diff --git a/src/Aircraft/aircraft.cxx b/src/Aircraft/aircraft.cxx
index 91e93b276..26b3502fe 100644
--- a/src/Aircraft/aircraft.cxx
+++ b/src/Aircraft/aircraft.cxx
@@ -48,43 +48,6 @@
 
 #include "aircraft.hxx"
 
-
-// This is a record containing all the info for the aircraft currently
-// being operated
-fgAIRCRAFT current_aircraft;
-
-
-// Initialize an Aircraft structure
-void fgAircraftInit( void ) {
-    SG_LOG( SG_AIRCRAFT, SG_INFO, "Initializing Aircraft structure" );
-
-    current_aircraft.controls = globals->get_controls();
-}
-
-
-// Display various parameters to stdout
-void fgAircraftOutputCurrent(fgAIRCRAFT *a) {
-    FlightProperties f;
-
-    SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_DEBUG,
-            "Pos = ("
-	    << (f.get_Longitude() * 3600.0 * SGD_RADIANS_TO_DEGREES) << "," 
-	    << (f.get_Latitude()  * 3600.0 * SGD_RADIANS_TO_DEGREES) << ","
-	    << f.get_Altitude() 
-	    << ")  (Phi,Theta,Psi)=("
-	    << f.get_Phi() << "," 
-	    << f.get_Theta() << "," 
-	    << f.get_Psi() << ")" );
-
-    SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_DEBUG,
-	    "Kts = " << f.get_V_equiv_kts() 
-	    << "  Elev = " << globals->get_controls()->get_elevator() 
-	    << "  Aileron = " << globals->get_controls()->get_aileron() 
-	    << "  Rudder = " << globals->get_controls()->get_rudder() 
-	    << "  Power = " << globals->get_controls()->get_throttle( 0 ) );
-}
-
-
 // Show available aircraft types
 void fgReadAircraft(void) {
 
@@ -137,7 +100,7 @@ void fgReadAircraft(void) {
 
    ulCloseDir(dirp);
 
-   globals->get_commands()->addCommand("load-aircraft", fgLoadAircraft);
+   
 }
 
 bool
@@ -212,7 +175,7 @@ fgLoadAircraft (const SGPropertyNode * arg)
     fgInitPosition();
 
     // Update the HUD
-    fgHUDInit(&current_aircraft);
+    fgHUDInit();
 
     SGTime *t = globals->get_time_params();
     delete t;
diff --git a/src/Aircraft/aircraft.hxx b/src/Aircraft/aircraft.hxx
index f28bb4c22..6c06c0cfb 100644
--- a/src/Aircraft/aircraft.hxx
+++ b/src/Aircraft/aircraft.hxx
@@ -26,30 +26,8 @@
 #ifndef _AIRCRAFT_HXX
 #define _AIRCRAFT_HXX
                                  
-class FGControls;
 class SGPropertyNode;
 
-// Define a structure containing all the parameters for an aircraft
-typedef struct{
-    FGControls *controls;
-} fgAIRCRAFT ;
-
-
-// current_aircraft contains all the parameters of the aircraft
-// currently being operated.
-extern fgAIRCRAFT current_aircraft;
-
-
-// Initialize an Aircraft structure
-void fgAircraftInit( void );
-
-
-// Display various parameters to stdout
-void fgAircraftOutputCurrent(fgAIRCRAFT *a);
-
-
-// Read the list of available aircraft into to property tree
-void fgReadAircraft(void);
 bool fgLoadAircraft (const SGPropertyNode * arg);
 
 #endif // _AIRCRAFT_HXX
diff --git a/src/Cockpit/cockpit.cxx b/src/Cockpit/cockpit.cxx
index a959978fc..54ccd2a23 100644
--- a/src/Cockpit/cockpit.cxx
+++ b/src/Cockpit/cockpit.cxx
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 #include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
 #include <simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Include/general.hxx>
 
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
@@ -360,7 +359,7 @@ float get_aux18 (void)
 #endif
 
 
-bool fgCockpitInit( fgAIRCRAFT *cur_aircraft )
+bool fgCockpitInit()
 {
     SG_LOG( SG_COCKPIT, SG_INFO, "Initializing cockpit subsystem" );
 
@@ -376,7 +375,7 @@ bool fgCockpitInit( fgAIRCRAFT *cur_aircraft )
     // HI_Head is now a null pointer so we can generate a new list from the
     // current aircraft.
 
