Flightgear 1.9.1 - Kfreeflight - Testers needed

[MBantz]

Just uploaded FlightGear 1.9.1 and Kfreeflight rpm's to:

http://www.packagesite.net/rpm/fg/

Remember this is for testing only.

Download the 8 rpm's in a new separate folder, su to root and install with apt-get install *.rpm

I had a lot of flicker using my ATI card when running in window mode, so default is set to fullscreen for now.

You can start flightgear with Kfreeflight frontend - just fill in your preferences.

There is a newer developerversion of Kfreeflight, but the code is for an older version of the included libraries. Only hope someone kicks in with the development of Kfreeflight and refreshes the code :-)

There is an option for SDL, let me know if anyone need this to be included

enjoy, and report your findings back :-)

cheers

Update: The srpm can be found in the folder srpm in the fg folder

[byourg]

So far for me everything is running great. I have a Nvidia card and in window mode no flickering. Thanks for this update!!

[hoos]

MBantz,

Thank you.

KFreeflight loads as it should.
Nevertheless problems occur when launching Flightgear: initialisation stalls
when loading scenery objects; cpu usage climbs to 60 %.
When launching Flightgear from CLI ('fgfs') I get the following message:
"Base package check failed ... Found version [none] at: /usr/share/FlightGear
Please upgrade to version: 1.9.0"   

Well, might be of interest to you.

               Cheers!, Hoos.

[MBantz]

Thanks for testing :-)

Hoos, I've moved FlightGear to /usr/share/games/FlightGear and FlightGear assume it is installed in /usr/share/FlightGear. If you launch FlightGear from the menu it works, also via Kfreeflight.

You can set the FG_ROOT, FG_HOME and FG_SCENERY environment variables (eventually look at/copy the wrapperscript /usr/bin/startfgfs.sh) - or just make a symbolic link:
ln -s /usr/share/games/FlightGear/data /usr/share/FlightGear

cheers,
MBantz

[MBantz]

I have just been in contact with the developer of Kfreeflight, and work is being done on a new updated, and much improved, version for KDE4,

it will be released in a month or so - in the meantime I look at the dependencies for this new KDE4 version to have it ready when it is released and PCLinux KDE4 launches :-)

cheers

[hoos]

Thanks for testing :-)

Hoos, I've moved FlightGear to /usr/share/games/FlightGear and FlightGear assume it is installed in /usr/share/FlightGear. If you launch FlightGear from the menu it works, also via Kfreeflight.

You can set the FG_ROOT, FG_HOME and FG_SCENERY environment variables (eventually look at/copy the wrapperscript /usr/bin/startfgfs.sh) - or just make a symbolic link:
ln -s /usr/share/games/FlightGear/data /usr/share/FlightGear

cheers,
MBantz

MBantz!,
Thanks for your swift reply,

Indeed, after having made the symlink FG launches properly
from CLI, but not from the menu.
Apparently there's something wrong regarding the details
when launching from the menu:

"fgfs  --timeofday=noon --enable-clouds3d --enable-skyblend --enable-textures --shading-smooth --enable-horizon-effect --aircraft=c310"

In other words 'the command 'fgfs' works, the variables do not in my case so far,
although I haven't sorted out the commands one-by-one.

Launching FG from KFreeflight comes to a halt on 'loading scenery objects'
while the engine keeps on running, soundwise  

Any idea?

            Cheers, Hoos.

[MBantz]

The menu launches the wrapper startfgfs.sh - the program should not start if you use fgfs

The issue is that the wrapperscript only pass one argument to fgfs

There are several ways to solve this - I'll come back today with an updated version :-)

cheers

[hoos]

Thanks!

See you tomorrow, GMT -1 here.

    Cheers, Hoos.

[MBantz]

GMT+1 here - (well... +2 'cause the DST ;-)

[MBantz]

Hoos,

try the version now, you only need to download the FlightGear-1.9.1... package.

I have renamed the original fgfs and replaced it with the wrapperscript that forwards all parameters to flightgear itself.

I'm having a problem showing the icon in the menu, let me know if this is a problem for others as well.

I included a -quite fancy- function - the terrasync system - please test it as well and let's see if we let it be included. There is a menuitem that start Flightgear with terrasync.

