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{{draft|changelog|Please feel free adding screenshots and/or videos that are suitable to highlight some of the developments mentioned in this changelog, thank you! | {{draft|changelog|Please feel free adding screenshots and/or videos that are suitable to highlight some of the developments mentioned in this changelog, thank you!}} | ||
The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2016.1 "San Francisco" 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 an integrated launcher that includes the ability to download aircraft, a reduction in the installation package size, performance improvements and many rendering improvements. | The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2016.1 "San Francisco" 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 an integrated launcher that includes the ability to download aircraft, a reduction in the installation package size, performance improvements and many rendering improvements. | ||
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Download FlightGear v2016.1 for free from [http://www.flightgear.org/ FlightGear.org]. | Download FlightGear v2016.1 for free from [http://www.flightgear.org/ FlightGear.org]. | ||
FlightGear | FlightGear – Fly Free! | ||
[[File:Qt launcher for FlightGear 3.5 on Windows 7.jpg|thumb|The aircraft page of the Qt launcher for FlightGear 3.5 as rendered on Windows 7.]] | [[File:Qt launcher for FlightGear 3.5 on Windows 7.jpg|thumb|The aircraft page of the Qt launcher for FlightGear 3.5 as rendered on Windows 7.]] | ||
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* The base package has been reduced in size to 1.3 GB and moved to http://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/fgdata/. All aircraft except the [[Cessna 172P]] and [[UFO]] have been removed. | * The base package has been reduced in size to 1.3 GB and moved to http://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/fgdata/. All aircraft except the [[Cessna 172P]] and [[UFO]] have been removed. | ||
* All core repositories have been moved to SourceForge. They can be found at https://sourceforge.net/projects/flightgear/. | * All core repositories have been moved to SourceForge. They can be found at https://sourceforge.net/projects/flightgear/. | ||
* Release are now planned to be quarterly ( | * Release are now planned to be quarterly (instead of biannually). The new release number (2016.1) reflects this change: the release numbering format is changed to <code><nowiki>[Year].[Release within year].[Fix Release]</nowiki></code>. We also plan to change the default airport and the scenery that is included with the install image with each release. 2016.1 uses the [[KSFO]] default as we have done for many years, and so has the codename "San Francisco." | ||
'''Core''' | '''Core''' | ||
* Interactive traffic system re-enabled, having been disabled by mistake some releases previously. | * Interactive traffic system re-enabled, having been disabled by mistake some releases previously. | ||
* Various security improvements, including the disabling of <tt>system.fgfsrc</tt>. | * Various security improvements, including the disabling of <tt>system.fgfsrc</tt>. | ||
* Reduction in the memory footprint due to scenery | * Reduction in the memory footprint due to scenery. | ||
* Improved performance when displaying large numbers of scenery objects | * Improved performance when displaying large numbers of scenery objects. | ||
'''Aircraft Modeling''' | '''Aircraft Modeling''' | ||
* [[Tooltips]] can now be positioned at a specific place on-screen. | * [[Tooltips]] can now be positioned at a specific place on-screen. | ||
* [[Wingflexer| | * [[Wingflexer|Wing flex]] module added, controllable via [[Nasal]] or [[Property rules]]. | ||
* Bug-fixes and improvements to the [[Failure Manager]]. | * Bug-fixes and improvements to the [[Failure Manager]]. | ||
* <code> | * <code><variant-of></code> tag in the [[aircraft-set.xml]] file has been added (see [[FlightGear Newsletter March 2015]]). | ||
* Automatic checklist execution, which can, for example, be used for autostart. | * Automatic checklist execution, which can, for example, be used for autostart. | ||
* 8.33 kHz spacing is now supported on comms radios. | * 8.33 kHz spacing is now supported on comms radios. | ||
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'''JSBSim''' | '''JSBSim''' | ||