-    fgHUDInit( cur_aircraft );
+    fgHUDInit();
 
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/Cockpit/cockpit.hxx b/src/Cockpit/cockpit.hxx
index 9c7a5c9d2..91c415514 100644
--- a/src/Cockpit/cockpit.hxx
+++ b/src/Cockpit/cockpit.hxx
@@ -33,10 +33,7 @@
 
 #include <osg/State>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
-#include "panel.hxx"
-
-bool fgCockpitInit( fgAIRCRAFT *cur_aircraft );
+bool fgCockpitInit();
 void fgCockpitUpdate( osg::State* );
 
 #endif /* _COCKPIT_HXX */
diff --git a/src/Cockpit/hud.cxx b/src/Cockpit/hud.cxx
index b06a1917b..57c2264e8 100644
--- a/src/Cockpit/hud.cxx
+++ b/src/Cockpit/hud.cxx
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@
 
 #include <osg/GLU>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
-//#include <Autopilot/xmlauto.hxx>
 #include <GUI/new_gui.hxx>           // FGFontCache
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Scenery/scenery.hxx>
@@ -230,7 +228,7 @@ int readHud( istream &input )
 // display for a Piper Cub doesn't show the speed range of a North American
 // mustange and the engine readouts of a B36!
 //
-int fgHUDInit( fgAIRCRAFT * /* current_aircraft */ )
+int fgHUDInit()
 {
 
     HUD_style = 1;
@@ -282,7 +280,7 @@ int fgHUDInit( fgAIRCRAFT * /* current_aircraft */ )
 }
 
 
-int fgHUDInit2( fgAIRCRAFT * /* current_aircraft */ )
+int fgHUDInit2()
 {
 
     HUD_style = 2;
diff --git a/src/Cockpit/hud.hxx b/src/Cockpit/hud.hxx
index 0d727ccd3..bec30f553 100644
--- a/src/Cockpit/hud.hxx
+++ b/src/Cockpit/hud.hxx
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ namespace osg {
 #include <simgear/constants.h>
 
 #include <Include/fg_typedefs.h>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/controls.hxx>
 #include <FDM/flight.hxx>
 #include <GUI/gui.h>
@@ -694,8 +693,8 @@ public:
 };
 
 
-extern int  fgHUDInit( fgAIRCRAFT * /* current_aircraft */ );
-extern int  fgHUDInit2( fgAIRCRAFT * /* current_aircraft */ );
+extern int  fgHUDInit();
+extern int  fgHUDInit2();
 extern void fgUpdateHUD( osg::State* );
 extern void fgUpdateHUD( osg::State*, GLfloat x_start, GLfloat y_start,
                          GLfloat x_end, GLfloat y_end );
diff --git a/src/Cockpit/hud_rwy.cxx b/src/Cockpit/hud_rwy.cxx
index b920bcfc8..2be152523 100644
--- a/src/Cockpit/hud_rwy.cxx
+++ b/src/Cockpit/hud_rwy.cxx
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include <math.h>
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Scenery/scenery.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Environment/environment.hxx>
 #include <Environment/environment_mgr.hxx>
 #include <ATCDCL/ATCutils.hxx>
diff --git a/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx b/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx
index a5d76ecfc..15268f93e 100644
--- a/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx
+++ b/src/Environment/environment_mgr.cxx
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 
 #include <Main/main.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <FDM/flight.hxx>
 
