Changelog 2018.1

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The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2018.1 "Honolulu" release of FlightGear, the free, open-source flight simulator. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes, including improved support for addons, active volcanos and user experience improvements to the launcher. Founded in 1997, FlightGear is developed by a worldwide group of volunteers, brought together by a shared ambition to create the most realistic flight simulator possible that is free to use, modify and distribute. FlightGear is used all over the world by desktop flight simulator enthusiasts, for research in universities and for interactive exhibits in museums.

FlightGear features more than 400 aircraft, a worldwide scenery database, a multiplayer environment, detailed sky modelling, a flexible and open aircraft modelling system, varied networking options, multiple display support, a powerful scripting language and an open architecture. Best of all, being open-source, the simulator is owned by the community and everyone is encouraged to contribute.

Download FlightGear v2018.1 for free from FlightGear.org.

FlightGear - Fly Free!

Useability

• Improved control for aircraft carriers

Graphics

• Improved "Classic theme" with better fonts and colours
• Canvas MapStructure support for SlippyMaps, including VFRCharts, STAMEN,
• Various improvements to the Launcher
• Atmospheric Light Scattering renderer: extra volumetric vegetation layers for denser undergrowth

Scenery

• Active Volcanos, including Kilauea, Stromboli, Etna,
• New Hawaii regional texture definitions
• Several scenic waterfalls in the Hawaii area
• New and unique vegetation textures for several parts of the world
• New 3D Objects: Buildings and structures in France, Portugal, Spain, UK, USA, Australia and Ukraine
• Improved airports: Valle del Conlara Airport (SAOS) in Argentina, RAF Mount Pleasant (EGYP) in Falkland Islands UK, Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (LFBD) in France and King Abdulaziz International Airport (OEJN) in Saudi Arabia.

Significant Aircraft Updates

• A new glider: Rolladen-Schneider LS4
• Space Shuttle improvements
• Cessna 182S
• Amelia - an animated and hard-working co-pilot for the Alouette III capable of taking off and landing
• Citation II
• F-14 - various changes including improved carrier operations
• Robinson R44 helicopter
• Major DHC-6 Twin Otter update: JSBSim variant added (status: experimental), more realistic fuel system in JSBSim, significantly more detailed simulation of the electrical system including various DC and AC buses, circuit breakers and bus tie relay.

Other

• CH Products Throttle Quadrant supported out-of-the-box. Thanks to CH Products for providing a sample quadrant.
• Improved support for add-ons
• Support NMEA traffic alerts (e.g. flarm) to allow FG to feed AI/MP traffic to Nav/moving map clients such as xcsoar, skydemon, skymap
• Improvements to YASIM, including multiple wing sections, support for whole-stabilizer trim, better information from CLI tools
• More realistic carrier landings with improvements to the JSBSim arrestor wire behaviour.
• More AI traffic with up to date flight schedules and liveries.