In the last few updates, it took much shorter. And I don't feel like paying the full price again.
I understand, I was just in time to refund my Apple Store purchase when I noticed the delay for updates. But for new Apple users on this forum: just use the steam version.
This has been discussed so often with multiple topics open, even recently. It is not the fault of Aerofly, but the process Apple requires. Very frustrating indeed, but the only true solution is to switch to the steam version on Mac. It will always lag, and smaller updates might be consolidated. Which is just the way Apple works.
FSWidgets Navigator now works with App-Store version. But it doesn´t import flight-plans/routes from FS4, right? I can´t see any.
No it doesn’t, which makes the app a bit useless to be honest. I really like how it works, but I can’t add a flight plan even manually as you need another (paid) app for that.
So yeah, nice to see an airplane on the map but that’s about it.. potential is huge though, with a flight plan and correct frequencies for Navaids it would be a perfect app for the sim!
Does it run as well as from the AppStore? Especially in terms of usability with the Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus Edition?
Well it runs just as good as it is the same app, just not going through the whole AppStore review process. Not sure about the TCA, but I happily use other joysticks and rudder pedals without any issues.
The best thing I did regarding Aerofly was to switch to the Steam version for Mac. It just always takes such a long time to update, I feel your pain!
Even the standard M4 is more than fast enough for Aerofly. I run it all at ultra on my Mac mini. Only in LA and Londen the frames drop to about 25-30. Everywhere else 60 fps+.
I would go for the pro if you want something futureproof, the max is probably an overkill just for Aerofly. But of course a powerhouse for many other games and apps that do require its power!
It runs amazing on Mac, but when flying over London, LA, NYC, you sure get quite a dip. The buildings are too blame, when I turn them to low I am limited to my monitor!
For now I settled on ultra for most, high for shadows (I get too much aliasing around shadows going higher) and buildings to high, trees to low. The last setting doesn’t impact performance that much, but on low it is still very full of green everywhere so I keep it like that.
Problem is that 99% of the time my frames are far above 70 fps on a standard Mac mini m4. It would be nice to see some future improvements in those big cities, maybe more a dynamic building density. I agree with you that going below medium is such a huge difference, almost like a few steps in between could be useful. But I guess these cities impact performance on most systems anyway, now it goes to 25 fps above LA which is acceptable and doesn’t impact the experience that much.
Wow, I just found this out using the search bar on this forum. What a treat! I don't know why not more people are talking about this, really nice add-on airplanes. Amazing work!
I got my PPL in it's older brother, the J-5 cub cruiser. Inside it looks just the same, and it actually flies very accurately as well. Memory lane activated! Such a lovely sim this is.
Not officially, nor a way to connect it to Aerofly. But check this recent post out, it works really well: ChatGPT as ATC
I usually don’t like all the wild posts about what should be better, as I enjoy the sim so much and so appreciate all the work by quite a small team. But I guess this might be a quick fix that can improve the experience quite a lot!
I really like the sim for Navigation training and don’t really care that the Airac cycles aren’t up to date and thus apps like simbrief/navigraph aren’t accurate. The Nav page in the app works quite well, but could use some improvements so it is easier to use:
1) When calling up the map in flight, it would be great to be able to click on a VOR/NDB beacon or runway (ILS). To see frequency for example. A wild idea would be a short table containing the flightplan, frequencies and courses in between.
2) regarding courses, it would be really useful if the nav page (or the in flight map) would have a compass rose. That way you could easily determine between two VOR’s what the course would be. It is quite difficult using a flight computer/E6B on your monitor. 
The last one could be quite a simple fix, but would make flight planning a lot more realistic. So yeah, now I do feel like one of those guys always asking to make the app better but I guess this at least is something to improve the AF experience and not just another airplane. 
Display MoreA few questions from someone seriously interested in Aerofly FS4 on a Mac:
1. Will a Mac mini M4 be sufficient to run Aerofly FS4 well? Or do I have to step up to the Mac mini M4 Pro, at more than twice the cost?
2. Is there any disadvantage to downloading Aerofly FS4 from the Apple Store, as opposed to Steam? I am not a gamer and have no other reason to open a Steam account.
3. Does streamed scenery offer the same visual quality as downloaded scenery DLCs? I have 600 Mbps internet service, so streaming is not a problem.
Specs: Mac mini M4 -- 16GB unified memory, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 256GB storage, list price USD 600
Mac mini M4 Pro -- 24GB unified memory, 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 512GB storage, list price USD 1400
I have been interested in flying for a long time, but have been reading the FAA Handbooks to prepare for using a flight simulator instead. Much cheaper and safer, with the ability to fly anywhere! Was attracted to Aerofly FS4 by its reputation for working well on lesser computers, and have been impressed by online photos and videos. A nice balance of features chosen by the developers, concentrating on the right things.
I have used a Mac since its inception in 1984, now own an Intel-based Mac mini, and will upgrade to an Apple Silicon-based Mac shortly. I rejected other options such as an XBox or PC running Microsoft Flight Simulator, and would prefer not to buy a more-expensive Mac just to run X-Plane, which appears more computationally intensive or poorly optimized compared to Aerofly.
IPACS team (Torsten/Marc/Jan/others), please accept my thanks for the intelligent choices you made while developing Aerofly FS4. I greatly appreciate any advice from you and other forum members!
