1. I've modified src/Time/fg_time.cxx so that the --start-date-gmt
option works correctly, at least on my system.
2. I've modified src/Main/bfi.cxx to return the correct time from
FGBFI::getTimeGMT(), so that saving and reloading now keeps the time set
correctly again.
3. I've modified src/Main/main.cxx so that the engine still makes a
noise when it's idling (it sounded very strange when the engine simply
turned off at idle then magically turned on again with a little
throttle).
I've done some substantial reengineering of the 2D panel: except for the
radios, the whole panel is built from a large table now. I'd be
grateful if you could add these changes to the main distribution.
Since I always like to provide some eye-candy with my updates, I've
fixed the ADF gauge to be more usable by slimming the needle and adding
markings every 45 deg (you'll need to use the attached textures).
- the panel uses much, much less texture memory, and draws much
faster, at least on my hardware
- there is a wet (magnetic) compass at the top of the panel
- the gyro compass shows true heading again, but don't get used to it:
we're going to set it up to drift soon
- there are TO/FROM flags on NAV1 and NAV2 (but no GS flag yet)
- the ADF looks a little more realistic (if you can forgive the ugly
needle)
- when the HUD is not open, the framerate is moved to the right side
of the screen so that it won't be obscured by the mag compass
- knobs now continue to rotate when you hold down the mouse
- the middle mouse button makes knobs rotate much faster
- there are NAV1, NAV2, and ADF radios that can be tuned using the mouse
- there are standby frequencies for NAV1 and NAV2, and buttons to swap
- there is a crude, rather silly-looking DME, hard-wired to NAV1
- there is a crude, rather silly-looking autopilot that can lock
the heading (to the bug on the gyro), can lock to NAV1, and can lock
the current altitude
- the knobs for changing the radials on NAV1 and NAV2 look much better
and are in the right place
- tuning into an ILS frequency doesn't change the displayed radial for
NAV1
Code
- I've created a new module, sp_panel.[ch]xx, that constructs the
default single-prop panel; this works entirely outside of FGPanel,
so it is possible to construct similar modules for other sorts of
panels; all code specific to the default panel has been removed from
panel.cxx
- current_panel is now a pointer
- radiostack.[ch]xx keeps track both of the actual radial and of the
selected radial (they will differ with ILS); the NAV gauges should
not spin around automatically to show the actual radial (we need to
do something similar with the autopilot)
- the panel is initialized fairly early
- make sure that standby frequencies also get initialized
- I've started combining and clipping small textures to save texture
memory; there's a lot more to do, but at least I've made a start
the NAV face, and one for a NAV needle (just a thin, slightly blurry red
line for now). I'm attaching my two new textures, together with my newest
panel.cxx (modified from Alex's to use the new textures). Obviously,
there's a lot more to do, including TO/FROM indicators, but this is a
start, and it's fun.
NAV2 is now the VOR radial 068 from MZB,
ADF is now the Compass locator on the outer marker.
This combination is more than the legally required to
fly any of KMYF-ILS-28R, KMYF-LOC-28R KMYF-NDB28.
If you don't have access to the approach plates
and would like them, let me know and I'll scan them
(and put them on the webpage area).
The approaches do work; I've checked them all out in
terms of altitude profile, centerlines and other stuff.
In real life, the radar vectoring will basically abandon you
overhead KSEE airport at 4000 ft heading 210 or so. Sometime
later you'll be turned to a heading of 260 if the controller
doesn't have too much else to do, just before you hit the
extended centerline. You can't rely on that though.
Maintain 3500ft until established, 2100 ft until the outer marker,
If non-precision, maintain 1340 until crossing the radial,
then 900 thereafter until you miss, based on time from the NDB.
The miss takes you heading 270 to intercept a radial which this
hacky implementation will not let you set up the computer for.
The hacky math implementation does not take range and/or signal
strength into account, so you can fly to San Diego from England
by following the needle indication on the ADF. It is also
fairly inaccurate math; about as accurate as the real-life signals.
When we have a _real_ radio module, I will be very happy to
throw all that code away. For now, it makes it demonstratable.
Please notice the nastiness involving the "VARY_E" constant.
This is _not_ something that will go away with the radio module.
As far as I know, we don't have a routine that calculates
magnetic variation as a function of global position.
We will need one, probably within the next two months.
Externally: added a chronometer and a control-position indicator a la
MSFS, along with dummies for the radio-nav gauges.
Internally, substantially reworked the code so that the individual gauges
can be table- (and eventually, file-) driven.
old routines from SRGP. Steve's plib/sg.h does a nice job of completely
replacing this (and since plib is already around) and is a nice clean design
so it just makes sense.
I've reorganized the code in panel.cxx and panel.hxx so that it will
be a little easier to extend the panel later if someone wants to.
It's still basically Friedemann's code at the core, but I've
repackaged it into a saner class hierarchy and encapsulated as much as
I could (there are still a couple of circular dependencies that need
swatting). If someone wants to modify it to use SSG or to add new
gauges, it should be a lot easier now.
There are no user-visible changes.
