Flight Dynamics Model

A Flight Dynamics Model (FDM) is a set of math equations used to calculate the physical forces acting on a simulated aircraft, such as thrust, lift, and drag. FlightGear supports several different types of flight dynamics models. Every aircraft simulated by FlightGear must use one of these models.

• LaRCsim was the first FDM suppored by FlightGear, originally developed by NASA, it became the basis for the UIUC FDM. LaRCsim has been replaced by other more flexible FDMs which are now supported by FlightGear.
• JSBSim was developed specifically for FlightGear, and has been the default FlightGear flight dynamics model since 2000.
• UIUC was developed specifically for FlightGear by the UIUC Applied Aerodynamics Group at University of Illinois. The UIUC FDM, originally based on the LaRCsim FDM, includes additional features, such as the ability to simulate aircraft icing.
• YASim is yet another FDM using different calculation methods. YASim was introduced in FlightGear version 0.7.9 in 2002.
• FlightGear can also be set up to render using inputs from an external FDM source, such as from Matlab.
• Other custom FDM have been written for specific aircraft types, such as for lighter than air aircraft.

Currently, FlightGear is the only graphical flight simulator to support all of these flight dynamics models.

For developers, see also FDM engine feature standardization