[WIP] Space Shuttle Carier Aircraft - SCA - Help Wanted

[japreja]

Some time after I contacted Dave Culp, he did reply and stated it was OK to be relicensed as GPL!

I remember many years ago letting someone use some of my instruments from DavePack in a GPL project, with the understanding that they would be re-licensed as GPL. Please consider these as GPL

I can forward you the email if you PM Me with your address.

EDIT: I just updated the project page to reflect the GPL 2.0 License. I can transfer the project over to thorsten, the only files I changed in the project were those to attach the tail cone I made. I havent looked at this since 2015, and I did forget to update the license as per Dave Culps email. Sorry for the confusion.

[Thorsten]

The one in question here doesn't have much better progress on it than the standard 747-100 in fgaddon

Since I want to model the experience Shuttle-side only, I need the 3d model, and unlike what's on FGAddon, this has the livery I need. I'm not interested in modeling a 747 with a hard-connected Shuttle on it, but the connection framework has per-strut forces, so theoretically they can be transmitted right into the FDM of the carrier aircraft over MP.

[Thorsten]

This basically works...

[wkitty42]

let's see the release and cutaway for the glide test!

[Thorsten]

I'm a fast coder, but not that fast. Visuals of the release and the carrier animation afterwards still need to be done.

I've also been hitting the slight snag in trying to pitch down prior to the separation that the Shuttle's aerojet DAP actively fights any attitude changes. Since they did force testing for airfoil deflection in mated mode, I'm not sure what state the Shuttle was in reality during those tests.

Currently you can 'instant-separate' from the steady-state solution and the carrier aircraft will disappear.

[Thorsten]

And... here we go, separating the bolts and initiating the glide:

[wlbragg]

Really cool! I'm glad to see the 747 has engines on it now!