FSX Demo has thermals !?

[Daube]

Hi all,

I've just read on another forum that there are thermals in the demo of FSX. Those thermals can even be displayed via the menu (don't remember the path), they are shown by some kinf of 3D spiral (same kind of object as the green arrow for missions, I supposed), black because the textures are not there.

The info was confirmed by one of the ACES guys.

Did anybody tried thermal soaring in FSX ? The ACES guys gave no details at all on the modelling of those thermals...

[flyboy 28]

The soaring mission is not available in the demo.

[RollerBall]

It's dead easy to add thermals anywhere you want in the FSX Demo or FS2004 using XML code and BglComp. There's a guy whose name I've forgotton who has made soaring sceneries for all over in FS2004 and they will work in FSX as well.

There is separate code for thermals and ridge lift so if you want you can

[SkyNoz]

[quote]It's dead easy to add thermals anywhere you want in the FSX Demo or FS2004 using XML code and BglComp. There's a guy whose name I've forgotton who has made soaring sceneries for all over in FS2004 and they will work in FSX as well.

There is separate code for thermals and ridge lift so if you want you can

[RollerBall]

Just curious Roller, are you a beta tester? You seem to know plenty more then any of us right now... lol?

Nah - wish I was but I don't have a rig that would be up to it.

Thing is though, the XML scenery technology that was launched in FS2004 is directly transferrable to FSX and this is one of the things that you could do with it.

I put a thermal just to one side of the 'straight out' in an unpublished version of my Ipswich scenery. I have quite a few gliders in my hangar and it's great fun to use the map to 'winch launch' up to a 1000' just short of the thermal, head into it and climb to about 3000 feet. You can then fly all around the scenery making sure you head back into the thermal whenever you need to regain height, and then do a proper glider approach and landing (I've done a bit of gliding in real life).

Not everyone's cuppa tea but different and enjoyable. As we've said time and time again, there's something for everyone in this sim  ;)

[RollerBall]

Anyone who knows how to use BGlcomp and wants to put some thermals around the Ipswich (UK) area, here's the XML code for ya.. Anyone else, if you read it you get the idea.



     
     lat = "52.0261663592008"
     lon = "1.21378176230876"
     alt = "150.0" altitudeIsAgl = "TRUE"
     pitch = "0.0"
     bank = "0.0"
     heading = "0.0"
     imageComplexity = "VERY_SPARSE">
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
     lat = "52.0355"
     lon = "1.21183"
     alt = "275.0" altitudeIsAgl = "TRUE"
     pitch = "0.0"
     bank = "0.0"
     heading = "0.0"
     imageComplexity = "VERY_SPARSE">
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
     lat = "52.032"
     lon = "1.21833"
     alt = "250.0" altitudeIsAgl = "TRUE"
     pitch = "0.0"
     bank = "0.0"
     heading = "0.0"
     imageComplexity = "VERY_SPARSE">
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
     lat = "52.012167"
     lon = "1.2290"
     alt = "195.0" altitudeIsAgl = "TRUE"
     pitch = "0.0"
     bank = "0.0"
     heading = "0.0"
     imageComplexity = "VERY_SPARSE">
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
     lat = "52.004"
     lon = "1.2860"
     alt = "230.0" altitudeIsAgl = "TRUE"
     pitch = "0.0"
     bank = "0.0"
     heading = "0.0"
     imageComplexity = "VERY_SPARSE">
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

[tdragger]

Hi all,

I've just read on another forum that there are thermals in the demo of FSX. Those thermals can even be displayed via the menu (don't remember the path), they are shown by some kinf of 3D spiral (same kind of object as the green arrow for missions, I supposed), black because the textures are not there.

The info was confirmed by one of the ACES guys.

Did anybody tried thermal soaring in FSX ? The ACES guys gave no details at all on the modelling of those thermals...

Yes. FSX has auto-generated thermals based on landclass, temperature and time of day.

[thebrelon]

Yes. FSX has auto-generated thermals based on landclass, temperature and time of day.

glad to see you posting at simV, Tdragger... you will enjoy that place, the best FS site.... welcome!!

and now, when will the beta be released?

txs

vince

[RollerBall]

Yes. FSX has auto-generated thermals based on landclass, temperature and time of day.

Ahhh  that's a big improvement then over the FS2004 XML 'scenery placed' thermals. Looking forward to that one. Presumably this will mean that the thermals will die away at night which of course they didn't with the original XML method.

That's a very nice touch.

[Daube]

Yes. FSX has auto-generated thermals based on landclass, temperature and time of day.

Hi tdragger, glad to see you here.
In fact, I was talking about you in this post
I was not aware of this new feature about the thermals auto-generation. That sounds absolutely great, thanks for the info, you just gave me one more good reason to buy FSX as soon as possible !

[Moach]

hi there, Tdragger, welcome to SimV


lil

[Joe_D]

Yes, welcome tdragger.

It's great to hear the news about the thermals!  ;D

I wonder if ridge thermals will be possible based on rock LC ridges etc?

[JBaymore]

tdragger,

Good to have you here at SimV.  Thanks.

This kind of autogenerated air movement (based on world/weather dynamics) sounds VERY interesting.  Has this concept been extended further into the weather engine?  Can we expect other more realistic environmental effects that might impact flight dynamics / characteristics?

best,

.......................john