Changelog 2.6.0: Difference between revisions

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FlightGear 2.6.0 ChangeLog
FlightGear 2.6.0 ChangeLog


The [[FlightGear]] development  team is happy to announce the release of FlightGear 2.6.0. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements, bugfixes, and other improvements.  
The [[FlightGear]] development  team is happy to announce the release of FlightGear 2.6.0. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes.  


''Add a synopsis here''
''Add a synopsis here''
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'''Aircraft operations:'''
'''Aircraft operations:'''
* At selected airports, it is now possible to let FlightGear decide at which parking it should start. You don't need to worry about the details of whether the parking is of the right type, whether it is large enough etc.
* At selected airports, FlightGear can automatically start at an appropriate parking spot based on the size and type of your aircraft.  


'''AI system'''
'''AI system'''
* MP and AI aircraft models are loaded in a background thread - which improves performance, especially if you have a multi-core CPU. Compared to older version you should see less (or no) stutters due to aircraft models loading.
* To reduce stuttering during model loading and take further advantage of multi-core CPUs, MP and AI aircraft models are now loaded in a background thread.
* Only those parts of the model are loaded, which are really rendered. Aircraft developers can add a range limitation for parts of a model, in order to reduce loading times.
* To reduce load times still further, only the parts of the aircraft currently visible are loaded from disk.  


'''AI Traffic'''
'''AI Traffic'''
* Lots of new or updated AI aircraft and liveries. Over 80 airlines populate the virtual skies.
* Many new and updated AI aircraft and liveries. Over 80 airlines now populate the virtual skies.
* Configurable AI aircraft range limit. Aircraft outside the specified range won't be displayed.
* The range at which AI aircraft are displayed is now configurable, allowing you to tune FlightGear for best performance.
* AI controlled pilots have received extensive training with regard to their landing skills. In older versions AI aircraft had a tendency to approach too high, drop dead onto the runway, and taxi all the way to the opposite end of the runway before vacating it. Pilots now make a much more realistic approach, and vacate the runway when able.
* AI controlled pilots have received extensive landing training wit, and now make a more realistic approach, and vacate the runway when able.


'''Flight dynamics'''
'''Flight dynamics'''
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'''Environment'''
'''Environment'''
* Local weather improvements: Local Weather moved to a new rendering technique, allowing for more detailed clouds drawn much faster, rendering artefacts of high-altitude clouds are a thing of the past, clouds always move with the wind without performance drain
* The Local Weather package has been further integrated with the FlightGear core, and has been renamed "Advanced Weather". New rendering techniques allow more detailed clouds with no performance impact. High altitude clouds are rendered more realistically, and clouds move with the wind without impacting performance.


'''Interface'''
'''Interface'''
* New replay system. Video-player like controls, including slow motion and fast forward. Pilots can now take over the aircraft at any time during a replay. Great for training particular flight phases such as approach over and over again.
* New replay system. Video-player like controls, including slow motion and fast forward. Pilots can now take over the aircraft at any time during a replay. Great for training particular flight phases such as approach over and over again.
* [[Formalizing Aircraft Status|Aircraft status ratings]] are displayed in the FlightGear launcher for a selected number of aircraft. These ratings tell you more about the completeness of an aircraft.
* [[Formalizing Aircraft Status|Aircraft status ratings]] are displayed in the FlightGear launcher for a selected number of aircraft, allowing you to see at a glance the FDM, model, systems and cockpit quality.
* Multiplayer settings can be accessed in-sim. This allows pilots to change their callsign, (dis)connect or change to a different server without restarting the sim.
* Multiplayer settings can be accessed in-sim. You can now choose your callsign, select an MP server and connect within the simulator.
* Automatic scenery download is now even easier to use. Simply select the scenery directory to download to, and switch it on.
* Individual graphics effects can now be configured from within the Rendering Settings dialog, allowing you to fine-tune the performance of FlightGear within the sim.


