Home built simulators
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: London
I've just downloaded and tried out flight gear. It's a nice piece of software and if you do want the detailed graphics, you can add them yourself since it's open source. Ran very well on a PowerPC machine with Gentoo linux. Only problem is that it was a nightmare to set up the joystick but then doing things like that usually is difficult with Gentoo. Anyone else had a go?
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Kent
If someone offered any person on this forum a full motion all singing all dancing 747 sim (or whatever), 99.9% of us would have major problems saying no.
Whatever type of real flying you're into, it'd be bloody good fun to play with for a bit
Crazy pilot - so what kind of set up do you have? Full instruments etc like you can see in the link someone posted up the thread?
tKF
Whatever type of real flying you're into, it'd be bloody good fun to play with for a bit
Crazy pilot - so what kind of set up do you have? Full instruments etc like you can see in the link someone posted up the thread?
tKF
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Not far from LPPT
Rupert S,
With flightgear you have to deal with joysticks on two levels:
- The O/S. On Linux making sure you have the right modules loaded
and working, on Windows installing the joystick as normal.
- Flightgear itself, configuring the joysticks to command the
simulator. For this I recommend that you read the README.Joystick.html
file on the docs/ sub-directory on the flightgear main directory.
As for the graphics, there are quite a few things you can't get on
flightgear, as the developers are (rightly, I think) more interested
in developing the platform and not on the eye-candy to compete
with low-end commercial simulators.
Regards
CS-DNA
With flightgear you have to deal with joysticks on two levels:
- The O/S. On Linux making sure you have the right modules loaded
and working, on Windows installing the joystick as normal.
- Flightgear itself, configuring the joysticks to command the
simulator. For this I recommend that you read the README.Joystick.html
file on the docs/ sub-directory on the flightgear main directory.
As for the graphics, there are quite a few things you can't get on
flightgear, as the developers are (rightly, I think) more interested
in developing the platform and not on the eye-candy to compete
with low-end commercial simulators.
Regards
CS-DNA
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: London
Thanks, CS, I've now sorted out the joy stick although some of the buttons don't work. I thinks this is due to the fact that I'm running gentoo on a brand new computer and compatability with the processor is still a little patchy.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Not far from LPPT
Rupert S,
To check if the joystick is working correctly use the js_demo program.
It allows you to check the name of the device and the order of axes
and buttons and is described on the README.Joystick.html file.
This program should be inside the bin/ directory below the flight-gear
main directory and the architecture subdirectory.
After checking it works correctly, check the data/Input/Joysticks
directories of flight-gear.
You may find a definition file for your joystick in XML which you can
edit it to your liking.
Afterwards check the joystick.xml file on the data/ subdir of flight-gear.
You can force the default device to point to the file you edited/created.
If you need a definition file for a CH Fighterstick USB just say so, as
I have built one from one of the definitions already present.
I hope this helps
CS-DNA
To check if the joystick is working correctly use the js_demo program.
It allows you to check the name of the device and the order of axes
and buttons and is described on the README.Joystick.html file.
This program should be inside the bin/ directory below the flight-gear
main directory and the architecture subdirectory.
After checking it works correctly, check the data/Input/Joysticks
directories of flight-gear.
You may find a definition file for your joystick in XML which you can
edit it to your liking.
Afterwards check the joystick.xml file on the data/ subdir of flight-gear.
You can force the default device to point to the file you edited/created.
If you need a definition file for a CH Fighterstick USB just say so, as
I have built one from one of the definitions already present.
I hope this helps
CS-DNA
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: South east, UK
Crazy pilot - so what kind of set up do you have? Full instruments etc like you can see in the link someone posted up the thread?
The avionics package is a program by Chris Brett of Flightdeck Technology, called JANS (jet avionics and navigation suite) which simulates the 777 style of systems and works in conjunction with MSFS. The full set of instruments are there, PFD,ND,EICAS and FMC.
Most of the parts were made by hand, with the help of some of my simming friends, and some parts were donated.
The old simulator can be viewed @ www.world-flight.org and as soon as I have finished the new one, I’ll let you know. Just drop me a line if you would like the details. I hope to have something finished by November and have 90% of the systems modelled.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Sioux City
Where do these guys find the time?
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 100
Likes: 1
From: Near ABZ
Papajohn,
Its a pity you didn't read some further info on that particular website.
If you had, you may have noticed that the project is the creation of two brothers, one of whom has spina bifida. What they have managed to acheive, considering most of the items are scratch built, is pretty amazing.
All too often people in aviation are very quick to look down their noses at others, who for whatever reason, are not able to participate in the activities that we are able to.
Its a pity you didn't read some further info on that particular website.
If you had, you may have noticed that the project is the creation of two brothers, one of whom has spina bifida. What they have managed to acheive, considering most of the items are scratch built, is pretty amazing.
All too often people in aviation are very quick to look down their noses at others, who for whatever reason, are not able to participate in the activities that we are able to.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Bath
Point taken about the ATC, it's not imaginary but simulated
VATSIM is as close as you can get to the real thing! And has encouraged me to go for my PPL which i will be starting this week!!
Cant wait!
Anyway its all about fun!
