View source for FlightGear Newsletter November 2020

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''We would like to emphasize that the monthly newsletter cannot live without the contributions of FlightGear users and developers. Everyone with a wiki account (free to register) is welcome to contribute to the newsletter.  If you know about any FlightGear related news or projects such as for example updated scenery or aircraft, please do feel invited to add such news to the newsletter.''

== Development news ==
<!-- News about FlightGear itself.  The FlightGear mailing list and/or core developers are a good source. -->

===2020.3 LTS released===

'''2020.3''' was [https://www.flightgear.org/download/ released] on November 6th 2020. Read the release notice and [[Changelog_2020.3|changelog]] for what's new. 

2020.3.x is a [[Release_plan#General_release_concept|Long Term Stable release]] (LTS). Bug fixes will be backported, and the build maintained, for a much longer period than development preview builds.

[[Keflavik_Airport|Keflavik Airport]] (BIKF), in south-west Iceland, is the featured airport. 

There is an additional development preview binary of the work-in-progress [[Compositor]] bundled with the LTS, like in the 2020.1 preview build. 

OSM2City scenery for the whole of Iceland was built for the LTS earlier this year, but is not bundled due to the innosetup installer size limit. It is available from the [[Areas_populated_with_osm2city_scenery|OSM2City download list page]].

The first version released on the flightgear.org website is labelled 2020.3.2. 2020.3.1 was a preliminary soft release to find bugs and installer issues.

For upcoming point releases of the 2020.3.x LTS, the current plan is to include some minor improvements like launcher UI tweaks, as well as bug fixes.

<gallery mode-"packed">
Iceland_in_FlightGear_2020_01_Volcanic_plume_and_snow_(Aerospatiale_Alouette_III).jpg|Eyjafjallajökull volcanic plume
Iceland_viewed_from_space_in_Earthview_(Flightgear_2020.x)_02.jpg|Iceland from space 
Rainbow_sculpture_at_Keflavik_International_Airport_(BIKF)_in_Iceland_(Flightgear_2020.x)_01.jpg|Rainbow sculpture at BIKF
The_Jet_Nest_sculpture_at_Keflavik_International_Airport_(BIKF)_in_Iceland_(Flightgear_2020.x)_1024_04.jpg|Jet nest sculpture at BIKF
Reykjavik_at_sunset_with_OSM2City_output_(Flightgear_2020.x)_02.jpg|Rekjavik OSM2City (near BIRK)
</gallery>

===The road ahead===

'''See [[FlightGear_Newsletter_October_2020#Help_wanted|Help wanted]].'''

There are a lot of big infrastructure changes already nearly completed, well underway, and planned. These will be for the LTS after 2020.3.x. 

With the LTS released, a lot of big changes have ''already'' been merged into the "next" branch:
* [[Compositor]] rendering framework - next has switched to the Compositor.
* [[World_Scenery_3.0_roadmap|World Scenery 3.0]] (next generation scenery) initial deployment. WS 3.0 uses [[Virtual_Planet_Builder|Virtual Planet Builder]] instead of terragear for terrain building.
* [[CompositeViewer_Support|Composite Viewer]] - This allows Flightgear to have multiple top-level windows showing independent views of the scenery, and will also allow implementation of things like cockpit rear-view mirrors and cockpit displays of external views (tail cams, gear view etc). [[:File:Fg-cv-textures2.jpeg|Screenshot]]

Some other big infrastructure changes being worked on, but not on next: replacement of the in-sim UI, infrastructure for regular world builds, runtime airport generation, move to a higher version of [[OpenGL#Status|OpenGL]] (4.x is planned), OSM2City world build and [[OSM2City]] tech improvements etc.

If you are wondering when Flightgear will move to Vulkan using the newly released [[Vulkan Scene Graph]] (VSG) which is the successor to OSG that FG currently uses, VSG will be looked at after the current set of infrastructure and OpenGL 4.x according to plans mentioned by devs - as Vulkan Scene Graph hopefully should be mature and stable by then.

