FlightGear Newsletter May 2015

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This newsletter is a draft.

Please feel free to add content you think will be of interest to the FlightGear community. You can read the latest newsletter at FlightGear Newsletter March 2015.


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May 2015

Development news
Exhaust flames
Automated checklist execution
Nasal/Canvas: A simple tiled map
New ATC-pie release

In the hanger
Scenery Corner
Scenery Project Elba
Community News
The Festival of FlightGear 2015 (1/2) - 2 & 3 May

Contributing
Translators required
FlightGear logos
Screenshots

Development News

Exhaust flames

The latest addition to the Atmospheric Light Scattering framework is a procedural shader effect to render thruster and afterburner exhaust flames. This effect integrates over a 3d-distribution of glowing emitters in a bounding box, which means that it doesn't generate sharp edges in the visuals.

Flame color, density, distribution of shock diamonds and widening in thin atmosphere are all runtime configurable, allowing to account realistically for changed thrust or ambient pressure.

Here's an example application for the Space Shuttle main engine - note how the exhaust plume is narrow early on and shows pronounced shock diamonds while it widens in the thin upper atmosphere:

Space Shuttle main engine flames during early ascent Space Shuttle main engine flames during late ascent


See the ALS exhaust flame effect for details.

Automated checklist execution

Cquote1.png As part of the development of the Lockheed 1049h Constellation, I created a comprehensive set of checklists based on the crew operating manual with other items added sufficient to take the aircraft through all stages of flight. Rather than hand-code an autostart script I wrote a more generic script to run checklist bindings in sequence. This script is now available in FGDATA and can be used on other aircraft:


Wiki: Automated Checklist Execution

If you are thinking about writing an autostart menu, you might want to consider using this script and driving the autostart from the checklists. It's not restricted to autostart, you can essentially run any sequence of checklists from any piece of Nasal code.

You can see the script in action in the latest Lockheed 1049h. Note that you need a recent copy of FGDATA for this to work. The autostart in this case is intelligent enough to run different checklist sequences depending on whether you are starting on a runway, at the terminal or in the air and also uses automated checklist execution to run an "After Landing" checklist from a keyboard shortcut during that busy time of rollout and taxi.


— sanhozay (Fri May 01). Automated Checklist Execution.
(powered by Instant-Cquotes)
Cquote2.png

Nasal/Canvas: A simple tiled map

Using the Canvas GUI, you can make a simple tiled map using images downloaded on the fly You can view the code behind the map at Canvas Snippets#A simple tile map.

A simple, canvas based tile map which is centered around the aircraft.

New (4th!) ATC-pie release

ATC-pie logo.

ATC-pie now provides a solo training mode for ATCs. Using the same interface as the multi-player game mode and an additional instruction pane, you can choose to play offline and control virtual aircraft as Tower, Approach, Departure, or any combination of those positions. As MP traffic still can be scarce in many occasions on our network, this new game mode can be a solution for you not to give up on a planned session and give yourself some challenge. Also, you may learn from it enough to make your own MP sessions more popular over the network!

The main features are:

  • Free combination choice of APP, TWR and DEP control positions for custom training
  • Handovers to/from virtual ATCs
  • Instruction interface and pilot read back
  • Adjustable difficulty (traffic density)
  • Departure–arrival and ILS–visual balance options
  • Configurable runways in use, entry and exit points

See the wiki page for more!

Scenery Corner

Scenery Project Elba

The Scenery Project Elba has been started, aiming to improve the scenery of Elba, an island west of Italy. More information can be found on the wiki page: Scenery Project Elba. Contributions welcome! Development thread: http://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26138

Elba.jpg

Community News

The Festival of FlightGear 2015 (1/2) - 2 & 3 May

Time: All weekend Sat 00:00-Sun 23:59 Location: Argentina/Brazil (SBRJ/SBGL and south)

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 multi-language then start at Help:Translate.
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 doch mit 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.

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.