OK,...so...

1. I downloaded 5 scenery files to a "storage" directory on my main drive. (They're from the Noco, or Nothern Calif Prop Club site, or something like that. They've got a couple choppers on the free site here)

2. I unzipped each file and moved the folder bearing the name of the scenery into my main FSX directory, titled "Add-On" scenery. (When I opened AOS, I noticed there were already 2 files in there, Scenery and Textures). I put the newly-unzipped folders in the scenery one.

3. I closed all windows and rebooted my computer.

4. I opened FSX via desktop short cut and ran program. I went into the Settings Menu and then into Scenery library.

5. I clicked on "Add" and browsed till I found the 5 new folders I put into my AOS/Scenery folder and clicked on the first scenery folder and saw it now appear in the list with the rest of my FSX scenery. (Along w/ Oceania, S. America, Propeller Obejects, etc,...the default stuff). I did the same for the other 4.

6. I closed out of Scenery Library and saw it "rebuilding the data bases." Now my question is,...now what???

How the heck do I access the new scenery in FSX? They don't show up as Missions like "Go fight the fires") and I'm not sure where to look  or how to access the now-burning woods.

(One of the scenery packages was supposed to be a forest fire in New Zealand. In freeflight mode, I took off from the base in my fire chopper, flew the 40 miles at heading 260 to where the woods should've been ablaze, but nada. Everything was peaceful.    

This is the first time I have tried to use add-on scenery. What did I miss doing?

Mick

Yep! That's exactly the same fire package I was talking about, cept' I downloaded the Mega Pack, where they include 5 or 6 fires in different areas of the world, plus aircraft to fight em with.

I unzipped the original d/l zipped files again (within a stand alone directory [not related to FSX] on my HD), and opened each fire folder, separately.

Each had a file that goes to Effects, so I copied the fire effects folder (for each fire) again, into my main effects folder.

I then copied the remain file folders in each zipped fire package into add-on scenery/scenery folder (it told me they were already there and did I want to replace them).

I rebooted, fired up FSX and didn't know where to go from there. (Are these "missions" to be played or is this something ("fight a forest fire") to be done in free-flight mode?

Yes, I got the deal about the date, and set up a free-flight with one of the choppers w/ bambi bucket, and flew (260, I think it was) for about 40 miles w/o seeing anything. I basically flew around the area w/o seeing fire, smoke, etc.

Of course, while I am happy no natural habitat was destroyed and nobody lost homes, I still can't understand why there was no fire effect. My settings are are all medium high to high and this is one of the newer "power rigs" I'm running, so everything is updated.

It's GOTTA be where/how I'm putting those darn scenery files.....