Changelog 2020.1: Difference between revisions

Major update using information from git logs.
(Major update using information from git logs.)
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Available in: [[Changelog_2020.1|English]], [[Zh/2019.2|Chinese]].<br />
Available in: [[Changelog_2020.1|English]], [[Zh/2019.2|Chinese]].<br />


2020.1 is not released yet.
The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2020.1 release of FlightGear, the free, open-source flight simulator. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes.  Enhancements since 2019.1 include the inclusion of the Compositor graphical rendering framework as a separate pre-built binary, better aircraft carrier support, improvements to both the JSBSim and YASim flight dynamics models, better view options, more efficient and better looking OpenStreetMap buildings and translation of the UI into Polish.
 
Founded in 1997, FlightGear is developed by a worldwide group of volunteers, brought together by a shared ambition to create the most realistic flight simulator possible that is free to use, modify and distribute. FlightGear is used all over the world by desktop flight simulator enthusiasts, for research in universities and for interactive exhibits in museums.
 
FlightGear features more than 400 aircraft, a worldwide scenery database, a multiplayer environment, detailed sky modelling, a flexible and open aircraft modelling system, varied networking options, multiple display support, a powerful scripting language, and an open architecture. Best of all, being open-source, the simulator is owned by the community and everyone is encouraged to contribute.
 
FlightGear - Fly Free!


Please help us translate in other languages!
Please help us translate in other languages!
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== Nasal Scripting ==
== Launcher ==
* Garbage Collection Improvements: https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/search/?q=2019+AND++gc+AND+richard&mail_list=all
* Aircraft can now be marked as Favourites, and filtered, making it easier to see find your favourite aircraft out of the hundreds available.
* Re-loadable nasal modules
* The launcher now supports aircraft carriers, including selecting a carrier and setting a start position.
 
== Graphics ==
* The Compositor renderer is included as part of this release.  It provides a fully XML-configurable multi-pass rendering pipeline that is compatible with ALS and includes clustered shading.
* A new Tower AGL view has been added.  This is similar to Tower View, except that it keeps both the aircraft and the ground immediately below the aircraft in view, zooming and panning smoothly as the aircraft moves. Good for viewing landings.
* Use of non-directional point sprites as a fallback for drivers that do not support triangles of point sprites is now supported by setting <code>/rendering/triangle-directional-lights=false</code>.
* Regional textures for Asia, Iceland, Jan Mayen island.
* Active volcanoes - Katla, Eyjafjallajokull, Surtsey. 
* Instanced-based random and OpenStreetMap buildings, improving performance and graphical quality significantly.
* Improvements to the Wingflex Shader.


== JSBSim ==
== JSBSim ==
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* The existence of the property that is used for table independent vars is now checked during execution rather than when the XML definition is parsed. This relaxes the order in which filters, table and more generally flight controls need to be declared in the XML definition files.
* The existence of the property that is used for table independent vars is now checked during execution rather than when the XML definition is parsed. This relaxes the order in which filters, table and more generally flight controls need to be declared in the XML definition files.


== Yasim ==
== YASim ==
* Support for transonic flow effects in YASim
* Support for transonic flow effects.
* Control initial gear state directly by setting <code>/fdm/yasim/respect-external-gear-state=true</code>, rather then YASim settings this depending on whether the aircraft is in the air or on the ground.
* Electric engines are now supported.


== Shaders ==
== Carriers ==
* Improvements to the Wingflex Shader
* Two new standard state overlays are supported in the launcher: <code>carrier-takeoff</code> and <code>carrier-approach</code>.
* A new <code>--carrier-position</code> command-line argument has been added.  This can be used to select the aircraft start position on an aircraft carrier.  Either a catapult (e.g. <code>cat-1</code>), a parking position (e.g. <code>park-1</code>), on final approach on the FLOLS (<code>flols</code>) or abeam the carrier (<code>abeam</code>).


