Description
✈️ AeroTuneMFS — Intelligent Performance Optimization & System Health Platform for MSFS 2020 & 2024
AeroTuneMFS is an intelligent, AI-assisted performance companion for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.
Designed around a smoothness-first philosophy, AeroTune continuously monitors your simulator and system performance, dynamically adjusting key graphics settings such as Terrain LOD (TLOD), Object LOD (OLOD), Cloud Quality, and Shadow Quality in real time.
Unlike traditional FPS-focused tuning tools, AeroTune makes decisions based on actual system conditions including CPU load, GPU load, VRAM pressure, frametime stability, altitude, AGL (Above Ground Level), and flight phase awareness.
The goal is simple:
→ Smoothness first
→ Stability second
→ Visual quality third
AeroTune helps deliver more consistent performance where it matters most — busy airports, departures, arrivals, and long-haul flights.
With v2.0.0, AeroTune introduces significant improvements to frametime stability monitoring, flight-phase awareness, CPU bottleneck detection, memory protection, telemetry systems, and the expanding Pro analysis platform.
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⭐ Key Features
Core Engine (Free)
• Intelligent real-time tuning of TLOD, OLOD, Clouds, and Shadows
• Flight-phase aware optimisation (ground, climb, cruise, descent, approach)
• High-Altitude TLOD Boost with gradual quality restoration
• Independent OLOD mode with airport awareness
• PresentMon-based frametime stability monitoring
• CPU render-thread bottleneck awareness
• Optional ML-based stutter detection
• Emergency VRAM protection and recovery
• Self-Calibration system
• Advanced memory validation and protection
• Multi-backend GPU telemetry (NVML, DXGI, ADLX, PowerShell and more)
• Lightweight overlay with live tuning feedback
• Auto-start with Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Automatic updates (stable and beta channels)
• Presets with share codes
🆕 Pro Platform
• System Health reports with detailed performance breakdowns
• AI-assisted Log Analyser
• Graph-based analytics (CPU, GPU, VRAM, stability trends)
• Session history and performance insights
• Decision transparency and tuning explanations
• Bottleneck analysis and recommendations
• Future advanced diagnostic and analysis tools
Pro remains completely optional.
Core real-time optimisation is fully available without Pro.
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🧠 How AeroTune Works
• Monitors CPU, GPU, RAM, and VRAM pressure
• Tracks frametime stability and frame pacing consistency
• Detects instability, stutters, bottlenecks, and memory pressure
• Applies small, reversible tuning adjustments
• Learns your system's stable operating envelope
• Uses flight-phase awareness to avoid risky changes
• Prioritises long-term smoothness over short-term FPS spikes
This conservative approach helps reduce oscillation, unnecessary setting changes, and visual popping while maintaining stable simulator performance.
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📦 Installation
- Download and run the AeroTune installer
- Follow the setup wizard (default location recommended)
- Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Launch AeroTuneMFS
- Right-click the AeroTune tray icon to access settings and controls
⚠️ For memory-write features (TLOD, OLOD, Cloud and Shadow tuning), AeroTune should be run as Administrator.
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🔑 First Run & Activation
AeroTune includes a free core experience.
On first launch you will activate AeroTune using a free API key which enables:
• Secure memory detection
• Cloud-assisted memory protection
• Updates and platform services
• Telemetry and compatibility services
Optional:
Upgrade to Pro to unlock System Health reports, Log Analysis, performance analytics, and advanced insights.
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⚠️ Important Memory Cache Update (v2.0.0)
This release includes major improvements to memory detection safety and validation.
Before launching AeroTune v2.0.0 for the first time:
• Delete your existing AeroTune memory cache - This usually resolves to: C:\Users
• AeroTune will automatically rebuild and validate a new cache
• The first startup after updating may take longer than normal
This ensures the new memory detection system starts with a clean validated cache and avoids potential issues caused by older cached data.
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🛠 Troubleshooting
"Waiting for Microsoft Flight Simulator..."
→ Normal while AeroTune is waiting for MSFS to launch or become ready.
"Waiting for Ready-to-Fly"
→ AeroTune is waiting until the simulator has fully loaded into a valid flight session before making tuning decisions.
GPU or VRAM shows 0%
→ Try switching the GPU telemetry backend within AeroTune settings. Some AMD systems may require alternative telemetry backends.
High VRAM Warning
→ AeroTune has detected elevated VRAM pressure and may temporarily pause increases or reduce settings to protect smoothness.
Frametime Guard Reducing TLOD
→ AeroTune has detected unstable frame pacing or rendering pressure. This can occur even when GPU or VRAM utilisation appears relatively low.
CPU Limit / CPU-Bound Warning
→ AeroTune has detected a likely CPU render-thread bottleneck. In this situation reducing TLOD often improves smoothness more effectively than GPU-focused adjustments.
High-Altitude Boost Not Activating
→ AeroTune may be waiting for stable cruise conditions, cooldown timers, or safe VRAM headroom before increasing TLOD.
