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FlightGear Newsletter December 2011: Difference between revisions
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FlightGear Newsletter December 2011 (view source)
Revision as of 11:37, 3 January 2012
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{{newsletter}} | {{newsletter}} | ||
[[Image:Fgfs-screen-372-gooneybird-xmas-2011.jpg|thumb|240px|Gooneybird's Christmas wishes]] | [[Image:Fgfs-screen-372-gooneybird-xmas-2011.jpg|thumb|240px|Gooneybird's Christmas wishes]] | ||
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== 2011 annual == | == 2011 annual == | ||
We'd like to wish everyone a happy 2012! A new year with lots of exciting FlightGear developments in sight. Looking back at 2011, we can list a few events that deserve to be highlighted. | |||
2011 was the year in which: | 2011 was the year in which: | ||
* FlightGear 2.4.0 was released | * FlightGear 2.4.0 was released | ||
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* the FlightGear website was changed into a CMS, allowing more frequent updates | * the FlightGear website was changed into a CMS, allowing more frequent updates | ||
* the wiki saw its 10.000.000th pageview | * the wiki saw its 10.000.000th pageview | ||
* and much more. Check out the [[FlightGear Newsletter|newsletter archive]] for all highlights! | |||
== Development news == | == Development news == | ||
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Don't let it wait for tomorrow, do it today! | Don't let it wait for tomorrow, do it today! | ||
=== Aircraft maintenance === | === Aircraft maintenance === | ||
Some bug fixes and improvements require aircraft to be adapted/fixed to remain airworthy, to be working correctly, or to be taking full advantage of latest FlightGear version. This is why some developers now went ahead and created a check list including guide lines on maintaining aircraft, please see [[ | Some bug fixes and improvements require aircraft to be adapted/fixed to remain airworthy, to be working correctly, or to be taking full advantage of latest FlightGear version. This is why some developers now went ahead and created a check list including guide lines on maintaining aircraft, please see [[aircraft maintenance]] for more info. | ||
=== | === FlightGear development over time === | ||
Ohloh is an online service that provides repository statistics. FlightGear's repositories are all tracked: | |||
* [https://www.ohloh.net/p/flightgeardata/analyses/latest FGdata] | |||
* [https://www.ohloh.net/p/flightgear/analyses/latest FlightGear] | |||
* [https://www.ohloh.net/p/simgear/analyses/latest SimGear] | |||
As you can see, development has been quite variable over time (generally a lot of development in the northern hemisphere winter), but core development (FlightGear is made up of the separate SimGear and FlightGear codebases) has been fairly constant since the start of the project. Another interesting observation is the massive increase in aircraft over the last couple of years, as shown by the amount of change to FGdata. | |||
=== Flightgear goes to space! === | === Flightgear goes to space! === | ||
As part of the ongoing work developing a haze and fog shader and improving the sky appearance, rendering of the high altitude environment is much improved. With the development version of the terrain-haze and skydome shaders and the visibility model in altitude provided by Local Weather, a seamless transition from low altitude to a near space environment up at 100 km altitude can be achieved. | As part of the ongoing work developing a haze and fog shader and improving the sky appearance, rendering of the high altitude environment is much improved. With the development version of the terrain-haze and skydome shaders and the visibility model in altitude provided by Local Weather, a seamless transition from low altitude to a near space environment up at 100 km altitude can be achieved. | ||
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Despite some claims to the contrary, the existing rendering engine is well up to the job, providing framerates above 20 fps at the top of the arc. However, naturally the Flightgear scenery model is not optimal for rendering orbital views, and photo-texturing of Earth with satellite imagery as done in orbital simulations becomes increasingly superior with altitude. [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=14844] | Despite some claims to the contrary, the existing rendering engine is well up to the job, providing framerates above 20 fps at the top of the arc. However, naturally the Flightgear scenery model is not optimal for rendering orbital views, and photo-texturing of Earth with satellite imagery as done in orbital simulations becomes increasingly superior with altitude. [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=14844] | ||