For those curious, keep and eye on the 'next' branch, or the [http://download.flightgear.org/builds/nightly/ nightly builds]. The history of changes on 'next' can be viewed by clicking the "History" link for each repository on the sourceforge website: [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/flightgear/ci/next/tree/ FlightGear] , [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/simgear/ci/next/tree/ SimGear] , [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/fgdata/ci/next/tree/ FGData]

The 'next' branch will build towards the next Development Preview release, and ultimately the next LTS. As always, nightly builds of the next branch are available at [http://download.flightgear.org/builds/nightly/ download.flightgear.org].

Core development is coordinated via the fg-devel [[Mailing_lists|mailing list]], to get involved you can just sign up on the [https://sourceforge.net/projects/flightgear/lists/flightgear-devel sourceforge] page.

===Photo texture support===
Nathaniel Warner (nathaniel515) has submitted a patch to allow orthophoto textures to optionally be used and this is available in nightlies - see the [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=37866 forum thread]. This works with current WS 2.0 scenery.

====Updates to the FG homepage====

Developers, there is a wiki [[2020_LTS_Keflavik_news_post_draft|draft page here]] to write a description of improvements since 2018.3 LTS to your craft or feature, with several accompanying screenshots. 

James has said he is willing to review and update the homepage if material is submitted to the wiki, or otherwise handed over to him:
: ''James Turner [[https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/37145199/ 1]] : If anyone wants to do an article on a particular aircraft or feature for the Website, that would be excellent: don’t be shy: if you can provide some text and a couple of screenshots, it can be turned into a post easily.''

These will be published as news posts after 2020.3 LTS release, maybe about a week apart, or when material is available. If there is not enough material, several small items can be collected into a news post. 

For screenshots, it's possible to pause the sim and [[Howto:Make_nice_screenshots|turn up]] settings, if you normally have settings lower on an older laptop or similar - there may be suitable screenshots already submitted SOTM section in the [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewforum.php?f=88 forum] under CC-BY-SA-4.0 that have not been [[Special:UploadWizard|uploaded]] to the wiki [[:Category:Screenshots at high settings|high settings screenshots category]] yet.

The most important things are the points about what to write, and some screenshots. Don't worry if wording or English is not perfect, it can be adjusted later. Knowledge of wiki syntax isn't needed for a simple draft, just click edit and type. URLs to screenshots can simply be pasted if you don't know how to upload, along with a note giving CC-BY-SA-4.0 permission.

=== Virtual FSWeekend Hackathon 2020 report===
The Hacakthon was a success with a lot of contributors new to the project and contributors in non-core areas starting with core code and FGData contributions. See StuartB's writeup on the [https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/37153143/ Hacakathon and lessons learned]

Normally in mid-November a group of FlightGear enthusiasts participate in FSWeekend at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands. Over the years this has been a focal point for both finishing existing development/releases and a catalyst for new ideas in FlightGear, as well as an opportunity for FlightGear enthusiasts to share a beer. FSWeekend 2020 was cancelled, so to keep the spirit alive, a [[Virtual FSWeekend Hackathon 2020|Virtual FSWeekend Hackathon]] was held.

The current thought is to look at having a Hackathon every year, but at a different time to FSWeekend.

The hack projects/areas worked on were: [[Hackathon_Proposal:_CompositeViewer_and_Canvas|CompositeViewer and Canvas]], 
[[CPDLC|Controller-pilot data link communication (CPDLC)]], [[Hackathon_Proposal:Feature_Scaling|Feature Scaling]],  
[[Hackathon_Proposal:_more_diversified_facade_textures_osm2city|OSM2City Facades]]
), [[Hackathon_Proposal:POH_Checklists|POH Checklists]] , [[Hackathon_Proposal:_Wake_from_multiplayer_aircraft|Wake from AI Aircraft]], 
[[Hackathon_Proposal:_WS3.0_Effects|WS3.0 Effects/Scenery]]

A substantial amount of the results from the Hacakathon are already merged on the next branch (and available on nightlies).

== New software tools and projects == 
=== FGCom-mumble ===
[https://github.com/hbeni/fgcom-mumble FGCom-Mumble] aims to provide a mumble based FGCom implementation. This will simulate radio communications in a seamless frequency spectrum.

