FlightGear Newsletter June 2024
We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter cannot live without the contributions of FlightGear users and developers. Everyone with a wiki account (free to register) is welcome to contribute to the newsletter. If you know about any FlightGear related news or projects such as for example updated scenery or aircraft, please do feel invited to add such news to the newsletter.
The new Visual Editor makes editing the wiki as simple as using a Word-processor, and even easier than using the forum as you don't even need to know the syntax for a url. Just hit the 'edit' link and start.
Development news
In the hangar
New aircraft
Josh Davidson (Octal450) has announced the new Boeing 727 which has been completely rewritten from the ground up, and has new visuals provided by Heiko Schulz (HHS81). A download is not yet available.
Updated aircraft
The MD-11 has received a major update to the FMS, display units, and many other systems. Over 100 changes since the last stable update. A video demonstrating some of the changes is below.
AIRCRAFT UPDATED (resume of last update at June)
Improvements and development of various models continue. In addition, Helijah (E. Baranger) updates his large collection of aircraft to improve HDR compatibility.
Thanks to helijah and deltaecho
- PC-12 2024-06-01 helijah r8648 Pilatus PC 12/47: HDR/pbr compatibility. Revisi...
- Antonov-An-22 2024-06-02 helijah r8655 Antonov An 22 “Antei”: HDR/pbr. compatibility. ...
- MS-406 2024-06-03 helijah r8663 Morane Saulnier M.S. 406: HDR/pbr compatibility...
- Curtiss-Jenny 2024-06-03 helijah r8669 Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny”: HDR/pbr compatibility. A ...
- Curtiss-P40 2024-06-03 helijah r8673 Curtiss P-40 Warhawk: 7 magnificent liveries si...
- dhc4 2024-06-03 helijah r8679 De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou: HDR/pbr. com...
- ME-262 2024-06-03 helijah r8683 Messerschmitt Me 262: A magnificent livery sign...
- Super-Etendard 2024-06-05 helijah r8694 Dassault Super Etendard: HDR/pbr compatibility....
- Potez-630 2024-06-05 helijah r8700 Potez 630: HDR/pbr compatibility. A superb live...
- Heinkel-He-111 2024-06-05 helijah r8704 Heinkel He 111: HDR/pbr compatibility. 6 magnif...
- fw189 2024-06-05 helijah r8708 Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu: HDR/pbr compatibility. 3...
- UH-60 2024-06-06 helijah r8718 Sikorsky UH 60 BlackHawk: HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Ford-Trimotor 2024-06-06 helijah r8724 Ford 4.AT “Trimotor” : HDR/pbr compatibility. 4...
- Fouga-Magister 2024-06-06 helijah r8730 Potez CM 170 Fouga Magister : HDR/pbr compatibi...
- DH-89 2024-06-06 helijah r8735 De Havilland DH 89 : HDR/pbr compatibility. 2 m...
- Fiat-G55 2024-06-06 helijah r8739 Fiat G.55 : HDR/pbr compatibility. 2 superb liv...
- Ju-87 2024-06-07 helijah r8748 Junker Ju 87 "Stuka" : HDR/pbr. compatibility. ...
- Dragonfly 2024-06-07 deltaecho r8754 Dragonfly: use instruments.xml as usage interior
- Kawasaki-Ki-61-Hien 2024-06-07 helijah r8758 Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien “Tony” : HDR/pbr. compatibi...
- La-5 2024-06-07 helijah r8766 Lavochkin La 5 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revisio...
- Messerschmitt-BF110 2024-06-08 helijah r8774 Messerschmitt Bf 110 : HDR/pbr compatibility. R...
- Nakajima-B5N 2024-06-09 helijah r8781 Nakajima B5N : HDR/PBR compatibility. 1 magnifi...
- MS-760 2024-06-10 helijah r8787 Morane Saulnier MS.760 Paris : HDR/pbr. compati...
- SF-1_Archon 2024-06-10 helijah r8796 G-Aerosport SF 1 “Archon” : HDR/pbr. compatibil...
- McDonnell-F-4-Phantom 2024-06-10 helijah r8816 McDonnell F4 "Phantom" : Improved compatibility...
- McDonnell-Douglas-T-45-Goshawk 2024-06-10 helijah r8820 McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk : Improved HDR/p...
- PZL-230F 2024-06-11 helijah r8831 PZL 230F Skorpion : HDR/pbr. compatibility.
- Cessna-195 2024-06-12 helijah r8840 Cessna 195 Businessliner : HDR/pbr compatibilit...
