Changelog 2016.1: Difference between revisions

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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!}}
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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FlightGear – Fly Free!
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.]]
== Project Organization ==
 
* The base package has been reduced in size to 1.3 GB and moved to [http://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/fgdata/ SourceForge]. All aircraft except the [[Cessna 172P]] and [[UFO]] have been removed.
= Project Organization =
* All core repositories have been moved to SourceForge. They can be found [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/_list/git here].
* 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 download with each release. 2016.1 uses the default airport ([[KSFO]]) as we have done for many years, and so has the codename "San Francisco." 


* 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.
== Major enhancements ==
* All core repositories have been moved to SourceForge. They can be found at https://sourceforge.net/projects/flightgear/.
=== Core ===
* 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." 
* The [[Interactive traffic]] system has been re-enabled, having been disabled by mistake some releases previously.
 
= Major enhancements =
== Core ==
* [[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|Wing flex]] module added, controllable via [[Nasal]] or [[Property rules]].
* [[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>&lt;variant-of&gt;</code> tag in the [[aircraft-set.xml]] file has been added (see [[FlightGear Newsletter March 2015]]).
* <code>&lt;variant-of&gt;</code> tag in the [[aircraft-set.xml]] file has been added (see [[FlightGear Newsletter March 2015#Variant-of tag added|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 radios.


== 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>&lt;pitot_angle&gt;</code> tag in the <code>&lt;metrics&gt;</code> block.
* The pitot angle can now be tweaked with the <code>&lt;pitot_angle&gt;</code> tag in the <code>&lt;metrics&gt;</code> block.
* The refuel rate is now configurable with the <code>&lt;refuel-rate&gt;</code> tag in the <code>&lt;propulsion&gt;</code> block.
* The refuel rate is now configurable with the <code>&lt;refuel-rate&gt;</code> tag in the <code>&lt;propulsion&gt;</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, including:
** Interior shadows
** Interior shadows.
** Glass reflections, dynamical raindrops, fogging and frosting
** Glass reflections, dynamical raindrops, fogging and frosting.
** Panel backlighting
** Panel backlighting.
** Irradiance mapping for more realistic distribution of indirect light
** Irradiance mapping for more realistic distribution of indirect light.
** Diffuse illumination of the interior by instrument lighting
** 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:halos, sundogs, parhelic ring and light pillar.
* New optical phenomena in icy conditionshazes:
* Aurora Borealis at night
** Halos
* More realistic rendering of generic lights (runway, PAPI, taxiway, etc.)
** Sundogs
* Detailed procedurally generated lights for aircraft
** Parhelic ring
* A dynamical wingflex shader suitable for wing beats (see the [[Dragon]])
** Light pillar
* Aurora Borealis at night.
* More realistic rendering of generic lights (runway, PAPI, taxiway, etc.).
* Detailed procedurally generated lights for aircraft.
* A dynamical wingflex shader suitable for wing beats (see the [[Dragon]]).


== Usability ==
=== Usability ===
[[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.]]
* Many improvements to [[Phi]], the built-in web interface.
* Many improvements to [[Phi]], the built-in web interface.
* GUI cleanup to improve support for multiple GUI styles.
* GUI cleanup to improve support for multiple GUI styles.
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* Additional latitude and longitude formats are now supported in the HUD.
* Additional latitude and longitude formats are now supported in the HUD.


== Scenery ==
=== Scenery ===
* Regional texture definitions for Florida, Brazil, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeastern Asia.
* Regional texture definitions for Florida, Brazil, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Southeastern Asia.
* <tt>stgmerge</tt> tool added to merge objects in a scenery tile into a smaller number of meshes.
* <tt>stgmerge</tt> tool added to merge objects in a scenery tile into a smaller number of meshes.


= In the hangar =
== In the hangar ==
== Aircraft with major enhancements ==
=== Aircraft with major enhancements ===
* 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.
* 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:
* [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle]]
* [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle]]
* [[Rockwell B-1B Lancer]]
* [[Rockwell B-1B Lancer]]
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* [[Mirage 2000-5]]
* [[Mirage 2000-5]]
* [[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]
* [[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15|MiG-15]] (now supports [[Bombable]], ultra-realistic FDM)
* [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]]
* [[Bombardier CRJ700 series]]
* [[Bombardier CRJ700 series]]
* [[Boeing 757]]: new variants 757-300 and C-32B, complementing the existing 757-200 and C-32A
* [[Boeing 757]]
 
== New aircraft ==


=== New aircraft ===
* A [[dragon]] has been added, complete with fire breath.
* A [[dragon]] has been added, complete with fire breath.
* [[Beagle Pup]]
* [[Beagle Pup]]
* [[Pottier_P130_UltraLight|Pottier 130 Utra Light]]
* [[Pottier P130 UltraLight|Pottier P.130UL Coccinelle]]
* [[Boeing 767]]
* [[Boeing 767]]


= Misc/uncategorized =
== Misc/uncategorized ==
* Improved support for KDI572-574 [[DME]] equipment.
* Improved support for KDI572-574 [[DME]] equipment.
* Update to the [http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/DoDWMM.shtml World Magnetic Model] 2015.
* Update to the [http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/DoDWMM.shtml World Magnetic Model] 2015.


= Nasal Scripting =
== Nasal Scripting ==
* Global functions <code>createViaTo()</code> and <code>createDiscontinuity()</code> {{flightgear commit|caead6|t=added}}
* 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 the <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 ==
* See [http://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/codetickets/search/?q=status%3AFixed+AND+created_date%3A%5B2015-09-23T23%3A11%3A56Z+TO+*%5D our bugtracker] for a list, albeit incomplete, of the bugs fixed in this release.
* See [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/codetickets/search/?q=status%3AFixed+AND+created_date%3A%5B2015-09-23T23%3A11%3A56Z+TO+2016-02-18T07%3A39%3A17Z%5D our bugtracker] for a list, albeit incomplete, of the bugs fixed in this release.


[[Category:FlightGear changelogs]]
[[Category:FlightGear changelogs]]
[[Category:New Versioning Scheme]]
[[Category:New Versioning Scheme]]

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