FlightGear Newsletter October 2010
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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.
Newsletter mailing list
To fulfill some requests, we now have a special newsletter mailing list, thanks to Curt! Please register yourself. Emails will be sent when a newsletter is released, and possibly also a week in advance of the release, in order to remind anyone that their help is welcome.
FlightGear events
Call for volunteers
The OpenRadar project is looking for a new maintainer.
Development news
Nasal for newbies
New software tools and projects
FlightGear addons and mods
Zakharov is working on a new glass cockpit and is improving the ZKV1000 instrument, turning it into a replica of the Garmin Primus 1000. The interface is based on a Garmin Primus 1000 user manual found in a DA40 aircraft. It is designed for simple integration in an aircraft panel, and in the future it will be possible to configure the graphic interface and automatic behavior for specific aircraft (i.e. speed warnings).
A user manual will be released when the instrument is completed. For now, it features:
- PFD and MFD (including revisionary mode)
- Altimeter, speedometer, TAS, and VSI
- Artificial horizon with flight director
- HSI with two VOR radios, GPS, and ADF
- Full menu interface
- Full radio stack
- Integration with the autopilot
- Flight plan creation "on the fly"
- External perl script for MFD map creation using the Atlas mapping utility (works under Linux/UNIX and Windows only at the moment)
A release is still a few weeks off, but a development snapshot is available. Screenshots can be found here.
In the hangar
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 has seen some extensive developments going on over the past month. Some of these include:
- EICAS pages
- Electrical system
- Sounds, recorded in from a real 747
Lockheed L-1011-500 Tristar
A new cockpit is being developed for the historic L-1011-500 airliner by Armchair Ace and statto, hopefully making it an enjoyable aircraft to fly!
Sikorsky S92 "Helibus"
The S92 is currently under development by Arthur Maiden. So far, the following are completed:
- Basic fuselage and rotor assembly
- Basic YASim FDM
- Openable cargo and crew doors
- Basic animations
Still on the to-do list:
- Animate tail rotor
- Add glass to windows
- Add further detail to fuselage, smooth out the model, add antennas
Liveries
Scenery corner
Airports
Aircraft of the month
Airport of the month
Screenshot of the month
Suggested flights
Gulf of Finland sightseeing tour
Take a VFR sightseeing tour over the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki to Tallinn! Estonia's landmarks are all recent additions, while Helsinki was one of the first cities to have original models in the scenery model database.
Take off from the smaller EFHF airfield in Helsinki, or try your luck fighting the virtual traffic at Vantaa, and head toward the port of Helsink. Look for the Hartwall Arena, the Pasila tower, the railway station and the Olympic Stadium along the way. Make your way out over the Gulf flying just west of south - a heading of 190 should set you up nicely for a sightseeing tour of Tallinn. Try to come in from the west and do a sweeping left turn over the capital of Estonia, looking out for the Swissotel, Olympic Hotel, the Television tower, and other important landmarks in the capital city of Estonia. Make sure you look out for St. Olaf's Church, the tallest building in the capital city. Make your way over the Ulemiste Jarv (lake) to land on runway 09 at Tallinn's main airport.
If you desire, you can do a touch-and-go at Tallinn and set your course southeastward, landing at Tartu Airport, which is also modeled in FlightGear.
The distance between Helsinki and Tallinn is about 50 miles or 80 kilometres, while Tartu is twice the distance from Tallinn at 100 miles/160 kilometres. Fly a heading of 135 to get to Tartu from Tallinn.
Aircraft reviews
Wiki updates
Community news
FlightGear on YouTube
- FlightGear user planetacancun uploaded an excellent video showing the equally excellent MiG-15.
- Two videos ([1] [2]) featuring the photo-scenery at Brest, were uploaded by Dawid. Pictures used are CC-BY-SA Brest Métropole Océane. http://www.brest.fr/territoire-competences/brest-metropole-oceane/bmo-vue-du-ciel.html
- A nice example of some multiplayer fun (chasing the An-225 in a F-16) is uploaded by SweetChinMusic1133.
- A video tutorial showing how to add objects with the UFO uploaded by draoi99.
Watch the FlightGear PlayList for a collection of all (somewhat) quality FlightGear videos ever uploaded to YouTube.
New tutorials and screencasts
Forum news
Multiplayer
Virtual airlines
Useful links
And finally...
FAA adopts "line-up and wait"
The American Federal Aviation Administration adopted the ICAO standard for ATC clearance to enter the runway. The command "[taxi into] position and hold" has been replaced with "line-up and wait" now, already in use at most non-US airports. FlightGear pilots and controllers are requested to bring this change in practice.
Read the official announcement at the FAA website.