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FlightGear history: Difference between revisions
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[[FlightGear]] development started with an online proposal in 1996, using custom 3D graphics code. Development of an [[OpenGL]] based version was spearheaded by Curtis Olson starting in 1997. Many people have contributed to the project in the years since its inception. | [[FlightGear]] development started with an online proposal in 1996, using custom 3D graphics code. Development of an [[OpenGL]] based version was spearheaded by Curtis Olson starting in 1997. Many people have contributed to the project in the years since its inception. | ||
FlightGear incorporated other open-source resources, including the LaRCsim flight model from NASA, and freely available elevation data. The first working binaries, using OpenGL for 3D graphic code, came out in 1997. Enthusiastic development of newer versions for several years resulted in progressively more stable and advanced versions. By 2001, the team was releasing new beta versions regularly, and by 2005, the maturity of software lead to more widespread reviews, and increased popularity. 2007 marked a formal transition out of beta development with the release of version 1.0.0, ten years after FlightGear's first release in 1997. | FlightGear incorporated other open-source resources, including the [[LaRCsim]] flight model from NASA, and freely available elevation data. The first working binaries, using OpenGL for 3D graphic code, came out in 1997. Enthusiastic development of newer versions for several years resulted in progressively more stable and advanced versions. By 2001, the team was releasing new beta versions regularly, and by 2005, the maturity of software lead to more widespread reviews, and increased popularity. 2007 marked a formal transition out of beta development with the release of version 1.0.0, ten years after FlightGear's first release in 1997. | ||
In 2008, version 1.9.0 of FlightGear included a major change from [[PLIB]] to [[OSG]], which caused the temporarily loss of some features like 3D clouds and shadows, while newly added features, such as particles, imparted another degree of realism to the simulation. | In 2008, version 1.9.0 of FlightGear included a major change from [[PLIB]] to [[OSG]], which caused the temporarily loss of some features like 3D clouds and shadows, while newly added features, such as particles, imparted another degree of realism to the simulation. | ||
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The FlightGear project was conceived on April 8, 1996 by David Murr who proposed a new flight simulator to be developed by volunteers<ref>David Murr (Apr 9, 1996). FlightGear proposal 1.0: [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.aviation.simulators/ny8HFBE5_T8/OdtIiGNGJc8J "A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW FLIGHT SIMULATOR - home built!@"]. Published on the rec.aviation.simulators newsgroup.</ref><ref>David Murr (1996). FlightGear proposal 2.0: [http://www.flightgear.org/proposal-2.0 FLIGHT GEAR "This truly is as real as it gets!" - a proposal for a new flight simulator - REVISION 2.0].</ref><ref>David Murr (Oct 29, 1996). FlightGear proposal 3.0: [http://www.flightgear.org/proposal-3.0 FLIGHT GEAR FLIGHT SIMULATOR, revision 3.0 - Wednesday, 10.30.96, "The future of flight simulation is here"]. Published on the [http://ftp.igh.cnrs.fr/pub/flightgear/www/old-stuff/flight-gear.9610 flight-gear@infoplane.com mailing list].</ref><ref>David Murr (Sep 11, 1998). FlightGear proposal 3.0.1: [http://www.flightgear.org/proposal-3.0.1 FLIGHT GEAR FLIGHT SIMULATOR, revision 3.0.1 - Friday, Sep.11.98, "The future of flight simulation is here"].</ref>. Part of the initial goals were to develop 2D and 3D graphics routines for the simulator. However this was a huge task that came to an unfinished halt at the start of 1997 as the main developer, Eric Korpela, was finishing his thesis. | The FlightGear project was conceived on April 8, 1996 by David Murr who proposed a new flight simulator to be developed by volunteers<ref>David Murr (Apr 9, 1996). FlightGear proposal 1.0: [https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.aviation.simulators/ny8HFBE5_T8/OdtIiGNGJc8J "A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW FLIGHT SIMULATOR - home built!@"]. Published on the rec.aviation.simulators newsgroup.</ref><ref>David Murr (1996). FlightGear proposal 2.0: [http://www.flightgear.org/proposal-2.0 FLIGHT GEAR "This truly is as real as it gets!" - a proposal for a new flight simulator - REVISION 2.0].