- SM-64 2024-06-12 helijah r8848 Savoia-Marchetti S.64 : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Grumman-EA-6B-Prowler 2024-06-13 helijah r8852 Grumman EA-6B Prowler : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- T7-RedHawk 2024-06-13 helijah r8863 Boeing SAAB T7a Red Hawk : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Silence-Twister 2024-06-13 helijah r8872 Silence Twister : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Junkers-Ju-252 2024-06-14 helijah r8881 Junkers Ju 252 : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Junkers-Ju-390 2024-06-15 helijah r8890 Junkers Ju 390 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revisio...
- Vought-XF5U 2024-06-15 helijah r8894 Vought XF5U : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Piper-PA-23 2024-06-16 helijah r8903 Piper Pa 23 "Apache/Aztec" : HDR/pbr compatibil...
- DR221 2024-06-16 helijah r8912 Robin DR 221 Dauphin : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- UH-1 2024-06-17 helijah r8928 Bell UH 1 Iroquois “Huey” : Deleting excess files.
- Alphajet 2024-06-18 helijah r8931 Dassault-Dornier Alphajet : Improved HDR/pbr co...
- Airspeed-AS57-Ambassador2 2024-06-19 helijah r8936 Airspeed A.S.57 Ambassador 2 : Improved HDR/pbr...
- Northrop-xb35 2024-06-19 helijah r8950 Northrop xb 35: HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Northrop-yb49 2024-06-19 helijah r8954 Northrop yb 49 : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Tigre 2024-06-20 helijah r8965 Eurocopter EC665 “Tiger” : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- BV-238 2024-06-20 helijah r8971 Blohm & Voss BV 238 : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Beechcraft-T34A-Mentor 2024-06-20 helijah r8980 Beechcraft T34A Mentor : Improved HDR/pbr mode.
- FMA-IA36-Condor 2024-06-20 helijah r8990 FMA IA 36 Condor : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Douglas-Dc3 2024-06-21 helijah r9001 Douglas Dc 3 : Fixed two errors found by FG-KLT...
- Pilatus-PC-7 2024-06-21 helijah r9004 Pilatus Pc 7 Mk I : Improved compatibility with...
- Breguet-14 2024-06-21 helijah r9014 Breguet 14 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revision of...
- Northrop-T38-Talon 2024-06-22 helijah r9024 Northrop T 38 Talon : HDR/pbr compatibility. Re...
- Tupolev-TB-1 2024-06-22 helijah r9033 Tupolev TB 1 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revision ...
- Polikarpov-I5 2024-06-23 helijah r9045 Polikarpov I5 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revision...
- Tupolev-I-4 2024-06-23 helijah r9057 Tupolev I-4 / Ant 5 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Re...
- Breguet-Bre-482 2024-06-24 helijah r9066 Breguet Bre 482 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revisi...
- Sikorsky-CH-37B-Mojave 2024-06-24 helijah r9075 Sikorsky CH-37B Mojave : HDR/pbr compatibility....
- Lockheed-S3-Viking 2024-06-25 helijah r9091 Lockheed S3 Viking : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- TBM-930 2024-06-26 helijah r9112 Daher TBM 930 : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Breguet-Alize 2024-06-26 helijah r9122 Breguet Br 1050 Alizé : HDR/pbr compatibility. ...
- Let-L410 2024-06-27 helijah r9131 Let L410 : HDR/pbr compatibility. Revision of t...
- Lockheed-NF104A 2024-06-27 helijah r9143 Lockheed NF 104 A : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Fokker-F.27 2024-06-27 helijah r9149 Fokker F.27 : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Nord-262 2024-06-28 helijah r9160 Nord-Aviation N262 “Fregate” : HDR/pbr. compati...
- Handley-Page-O-400 2024-06-28 helijah r9169 Handley Page Type O : Fixed small errors.
- Handley-Page-HP-42 2024-06-28 helijah r9178 Handley Page HP.42 : HDR/pbr compatibility
- Draco-Wilga 2024-06-29 helijah r9186 PZL 104 wilga 2000 Draco : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Casa-212 2024-06-29 helijah r9188 CASA C-212 Aviocar : HDR/pbr compatibility.
- Westwind-II 2024-06-30 helijah r9198 Westwind II: HDR/pbr compatibility.
- F11-Tiger 2024-06-30 helijah r9210 Grumman F.11 Tiger : HDR/pbr compatibility. Rev...
Scenery corner
Help wanted
Post LTS work
After the 2020.2 release, some work lies ahead to improve the LTS and to help us pave the way for migrating to the OpenGL Core profile - any help would be greatly appreciated.
