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FlightGear Newsletter January 2014: Difference between revisions
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FlightGear Newsletter January 2014 (view source)
Revision as of 03:46, 2 February 2014
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=== Updated aircraft === | === Updated aircraft === | ||
==== '''DC-10-30 Getting a Flightdeck Refit''' ==== | |||
'''David Waggoner, “DrDavid”''' | |||
The DC-10-30 (by Ryan Miller) is getting an updated flightdeck with state of the art glass cockpit avionics. The purpose of the project is to create a theoretical refit of the aircraft as if Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas had continued to produce the airplane. The original instrument panel is historically accurate, but as FlightGear has evolved, the advances in avionics technologies have opened up a whole new universe for giving the pilot real-time situational awareness. It proved too good of a prospect to pass by. | |||
The DC-10-30 makes a great platform for this kind of revision because of its sophisticated flight dynamics, autopilot and it is Rembrandt enabled. Rembrandt provides superior lighting capabilities both outside and inside the aircraft, but not all FG instruments are Rembrandt-compatible. Therefore, a new avionics package had to be functional in that environment. | |||
[[File:DC-10-30_Flightdeck_Day_Screenshot.jpg]] | |||
Fortunately, the CRJ-700 Family Series (also by Ryan Miller) has a glass cockpit set up for Rembrandt. The PFD, MFD, EICAS, CDU, Radio Stack, Upper Light Switch Panel, and Side Panels were transferred from the CRJ700 to the DC-10-30. After much tweaking and trial and error, many, but not all of the CRJ’s screens are functional. In addition, a set of standby instruments have been added to support the three glass screens. Note there is cleanup work to be done on the panel—this is a work in development. The choice of instruments and layout are designed to meet my preferences, but that is expected to continue to progress. | |||
The two screenshots illustrate the great effectiveness of having Rembrandt. | |||
[[File:DC-10-30_Flightdeck_Night_Screenshot.jpg]] | |||
A brilliant opportunity has popped up, however. The release of the new Canvas-ready NavDisplay screens, which will be developed by FlightGear over time to match specific aircraft, is now available. I am now in the process of installing the ND in the DC-10’s MFD. Once a stable MFD is achieved, the aircraft will be uploaded into Git for the FlightGear Community to take a look at. I have a long TODO list for other improvements to the model, and will welcome other collaborators—I suspect you have some ideas I haven’t even thought of that would be great to include. There is also the opportunity to create more liveries for the airplane. | |||
==== McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer ==== | ==== McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer ==== | ||
The [[McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer]] had an significant improvement. Heiko Schulz made a brand new FDM for the MD 902. The helicopter has also a new cockpit with working instruments (most instruments are taken from the [[EC135]]). This helicopter has a role as light twin helicopter and makes use of a NOTAR system. So this is a helicopter without a tailrotor. | The [[McDonnell Douglas MD 902 Explorer]] had an significant improvement. Heiko Schulz made a brand new FDM for the MD 902. The helicopter has also a new cockpit with working instruments (most instruments are taken from the [[EC135]]). This helicopter has a role as light twin helicopter and makes use of a NOTAR system. So this is a helicopter without a tailrotor. | ||