TLOD/OLOD Not Increasing
→ AeroTune may be holding settings due to VRAM pressure, CPU bottlenecks, recent stutters, frametime instability, or flight-phase safety logic.
Clouds or Shadows Not Changing
→ AeroTune may not have detected those memory addresses for your current simulator build. AeroTune will safely continue using available controls.
PresentMon Telemetry Unavailable
→ AeroTune uses PresentMon for advanced frametime and GPU telemetry. Running multiple applications that attempt to control PresentMon simultaneously (such as CapFrameX recording sessions or other PresentMon-based tools) may cause telemetry conflicts. Temporarily disable PresentMon telemetry within AeroTune when performing external benchmarking.
Sim Disconnect
→ Use the AeroTune tray menu to reconnect SimConnect or restart AeroTune.
Dynamic Settings Enabled
→ Recommended OFF to avoid simulator-side tuning conflicting with AeroTune's optimisation logic.
Auto-Start Not Behaving As Expected
→ Start MSFS manually once and allow AeroTune to detect and cache the simulator settings it requires before relying on automatic startup behaviour.
⚠️ Due to the way Microsoft Flight Simulator manages memory, some settings (particularly OLOD, Clouds, and Shadows) may not always be available on every simulator version. AeroTune will safely continue using available controls.
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📁 Files & Folders
Configuration
%APPDATA%\AeroTuneMFS\aerotune_config.json
Logs
%APPDATA%\AeroTuneMFS\logs\
Presets
%APPDATA%\AeroTuneMFS\presets\
ML Model
%APPDATA%\AeroTuneMFS\stutter_model.pkl
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🌐 Links
Website
Documentation
https://aerotunemfs.com/#documents-section
Support Development
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📜 Credits & Disclaimer
AeroTuneMFS is a solo-developed project created by Darren Edwards.
Special thanks to all Alpha, Beta, Pro, Patron, and community testers whose feedback continues to shape AeroTune's development.
PresentMon telemetry technology is used for advanced frametime analysis. PresentMon is © Intel Corporation and licensed separately.
AeroTuneMFS is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation or Asobo Studio.
Comments(342)
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Log In2 days ago
13 days ago
Hey everyone! This build is currently in pre-beta and available right now for our Pro and Patron Plus users in the pro-lounge and will be releasing to the wider beta channel very soon, leading up to the final v1.1.1 full release! - check out the AeroTune Discord server: https://discord.gg/hqq5WCSWZh
Here is a breakdown of the major engine upgrades and features coming your way:
📉 Frametime Stability Guard (NEW)
One of the biggest additions in this build is a completely new frametime stability guard powered by PresentMon telemetry. Instead of reacting only when VRAM or GPU usage is critically high, AeroTune identifies early signs of instability by monitoring:
Frametime variance and frame pacing consistency
GPU busy spikes
Rendering pressure
Emerging stutter patterns before major degradation occurs
This allows AeroTune to react much earlier, particularly during dense airport approaches, heavy scenery loading, photogrammetry streaming, camera view changes, and complex arrival/descent phases. The goal isn’t simply higher FPS, but smoother and more consistent frame delivery throughout your entire flight.
🏔️ High-Altitude Boost — Ramp Logic
The quality boost on cruise entry now ramps up gradually rather than jumping to the target TLOD in a single step.
Previously, transitioning to cruise from a low TLOD (like after a busy climb) could cause an immediate 70+ point jump, triggering scenery streaming spikes.
The new system gradually restores quality in configurable increments (defaults to 30 TLOD points per cycle), giving the simulator time to stream scenery smoothly and reducing sudden, loading-induced stutters.
Configurable via ha_boost_ramp_step in your config.
🧠 CPU Bottleneck Awareness
AeroTune now detects sustained CPU render-thread bottlenecks via PresentMon and surfaces them clearly so you aren't left guessing. New additions include:
One-time CPU bottleneck overlay warnings
Persistent dashboard advisory notifications
Improved explanations for setting reductions
Overlay notifications that include a · CPU limit indicator where relevant
⚙️ Stability & Gating
Improved gating and stability logic for more consistent behaviour across different flight phases.
Enhanced AMD GPU and VRAM telemetry detection for more accurate performance reads.
Continued VRAM handling refinements for smoother recovery near limits.
Additional safeguards to reduce unnecessary tuning actions during stable flight.
🎨 UI & UX Polish
Text scaling and sizing improvements for better readability across different display sizes.
Theme adjustments for sharper contrast and legibility.
General interface polish.
24 days ago
24 days ago
I’ve actually been working on fixes for this already, and I’ve just identified another area in the optimizer where OLOD floor/range logic wasn’t consistently using the adaptive limits correctly across all modes (lock, step, etc.).
That should improve behaviour quite a bit in the next build and stop cases where OLOD can drift lower than intended or not properly follow the configured range/settings.
about 2 months ago
✨ What’s New:
CPU / Render Thread Smoothing (NEW!): AeroTune can now detect when you are CPU or render-thread limited. It will gently reduce TLOD to smooth out spikes and improve consistency.
