New 1% Release 4.0 is Finished

[BEAR - AvHistory]

1% News

The New 4.0 Release is finished 06/06/2005 11:33:34


Many months ago we were asked by the MAW group (http://www.medairwar.com/) to create 1% Flight/Damage Models for their freeware project. The MAW group was paving new ground with a new theater and new technology for CFS3. In addition, we also had several other friends who individually were pushing CFS3 to levels never imagined. In essence, the term 4.0 is to honor these hard working individuals for creating a CFS4 that MS BizDev took away from us.
We also wanted to reverse a trend of sim developers that were using a bias/opinion (or just plain junk data) to define the flight characteristics instead of physics.

As per our goal to simulate what it is like to fly these aircraft, we decided to push the MS Flight Equations as far as we could with the current technology we had. In addition to taking physical measurements off the aircraft itself, we had new software that allowed us to take measurements off photo’s and drawings.

We also had a implemented the techniques of Dr Jan Roskam (http://www.darcorp.com/Company/Personnel/Jan_Roskam.htm). Dr Roskam is famous for his work on aircraft stability and control. He has developed mathematical formulas and tables that allow engineers to accurately determine the stability derivatives of an aircraft. The stability derivatives are what give each aircraft its own unique characteristics. With our new software tool for taking measurements and Dr Roskam’s formulas, we’ve been able to accurately derive the individual stability derivatives for each aircraft.

Unfortunately, like all great plans we ran into problems. Regrettably, the main issue encountered being the MS Flight Equations being pushed to their limits. And this is where we spent a lot of time trying to develop work-arounds so we could still achieve our goals. We still feel the MS Flight Equations are some of the best for a desktop PC and certainly the best of any WW2 sim.

On the positive side, just about every part of the 1% Spreadsheet was updated. We were able to replace large portions of the spreadsheet with equations that produced more accurate data. The entire Spin code section was junked and replaced with new formulas that made use of the new stability derivatives that now dictate the quality and type of spin entry and the resulting full spin.

Drag curves, thrust, lift, you name it has been updated in the 1% Assembly Line Process Sreadsheet. And to help pilots fly the aircraft, new check lists (created directly from the aircraft equations) are now included with each aircraft. Just press the N key to bring them up.

There are also other changes for 4.0 that will be released later.

We hope pilots enjoy this new era in CFS flying over the next few weeks as aircraft are converted over and new aircraft are released.

The following question was posted before the old board here was shut down:

"""""westview
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2005
Age: 19
Posts: 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i'm exceited about it too, now is it updates on the existing a/c at avhistory, or are there going to be new aircraft released too :"""""

The first few planes released will be all new. Updates of existing planes will also be released very quickly.

BEAR

[Henry]

thanks
H:redfire::redfire:

[Whisky_Papa]

WOW, sounds like a new sim is on the way, Will this affect the stock cfs3 or do you need multiple installs? and can this replace cfs3 completely and be compatable with your current cfs3 modifications, as well as the stock aircraft, will the new flight models be just for the MAW addon or can they be adapted to the stock cfs3 aircraft, anyway just how different do the ac fly compared to the stock aircraft? or the current 1% flight models, I know, so many questions but just curious and looking forward to he new addon;)

[robby88]

Sounds Good Bear :): - Will the V4.0 spreadsheet be available to the public as was the old spreadsheet. ?

[BEAR - AvHistory]

There is no plan right now on making the worksheets public.

The planes have no effect on the stock versions. The weapons are added in addition to & do not replace the stock ones.

You should be able to cut & paste our files into the stock aircraft just like you can presently do. V-4.0 are just specific aircraft & not a 'new' game like MAW.

MAW will have unique historically correct V-4.0 planes but those planes will contain the same flight, damage & weapons models as the ones we release as AvHistory 1% models.

They are significantly different from both stock & current 1% as many of the formulas have been replace by all new ones.

Bottom line is V-4.0 can fly in the same game as stock or V 2.8x 1% but they will handle & fight much differently.

BEAR

[stinky]

o cool. I see now.

