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'''Welcome to [[FlightGear]]!''' Here we'll try to get you up in the virtual air in the shortest time possible. We'll also introduce you to some of the features of this flight simulator and also a few information on its community.
'''Welcome to [[FlightGear]]!''' Here we'll try to get you up in the virtual air in the shortest time possible. We'll also introduce you to some of the features of this flight simulator and also a few information on its community.


== Installation and setup ==
ARE YOU NEW?
=== Hardware requirements ===
TOO BAD
For FlightGear to run smoothly, it requires a video card with OpenGL drivers 2.0 or higher. This is usually not a problem, but take a look at [[Hardware Recommendations]] to have a better idea.
 
Many laptops are known to have issues with FlightGear, as the graphics card(s) on them are usually lower-end. See [[notebooks known to run FlightGear]] for reviews of several laptop systems.
 
=== Getting FlightGear ===
You may download the latest files from [http://www.flightgear.org/download/ FlightGear Downloads] page. Choose the source or binary files appropriate for your particular system. Most Linux users will find that most distributions have a packaged version of FlightGear (the package name could be <tt>fgfs</tt> or <tt>flightgear</tt>.)
 
Depending on your technical expertise you may choose the [[Git]] development version of FlightGear, which typically has more features and can be required by some of the latest developmental aircraft, but can be unstable and is more complicated to get for non-Windows users. In general, the development version is not advised to the average user, but if you're willing to do some testing there's a nightly build for Windows or Mac available for download at the [[FlightGear Build Server]].
 
Also, note that those using the Git version of FlightGear may choose to update their aircraft files through the Git system.
 
You may also order FlightGear on a set of DVDs, available on the [http://www.flightgear.org/dvd/ FlightGear main site].
 
=== Installing on Windows ===
After installing FlightGear on Windows a dialog box appears to define file locations. This is [[FlightGear Launch Control]], also known as FGRun.
 
Apply the following settings:
* '''Executable''': the full path to the FlightGear program (<tt>fgfs.exe</tt>, usually <tt>C:/Program Files/FlightGear/bin/win32/fgfs.exe</tt> ). One can choose it directly using the file selection dialog that pops up when the folder button is hit.
* '''[[$FG ROOT|FG_ROOT]]''': the full path to the FlightGear base package (<tt>data/</tt> directory, usually <tt>C:/Program Files/FlightGear/data</tt>). If this path is wrong, no [[aircraft]] would be displayed and FlightGear won't run.
 
Once you have defined these default settings, you can press <tt>Next</tt> to select an airport, aircraft and edit additional settings.
 
=== Installing on Mac OS X ===
Installing [[FlightGear Mac OS X|FlightGear on Mac OS X]] is very simple. Just drag and drop the FlightGear icon to the <tt>/Applications</tt> folder. That's it.
 
The first time you launch FlightGear, its icon on the Dock bounces for several seconds while loading aircraft and airport info. When the GUI launcher appears, select an aircraft and and airport by clicking the "Gear" buttons at the right of the names. Pressing "Start flight" will launch the simulator. You can configure more options using the GUI launcher. see the [http://macflightgear.sourceforge.net/home/documents/users-guide/ Users Guide] for more details.
 
If you'd like to launch FlightGear using command-line, launch <tt>/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app</tt> and type the following.
 
cd /Applications/FlightGear.app/Contents/Resources
./fgfs --options.....
 
The [[$FG ROOT]] and [[$FG SCENERY]] are not set on Mac OS X. If you want to specify these variables yourself for command-line use, run the followings on Terminal.app:
 
FG_ROOT=/Applications/FlightGear.app/Contents/Resources/data
FG_SCENERY=[[$FG_ROOT]]/Scenery
 
After launching the GUI launcher, you will have the alias to [[$FG ROOT]] at <tt>$HOME/Documents/Flightgear/<version></tt> so you can browse the data folder using Finder.
 
Note: Once you have installed FlightGear, mac users can locate their [[$FG_ROOT]] folder by opening their applications folder in Finder, right clicking on FlightGear, and clicking "Show Package Contents". This will take you inside the FlightGear folder. You are now able to access all files including Data/Aircraft for [[Howto: Install aircraft#Macintosh OS X|installing new aircraft]].
 
=== Configuring OpenGL ===
FlightGear runs best with current [[OpenGL]] video drivers. If you are having trouble running FlightGear, see [[Graphics drivers configuration]] for more information.
 
=== Getting scenery ===
A limited set of [[scenery]] comes installed with FlightGear, which consists of the area surrounding [[San Francisco International Airport]] (KSFO).
 
In FlightGear, scenery is generally stored in you [[$FG_ROOT]] directory, and is divided into three kinds of data:
* '''Airports''' holds airport data, like runway usage and parking spots.
* '''Objects''' are the buildings, bridges and radio towers, etc. that represent three-dimensional structures.
* '''Terrain''' represents the contours, elevations and type of ground you fly/taxi over.
 
The current way of "installing" new scenery is enabling [[TerraSync]], which will automatically download and update any place you visit - even on the fly! However, some might have problems with that, so you can also manually download and install new scenery parts, either official, the [[World Scenery]], or custom.
 
The official scenery is available at [http://www.flightgear.org/download/scenery/ the scenery download section] of the FlightGear website, and can be installed following [[Howto: Install scenery]]. You may obtain additional and more up to date scenery objects as they become available through the [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/ FlightGear Scenery Database].
 
=== Getting aircraft ===
To download additional [[aircraft]] for FlightGear individually, go to the FlightGear website and navigate to the [http://www.flightgear.org/download/ download page], then choose the aircraft download link that fits your FlightGear version. For the installation, see [[Howto: Install aircraft]].


== Running FlightGear ==
== Running FlightGear ==
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