DC-8 alpha release

[yourgod]

This post announces the release of the first DC-8 model available for FlightGear.



This model is a DC8-73F which is the freighter variant of the last conversion produced from the DC-8. It features CFM56 engines.

It's currently alpha but it's flyable. Basic control surfaces are animated, etc.

The FDM is JSBSim and loosely modeled after the DC-8-73

This thread and the wiki page will serve as the primary method of communicating progress and updates. If you improve on this model please let me know so I can incorporate your improvements into the base package.

My hangar page for this model is at:
http://www.treborlogic.com/fgfs/hangar/

The direct link to the tarballs:
FG 2.x+
http://www.treborlogic.com/fgfs/hangar/ ... 0.1.tar.gz

FG 1.9.x (pre-alpha)
http://www.treborlogic.com/fgfs/hangar/ ... 1.0.tar.gz

The FlightGear Wiki page is:
http://wiki.flightgear.org/index.php/Douglas_DC-8-73


I hope you enjoy flying my first release for FG. This was also the first time I attempted to create a 3D model of anything, so expect odd things in the mesh, but it works.

[nickyivyca]

"Failed to open file
at G:/FlightGear/data/Aircraft/Instruments-3d/altimeter/altimeter.xml"

It gave me that error message when I tried to open it in FGRun. Could be an incompatibility with 1.9.1, you think?

[E-Savageair]

I just did a hop from Holman Field to Minneapolis/St.Paul Int.; she's ease of handling on take-off and patient on landing well done !

[Avionyx]

Lovely aircraft and very nicely modeled. Brilliant work so far.

Alex

[yourgod]

"Failed to open file
at G:/FlightGear/data/Aircraft/Instruments-3d/altimeter/altimeter.xml"

It gave me that error message when I tried to open it in FGRun. Could be an incompatibility with 1.9.1, you think?

Very possible. I developed it mainly on a mid 2009 CVS version, and I made sure it worked in a post 2.0 CVS version I have.

I've not seen that error, but I have that instrument in my installations.. Does it still load and fly for you?

I honestly didn't plan on supporting 1.9.1 since the release of this model is post 2.0.

Thanks for the positive feedback so far! I have to say I was pleased with it's handling as well. She's a pretty easy bird to land. I just need to add some spoilers.

[isix]

Yourgod, nice to fly your DC-8! I like it! And... here some contibutions:

Cockpit with a old altimeter version, compatible with 1.9.1 version. Put this file in $FG_ROOT/data/Aircraft/dc-8-73/Models

http://www.4shared.com/document/aMhq6E5 ... ckpit.html

The aircraft 3d model with normal adjusted:

http://www.4shared.com/file/zejqqFzV/dc8-73.html

[yourgod]

I'll give them a test and if nothing breaks I'll make a pre-alpha development package.

As for the normals on the model, I'll take a look and see what you changed, then try to recreate that with the blender model. I'd like to keep all changes to the model confined to the original blender model so that as I make changes down the road the fixes are incorporated.

If anyone wants the blender file, let me know and I'll post it.

[yourgod]

I'm going to do the testing with isix's fix this week and if all goes well release an updated pre-alpha version. I also forgot to include the GPL license in the 1st package, so I'll add it to the new one.

[yourgod]

I know I've been super slacking on this.. I've tested the altimeter in 1.9.1.. I'll test it tonight in 2.0. I'll also try to fix the normals tonight as well. Once done I'll release as an iteration of the pre-alpha version.

[yourgod]

The new versions are now up. I preferred the original altimeter for the 2.0 version so there are now 2 releases; one for FG 1.9.x and one for FG 2+.

They both include the normals corrected model. The 1.9.x version includes the altimeter fix provided by isix.

They are both linked on my hangar page
http://www.treborlogic.com/fgfs/hangar

[Armchair Ace]

YourGod, would you mind particularly if I did a bit of work around the cockpit? Adding instruments, throttles and so on?

~Tom

[yourgod]

not at all (we discussed this in PM's but I didn't want the thread to appear to be dangling)

[Armchair Ace]

Here's a sneak peek at how the cockpit's looking. The screen at the bottom left of the picture and the turn coordinator will go - they're just there for testing.



~Tom

[isix]

Looks nice, Tom! And don´t forget to make it compatible with 1.9.1

[isix]

Tom, some reference using only analogic instruments.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled ... dba48273f5

Will you add avionics? I´ve a JT3D engined version (DC-8-62F) here waiting for your very nice cockpit Like this

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Tran ... a0e56d2cf2
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-Tran ... a0e56d2cf2

and other turbofans modelled (JT3D-3B engines), like this

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Delta-Ai ... 0633188/L/