Virtual Gliding with Flight Simulator X

Notice: Because of quota limits, downloads are forwarded to private server with limited bandwidth, though.

Please note also, distribution of the software is not authorized, regardless of being freeware or not. Distribution requires my explicit permission in any case.

NewCumulusX!-manuel en Français

Maintenant un traduction est disponible de le manuel de CumulusX! a la faveur de notre ami Alain Lerouge.

Téléchargement ici (1074 kB).

CumulusX! 1.8.1 patch available


This patch solves a problem with different thermal distribution between online-partners using Microsoft Flight Simulator Servicepack 2 (FSX2) and the Acceleration Expansion Pack (FSXX). In addition, the alignment of thermals with terrain features will be improved with FSXX. Users of FSXX should apply the patch in any case. Though the effect on FSX2 is rather subtle, it is also recommended for FSX2 users, in order to guarantee consistency among all online participants. This patch is not a complete installation. Instead it requires prior installation of CumulusX! 1.8.0.


Dieser Patch behandelt ein Problem mit unterschiedlicher Verteilung der Thermik bei Online-Teilnehmern mit Microsoft Flight Simulator Servicepack 2 (FSX2) und solchen mit dem Acceleration-Expansion Pack (FSXX). Außerdem wird unter FSXX die Übereinstimmung der Thermik mit den Geländemerkmalen verbessert. FSXX-Benutzer sollten diesen Patch auf jeden Fall verwenden. Obwohl die Unterschiede für FSX2-Benutzer kaum auffällig sind, wird auch für diese die Installation empfohlen, um Konsistenz zwischen allen Online Teilnehmern zu garantieren. Dieser Patch enthält nicht alle Programmdateien und setzt eine voherige Installation von CumulusX! 1.8.0. voraus.

Version 1.8.0 → Version 1.8.1 patch: Download (111 kB)

CumulusX! 1.8

 

Note: Please install by using the “install”-command with the CumulusX!-icon or by right-clicking the “_install.cmd”-command, and choose “Run as Administrator” (or equivalent). For W7-users this is mandatory, even when logged in as Administrator.

CumulusX! is an add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator X  for the creation of a environment for virtual gliding experience. It was inspired by the famous Cross Country Soaring 2004 of Eric Carden. CumulusX! creates thermal lift with appropriate clouds either on the fly every time new in the environment of your glider with a wide variety of characteristics, or based on custom-tailored lists of thermals. Both allow joining in online sessions, with the guarantee of equal conditions for all participants. It adapts automatically and continuously to the FSX internal weather conditions even under real-weather-mode.

In addition it scans the terrain of Flight Simulator X during flight in order to produce ridge lift and adjust the placement of thermals in mountain regions, according to sun irradiation and wind influence. Sunny slopes will also generate extra thermal lift, after being heated up by the sun over the day.

Gliding in thermals and ridge lift is experienced with a completely new quality. The user can choose the difficulty level according to his/her personal skills from very easy to realistic and difficult.

New in this version:

  • More realistic ridge lift with slip-stream effect if higher terrain upwind

  • Improvement of thermal leaning and placement in mountains

  • Slight modification of thermal lift profiles, Lee-side thermals

  • Realistic vertical propagation of lift during thermal lifecycle

Bonus functions for licensed users (c.f. below):

  • Smart tow-plane, avoids flight into mountains and finds a nearby thermal

  • Return of tow plane to the airport (not in mountains yet)

  • Higher realism by turbulence effects

  • Wing-lift effect upon entry into a thermal

  • DLL for improved smoothness of operation included in package



Version 1.8: Download (4.2 MB, slow)

English Manual (also included in download): Download here.

Deutsche Anleitung (bereits im Download enthalten): Hier herunterladen

Manuel en Francais (non compris en prinicipal logiciel): Téléchargement ici




Users can now acquire a personal license for CumulusX!, which supports the further development of the software package. Some functions, e.g. response of the aircraft to transition into thermals, or wave lift in the future, are restricted to the licensed version. The freeware version will remain available, including minor improvements and bugfixes. Basic performance of licensed and unlicensed version will remain the same, so that participation in competitions will not depend on the license state. A personal license is granted after registration by paying the license fee.

Goto license conditions and purchase here.

It is strongly encouraged to try out the bonus features in demo-mode prior to purchasing of a personal license.


Benutzer von CumulusX! Können nun eine persönliche Lizenz erwerben und damit die weitere Entwicklung der Software unterstützen. Einige Funktionen, z.B. Lastwechsel-Reaktionen des Flugzeuges auf Übergänge in die Thermik oder in Zukunft Wellenaufwinde, sind den Inhabern einer persönlichen Lizenz vorbehalten. CumulusX! wird weiterhin kostenlos verfügbar bleiben, einschließlich geringfügiger Vebesserungen und Fehlerbehebungen. Die Grundfunktion der freien und der lizensierten Versionen werden sich nicht unterscheiden, so dass Teilnahme an Wettbewerben nicht vom Lizenzstatus abhängt. Eine persönliche Lizenz wird nach Zahlung einer Lizenzgebühr gewährt.

