Hallo FG Pilots,
Greetings from Italy, USA, and France!
As you see, myself and Hyde have been joined by Jean-Yves a few days ago: Project 777 Seattle has now 3 members, taking care of developing - in due time - a better aircraft's model.
At this moment, we concentrate mainly on the new 3d Cockpit: as previously said (see Post http://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21252), we worked hard to get a more realistic Cockpit, not only in terms of visual looking, but of improvements of some basic functions and controls as well.
We are happy to introduce to the FG Community our first Pre-Release of the current model for the Boeing 777 Seattle.
You may download it by 'pulling' from GIT, ready for FG 3.0.
Please be warned: we finished our last tuning a few days ago; so, the model MUST be considered as just a Pre-Release; so that it may be flown and evaluated by any user who like the 777. In particular - as the responsible for all graphical work - be advised that the current Pre-Release is really 'heavy': a major upgrade has been made on 3d modeling (by actually re-modeling old stuff, and by adding many, many, details, with high polys), as well as on Texturing. I wish to inform Pilots that this Pre-Release is still 'wild' in terms of performance's economy: we could not take care, while creating all the new stuff and related software, to precisely work on optimization of 3d objects, polys, nor Textures. And it is not in our plan to fix them in the immediate future.
Reason: we first need to get news and info by those who will like to test the actual Pre-Release, aiming our efforts to eliminate errors and bugs. We will not - at the moment - put hands to actual performance issues related to User's Hardware and OS, or FG' version (we will take anyway good notice of this kind of problems, to be addressed later). Once the major fixes will be finalized, we will of course put hands back on actual 3d models and Textures, optimizing at our best everything which might ensure better performance.
So, be prepared to heavy frame-rate loss with current 777 Pre-Release.
With my Configuration (Intel 3770 8 Cores, 32 Gb Ram ddr3, NVidia GTX 650 TI, Windows 7 Pro 64 bit) I can fly current Pre-Release with the following performance values (NO Rembrandt, realistic Weather ON, heavy weather with clouds, rain and fog):
• On FG 2.12.1: with a 59 FRate on external views and 30-40 FRate on internal views; 6 FRate down when looking to Pedestal.
• On FG 3.1.0 Nightly (18 Jan): with a 40 FRate on external views and 20-35 FRate on internal views; 6 FRate down when looking to Pedestal.
Both these values get very low once in proximity of heavy traffic location (like EDDF, for instance).
Now, let's go to the new enhancements:
NOTE: we've based our work on Boeing available manuals. From them, we derived ideas, functions and some graphical proportions. For the Graphical part, we developed the whole Cockpit by looking at every details into a huge amount of real 777's photos and Videos. As far as we know, there are not Cockpit's drawings or blueprints available on the Web we could use as reference. So, for the graphical part, I had to actually 3d-model all the various objects by just comparing various shots, and doing my best effort to set dimensions and proportions: I'm not pretending that the Cockpit is absolutely perfect, far from that. Still, it looks quite similar to the real one: many things are to be adjusted, though. Please, be patient.
• NEW Handy Viewer panel (from 777 Menu): I thought that it would be very useful to just click once to change view, instead of cycling through views. So, the Handy Viewer panel let the user switch to Cockpit view (CPT, FO, Radio-CDU, OHpanel, TopLeft, OBS 1, OBS 2) or External View (FrontGear, Left Wing, Right Wing, Tail, (and a few of usual views), easily and quickly. In all views, it has been inserted a 'restore view' command, so that view position will be reset.
• OH panel: completely re-modeled and re-textured: new Switches and Knobs, consistent with Boeing real Switches and Knobs, have been modeled, inserted and textured. New Font face, size and colors, consistent with Boeing's requirements. Also, there's now a realistic Circuit Breaker section, fully completed.
• MCP: completely re-modeled and re-textured; AP panel has new Switches (with more realistic LEDs) and Knobs. AP has received a major revision by Hyde, fixing many wrong issues and fine-tuning its behavior (Please, DO refer to Boeing 777 Operations Manual to understand how the AP panel actually works: by pressing Switches and Knobs, the user will get different behavior from previous 777 versions).
• EFIS panel: new Knobs, and some functions' improvements.
• PFDs: has been improved by Hyde, including more consistent info for the Pilot. In the future it will be implemented with Canvas system.
