|
NEWS & ARTICLES
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Hovercontrol Articles
Flight Simulator Development
FSDS - Creating Virtual Cockpits in FSX
Anyone who uses Flight Sim knows that a virtual cockpit is the 3D version of the aircraft cockpit. Today I am going to use FS Design Studio v3.5 to create a virtual cockpit for FSX. Not only will I make the main cockpit area, I’ll add a panel to it and show you the basics of how to get gauges onto a virtual cockpit panel. Making this tutorial simple while still coverimg all of the major details needed is difficult. So what I’ll do is use the Curtis Jenny that comes with FSDS v3.5 as a starting point.
By Adam Howe of Abacus Publishing
Aug 29, 2010
Flight Simulator Development
Making a Hard Surface and Using Attachpoints
One of the great new features of FSDS v3.5.1 is the ability to create hard and landable surfaces as well as using attach points to add lights. Today I’m going to create a building and add a helipad to the top of it. Then I’m going to add some lights around the helipad.
By Adam Howe of Abacus Publishing
Aug 29, 2010
Flight Simulator Development
Adding Parts Names to FSDS
In FS Design Studio, there are a series of standard part names that are used for animation, reference parts and so on. These part names are used when you want to animate a part. You select one of these special part names from the Part Properties dialog by clicking the Browse button by the Part Name and then select the specific part name you want. Did you know that you could customize this list? That’s right, you can add your own list of part names and even your own categories!
By Adam Howe of Abacus Publishing
Aug 29, 2010
Flight Simulator Development
FSDS - Animating Parts with a Tipped Axis
Previously I covered how to animate ailerons on the Cessna 172. I thought I should cover how to do something a little more complicated and show how to do animation on a part whose axis is not perfectly straight across or up and down. With that in mind, I looked through each project in the Samples folder of FSDS looking for a part that had a rudder that was not already animated for FSX and whose axis was not straight up and down. The only one I found was the Shorts 360, so I’ll use that one in this example of how to animate a rudder that has a tipped axis.
By Adam Howe of Abacus Publishing
Aug 29, 2010
Flight Simulator Development
Animation for FSX in FS Design Studio
Today I’d like to talk about animation. In the older versions of Flight Sim and FS Design Studio, animation was pretty easy. I could assign a part a specific name and create the model and it would be animated in Flight Sim. More modern Flight Sims like FS2004 and FSX require a bit more work to get the animation to work as desired. My hope is that this post won’t be too complicated. There are some technical terms and procedures that might sound frightening, but really aren’t that bad once you understand them.
By Adam Howe of Abacus Publishing
Aug 28, 2010
Flight Simulator Development
Aircraft Design Guide Book3 - Boolean Operation Released
Here I am again with many weeks (months) between posts… I have been hunkered down writing the 3rd book in the Aircraft Design Guide series - the Boolean Operation. After 6 months from releasing the first 2, I’m happy to say that the 3rd book is now complete!
By Adam Howe of Abacus Publishing
Aug 28, 2010
Flight Simulator Development
Creating Thumbnails for FSX Aircraft
I’m sure anyone who has created a new aircraft with FS Design Studio for FSX or has created a new variation of paint using FS Repaint has noticed there is no preview or thumbnail for the aircraft when you select it in FSX, or the worng one if you use FS Repaint. Today I’d like to cover a few ways that you can create your own thumbnails.
By Adam Howe
Aug 28, 2010
Multiplayer Events
Steve Chase Memorial Flight 2010
To commemorate & celebrate Steve's life,
and his contributions to the FS community,
we plan to hold a Memorial Fly-In
at Blackpool, (EGNH), around Steve's Irish-Sea scenery.
By Brad Moreland
Aug 10, 2010
Hovercontrol News
Marco Fortin-Metzgen (HC970GA) - Certified Pilot
Recently, Marco (HC970GA) "G-MFM" passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride, using Flight Simulator Online!
By Jordan Moore
Aug 1, 2010
RC Helicopters
Coaxial RC Helicopters: How Do They Work?
Coaxial helicopter is one of the more popular images that come to mind when people think about electric RC helicopters. And for good reasons too; these double-bladed helicopters is accredited with bringing hordes of new enthusiast into the world of RC aviation. Their popularity stems from their unequivocal stability in the air - which makes them relatively easier to master when compared to their single rotor counter part. They are also predictable enough to be flown within the compounds of one's home, securing its spot as one of the most loved indoor fliers. Being able to fly right out of the box because they are sold as RTF (Ready to Fly) kits adds to their appeal.
