Philosopher wrote in Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:57 am: One comment is that the afterburner/petal animations still work after the engine is turned off – because of that, it was even more weird when my aircraft didn't move, besides the fact that I didn't expect Shift+Q to work . Starting it up again was a bit of a hassle since it seemed like the start button needed to be pressed while resupplying fuel flow – I personally would like delay deactivating the starter by a bit (that's just a little bit of binding work), but I don't know how other JSBSim jets do it.
The goal of the project is to have a fully functional virtual cockpit. So for the time being I haven't worked on the start procedure. The engine start procedure on the basic F-20 was to connect a start cart (hence the 3D model), have the aircraft on chocks (to be implemented) start the batteries, fuel pumps, and move the throttle out of the cutoff position. Alternately you could use pressure coming from a gas generator fed from a hydrazine cartidge. Not a very environmental friendly procedure since hydrazine is a health hazard if leaked, and even though a Northrop commercial claimed a 20s (!) start procedure based on the use of the method (with movies to prove it), the flight manual does not mention this possibility. Later versions were to have a jet fuel starter (a gas turbine starter) but with a weight penalty.
Philosopher wrote in Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:57 am:In general, it could use a bit of updating the help (e.g. "o" is the drag chute, which doesn't do anything despite having nice coding ) and some finishing work in areas, but it's pretty darn good! I have no idea of what is on your todo list, but I was wondering if I could help out some? Projects work better with two
Actually, since this aircraft is going to be complex to use, I intend to write a manual in the form of a document (similar to what I did with the Su-26M) so that should be helpful. I Intend of course to provide some online help but yet.
As far as the aspects were I could use some help. Actually I think that if you only have a full virtual cockpit, most people will be deterred from using it. So there must be a simpler way of doing things.
I am thinking that the sim could start with a (canvas generated) GUI, were you could have the following choices ;
- Engine running or cold aircraft
- Use simplified of complete start procedure
- Enter the flight plan manually using lat-long coordinates (that was the way you used it in real life) or set the waypoints using identifiers and load the flight plan in the navigation computer (using a map to draw the FP would be the icing on the cake, but that is a bit of a nightmare to code)
As for what is in the todo list... Well the full virtual cockpit with working systems (minus the weapon system), a few more liveries I have on my mind, three versions
- prototype, that is the aircraft as actually flown, albeit I am not in a hurry to make the first prototype since it had the regular F-5 canopy (not so pretty)
- First production standard proposed (that is with Chaff/Flare, RWR, and VOR/ILS navigation, supposed to fire the Sparrow III missile ... but no weapon systems)
- And upgraded version proposed to singapore or taiwan with the aforementioned jet fuel starter, and an autopilot (supposed to fire the AIM-120... but ... you get my meaning )
You realise if you detail all of this, there is an awful lot to do yet.
Just be patient, I will keep you posted with progress (right now working on the FCS )