</ref><ref>David Murr (Oct 29, 1996). FlightGear proposal 3.0: [http://www.flightgear.org/proposal-3.0 FLIGHT GEAR FLIGHT SIMULATOR, revision 3.0 - Wednesday, 10.30.96, "The future of flight simulation is here"]. Published on the [http://ftp.igh.cnrs.fr/pub/flightgear/www/old-stuff/flight-gear.9610 flight-gear@infoplane.com mailing list].</ref><ref>David Murr (Sep 11, 1998). FlightGear proposal 3.0.1: [http://www.flightgear.org/proposal-3.0.1 FLIGHT GEAR FLIGHT SIMULATOR, revision 3.0.1 - Friday, Sep.11.98, "The future of flight simulation is here"].</ref>. Part of the initial goals were to develop 2D and 3D graphics routines for the simulator. However this was a huge task that came to an unfinished halt at the start of 1997 as the main developer, Eric Korpela, was finishing his thesis. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Development of an | Development of an OpenGL based version was spearheaded by Curtis Olsen starting in 1997, after the initial start in 1996. A large community response lead to many contributing to the project from its start in late '90s up to the present. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
"''I was working at the University of Minnesota at the time, and had access to Sun and SGI graphical work stations which offered OpenGL for 3d graphics. OpenGl was just starting to become available on PC hardware with things like the 3dfx voodoo card. Somewhere at this point it occurred to me that a far better path would be to leverage an existing multi-platform 3d graphics system (like OpenGL) to build our flight simulator upon.'' | "''I was working at the University of Minnesota at the time, and had access to Sun and SGI graphical work stations which offered OpenGL for 3d graphics. OpenGl was just starting to become available on PC hardware with things like the 3dfx voodoo card. Somewhere at this point it occurred to me that a far better path would be to leverage an existing multi-platform 3d graphics system (like OpenGL) to build our flight simulator upon.'' | ||
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== Version 1.9.0 (2008) == | == Version 1.9.0 (2008) == | ||
At the time version 1.9.0 was released FlightGear switched from [[PLIB]] to [[OSG]], which caused the temporary loss of some of the features like 3D clouds and shadows. On the contrary new features such as particles add another degree of realism to the simulation. Most aircraft developed for OSG do not work with older versions. The user is able to choose from 230 aircraft provided with 1.9.0, | At the time version 1.9.0 was released FlightGear switched from [[PLIB]] to [[OSG]], which caused the temporary loss of some of the features like 3D clouds and shadows. On the contrary new features such as particles add another degree of realism to the simulation. Most aircraft developed for OSG do not work with older versions. The user is able to choose from 230 aircraft provided with 1.9.0, although only a few are included in the base package. | ||
Version 1.9.1, released shortly afterwards, was a bug fix release. | Version 1.9.1, released shortly afterwards, was a bug fix release. | ||
== Version 2.0.0 (2010) == | == Version 2.0.0 (2010) == | ||
FlightGear 2.0.0 reflects the maturation of the OpenSceneGraph port that started with the previous 1.9.0 release. In addition to many internal code improvements, FlightGear 2.0.0 marks the introduction of many new exciting improvements in the graphics and sound system, as well as improved usability of key features, and improved behavior of | FlightGear 2.0.0 reflects the maturation of the OpenSceneGraph port that started with the previous 1.9.0 release. In addition to many internal code improvements, FlightGear 2.0.0 marks the introduction of many new exciting improvements in the graphics and sound system, as well as improved usability of key features, and improved behavior of existing features. Highlights of this new version include: Dramatic new 3D clouds, dramatic lighting conditions, improved support for custom scenery, and many many new and detailed aircraft models. | ||
== Version 2.4.0 (2011) == | == Version 2.4.0 (2011) == | ||
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| 2017.3 || [[LKPR]] || Prague | | 2017.3 || [[LKPR]] || Prague | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2018.1 || [[PHNL]] || Honolulu | | 2018.1 || rowspan="4" | [[PHNL]] || rowspan="4" | Honolulu | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2018.2 | | 2018.2 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2018.3 | | 2018.3 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2019.1 | | 2019.1 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2020.1 || [[BIKF]] || Keflavik | | 2020.1 || rowspan="3" | [[BIKF]] || rowspan="3" | Keflavik | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2020.2 | | 2020.2 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2020.3 | | 2020.3 | ||
|} | |} | ||