The project aims to be easy to use: Pilots just install the plugin, open mumble, join a channel on a mumble server and start using their radio stack in Flightgear.

The development is discussed in the {{forum link|title=FGCom-mumble|f=32|t=37644}}. Releases can be downloaded from {{github source|user=hbeni|repo=fgcom-mumble|text=GitHub}}.

The project also has a flightgear wikipage: [[FGCom-mumble]]

===== Test server available! =====
I was able to get a small virtual linux server and deployed a test bed onto it.
* The address is mumble://fgcom.hallinger.org for mumble
* A status page can be viewed at http://fgcom.hallinger.org

I did already test this and i think it works fine. There is an outstanding issue with ATIS broadcasts stopping after a short while, but i currently think this is a library bug somewhere else.

To connect/use, you need to self-compile mumble; [https://github.com/hbeni/fgcom-mumble/wiki#compiling-mumble-140-plugin-branch-from-krzmbrzl-on-a-debian-testing-bullseye-system i wrote a small guide for debian/bullseye]. Or you try the precompiled one: http://fgcom.hallinger.org/mumble-krzmbrzl.tar.gz

We should gather around to get a small testing event :) Feel free to chime in at the {{forum link|title=forums thread|f=32|t=37644}}!

=== Red Griffin ATC 2.0 released ===

Antonello Biancalana (Red Griffin) has released [[Red Griffin ATC|version 2.0]] of his speaking Air Traffic Controller (ATC) [[Addon]]. This addon uses TTS, and simulates an AI ATC. This is also available from FGAddon.

For feedback see the {{forum link|t=36755|title=Red Griffin ATC - Speaking ATC addon for FlightGear}} thread.

Demo of a previous version of the ATC addon:
{{#ev:youtube|ZOxDTGj9UnQ|480px||Demonstration video of a previous version of the Red Griffin ATC addon for an older version of Flightgear. Video from March 2020.}}

== In the hangar ==
<!-- News about new and upgraded aircraft and related stuff.  The official forum and other ones usually are a good source for this. -->

<!-- === Instruments === -->

=== New aircraft ===
====C172S with FG1000====
[[User:wlbragg|Wlbragg]] and the C172 team are working on the Cessna 172S SkyHawk SP, with the [[FG1000]] glass cockpit. 

The team are requesting thorough testing to find any needed tuning changes and missing elements.

The engine and systems work is already available, done, or will be completed shortly.

The team are placing a request/call for help with "exterior and interior cabin modeling" to make this a complete C172S.

See the [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38240 forum thread] for more information and screenshots (Newest: [https://i.imgur.com/q2DeuhL.png 1], Older: [https://i.imgur.com/QsjgtGc.png 2], [https://i.imgur.com/TlsZ5dw.png 3], [https://i.imgur.com/rA8a2D0.png 4]). 

Github repository and downloads:
* [https://github.com/c172p-team/c172p/tree/FG1000-variant C172S with FG1000] and [https://github.com/c172p-team/c172p/archive/FG1000-variant.zip download]
* [https://github.com/c172p-team/c172p/tree/Issue-1307 C172S compositor branch] and [https://github.com/c172p-team/c172p/archive/Issue-1307.zip download]

====Airbus A320====
The [[Airbus_A320_Family|Airbus A320]] family is available on the 2020.3 LTS release. This is a complete overhaul/replacement that has been worked on for many years by a team before releasing on LTS. It has the most detailed systems of glass cockpit airliners currently released in FGAddon, and a JSBSim FDM.

[[File:A320-family-cockpit.png|480px|Airbus A320]]

===Eurocopter AS532 Cougar===
FGUK have released the {{wikipedia|Eurocopter_AS532_Cougar|Eurocopter AS532 Cougar}} now known as the Airbus Helicopters H215M and it's military variant the {{wikipedia|Eurocopter_AS332_Super_Puma|Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma}}. This is a twin engine multi-purpose helicopter.