[oki]

Will you upload entire ac folders or just edited cfg/air files???If people are using eg self-edited xdp files all the effort would be lost....

oki

[BEAR - AvHistory]

Possibly both depending on a case by case analyses of the change. That being said the "file only" sets will contain at least an air file, an XPD file, an aircraft.cfg & a help folder containing the aircraft check lists.

These files are designed to work together so if you don't want to install them all I would recommend that you don't bother with version 4.0

BEAR

[von Bek]

I just want to say that if there is a group of people who can do something this big and get it right, AvHistory is that group. You have done so much for us that simple thanks hardly seems adequate.

Thanks guys.

von Bek

[Frosty]

I can't find the superlatives that describe the pleasure the 1% A/C give me, so I 'll stick with von Bek's comment.
Fantastic that you 've found ways to improve on something I already have the greatest respect for!:medals:
I can't hardly wait. When, when, when ....?

[NachtPiloten]

Bear, With all due respect, those of use who like to model (albeit not too well speaking only of my limited abilities) would like access to the new spreadsheet. It would help us create accurate FM along with AvHistory. It was great to have access to the old sreadsheets and modify FM's etc. Please reconsider. I know that there is a limited number of modelers around but keeping the new spread sheet "proprietary" :mad: is well just not :mixedsmi: . Thanks for reading my whinning!

[BEAR - AvHistory]

The last 1% AvHistory aircraft we released was the Bf-109F-4 by Mike Wholaver, Alessandro Biagi & Bill Wilson on July 21, 2004 which is almost a year ago.

Right now we have over a years worth of work invested in the new system & a very large backlog of planes that need to be released not including the 100 existing aircraft requiring an upgrade.

Getting this done will be our priority for the near future & any consideration about creating a retail freeware version of the system will have to be placed on a back burner until we are out from under the current workload.

BEAR

[robby88]

Bear, With all due respect, those of use who like to model (albeit not too well speaking only of my limited abilities) would like access to the new spreadsheet. It would help us create accurate FM along with AvHistory. It was great to have access to the old sreadsheets and modify FM's etc. Please reconsider. I know that there is a limited number of modelers around but keeping the new spread sheet "proprietary" :mad: is well just not :mixedsmi: . Thanks for reading my whinning!

A pity - I tend to agree with NachtPiloten on this. Though we still have the freely downloadable Mudpond worksheets which are now following a different evolutionary path from the avh series. www.mudpond.us/utilities_index.html (http://www.mudpond.us/utilities_index.html)

Hopefully that will remain free and continue to be updated. These worksheets provide an excellent start to creating a flight model and save much time. The alternative freeware development tools such as AAM and AirEd require a knowlege of the MS airfiles and flight characteristics. I wouldn't recommend MS FSEdit.

Airwrench from Mudpond is a useful utility but will be payware when it's released.

One can't hold it against the guys who produce these tools. It's theirs to do with what they want whether that be to make money or maintain control of their usage.

At the same time - if quality freeware tools disappear then so will much freeware development. :(

[robby88]

As a postscript to the above post - just want to say thanks for all that you guys have given us in the past and also the massive work in redoing this.

:icon29::icon29::icon29:

Didn't want to appear ungrateful with the above comment.

[BEAR - AvHistory]

Though we still have the freely downloadable Mudpond worksheets which are now following a different evolutionary path from the avh series.
:(

Actually the split in direction took place well over a year ago before much of our current V-2.85 work was released.

BEAR

[GhostFlyer]

Just adding my thanks to the AvHistory team for what is already a remarkable collection of freeware aircraft ...
And to imagine they're about to get even better ... :redfire: :redfire: :medals:

Very much appreciate the hard work guys !!

Cheers - GhostFlyer

[WildBat]

They really do fly nice those new 1% aircraft :D

You all have something good to look forward to!

[flyingbullseye]

They really do fly nice those new 1% aircraft :D

You all have something good to look forward to!

Which ones have already been updated? How do we know whether or not they have the 4.0 FM?

Flyingbullseye

[BEAR - AvHistory]

None...They will say 4.0 on the package & 4US_xxxxx on the select plane screen.

Some of the MAW guys have a few to tryout so you may see some comments.

