Free FlightGear flight simulator
Conclusions
FlightGear is an impressive simulation game that allows computer pilots to experience the feeling of flying over a beautiful landscape. Many technical features, such as VOR navigation or – in commercial aircraft – even an instrument-based approach, can captivate geeks for hours. But you should not expect models, especially jets, to feel exactly like they do in reality, since the flight dynamics model is obviously too simple for that. The commercial X-Plane [7] flight simulator, which is also available for Linux, offers an alternative for this purpose.
Joystick
For FlightGear, we recommend a three-axis stick, whose lever can not only be tilted, but also rotated around a third axis. In this way you can control the elevator, aileron, and rudder. In addition, the joystick should have a slider for thrust; push buttons for other aircraft functions are usually available anyway. A joystick like this is okay for convenient control, even if it does not realistically reproduce the aircraft yoke and rudder pedals. In the Joystick Configuration dialog, you will ideally want to assign axes 0 to 2 to the elevator, aileron, and rudder, and axis 3 to the thrust controller. In addition, you will want to have the Elevator Trim and Rudder Trim easily available; this is the zero position correction to compensate for air currents. For the Cessna, the remaining two pairs of keys are used to adjust the fuel mixture and flaps.
Infos
- FlightGear: http://flightgear.org
- GSHHG database: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSHHG
- Manual scenery download: http://ns334561.ip-5-196-65.eu/~fgscenery/WS2.0/scenery-2.0.1.html
- FlightGear manual: http://flightgear.sourceforge.net/getstart-en/getstart-en.html
- Bendix King autopilot: http://wiki.FlightGear.org/Bendix/King_KAP140_Autopilot
- Boeing 777 in the FlightGear wiki: http://wiki.flightgear.org/Boeing_777
- X-Plane: https://www.x-plane.com
« Previous 1 2 3
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.