Features: 90% Accurate FDM. 7 Configuration options, 15 Liveries. Multiplayer crew / Passenger function. ALS Glass and fuselage effects with livery specific reflection levels. Rotor wash on grass effects. Functional Winch man. Search and Recovery function for recovering other downed choppers over Multiplayer.

For more details, screenshots, and download see the [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38259 forum thread].

{{#ev:youtube|UKEGI9EH7bk|480px||Airbus AS352 Cougar - a development video showing a return trip to oil rigs at sea. By FGUK.}}

=== Updated aircraft ===
===Cessna 182S===
The [[Cessna 182S]] ([https://github.com/HHS81/c182s git version]) got some enhancements:
* The Airspeed Indicator was reworked based on photos of a C182T and now corresponds to the real model.
* The Alternate static air system was modeled, and now the outer static ports can ice, causing the static port to be blocked. If this occurs, one can pull the red static air knob in the cockpit to switch the static system to a port inside the cabin. The Venturi effect will introduce some errors/misreadings, because cabin pressure is lower than the outside atmosphere based on speed. This was the last Cockpit item missing, so the Cockpit can be considered complete!
* Flap operation does consume electrical power now, which can be used in the preflight check to test the electrical system.
* Currently we have multiplayer enhancements in the works, involving a canvas redo for the registration number; and the damage system is nearly finished. Once we completed that, Heiko wants to do a FGAddon release.

===FGUK development videos===

{{#ev:youtube|JCzNF3qwmWo|480px||Harrier GR9 - sound model development. By FGUK}}

{{#ev:youtube|4Ie0DLF47G8|480px||Westland Sea King alpha - hovering and maneuvering. By FGUK.}}

{{#ev:youtube|gApaRpYVfy4|480px||Work-in-progress SA 330 PUMA FDM test. Low flight in Wales, UK. By MrChillStorm.}}

<!-- === Liveries === -->

<!-- === Aircraft reviews === -->

== Help wanted ==
{{Help wanted}}

== AI == 
<!--Looking at "In the hangar" or "Scenery corner" we really need a slogan for "AI"-->
<!-- === AI traffic === -->
The AI team makes FlightGear more realistic, colorful and lively every month. You can support the important development of ''Interactive Traffic'' and contribute at the FlightGear {{forum link|title=AI|f=23}}.

<!-- === AI scenarios === -->

== Scenery corner ==
<!-- Scenery development news -->

<!-- === Scenery Models === -->

<!-- === Airports === -->

<!-- === Osm2city === -->

<!-- === New OSM2City areas === -->

<!-- === Land cover === -->
<!-- == Interview with a contributor == -->

<!-- == Suggested flights == -->

== Community news ==
<!-- === FlightGear on YouTube === -->
<!-- embed video as {{#ev:youtube|VCc6PwRI1LA}}-->

<!-- === Forum news === -->

<!-- === Wiki updates === -->
===Flightgear on youtube===

GinGin has re-created a [[Space Shuttle|space shuttle]] landing video of the Terminal Area Energy Management (TAEM) and Landing phases, overlayed with real voice communications between astronauts and mission control in the shuttle mission STS 155. The FlightGear's simulation of the space shuttle is the most detailed simulation outside NASA's internal ones, and has a JSBSim FDM backed by extensive windtunnel data.

{{#ev:youtube|ECJjC-i_3l8|700px||FlightGear [[Space Shuttle]] external view video recording TAEM and landing phases. View fullscreen for 2k video.}}

=== FlightGear on Facebook ===
Since early December 2010, FlightGear has an [https://www.facebook.com/FlightGear official Facebook page].  If you have a Facebook account please feel free to join the page.

=== FlightGear on Instagram ===
In January 2018 the [https://www.instagram.com/flightgear_sim/ @flightgear_sim Instagram account] was brought back to life. If you've got nice screenshots to be featured, feel free to {{forum link|text=contact the maintainer|t=33636}}.

=== FlightGear on FlightSim.com ===
FlightGear has also a [https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/forumdisplay.php?102-FlightGear sub-forum] on flightsim.com - just like the commercial flight sims. It is an opportunity to showcase what FG can do, get people curious and answer any questions they may have with regard to the software or the project.