BEAR

[BEAR - AvHistory]

Yes.

BEAR

[gecko]

In your opinion, are the new FM's harder to fly or easier? And what about high altitude flight? Obviosly harder or easier, they are another step closer to reality. Thanks for all the hard work you all have put into this. It is very much appreciated! Looking forward to flying them.

gecko

[BEAR - AvHistory]

So will they be released this week end ? next week ?

They will be released when we decide exactly what will be included in the specific aircraft zips, how much will be encrypted & what will be included in general AvHistory downloads covering all the planes.

Also the new in flight checklists & install instructions have to be reviewed & finalized.

Since we all have lives outside of this game no deadlines have been set or will be set regarding the initial release date or after the release what our rate of aircraft production will be.

BEAR

[BEAR - AvHistory]

In your opinion, are the new FM's harder to fly or easier?
gecko

That is a hard question to answer easily. ;)

Most planes are not that hard to fly in the middle of their flight envelope. As you get nearer to the edge of the envelope things can become more interesting.

Famous Chinese curse: may your life be interesting.

We believe that real life pilots, especially those with military or other high performance backgrounds will find V-4.0x to be of measurably higher fidelity then our V-2.8x series.

Additionally, the casual sim flyer will have no doubt as to which version he is flying.

BEAR

[Mixxa II]

Hello Bear,
With these new release's I notice you are changing the short & long names from 3grxxxxxxxx to 4 grxxxxxxxxx but what about the model names ?
If the model names are different none of the missions (that use 1% planes) will work so hopefully the model names are the same as the old series.

Thanks
Justin

[BEAR - AvHistory]

Justin,

These are the current standard naming conventions for Version 4:

AvHistory Release:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<UnitData>
<General Allegience="0" LongName="4 Me 262A-1a" ShortName="4 Me 262A-1a" ModelName="4gr_me_262a_1a.m3d" BlastDamageScale="1.0" ImpactDamageScale="1.0" FireDamageScale="1.0" Priority="3" Type="moving" EnteredService="08/01/1944" LeftService="08/01/1947" BlastDamageMod="1" ImpactDamageMod="1" FireDamageMod="1" Category="fighter_bomber" Country="germany" AllowSpawn="y" InfoURL="aircraft\4gr_Me_262a_1a\help\AvHistoryInfo_4gr_Me_ 262a_1a.htm" ChecklistURL="aircraft\4gr_Me_262a_1a\help\AvHistoryInfo_4gr_Me_ 262a_1a.htm"/>

MAW Release:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<UnitData>
<General Allegience="0" LongName="DR Lockheed P-38J-25 AKN 95th F.S." ShortName="P-38J-25 AKN 95FS" ModelName="dr_p_38j25_akn_95fs.m3d" BlastDamageScale="1.0" ImpactDamageScale="1.0" FireDamageScale="1.0" Priority="1" Type="moving" EnteredService="09/09/1943" LeftService="09/09/1946" BlastDamageMod="1" ImpactDamageMod="1" FireDamageMod="1" Category="fighter_bomber" Country="usa" AllowSpawn="y" InfoURL="aircraft\DR_P-38J25_AKN_95FS\help\AvHistoryInfo_DR_P-38J25_AKN_95FS.htm" ChecklistURL="aircraft\DR_P-38J25_AKN_95FS\help\AvHistoryInfo_DR_P-38J25_AKN_95FS.htm"/>

BEAR

[20MikeMike]

Firstly thank you all ( The 1% guys and the flight testers ) for the great deal of time and effort you have put in to raise the level of the game.

However I do have a question !

Will we still be able to reskin ?

I have some very nice Hurricanes Mustangs Spitfires Mosquitoes etc and would in due course like to up grade them . ( Not my own work CAC TS WM. )



Thanks all
Chris
:ernae:

[20MikeMike]

Would it not be simpler to run all new 1% as 4GB……….. 4US………. ? As all the 1% aircraft of a Nation would fall into a group .

:icon29::mixedsmi::icon29:

Chris

:monkies:

[BEAR - AvHistory]

Will we still be able to reskin ?Thanks allChris:ernae:

I don't know what the policy for MAW releases will be but for AvHistory releases it will be unchanged.

