hifi technologies
Refining Weather Accuracy and Realism since 2000!
Active Sky is a comprehensive weather simulation engine for X-Plane, Prepar3D, FSX and now the MSFS2020 flight simulator platforms. With over 24 years of innovative award-winning development, Active Sky continues its ongoing journey in an ongoing quest to improve the simulated aviation weather experience for everyone.
HiFi is comprised of pilots, programmers and artists who share a common passion for aviation, weather and simulation. We strive for the most realistic weather experience possible, always prioritizing function and fidelity above all else. We love what we do and thank all our customers and supporters for enabling us to continue to improve and expand Active Sky!
Active Sky
Active Sky FS (ASFS) brings direct MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 integration. Brand new features and functionality are made specifically for MSFS and designed to improve your weather simulation experience.
Focused on comprehensive weather realism simulation, ASFS includes high-fidelity weather data and synthesis, planning, briefing, mapping, live weather, optional historical weather with playback, custom weather, scenarios, API, multiple depiction options, active air effects, snow depth data contr... Active Sky FS (ASFS) brings direct MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 integration. Brand new features and functionality are made specifically for MSFS and designed to improve your weather simulation experience.
Focused on comprehensive weather realism simulation, ASFS includes high-fidelity weather data and synthesis, planning, briefing, mapping, live weather, optional historical weather with playback, custom weather, scenarios, API, multiple depiction options, active air effects, snow depth data control, voice features, Navigraph and SimBrief integration, and much, much more.
Features
Direct MSFS IntegrationUsing a combination of techniques for weather lookup and control, ASFS integrates directly with MSFS 2020 and MSFS2024.
ASFS Preset weather and Passive weather depiction modesUsing Preset weather depiction from ASFS or Passive weather depiction (from MSFS live weather), a variety of weather visuals and depiction methods, offering various levels of realism, control and visual quality are available depending on your needs. Transition control and configurable smoothing is also provided in ASFS Preset mode.
Active Air EffectsCustomizable clear air turbulence, thermals, drafts and wake turbulence effects work in tandem with existing MSFS effects to provide and enhance realism. Air effects are provided in any depiction mode. New: Cloud turbulence with in-cloud detection
Cloud TurbulenceCloud turbulence is now fully implemented and works in both preset and passive modes.
Advanced Historical WeatherIn addition to including Live and Custom weather modes, we also offer Historical mode with comprehensive global weather data in hourly archives. Dynamic historical playback provides realistic changing weather as per the archived historical timeline. Optionally lock the historical time to your configured simulator time for easy date/time synchronization and control through MSFS.
Enhanced Cloudscape and Thunderstorm DepictionUsing ASFS Preset weather depiction, enhanced sky condition and thunderstorm handling works to increase the visual realism and overall experience of various weather conditions including thunderstorms.
Active Sky Weather Engine24 years of active development of weather simulation for MSFS and other platforms culminates in a mature and refined weather engine system that natively includes advanced weather data analysis, lookup, mapping, planning, briefing and more.
Advanced Data Collection, Synthesis, Modeling and InterpretationActive Sky constantly downloads and analyzes conditions, providing world-wide high-fidelity weather conditions and effects, utilizing surface airport conditions (METARs), Forecasts (TAFs), Upper air data (GRIB), Significant Weather information (Sigmets/Airmets), Tropical storm data and more. Weather data is offered in live real-time or historical modes, with a dynamic historical weather playback feature.
Ground Snow SimulationUsing actual global ground snow depth data, ground snow cover is controlled and smoothed at all times in AS Preset depiction mode.
Comprehensive Custom WeatherEasily create multiple custom weather areas using the map screen, customizing by METAR text or through our weather setting wizard. Custom weather is supplemented by the previously loaded weather, enabling precise, variable and realistic saved weather scenarios that can be recalled at any time.
ScenariosFly different weather-based scenarios, or create your own.
Voice FeaturesGet Voice weather briefings and in-flight weather updates on your radio via our simulated ATIS/ASOS and Flight Watch simulation.
3rd-Party Integration FeaturesNavigraph data integration, SimBrief flight plan integration, PMDG wind data export and our universal common data export features provides integration with multiple popular 3rd-party add-ons.
Active Sky APIAdvanced API features are available to everyone to integrate directly with AS features including weather lookup, effects, mode control and weather conditions control.
ASFS Weather and Cloud Depiction Specifications
ASFS Preset Weather Depiction ModeASFS Preset weather depiction mode features advanced weather preset conditions control for the best accuracy within the preset depiction capabilities, and full use of the Active Sky weather data and synthesis system including historical and custom weather options. This is recommend for those desiring the highest levels of conditions realism and challenge, especially for IFR ceilings and visibility, as well as long distance route planning, wind and fuel calculations:
Available with LIVE weather, HISTORICAL weather, and custom weather
Wind, gusts and variability control (surface and aloft, up to 60,000ft)
Cloud layer control
Precipitation control
Ground snow cover control
Temperature and humidity control
Barometric pressure control with advanced temperature-adjusted pressure effects (appropriate corrections required for safe and/or expected IFR terminal procedures in colder or hotter temperatures)
Visibility simulation through advanced humidity control and fog layer generation and intelligent visibility graduation and smoothing
Smooth cloud and conditions transitions with configurable smoothing rate
Cloud scene scattering and variation control for variety within the preset depiction area
Weather-cell-based presentation with surface data prioritization based on flight plan
Transitions handling (updates conditions smartly depending on flight plan and flight stage)
Passive Depiction ModePassive mode is used with live weather and allows MSFS’s internal live weather depiction to take full control of weather depiction in the simulator, while Active Sky FS provides Active Air Effects and all other non-depiction features (mapping, planning, voice features, conditions report, web companion app, etc. ) This can provide better regional variation and cloud variations outside of Preset control, recommended for LIVE WEATHER VFR and casual flights where visuals and effects are more important than weather conditions accuracy.
Active Air EffectsProvided in either depiction mode, Active Air Effects enhance your flight with turbulence, drafts and more:
Clear air turbulence
Internal MSFS turbulence compatibility (for combined ASFS-applied and internal MSFS-applied turbulence effects)
Updrafts
Downdrafts
Microbursts
Thunderstorm-based turbulence and draft effects
Gusts, wind variation and gust-related turbulence
| Aerosoft | Contrail | Just Flight | SimMarket |
|---|---|---|---|
$26.99 ex tax
| $27.62 ex tax
| $26.99 ex tax
| $27.05 ex tax |
| Aerosoft | $26.99 ex tax
|
|---|---|
| Contrail | $27.62 ex tax
|
| Just Flight | $26.99 ex tax
|
| SimMarket | $27.05 ex tax |