1) I run it on a base Mac Mini M4 and it runs like a charm! 100 fps+ on ultra, dipping below 60 on bigger airports and below 30 in LA or London with all its buildings. The pro would be an overkill, maybe useful if Mac ever supports VR headsets.
2) Download via Steam! That is the most up to date version and I had some issues with a plane missing on the Apple Store version. You can make a steam account in 5 minutes, and I also only use it for that.
3) The streaming is the same as the DLC options, so even the 256GB Mac mini is more than sufficient. It’s quite the powerhouse, even running that other sim quite well. Though I only use Aerofly as it is just so good and enjoyable.
Good to know; most controllers work as well. I use the turtle beach flight stick, and the Logitech yoke and pedals. But I heard the Thrustmaster and Honeycomb accessoires seem to work as well. Not so sure about the Turtle Beach flight yoke.
It should be in the game already, but I had the same issue on my Mac with the version from the Apple Store. Not sure if you are using that by any chance? I switched to the Steam version on my new Mac mini and now it is there. I would highly suggest the Steam version anyway as that is updated a lot faster. Quite strange that it was missing in the App Store, maybe a bug?
Thanks a lot! Very good to know.
@Max.M: With Streaming in FS 4 enabled, you indeed don't need the extra scenery DLCs. You get the same content.
admin Sorry for bringing this post up again! But this is very good to know and would give me a huge amount of disk space back. 
So when using global scenery in FS4 (Mac OS Steam version here) there would be no benefit in downloading the DLC packs? Except less internet streaming of course, which isn’t really an issue.
Thanks for the clarification! Just wanted to be 100% sure in deleting the DLC packs.
What do you guys use to get your flightplan in the app? I agree the app is nice, 100% worth the price compared to all other apps with a subscription model. But the flight plan app (quickplan?) would be an additional purchase, which I don’t really understand.
Would be absolutely perfect with an easy way to just enter a flightplan, or even better: get it from Aerofly in the dataset send to the app.
An example.
Nice! Pretty cool how it sends you to pattern knowing you don’t have an ILS. Do you want it to provide you with all those frequencies each time? Else you can ask it to be shorter in communication.
Nice to hear Thom, and it can only get better which is promising!
Hi Mtyn, based on the tests you have done, can you write an initial prompt text to prepare ChatGPT for working as an ATC? I usually ask it itself to write it, so I can use it in new sessions, or ask ChatGPT for a prompt specifications to use them on Claude.
I did this, probably can be shorter:
“Can you simulate an ATC role for me as a tower controller while I am flight simming? I use Aerofly as my flight sim and have to set up conditions (winds, weather) myself. You can advise me those conditions. I will provide you with a flightplan from runway to runway and include a SID and STAR or provide you with waypoints. I want you to act as ATC for me from delivery till I am parked at the gate at my destination. You don’t know my location, so you will ask me to report when i pass a waypoint where you might give me new instructions. You only give headings and courses if you are 100% sure about my location. And you will only give me a clearance for take off when I say I am ready for take off or departure. You act as an ATC and if you want to correct me or give me guidance you do it as realistic as possible. If you need more information for your role, you ask me.”
And then every flight I start like my earlier example:
”I'm going for a sim flight from EHAM (27) via BERG1P SID to EKBI 27 where I will expect an ILS arrival. I use the 737-900ER, FL240, IFR. Wind 235/15. Can you do the ATC simulation?”
Remember it is smart, so ask it anything. Want a VFR flight? Ask it to help you. Pretend you have a failure inflight and want it to guide you to a nearby airport? It will do that! I sometimes first ask it for a nice flightplan and then I just ask it “can you do the atc simulation for me for this flight?”. And you can correct it when it does something you don’t expect or want it to do better.
Most important: first turn memory on in the personalisation settings. That way it can learn and will do better each time. Have fun!
No I use the free version too. I just make sure that “memory” is on, so it remembers what you say on your account. Then you can teach it, so everytime it does something silly I correct it for the next time.
My “lessons” now that are in its memory:
- make atc as realistic as possible
- don’t give me courses, vectors or headings if you are not 100% sure
- keep it short and if you correct me, do it as if you are the tower controller correcting me
- I will always tell you I am ready for departure before I want a take off clearance
Nice to hear Thom! I use the built in mic from my webcam which can filter speech quite good. And in the equalizer of the Mac I can make it a bit louder.
I have been reading this with interest. Dose this thing actually talk to you like a normal atc?. Can someone do a video on how it works? Thank you.
And yeah, you have to teach it a bit how but look at my reply from yesterday with the text dump. I just ask it to simulate ATC and give it information of my flight as accurately as I can.
Martijn: Hi! I'm going for a sim flight from EHAM (27) via BERG1P SID to EKBI 27 where I will expect an ILS arrival. I use the 737-900ER, FL240, IFR. Wind 235/15. Can you do the ATC simulation?
ChatGPT: Sure! You can start with the ground frequency for taxi-instructions. Let me know when you're ready!
Then with speech control, you can just use speech for it. Works really well. I might try to make a video when able, but just download the ChatGPT app and you can even run it seperately on your phone.
It just seems like such a good base to create a true AI ATC app for Aerofly with.
That is such a good idea! And awesome app you made. I’m going to see if I can make something work, maybe ChatGPT can work with frequent prompts telling it’s the planes location.
