Gliding in Prepar3D v5 (or v4) using the addons folder

The gliding software to do a really high quality gliding simulation in FSX has been available for years but until now has been difficult to install into P3D because it isn't in P3D Addon format. 

Here is a guide that uses the Addon method for installing apps into P3D without interfering with the base installation. It works very well and these days there is hardly any performance impact.

There are a few steps involved though. Basically you download the necessary addon and put it in your addons folder. You then download the original app from the author and transfer their exe file into the equivalent spot in the addon folder to make it all work. I did this so that the original author still gets the credit.

So, here goes.

Install some gliders:

Install the gliding simulation:

  • Install CumulusX! addon thermal and ridge soaring simulator using this guide.
  • Preferably improve the default P3D Maule towplane behaviour using this guide.
  • Preferably disable the default P3D thermals using this file that replaces the original in ProgramData. Make sure you update the original.

Optional but recommended:

  • Install Simlogger real world IGC data recorder and playback for gliding using this guide.
  • Download WinchX! to simulate winch launching but I haven't yet converted it to addon format. It does work in P3D.
CumulusX works with or without an external weather engine like ASP3D. It also works well with other apps like Accufeel and RealTurbulence.

Any questions, leave a comment. Enjoy. 

PS) Gliding in VR with P3D is awesome.

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