Rolling out version 0.5!

Here is the new version:

• configuration/preference panel (mostly for controls and weather for now)
• real-time/configurable cloud coverage and wind conditions
• multiplayer chat
• added the Hughes 269a/TH-55 Osage light helicopter
• added the Sopwith Camel biplane
• HUD (instruments) scales to screen size
• redesign of the user interface

Some notes:

- As it makes things a bit tricky for newcomers, wind is disabled by default: you can enable it in the "options" panel.
- The Hughes helicopter is really experimental and difficult to fly. It is necessary to disable the yaw/roll mix in order to get proper control.

Have a nice flight.

Xavier.

GEFS 0.4.1

This is a minor update and I am still in the process of fixing things (multiplayer, various bugs), but there are some improvements already so I decided to call it a release.

Most notable is the change in hosting facility, GEFS is now running on a brand new server and this will hopefully improve everybody's experience (starting with mine!)

For all those who contributed with reports, suggestions and requests: I did not forget you! ;)

To come in the next release:
- Joystick configuration (at last!)
- Real time weather
- New aircraft
- In game Chat

... and hopefully a multiplayer that runs nice and smooth!

Stay tuned and have a nice flight.

Altiports in the Alps

The French Alps provide a great flying area as the photo quality of Google Earth is beautiful there and the high relief just enhance it. It also happens that quite a few "altiports" are scattered in this splendid landscape. These are great to practice complicated approaches: the sloppy runways, surrounding mountains and fainting engine in low oxygen require a lot of skills to deal with.

Here is a selection of the best spots to fly the Alps:
(Just click on the picture or title to directly fly there)

L'Alpe d'Huez





Méribel




Courchevel (approach)




Mégève (approach with DC3!)



If this is just too simple for you, wait until I finish implementing real time weather and try the same approach with some gusts of cross wind!

Also, you may know some other "Altiports" in different places and may want to share it. You can send me some direct links to GEFS at the right location. For that, fly to the desired location and use the "Get link" button in the bottom bar.

Have a nice flight!

Back Online

GEFS is up and running on a brand new server: now it should perform!

Sorry for the down time and thank you for your patience.

Have a nice flight!

Flying at the End of the World

Using the map in GEFS, you can take-off from over 30,000 runways in the world. While exploring this database of runways, I found some pretty interesting places. I will try to publish some of my discoveries in this blog.

GEFS now accepts direct links to place a specific aircraft at the chosen location. Following this link, you will be taken to the Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Base. This place is full of magic. Taking off with the DC3 from this runway and flying by the small church while climbing gave me the impression of being an old times adventurer ;)

Enjoy!

GEFS 0.4 is Live

I just released version 0.4

This is not a major step but it includes quite a few improvements and bug fixes.

- Improved muti-player mode, with a better extrapolation/interpolation.
- Current flight (and some preferences) is saved when exiting the sim, and restored when starting it up again.
- Orientable cockpit camera
- Improved players icon display on the map (orientation and altitude)
- A link generator so it is possible to link directly to GEFS and initialize a flight (plane, location).
- Updated flight models (the Piper CUB now has a bit more power, the DC3 a bit more grip)

Anti-Aliasing in Google Earth Plug-in

Most of us simmers/gamers probably have a great, bulky, power hungry and overheating graphic card that can handle heavy 3D rendering and plenty of effects. Sadly, the Google Earth plug-in does not make a very good use of all this computing power. While I hope it is going to improve by every release of the plug-in, I would like to give you a small hint that can greatly improve the graphic in the Google plug-in and in GEFS as a consequence.

The only limitation here is your graphic card. If it is high-end enough, you probably have access to some settings via the card's driver. It usually can be found in the display settings of your operating system (in the advanced section). Each manufacturer and/or model of graphic card will present it differently and, there, I would recommend to look on the internet for details about how to set it up.

In the end, what we are looking for is something called anti-aliasing. It is not active by default in the Google Earth plug-in and there is no way to turn it on except for the manual driver settings.
Anti-aliasing, for those who do not know what it is, is an algorithm that smooth all the scaling (jaggies) you can see in an image (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing).

Most 3D graphic card drivers will offer a way to force this anti-aliasing to be turned on. Usually the default setting is to depend on the application to ask for anti-aliasing. Your driver probably offers an option to make it "always on".

I am talking about anti-aliasing because it is probably the most widely spread option among graphic cards, and also one that has the greater impact on rendering quality. Other settings may be available in you driver configuration panel (such as Anisotropic filtering or Texture quality).

Anisotropic filtering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropic_filtering), if available, will also dramatically improve the rendering, especially when flying low and looking far.

Note: I do not own a Mac but from what I could read, it is apparently tricky to force 3D options in Mac OS. If anyone has some advice on that matter, please let me know.