FlightGear Newsletter September 2011: Difference between revisions
(8.50 data format trials) |
(Aircraft status list, small adjustments) |
||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
== In the hangar == | == In the hangar == | ||
All the way back in May, we addopted a new status-rating system for aircraft. So far, only a few have actually been rated, as can be seen in the list 'hockenberry' set up at [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApzphjA4w05ndF94Y2F0bzJTbHQ5QTJXZXJRcUVRbWc&hl=en_US Google Docs]. If you're an aircraft developer and your aircraft is/are not on the list, please consider rating their status. All you'll need to know/do is described at [[Formalizing Aircraft Status]]. | |||
=== New aircraft === | === New aircraft === | ||
=== Updated aircraft === | === Updated aircraft === | ||
| Line 24: | Line 26: | ||
=== New York City === | === New York City === | ||
[[File:Manhattan terrain.png|thumb]] | [[File:Manhattan terrain.png|thumb|Manhattan visualised by a handmade shapefile and OSM (rail)road data.]] | ||
You might remember the New York City project we mentioned in the [[FlightGear Newsletter January 2011#New York City|January edition]] of the newsletter. Several forum members started a collaborated effort to model the NY skyline. Altough the first results were promising, the number of contributions decreased over the past months. | You might remember the New York City project we mentioned in the [[FlightGear Newsletter January 2011#New York City|January edition]] of the newsletter. Several forum members started a collaborated effort to model the NY skyline. Altough the first results were promising, the number of contributions decreased over the past months. | ||
From this month on, new efforts are made, including | From this month on, new efforts are made, including handmade terrain for Manhattan. Please see if you can contribute a model or two. They don't have to be state of the art models; for a skyline mass is what counts most. See [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10531 the forum] for more details. | ||
=== | === X-Plane's 8.50 data format trials === | ||
Some of you may know that we are using an "old" data format for airports in FG, which results in a poor visual rendering of taxiways | Some of you may know that we are using an "old" data format for airports in FG, which results in a poor visual rendering of taxiways at airports. It is currently impossible to make a round/curved taxiway, you have to use plenty of rectangular polygons to make it look curved. | ||
Well, maybe one day it will be over. [[User:Psadro gm|Psadro gm]] is working hard to experiment with 8.50 support in FG. Have a look at the first results in the [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13240&start=30 forum topic]. | |||
=== Airports === | === Airports === | ||
| Line 68: | Line 72: | ||
== Wiki updates == | == Wiki updates == | ||
===New articles=== | ===New articles=== | ||
* [[ | * [[Places to fly]] is a revisited wiki version of the [http://www.flightgear.org/places.html flightgear.org/places.html] page, with pictures and airport charts. | ||
===New aircraft articles=== | ===New aircraft articles=== | ||
| Line 82: | Line 86: | ||
=== FlightGear on YouTube === | === FlightGear on YouTube === | ||
* | * This nice [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD4yMaszdQk aerobatic flight video] ([[Zlin 50 lx|Zlin]] at LFLG) was uploaded by a member of the [http://equipe-flightgear.forumactif.com/ P.A.F]. | ||
* CatchatyouFG uploaded a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5AMwjwvCvQ video] landing the [[Bombardier CRJ-200LR]] in US Airways Express livery at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in submission to Oscjag's monthly FlightGear community challenge. | * CatchatyouFG uploaded a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5AMwjwvCvQ video] landing the [[Bombardier CRJ-200LR]] in US Airways Express livery at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in submission to Oscjag's monthly FlightGear community challenge. | ||
Revision as of 11:40, 19 September 2011
|
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.
Development news
The Jenkins Server has been updated to build FlightGear using Cmake and the last version of Visual Studio. This is probably the way future versions of FlightGear will be built. Installable "nightly" builds are available here.
