At long last, developer Hifi Sim Tech has joined the MSFS platform with the release of their latest version of Active Sky. Active Sky has long been the go-to weather simulation tool for platforms such as FSX, Prepar3D and even X-Plane, but due to the closed weather API in MSFS the developer was previously unable to bring over their coveted weather app.
Active Sky FS comes with a a large set of features. It integrates directly with MSFS using a combination of techniques, although the developer has not elaborated on how they have been able to make Active Sky FS work outside of the MSFS weather API that was previously a limiting factor as its not open to third parties.
The tool features weather simulation such as air effects, including turbulence, thermals and wake turbulence. It also features ‘Enhanced Cloudscape’ and thunderstorm depiction, with different types of clouds appropriate for the conditions. Using reported METARs, TAFs, sigmets/airmets and more, Active Sky FS aims to bring realistic weather conditions to the simulator.
One of the most sought after features, historical weather, also makes a return in Active Sky FS. Historical weather allows you to set the weather to an active day in the past, provided that the weather data for the selected date is still available.
Active Sky FS integrates with Navigraph data, Simbrief flight plans and PMDG‘s wind data export, as well as other popular third party add-ons. Furthermore, Active Sky provides an API that can be used to integrate directly with the weather application.
HiFi Sim Tech’s Active Sky FS is available for €23 through several vendors.