== Multiplayer events ==
<!-- === Upcoming events === -->

<!-- === Finished events === -->

<!-- == FlightGear events == -->
<!-- For example presence at FSWeekend -->

<!-- == Hardware reviews == -->

== Contributing ==

=== Translators needed ===
{|
| [[File:en.gif]]
| The FlightGear Wiki still needs help for translating it into various languages. If you are interested in making the FlightGear Wiki multilingual, you can start by looking at [[Help:Translate]].
|-
| [[File:fr.gif]]
| Le wiki de FlightGear a toujours besoin d'aide pour être traduit en différentes langues. Si vous êtes intéressé par le rendre multilingue, commencez par lire [[:fr:Help:Traduire|Help:Traduire]].
|-
| [[File:de.gif]]
| Das FlightGear Wiki benötigt immer noch Hilfe bei der Übersetzung in verschiedene Sprachen. Wenn Du Interesse daran hast, das FlightGear Wiki mehrsprachig zu machen, dann fang mit dem [[:de:Help:Übersetzen|Help:Übersetzen]] an.
|-
| [[File:nl.gif]]
| De FlightGear Wiki kan nog steed hulp gebruiken bij het vertalen van artikelen. Als je interesse hebt om de wiki meertalig te maken, raden we je aan om een kijkje te nemen bij [[:nl:Help:Vertalen|Help:Vertalen]].
|-
| [[File:es.gif]]
| La wiki de FlightGear todavía necesita ayuda para traducirla a varios lenguajes. Si estás interesado en hacer la FlightGear wiki multilingüe, entonces comienza en [[:es:Help:Traducir|Help:Traducir]].
|-
| [[File:cat.gif]]
| La wiki de FlightGear encara necessita ajuda per traduir-la a diverses llengües. Si esteu interessat en fer la wiki de FlightGear multilingüe, llavors comenceu a [[:ca:Help:Traduir|Help:Traduir]].
|-
| [[File:pt.gif]]
| A wiki de FlightGear ainda necessita de ajuda para traduzi-la em vários idiomas. Se estás interessado em tornar a wiki de FlightGear multi-lingual, por favor começa em [[:pt:Help:Traduzir|Help:Traduzir]].
|-
| [[File:zh.gif]]
| FlightGear 百科仍然需要志愿者将其翻译为各种语言。如果你有兴趣让FlightGear百科支持更多语言, 你可以查看 [[Help:Translate]].
|}

=== FlightGear logos ===
If you want some graphic elements for your FlightGear-related site (such as a hangar or YouTube channel), please feel free to visit [[FlightGear logos]] for a repository of logos. And if you have some art skills, please don't hesitate to contribute with your own design creations.

=== Screenshots ===
The FlightGear project always needs screenshots, which show features that were added since the last release. These should be of good quality, especially in content and technical image properties. It is therefore recommended to use the best viable filter settings ([[anti-aliasing]], texture sharpening, etc.). More info at [[Howto:Make nice screenshots]].

==== Screenshot of the Month ====
<!--FlightGear's Screenshot of the Month {{#time: F | 2020-11}} 2020 is FIXME by {{usr|FIXME}}
ADD IMAGE -->
If you want to participate in the screenshot contest <!--of {{#time: F | 2020-11 + 1month}}-->, you can submit your candidate to the {{forum link|title=this|f=88}}. Be sure to see the first post for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, at the end of the month or after 20 entries have been submitted, a new forum topic will be started containing all shots in an easy-to-view layout. The voting will then take place there.<!--Once the voting has finished, the best screenshot will be presented in the Newsletter edition of {{#time: F | 2020-11 + 1month}}-->

''Thanks for reading {{PAGENAME}}!''

{{Appendix}}

[[Category:Changes after 2020.3]]<!--Has a new version been released this month? Use previous version!-->
[[Category:FlightGear Newsletter|2020 11]]

[[de:FlightGear Newsletter {{#time: F Y | 2020-11 | de }}]]