• NDs: We are actually testing the use of Canvas system; since Canvas is still in evolution, we may revert back to old system: with Canvas, though, many improvements on readability has been added, with a more realistic looking, and realistic info on screens for the Pilots. The NDs now may be used independently by CPT and FO (Thanks, Hyde and Jean-Yves).
• Lower EICAS: now Pilot may select to display usual FCTL screen or ENG screen, by pressing the relevant button on the Display Control panel (FO side). We are planning to add more functions, so to give the pilot all the flight-information envisaged by Boeing (will do that little by little, though). ENG screen has been developed by Jean-Yves: Pilots may now check the screen to get real-time info about oil pressure, temperature and quantities.
• 'Track' mode added (Track sel, Track hold): when Track mode is selected, ND's center matches LNAV course, even with strong side wind.
• Yokes: completely remodeled and re-textured: added two Trim Switches and a button (still inactive) for future use.
• Pedestal: totally re-mastered: it is now almost consistent with true 777 pedestal; all various panels have now been 3d-modeled and Textured, with new Buttons, Switches and Knobs. THIS part of the Cockpit IS VERY HEAVY in terms of graphical rendition: due to the number of objects, details, and so forth, it is unavoidable to experience a very low FRate. The aircraft now sports three Radio sets (still to be fixed, though). The pedestal will - little by little - be completely usable by the pilots: but, please, be patient. At the moment you may anyway enjoy its overall looking (which will be enhanced as well).
• Pilots' Seats: completely re-modeled and Textured, consistent with Boeing real ones. Added many details (like Pilot seat position's adjustment controls, for instance): seats might became fully animated in the future...
• Observers' Seats: completely re-modeled and Textured; added central console and seat position's adjustment for OBS1's seat.
• Left and Right Side Consoles: re-modeled and re-textured, with foldable worktables for both pilots (click on them!). EFB console with Tiller Handle. Still to be completed, actually...
• Left Cabinet: re-modeled and re-textured: added flashlights, gloves, axe, and a Fire Extinguisher, consistent with Boeing requirements.
• Right Cabinet: re-modeled and re-textured: added Maintenance console with realistic Terminal (PilotView model, functions not implemented).
• Windows' frame: re-modeled and re-textured, with panels, pylons, and air-vents. Still to be completed.
• ...and many little addition & tweaks: fly the 777 Seattle, and you'll notice the various changes/additions.
And here's some screenshots of current state of the Boeing 777 Seattle's Cockpit:
Should you like to see more pictures, here's an Album: https://imageshack.com/a/pNDq/1
Functions:
Autostart now sets the OH panel Switches in realistic conditions (a pilot which may want to have a manual start, might do so by following relevant procedures [see Boeing 777 Operations Manual]). You will notice that there are Switches with just LED illumination on pressure, or with Shutters animation on pressure. We looked at real 777 pictures and Videos to replicate them: but the animation is currently missing an important part; since it seems that there is not (at the moment) any available method to actually animate an object in time (that is: move as required, but in 0.5 sec; then stop for a while, and then execute another part of animation, say in 0.9 secs); so we are still trying to devise a solution to replicate the real movement made by the Switch once 'pushed'.
HDG selection: Pilot may choose to display current course (on the NDs) as 'True' or 'Magnetic', using the relevant Switch on CPT forward Panel: first open the Flip-Guard, then press the switch.
On Gear Control Panel: Pilot may 'override' 'Ground-Proximity', 'Terrain' and 'Gear' warning, using the relevant Switch on the panel: first open the Flip-Guard, then press the switch.
So....this is it: we have been working several months, every day, animated by our common passion for the 777.
We enjoyed very much to work together to achieve a better looking and flying 777.
We do hope FG pilots will like it.
Please, report your comments (critics, appreciations, requests for better tuning, and so forth) on this Forum: be detailed to the maximum (Hardware& Software configuration, FG version, flying conditions, screenshots, accurate description), so that we may reproduce the reported issue. We'll do our best to comply. Bear in mind, though, that things are to be made little by little.
Being, myself and Hyde, two old-styled men...we like to be precise; and young Jean-Yves is very accurate too.
Personally, I have to express my great gratitude to Hyde for his continuous support, patience and - moreover - competence. Thanks Hyde, I'm much honoured...
To Jean-Yves, who has recently joined our two-members developing team, I give my 'welcome-on-board'...on this 777 Seattle passionate adventure!
To the FG Community, from all of us: ...Enjoy!
Regards,
I-NEMO ...and Hyde and Jean-Yves