'''Highlighted new and improved aircraft'''
'''Highlighted new and improved aircraft'''
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* Combined aircraft shader: a combination of the bumpmap-, specular-, reflection and lightmap shader. Reflections now rotate counter to the aircraft movement, the shader supports 4 lightmaps per objects.  
* Combined aircraft shader: a combination of the bumpmap-, specular-, reflection and lightmap shader. Reflections now rotate counter to the aircraft movement, the shader supports 4 lightmaps per objects.  
* Improved skydome-shader.
* Improved skydome-shader.
* Via a new dialog, all shaders can be individually dis-/enabled and some shaders even support various quality settings. Adjusting the sliders is an easy way to improve framerates to flyable levels, while still mainting the graphics that you consider most important.


'''Other'''
'''Other'''
* Two additional input devices that are supported out-of-the-box:
* Additonal joysticks and rudder pedals are supported out-of-the-box, including the Logitech WingMan Interceptor and Saitek Pro Combat Rudder Pedals.
** Logitech WingMan Interceptor
** Saitek Pro Combat Rudder Pedals.


'''Bug fixes'''
'''Bug fixes'''
*
* Many, many more. See [http://code.google.com/p/flightgear-bugs/issues/list?can=1&q=Milestone%3D2.6.0 our bugtracker] for an extensive list
* Many, many more. See [http://code.google.com/p/flightgear-bugs/issues/list?can=1&q=Milestone%3D2.6.0 our bugtracker] for an extensive list

Revision as of 14:28, 10 February 2012

This changelog is a draft.

It should not (yet) be seen as an official document..



FlightGear 2.6.0 ChangeLog

The FlightGear development team is happy to announce the release of FlightGear 2.6.0. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes.

Add a synopsis here

Some of the major changes include:

Aircraft operations:

  • At selected airports, FlightGear can automatically start at an appropriate parking spot based on the size and type of your aircraft.

AI system

  • To reduce stuttering during model loading and take further advantage of multi-core CPUs, MP and AI aircraft models are now loaded in a background thread.
  • To reduce load times still further, only the parts of the aircraft currently visible are loaded from disk.

AI Traffic

  • Many new and updated AI aircraft and liveries. Over 80 airlines now populate the virtual skies.
  • The range at which AI aircraft are displayed is now configurable, allowing you to tune FlightGear for best performance.
  • AI controlled pilots have received extensive landing training wit, and now make a more realistic approach, and vacate the runway when able.

Flight dynamics

Environment

  • The Local Weather package has been further integrated with the FlightGear core, and has been renamed "Advanced Weather". New rendering techniques allow more detailed clouds with no performance impact. High altitude clouds are rendered more realistically, and clouds move with the wind without impacting performance.

Interface

  • New replay system. Video-player like controls, including slow motion and fast forward. Pilots can now take over the aircraft at any time during a replay. Great for training particular flight phases such as approach over and over again.
  • Aircraft status ratings are displayed in the FlightGear launcher for a selected number of aircraft, allowing you to see at a glance the FDM, model, systems and cockpit quality.
  • Multiplayer settings can be accessed in-sim. You can now choose your callsign, select an MP server and connect within the simulator.
  • Automatic scenery download is now even easier to use. Simply select the scenery directory to download to, and switch it on.
  • Individual graphics effects can now be configured from within the Rendering Settings dialog, allowing you to fine-tune the performance of FlightGear within the sim.

Highlighted new and improved aircraft

Navigation

Project infrastructure

Scenery improvements

Visual effects

  • Improved appearance of the sea by adding foam and aligning the waves with the surface wind. Wave speed is dependant on windspeed.
  • Transition effect.
  • Wet tarmac during rain showers.
  • Combined aircraft shader: a combination of the bumpmap-, specular-, reflection and lightmap shader. Reflections now rotate counter to the aircraft movement, the shader supports 4 lightmaps per objects.
  • Improved skydome-shader.

Other

  • Additonal joysticks and rudder pedals are supported out-of-the-box, including the Logitech WingMan Interceptor and Saitek Pro Combat Rudder Pedals.

Bug fixes

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