Latest development news:
2019.Mar.19 Bluebird 13.5 : New integrated comm panels, sounds, buttons, autopilot controls.
2019.Feb.04 Bluebird 12.0 : Major changes to model and instrument panel.
2019.Jan.21 Bluebird 11.4 : Add several new livery choices, several fixes and cleanup the last week's work.
2019.Jan.18 Bluebird 11.3 : Significant update for multiplayer, fix invisibility issue, add the ability of detailed model to be shown over multiplayer.
2019.Jan.11 Bluebird 11.2 : Update multiplay model handling to work with newer FG version. Specifically remove the dependency on shared libraries of textures, liveries, and vapor image.
2018.Nov.14 Bluebird 11.1 : Some fixes and improvements for the rear hatch, airport tracking.
2018.Nov.11 Bluebird 11.0 : First update in 3 or 4 years, life happens. Fix change in path to instruments-3d to work with newer versions of Flightgear. Add code friendly to wide screens, to keep field of view saved as a preference. Improve instrumentation lighting colors.
2014.May.10 Daedalus 5.0 : Release First step of two: big improvements in livery colors, and interior lighting, plus the long anticipated improvement in walking on, and through the bottom bay doors.
2014.Mar Minor updates slowly spreading across all models.
2014.Feb.02 Minor change to the config key [Tab] is now [=] for compatibility with FG 3.0
2011.Oct.22 Bluebird 10.9 : Continuing revisions to the groundslope flight model are in, and I have added a new instrument, intended to measure Vertical Speed, or Gees, (press button on instrument to change modes). It is not perfect, but not bad enough to discard either.
2011.Jan.26 Bluebird: Groundslope flight logic has been rewritten and cleaned up, and I have rewritten the rules for crash detection, which was certainly a bug in bluebird 10.4 thru 10.7 when traveling uphill.
There are still some bugs on my list to fix, but as they are relatively minor, and hopefully rare to find, the changes to date are now in this release, 10.8.

I had hoped to keep working on bluebird, to get a few deficiencies cleaned up, and make another release of bluebird before I started work on transfering all the new changes to the other models. Obviously the lack of updates shows this is not happening, due to health issues.

2010.Nov.06 The ground-slope idea is really looking like it will work! It is now good enough to release a new bluebird, but I still have a list of bugs and improvements that need to get done. The aircraft will now automatically settle to the landscape when powered down.
Adding the ground-slope is a big change internally, perhaps a milestone for these models. When testing and debugging is satisfactory, then I intend to update all the other models.

2010.Mar.25 — Daedalus: My intention is for the base model to be done. (Major version incremented to 4, since some additions are now transmitted via multiplayer, thus will not be seen by version 3 models. Also the new additions require the control files to also be updated, thus breaking compatibility with previous versions.)
Next will be to add more bridge instruments, tracking and etc. Also, walker can not yet step through the bottom bay door openings, perhaps the force fields are stuck on. :)

2010.Feb.28 — Bluebird 10.4 : I started working on pitching and rolling based on ground slope, which is needed for driving (bluebird hover off, wheels down), and crashing on hills and slopes. Unfortunately, because I have been sick again, my progress has been slow, but with FG 2.0 coming out, I put all the improvements together to make a release. The new ground-slope-orientation is still to be considered in development and experimental, because I have yet to solve some problems with implementing the cockpit view. Turn it on by entering the config dialog [Tab] and clicking on [More], click the checkbox on the bottom item.

2009.Dec.11 — Shuttle9: Minor update fixes a few bugs, minor improvements really. I had started working on the interior, version 7, but it's priority was lowered as the above two items on the to-do list came up. Also, I wonder if anybody noticed the hull frame between the forward and side windows really does block the forward view from the pilot's seating positions! Second, the pilot's feet stick through the hull underside, despite the interior being shown as square, the underside is curved upwards. I can't figure any way for the two to co-exist, while the rear hatch determines the floor level.


2010.Feb.21 — I received a good suggestion for improving autopilot, but it will likely take time to finish...too many other things are higher priority.

If you see any bugs, please let me know.

Since 2009.Oct.14, if have not been as active here. To learn why, visit the 2nd and 3rd about-me page.
Further updates here may be less frequent.
Summary of each project:
  • bluebird: Latest release includes updated flight model with ground-slope-orientation awareness. There are 3 unusual conditions where the model acts like the ground is unstable, so these are known bugs that will need to be corrected.
    Despite that caviat, it works well enough to fly in all the various modes and engine configurations.

  • danube: Latest release seems stable. No further changes expected until ground-slope is ready.
    I noticed a couple pages about the runabout interior. (Scroll down to reference links)
    So my cockpit is an earlier design, I didn't notice that. The season 5 cockpit does look nicer.
    Regarding the location of the transporter pad, I do not agree with the changes that place it farther back, behind the big door, as this blocks the door to the rear compartments and modules. Also the center windows then become blocked. This area has always been a guess, and a tight fit (already).

  • shuttle6: Stable.
    In 2009, I did a significant rebuild of the hull dimensions, completely replacing Jorg's mesh, and basically starting over, now using some excellent blueprints.
    Next (but not immediately next) will be to backport the major changes to a version for FlightGear 1.0.

  • daedalus: Stable. Not too many improvements on the to-do list. Ground-slope orientation is coming. Also falling through the floor bay doors when the power is off would be a good idea. Force fields are currently stuck on.

  • shuttle9: Need to add an interior. I have captured or clipped 81 freeze frame pictures from the Voyager shows, and although I have opened up the windows so I can look out, the hull blocks enough of the view that I can't consider finishing this a priority. When I get closer to building enough of it to make a release, I'll put that here.
    If anyone wants to volunteer to do the 3d modeling for the shuttle9 interior, please contact me. The source files are in blender format.

  • General development: Add pitch and roll for ground landing on hills. This was a larger project than I first figured, but is coming along nicely.
    Plus add ground dust for bluebird wheels.

    Older significant announcements:
    I have released the new walker models with animations.
    Watch your Waldo Walker skydive from the new Walker Orbit View, watch him pull the ripcord and land safely, or crash. Watch him run, and if you are patient, watch what he does when he gets bored.
    Lots of walker and skydiver improvements, including new visible models, and osg particle effects. Plus multiplayer tracking and homing capabilities.

    A solution has been found so Walker can walk under bridges. But this requires a CVS build newer than 2009.Mar.18 and so can not be included in FlightGear 1.9.1 or earlier.

    I have updated danube and bluebird with the same variable lighting first developed for shuttle6, so that shadows seem to affect interior surfaces, and also outside ambient light shows when overhead lighting is off.
    Also, someone asked why the runabout doesn't have exterior livery choices, so I added that.
    Want more livery color combinations? Send them in and I will include them.

    Multiplayer support for the top 4 models is working!
    Upon installing the bluebird or danube or shuttle6 multiplayer package, you will be able to see other players. All versions of said models are supported across both multiplayer versions of FlightGear, with the exception of shuttle6 for 1.0.