@date 2021-03-24
Microsoft Flight Simulator or MSFS 2020 or FS 2020 is the name of
the new flight simulator that is in store since 18 August 2020.
This sim has stunning graphics. But - at least at the time of
writing this article - it is lacking features. The FS 2020 version
1.14.5.0 from 09.march 2021 has
At the moment you can convert a FSX airplane model to FS 2020.
You can start this sailplane or glider "in the air". You can use
ridge lift for soaring and you can land the sailplane.
In the "25 February 2021 Development Update" Asobo/Microsoft put
the MSFS forum topic "Glider,
Sailplane, Soaring Please" on top wishes position 8. We are
up from #18 in October 8th, 2020. The sailplane topic is planned
for 2021-22. I think we have to wait until xmas 2021 or eastern
2022 before the sailplane topic comes out of the Asobo pipeline.
The date depends on how smooth the Xbox release will sail.
Asobo/Microsoft decided to go the full way for the weather system.
I assume that opening up the weather system for 3rd party
developers would have been more than half of the way. We can be
happy that sailplanes are done before helicopters. Helicopters
don't need updrafts, but a lot of extensions to the flight model.
Please UPVOTE the Glider, Sailplanes, Soaring Please topic in
the wishlist!
I have a Youtube
channel about flying sailplanes, motorglider, ultralights,
glider and aerobatics airplanes in MSFS 2020 and FSX.
Keith Bedford (SleetingPipes) wrote in the Forum: "And
Peter Luerkin’s WinchX! works for MSFS!". I asked him what
is necessary and his answer was: "I
had already installed it for FSX and literally just run the EXE
from the FSX modules folder, nothing installed in MSFS."
See his winch
start Youtube video. I tested winch start successful myself.
Here is the link
to Peter Lürkens WinchX!. At the moment you still need an
installed FSX on your computer.
Alex Marko created a FS2020 all-in-one solution. The program Kinetic
Assistant can do winch start, aerotow start, thermals
and more. Winch start is like in WinchX!. For aerotow you connect
your sailplane to another airplane, an AI one or the tow plane
that another pilot controls.
The Kinetic Assistant thermals are created by hand. You need Little
Navmap to create the thermals map. At the moment there is no
thermals indication, no birds circling in the thermals as you have
in CumulusX!.
But the year 2021 is still young and I am happy about this
progress!
I use "Nose hook" for winch start.
First of all big thanks to Wolfgang Piper and Alex Marko.
Wolfgang Piper has a web site with a lot of FSX sailplane models.
See
Wolfgang Piper Soaring
in Flight Simulator
Alex Marko wrote the msfsLegacyImporter program that converts FSX
airplane models to FS 2020. There are frequent updates. The
version 0.2.x.x can convert many cockpit instruments. See
Alex
Marko MSFS Legacy Importer
Another fine Alex Marko program is Kinetic Assistant that allows
winch start, aerotow, catapult start, arrestor landing and thermals.
See Alex
Marko Kinetic Assistant
Peter Lürkens wrote thermals simulation CumulusX! and winch start
WinchX! for FSX. Both extensions have a demo version - you can
test the extensions before you buy. Both are worth the money for
FSX! See
Peter
Lürkens WinchX!
AmbitiousPilots wrote FSJumpStarter2020. This FS2020 starter
program did away with the "Press any key" nonsense in FS2020
version 1.9.5.0 and before. I use it with FS2020 version
1.10.11.0, too. After program start it gives immediate visual
feedback. I like that. See
AmbitiousPilots
FSJumpStarter2020
Ian Foster Lewis is active for FS2020. He created again very fine
sailplane instruments. You find his instruments in the Touching
cloud DG808S and in my DG808S version. I hope that we will
come to a common "best of all" DG808S version.
I converted the Ka 6 E and other models from FSX to FS 2020 and
tuned them to FS2020 modern flight model.
