deselect this check box if you do not use the Virtual Cockpit views much.

Effects quality: This setting adjusts the level of detail in all of the special effects, such as fire and smoke. Lower settings remove some of this detail and how long it stays visible. A higher setting shows the greatest level of detail in effects, but also reduces performance.

LOD target frame rate: This setting works only when the Auto-performance adjustment check box is selected in the Settings dialog box (See Figure 1). The value for this setting is not tied to the default Overall image quality slider, but does default to an appropriate value for your configuration. The position of this slider determines the level of detail (LOD) required to maintain the selected frame rate. CFS2 normally selects the LOD depending on the distance between the object and the viewer. However, when the Auto-performance adjustment check box is selected, you can then adjust the LOD using the LOD target frame rate slider. For example, if you select an LOD target frame rate of 25, the detail of the textures changes as you get closer to that frame rate. So, if you were to experience 15 frames per second, CFS2 would decrease the level of detail until performance improves to 25 frames per second. If you were to experience 35 frames per second, CFS2 would increase the level of detail without allowing frame rate to fall below 25 frames per second.


Adjusting Scenery

There is one final area that concerns graphics and performance. In the Settings dialog box click the Scenery Library button to bring up the Scenery Library Dialog box.


Figure 4: Scenery Library Dialog box and the Scenery Object Density Slider
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The Scenery object density slider at the bottom determines how much scenery to use in the game. All non-targetable objects, such as trees and bunkers, in the global scenery layer are removed when the slider is set to Very Sparse . Lowering this setting improves performance, so adjust the slider if your other performance adjustments still do not meet your expectations.

Note: The Scenery object density slider also determines how dense the objects are in scenery imported into CFS2 from previous versions of Combat Flight Simulator and Microsoft® Flight Simulator.

Reviewing Display Settings
As a guideline, the following list shows http://www.m

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