Planes based on the stock MS visual are open to all for re-painting.

Planes based on original 3rd party visuals should have written permission from the visuals creator & AvHistory for re-painting.

In either case only the skin (noted as an AvHistory re-paint) may be uploaded for distribution; not the entire plane.

There should be no direct linking to our download site for aircraft. Use our homepage url http://www.avhistory.org (http://www.avhistory.org/)

For 'private use' skins that will not be distributed; y'all can do whatever pleases you.

BEAR

[BEAR - AvHistory]

Would it not be simpler to run all new 1% as 4GB……….. 4US………. ? As all the 1% aircraft of a Nation would fall into a group .:icon29::mixedsmi::icon29:
Chris:monkies:

Back in the days of the original CFS we took the title "1US" etc to identify planes released through the 714th/257th Fighter Squadrons (later AvHistory). Other groups like Mathias' Ground Crew created their own unique identifiers like "GC"

The "DR" (Desert Rats) is used to denote planes as specific parts of the MAW project.

We are just 3 people on a very large MAW team & MAW has ownership of its aircraft not AvHistory so DR will be used.

Any other custom work we do for MAW type add-ons will also use custom aircraft ID's not 4US.

BEAR

[rafael]

First of all i have to thank you like all the guys before for all your effort to provide us with all the great stuff :icon29: :icon29: :icon29:


Nevertheless i have a little question. Would it be possible to make a little change to the naming? It`s not possible to assign a custom ai_sound to the avhistory aircraft because the first digit of the name is a number (3us, 3gr, 3gb....), don`t ask me why. A change to e.g. "us4", "gb4".... would solve this little problem. Probably it`s to late for this change, anyway just an idea :wiggle:

[Mixxa II]

Bear
Thank you for your reply.
So all the already released missions here at SOH will not work with the revised aircraft :jawdrop: looks like I will have to edit all our missions already released when you guys release the new aircraft.

I think I will hold off releasing my "V1 defence" package untill you guys release the new planes as I was using the
3gb_tempest_mkv
3gb_spitfire14c_cg
3gb_mosquito_mkvi
3gb_lysander_soe
3gr_v1
No doubt reading your above post they will be changed in the future.

:wavey:
Justin

[Ralph B]

Are there ANY 4us or whatever planes available for release at this time?anxious to try them out! lol!:cowboy:

[Ralph B]

Justin,There are some of us experienced enough to change the aircraft in a mission.so if you have some missions you want to release you won't have to wait until the new (4s) are ready.when bear and the guys from avhistory are ready to release the new planes I'm sure they will be great.and we all KNOW you and your Dad make great missions.hint hint.:cowboy:

[Redwolf]

Any chance that the Aeroplane Heaven P-47 flight models will be upgraded - I believe they were originally done by a member of the AvHistory team?

If not, will it be possible to use the 4.0 FM's from other P-47's from AvHistory with the AH P-47's?

Thanks.

[Spitfrnd]

He, he, yes that would be me.:bump: Greg will be updating the P-47s and what you do with the FMs that you do not upload is entirely up to you.:monkies:
Mixxa, we will update those you mentioned above, some are near done.

rafael, interesting point. Could you elaborate?

[gecko]

I've got the same problem rafael does. Basicaly when adding a custom ai sound for an individual aircraft, the sound.xml won't let the entire game load if the model name of any aircraft starts with anything other than a letter. It does the same thing with parenthesis if they are anywhere in the model name.

Hey, wow! I'm ahead of spitfrnd in post count!! In fact, I have ten times your post count!!:a1310: Whoopie!!

gecko

[rafael]

Yes it´s like gecko says. I think this is mentioned before in a thread but i couldn´t find it again.

Here is a picture of what happens if you add such a filename to the sound.xml.
The message appears and no further input is possible. You have to delete the number as the first digit but then it will not match your aircraft anylonger :rolleyes:

[Mixxa II]

Spitfrnd thanks for the heads-up.

Justin

[Spitfrnd]

Thanks for clarification. We'll look into it and see if we can avoid that problem.