8,564
edits
FlightGear Newsletter April 2012: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Cleanup, wiki links, image positions
(Adding Aircraft of the Month) |
(Cleanup, wiki links, image positions) |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
== Development news == | == Development news == | ||
[[File:Random buildings in San Francisco.jpg|thumb|left|270px|Random buildings in San Francisco.]] | |||
=== Random buildings === | |||
In an effort to improve the scenery in cities, towns and villages with minimal impact to framerate, Stuart has been working on automatically generated "random buildings". The idea is to have FlightGear itself generate buildings with randomized size, shape and texture in a very efficient manner, and builds on the work that he and Tim Moore did on random vegetation a couple of years ago. This is now available in [[git]]. | |||
Building generation is configurable through <tt>materials.xml</tt>, and documented in <tt>Docs/README.materials</tt>. It is designed to be flexible enough that we can have different types of cities in Europe compared with the USA, or Africa. The current texture used for the buildings is a proof of concept, and rather limited by Stuart's artistic abilities. If anyone is interested in creating a better texture, please get in touch with Stuart on the mailing list or forums. | |||
Building generation is configurable through materials.xml, and documented in Docs/README.materials. It is designed to be flexible enough that we can have different types of cities in Europe compared with the USA, or Africa. The current texture used for the buildings is a proof of concept, and rather limited by Stuart's artistic abilities. If anyone is interested in creating a better texture, please get in touch with Stuart on the mailing list or forums. | |||
One of the main aims of this work is to minimize frame-rate impact. If you are running git, and have the time to test the new feature, please fill in [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16204 this poll] on the forums so we can gather information on whether it has succeeded. Read more at [[Random Buildings]]. | One of the main aims of this work is to minimize frame-rate impact. If you are running git, and have the time to test the new feature, please fill in [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16204 this poll] on the forums so we can gather information on whether it has succeeded. Read more at [[Random Buildings]]. | ||
=== Additional | === Additional scripting APIs === | ||
Several advanced aircraft have created | Several advanced aircraft have created Flight Management System (FMS) and [[Control Display Unit]] (CDU) implementations using custom [[Nasal]] code to model modern airliner/bizjet avionics, with some (or no) interaction with the already existing [[route manager]] implemented in C++, and often with code that overlaps. | ||
There's now an effort to improve this, while keeping the complex, especially aircraft-dependant functionality in Nasal so it can be tailored and extended easily. Work has started on improving the existing Nasal scripting interface such that modern avionics can be more easily modeled in scripting space, for additional information please check out [[Nasal Flightplan]]. | There's now an effort to improve this, while keeping the complex, especially aircraft-dependant functionality in Nasal so it can be tailored and extended easily. Work has started on improving the existing Nasal scripting interface such that modern avionics can be more easily modeled in scripting space, for additional information please check out [[Nasal Flightplan]]. | ||
== Interview with a contributor (Sam Clancy) == | == Interview with a contributor (Sam Clancy) == | ||
''In each edition we have an interview with a contributor. Suggestions for possible questions are available on [[interview questions]], you are invited to come up with new questions and interview ideas obviously! Anyone is free to write an interview (with him-/herself or others) for next month's newsletter | ''In each edition we have an interview with a contributor. Suggestions for possible questions are available on [[interview questions]], you are invited to come up with new questions and interview ideas obviously! Anyone is free to write an interview (with him-/herself or others) for next month's newsletter!'' | ||
