FlightGear Newsletter September 2015
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Development news |
Scenery Corner |
Contributing |
Development news
New ATC-pie release
A new release (r7) of ATC-pie was made available this month, whose most visible addition is a route details and map view dialog. It allows to review the analysis ATC-pie makes of assigned routes, otherwise only written in a linear string form on the strips and flight plans. It also includes a flight time estimation given a speed or an aircraft type. A text chat sender blacklist was also introduced because of recent trolls spoiling the fun in the some places.
In the hangar
F-15 updates
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle has received updates to the flight dynamics, external texturing, cockpit audio warnings (voice and tone), external lighting and liveries. It was observed that the chosen fixed update rate for the Canvas instruments was taking a disproportionate amount of time, so a frame rate adaptive update for these elements has been added which improves things at lower frame rates.
V1.2e Changes
- Improved external lighting, new lighting dialog in the GUI.
- Corrected stall warning tones, added over-g (OWS) warning tones and vocal warnings for OWS, Caution and fuel.
- Canvas optimisations for low frame rates
- Fix weapon selection after load when master arm selected.
- Improved view positioning for front & backseat.
- Reinstate comm radio support
- FDM: Overload Warning System (OWS) limits added
- FDM: Pitch/Roll ratio improvements (pitch ratio now takes into account CG% MAC).
- FDM: Aileron Rudder Interconnect (ARI) system improved using the schedule in NASA-TM-72861, Figure 23
- FDM: Corrected lateral position of external wing tanks for mass
- FDM: Nose Wheel Steering operates in two modes; normal and the maneuvering mode
- Improved external textures. Liveries added for 48th FW, RAF Lakenheath and 131st FW, Lambert St. Louis ANG.
Changes will be in 3.6, available in FGAddon and on the development site.
Space Shuttle
Work has started on re-creating the avionics of the Space Shuttle in FlightGear. For the late Shuttle fleet, this is a mixture of two layers - the interaction with the data processing system (DPS) is just as for the early Shuttle fleet (without glass cockpits and CRT screens) via text menu items. The new Shuttles have this structure embedded in the Multifunction Electronic Display System (MEDS) which offer the features of a fairly modern glass cockpit.
The simulated avionics has both these layers - here is an example of the universal pointing mode (attitude control) with the MEDS structure (edge-key controlled) on the bottom and above the DPS screen structure with which the pilot interacts via keyboard.
Commands are entered as strings referencing items on the display, for instance the sequence ITEM 9 + 88.5 shown on the scratch line would set item 9 on the screen to the value of + 88.5 (if possible).
Automatic attitude control and guidance routines are developed alongside with the avionics. As of September 2015, there is support for body vector inertial pointing, tracking of Earth or the Sun and tracking a specific location on Earth as well as fully automated OMS burns.
Scenery corner
Movable jetways
Animated jetways have been updated or added also to:
- San Francisco International Airport (KSFO), USA
- Düsseldorf International Airport (EDDL), Germany
- Hamburg Airport (EDDH), Germany
Community news
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 multi-language then start 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 doch mit 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
The winner of the September screenshot contest on the forum is:
Thanks for the great entries everyone! Please remember next month's contest!