I can't help to leave here a very positive note on this last (2.8) FlightGear release, in each and every aspect, from the new graphics to the new version of the JSBSim FD. Great Fun!!!!

 

Played around with the remarkable Cessna 337, but also with the default Cub, using RW Weather and Rembrandt-enhanced graphics. Runs smooth as silk on my system, the flight models, now even with the new helicopter model based on the JSBSim platform, and it's all FOR FREE!

 

Please, don't forget to give it a fair try, and don't give up on what may well be the only "negative" aspect of FG - the joystick configuration to suite your hardware, usually requiring some XML editing. Read the Wiki and you'll most certainly find your way through it, and soon get into the "air" with one of the default models or some of the best freeware (of course...) add-ons, like those from here:

 

http://www.vivefg.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:cessna-337-skymaster&catid=35:hangar&Itemid=40

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the HU. Looks really good and the fact of it being free is unbelievable.

 

Think it will run well on some older hardware? I was wondering if my old laptop could make use of a new sim. Vanilla FSX doesn't look too good.

Think it will run well on some older hardware?

 

Well, i only tried it in my i5 2500 @3,2, but I believe it is heavy for low-end/older machines :-/

 

Anyway, it runs smooth on i5 with all of the bells and whistles ON :-)

 

The updated JSBSim FDM also feels different from previous versions, and now very good feel is what I get from both the default aircraft and that remarkable C337.

I had the same idea as you, I installed FlightGear 2.80 last night. The C172 felt great, I didn't download any other addon, as I didn't know which were done using JSBSim realistic FDM and which used the other Engine not so good, I think they should make that clearer.

 

Let me know if you find any other aircraft with really good feeling, I will try the C337. Rembrandt looks beautiful, although it's still far away from X-Plane 10 in terms of usability, since it;s still a beta full of glitches, but it's far better than FSX graphic engine.

 

One thing I didn't like was the ground physics. It seems like those old simulators, where the wheels touch the ground like a magnet, then there's no more motion, the aircraft feels stuck.

I've actually downloaded it before, but I couldn't figure out how to install it lol. I'll try when I get back home in the afternoon today.

I can't believe FlightGear doesn't have an UI for setting up the Joystick. That's like the first thing you do when you create a simulator! Come On! I don't want to be editing .xml files, I should be able to set my joystick in seconds! That's almost a No Go for me...

That's almost a No Go for me...

 

Give it a try! It is worth the effort!!!

I need to be able to setup my Rudder Pedal to try it, right now I can't do that. I can't believe a simulator that's been 15 years in development doesn't come with a simple Joystick Setup Menu

Wow, try landing the 777 with a crosswind without straightening it out during flare, real cool stuff happens. If someone can teach me how to configure my Rudder Pedals I will seriously consider using this simulator more often

]

the only "negative" aspect of FG - the joystick configuration to suite your hardware, usually requiring some XML editing

 

 

That confirms my view that FightGear's written by people whose hobby is dceveloping flight simualators for people who like developing flight simulators.

 

In another post I pointed our that, although the installer requests an install folder, FligthtGear still expects users to to find out for themselves that the path to the FlightGear program is C:/..../FlightGear/bin/win32/fgfs.exe

 

I'm not impressed either by the quality. This is the B777-200 cockpit note the clash between the panel and the yoke

 

That's the backside of OpenSource... Everybody puts whatever he wants, hence there are huge quality differences for airplanes. But there are some very good alike the Citation X and more from that autor. (don't remember the names right now )

I'll update to 2.9 GIT and play around with the new 850 airport format soon.

As for the joystick...anyone can improve...if he has the skills of course.

That's the backside of OpenSource... Everybody puts whatever he wants, hence there are huge quality differences for airplanes...

 

True, but not relevant here. FlightGear itself selected the aircraft for the base package..

 

The FlightGear base package includes only a few representative aircraft. Download more aircraft here:

 

 

http://www.flightgear.org/download/

... there are some very good alike the Citation X ...

 

Here's the Citation-X cockpit

 

 

Hmm looks like water? You probably need to configure Terrasync to download scenery:

http://wiki.flightgear.org/TerraSync

 

Try the auto startup tutorial of the Citation X. Rather impressive at night. But, right now, I'm updating my git to 2.9 and might give you later

the name of my favourite aircraft.

Wow, try landing the 777 with a crosswind without straightening it out during flare, real cool stuff happens. If someone can teach me how to configure my Rudder Pedals I will seriously consider using this simulator more often

 

Alec, I just saw your post now...

 

I'll try to help with the joystick conf in FG if I can... PM-me if you want :-)