'''[http://www.flightgear.org/contributors/ Read previous interviews at our website's archive].''' | '''[http://www.flightgear.org/contributors/ Read previous interviews at our website's archive].''' | ||
| Line 48: | Line 47: | ||
'''[http://www.flightgear.org/contributors/ Read previous interviews at our website's archive].''' | '''[http://www.flightgear.org/contributors/ Read previous interviews at our website's archive].''' | ||
== In the hangar == | == In the hangar == | ||
| Line 58: | Line 52: | ||
=== New aircraft === | === New aircraft === | ||
[[File:ATC-FS.png|thumb|270px|ATC-FS]] | |||
==== ATC FS: A new ATC mode for FlightGear ==== | ==== ATC FS: A new ATC mode for FlightGear ==== | ||
ATC-FS (ATC, with flightstrips) is an [[air traffic control]] (ATC) aircraft, with the purpose to help an ATC controller keeping track of the aircraft around his airport as well as helping him guide the aircraft on approach and departure and aircraft just passing through his airspace. It can be added to FlightGear just as a regular aircraft and is built with XML and nasal. Read more at [[ATC-FS]]. | ATC-FS (ATC, with flightstrips) is an [[air traffic control]] (ATC) aircraft, with the purpose to help an ATC controller keeping track of the aircraft around his airport as well as helping him guide the aircraft on approach and departure and aircraft just passing through his airspace. It can be added to FlightGear just as a regular aircraft and is built with XML and nasal. Read more at [[ATC-FS]]. | ||
==== Embraer 195 ==== | ==== Embraer 195 ==== | ||
A new [[Embraer 195]], developed by the group FGBr for | A new [[Embraer 195]], developed by the Brazilian group FGBr for FlightGear version 2.4 and 2.6 can soon be found at at: [http://www.grupofgbr.com.br their website]. | ||
[[File:Embraer - 195 em desenvolvimento (2)..jpg|400px]] [[File:Embraer - 195 em desenvolvimento..jpg|400px]] | [[File:Embraer - 195 em desenvolvimento (2)..jpg|400px]] [[File:Embraer - 195 em desenvolvimento..jpg|400px]] | ||
| Line 71: | Line 64: | ||
=== Updated aircraft === | === Updated aircraft === | ||
[[File:Cessna_337G_Skymaster.png|thumb|270px|The Skymaster is now ready for FlightGear 2.6]] | |||
==== Cessna 337G Skymaster ==== | ==== Cessna 337G Skymaster ==== | ||
The [[Cessna 337G Skymaster]] received an update, making the plane ready for FlightGear 2.6 and some more nice improvements. The Skymaster now has an autostart function, new autopilot, checklists and "utility" dialogs, new heading indicator, 2 new liveries, new splash screen, new cockpit animations and new shaders, and a complete new [[ELT]] system. Some more? Well, the 337G is now able to crash due for hitting the ground or excesive G loads. | The [[Cessna 337G Skymaster]] received an update, making the plane ready for FlightGear 2.6 and some more nice improvements. The Skymaster now has an autostart function, new autopilot, checklists and "utility" dialogs, new heading indicator, 2 new liveries, new splash screen, new cockpit animations and new shaders, and a complete new [[ELT]] system. Some more? Well, the 337G is now able to crash due for hitting the ground or excesive G loads. | ||
Thanks to these updates, this aircraft was chosen to be Aircraft of April. Scroll down to | Thanks to these updates, this aircraft was chosen to be Aircraft of April. Scroll down to [[#Aircraft of the month|Aircraft of the month]] to watch the video review. | ||
==== MiG-21bis ==== | ==== MiG-21bis ==== | ||
| Line 83: | Line 76: | ||
The [[Zivko Edge 540|Zivko Edge]] by Torsten Dreyer was already a great airplane, Jentron worked the FDM over and now its quite capable of tumbling and spinning with rough handling. | The [[Zivko Edge 540|Zivko Edge]] by Torsten Dreyer was already a great airplane, Jentron worked the FDM over and now its quite capable of tumbling and spinning with rough handling. | ||
[[File:10huog1.jpg|thumb|270px|A DR400 fitted with GPS-196 instrument.]] | [[File:10huog1.jpg|thumb|270px|A DR400 fitted with GPS-196 instrument.]] | ||
=== Garmin 196 GPS === | |||
The PAF team is proud to announce the arrival in git of the Garmin 196 GPS instrument. This GPS fits perfectly into light aircrafts such as the [[Robin DR400]], microlight aircraft or helicopters. The source code is available in the fgdata Gitorious repository. | The PAF team is proud to announce the arrival in git of the Garmin 196 GPS instrument. This GPS fits perfectly into light aircrafts such as the [[Robin DR400]], microlight aircraft or helicopters. The source code is available in the fgdata Gitorious repository. | ||
