FlightGear Newsletter October 2013: Difference between revisions

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FlightGear Newsletter October 2013 (view source)

Revision as of 19:27, 3 November 2013

380 bytes added ,  3 November 2013
→‎Boeing 747-400 instrument displays: work on the ND now also started
(World scenery 2.0 announced.)
(→‎Boeing 747-400 instrument displays: work on the ND now also started)
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=== Updated aircraft ===
=== Updated aircraft ===
==== Boeing 747-400 instrument displays ====
==== Boeing 747-400 instrument displays ====
[[File:Boeing 747-400 PFD ILS approach EHAM 18R.png|thumb|270px|The PFD while on ILS approach to [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol]]'s runway 18R]]
[[File:Boeing 747-400 PFD and ND approach EHAM 18R.png|thumb|270px|The canvas PFD (left) and ND of the Boeing 747-400 while approaching runway 18R at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.]]
Nearly all of the instrument displays in the [[Boeing 747-400]]'s cockpit have been converted to the new [[Canvas]] system. Instead of complex animated 3D models (with the various layers very close to each other, to feign a 2D instrument), the displays are now relatively simple 2D SVG drawings. The code for the primary flight display (PFD) for example has been reduced by nearly 2000 lines.
All instrument displays in the [[Boeing 747-400]]'s cockpit have been converted to the new [[Canvas]] system. Instead of complex animated 3D models (with the various layers very close to each other, to feign a 2D instrument), the displays are now relatively simple 2D SVG drawings. The code for the primary flight display (PFD) for example has been reduced by nearly 2000 lines.


Thanks to the flexible nature of a Canvas based instrument, a great deal of new features have been added. Some of these functions include:
Thanks to the flexible nature of a Canvas based instrument, a great deal of new features have been added. Some of these functions include:
* The '''PFD''' now shows speed limits, reference speeds, ILS guidance and autopilot modes.  
* The '''PFD''' shows speed limits, reference speeds, ILS guidance, rising runway and autopilot modes.
* The '''navigation display''' displays routes, way points and airports. [[TCAS]] has been ported as well.
* The '''primary EICAS''' has been extended with an expanded gear position indicator (non-normal display in case of gear failure) and pagination for the memo messages.  
* The '''primary EICAS''' has been extended with an expanded gear position indicator (non-normal display in case of gear failure) and pagination for the memo messages.  
* The '''secondary EICAS''' received two new pages: doors and status.
* The '''secondary EICAS''' received two new pages: doors and status.


The plan is to make these displays available in dialogs, to work around the fact that simpilots cannot easily/quickly look around their cockpit.
All displays can be shown in dialogs, so pilots can keep an eye on the display(s) while manipulating switches on the overhead or pedestal. Just click one of the displays to open it in a dialog.


The new displays are already available through Git and will be available for all with the next release.
The new displays are already available through Git and will be available for all with the next release in February. A note for aircraft developers: please do not copy them to your aircraft yet. The code that drives the displays will be generalized further, so it can be easily re-used on other aircraft.


=== Liveries ===
=== Liveries ===
Retrieved from "https://wiki.flightgear.org/Special:MobileDiff/64092"

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