Some models are converted from FSX. Microsoft wants me to write
this notice: 'Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) © Microsoft
Corporation. DG-808S, 582SL, P-51D and G21A were created under
Microsoft's "Game
Content Usage Rules" using assets from FSX, and it is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft.'
Other download files are modifications of FS2020 airplanes. Again:
'Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS 2020) © Microsoft Corporation.
Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Diamond DA62, Robin Cap10, Pitts S-2S,
Extra 330LT, Cessna 208B, Daher TBM930, King Air 350i, Cessna CJ4,
Airbus A320neo, Boeing 747-8, Airbus A380, Pilatus PC-12 were
created under Microsoft's "Game Content
Usage Rules" using assets from MSFS 2020, and it is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft.'
Please download one or more of these files:
The following sailplanes have no working cockpit instruments.
They were the first FSX models I converted to FS2020.
Download FS2020 Schleicher ASK 23 sailplane v1.14.5.0 |
Download FS2020 SG-38 glider v1.14.5.0 |
You have to extract the Zip file and you have to move the folder
to the correct location in your computer to make the sailplane
model available for FS 2020. Here are the step for step
instructions:
Keith Bedford found a way to switch off the noise in wind speed.
The "Geschwindigkeit" slider has an entry field next to the
slider. Delete the number in the entry field and wind speed noise
is zero. The right solution for Asobo would be to allow to set the
noise from 0% to 100%.
The first three models can be downloaded for FS2020 from this
webpage. The DG-808S, 582SL and ASK21 models are converted to
FS2020 and fly nicely. I have asked the rights owner Microsoft and
Aerosoft if theywant to distribute the converted FSX models in the
FS2020 marketplace or allow freeware distribution as "work
in progress" models. I wait for answers. The airplanes are sorted
by year.
Birds are monoplanes because a monoplane has the best lift for wing area. A biplane and even more a triplane are bad solutions. But biplane wing stability was easier to do in the early years of manned flight. A triplane can have better maneuverability then other planes. This was one reason for british and german triplanes in world war 1. I simulate the Fokker Dr1 VIII with a 110 PS engine, the Oberursel Ur.II, a clone of the Le Rhône 9J rotary engine.
The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane
designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the de Havilland
Aircraft Company. The Tiger Moth exhibits the fundamental
requirements of a training aircraft, in being "easy to fly, but
difficult to fly well"; the aircraft's benign handling when within
its limits make it easy for the novice to learn the basic skills
of flight. (Source en.wikipedia.org).
The FSX Tiger Moth model you find on Ant's Airplanes.
Story is that the Grumman Goose started as a business seaplane
for millionaires who wanted to shorten their travel time from home
to office in New York. Reality is that the niche for sea plane is
small, but there is a need and the Goose did fill the gap for a
long time.
There is another FS2020 conversion of the Goose at Grumman
Goose G21A Redux II.
After world war 1 Germany was forbidden to have airplanes with
engine. Therefore development of airplanes without engine happened
in Germany. The wooden "Schulgleiter" SG-38 training glider was a
"best of" combination of the works of Edmund Schneider, Ludwig
Hofmann and Mr. Rehberg. First flight was in 1938. 8750 gliders
were build in factory. The empty weight of the SG-38 is around 120
kg. In modern terms it is a 120kg ultralight.
The Extra is a high-tech airplane. It is no insult to call the Pitts a one seat low-tech aerobatics biplane. You could buy the Pitts as a kit and do-it-yourself build an aerobatics airplane. The maximum roll rate is 240°/s, maximum load factor is +6/-3 G, the engine has 260 hp. The Pitts can do spectacular "non standard" aerobatics, some say even better than the Extra. I think the Pitts capabilities are within the FS2020 limitations and give therefore the most realistic feeling of the three aerobatics airplanes.