* Sync with the latest version of [[JSBSim]]. | * Sync with the latest version of [[JSBSim]]. | ||
* The pitot angle can now be tweaked with the <code> | * The pitot angle can now be tweaked with the <code><pitot_angle></code> tag in the <code><metrics></code> block. | ||
* The refuel rate is now configurable with the <code> | * The refuel rate is now configurable with the <code><refuel-rate></code> tag in the <code><propulsion></code> block. | ||
'''Rendering''' | '''Rendering''' | ||
* Improved vegetation including 3D grass and shadows for trees | * Improved vegetation including 3D grass and shadows for trees | ||
* Better cockpit rendering: | * Better cockpit rendering: | ||
** | ** Interior shadows | ||
** | ** Glass reflections, dynamical raindrops, fogging and frosting | ||
** | ** Panel backlighting | ||
** | ** Irradiance mapping for more realistic distribution of indirect light | ||
** | ** Diffuse illumination of the interior by instrument lighting | ||
* New thruster effect (can be used for afterburners flames, rockets, etc.). | * New thruster effect (can be used for afterburners flames, rockets, etc.). | ||
* Lightning strikes illuminating the surrounding clouds during thunderstorms | * Lightning strikes illuminating the surrounding clouds during thunderstorms | ||
* Rainbows | * Rainbows | ||
* Improved airport rendering, including runway skid marks and better effects for the runways and surrounding grass. | * Improved airport rendering, including runway skid marks and better effects for the runways and surrounding grass. | ||
* Optical phenomena in icy hazes: | * Optical phenomena in icy hazes:halos, sundogs, parhelic ring and light pillar. | ||
* Aurora Borealis at night | * Aurora Borealis at night | ||
* More realistic rendering of generic lights (runway, PAPI, taxiway, | * More realistic rendering of generic lights (runway, PAPI, taxiway, etc.) | ||
* Detailed procedurally generated lights for aircraft | * Detailed procedurally generated lights for aircraft | ||
* A dynamical wingflex shader suitable for wing beats (see the [[Dragon]]) | * A dynamical wingflex shader suitable for wing beats (see the [[Dragon]]) | ||
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'''Highlighted new and improved aircraft''' | '''Highlighted new and improved aircraft''' | ||
* Complete refresh of the default [[Cessna 172P]], including engine options, various tire sizes and floats. | * Complete refresh of the default [[Cessna 172P]], including engine options, various tire sizes and floats. | ||
* A [[dragon]] has been added, complete with fire breath. | |||
* Major enhancements to the [[Space Shuttle]]. The Shuttle can be flown as per the Crew Operations Manual from launch to touchdown. | * Major enhancements to the [[Space Shuttle]]. The Shuttle can be flown as per the Crew Operations Manual from launch to touchdown. | ||
* The following aircraft have also received significant updates: | * The following aircraft have also received significant updates: | ||
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** [[Mirage 2000-5]] | ** [[Mirage 2000-5]] | ||
** [[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] | ** [[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]] | ||
** [[Beagle Pup]] | ** [[Beagle Pup]] | ||
** [[Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15|MiG-15]] | ** [[Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15|MiG-15]] | ||
'''Misc/uncategorized''' | '''Misc/uncategorized''' | ||
* Improved support for KDI572-574 [[DME]] equipment | * Improved support for KDI572-574 [[DME]] equipment. | ||
* Update the [http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/DoDWMM.shtml World Magnetic Model] | * Update to the [http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/DoDWMM.shtml World Magnetic Model] 2015. | ||
'''Nasal Scripting''' | '''Nasal Scripting''' | ||
* <code>createViaTo()</code> | * Global functions <code>createViaTo()</code> and <code>createDiscontinuity()</code> {{flightgear commit|caead6|t=added}} | ||
* <code>activate()</code> method {{flightgear commit|caead6|t=added}} to the <code>flightplan</code> ghost object | |||
* <code>activate()</code> method {{flightgear commit|caead6|t=added}} to <code>flightplan</code> ghost object | |||
'''Documentation''' | '''Documentation''' | ||
* The FlightGear Manual is now available in Chinese | * The [[FlightGear Manual]] is now available in Chinese. | ||
'''Bug fixes''' | '''Bug fixes''' |