Lizenzbedingungen und Lizenzerwerb hier.

Es wird sehr empfohlen, vor einem Lizenzerwerb die Zusatzfunktionen zunächst im Demo-Modus zu testen.


WinchX!


 

WinchX! is an add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator X for the simulation of a winch launch of a glider aircraft. It allows to use winch launch anywhere on the world with very little prerequisites. Only the input from reality is needed as length of the launch cable, desired airspeed, and force limitation.

WinchX! produces occasionally cable breaks as an additional element of realism and to prevent real glider pilots of becoming careless about launch interruptions.



Version 1.0 : Download (3.2 MB, including manuals)

English Manual: Download (234 kB)

Deutsche Anleitung: Hier herunterladen (240 kB)




 


 


 

Slope Data Base Tool! 1.0a

The Slope Data Base Tool is a viewer and import tool to create a slope data base from CCS2004-dat files and Digital-Elevation-Model-files (DEM). Slope data files can be found at AVSIM by searching for CCS2004, DEM-files at NASA and CIAT.

The new release supports the import and conversion of digital elevation data in the ARCASCII format or the HGT format in 3" resolution. These files contain digital elevation data. The orientation and inclination of the terrain patches is calculated and the result is merged with the existing slope data base.

The picture pane shows the slope situation around the given coordinates. The tint indicates the orientation of the slope. Red is north, yellow-green is east, blue-green is south and magenta is west. The more intense and brighter the colour, the steeper the slope is.

Requirements:

Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0, Windows XP SP2

Version 1.0a: Download

Note: This package is already included in CumulusX!

New in 1.0a: Documentation for CCS2004 usage updated

Scenery files for FSX

3D-Cloud Replacement for FSX

This is a replacement of the "Natural" representation of thermals in Flight Simulator X, which are so tiny birds that usually you can't see them.

Instead, this tries to model a cumulus cloud, that mimics the colour appearance of the default clouds and thus tries to integrate in the native FSX sky as best as I could achieve so far.

For installation, read the instructions in the readme-file.

Download

Note: This package is already included in CumulusX!
Note: Not compatible with FS2004

Alpinists on Matterhorn/Cervin

Some alpinists on the Matterhorn/Cervin, one waving. Best with Mesh Alpes LOD11 V2 of Alain Ragot.

Download

Note: Not compatible with FS2004


Calculation of a winch launch of a glider plane

Peter Lürkens, 2008

Seil61

This calculation document implements the calculation of the winch launch procedure of a glider plane. It accounts for the characteristics of the winch, the glider, cable properties, and other influence, such as wind and cable parachute. Read more here (in German).

 


Utilities for Flight Simulator 2004

CUMULUS!

Automatic Thermal Scenery Generator

Version 3.1.6

The automatic thermal scenery generator program is a software tool which allows to scatter large areas with thermal lift to enable thermal soaring within Microsoftâ Flight Simulator 2004. Using the program is as simple as pressing a button. It requires only very few input parameters to generate hundreds of thermal clouds, scattered over the landscape.

Unlike other tools it produces a scenery file, which, by itself has a highly dynamic behaviour, just like the thermal lift at real soaring.

05.03.2006: Full control of thermal timing, support of CCS2004.

26.08.2007: Note: Not compatible with FSX

Download


JCSDAT 0.94 (beta)

This is intended to post-process slope-files from Eric Cardens Cross-Country-Soaring program CCS2004 in Version 4.0 and higher. CCS2004 scans by automation of the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 the orographic conditions of the landscape, saves it to a database and uses this information later on to produce realistic ridge lift conditions. Slope-files contain orientation and steepness of the mountain slopes and are the result of so-called topo-scans. They are found in the CCS2004-subfolders “Import” and “Archive”. The folder “Slope Data” contains a different format of slope-files, which is not yet supported.

JCSDAT initially was intended to concatenate the results of several smaller scans into a larger file. While this is no longer needed, as this functionality is meanwhile covered within CCS2004, it can be used to analyse the result of the scanning process by producing colourful maps of the slope-lift situation.

Another experimental function is, that from randomly distributed thermals in a CCS multiplayer script file, a new script file can be produced by a sort of filtering process, that removes “unrealistic” thermals in mountain regions (e.g. in lee-side locations, above valleys), and enforces those which are located at positions, that are likely triggers, considering wind direction, orographic conditions in the neighbourhood, and sun irradiation. The result can also be visualised by graphical maps that show the positions of the mountain triggers, or the locations of the resulting thermals.

Start a command prompt (or MSDOS-box) and type “jcsdat –h” for instructions.

Download


© Peter Lürkens
Latest change: 13.01.2012, French manual added
All Flight Simulator In-Game-Screenshots are published under the Game Content Usage rules of Microsoft (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/developer/rules.htm)
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Impressum: Peter Lürkens, Kirchfeldstr.64, 52080 Aachen, Germany, peter.luerkens@t-online.de

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