 #include "environment.hxx"
diff --git a/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.cxx b/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.cxx
index e9732f772..6409004fc 100644
--- a/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.cxx
+++ b/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.cxx
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 
 #include <FDM/flight.hxx>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/controls.hxx>
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
diff --git a/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.hxx b/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.hxx
index 8eb05feae..beb33e87b 100644
--- a/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.hxx
+++ b/src/FDM/JSBSim/JSBSim.hxx
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ INCLUDES
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%*/
 
 #undef MAX_ENGINES
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include "math/FGColumnVector3.h"
 
 /*%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
diff --git a/src/FDM/LaRCsim/LaRCsim.cxx b/src/FDM/LaRCsim/LaRCsim.cxx
index 611849dff..850532f34 100644
--- a/src/FDM/LaRCsim/LaRCsim.cxx
+++ b/src/FDM/LaRCsim/LaRCsim.cxx
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include <simgear/debug/logstream.hxx>
 #include <simgear/scene/model/placement.hxx>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/controls.hxx>
 #include <FDM/flight.hxx>
 #include <FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_aircraft.h>
diff --git a/src/FDM/SP/BalloonSim.cpp b/src/FDM/SP/BalloonSim.cpp
index 264d49b37..add046cac 100644
--- a/src/FDM/SP/BalloonSim.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/SP/BalloonSim.cpp
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ HISTORY
 
 #include <simgear/constants.h>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
-
 #include "BalloonSim.h"
 
 /****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_gear.cpp b/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_gear.cpp
index da120d29f..31a87d0b9 100644
--- a/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_gear.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_gear.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
 
 #include <simgear/compiler.h>
 #include <simgear/misc/sg_path.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
 
 #include "uiuc_gear.h"
diff --git a/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_recorder.cpp b/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_recorder.cpp
index 97e93b59c..3264ad184 100644
--- a/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_recorder.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_recorder.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@
 
 #include <simgear/compiler.h>
 #include <simgear/misc/sg_path.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
 
 #include "uiuc_recorder.h"
diff --git a/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_wrapper.cpp b/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_wrapper.cpp
index c11cbc97e..79bbe74c3 100644
--- a/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_wrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/FDM/UIUCModel/uiuc_wrapper.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@
 
 #include <simgear/compiler.h>
 #include <simgear/misc/sg_path.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
 
 #include "uiuc_aircraft.h"
diff --git a/src/Instrumentation/HUD/HUD_runway.cxx b/src/Instrumentation/HUD/HUD_runway.cxx
index 3e3d51701..450f118a3 100644
--- a/src/Instrumentation/HUD/HUD_runway.cxx
+++ b/src/Instrumentation/HUD/HUD_runway.cxx
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Scenery/scenery.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/controls.hxx>
 #include <FDM/flight.hxx>
 #include <Environment/environment.hxx>
diff --git a/src/Instrumentation/kr_87.cxx b/src/Instrumentation/kr_87.cxx
index 41928a097..30c0cbe66 100644
--- a/src/Instrumentation/kr_87.cxx
+++ b/src/Instrumentation/kr_87.cxx
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 #include <simgear/math/sg_geodesy.hxx>
 #include <simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Navaids/navlist.hxx>
 
 #include "kr_87.hxx"
diff --git a/src/Instrumentation/kt_70.cxx b/src/Instrumentation/kt_70.cxx
index 99787b71f..ec48bf84d 100644
--- a/src/Instrumentation/kt_70.cxx
+++ b/src/Instrumentation/kt_70.cxx
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@
 #include <simgear/compiler.h>
 #include <simgear/math/sg_random.h>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
-
 #include "kt_70.hxx"
 