=== Shaders === | === Shaders === | ||
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[[File:IAR-80-dirt-3.jpg|400px]] | [[File:IAR-80-dirt-3.jpg|400px]] | ||
[[File:IAR-80-dirt-4.jpg|400px]] | [[File:IAR-80-dirt-4.jpg|400px]] | ||
It also gives us the ability to have a good glass reflection with a scratched appearance, although this last effect needs a bit of fine tuning. | It also gives us the ability to have a good glass reflection with a scratched appearance, although this last effect needs a bit of fine tuning. | ||
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Some new terrain textures have been created, mostly based on USGS aerial imagery. The textures have a warmer, summer theme which fits better with some parts of the scenery. The material mappings are best used for Corine-enabled scenery, and the materials file works only for recent Git snapshots. However, the textures can be used with any materials file. All textures are GPLv2 so they can be freely distributed within the Flightgear repository. | Some new terrain textures have been created, mostly based on USGS aerial imagery. The textures have a warmer, summer theme which fits better with some parts of the scenery. The material mappings are best used for Corine-enabled scenery, and the materials file works only for recent Git snapshots. However, the textures can be used with any materials file. All textures are GPLv2 so they can be freely distributed within the Flightgear repository. | ||
More info and screenshots in this forum [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14254 thread]. This is still work in progress, of course. | More info and screenshots in this forum [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14254 thread]. This is still work in progress, of course. | ||
== Development notifications == | |||
=== Improvements to the radio code === | |||
The FlightGear radio code has been recently overhauled, for more info please see [[Radio propagation]]. | |||
=== Improving random trees & buildings === | |||
Some core developers have been thinking about ways to improve our random scenery, in particular buildings and vegetation. For more details see [http://www.mail-archive.com/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg35035.html]. | |||
=== Marketting of 2.6.0 via FS Break podcast === | |||
The idea was raised to market FlightGear using the FS Break podcast, for more details please check: [http://www.mail-archive.com/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg35023.html] | |||
=== More performance out of the 3D clouds === | |||
There has been quite a lengthy discussion on optimizing FlightGear's 3D clouds even more, for more info please see: [http://www.mail-archive.com/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg35092.html] and [http://www.mail-archive.com/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg35100.html]. | |||
=== Sound support for AI traffic === | |||
Erik has been working on implementing an FGFX class for AIModels and is pretty much done, a first stab at the sound code has been committed now. For more info see [http://www.mail-archive.com/flightgear-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg34985.html]. | |||
== Logo & banner contest == | == Logo & banner contest == | ||
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The snapshot can be download via the links at the bottom of this page: http://www.flightgear.org/download/. Updates and feedback can be found [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=10488&p=144233&hilit=snapshot#p144233 at the forum]. | The snapshot can be download via the links at the bottom of this page: http://www.flightgear.org/download/. Updates and feedback can be found [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=10488&p=144233&hilit=snapshot#p144233 at the forum]. | ||
== In the hangar == | == In the hangar == | ||
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====Learjet 35-A==== | ====Learjet 35-A==== | ||
The [[Learjet 35-A]] has received another major update. She is not a sweet beast any more, she will bite when the pilot mistreats it. The sound configuration is completely different. The FDM is as real as the real thing according to the literature I could find. Even the fuel consumption is close to real as long as it flies. She has a new HUD only showing the controls so the pilot can focus on flying and the instruments. She has an accurate display for N1 and ITT. She is prepared for version 2.6.0., including the flight recorder. She is ready now for a though review. | The [[Learjet 35-A]] has received another major update. She is not a sweet beast any more, she will bite when the pilot mistreats it. The sound configuration is completely different. The FDM is as real as the real thing according to the literature I could find. Even the fuel consumption is close to real as long as it flies. She has a new HUD only showing the controls so the pilot can focus on flying and the instruments. She has an accurate display for N1 and ITT. She is prepared for version 2.6.0., including the flight recorder. She is ready now for a though review. | ||
