Microsoft FSX Multiplayer mode allows aircraft to be flown in formation or performing aerobatics with almost nil time lag for data transfer. This allows smooth and accurate displays to be performed. In contrast, data transfer on VATSIM is much slower.
FSX Multiplayer differs from VATSIM in how it chooses which aircraft to display for the aircraft being flown by other pilots. Many Flightsimmers will be familiar with the 450 knot Cessna at 35,000 feet, and it is this anomaly that these instructions will avoid, provided every pilot taking part in a 2-4-CIX display follows them exactly. Unlike VATSIM, in FSX multiplayer, there is no option to change the aircraft you are flying once you are in the session, so if another pilot sees your Chipmunk as a Piper Cub, for example, there is no option but to leave the multiplayer session, correct the aircraft and then rejoin. If you are unsure how to connect to an FSX Multiplayer sessions, see the Multiplayer Setup section below for assistance.
Multiplayer requires flyable aircraft. AI planes cannot be used because they simply don't appear in multiplayer. So all of the aircraft on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft list, whether flyable or not, have been modified where necessary to display correctly and will appear in your FSX "Select Aircraft" window. To avoid having a large number of aircraft in your FSX "Select Aircraft" window once a show is over, you can create a new folder, for example, ..\FSX\Simobjects\Aircraft Hangar, and move any aircraft you will never fly into that folder. You can then move them back into Simobjects\Airplanes for the next show, and put them back in "the hangar" afterwards.
The following step by step instructions describe the procedures required to ensure all the correct aircraft are displayed. They may look complex at first reading, but if you follow them precisely, then you will fly the correct aircraft, see the correct aircraft, and be seen in the correct aircraft. That, after all, is our goal for maximum enjoyment of our displays by all - Pilots and Spectators alike.
To fly with the Tigers and Chips just follow the procedure in the Multiplayer Setup instruction document and then join the multiplayer session and you should see the other planes automatically. The vBBMF and Warbirds teams may need to edit some .cfg files. See the ‘Aircraft selection' section below for details.
If you can run FS Recorder then record a display and send it to the 2-4-CIX Coordinator who will make a Youtube video for you. If you can’t (or want to produce your own video clip) then follow the "make your own video" instructions at the bottom of the page.
No action is required. Enjoy your flight!
Option 1 If you are flying an aircraft which is the EXACT model listed on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page in the Solo Performers Category, then like the Display Team pilots - once you have downloaded and installed that aircraft from the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page, you can just hop in and fly! Note: that some of the downloads in the Solo Performers category are not flyable, so if you are flying an aircraft labelled as "Non-Flyable", you will need to obtain a flyable version and follow the Option 2 instructions.
Example: If you are flying the Hawker Hurricane and you wish to fly the Aeroplane Heaven model which is downloadable from the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page, then once you have downloaded and installed it, you can just hop in and fly! Note: You MUST download and fly the one on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page which has been modified slightly to display properly in 2-4-CIX displays, not the one obtained from Aeroplane Heaven or other sources.
Option 2 If you wish to fly an aircraft of the same type as one of those listed on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page in the Solo Performers Category, but which is created by a different designer, DO NOT download THE SAME TYPE THAT YOU WILL BE FLYING from the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page. Now edit in Notepad the aircraft.cfg file of the aircraft you will be flying, and change the "title=<whatever it is> to the correct one shown on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page for the same model. If there is more than one variant in the aircraft.cfg ([Fltsim.0], [fltsim.1] etc.) make sure you change the "title =" line of the correct variant. If you want to know why this procedure is necessary, read the Technical Information on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page.
Example: If you are flying an A2A Spitfire, make a safe copy of the aircraft.cfg file of the A2A Spitfire - and rename it, for example, "aircraft-original.cfg". Now edit in Notepad the file "aircraft.cfg", and change the "title=<whatever it is>." line to "title=CIX-SPIT" of the variant you wish to fly. Then the spectators will see you as a Spitfire, not as a Cessna or any other non-participating aircraft. DO NOT DOWNLOAD the Spitfire listed on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page. A similar procedure applies for any aircraft you fly in the display which is the same type, but not exactly the same version, as one of those on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page.
Having downloaded the Zip or Rar file, extract it directly into your FSX\Simobjects\Airplanes folder. The aircraft will now appear in your "Select Aircraft" window.
Each aircraft folder is self-contained. Unlike many FSX aircraft, the gauges, sounds, effects and other files are all contained within the aircraft folder. This makes it very simple to add the entire aircraft into FSX, or move it out of your FSX\Simobjects\Airplanes folder if you don't wish to leave it there between shows. To avoid having a large number of aircraft in your FSX "Select Aircraft" window once a show is over, you can create a new folder, for example, ..\FSX\Simobjects\Aircraft_Hangar, and move any aircraft you will never fly into that folder. You can then move them back into Simobjects\Airplanes for the next show, and put them back in "the hangar" afterwards.
The 2-4-CIX aircraft downloads are all listed on the 2-4-CIX Aircraft page.
In case pilots have any doubts about setting up FSX Multiplayer, the Club has produced a Multiplayer Setup instruction document which describes how to set up FSX Multiplayer to take part in the show successfully.
Make a video of your routine and send to the2-4-CIX Coordinator who will splice it into the overall show. Do NOT use Fraps (it makes really huge video files). Use FSX Instant Replay to re-run the routine from the beginning and create the video using Open Broadcast software (free) which captures the screen nicely and produces reasonable size videos.
You may create several video clips from different viewpoints e.g. tower, spot, or cockpit, or a single video with view changes. Unless you are an experienced video editor, don't try and edit the video(s) but send the raw file(s) to the 2-4-CIX Coordinator for editing. If you are an experienced video editor and want some control then by all means produce a video and send it to be inserted into the show.
If you need help in following the techniques of creating the display in this way, please ask the 2-4-CIX Coordinator who can give step by step guidance.
Because taking part in a Club Display is awarded a star in the Star Awards System, display pilots should log a special PIREP as follows: -.
This will then automatically award a Display Attendance star to the member's record at the end of the current month.
Display pilots should ALSO file a normal PIREP for the flight to log the flight time spent flying the display, with the ATC Network field set to "Authorised Offline" and the actual departure and destination airfields entered. The PIREP comments field should include the text "2-4-CIX team member".