Changelog 2017.1

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This changelog is a draft.

This changelog is currently being written for the FlightGear v2017.1 release. Feel free to help! If you are aware of any FlightGear related changes, please add them to the changelog.


The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2017.1 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: Accurate buildings from OpenStreetMap, voice synthesis of tutorial instructions, improved rendering of the earth from orbit, and a more realistic black-out/red-out system.

Founded in 1997, FlightGear is developed by a worldwide group of volunteers, brought together by a shared ambition to create the most realistic flight simulator possible that is free to use, modify and distribute. FlightGear is used all over the world by desktop flight simulator enthusiasts, for research in universities and for interactive exhibits in museums.

FlightGear features more than 400 aircraft, a worldwide scenery database, a multiplayer environment, detailed sky modelling, a flexible and open aircraft modelling system, varied networking options, multiple display support, a powerful scripting language and an open architecture. Best of all, being open-source, the simulator is owned by the community and everyone is encouraged to contribute.

Download FlightGear v2017.1 for free from FlightGear.org

FlightGear - Fly Free!

Major enhancements in this release

Core

  • Support for additional layers of scenery, initially for use by OpenStreetMap buildings.

Aircraft Modeling

Atmospheric Light Scattering

  • New shaders for drag chutes
  • New "grain merge" option for environment reflections

Learn more in the Newsletter.

Environment Rendering

  • Earthview 2.0 is now available, with support for normal maps, better upper atmosphere edge, cloud relief shader, improved dawn zone, horizon estimation and improved resource management.

Performance

  • Canvas performance has been improved.
  • Support for SIMD operations added, improving performance on some architectures

Usability

  • ENBR, Bergen, Norway is the default airport for this release.
  • Tutorial instructions are now played through the built-in voice synthesis system, making them easier to follow.

Scenery

  • Accurate buildings generated through OpenStreetMap are now available via Terrasync. Buildings for the UK, Switzerland and large parts of Scandinavia are available already, with more to be generated in the future.
  • Improved scenery and terrain for the Azores

Canvas System

  • Canvas performance has been improved.
  • Remove Canvas is now available

Highlighted new and improved aircraft

  • J3Cub
  • Saab 37 Viggen
  • ASK21
  • Space Shuttle
  • F-16

Bug fixes

  • Various bug fixes that cause crashes in multiplayer.
  • See our bugtracker for a list, albeit incomplete, of the bugs fixed in this release.