The Cessna 152 is the modernized version of
the Cessna 150. It
is a conventional, strut-braced, high-wing monoplane equipped
with a fixed landing gear. The pilot and student sit next to
each other. The Piper J-3 Cub had the disadvantage of pilot
and student sit behind each other. The Cessna is - at least in U.S.A. - the
trainer airplane.
The single seat Ka 6 E was the last and best wooden
sailplane produced by Schleicher. First flight was in 1965. The Ka
6 is no training airplane, pilot Heinz Huth became world champion
on Ka 6 in 1960 and 1963 in Standard class.
Ian Lewis (B21) added his fine instruments and sound files to this
sailplane.
The single seat ASK 23 was designed by Rudolf Kaiser. First
flight was in 1983. It uses glass-fibre reinforced plastic and
'honeycomb' as its main construction materials. The never exceed
speed (Vne) is 220 km/h. The g limits are +5.3G/-2.65G. This
allows simple aerobatics.
The 18m single seat Glaser-Dirks DG-808 S is the stock sailplane
model in FSX. It is a 18m wing span competition sailplane. To keep
the very good glide ratio up the whole flight, the DG-808 has "bug
wipers" to remove dead bugs from the wings in flight. The g limits
are +5.3G/-2.65G. The cockpit gauges are working - thanks to
versions 0.2.4.0 of the msfsLegacyImporter program.
Another DG-808-S FS2020 model you find on Touching
Cloud.
The two seats ultralight trike Air Creation 582 SL is the stock
motorized glider in FSX. Based on the "Skyhook" design of Barry
Palmer and "Mosquito" design of Roland Magallon the 582 SL has a
64 hp Rotax type 582 engine and can carry two humans. Aerobatics
is forbidden for this airplane.
Another 582SL FS2020 model you find on Touching
Cloud.
The Extra is an two seat aerobatics airplane of the ultimate
class. The maximum roll rate is 400°/s, maximum load factor is
+/-10 G, the engine has 315 hp.
The Beechcraft can transport up to 9 passagers. A general problem
with all propeller airplanes in FS2020 is that there is no
"propeller drag" or "braking effect of the propeller".
Asobo/Microsoft should enhance the FS2020. My workaround is to use
lift drag and additional drag with flaps and landing gear. As I
use flaps 20°, flaps 40° and landing gear I can fake a realistic
landing approach with the Beechcraft King Air 350i. The
non-realistic part of my fake is that take-off is best without
flaps and landing gear should be retracted soon after lift-off.
The Cessna 208 B is the "ugly duckling" among the FGS2020
turboprop airplanes. To compensate this, it has the longest name.
It is a workhorse that can carry up to 12 passengers. The landing
gear is not retractable, therefore I had only lift/drag
modification by flaps to "fake" a realistic final landing flight
model.
There is a long thread about a very fine 208B mod on C208B
Grand Caravan EX Mods General - Aircraft / Turboprops -
Microsoft Flight Simulator Forums . The downloads are Release
g1000-v0.3.4 · Working-Title-MSFS-Mods/fspackages · GitHub
and Release
v2012.2 · dgtlanlg/C208B-mod · GitHub
The Daher TBM 930 or Socata TBM 930 is the fastest single engine
turboprop airplane. The Pilot's Operating Handbook of this
airplane is very detailed. In this flight model I use other
parameters settings for the no propeller drag workaround. Again,
the non-realistic part of my fake is that take-off is best without
flaps and landing gear should be retracted soon after lift-off.
There is a long thread about a very fine TBM930 mod on TBM
930 Fixes - Aircraft / Turboprops - Microsoft Flight Simulator
Forums . The downloads are Release
g3000-v0.3.4 · Working-Title-MSFS-Mods/fspackages · GitHub
and GitHub
- mixMugz/msfs_tbm930_project: Improvement project for the MSFS
default TBM930.
The Salty
747-8 is a mod of the MSFS 2020 Boing 747-8. I added the Flight
Dynamics Bug workaround and I gave the airplane a more
realistic maximum lift-drag ratio (L/D)max. Salty Simulations team
please include my modifications!