| Line 91: | Line 84: | ||
== Scenery corner == | == Scenery corner == | ||
=== Birds in FlightGear === | === Birds in FlightGear === | ||
[[File:Sea_Gulls_2.png|thumb|270px| | ''Written by VicMar'' | ||
Every so often I get fed up modelling buildings, so I think of other (often silly) things I can model for FlightGear. I have already made several low-poly models which can be used with AI scenarios. This time I have created an animated | |||
[[File:Sea_Gulls_2.png|thumb|270px|Seagulls]] | |||
Every so often I get fed up modelling buildings, so I think of other (often silly) things I can model for FlightGear. I have already made several low-poly models which can be used with AI scenarios. This time I have created an animated seagull. | |||
By attaching him, and variations of him, as sub-models to an invisible rotating base, | By attaching him, and variations of him, as sub-models to an invisible rotating base, you can have several seagulls circling above any model which has an .xml file. | ||
There are | There are two standard sub-model entries which can be added individually or together to an existing model’s .xml file. Each will add four seagulls: | ||
<model> | <model> | ||
<path>Models/Fauna/SeaGull_Origin.xml</path> | <path>Models/Fauna/SeaGull_Origin.xml</path> | ||
| Line 105: | Line 100: | ||
</offsets> | </offsets> | ||
</model> | </model> | ||
The above option is already available | The above option is already available. An other model, that can be added by changing the <code><path></code> to <tt>Models/Fauna/SeaGull_Origin_2.xml</tt>, has been sent for inclusion in the model database, and should be available very soon. | ||
These entries can be altered to your own preference, or if you so wish you can alter the individual | These entries can be altered to your own preference, or if you so wish you can alter the individual seagull variations, which can be found in <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Models/Fauna</tt>. | ||
Who says we have to be serious all the time? Have fun | Who says we have to be serious all the time? Have fun and enjoy! | ||
=== TerraGear === | === TerraGear === | ||
| Line 132: | Line 117: | ||
== Airport of the month == | == Airport of the month == | ||
International Airport of Guarulhos (SGBR) in Sao Paulo City, Brasil is available for download at [www.grupofgbr.com.br grupofgbr.com.br]. | |||
[[File:International_Airport_Of_Guarulhos.jpg|800px]] | [[File:International_Airport_Of_Guarulhos.jpg|800px]] | ||
[[File:International Airport Of Guarulhos (1).jpg|423px]][[File:International Airport Of Guarulhos (2).jpg|377px]] | [[File:International Airport Of Guarulhos (1).jpg|423px]][[File:International Airport Of Guarulhos (2).jpg|377px]] | ||
== Screenshot of the month == | == Screenshot of the month == | ||
| Line 151: | Line 133: | ||
[[File:Karakoram1.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Circling Gasherbrum I]] | [[File:Karakoram1.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Circling Gasherbrum I]] | ||
Take off from Skardu airport in Pakistan (OPSD). Skardu has a reasonably long (11,944 ft) runway at just 7,316 ft elevation, so you can take a jet, but for instance the Twin Otter is more stylish. | Take off from Skardu airport in Pakistan (OPSD). Skardu has a reasonably long (11,944 ft) runway at just 7,316 ft elevation, so you can take a jet, but for instance the [[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter|Twin Otter]] is more stylish. | ||
South of Skardu lies Deosai park, a famous high plateau, but we turn initially east. There's a chain of lakes which is the Indus river. After about five miles, the Shigar river merges with the Indus. Turn slightly left and follow the Shigar, then follow it into a long and broad lake-filled valley stretching into north-western direction. | South of Skardu lies Deosai park, a famous high plateau, but we turn initially east. There's a chain of lakes which is the Indus river. After about five miles, the Shigar river merges with the Indus. Turn slightly left and follow the Shigar, then follow it into a long and broad lake-filled valley stretching into north-western direction. | ||