FlightGear Newsletter November 2016
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Development news |
In the hangar |
Contributing |
Development news
FlightGear v2016.4 released
The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2016.4 "Zürich" release of FlightGear, the free, open-source flight simulator. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes. Highlights in this release include C++11 support, support for airport data files within scenery folders, a highly-detailed Space Shuttle model and much more.
Improved blackout system
Thanks to research by Nikolai Christensen, the blackout/redout implementation in FlightGear has received a recent improvement. The new implementation is more realistic and makes use of property rules.
In the hangar
Milestone 7 of the Space Shuttle
The latest stable version of the Space Shuttle has arrived on FGAddon. This update includes substantial improvements to the avionics, a detailed 3d cockpit with easily a hundred animated and working switches, high-quality cockpit lighting, detailed systems modeling and much more.
Fly into orbit and deploy a payload, dock to ISS, learn how to program orbital insertion burns or experience a launch abort - or just try the Shuttle out as a glider - all that and more is possible.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a Shuttle simulation that realistic outside of NASA training facilities. Also ready for the latest release is a 110-page flight manual (free of charge for FlightGear users, click picture):
F-16 updates
Recently, there have been several improvements to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, including:
- New Canvas HUD and functional MFDs by Richard Harrison.
- New, more accurate blackout/redout system for FlightGear versions below 2017.1 (new system is integrated in FG 2017.1, see changelog).
- New variant, the YF-16 (F-16 prototype).
- Very detailed aerodynamic data (13,535 numbers from windtunnel data, most with 4 significant figures), covering up to 90 degrees AoA and ±30 degrees sideslip and the fly-by-wire is implemented as the real system anno 1975 when the F-16 went into production (except for gun compensation, speed brake and TEF). The fly by wire has full control of flaperons, rudder, elevators, leading edge flaps and to some extent trailing edge flaps and speed brake. Also the Aileron-Rudder-Interconnect system will automatically apply some rudder when aileron is applied. The aircraft itself has relaxed longitudinal stability, but the fly by wire system should keep you safe. Beware of engaging autopilot for pitch or heading. That will actually change the trim, and that trim will persist after disengagement of A/P.
- Erik Hofman has also updated the main F-16 to feature a FDM based on the same data as above, but modified to simulate larger horizontal tail. The old FDM is now a variant called F-16 (simplified).
Contributing
Translators required
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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. |
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
FlightGear's Screenshot of the Month November 2016 is Sunset over the ocean by Thorsten
If you want to participate in the screenshot contest of December 2016, you can submit your candidate to this forum topic. Be sure to see the first post for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, after all the 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. Once the voting has finished, the best screenshot will be presented in the Newsletter edition of December 2016.