The -fastLaunch option disables the program start videos
(splashes). I have the Steam version of FS2020 and I have heard
that the Microsoft version needs other steps to disable the
splashes. In Steam you have to go in the Steam program to the
"Microsoft Flight Simulator" program icon and select
"Eigenschaften". In the "Allgemein" tab select "Startoptionen
festlegen ...". In the "Startoptionen" popup enter "-fastLaunch"
and click button "OK".
I wrote a documentation on msfsLegacyImporter, another on FS2020
flight model.
Download MSFS
Legacy Importer How-to |
Download
FS2020 flight model |
v1.0 based on classic flight model (AIRPLANE_GEOMETRY, REFERENCE
SPEEDS)
v1.1 based on modern flight model, tuned for spin (*_stability,
*_effectiveness)
v1.1.1 tuned for realistic stall speed, cruise speed
(*_drag_scalar)
v1.2 Description in all languages, tested with FS2020 version
1.10.11.0
v1.3 Tuned for snap roll (empty_weight_roll_MOI, roll_stability,
elevator_effectiveness), not compensated audio variometer, convert
panels
v1.11.6.0 Tuned for FS2020 version 1.11.6.0 with 2020-12-03
feedback snapshot. Easier landings without flaps.
v1.11.6.1 Tune to cruise speed.
v1.11.7.0 Tested with FS2020 version 1.11.7.0
v1.12.13.0 Tested with FS2020 version 1.12.13.0
v1.12.13.1 aileron_effectiveness = 1, modification via area and
up_limit, down_limit parameters
v1.12.13.2 DG808S use FSX
SOAR DG808S flight model mod and Touching
Cloud instruments
v1.12.13.3 All airplanes: more realistic polar glide curve.
DG808S: use Asobo_B747_8i style [FLAPS.0], [FLAPS.1]
v1.12.13.4 Use drag_coef_zero_lift for polar glide curve
v1.12.13.5 Realistic maximum lift-drag ratio (L/D)max, checked by
Aircraft Editor, Debug, Sim Polar VhVs. Realistic fuel
consumption.
v1.13.16.0 Add the "flight dynamics bug" workaround.
v1.13.17.0 Undo the "flight dynamics bug" workaround.
v1.13.17.1 Corrected wrong (L/D)max value to mostly 80% of real
life value.
v1.14.5.0 Compatible to MSFS version 1.14.5.0. Include Uwa's
lighting mods when available.
Some FS 2020 models are derived from the FSX models of Wolfgang
Piper. Because of this they have the same FREEWARE license. The
license is:
These files are FREEWARE, so don't make money
with this, please. Copyright © Wolfgang Piper. No commercial distribution on any sampler CD-ROM or other data carriers without the written permission of the author. I don't accept any liability for damages or misfunction happens to your system. Repaints of this model only for personal use, a publication of repaints requires the written permission of the author. Diese Files sind FREEWARE, machen Sie bitte kein Geld damit. Copyright © Wolfgang Piper. Keine kommerzielle Nutzung und Verbreitung, weder auf CD-ROM-Sammlungen noch sonstwie ohne die ausdrückliche schriftliche Genehmigung des Autors. Eine Haftung für eventuelle Störungen auf dem Nutzer-System wird absolut und rechtlich nicht übernommen. Repaints von diesem Modell nur für den persönlichen Gebrauch, eine Veröffentlichung von Repaints dieses Modells erfordert die schriftliche Erlaubnis des Autors. |
Wolfgang Piper is well known for his high quality sailplanes and
gliders models. Please contact Wolfgang and ask him if you can
distribute derivative work. I asked by e-mail and got the answer:
Hallo Andre, du kannst die 3 Modelle [Ka6E, ASK23, SG-38] ruhig auf deiner Seite belassen und weiter entwickeln. |
The author and copyright owner of this web page is