== Views ==
== AI ==
* New AI models for the CRJ900, SR-71, Saab 340.
* Updated AI models for the A-4, KA6-D, ERJ-195, CRJ-700, CRJ-200.
* Updated AI traffic for Aeormar Mexico, AirDolomiti, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, China Southern, Delta Connection, Horizon Air, IcelandAir, JetBlue, LoganAir, LOT, Lufthansa, Lufthansa CityLine, MNG (Cargo), SkyUp, United Parcel Service, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Westjet Regional.
* Updated AI liveries for Aeormar Mexico, Airbus, Air Canada, Air Europa, Air Tahiti, American Airlines, American Eagle, Alaska, Belavia, China Southern, Gulf Air, Hop!, Icelandair, JetBlue, LoganAir, LOT, Rusline, SkyUp, South African Express, United Express, Ural Airlines,  Uzbekistan Airways, Virgin Australia, Westjet,
* Space Shuttle TAEM and approach at KEDW scenario.
* Accurate Britten-Norman Islander performance data, from an Islander pilot.


=== Tower View AGL ===
== Multiplayer ==
This is a new view similar to Tower View, except that it keeps both the aircraft and the ground immediately below the aircraft in view, zooming and panning smoothly as the aircraft moves. Good for viewing landings.
* FGComm now supports both COM1 and COM2, as well as volume settings.
* The views defined by the user's aircraft (Pilot view, Helicopter view, Tower view etc) can now be used with multiplayer aircraft.  Viewing a particular multiplayer aircraft is done by clicking in the Pilot List dialogue's "view' column (see the "Multiplayer/Pilot List" menu).
* Connection to VATSim via Swift is now available via the GUI.
* VATSim support via Swift now shows aircraft on the map and TCAS.
* <code>--disable-hold-short</code> option which allows the user to force a start on the runway when multiplayer is enabled.  This option should be used with caution - it can give other pilots and ATC a nasty fright to find an aircraft materialize on the runway!
* MPCarrier can now be detected by the GUI even if not available on startup. To enable this feature set <code>/sim/mp-carriers/auto-attach=true</code>.


Tower View AGL tries to avoid over-zooming on the aircraft when it is close, using the aircraft's chase-distance property as an approximate indication of the aircraft size.
== Nasal Scripting ==
 
* Garbage collection improvements to reduce frame stuttering
=== Multiplayer Views ===
* Re-loadable nasal modules
The views defined by the user's aircraft (Pilot view, Helicopter view, Tower view etc) can now be used with multiplayer aircraft.
* Canvas EFIS framework
 
Viewing a particular multiplayer aircraft is done by clicking in the Pilot List dialogue's "view' column (see the "Multiplayer/Pilot List" menu).
 
Switching back to view the user's aircraft is done by clicking on the Pilot List dialogue's "view self" button.
 
When viewing multiplayer aircraft, Tower view and Tower View AGL use the nearest tower to the aircraft being viewed, which may be different from the nearest tower to the user's aircraft.
 
The old "Model View" interface is disabled by default, but can be reinstated by going to menu "View/View Options" and selecting "Legacy multiplayer view selector".
 
=== Pilot View Dialogue ===
Columns have been reordered so that the most useful ones are on the left.
 
Added new "view" column, allowing selection of which multiplayer aircraft to view.
 
Altitude values have trailing "+" or "-" to indicate if a multiplayer aircraft is ascending or descending.
 
New "airport" column shows nearest airport to each aircraft. (Note this is only updated when aircraft is being viewed with Tower View or Tower View AGL.)
 
== Carriers ==
* The in-sim launcher now supports a basic dialog for Aircraft Carriers
 
== Multiplayer Carrier ==
* Selecting menu item "Multiplayer/MPCarier Selection" now always opens the small "MPCarriers online" dialogue, even if no carriers are nearby.


* Added ability to auto-attach to multiplayer carriers, i.e. automatically check the box next to the carrier in the "MPCarriers online" dialogue. This facility is disabled by default; enable by setting <code>/sim/mp-carriers/auto-attach</code> to <code>true</code> (e.g. <code>--prop:bool:/sim/mp-carriers/auto-attach=true</code>). Auto-attach only takes place when a carrier first appears and if there is only one instance of that carrier type.
== Miscellaneous ==
* Increased turbulence will be encountered near active volcanoes.
* Configurable METAR URL.
* METAR strings are decoded and displayed in a human-readable form in the weather dialog.
* Polish translations of the UI are now available.
* Improve glider vario instrument.


[[Category:FlightGear changelogs‎]]
[[Category:FlightGear changelogs‎]]