Terrasync downloads automatically the scenery from the web, whereever you are or are flying to. A fun way of using it is to find the airport code (ICAO code) for your local airport, and either edit the menu item or in a commandline type:

fgterrasync.sh --airport=EKCH --aircraft=777-200ER

this command will place you in Copenhagen airport, Denmark in a Boeing 777 - without you need to download scenery. First time you visit a new airport it is boneflat, let it download some terrain, and then restart the application (exit, a reload is not sufficient).

Arlanda in Sweden airport has the code ESSA by the way, and Heathrow in London has EGLL - find the codes with google/wikipedia. Great fun :-) I check with the developer of Kfreeflight that this function is enabled in the new version of kfreeflight:-)

Please do test on and send corrections if you find anything,

cheers

[hoos]

Hoos,

try the version now, you only need to download the FlightGear-1.9.1... package.

Yep, done.

I have renamed the original fgfs and replaced it with the wrapperscript that forwards all parameters to flightgear itself.

I'm having a problem showing the icon in the menu, let me know if this is a problem for others as well.


Works here.

I included a -quite fancy- function - the terrasync system - please test it as well and let's see if we let it be included. There is a menuitem that start Flightgear with terrasync.

It's there allright and it starts up fullscreen but terrasync doen't seem to work yet in that mode;
cpu usage jumps to 50+% and nothing seems to happen; no downloading (having entered the airport code
[EHAM] in my case in 'location' from the drop down menu).


Terrasync downloads automatically the scenery from the web, whereever you are or are flying to. A fun way of using it is to find the airport code (ICAO code) for your local airport, and either edit the menu item or in a commandline type:

fgterrasync.sh --airport=EKCH --aircraft=777-200ER

Now this (using CLI) works beautifully!, airports as well as airplanes.

this command will place you in Copenhagen airport, Denmark in a Boeing 777 - without you need to download scenery. First time you visit a new airport it is boneflat, let it download some terrain, and then restart the application (exit, a reload is not sufficient).

As said above, works like a charm.

Arlanda in Sweden airport has the code ESSA by the way, and Heathrow in London has EGLL - find the codes with google/wikipedia. Great fun :-) I check with the developer of Kfreeflight that this function is enabled in the new version of kfreeflight:-)

Indeed, you should do that.
Here kfreeflight doens't work properly yet, initialisation stalls
when 'loading subsystems'.
It does work in your case doesn't it?

Please do test on and send corrections if you find anything,

Yes, and BTW, I'm at GMT+2 too...

cheers

ch, Hoos.

[MBantz]

Thanks Hoos,

I haven't tried terrasync from other than the commandline. I try changing it in the menu as well.

Do you start kfreeflight from the menu or from the cli?

[hoos]

Hey MBantz,

I launched kfreeflight from the menu.
From the cli I get this:

QComboBox::setCurrentItem: (ComboBox_Aircraft) Index 6 out of range
  Model Author:  Torsten Dreyer with a little help from DATCOM+
  Creation Date: 2006-01-16
  Description:   Model for a PA34-200T Seneca II
FGMultiplayMgr - No receiver port, Multiplayermode disabled
Could not open and/or write the state to the initial conditions file.
  Model Author:  Torsten Dreyer with a little help from DATCOM+
  Creation Date: 2006-01-16
  Description:   Model for a PA34-200T Seneca II
Failed to tie property fcs/gear-nose-actuator to object methods
Failed to tie property fcs/gear-left-actuator to object methods
Failed to tie property fcs/gear-right-actuator to object methods
Failed to tie property fcs/gear-emergency-actuator to object methods
power up
creating PitotIcingHandler for /systems/pitot[0]
KI266 dme indicator #0 initialized

Then kfrfl comes to a halt on 'loading scenery objects', i.e. nothing happens.
Could it be that the menu command 'startkfreeflight.sh' needs some additional parameters?

        Cheers, Hoos.

[MBantz]

Hmm, I expect it is the Kfreeflight program itself that has issues,

try and disable all functions, and just select the PA34,

then add options one at a time,

If Kfreeflight is too buggy I'd rather wait until the new kde4 version comes out.

BTW, what do you think of the Atlas program - I'm thinking of including it as well, what are your thoughts?

cheers,
Martin

[hoos]

Mmmm, well, I had a look into it this afternoon.
It is possible to install it independently, I'll
try that first somewhere this weekend.
I just figured FG migt just get a bit overloaded;
but that's just a thought 

Anyways...I'll let you know,

      Cheers, Hoos.