FlightGear Newsletter February 2017

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This newsletter is a draft.

Please feel free to add content that you think will be of interest to the FlightGear community.
You can read the latest newsletter at FlightGear Newsletter January 2017.


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Enjoy reading the latest edition!
Please help us write the coming edition!
February 2017

Development news
In the hangar

Scenery Corner
Community News

Contributing
Translators required
FlightGear logos
Screenshots
Screenshot of the Month

Development news

FlightGear v2017.1 released

The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2017.1 "Bergen" release of FlightGear, the free, open-source flight simulator. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes. Highlights in this release include: Accurate buildings from OpenStreetMap, voice synthesis of tutorial instructions, improved rendering of Earth from orbit, and a more realistic blackout/redout system.

Bombable Add-on: Update 4.6 now available - Full Compatibility with FG 2016.x.x

The Bombable add-on--which converts FlightGear into full fledged combat flight simulator, with realistic weapons, dogfighting, bombing, and strafing--either with AI opponents or via multiplayer, has been updated to version 4.6.

The new version of Bombable brings full compatibility with FlightGear through 2016.4.4.

Download the Bombable add-on, or find out more, on the Bombable wiki page

The Bombable Add-On features aircraft from World War I through modern times

In the hangar

JSBSim Sopwith Camel Updated to Ver. 2.0alpha

Flug's JSBSim Sopwith Camel has undergone major revisions and the 2.0alpha version of the aircraft has been released.

More information and download the JSBSim Camel here

Real Sopwith Camel 1917 vs FlightGear JSBSim Camel 2017

Major features of the new release:

  • Greatly updated/refined flight dynamics model, even more closely adhering to the historically reported behavior of the aircraft
  • Crashes modeled - parts break, dust, explosions, etc.
JSBSim Camel: Bad Crash
  • Completely new sound design - hear when you are rolling, landing gear makes contact, wind buffeting etc
  • Ground interactions - tail drag, wheels, wingtip, etc dragging surface kicks up dust
  • Water landings - you can successfully ditch in water, kicks up spray & other effects
  • Friction effects and bumps - you can land or take off on almost any suitable land, but you will notice increased drag from e.g. tall grass, bumps, and you might break a landing gear if you're not careful. Use 'n' key to nudge the aircraft if you get stuck in a hole or ditch.
  • New Inspect Aircraft View - based on Walk View, this allows you to easily get various views near the aircraft

View a video demo of an early version of some of these features.

Things to try in your new JSBSim Camel:

  • Crash landing
JSBSim Camel Ground Contact Effects
  • Hard landing
  • Over-g/overspeed
  • Inverted flight
  • Land in a random field, try to take off again (use 'n' as needed for nudges, and menu Camel/Repair as needed--because you WILL need it).
  • Water landing - try both a controlled ditch and hard landing
  • Scrape a wing on takeoff or landing
  • Nose over on takeoff or landing (menu Camel/Repair afterwards . . . )
  • Take off, land and do touch-and-go landings while viewing from external view (Model View or Inspect Aircraft View)
  • How fast can you do a level 360 degree turn left or right? Real Camel pilots could do it 8-10 seconds level flight to level flight.
  • Spins and recovery - try powered stall and unpowered stall in level flight; pulling into a stall at 45, 60, and 90 degree bank angles, etc. How about a stall from inverted flight? Can you figure out how to enter a flat inverted spin from inverted flight--as reported by WWI Camel pilots?
  • Take offs and landings in calm weather, headwind, crosswind, tailwind. Can you successfully take off and land in a strong crosswind, for example?
  • Take offs and landings in calm weather, headwind, crosswind, tailwind. Can you successfully take off and land in a strong crosswind, for example?
  • Loops, barrel rolls, split-s turns, wingovers, hammerheads, other typical acrobatic and fighter maneuvers. What happens if you pull the stick back moderately or hard at the top of a loop?
JSBSIM Camel: Nosing Over
  • Install the Bombable add-on and dogfight other Camels, Spads, Fokkers, etc.
  • Or dogfight via multiplayer with Bombable

Note that the JSBSim version of the Camel included in the pack is the primary emphasis of this release. The JSBSim FDM and effects mentioned above are the point of the release. The aircraft model is identical to the FG Camel, so you won't see anything new there! And the release also includes a YASim version of the Camel that is Bombable compatible but doesn't include any other special effects or FDM development of the type outlined above.

In short, to see fly the *JSBSim Camel*. In the FG aircraft menu, look for *Sopwith Camel 1F.1 (JSBSim, Historically Accurate FDM & Weapons, Bombable-compatible, ver 2.0)*.

Version 2.0alpha is a pre-release and may be refined further (based on user feedback) before the final release. However, the release is fully functional and generally well tested.

More information and download the JSBSim Camel here

JSBSim Camel: Tumbling to a stop

Scenery corner

Community News

Contributing

Translators required

En.gif The FlightGear Wiki still needs help for translating it into various languages. If you are interested in making the FlightGear Wiki multilingual, you can start by looking at Help:Translate.
Fr.gif Le wiki de FlightGear a toujours besoin d'aide pour être traduit en différentes langues. Si vous êtes intéressé par le rendre multilingue, commencez par lire Help:Traduire.
De.gif Das FlightGear Wiki benötigt immer noch Hilfe bei der Übersetzung in verschiedene Sprachen. Wenn Du Interesse daran hast, das FlightGear Wiki mehrsprachig zu machen, dann fang mit dem Help:Übersetzen an.
Nl.gif De FlightGear Wiki kan nog steed hulp gebruiken bij het vertalen van artikelen. Als je interesse hebt om de wiki meertalig te maken, raden we je aan om een kijkje te nemen bij Help:Vertalen.
Es.gif La wiki de FlightGear todavía necesita ayuda para traducirla a varios lenguajes. Si estás interesado en hacer la FlightGear wiki multilingüe, entonces comienza en Help:Traducir.
Cat.gif La wiki de FlightGear encara necessita ajuda per traduir-la a diverses llengües. Si esteu interessat en fer la wiki de FlightGear multilingüe, llavors comenceu a Help:Traduir.
Pt.gif A wiki de FlightGear ainda necessita de ajuda para traduzi-la em vários idiomas. Se estás interessado em tornar a wiki de FlightGear multi-lingual, por favor começa em Help:Traduzir.

FlightGear logos

If you want some graphic elements for your FlightGear-related site (such as a hangar or YouTube channel), please feel free to visit FlightGear logos for a repository of logos. And if you have some art skills, please don't hesitate to contribute with your own design creations.

Screenshots

The FlightGear project always needs screenshots, which show features that were added since the last release. These should be of good quality, especially in content and technical image properties. It is therefore recommended to use the best viable filter settings (anti-aliasing, texture sharpening, etc.). More info at Howto:Make nice screenshots.

Screenshot of the Month

FlightGear's Screenshot of the Month February 2017 is Having some fun in the Basque Country by xcvb!

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