This may for example include:
- Switching to the OpenGL Core profile:
- Checking that aircraft work with the LTS and documenting any major problems
- Include ffmpeg libraries in Windows and Mac builds, to enable built-in video encoding.
- Cppunit effort and FlightGear Headless (see Testing)
- Deboosting FlightGear
Please get in touch via the developers mailing list to learn more. See Post FlightGear 2020.2 LTS changes and 2022.X Release Plan for more details.
World Scenery 3.0
The FlightGear project is in the process of exploring how Virtual Planet Builder can be adopted. For details, see: World Scenery 3.0 roadmap
Aerial (drone) photos for Terrain textures
Wanted: good top-down aerial photos to create textures from to use with the procedural Regional Texturing system. Drones 
with cameras are ideal. People with access to drones are in a good position to take high-quality photographs.
A particular need as of 2020 is photos of agriculture (farm lands) from different parts of the world.
Good GPLv2 compatible photos suitable for textures are hard to find, and an easy way is for people to take photos of their region. Flightgear's procedural systems can do a lot with less art content, so photo contributions can strongly improve visuals.
See: How to: take photos of terrain for textures. For examples of final textures: see /data/Textures/Terrain. e.g. UK countryside.
You can get in touch via the Scenery forum or the flightgear-devel mailing list
Photos of trees for textures
Wanted: good quality photos of different trees and vegetation from various parts of the world. Flightgear's vegetation system can handle multiple layers of trees and bushes.
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Strong shadows should be avoided. Each tree should be against a background of a different colour: sky (preferably) , clouds , or buildings. This allows the tree to be separated from the background in a photo-editor like GIMP.
See: How to: take photos of vegetation. For examples of final textures: see /data/Textures/Trees. e.g. Coniferous.
You can get in touch via the Scenery forum or the flightgear-devel mailing list.
Submissions of labels for craft
Wanted: Submissions of labels (tags) giving a rough description of aircraft - Metadata tags. A quick read of a craft's Wikipedia page will normally be enough to set labels. This info will be searchable from the launcher GUI. For example, filtering craft by propulsion like single-propeller or 4-engine jet craft, or by a manufacturer like Airbus or Grumman, or by speed like supersonic craft, or craft by era like WW2. A list of tags is here - more can be added if needed. To add tags to craft yourself, the tags are stored in the set-xml file.
A list of FGAddon craft needing tags is here. See this forum thread to submit tags. The flightgear-devel mailing list or the craft's maintainer can also be contacted.
Windows Package Maintainer
The core team needs help from Windows users able to maintain a good working Windows build. This process already exists to support our Nightly and Release builds, but we are seeking additional help to keep it in good working order. The ability to compile FG from source and some Windows batch scripting is a required skill. If you are willing and able to take up this role, please reach out to James Turner (mailing list), or get in touch via the forum [1]
AI
The AI team makes FlightGear more realistic, colorful and lively every month. You can support the development of Interactive Traffic and contribute at the FlightGear AI subforum 
.
Community news
FlightGear on Facebook
Since early December 2010, FlightGear has an official Facebook page. If you have a Facebook account please feel free to join the page.
FlightGear on Instagram
In January 2018 the @flightgear_sim Instagram account was brought back to life. If you've got nice screenshots to be featured, feel free to contact the maintainer .
FlightGear on FlightSim.com
FlightGear has also a sub-forum on flightsim.com - just like the commercial flight sims. It is an opportunity to showcase what FG can do, get people curious and answer any questions they may have with regard to the software or the project.
Multiplayer events
Contributing
Translators needed
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The FlightGear Wiki still needs help for translating it into various languages. If you are interested in making the FlightGear Wiki multilingual, you can start by looking at Help:Translate. |
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Le wiki de FlightGear a toujours besoin d'aide pour être traduit en différentes langues. Si vous êtes intéressé par le rendre multilingue, commencez par lire Help:Traduire. |
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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 mit dem Help:Übersetzen an. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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A wiki de FlightGear ainda necessita de ajuda para traduzi-la em vários idiomas. Se estás interessado em tornar a wiki de FlightGear multi-lingual, por favor começa em Help:Traduzir. |
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FlightGear 百科仍然需要志愿者将其翻译为各种语言。如果你有兴趣让FlightGear百科支持更多语言, 你可以查看 Help:Translate. |
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.
Screenshot of the Month
If you want to participate in the screenshot contest, you can submit your candidate to the this subforum . Be sure to see the first post for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, at the end of the month or after 20 entries have been submitted, a new forum topic will be started containing all shots in an easy-to-view layout. The voting will then take place there.
Thanks for reading FlightGear Newsletter June 2024!
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