HiFi Simulation Technologies has recently published a development news update where they talk about the upcoming release of Active Sky XP 12, which has now been made available for everyone under an open beta program. 

Active Sky XP 12 is the next installment of their popular weather engine for X-Plane, making use of the new regional weather system API in X-Plane 12 to provide high levels of accuracy and realism in weather depiction, with a precise portrayal of clouds in regards to their size, height, type, coverage, precipitation, and more. It’s all made possible thanks to the utilization of high-resolution global weather data and their cloud-based weather network system.

The new weather engine is fully integrated with X-Plane 12, providing smoother transitions, better clouds, and new lighting, resulting in an improved visual weather experience, according to HiFi.

The new features include active air effects, which enhance internal X-Plane turbulence and air effects, providing enhanced turbulence, drafts, thermals, terrain-based wind effects, surface friction, gusts, variability, wake turbulence, microbursts, and more (wake turbulence effects are XP 11 only). The weather system uses the simulator’s internal cloud depiction to warrant maximum performance and smoothness, including compatibility with Virtual Reality (and optimization). The complete list follows down below:

Active Air Effects

 Enhances internal X-Plane turbulence and air effects, providing enhanced turbulence, drafts, thermals, terrain-based wind effects, surface friction, gusts, variability, wake turbulence, microbursts and more (XP12 includes internal wake turbulence, AS Wake turbulence enabled for XP11 only – Some effects may be limited/unavailable in XP12).

High-Performance Weather Depiction 

Uses internal X-Plane cloud depiction for maximum performance and smoothness – VR compatible and optimized!

Active Sky Weather Engine 

An evolved version of the Active Sky platform brings the core features that made Active Sky the leading weather engine for other platforms: Advanced weather synthesis and interpolation, high-resolution global winds aloft, realistic air and atmosphere effects, a comprehensive weather data network, integrated visual mapping and planning, and much, much more

Voice Weather Delivery 

Active Sky ATIS and Flightwatch are available at any time by listening on 122.00, 122.02 or 122.03 for closest station, actual/current interpolated conditions and destination weather reports, respectively

Mobile Companion App 

Use any device/browser to connect with Active Sky over your network and view and control the weather

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It’s available on the HiFi Shop for roughly $38.06 (the XP12 product page isn’t up yet, but Active Sky XP 12 is a free upgrade from Active Sky XP). The purchase page for Active Sky XP 12 is still labeled as coming soon because it’s under an open beta program. At least 500 MB of free disk space is required to install the product.

Shout out to Josh M on our Discord for the news scoop! Stay tuned to Threshold for more flight simulation news!

The imagery, except for the cover, is from Active Sky XP (previous version)

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