Feature Discovery Series Episode 3: Aerodynamics

The latest in the Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) Feature Discovery Series, featuring "Aerodynamics", but more in detail, the improved physics engine, the new surface element aerodynamics, the new air mass simulation and some of the new systems coding. Tons of stunning(!) new footage from the sim as well. So much impressed me in this video that I could write a few paragraphs about it, but I'll just leave this post as is. Of course it is best to watch the video in full screen/full resolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw-opH4f8Qg


Video #4 is due out on November 27th, covering "Cockpits".

The modeling and movement of flaps, 4:40....!

The gear on the 747 at 4:50....and engine exhaust...:applause::applause:

Among so many other items touched on in the video, I am very impressed by how the wind/airflow is affected by every single object/particle in the sim - by the shape of the land (hills, mountains and valleys), the shape of clouds, forests, and by the shape of each and every individual building, so precisely affecting the way in which the air/wind flows over and around them and the resulting effects that will be encountered. I can imagine flying low around a high rise city (especially when rotorcraft eventually get brought to the sim) and feeling the difference in the wind and airflow being encountered with every passing building.

Wow, impressive!

Wonderful advancements. Early days yet, but I noticed that the sloping runway airfield had an elevation issue. Maybe some things remain the same !! ..about 1:50 into the vid.

Greenie, that is just how the real airport (Courchevel) actually looks, with the sloped land all around the edges of the runway - a man-made plateau of sorts where they formed the runway.

....I'm not often right - but I bet I got it wrong this time ! lol

The real thing....

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...id=72518&stc=1

Very interesting. Certainly an ambitious project. Aerodynamically very small items can greatly effect the overall performance and handling of an aircraft. This would seem to put a lot of demand on the graphic aircraft creator to get everything just right. For instance in a laminar flow airfoil even a small imperfection in surface or shape makes a big difference.

The question interjects: Will we have adjustments?

And will we have an accurate model of engine damaging or at least the option to have it.

I will take everything they give us but like others I have my desires I would like to see filled.

So far it looks good

This is going to leave FSX, P3D, and, dare I say it, XPlane 11 in the dust.

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Originally Posted by stansdds

This is going to leave FSX, P3D, and, dare I say it, XPlane 11 in the dust.

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Not for me, unless my add-ons (already purchased for FSX) will be backwards compatible. I cannot afford to buy all new add-ons anymore. Nope. I would have to be content with what I have. NC

The new aerodynamics will definitely offer much better fidelity than the old system. Having said that, I'm glad the old system is there and I hope "older" FS aircraft can automatically access it without having to set it manually. I'll be interested to see how it's (the new FDE) implemented for development in the SDK as it regards specific aircraft models. Hopefully, based on the way they're implementing the aero and the mass distribution it will automatically calculate accurate damping.

I'm also glad to see the atmospheric modeling. When I fly through canyons now, I tend to stick to the updraft (windward) side, even though it doesn't mean anything at the moment. It's nice to see it being implemented. But what I think is going to make this system even more fun is hitting the updrafts in gliders.

What I really want to know is what does the file structure look like in comparison to FSX. Are there the same 4 files or is it a whole new system. I am looking forward to reading the new SDK. Hopefully there will be some clues there. Will we be able to build FDEs using AIRED. If it's a new system will MS provide us with the tools to build or modify flight dynamics or will we be locked out. Lots of questions so far, no answers.

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Originally Posted by mal998

What I really want to know is what does the file structure look like in comparison to FSX. Are there the same 4 files or is it a whole new system. I am looking forward to reading the new SDK. Hopefully there will be some clues there. Will we be able to build FDEs using AIRED. If it's a new system will MS provide us with the tools to build or modify flight dynamics or will we be locked out. Lots of questions so far, no answers.

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for the new aerodynamics, I doubt it. But, they did say that the old FSX physics would still be available to use, as an option. So maybe in this mode yes...

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Originally Posted by mal998

If it's a new system will MS provide us with the tools to build or modify flight dynamics or will we be locked out. Lots of questions so far, no answers.

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They have stated that the SDK will contain tools and detailed instructions for every facet of the sim. It would be pretty stupid not to provide everyone with the tools we need to become the core of the 3rd party ecosystem!

Yep...
This will probably definitely pull me out of retirement - and well worth the 10+ year wait!

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Originally Posted by Panther_99FS

Yep...
This will probably definitely pull me out of retirement - and well worth the 10+ year wait!

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Really Ed? Looking forward to seeing you back in the skies again...with some great Panthers:engel016:

It might pull me out of semi-retirement as I finally got tired of pauses, blurries and constant tweaking and of late I have been enjoying my old hobby of ham radio.

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Originally Posted by Roger

It might pull me out of semi-retirement as I finally got tired of pauses, blurries and constant tweaking and of late I have been enjoying my old hobby of ham radio.

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I've got a shiny relatively new IC-7300 on my desk and an FT-857 in my car. Neither one sees much use because when I am home I'm busy working, and when I'm infrequently in the car it's not long enough to turn the radio on, much less call out "CQ..." :biggrin-new:

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Originally Posted by n4gix

I've got a shiny relatively new IC-7300 on my desk and an FT-857 in my car. Neither one sees much use because when I am home I'm busy working, and when I'm infrequently in the car it's not long enough to turn the radio on, much less call out "CQ..." :biggrin-new:

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Love the IC-7300, Bill and I decided to get the matching IC-9700 too. However I seem to spend more time on my RSP1A SDR where most of the work is done by my new Win 10 pc.

Oops sorry for going off topic guys:playful:

I see FS2020 being able to portover P3D v4 aircraft, but nothing earlier than that. In my opinion, V4 will be the baseline standard as it is completely 64-bit and uses PBR. Which is what FS2020 uses from what I've seen/read. So that means aircraft built for v4, in theory of course, should work in FS2020. Aircraft that don't have separated VC models, older textures, or 32-bit xml gauges likely wont be compatible. This is assuming the file types remain the same as they currently are. I too am wary of investing much more money into P3D as the rather unjustified inflation of addon prices has turned a lot of people off to investing into it. Which is why portover compatibility is so important to people. The hobby as a whole has got a LOT more expensive since FSX first came out. In some cases you're paying almost twice the cost of P3D Academic for example, for just 1 aircraft. Forget it if you want global scenery on top if it like Orbx. Say you have 2 PMDG aircraft, maybe the VRS SuperBug and Tac Pack, Orbx scenery, and 2 things from say Quality Wings or Carenado that's close $400+ right there. But I digress. I think P3D V4 will be the aircraft standard.

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Originally Posted by Navy Chief

Not for me, unless my add-ons (already purchased for FSX) will be backwards compatible. I cannot afford to buy all new add-ons anymore. Nope. I would have to be content with what I have. NC

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+1 :encouragement: