FGFS GPL'd Models

FlightGear Flight Simulator Aircraft Models

Compiled by Michael S. Selig

UIUC Applied Aerodynamics Group
Dept of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Illinois 61801

Last update 12/28/02 Changes

In the interest of generating more aircraft models for use in the FlightGear flight simulator (FGFS), this web page has been created. Listed below are several aircraft that were originally developed for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS FS98/FS2000). Fortunately, FGFS can render this format and hence many MSFS models are candidates for development in FlightGear. The list below includes MSFS aircraft that have been released under the GNU GPL by their authors. Thus, these aircraft together with yet-to-be developed flight models can be distributed freely with FlightGear.

As mentioned, in order to "fly" these aircraft inside FlightGear, a flight model must be developed. Details on that subject go beyond the scope of this webpage. For more info, see the FlightGear website.

A couple of caveats are in order. First, some of the aircraft below were originally designed to have moving parts in MSFS (e.g. control surfaces and retractable landing gear). Depending on the particular aircraft model, in FGFS these models with movable parts might have, say, the flaps deployed or only front landing gear shown. Second, sometimes the textures might not be properly placed or they may be inverted (i.e. a mirror image). These flaws should in no way reflect on their quality and suitability for MSFS for which they were originally intended. When there are file format issues, with some finesse they can be fixed for proper use with FGFS. In viewing the models below, some of these issues can be seen. All images were taken by loading the model files into FGFS and taking a screen grab, hence they have been tested.

Finally, these models below do not include the cockpit panel views in a format readily usable in FlightGear. Also, the GPL has been granted for files related to the external models (what is seen below) and it does not apply to other parts of the zip files, e.g. sound files (because permission to use such files was not requested). Permission to use files other than those related to the external view under the GPL should be specifically requested of the original author. If permission is granted, please let me know and I can update this webpage.

If these files are distrubuted with FlightGear under the GPL, be sure to include a README file that makes mention of being granted permission to include them under the GPL (sometimes perhaps contrary to the original README file included in the zip file below, which is the one for use with MSFS). Also, include only those files that are GPL'd.

A Few Links

Wolfram's hangar for FlightGear flight simulator planes: http://home.t-online.de/home/Wolfram.Kuss. Includes several aircraft that can be rendered by FGFS, but again flight models still need to be developed. There are also some notes on how to use these files, but some of it is out-of-date. If there is interest in distributing these Wolfram-hanger aircraft with FlightGear, contact the authors and request permission to release them under the GNU GPL. Nevertheless, with or without the GNU GPL permission, these aircraft can be used with FlightGear. See the original files for copyright and distribution information.
FlightSim http://www.flightsim.com. A great repository of many MSFS models, and hence a source for potential FlightGear aircraft models. Unlimited access to their site requires "first class" membership and a yearly subscription fee. At any given time, a limited number of users may access their database for free, however. Searching for "FS98" and "public domain" are likely to give goods leads. FS2000 models are also likely candidates.
Example FGFS aircraft using the UIUC Aeromodel are listed here. Mentioned on that page are also two other FGFS flight model formats: JSBSim and YASim.

Models by AF Scrub (af_scrubbypc@hotmail.com): "WWI Belgian Collection"

Sopwith Camel

Belgian-Camel.zip
Currently flying and included with FlightGear (flies with the command fgfs --aircraft=sopwithCamel-v1-nl-uiuc-set.xml).

Hanriot H.D.1

Belgian-H-D1.zip

Nieuport 17 (one gun)

Belgian-Nieuport17.zip

Nieuport 17 (two guns)

Belgian-Nieu17.2guns.zip

Spad VII

Belgian-Spad-VII.zip

Spad XIII

Belgian-Spad-XIII.zip

Models by Captain Slug (CaptainSlg@aol.com)

Airwave Xtreme 150 hang glider

Hgldr.zip
Currently flying and included with FlightGear (flies with the command fgfs --aircraft=airwaveXtreme150-v1-nl-uiuc-set.xml).