 
diff --git a/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx b/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx
index 5e90575dc..1a85d9b8a 100644
--- a/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/fg_commands.cxx
@@ -1315,14 +1315,14 @@ do_increase_visibility (const SGPropertyNode * arg)
 static bool
 do_hud_init(const SGPropertyNode *)
 {
-    fgHUDInit(0); // minimal HUD
+    fgHUDInit(); // minimal HUD
     return true;
 }
 
 static bool
 do_hud_init2(const SGPropertyNode *)
 {
-    fgHUDInit2(0);  // normal HUD
+    fgHUDInit2();  // normal HUD
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
index 72f6849e9..27cc0866b 100644
--- a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@
 #include <simgear/timing/sg_time.hxx>
 #include <simgear/timing/lowleveltime.h>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/controls.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/replay.hxx>
 #include <Airports/apt_loader.hxx>
@@ -1407,11 +1406,6 @@ bool fgInitSubsystems() {
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
     globals->add_subsystem("flight", new FDMShell, SGSubsystemMgr::FDM);
-        
-    // allocates structures so must happen before any of the flight
-    // model or control parameters are set
-    fgAircraftInit();   // In the future this might not be the case.
-
 
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     // Initialize the weather subsystem.
@@ -1525,10 +1519,7 @@ bool fgInitSubsystems() {
     globals->add_subsystem("Traffic Manager", new FGTrafficManager);
 
 
-    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    // Initialize the cockpit subsystem
-    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    if( fgCockpitInit( &current_aircraft )) {
+    if( fgCockpitInit()) {
         // Cockpit initialized ok.
     } else {
         SG_LOG( SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Error in Cockpit initialization!" );
@@ -1641,10 +1632,6 @@ void fgReInitSubsystems()
 
     // Initialize the FDM
     globals->get_subsystem("flight")->reinit();
-    
-    // allocates structures so must happen before any of the flight
-    // model or control parameters are set
-    fgAircraftInit();   // In the future this might not be the case.
 
     // reload offsets from config defaults
     globals->get_viewmgr()->reinit();
diff --git a/src/Main/main.cxx b/src/Main/main.cxx
index c02006a01..5d88ab30b 100644
--- a/src/Main/main.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/main.cxx
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 #include <Time/light.hxx>
 #include <Include/general.hxx>
 #include <Aircraft/replay.hxx>
+#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Cockpit/cockpit.hxx>
 #include <Cockpit/hud.hxx>
 #include <Model/panelnode.hxx>
@@ -535,8 +536,9 @@ static void fgIdleFunction ( void ) {
 
     } else if ( idle_state == 2 ) {
         idle_state++;
-        // Read the list of available aircraft
-        fgReadAircraft();
+        
+        globals->get_commands()->addCommand("load-aircraft", fgLoadAircraft);
+        
         fgSplashProgress("reading airport & navigation data");
 
 
@@ -725,7 +727,6 @@ static void fgIdleFunction ( void ) {
         // setup OpenGL view parameters
         globals->get_renderer()->init();
 
-        SG_LOG( SG_GENERAL, SG_INFO, "Panel visible = " << fgPanelVisible() );
         globals->get_renderer()->resize( fgGetInt("/sim/startup/xsize"),
                                          fgGetInt("/sim/startup/ysize") );
 
diff --git a/src/Main/renderer.cxx b/src/Main/renderer.cxx
index d7258df88..05c1032a1 100644
--- a/src/Main/renderer.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/renderer.cxx
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@
 
 #include <Time/light.hxx>
 #include <Time/light.hxx>
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Cockpit/panel.hxx>
 #include <Cockpit/cockpit.hxx>
 #include <Cockpit/hud.hxx>
diff --git a/src/Network/jsclient.cxx b/src/Network/jsclient.cxx
index 33c80d24b..2ee35320d 100644
--- a/src/Network/jsclient.cxx
+++ b/src/Network/jsclient.cxx
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 #include <simgear/io/iochannel.hxx>
 #include <simgear/misc/stdint.hxx>
 
-#include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
 
 #include "jsclient.hxx"