FlightGear Newsletter August 2011: Difference between revisions

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(Correction of the Release Candidate information and replacement with Official 2.4 Release Notice.)
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''We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter can not live without the contributions of FlightGear users and developers. Everyone with a wiki account (free to register) can edit the newsletter and every contribution is welcome. So if you know about any FlightGear related projects such as for example updated scenery or aircraft, please do feel invited to add such news to the newsletter.''
''We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter can not live without the contributions of FlightGear users and developers. Everyone with a wiki account (free to register) can edit the newsletter and every contribution is welcome. So if you know about any FlightGear related projects such as for example updated scenery or aircraft, please do feel invited to add such news to the newsletter.''


== Release status ==
== New FlightGear Version Finally Released ==
After nearly two months of hard work and with the help of many talented people, we are proud to be able to present our fourth release candidate to the Windows users of FlightGear.
After months of hard work in the overhaul of the FlightGear regular release cycle, as well as each and every developer in every portion of the FlightGear flight simulator and its community, the '''2.4.0 release has finally been released on August 17! [http://www.flightgear.org/download/ Please click here to download].'''
Please download the [http://mirrors.ibiblio.org/pub/mirrors/flightgear/ftp/Win32/Setup%20FlightGear%202.4.0rc4.exe complete installer] (419MB) and check out by yourself if it was worth the effort.
Also, starting with the 2.4 release, the development of FlightGear will now follow the [[Release Plan]], which will act as a guideline in upcoming development and regular releases of the FlightGear simulator in the form of a six-month development cycle; in otherwords, if this Release Plan's suggestions are followed thoroughly, stable releases of the simulator will be created twice a year, on the 17th of February and August.
 
The final release is scheduled to be published on August, 18th 2011. Stay tuned...


== Development news ==
== Development news ==
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== Nasal for newbies ==
== Nasal for newbies ==
== New software tools and projects ==
== New software Tools and Projects ==
== FlightGear addons and mods ==
== FlightGear Addons and Mods ==
== In the hangar ==
== In the Hangar ==
=== New aircraft ===
=== New Aircraft ===
[[File:A310-snap.png|thumb| Mahan Air A310-300 over Schiphol.]]
[[File:A310-snap.png|thumb| Mahan Air A310-300 over Schiphol.]]
Icecode and Star a few months ago started the development of the [http://wiki.flightgear.org/Airbus_A310-300 Airbus A310-300]. The latest version of the model includes a detailed cockpit and a realistic YAsim FDM. You can view the development progress [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12790 here].
Icecode and Star a few months ago started the development of the [http://wiki.flightgear.org/Airbus_A310-300 Airbus A310-300]. The latest version of the model includes a detailed cockpit and a realistic YAsim FDM. You can view the development progress [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=12790 here].

Revision as of 00:11, 18 August 2011

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Welcome to the FlightGear Newsletter!
Please help us write the next edition!
Enjoy reading the latest edition!


We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter can not live without the contributions of FlightGear users and developers. Everyone with a wiki account (free to register) can edit the newsletter and every contribution is welcome. So if you know about any FlightGear related projects such as for example updated scenery or aircraft, please do feel invited to add such news to the newsletter.

New FlightGear Version Finally Released

After months of hard work in the overhaul of the FlightGear regular release cycle, as well as each and every developer in every portion of the FlightGear flight simulator and its community, the 2.4.0 release has finally been released on August 17! Please click here to download. Also, starting with the 2.4 release, the development of FlightGear will now follow the Release Plan, which will act as a guideline in upcoming development and regular releases of the FlightGear simulator in the form of a six-month development cycle; in otherwords, if this Release Plan's suggestions are followed thoroughly, stable releases of the simulator will be created twice a year, on the 17th of February and August.

Development news

AI/ATC interactions

Heavily congested taxiways at Schiphol after the 777-200 had been blocking active runway 24 for nearly 4 hours.

While the preparations for our upcoming release are still going on, development for the next release has already started. In early august code changes were committed, which allow FlightGear users to interact with an artifically intelligent ATC system. Currently it is possible to request startup clearance, permission for push back, as well as taxi-clearances. A brand new, and highly experimental, ground network visualization system makes it possible to taxi from parking to runway along the route given by ATC. Hold position and resume taxi instructions can be be given in order to avoid collisions with other (AI controlled) aircraft. Hand-off to a tower controller, as well as more interactive take offs, are in the planning stages. The aim is to have all stages of IFR commercial aviation traffic under ATC control before the release of flightgear 2.6.0, which is planned for early 2012.

Nasal for newbies

New software Tools and Projects

FlightGear Addons and Mods

In the Hangar

New Aircraft

Mahan Air A310-300 over Schiphol.

Icecode and Star a few months ago started the development of the Airbus A310-300. The latest version of the model includes a detailed cockpit and a realistic YAsim FDM. You can view the development progress here.



TECNAM P.92 ECHO

Tecnam-P92.

A french team who likes to be called "The Flightgear France patrol" has been working on many aircrafts. It is composed of many specialists in various fields (3D, texture, FDM, nasal, xml, sound...). The France patrol is proud to offer you a new airplane: the Tecnam-P92. It is probably the best ultralight aircraft available by now in Flightgear. All the instruments, electrical systems and most of the sound are realistically simulated. You can download this airplane in Helijah's hangar here as well as in the GIT repository. This team is currently working on other planes and helos, such as the R44, DC3 C-47 and D510. Those aircrafts can also be found in Helijah's hangar and in GIT.

Updated aircraft

Liveries

Scenery corner

Airports

Aircraft of the month

The Bombardier CRJ700 series was reviewed as this week/month's feature aircraft. You can read the full review at our wiki's Bombardier CRJ700 series article.

Airport of the month

Screenshot of the month

Suggested flights

Aircraft reviews

Wiki updates

Community news

Longfly is very proud and happy to announce the first official release of the "FlightgGear aircraftlist". After eight months of development it contains exactly 491 different aircrafts for FlightGear with screenshots (click on the thumbnails – not everyone is working yet) and download-links.

Because it is a very long list (6127 lines of code and many images) it may take very long to load on some slow computers. So I'll implement five subpages with always 100 planes. There is also a filter, so you can get a better overview of your favorite planes.

The list should be complete but if an aircraft is missing I urge you to report it to me (pm or forum post or mail) – Thanks! Furthermore feedback, criticism and new ideas are always very welcome in the forum threat.


Here it is: www.flightgear.bplaced.de/aircraftlist/

Have fun exploring it!


FlightGear on YouTube

  • CatchatyouFG has uploaded a video, and he lands an Airbus A340-600 (with engines on fire in the beautiful Cathay Pacific livery) at Kai Tak Airport (VHXX) as a submission to Osjcag's monthly FlightGear community challenge.

New tutorials and screencasts

Forum news

Multiplayer

Virtual airlines

FlightGear events

Useful links

And finally ...

Contributing

One of the regular thoughts expressed on the FlightGear forums is "I'd like to contribute but I don't know how to program, and I don't have the time". Unfortunately, there is a common mis-conception that contributing requires programming and lots of free time. In fact, there are a huge range of ways to contribute to the project without needing to write code or spending days working on something.

For ideas on starting to contribute to FlightGear, you may want to check out: Volunteer.

Call for volunteers

  • The OpenRadar project is looking for a new maintainer.
  • The FGFSPM (FlightGear Package Manager) is looking for a new maintainer.

Did you know