By Tara Soonthornnont
Jul 26, 2010
RC Helicopters
Esky Honeybee 4ch Rc Helicopter Review
Well, where to start with this one... This has got to be one of the coolest yet frustrating things anyone has ever bought me. Let me explain... My girlfriend bought me this for Christmas from Buzzflyer.co.uk for around £110, as soon as I opened it I was like a kid at 10 years old again. On the box it said for indoor/outdoor flight so naturally the box was flung open and the battery was straight on charge ready for a bout of flying round the living room.
By John Applin
Jul 26, 2010
RC Helicopters
Walkera 5G6 R/C Helicopter Review
 This little helicopter is my first co-axial helicopter. I bought the Walkera with metal rotor head and the 2.4G transmitter. It’s a bit more expensive than the standard Walkera with plastic rotor head and normal 35 or 72 MHz transmitter. The Walkera 5G6 is the same size as the Walkera 4#3. The only difference is that the Walkera 5G6 have two counter rotating main rotor blades, and no tail rotor. Compared to the Walkera 4#3, the Walkera 5G6 weighs 53g, slightly heavier due to the extra main motor. As I said in my Walkera 4#3 review, Walkera’s designing engineers have done it again to put a superb little helicopter (the Walkera 5G6) out there for everyone to enjoy.
By Laurentius
Jul 26, 2010
Hovercontrol News
Eric Ball (HC538ER) - Certified Pilot
Eric Ball (HC538ER) "erictea" has passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride. Becoming Hovercontrol's 82nd Certified Pilot!
By Jordan Moore
Jul 8, 2010
Flight Simulator Flying
A place to fly - Hope, British Columbia (CYHE)
After hours of tweaking Flight Simulator X performance, installing new addon sceneries, and getting the best aircraft available for flight simulator, you might feel the urge to fly. A few nights ago, a friend from British Columbia recommended that I check out a little placed called Hope. Using Flight Simulator X with FS Genesis terrain mesh, Ground Environment X textures, and the trusty FSX Dodosim 206, I set out to explore this area. It turns out to be one of the nicest areas of terrain for flying helicopters in Flight Simulator X.
By Jordan Moore
Jun 27, 2010
Multiplayer Events
Crater Lake Fly-in Multiplayer Event
Come join us this Sunday June, 20 at 22:00UTC! We will depart from Beaver Marsh, Oregon(2S2) and head south, southwest for about 15nm. We will meet over Crater Lake then anyone willing can follow us westbound to Medford(KMFR) stopping at various airports. I'll provide some history on the various areas throughout the flight. Bring a helo that can climb because it's a big hill! See y'all Sunday!
By Brad Moreland
Jun 19, 2010
Hovercontrol News
Welcome 2 New instructors at HC!
We are happy to announce two new additions to the Hovercontrol Instructor Pilot corps. Mark Self (HC265MA) and Rick Cox (HC377SU) are both well known pilots in our flight simulator multiplayer environment and have both spent significant time assisting new members, leading group flights, and being great company for those that pop in to do some flying.
By Paul Robinson
Jun 12, 2010
Flight Simulator Setup
Flight Simulator X - EH101 Engine Surge Fix
Flight Simulator X Acceleration offered a sophisticated new option with the EH-101 helicopter. However, it has frustrated many Flight Simulator X enthusiasts with its tendency to have engine surges. The following information might help members to correct the problem, or at least make it better.
By Hamish Macleod
Jun 2, 2010
Hovercontrol News
Max Torroba (HC058NV) - Certified Pilot
Max Torroba (HC058NV) "NVMax" has passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride. Becoming Hovercontrol's 81st Certified Pilot!
By Jordan Moore
May 30, 2010
Hovercontrol News
Connor Bourque (HC610CP) - Certified Pilot
Recently, Connor Bourque (HC610CP) "cpbpilot" passed his Hovercontrol Certified Pilot checkride, using Flight Simulator Online, to become Hovercontrol's 80th Certified Pilot!
By Jordan Moore
May 25, 2010
Multiplayer Flying
Flight Simulator Online
In the past 2 months we have seen a steady increase in the interest of flying Flight Simulator X online and Flight Simulator 2004 multiplayer. If you are the type that has been sitting on the sidelines and nervous to try flight simulator online, we would encourage you to get involved and to engage in flight simulator multiplayer flying with the rest of us. Once you fly flight simulator X or flight simulator 2004 online, we think you will agree that to fly any other way is really missing out.
By Jordan Moore
May 17, 2010
|
|
|