Snapshot releases
Nasal for newbies
New software tools and projects
FlightGear addons and mods
In the hangar
All the way back in May, we addopted a new status-rating system for aircraft. So far, only a few have actually been rated, as can be seen in the list 'hockenberry' set up at Google Docs. If you're an aircraft developer and your aircraft is/are not on the list, please consider rating their status. All you'll need to know/do is described at Formalizing Aircraft Status.
New aircraft
Updated aircraft
Liveries
Scenery corner
New York City
You might remember the New York City project we mentioned in the January edition of the newsletter. Several forum members started a collaborated effort to model the NY skyline. Altough the first results were promising, the number of contributions decreased over the past months.
From this month on, new efforts are made, including handmade terrain for Manhattan. Please see if you can contribute a model or two. They don't have to be state of the art models; for a skyline mass is what counts most. See the forum for more details.
X-Plane's 8.50 data format trials
Some of you may know that we are using an "old" data format for airports in FG, which results in a poor visual rendering of taxiways at airports. It is currently impossible to make a round/curved taxiway, you have to use plenty of rectangular polygons to make it look curved.
Well, maybe one day it will be over. Psadro gm is working hard to experiment with 8.50 support in FG. Have a look at the first results in the forum topic.
Airports
Aircraft of the month
Airport of the month
Grain silos? The Arc of Saint Louis in red? In the distance it appears we see the Eiffel Tower? Where are we?
Carefully recreated in FlightGear, Tokyo Haneda International Airport that I stumbled upon during my trip around the world. The layout is as real as it can get. The only thing missing, work out in Tokyo Bay creating a new runway.
Visit RJTT in real or in FlightGear. Step into your c172p and fly over Tokyo, I promise amazing buildings and bridges. If you have time, take a course WSW and try to fly over Mount Fuji.
Low in polygons, any windbag causes more lag as a complete airport.
Screenshot of the month
- LFLG airport ( France ) P.A.F. home base link
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIliB6FLFvc
Suggested flights
Traffic lights turn red, gates are closed. The only busy main road to the peninsula is closed and all the cars and trucks are waiting patiently. Waiting for a train to pass? No. Waiting for a plane to pass since the main road crosses a busy runway.
On both sides water and being crossed by a busy main road can only be one runway: Gibraltar airport!
One would expect an ILS installed on such a tricky runway but no, you will have to guess where it is and how far away it is. Not even an ADF points to it.
Take off from LEMG (Malaga). Go South-West and find the runway of LXGB somewhere to the right of the rock. Happy guessing!
- More amazing flights can be found here: Places to fly.
Aircraft reviews
Wiki updates
New articles
- Places to fly is a revisited wiki version of the flightgear.org/places.html page, with pictures and airport charts.
New aircraft articles
Most popular newsletters
Community news
Reminder: FSweekend
With little than two months to go, the largest flight simulator event in the world (the FSweekend at Lelystad Airport, the Netherlands) is coming close. Make sure to mark the weekend of 5&6 November in your agenda as "occupied". A team of FlightGear developers will be present in Lelystad to promote FlightGear to the public. They highly appreciate it if you are able to stop over at the airport!
Last year we organised a multiplayer event in cooperation with TransGear, in which FlightGear users from all over the world could virtually visit Lelystad and surrounding airports. We currently have no plans for something similar for this year's event, but we do invite everyone to pay a (virtual) visit and be part of our show.
More information can be found at the event's wiki page: FSweekend 2011.
FlightGear on YouTube
- This nice aerobatic flight video (Zlin at LFLG) was uploaded by a member of the P.A.F.
- CatchatyouFG uploaded a video landing the Bombardier CRJ-200LR in US Airways Express livery at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in submission to Oscjag's monthly FlightGear community challenge.
New tutorials and screencasts
Forum news
Multiplayer
Virtual airlines
FlightGear events
Useful links
Francesco (brisa) found an useful video on how to model an airliner (or any aircraft) in Blender. It covers the entire process, from setting up the 3-view diagram as background image to modeling the wings. In addition with Emmanuels must-have tutorial, everyone should be able to model an aircraft!
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.