And you thought that the still images were impressive of the cab...

Laying track using editable splines sure looks like the way to go.

I was able to obtain these sneak-peek shots showing Microsoft Train Simulator2 from Leipzig. Anyone else notice something particularly interesting about these cab shots (and remember, these are in game)?

More news from Leipzig for Microsoft Games for Windows! In addition to the formal announcement and introduction of "Train Simulator 2," Microsoft also announces that Ubisoft will join the Games for Windows branding with "The Settlers: Rise of an Empire," and the SideWinder gaming accessories returns with the introduction later this year of the Microsoft SideWinder Mouse. More information can be seen in the official press release.

Yet another video from the producer of "Vectors." I particularly enjoyed the SR-71 sequences.

   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyekgxOYL9c

A highly entertaining film showing how interesting things get in San Francisco one summer day...

    
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fej9EWWLSsw

Okay, so it has been a few days since I've posted anything. I have been a very busy lately with odds and ends around the home, modeling work, and everything in between. Also, I haven't really run across anything that I really felt the urge to write about ... until this evening. Check out this YouTube video:

Yep, that is an Aviat Husky doing some pretty stunning STOL maneuvers in what appears to be a fierce headwind. Sure, this video has been online since March of this year. I have not seen it, so chances are some of you have not seen it either. If that isn't enough to impress you, I encorage you to check out these other STOL demonstrations courtesy of our friends at YouTube:

C150 short field take-off and landing
Zenair 701 demonstration
PC-6 short landing

While in Oshkosh, Hal mentioned to me a problem that a friend of his was having with regards to the speed props animate in FSX. He asked what the equivalent adjustment in FSX is to the prop_anim_ratio value that used to work in FS9. Unfortunately, prop_anim_ratio does not work in FSX. I was determined to get to the root of what controls this for FSX so I started digging into modeldef.xml and this is what I found:

  <!-- prop codes will need to be re-implemented (will also need proper simvar) -->
    <PartInfo>
        <Name>prop_anim</Name>
        <AnimLength>100</AnimLength>
        <Animation>
            <Parameter>
                <Sim>
                    <Variable>PROP ROTATION ANGLE:1</Variable>
                    <Units>percent</Units>
                    <Bias>0</Bias>
                    <Scale>0.1592</Scale>
                </Sim>
            </Parameter>
        </Animation>
    </PartInfo>

    <PartInfo>
    <Name>prop0_still</Name>
    <Copy>prop_anim</Copy>
    <AnimLength>100</AnimLength>
    <Visibility>
      <Parameter>
        <Code>
          (A:PROP MAX RPM PERCENT:1, percent) 6.25 &lt; if{ 1 } els{ 0 }
        </Code>
      </Parameter>
    </Visibility>
    <Animation>
      <Parameter>
        <Sim>
          <Variable>PROP ROTATION ANGLE:1</Variable>
        </Sim>
      </Parameter>
    </Animation>
  </PartInfo>

First of all, the note above about the prop codes needing to be re-implemented tells me that this code is work-in-progress, and hopefully will be better in the next version of FS. That being said, adjustments can be made to obtain desired results. Notice how in the part prop0_still the prop_anim is copied. This told me that each prop animation is rooted in the behavior of prop_anim. So, looking at the prop_anim code, the only "variable" I see is:

<Scale>0.1592</Scale>

I began to experiment with this value and successfully change the animations of the props! In FS9, an aircraft with full mixture, full prop, and full power shows a prop disc that is barely in motion, essentially moving so fast it doesn't appear that it is moving. I cannot get the exact same results with changing the scale value, but I have been able to slow the disc down significantly with all levers firewalled. I get optimum results using a value of 0.0530. I recommend experimenting for yourself to obtain the animation speeds you desire.

Aero-News posted today that the preliminary report from the NTSB states that the two P-51 aircraft involved in the incident on July 27th were not in formation. Situational awareness seems to be the culprit in this accident.

I was on the grounds at the time of the incident, but I did not witness it first-hand. At the time, I was walking from the Warbirds section where I had met up with Dan after he had flown in Aluminum Overcast. We arrived at the flight line and noticed that no aircraft were flying, and Roy pointed us toward the end of runway 36. We could barely see that 'Stang' was nosed over and fire trucks were surrounding another section of the runway.

My sincerest condolences to the Beck family in this time of tragedy. I hope other performers will take away from this incident to be extremely careful and aware of surroundings.