== Scenery corner == | == Scenery corner == | ||
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=== EBAW (Antwerpen - Deurne) === | === EBAW (Antwerpen - Deurne) === | ||
Belgium got a complete full modeled and textured airport: Happy holidays at EBAW :) | Belgium got a complete full modeled and textured airport: Happy holidays at EBAW :) | ||
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=== Tools === | === Tools === | ||
[[File:Fg_submission_form.png|thumb|250px|FG scenery submission tool]] | [[File:Fg_submission_form.png|thumb|250px|FG scenery submission tool]] | ||
Added on December 2011, 15th, a useful webtool to ease the insertion of shared models positions within the | Added on December 2011, 15th, a useful webtool to ease the insertion of shared models positions within the [[FlightGear Scenery Objects Database|FlightGear scenery database]]. We hope this will make the number of positions increase! | ||
The steps are very easy to follow : | The steps are very easy to follow : | ||
* Place the object within FlightGear. | |||
* Place the object within | |||
* Take the data and copy/paste it within the form (please double check the content of what you're inserting!). | * Take the data and copy/paste it within the form (please double check the content of what you're inserting!). | ||
* Add a small kind comment for Martin, telling him what you're doing. | * Add a small kind comment for Martin, telling him what you're doing. | ||
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More improvements (mass import, edit, delete) are to come, so [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14671&p=144878 follow the forum thread] if you're interested. | More improvements (mass import, edit, delete) are to come, so [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14671&p=144878 follow the forum thread] if you're interested. | ||
== | == Airport of the month == | ||
December, cold, dark, snow. But also skiing, gluhwein and Santa Claus. | |||
It's time to go to Austria and visit [[Innsbruck Airport]]. Take along your skis. You will find amazing scenery here, made by Mother Nature and by the volunteers that have re-created the area. | |||
[[File: | [[File:LOWI december.jpg|804px]] | ||
[[File:Fgfs 2011-12-22 20-57-38-47.jpg| | [[File:Fgfs 2011-12-22 20-56-19-72.jpg|400px]] [[File:Fgfs 2011-12-22 20-57-38-47.jpg|400px]] | ||
Read more about the current state of the development | Read more about the current state of the development at [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8438#p83288 the forum]. | ||
== Screenshot of the month == | == Screenshot of the month == | ||
[http://equipe-flightgear.forumactif.com/t835-hangar-de-la-paf La Patrouille de France] (PAF) wish you a ''joyeux noel'' (French for Merry Christmas) from their home base Grenoble Aerodrome (LFLG)! | |||
[[File:LFLG Lancair Chrismas.png|800px]] | [[File:LFLG Lancair Chrismas.png|800px]] | ||
== Suggested flights == | == Suggested flights == | ||
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#Landing 124.5 deg 4150 feet.</tt> | #Landing 124.5 deg 4150 feet.</tt> | ||
More amazing flights can be found at [[Suggested Flights]]. | |||
== Wiki updates == | == Wiki updates == | ||
===Updated articles=== | ===Updated articles=== | ||
*[[Learjet 35-A]] is updated matching the true | * [[Learjet 35-A]] is updated matching the true aircraft flight manual (with FlightGear limitations). On the wiki it is one of the best described aircraft. | ||
*[[Unique Features]] now contains a massive list of what makes | * [[Unique Features]] now contains a massive list of what makes FlightGear unique. | ||
*The German [[:de:Flughöhe|Flughöhe]] article is close to complete matching the English version. | * The German [[:de:Flughöhe|Flughöhe]] article is close to complete matching the English version. | ||
== Community news == | == Community news == | ||
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The headers on [http://flightgear.org/forums the forum] have been replaced by some snow/christmas ones to give you the right winter feeling. Did you spot Santa already? | The headers on [http://flightgear.org/forums the forum] have been replaced by some snow/christmas ones to give you the right winter feeling. Did you spot Santa already? | ||
== And finally ... == | == And finally ... == | ||
=== Contributing === | === Contributing === | ||
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=== Did you know === | === Did you know === | ||
* You can turn on [[anti-aliasing]]? | * You can turn on [[anti-aliasing]] in FlightGear? | ||
[[Category:FlightGear Newsletter|2011 12]] | [[Category:FlightGear Newsletter|2011 12]] | ||