Re: Fly! Legacy, the open source flight simulator released

Flight Sims

Fly! Legacy, the open source flight simulator released

Stéphane 07/09/2010, 7:55 PM
On behalf of the Fly.Simvol team, I have the huge pleasure to announce that after several years of development and hard work, the 1st public version of Fly! Legacy (0.3.3 alpha), the free and opensource flight simulator, is now available for download on Fly.Simvol (http://fly.simvol.org/indexus.php).
If you are interested, you can also download the source code of the software on this address:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/flylegacy/

This software has been mainly developed by Chris Wallace, Jean Sabatier, Laurent Claudet, Luc Lion, Didier Rigault, Frank Dhont (other people also took part in this project) and it is currently in development stage (alpha version).
The work was huge because the first step of the development consisted in reproducing a software which has the same behavior than the original simulator, and which used its databases.
After that, came the second step which was to make the new simulator compatible with all the third party add-on developed throughout the years by the passionnate users. This makes it possible to use sceneries, aircraft and plugins available on the different websites.

Thus, the core software is centered on the Cessna 172 (from TRI) which was set to work as well as possible. Other aircraft can be easily adapted and we hope that a strong cooperation from the community to help us in this task.
Today, the software is operational, but the intial project evolved: the idea is now to make the software independant from Fly! II, in order to allow a majority of users to take part in this project. For this purpose, the migration to SQL databases was made possible.

It is therefore important to keep in mind that bugs may remain and that some features have not yet been developed. This is why we need a maximum of volunteers to help us complete this task.
Currently, some essential data (7-8 files) from Fly! II are still required, but we are working to remove those last dependencies.

Those tempted by the project can help us using various skills: C++ development, 3D objects designing, user interface, and so on... If you are interested, then you can contact us or post a message on our forum (http://forum.simvol.org).

Note that Fly.Simvol is now present on:
- Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/FlySimvol/143471495687327)
- Twitter (http://twitter.com/FlySimvol)
- Ustream (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/fly-simvol)
- YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/FlySimvol)
We invite you to show your support to the project by following us on these different websites.

In any case, we strongly encourage you to post your comments, critics and bug reports on the Fly.Simvol forum (http://forum.simvol.org).
Let the adventure begin and have a good flight !

Re: Fly! Legacy, the open source flight simulator released

Aviator|Chris 08/09/2010, 4:57 PM

Hi Stéphane,

Great work there - the new sim looks great for Open Source!! I've seen simulators nowhere near this that carry a charge!

Interesting in the use of SQL DBA's! At least it means that the transactions from storage to app can be managed and controlled more accurately.

The Virtual Cockpits also look great! What I do like is when all the parts are modelled in the lighter aircraft, i.e. all the switches, sun shades, door handles work as they should in real life. Not sure if this is a plan for models in this Sim?

Also are you going for accurate flight models / aerodynamics or is this mostly for Instrument flying? There are some appauling models (the defaults) in FSX that behave in a very strange fashion during some simple manouvres.

Re: Fly! Legacy, the open source flight simulator released

Stéphane 09/09/2010, 6:04 PM
A word about the Virtual Cockpits: I suppose that you are talking about the 4 last screenshots of the gallery of the home page.
An important precision: these 4 pictures are not screenshots, but artwork (this little confusion will be fixed soon). The 3D interior views of the Cessna were generated inside the 3D software. But in a future version, given that the power of the desktop computers are more and more important, it is possible that a virtual cockpit in high definition will be implemented.
In the current version, 0.3.3 alpha, there is no virtual cockpit view.

Re: Fly! Legacy, the open source flight simulator released

Aviator|Chris 10/09/2010, 1:57 PM

Hi Stephane,

I was aware of the last screenshots being 3D models, and that having models that detailed would require a lot of processing power and a FPS rate of perfection!

I was impressed with the scanning around the panel in the videos so much I thought the software went beyond the 2D panel! I like the Kneeboard / Checklist item finder to locate the items you are switching etc.

This video shows an static Virtual Cockpit, does this mean you plan to develop them? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IHxC1U1Qm0&feature=player_embedded

I think for me though as I said, the most important thing is aerodynamic accuracy. Making sure the aircraft behaves as it does in real life, thats even more important that scenery and visual enhancements to me.

Re: Fly! Legacy, the open source flight simulator released

FD007 10/09/2010, 8:05 PM
Hello, Chris

The FlyLegacy flightmodel has already a high level of detail:
At http://sourceforge.net/projects/flylegacy (under develop -> Brows CVS) the source code contains 3D-maths and aeromodel: plenty of calculations regarding centre of gravity, centre of lift, propeller model, engine model, etc, etc. (years of development)
Just a few examples to illustrate the model:
- Groundeffect included.
- Left Yaw effect at high throttle, high Angle Of Attack, precession.
- An elaborated "weight and balance " management: just an example, when consuming fuel out of the left fuel tank; after a time we feel it in the flightmodel and need to compensate (roll after a while)
- When taxiing and when rolling during takeoff or landing, the suspensios are working and influence the plane attitude.
- Roll, Yaw, pitch parameters to finetune the rate and the inertia.
- Differential wing loading.
- and so on.

This alpha version is a fair starting point, with more fine tuning to come, and still a lot of potential.

Hope this brief explanation helps,
Frank D