Instructions to enhance and generate the storms
1. Make a copy of your current .cfg file (region.cfg) in your Seattle regional folder.
2. Add the following config lines (in red) to your Seattle regional folder or to your main flt3.cfg folder.
Virga_Dim 4
Virga_MaxDistFactor 1.5
Virga_MinDistFactor 0.5
Virga_HazeCalcTime 5
Virga_HazeCalcTimeVariation 2
Virga_RainColor 0.6 0.7 0.8
Virga_SnowColor 0.73 0.73 0.73
Lightning_MinTime .5
Lightning_MaxTime 30
Lightning_MinColor 0.1 0.5 1
Lightning_MaxColor 1 1 1
Lightning_BoltProb 0
Lightning_AttenuationModifier 5000000
3. Save your new region .cfg file.
4. Run Flight Unlimited III and note the location of your current airport.
5. Go into the weather options.
6. Move the weather severity bar to the far right (clouds and lightning)
7. Hit generate till you bring up clouds with the yellow lightning bolts.
8. Click and drag the weather front till the clouds with lightning are situated over your airport of departure.
9. Accept and go into the F5 view. You should hear the thunder and also see the lightning.
10. Depending on the particular precipitation map used and the placement of the clouds over the airport, you may have completely overcast skies or intermittent skies with towering cumuliform clouds.
Notes on the storms and lightning:
Remember, the screenshot images of the storms were produced using the above configurations in addition to the sky and rain configurations.
Naturally, the additive effect of all these configurations will significantly reduce the fps in comparison to clear skies.
Heavy rain in combination with the lightning will also lower the fps.
If your framerates are too low with hesitating performance, you can gain a few fps by adjusting the sliders to low in the graphics options (terrain detail, distant mountains, building density) and the weather options (haze to low).