Howto:Make an aircraft: Difference between revisions

If you are a complete beginner, knowing the processes involved will help out quite a bit. Each aircraft in FlightGear has two main development areas:

# The '''[[Flight Dynamics Model|Flight Dynamics Model]] (FDM)''': This tells the computer how your aircraft reacts to various conditions. The FDM is composed of two main models most people use, either [[JSBSim]] or [[YASim]]. Or the lesser used model [[UIUC]]. Define the dimensions, mass-and-balance data. Tell FlightGear which part of your aircraft and where it may hit the ground. Where the gear is, if and how it travels. How it is propelled and how it flies if you move the controls. A subarea of the FDM are integral systems like the [[autopilot]] and fuel systems.

# The '''appearence''' of the aircraft, which can be split in two areas:

## 3-dimensional model and all of its visual aspects: animations (These give visual feedback from your FDM. Move the aileron of your 3D model when the aileron control is moved. Same for the other aero surfaces, the gear. Than go ahead with the instruments, animate the needles, the digital readouts. Define hot spots and pick animations, so you can click in your 3D cockpit.), [[Howto: Add aircraft lights|lighting]] and textures (images that are put in specific locations on the 3D model).