Keep an eye out for: “Smoothing render thread — reducing TLOD slightly”
Auto-Start: AeroTune can now automatically launch and attach with MSFS for a more seamless startup experience.
Smarter VRAM Handling: Better detection of VRAM saturation with improved behavior when you're approaching your hardware limits.
🔧 Fixes & Optimizations:
OLOD Max Enforcement: OLOD limits are now treated as a hard cap, preventing values from exceeding your configured max.
VR & Multi-Screen Stability: More stable tuning under heavy rendering loads—especially helpful for high-resolution setups.
Memory Detection Updates: Continued improvements to reliability and compatibility across various sim builds.
General Stability: Internal tweaks for more consistent optimization behavior.
This update will be hitting Pro users for early testing very soon.
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AeroTuneMFS
AeroTuneMFS is an intelligent, AI-assisted performance optimizer for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024. Using real-time telemetry, frametime analysis, VRAM monitoring, and flight-phase awareness, AeroTune dynamically adjusts simulator settings to improve smoothness, stability, and long-flight performance. Features include intelligent TLOD/OLOD tuning, High-Altitude Boost, CPU bottleneck awareness, VRAM protection, optional ML-assisted stutter detection, and advanced safety systems designed to keep your flights running smoothly.
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Version History
==================== What's New in v2.0.0 ==================== Frametime Stability Guard (NEW) • Uses PresentMon telemetry to monitor frametime variance, frame pacing consistency, and GPU busy behaviour • Detects emerging instability before major stutters develop • Can react proactively during heavy scenery loading, dense airports, photogrammetry streaming, camera changes, and arrival phases • Focuses on smoother and more consistent frame delivery rather than FPS alone Flight-Phase Aware Protection (Improved) • Improved climb, cruise, descent, and airport-specific tuning logic • Reduces unnecessary tuning actions during sensitive phases of flight • Smarter suppression of ML and recovery actions when conditions are unsuitable • Enhanced gating and stability rules across the optimisation engine High-Altitude Boost (Improved) • Automatically restores visual quality during stable cruise flight • New ramping system gradually restores TLOD rather than jumping directly to the target value • Reduces scenery streaming spikes caused by large instant quality increases • Configurable ramp behaviour via AeroTune settings CPU Bottleneck Awareness (NEW) • Detects sustained CPU render-thread bottlenecks using PresentMon telemetry • Dashboard advisories clearly identify CPU-bound conditions • Overlay notifications explain when reductions are caused by CPU limitations • Helps users better understand performance bottlenecks and AeroTune decisions VRAM Protection & Recovery (Improved) • Continued refinements to VRAM pressure detection • Improved behaviour near VRAM limits • Smoother recovery after high memory pressure events • Reduced likelihood of emergency correction events AMD Telemetry Improvements • Enhanced AMD GPU utilisation detection • Improved VRAM telemetry reliability • Better consistency across supported AMD hardware Self-Calibration Improvements • Improved sample validation and collection logic • Better handling of stability-related exclusions • More reliable calibration behaviour during long flights Memory Detection & Stability (Improved) • Safer memory validation routines • Improved compatibility with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 • Better protection against invalid memory reads and writes • Continued improvements to memory detection reliability Important Memory Cache Update • This release includes major improvements to memory detection safety and validation • Before launching AeroTune v2.0.0 for the first time, please delete your existing AeroTune memory cache • AeroTune will automatically rebuild and validate a new cache during first launch • The first startup after updating may take longer than normal Auto Start System • AeroTune can automatically launch with MSFS • Automatically detects when MSFS is running • Designed for seamless startup without manual intervention • Optional and can be enabled or disabled within AeroTune Decision Transparency Improvements • Improved explanations for AeroTune decisions • Clearer dashboard and overlay notifications • Better visibility into why settings were changed, reduced, increased, or held • Makes AeroTune's decision-making easier to understand UI & User Experience • Improved text scaling and readability • Enhanced contrast and theme adjustments • General interface polish and usability improvements General Stability & Optimisation • Improved decision-making logic throughout the optimisation engine • Better handling of edge-case scenarios • More consistent behaviour across different hardware configurations • Continued focus on smoothness first, stability second, visual quality third ============================================================ Pro Platform & System Health Dashboard ====================================== AeroTune includes an optional Pro analysis platform. Pro provides clear, human-readable insights into what AeroTune is doing and why. System Health Dashboard provides: • What AeroTune changed (TLOD, OLOD, clouds, shadows) • What triggered the change (CPU, GPU, VRAM pressure, frametime instability, stutters, loading) • Graph-based performance trends (CPU, GPU, VRAM, stability, session behaviour) • Session history and performance insights • What helped vs what did not • Simple next-step suggestions without unnecessary jargon • AI-assisted Log Analyser for troubleshooting and performance investigation Pro users also receive early access to selected new builds before wider beta and public release. Pro is optional and not required to use AeroTune. Core real-time tuning remains fully free and unlimited.
2 days ago