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FlightGear Newsletter March 2010: Difference between revisions
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{{newsletter}} | {{newsletter}} | ||
Another month's over, another newsletter is written. Compared to last month's edition, we have a lot more content. Ranging from scenery improvements, to virtual airlines and from landing lights to a new multiplayer server. We hope this letter is interesting to read for anyone, both developers and users. | |||
We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter can not live without the contributions of FlightGear users and developers. Everyone (with a wiki account, free to register) can edit [[FlightGear Newsletter {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}|the newsletter of next month]] and every contribution is welcome. | We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter can not live without the contributions of [[FlightGear]] users and developers (thanks to everyone that contributed this time!). Everyone (with a wiki account, free to register) can edit [[FlightGear Newsletter {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}|the newsletter of next month]] and every contribution is welcome. | ||
Happy Easter everyone! | |||
==From the developers== | ==From the developers== | ||
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===Light cones=== | ===Light cones=== | ||
Until now, aircraft landing lights in FlightGear were not much more than a decoration since they did not cast any light on objects in their path. Lauri has implemented experimental light cones which illuminate everything within their range. It's a great step forward for realism, but | Until now, aircraft landing lights in FlightGear were not much more than a decoration since they did not cast any light on objects in their path. Lauri has implemented experimental light cones which illuminate everything within their range. It's a great step forward for realism, but we have to say that it is not a solution for the real problem. For example, other aircraft turn white when they enter a light cone. Some of the remaining problems will not be solved by this method, and thus require a different approach. Nevertheless, this is still an exciting development, which might inspire someone to work on a permanent solution. | ||
==In the hangar== | ==In the hangar== | ||
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===Concorde liveries=== | ===Concorde liveries=== | ||
EA-7201 worked on extra liveries for the [[Concorde]], making the liveries of''' almost all Concorde operators''' available! If you have the newest version of the Concorde (version 2.6) you are able to use them. See the Concorde in new liveries from airliners like Lufthansa, United Airlines, Japan Airlines and even Air Canada! You can download all these beautiful liveries at [http://www.mediafire.com/?ndj5ntyiwth this link]. | EA-7201 worked on extra liveries for the [[Concorde]], making the liveries of''' almost all Concorde operators''' available! If you have the newest version of the Concorde (version 2.6) you are able to use them. See the Concorde in new liveries from airliners like Lufthansa, United Airlines, Japan Airlines and even Air Canada! You can download all these beautiful liveries at [http://www.mediafire.com/?ndj5ntyiwth this link]. | ||
===New Warbird=== | ===New Warbird=== | ||
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More info on development progress, as well as more pictures can be found on the forums [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7225 here] and [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7354 here]. | More info on development progress, as well as more pictures can be found on the forums [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7225 here] and [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7354 here]. | ||
===A New Old Cub=== | |||
Don Lavelle (aka karla) has been updating the Piper J-3 Cub which was initially built by David Megginson and Jim Wilson in 2002. Don has totally rebuilt the aircraft using Blender 2.49a knowing that most FlightGear users' PCs can accommodate models with a high vertex count and he has also made minor changes to the xml files. A great deal of detail has been added with a high (4096 by 4096 pixel) texture map which adds greatly to the realism of this aircraft; approximately 65 hours has been spent on it so far. Don is a previous user of FSX and wanted his Cub "to equal - or better - the offering from Micrsosoft". We'll have to wait until April for the release but Don has promised us a 'plane that he "is proud to offer to the FlightGear world". | |||
Features include: animated pilot (slightly modified Baranger and Augras' version), detailed cabin interior, detailed canvas wings, 'high tech' fuel indicator, optional anti-collision strobe, optional tyre smoke, spinning wheels, tailwheel and rudder link, undercarriage suspension, user input registration markings, paint guide and water spray on wheels. | |||
Creation of the livery is continuing and images will be uploaded to the forum shortly (unless someone can help upload here) http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6890. | |||
===Decal Editor in Planning=== | ===Decal Editor in Planning=== | ||
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==Scenery Corner== | ==Scenery Corner== | ||
[[Image:Dubai_scenery_1.png|thumb|250px]] | [[Image:Dubai_scenery_1.png|thumb|250px|One of the palms at the coast of Dubai.]] | ||
[[Image:Dubai_scenery_2.png|thumb|250px|The other palm of Dubai.]] | |||
===Dubai is coming up=== | ===Dubai is coming up=== | ||
Thanks to a couple of inovative projects, including the Palm Islands (islands in the shape of a palm) and The World (islands together forming a worldmap), Dubai has one of the most recognisable coastlines in the world. In FlightGear none of this was visible though. Gijs started drawing these islands and the ever growing populated areas, to be used in FlightGear. A preview of the yet to be released [[scenery]] can be seen in the | Thanks to a couple of inovative projects, including the Palm Islands (islands in the shape of a palm) and The World (islands together forming a worldmap), Dubai has one of the most recognisable coastlines in the world. In FlightGear none of this was visible though. Gijs started drawing these islands and the ever growing populated areas, to be used in FlightGear. A preview of the yet to be released [[scenery]] can be seen in the screenshots on the right. | ||
==Multiplayer news== | ==Multiplayer news== | ||
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Gijs de Rooy has become an administrator at the [http://flightgear.org/forums/index.php FlightGear Forum]. In addition to moderating the forums (surely a maddening task at times), Gijs has already made some significant improvements to the forum organization. A re-styling of the -currently default- forum look is in the works. | Gijs de Rooy has become an administrator at the [http://flightgear.org/forums/index.php FlightGear Forum]. In addition to moderating the forums (surely a maddening task at times), Gijs has already made some significant improvements to the forum organization. A re-styling of the -currently default- forum look is in the works. | ||
Since March 24th, the forum is hosted at a new server, resulting in much | Since March 24th, the forum is hosted at a new server, resulting in much shorter loadtimes. | ||
===FlightGear wiki moved to a new server=== | ===FlightGear wiki moved to a new server=== | ||